When Godly People Give Ungodly Advice
“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
(Romans 12:2, NIV)
Lesson #15 on a journey to a Water Well.
June 2016
When godly people give ungodly advice.
"I want to!" My husband and I had spent thirty minutes explaining salvation and baptism through scripture to our two oldest children when six-year-old Ben said, "I want to invite Jesus into my heart." Tim and I looked at Ben and then at each other. Perplexed, I thought. But we weren't talking to you.
Nine months later, Ben spent an evening in Uganda with one of the missionaries sharing what he believed and why he wanted to be baptized.
"You know there are snakes and crocodiles in the Nile." Ben’s friends taunted. "Yeah, I know." But Ben's seven-year-old eyes betrayed the confidence of his words. After a late evening, it was hard for him to discern how much was truth versus teasing from his friends.
A few weeks before we departed for Uganda, our neighbor, an infectious disease doctor, warned about schistosomiasis. It's a disease caused by a parasitic worm found in the Nile River. The worms, snakes, and crocodiles were a bit much. But after months of asking and a little razzing from his friends, Ben said yes to baptism.
The following day, we piled into an old van and drove the van along the runts on a red dirt road until the road ended at the Nile River. A Ugandan man was in a small canoe a couple of feet from where Ben, the missionary, and my husband waded into the water. His look conveyed what I perceived to be his thoughts. "Stupid Americans."
The missionary escorted Ben into waist-deep water before launching into a miniature sermon about baptism. Ben stood bravely still in the tepid water, listening intently to the missionary's words. The missionary's eleven-year-old son walked a few feet into the water with his sugar cane stick. Like a silent protector, he listened quietly to his dad share the gospel as he kept the water moving in circles with his post.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I baptize you, my brother. Buried with Christ in baptism raised to walk in newness of life." With one complete immersion, all pretense of bravery fled. Ben scurried out of the Nile River, dripping water from head to toe.
Saying yes to God can be hard. Most of the time, it requires courage. Sometimes, it means following God in ways others don't understand or always agree.
We won't always understand what God is doing.
In Matthew 16, Jesus commended Peter for his spiritual discernment. Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. But four verses later, when Jesus' predicted His death and resurrection, Peter rebuked Jesus. "Never, Lord!..." This shall never happen to you!" (Matthew 16:22)
I can only imagine how stunned Peter must have been to hear, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." (Matthew 16:23)
The truth is sometimes, like Peter, godly people give ungodly advice.
We've all received ungodly advice. Worse, we've all given ungodly advice.
But we must learn the difference between godly people and ungodly advice. We need to spiritually discern what advice lines us with scripture versus what is spoken out of fear or with good intentions but is not biblically based. We must quickly determine and firmly rebuke ungodly advice before it takes root in our hearts or drives a wedge between relationships.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not advocating for us to shout at our friend or mentor, "Get behind me, Satan!" But we should consider confronting satan when he is speaking through our friends, just like Jesus did with Peter.
But we must also offer grace to godly people who give ungodly advice.
We need to offer grace because, one day, we will need the same grace.
Ben's friends razing him is a silly example. Those boys loved Jesus but didn't understand why Ben needed to risk snakes or crocodiles to follow Jesus into the Nile River. Grown-ups are the same. People won't always understand or agree with what God is doing in our lives.
But we shouldn't be too hard on godly people who give ungodly advice. God works in mysterious ways; sometimes, it's hard to discern what He's doing. Their love and fear for us sometimes cloud their minds and obscure their perspective.
It's hard to step out in faith and follow God. It's harder when people we love and respect in the faith don't support us. Or they don't support us the way we think they should. Sometimes instead of encouraging words, there is silence or even opposition, like Peter.
But we should all be sensitive to the prompts of the Holy Spirit. Filter advice through scripture. Stick with God and offer grace to godly people who give ungodly advice.
I'm proud of Ben for wading into the water despite the worms, snakes, crocodiles, and razing by his friends. It takes courage to follow Jesus, and it's our job to help others say yes to Him.
Lesson #15 on a Journey to a Water Well
15. Learn to discern the difference between godly people and ungodly advice and be willing to go with God.
Want More? Start here.
Read Matthew 16:21-28's account of Peter giving Jesus ungodly advice.
Recall a time or incident when a person you respected in the faith offered ungodly advice or withheld encouragement. When have you offered ungodly advice?
What motivated Peter's ungodly advice in Matthew 16:21-23?
What was Jesus' response to ungodly advice, and who did He identify as the source?
How does the Holy Spirit want you to apply these truths to your life?