From the desk of Steve Shultz:
I needed this word as I'm sure many of you will. We do need to be careful about judging one another, but believe the best. This is an excellent read by Garris Elkins and I appreciate his transparency in sharing his experience with us.
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Garris Elkins:
Be Careful With First Reads
Recently, I read a blog article written by a very respected young leader. He is well read and well educated. He does things with excellence.
Because we are all in a hurry from time to time, I did a quick read on something he wrote. I missed what he was saying and began to carry an offense based on my quick, narrow, and judgmental read. I found myself wanting to correct him in a public forum.
For an entire day I carried this perceived offense. I was thinking about how to correct this young man. Maybe I would Tweet a reference to what he wrote or write something on Facebook. This kind of thinking went on all day until later that evening when the Lord had me reread the article. I could hardly believe it – on the second read I realized that I was terribly wrong and misinformed. This young author was saying something that was not only accurate, but much appreciated by me for its content. My hurried read was blind. I am so thankful I did not respond out of my blindness and I am grateful for God's mercy in identifying something like this in me.
I came away from this embarrassing revelation learning a few things about myself. I also came away with some things we all need to be reminded of from time to time:
1. A first read is just that – a first read. Rarely do we ever capture a writer's true intent the first time around. We owe it to the author, and to the Church at large, to read things again to make sure we are actually correct in our observations. And even then, we should not forget that we only see things partially.
2. We all carry reactive baggage. This young author was writing about something very dear to my heart. I was defensive about this truth and had anointed myself as its protector. Our reactive baggage is usually packed with items from our broken history and unresolved personal issues. Reactive baggage cannot be trusted to speak the truth – it needs to be laundered.
3. Believe the best. When we read what someone else has written we owe them the honor of believing the best about them and not making snap judgments. Our judgments put people in a place where we don't have to engage them. This results in separation. God is not happy with separation because it breaks fellowship.
4. My response revealed that God has more work to do inside my heart. We never arrive at a place where we can't be corrected. I had to tell the Lord how sorry I was regarding my response and admit to Him that I needed His help.
5. Wait before you respond. It only takes a little more investment of time to do something right. A wrong response, and the resulting hurt, may never be retrievable. In the waiting we give God a chance to speak to us.
6. Affirm and honor one another. Another person's insight, gift or strength is actually ours as well, since we are one Body. Matthew 10:40 says, "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward." Those who give support to the messengers of the Lord will receive blessing. In receiving the Lord's representatives, we receive Him.
Years ago, Jerry Cook wrote a book titled, "A Few Things I've Learned Since I Knew It All." Jerry was transparent about how life can teach you new things when you think you know it all. I don't like the feeling that comes when I think I know it all and find out I didn't know as much as I thought. A good "God-correction" is like taking a spiritual bath. You come out clean all over. It feels good.
Garris Elkins, Senior Leader
Living Waters Church - Medford, Oregon
Email: prophetichorizons@gmail.com
Garris Elkins' ministry, Prophetic Horizons, is a ministry of teaching, writing and prophecy committed to raising up a prophetic generation to speak to the cultures of our world with the empowered voice of Heaven. Garris and his wife, Jan, are the Senior Leaders of Living Waters Church in Medford, Oregon, and have two grown children, Anna and David.
