Serpents and Doves

Editor's note: The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Inside The Pew staff.

By Evangelist Waymon Stewart Jr.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Matt 10:16)

These two animals that is – serpents and doves have very little in common.  Yet Jesus says that we as His disciples are to possess these characteristics.  For example: We are to control our tongues (Jam 3:1) but we are to speak boldly (Eph 6:20). There is no virtue in a bold tongue which is uncontrolled or one so controlled that it is never bold.  Our tongues must be controlled in order to rebuke sin privately (Matt 18:15) and publicly (Gal 2:11).  Though the consequences may be unpleasant (Mar 6:16-18), we must speak boldly, and when the occasion demands it our bold tongues must be blunt (Matt 23:15).  Fear of saying a wrong thing should not keep us from saying the right thing (Matt 10:26-27). “Silence is not always golden; sometimes it is just plain yellow.”

The virtue of longsuffering (Gal 5:22) must be balanced by intolerance needed as attempts are made to progress to maturity, but intolerance is demanded when progress is not made and goals are not reached (1 Co 3:1-3; Heb 5:11.  It is one thing to suffer long with sinners as they attempt to conquer sin but quite another to tolerate wrong doing (Rev 2:15-16:20-21).

We are to be humble like Paul (1 Co 15:9) and yet his confidence (2 Tim 4:7-8) shows the paradox we as Christians must possess. Humility should not breed timidity but neither should confidence give rise to arrogance. Humility helps keep us aware of our weaknesses but should never cause a hesitancy to point out sin in the lives of others (1 Cor 5:1-13). We are humbled by our propensity to err in opinions and the understanding of God’s Word, but are confident that there are some things of which we are sure that cannot be compromised (Gal 2:5).

We must certainly care what others think about us (Matt 5:13-16) but at the same time think little of how others evaluate us (Gal 1:10).  The virtue of living to influence others (Phil 2:12-16) can so easily become the vice of living to please others (Gal 2:11).

Some of us have a propensity towards being serpents or doves and Satan uses that propensity against us.  As a consequence, we often go to extremes.  The development of a balanced character does not come quickly (Heb 5:12 …by reason of time).  There are no short-cuts to maturity; we must work at it through prayer.