She said: “I’m a prophet.”

  She let that declaration hang in the air in an awkward way, 

part confrontational and part explanation.

 She told me that her slightly adversarial posture was because she was sent to people and churches to discern and speak the truth. 

She wanted to let me know that I hadn’t explained the story of Martha and Jesus in John 11 correctly in a previous chapel service.

 I asked her to explain to me her thoughts from the chapter in the Bible on her lap. 

She read its words and in reading the verses they contradicted her conclusions. 

It was an awkward pause as she realized she was bringing assumptions to the text that the actual words didn’t say, in fact the opposite was affirmed.

 She exclaimed in a tense tone 

that I was correct and had shown her she was wrong.

 But it wasn’t a submission to the truth of the text, 

it was an accusation that I had beat her.

 

I saw that she identified the exchange as 

a form of abuse, 

a take down, 

a masculine exertion of pushy superiority.

 I realized that there was very little space to discuss any differences and almost none for any form of correction no matter how purposefully soft I had tried to tiptoe through the moment.

 She then told me that I needed to use gender inclusive language and Bible translations. 

I explained that I use NIV and NLT versions that do. 

I asked her what the Bible translation she used that was in her hands. It was a ESV, a version that doesn’t.

 She then went into how she doesn’t accept that women should submit to men, 

that Jesus wasn’t a Rabbi because he told his disciples to not be called rabbis. 

I reminded her that Mary Magdalene called Jesus Rabbi at the tomb at his resurrection appearance to her. 

She said it was a scribe that put that in the Bible.

 

I realized this convo was becoming ping pong, 

so I thanked her for the admonition to be sensitive to words with a women’s audience when preaching. 

I wanted her to see that I valued her thoughts and would work to be more purposeful in preparation.

 I was becoming aware that I was on trial for crimes that someone else had committed and there were far deeper matters at work in this exchange but I wasn’t the counselor or teacher needed to do this work.

 

Then she closed her eyes and began to pray: 

which was a series of declarations that rebuked Satan 

and included the spirit of misogyny. 

Her finger pointed out into the space between us as she cocked her head, poked her finger out at a dark reality that she fully understood and was combating.

 She ceased, opened her eyes and looked at me with a slightly tense and awkward smile.

 Moments like these are difficult.

 They provoke thoughts and feelings and can often spark responses that can inflame the situation. 

They always feel precarious and very unnerving.

 I knew it was time to step back from the waters edge of this woman’s soul or we would further slip into a depth where our feet couldn’t touch. 

I knew a fierce, frenzied and frantic clash of drowning victims would result, so I gently brought the conversation to a close.

 

I’ve been prayerfully holding our encounter in my heart and mind through the evening, night and morning. 

Trying to listen. 

Trying to understand. 

I know each person I spend time with is a moment God can use to help me grow and learn. 

Though this one was like traversing a briar patch, 

I valued its complexity and difficulty. 

Humility is a grace to give each other, especially when navigating lives that have profound wounding experiences in their story. 

A wound can produce wisdom 

but it can warp our views of ourselves and others. 

We are all wounded in various ways and that’s why walking and caring for one another is so fraught with trouble. 

Life is a long learning curve and loving others doesn’t guarantee we will not misstep or misspeak but it can help us become better at being together.

 Our words matter.

 Early this morning Jesus reminded me of his words:

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.” -

Jesus (Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ )

Pastor Eric.