4. HE WAS FOCUSED
In the last episode, we saw Prophet Micaiah’s focus was to say what God told him. For the sound teacher, God has spoken through the Bible and no subjective vision can correct it.
Now, we investigate Micaiah’s conversation further and find a second thing that engaged his focus.
II. CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE
We have said this but it is worth highlighting. Prophet Micaiah’s commitment to God and His word was not without love for the people God sent him to. I think that when we hear God, we catch the love in His voice and it will show in ours as we echo His words.
‘So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”’ (1 Kings 22:26-28, NKJV)
Those last words of the Prophet as he was being bundled for prison are very strong in my ears. For the rebellious king, the Prophet was comfortable to almost declare him dead already. King Ahab would not return, unless Micaiah spoke a lie. I suppose that he picked this certainty from God. He was fairly sure that God would not show Ahab mercy. God’s word had gone out. His blood would be leaked by dogs. There was more at stake than just Micaiah’s prophecy. It was about God’s judgment. He communicated it in all certainty.
But for the generality of the people, Micaiah showed concern when he said, “Take heed, all you people.” Polemics is not merely a job of correcting false doctrine or cutting out sound doctrine. It is not a loveless discussion of knowledge. It may appear ruthless towards false teachers sometimes. But even in such instances, polemics will shout “Avoid them” or “Take heed” out of love for God’s people. It is rooted in God’s love and concern for souls. This must be seen in our hearts as well as our deeds. Do you care about the people you are correcting? Whether we care or not will influence the tactics we use, when and how we deploy what strategy, or whether we speak at all.
For instance, if we don’t care about people, we may deploy inadequate tactics against them. We may simply laugh at their disagreements instead of explaining. We may decide to ignore them. We may also push them in our argument to a point where they lack the motivation to accept the truth because it will be too shameful for them. We may be interested in showing them to be wrong than hoping they get it right, and helping them. We may be more interested in disgracing them than in correcting them. Now, the above (or rather aspects of them instead) are tactics that may work at different points in time with different people. But unless we are inspired by the Spirit of love and divine wisdom, we can be unnecessarily violent or unnecessarily peaceful while people remain ill or die and rot with their false doctrines.
Love is an important course for all of us. Why? Because as good as knowledge is, in the absence of love, knowledge puffs up. As good as knowledge is, love is required if people will be edified. Knowledge can be weaponized against those it should correct and build up. At the root, our passion, precision and propositions in polemics must be sitting in a stream of God’s love. It may not always be obvious. But when people listen carefully, they should hear that even our lambasting drinks from God’s love for souls.
Polemics cares. Our idea of love may be everything sweet and comfortable, but polemics cares indeed. It cares enough to cure; if need be, with disturbing diagnosis, painful injections and bitter truths. Polemists truly care, in the full sense of the word. These were the words of our Lord Jesus Christ unto the church in Laodicea:
“Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will].” (Revelation 3:19, AMP)
With love,
PDS.