When You’re Right,But Still Wrong!

Few people enjoy confrontation. Our natural inclination is to find ways to resolve difficult issues with people we know or work with without making matters worse. From time to time, however, these unpleasant experiences are unavoidable. If not handled judiciously, these encounters can quickly turn ugly, where emotion and anger overwhelm facts and reason. In my work as a pastor I tried to find alternatives to these verbal battles, but sometimes there was no choice but to face the showdown.  

One particular encounter continues to haunt me, even though it occurred over 40 years ago. I was a young pastor, armed with a newly minted theological degree, determined to prove that the congregation that had called me to be their new leader had hit a home run.

Much to my chagrin, I soon learned that it takes far more than a seminary education to pastor a church—it takes wisdom, and wisdom usually requires the fertile soil of age before it blossoms. Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way that more is required of a church leader than being able to parse Greek and Hebrew verbs and decipher ancient theological texts. A wise pastor has to be able to read people as well as Scripture.

The situation arose when a group of irate women came to my office to complain that their new Bible study teacher did not believe in the Old Testament. I struggled with what they were telling me, but assured the ladies I would look into the matter. After all, Christian Scripture does include the Old Testament!

A few days later, I called the teacher and invited her to drop by my office at her convenience. She made an appointment for the next Sunday afternoon.

When she arrived in the office, I immediately noticed that she had brought her Bible, and I further observed it was only the New Testament. We chatted casually for several minutes, and then I told her I had some concerns about what she believed constituted Scripture. By the look on her face, I could tell I had caught her by surprise. She stiffened in her chair, and her face turned crimson. I could see her jaw muscles tighten, and her fists clinched the chair she was sitting in.

To make matters worse, I barely gave the poor woman a chance to explain her position. I plunged right into my defense of the Old Testament as though I were making an argument in front of a theological tribunal. And, when she did speak, her words barely registered with me.

As I marshalled my theological attack, the woman sat virtually motionless for 20 minutes or so. And then, while I was still making my case, she abruptly stood up, thanked me for my time, and left my office. 

At the time, I congratulated myself on my oratorical skills. I had obviously, in my opinion, made a convincing argument and put the woman on the defensive. But it didn’t take me long in ministry before I realized that I was the one who had misunderstood Scripture. When you follow Jesus, even if you’re right about theology, but err in its application, you’re still wrong.

In the New Testament there is a wonderful story in Acts 18 about the dynamic preacher Apollos. Apollos was from Alexandria, Egypt, and possibly had been trained by the renowned Jewish scholar, Philo. Luke further adds that Apollos had a “thorough knowledge of the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24) to go along with his philosophical expertise.

Apollos

But Apollos had a flaw in his theology. Apparently, this charismatic speaker only knew the “baptism of John.”  Biblical scholars have wrestled with exactly what “baptism of John” means, but some think that Apollos was simply preaching an ethical and moral way of life, while ignorant of the divine nature of Jesus.

Whatever Apollos’ failings were, they didn’t deter Priscilla and Aquila, two leaders of the early church, from inviting the educated young preacher into their home for a meal. Literally, the text reads, “They took him unto them” (Acts 18:26). The phrase in the Greek language expresses the loving care that a parent has for her child who has been hurt—she cradles and comforts the child. The image is one of warmth, concern, and encouragement.

Obviously, Priscilla and Aquila were confronting Apollos about the gaps in his theology, but I doubt if Apollos ever realized he was being called on the carpet. So tender were the manner and words of Priscilla and Aquila that the gifted but misguided preacher never knew he was being confronted. Now that’s wisdom!

Rev. Gene Garrison, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City

Two or three years after my botched effort with the woman who only read from the New Testament, I had lunch with the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, Gene Garrison. Gene had taken me under his wing in an attempt to teach me the finer points of leadership, which a seminary education hadn’t been equipped to do.

On this occasion, he shared with me a potentially volatile issue with a man in the church who helped with the offering collection. Apparently, this man had been seen taking money from the offering plates by several people. The people who had caught the man stealing demanded that Dr. Garrison confront him.

Knowing how serious the man’s actions had been, I asked Dr. Garrison if he had confronted him yet. “No, not yet,” he replied.

I was surprised and asked why he had not confronted the man.

Gene smiled at me and said, “Because I am still too angry. I’m going to have to wait until my anger cools. I can’t confront the man until my concern and love for him are greater than my anger.”

When Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos into their home, the purpose was to “explain to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). I’ve thought about that phrase a great deal. How could Priscilla and Aquila explain the way of God to Apollos?

Unless they showed Apollos the way of God, through love and concern, he never would have accepted their explanation. Only those who follow the way of God can explain that way more adequately!

Something to remember next time you have no choice but to confront.