Stepping on a Biblical Landmine

Biblical Landmines … as seen in a bad hike on Spy Rock.

Is it a preacher’s nightmare? Do we stay up late at night worried about preaching on hot potato topics? And when we do discuss said topics, are there going to be repercussions like departures, eternal conflict, or even talks of termination.

So this past Sunday, the passage in my journey through the Gospel of Mark brought me to discussion on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. It would have been easier to skim it … skip it .. over-simplify it. But that wouldn’t be true to the text, fair to the church, or honest in my approach to all of God’s Word is inspired and profitable.

I even went so far to add landmines on the bulletin cover inserted onto the series graphic art.

(interesting? sovereignly? coincidently? the hardware for our streaming and recording went bad this weekend. So no recording of the sermon was made. I will chalk that up to sovereignty!)

The point here isn’t to give a lesson on the topic I discussed. It’s to declare that there are landmine topics in our world … Biblical, cultural, relational, and more. And ultimately we can’t avoid them, nor should we.

And I think (as I shared Sunday) this passage in Mark is here not just giving truth on the landmine topic, but also showing us how to handle landmine topics.

First, Jesus clarified the issue. He clarified on the basis of truth. He challenged the Pharisees to point out what the Scriptures taught. Jesus clarified the Scriptures. And to be blunt, the one who wrote the Scriptures can best tell you what it means.

So, start with Truth, and the Word is Truth.

Now, here is a big twist that today’s society needs to get … go deeper when in private. Jesus then went into the house and got a little deeper in the conversation. Preachers, stop trying to cover every little minutia, every “what if” or “what about” scenario in the 30-45 minutes you get to talk to everyone. If there are those that need to go little deeper, need to have more explained for personal clarity, than do it. Bible study groups are a great time to go a little deeper.

Too often, people through landmine topics out on X or Facebook and expect everyone will understand and come to the same result. BOOM. The landmine does damage. Too many rant about hot topic issues and refuse to listen to others at all. BAMM. The landmines destroys people and relationships.

• Start with the truth
• Go deeper when private

And lastly, stay humble and show grace. For this, we remember God’s grace and God’s forgiveness. I go to John 4 here and look at Jesus relational interactions with the woman at the well. He knew her past, but that didn’t stop his discussion on grace and her to believe in Him.

• Start with the truth
• Go deeper when private
• Stay humble & show grace

Let me give a hiking story. For this I will talk about my hike Spy Rock, a wonderful, not too crowded trail that gives awesome overviews of the entire area … seeing the Religious Range: The Priest, The Little Priest, The Friar, The Little Friar, and The Cardinal. You are also close to Crabtree Falls.

The first time I did Spy Rock in the George Washington National Forest, I came down off Spy Rock in a different place I ascended. I diligently headed down hill but soon realized I had missed the trail from the very beginning of my descent. basically I was lost, off trail, and confused.

I could’ve freaked (but not too much, this isn’t too deep woods to get real lost).

I could’ve backtracked (but that would’ve cost time, energy and possible more lost).

I could’ve ignored the issue and just keep walking downhill, pretending all is well and thus walking into peril or deeper despair (but hey, I wouldn’t have to face the issue).

Or … I could go to the truth. I got my compass, looked at the map (the solid truth of the area). I would determine close to my position and head towards where the trail should be. I choose this option. It was costly: heavy briars that ripped my shirt, deeper isolation becsuse no one was this far off trail and I realized no one would be, and more. BOOM … repercussions from the error I made and repercussions from the decision I made to fix it.

I headed directly to where I believed the trail down hill would cross my present trek. Shortly, I discovered the Spy Rock Trail and got headed back to the trail head where my vehicle was parked. WOHOO. Landmine avoided, or at least minimized its damage.

There are ways around and through landmines. And more importantly, we see the way to handle them.

One last note. More than likely, you will blow it. You will … KABLOOEY … step on mines. That is not the end. Here is a great quote by Alister Berg …