Shaking dust from our feet

After the news broke about Charlie Kirk’s murder, (at the time of writing, now twelve days ago), I’ve spent some time reflecting on witnessing to people who identify as ‘minority’ or those who belong to fringe groups.

In sadness John Donne's poem 'For whom the bells toll' came to mind, and particularly the line 'Each man's death diminishes me', and I thought, if only people took the time to see the other as another image bearer of the Almighty!

For whom the bells toll, by John Donne

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

I’ve watched many of Charlie’s YouTube videos, and while the clips are entertaining, informative and helpful, at times, they also make me squirm, as they reveal a distant dark secular world that's home for many!

I’ve also watched other street preachers, such as Nicholas Bowling, attempting to preach the gospel at gay festivals. Where, more often than not, the crowd quickly becomes openly hostile and the police are called. And when things get this ugly, it makes me wonder, surely the point to back away and shake the dust off our feet was missed long ago. Then I think, perhaps this is as crowd suggest merely 'clips to earn likes'

When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, he spoke words of profound wisdom that speak to the heart of our mission as believers. But one of the most striking statements He made is found in Matthew 7:6 where He teaches us how to handle this very issue!

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

This verse is a ‘critical’ reminder of the value of the gospel and that discernment is required before we share it!

But we need to understand Jesus’ metaphors to fully grasp the gist of His teaching!

"pearls" they symbolise the precious truths of the gospel, while

"dogs" and "swine" whilst at face value are derogatory, merely represent those who are hostile or indifferent to God's truths!

Jesus isn’t recommending that we have a judgmental attitude, but he is encouraging us to use discernment! So, He warns against wasting our efforts on those who have no interest whatsoever in the gospel and clearly reject it, as they may also turn nasty to our attempts to bring it to them, even to the point of violence!

Clearly, Jesus’ teaching isn’t a call to abandon evangelism, but it is a guide on how to approach it wisely. In today’s world, when it comes to our interactions, especially with fringe groups and those resistant to the gospel, we must weigh up whether our efforts are worthwhile, or if we’re simply casting pearls before swine!

‘Shake the Dust Off Your Feet’

In combination with this teaching, Jesus instructs His disciples in Matthew 10:14:

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

The act of shaking the dust off your feet symbolises marking a boundary, signifying that the responsibility for the rejection lies with those who refuse to listen, not with you the messenger!

When we encounter individuals or fringe groups that are dismissive or hostile to the gospel, it’s essential to recognise when enough is enough, and at what point to step back! Shaking the dust off our feet is a way of saying, "I have tried to share the truth; now I must move on."

The battle might be lost, but the war isn’t over! And it doesn’t mean that we abandon our mission, but rather we need to reflect and adopt a strategic approach to evangelism that allows us to focus our energies on those who are open and receptive to receiving the gospel.

Just to clarify, by fringe groups I mean those who hold unconventional beliefs, far left and right of the norm, and those who are sceptical of traditional teachings. In today's world, we encounter these groups mforearmed more often. Whilst it’s vital to reach out to these people, we must exercise care and discernment. Not every conversation will yield fruit, and some will lead to conflict rather than constructive conversation.

So, when engaging with these groups, we need to consider the following;

Before entering discussions about God and faith, we need to gauge the individual/group's openness to holding a meaningful conversation. So ask yourself, ‘Is/are they genuinely seeking truth, or are they merely spoiling for a fight?’

We need to accept that some will be resistant and even hostile to hearing the gospel. Remember, Jesus' instruction to walk away and shake the dust off your feet isn’t a sign of failure! Rather, 'backing off' is a wise decision that will preserve you and your energy for another day and another audience!

Direct your efforts toward those who show interest and curiosity. The gospel is transformative, and there will always be individuals within fringe groups who are searching for hope and truth, so speak to them on a one-to-one basis instead.

When Jesus went about preaching, teaching and healing, the crowds flocked after Him, he didn’t chase after them! And when the crowd rejected his message, he simply moved on!

Jesus' teachings not to cast pearls before swine and to shake the dust from our feet are sound guidance for all of us in all our evangelistic efforts. They remind us of the value of the gospel and the importance of discernment in our interactions. Sharing our faith can be a very complex affair, so let's be wise stewards of the truth and focus our efforts where they will make the most impact. In doing this, we honour the precious message we carry and fulfil our calling to share it with a world that’s desperately in need of hearing it!

Have a great week, go pick some low-hanging fruit, and God Bless,

Trev.