Hostile Environment

Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

At times in history the Gospel has been presented in friendly environments, those where people recognized their need and welcomed the solution. Some periods in history the reception has been neutral, neither positive or negative. But then there are times like today where the vast majority of the world is hostile toward the solution to humanity’s problem: Jesus.

I have noticed a change in my short lifespan. New things, even helpful things, when they force a change on the receiver are not often welcomed, even if they cure what is causing the harm. When it is new and pain of change is involved, people don’t necessarily embrace it.

Imagine Jesus asking, telling his disciples to do what he has been doing. “Get out there and heal people.” Who, me? I’m not you, that’s not my gifting, not my wheelhouse. I’m more comfortable doing what I have always done, nothing.

Talk about uncomfortable! Talk about a make-em-squirm moment. But that is not the hard part of Jesus’ instruction. Our text tells them that the environment is going to be hostile, dangerous to those who bring it. Later in the chapter Jesus says the our enemies will be the members of our own households. Does that sound like something for which you want to sign up?

Sheep among wolves. Not much a sheep can do to defend itself. Wolves have the tactical advantage. Sheep scatter when attacked. Wolves pack. Sheep have teeth for grinding grass. Wolves have teeth for ripping flesh.

So sheep, the disciples and us, must be aware of the environment into which we are being sent. It isn’t a friendly or a neutral environment. There are those who will devour us if we let them. They will use our innocence in motive against us. They will see our kindness as weakness and pounce.

Sheep among wolves. Sheep are not defenseless. They have wool that protects against many a bite. Teeth can’t find flesh underneath all that wool. But they are still vulnerable around their neck and head. And the wolves know this, and thus they attack the throat of their victims.

We must know our weak spots. We must be shrewd in our approaches. We must work to protect against the obvious attack. We must prepare and pray. We must be watchful for new vulnerabilities and adapt accordingly. Our motives must be pure. Innocent as doves.

We live in a hostile environment and we are still commanded to go and make disciples. We are being sent out and we must be shrewd and innocent among the wolves. The wolves still need the solution we have for their problem. They are acting like wolves. They can’t help themselves.

But the Good News can transform even a wolf. Even Richard Dawkins, the atheist attacker of Christianity in our day, has recently acknowledged that Christianity has had a positive impart on our society. If he can move ever so slightly toward less hostility toward Jesus and His message, then there is hope for everyone.