LEAven Blog

My father-in-law, a retired LCMS pastor, passed away a little over two years ago. When he died, my wife and I took ownership of a Bible commentary series from his library. I have been working through the commentaries and the corresponding Bible books since then.

In reading through the commentaries on the Gospels, one of the elements that particularly struck me is the focus on the arc of opposition Jesus faced during His public ministry. At first, Jesus taught in Jewish synagogues openly, but as His message was increasingly antagonistic to the law-focused Pharisees, He moved His work to the outdoors, teaching the crowds who surrounded Him and healing those who came to Him. Eventually, the opposition became stifling as those who opposed His teaching sought opportunities to arrest and execute Him.

Few who have served in Lutheran education have done so without facing opposition. Whether it be challenges to lesson creation, grading, discipline, or personal approaches, dealing effectively with opposition is a part of our professional responsibilities. Yet, while enduring opposition was directly tied to the unique mission of salvation for Jesus, it is easy for educators to view opposition as an unfair burden for us to endure when we seek to serve children and families.

In a broken world, there is no way to avoid some level of opposition. However, the Bible provides significant guidance for us as well in dealing with those who challenge our work. In a recent faculty devotion, my colleagues and I spent some time in the book of Nehemiah. While the opposition Jesus faced was unique, Scripture offers additional examples of faithful perseverance. One such example is found in the life of Nehemiah.

Set after the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, Nehemiah felt compelled to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city wall. His work faced a great deal of opposition from those in the region, yet God granted Nehemiah success with this task. The book of Nehemiah provides several strategies for confronting opposition, which remain relevant for those facing opposition today. Here are a few of those strategies:

• Pray, Then Act: At the beginning of the book of Nehemiah, he identifies the problem, but then turns to the Lord in prayer first. He then uses the power of prayer to confidently act to address the situation.
• Clarify the Mission and Vision: Nehemiah clearly describes the situation to his monarch, asking for his blessing to act. We can also address challenges by using mission and vision statements to support our decisions, or, in some cases, to humbly identify our failings.
• Prepare for Opposition: Perhaps you have heard the sports phrase: “The best defense is a good offense.” Communicating proactively with students and families instead of waiting for responses can diffuse difficult situations in advance.

The opposition Jesus faced was far more intense because of His unique mission of salvation. Yet it should come as no surprise that we face challenges since our work ultimately points to His redemptive work. Thankfully, God, in His grace, has provided us with guidance through His Word for addressing the opposition we might face. Thanks be to God for this amazing gift!