Grooming Hearts
by Bryant Bailles
For whatever it may be worth: On the matter of grooming attitudes, unfairly generalizing brethren, and creating an imaginary group to despise...
"And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a case to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, 'From what city are you?' And he would say, 'Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.' And he would say to him, 'See, your words are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.'" (II Samuel 15:2-3).
This method employed by Absalom, David's son, to groom the hearts of Israel to prepare them to rebel against David is disturbingly prominent (as it has always been and always will be) and subtle.
Hidden Agenda
Absalom was grooming attitudes for an eventual, inevitable outcome that those being influenced were too naive to perceive. It would be too obvious and too abrasive for Absalom to clearly reveal his intentions.
Some may not explicitly teach false doctrine but consistently make implications that undermine a deep conviction, a deep commitment to all that the Lord has commanded, and a willingness to contend for the specifics of what the Lord has said. Beware when a person can't just affirm Scripture, but rather their more enlightened perspective. Implications in teaching are a critical aspect of the teaching itself. If teaching involves alarming implications, even if the intention was not to make those implications, it should, at the very least, be a cause for pause.
Unfair Characterization
Absalom groomed attitudes by unfairly characterizing his brethren.
You may hear or read someone talk about those pharisaical, legalistic sectarians who think they're saved by getting everything right. Who are those brethren? Did you know that in Revelation 2:1-7, the church in Ephesus seemed doctrinally very strict, but they had "left their first love"? Did you know that Jesus does not rebuke them for being doctrinally strict; instead, He commends them for it, even while He knows they've compromised love? Did you know that love and unity are never encouraged in the New Testament by disparaging carefulness with doctrine? Broad, hostile generalizations of brethren should be deeply alarming. Too often, this kind of poisonous rhetoric is not only accepted unquestionably, but too often, it is accompanied by thunderous applause.
Making Local Issues Bigger
Absalom turned intimate problems into national problems. I'm sure most of those coming to the king were dealing with intimate matters, but Absalom got them thinking bigger.
Don't you know what the problem is with "our tradition"? Beware those who constantly talk big when Scripture emphasizes to think small. The churches we read about in the New Testament were riddled with shocking problems, and yet the way these issues were addressed was to think intimately and proactively with those in their sphere. Consider in Revelation 2-3, Jesus never speaks broadly as if the issues in a particular church somehow characterize all churches or all brethren -- and beyond that, He exhorts those in churches with problems to focus on serving the needs within their personal sphere.
Criticizing the Motives of Others
Absalom makes himself seem more noble and compassionate by criticizing others. Absalom sounded more compassionate and committed to unity in his nation than David and the judges with David. But were Absalom's words fair or true? Would administering God's Law and His justice demand that many in Israel would leave "the gate" disappointed, frustrated, or even potentially embittered? I'm sure when you came to the king for judgment; you were no longer dealing with generalizations but rather particulars and specifics.
Beware those who make the appeal or the implication that the particulars of sound doctrine are a deterrent to unity rather than a vital part of it.
