The Act of Betrayal – Part 1
The name Benedict Arnold has been gone down in American history being synonymous with traitor, much as that of Judas Iscariot with betrayer. I was invited the day before good Friday to speak at a small gathering on the movie The Passion of the Christ. This is a movie which I own but I’ve only seen once. It is, for me, spiritually taxing and emotionally draining. Even as I was discussing the movie, I cried in remembrance of the atrocity and murder of the Lord. This was all set in motion by the a kiss of betrayal.
Some of us have gone through some kind of betrayal in our lives. Actually, we’re currently in the midst of it now. We see an act of betrayal on display in our country right now as the administration in Washington D.C. seek to pass policies that tear at the foundation of what the United States on regardless of the outcry of the majority of American people. They seek to spin it as what’s best for the people when it’s simply a power move.
It’s a shot at the principles of our nation. It goes beyond the politics that are being wrangled throughout all of this. It’s an insidious shifting of the nation’s identity. As Obama so plainly stated in 2009, he does not think this is a Christian nation. This administration is the most anti-Christ to ever be put into office. They are pawns of the evil one and they do so willingly. A betrayal against God Himself.
Our Own Back Yard
Betrayal can hit closer to home. I’ve personally seen this is in the church as splits happen under all kinds of sinful pretenses and the actions of those who are supposed to exhibit the character of Godly men reveal what’s truly in their hearts. The Lord was spoke truly when He said:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27)
I have personally been on the receiving end of betrayal from Christians more so than non-Christians. The axiom is true that you hurt the ones you love. It’s true because we have not realized the total depth and destructiveness of the sin and evil within us.
What To Do
There are may ways to react to betrayal. The first one is anger. Though anger IS an appropriate response, it’s what we use it for in our actions that will define us. It is hurtful and painful but the Lord tells us:
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26)
We are in danger of letting bitterness rule and control us if we give in to excuse of saying we’re hurt. To be hurt for one day is expected. To be hurt for three days can be understood. But to be hurt for months and years is simply saying, “I’m bitter and unforgiving. ”
We take our cues as God’s children from the Lord. He says:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)
We must surrender to God in this because we cannot deal with it. How this surrender should happen is written plainly in the words of scripture. Yet, how do we apply this in our lives? How do we get over the pain? I’ll talk about that in my podcast later this week.
