Shrewd as snakes; innocent as doves.
I have committed (admittedly, rather late in the game,) to read through the bible in one year, and although I am months behind the people who began in January, I am finding that while on this reading plan, I find little nuggets of hidden wisdom-treasure that I would not have seen in my usual perusing of the psalms and proverbs.
One such nugget is the below verse that gave me reason to pause.
Matthew 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
Shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves? What does that mean, exactly?
Well, there's a prevalent thought among Christian circles; in order to stay pure followers of Christ, we must completely cut ourselves off from the outside world. The focus becomes entirely on keeping ourselves 'pure' and we forget completely to be sharing the news of the gospel in the world around us.
This is why I don't understand the Amish faith. Certain aspects are appealing, such as not having the constant distraction of the internet and cell phones, but then it continues into legalism, and everything 'of the world' is seen as inherently evil and is avoided at all costs. They are as innocent of doves, but not as shrewd as snakes. When they are confronted with something actually evil, they are frightened and bury their heads in the sand like ostriches.
Compare this with the people who are Christians in name only. We all know one. The people who call themselves Christians, who say they have been born again, but whenever an opportunity for temptation presents itself, they act no different than someone who is not a Christian. These people aren't just in the world, they wallow in it. They know all the inner workings of the world--what parties are good, which are lame, who hooked up with who and maybe they even spread these rumors and gossip. They are as shrewd as snakes, but not as innocent as doves. They don't just know about the evil in the world, they freely partake in it.
Now, I feel that there is a third approach that Jesus had in mind when he used the phrase "Shrewd as snakes, but as innocent as doves."
Consider this:
John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
So. We are set apart. God has chosen us out of the world. We don't belong to the world, we belong to God. So we are different. But we wouldn't be able to do our job as lights in a dark place if we ignored the fact that dark places exist. We have to combine the best of both of the above Christian lifestyles. We have to acknowledge the fact that evil exists, and develop discernment so we recognize it when we see it. Then, we have to make sure we are grounded in the word of God and in company with other believers. In this way, we can keep our innocence. We have to be aware of the evil, but refuse to take part in it. Shrewd as snakes, but as innocent as doves.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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 12:1
One such nugget is the below verse that gave me reason to pause.
Matthew 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
Shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves? What does that mean, exactly?
Well, there's a prevalent thought among Christian circles; in order to stay pure followers of Christ, we must completely cut ourselves off from the outside world. The focus becomes entirely on keeping ourselves 'pure' and we forget completely to be sharing the news of the gospel in the world around us.
This is why I don't understand the Amish faith. Certain aspects are appealing, such as not having the constant distraction of the internet and cell phones, but then it continues into legalism, and everything 'of the world' is seen as inherently evil and is avoided at all costs. They are as innocent of doves, but not as shrewd as snakes. When they are confronted with something actually evil, they are frightened and bury their heads in the sand like ostriches.
Compare this with the people who are Christians in name only. We all know one. The people who call themselves Christians, who say they have been born again, but whenever an opportunity for temptation presents itself, they act no different than someone who is not a Christian. These people aren't just in the world, they wallow in it. They know all the inner workings of the world--what parties are good, which are lame, who hooked up with who and maybe they even spread these rumors and gossip. They are as shrewd as snakes, but not as innocent as doves. They don't just know about the evil in the world, they freely partake in it.
Now, I feel that there is a third approach that Jesus had in mind when he used the phrase "Shrewd as snakes, but as innocent as doves."
Consider this:
John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
So. We are set apart. God has chosen us out of the world. We don't belong to the world, we belong to God. So we are different. But we wouldn't be able to do our job as lights in a dark place if we ignored the fact that dark places exist. We have to combine the best of both of the above Christian lifestyles. We have to acknowledge the fact that evil exists, and develop discernment so we recognize it when we see it. Then, we have to make sure we are grounded in the word of God and in company with other believers. In this way, we can keep our innocence. We have to be aware of the evil, but refuse to take part in it. Shrewd as snakes, but as innocent as doves.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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 12:1
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