33 - Trusting Saul

I recently met with a pastor and his wife and when the conversation finally moved to the topic on their heart the question they wanted to ask was this: How do you know who you can trust? They had gone through some painful experiences of betrayal, and admitted they had now emotionally withdrawn to protect themselves. They hadn’t seen it coming so they didn’t know what to do differently the next time. They said they had started out by being open and vulnerable with people, assuming the boundaries and matters of conscience which governed their own walk with God were at work in all Christians. There were things they just couldn’t think of doing because their conscience would make them miserable, and on top of that they feared the discipline of the Lord. But then they watched other Christians do those very things apparently without a trace of guilt or remorse. One of them said, “I just couldn’t do that, and if I did I would be miserable. Why can they? They hurt us and lied about us, and then went on as if they were the ones who’d been offended. I don’t understand. Where does Jesus come into this picture?”

I don’t know anyone who claims to be perfect, but some people come under conviction when they sin, and sooner or later they’ll admit the truth or apologize or make it right. Yet there are others who claim to be Christians, who go to church and believe all the right things, yet out of the blue they can do something grossly immoral, cruelly selfish, or coldly dishonest, and not show any sorrow. Years pass and they never make it right, and the worst part of it is, God doesn’t even seem to punish them. If being a Christian doesn’t make someone trustworthy, then what does? I really need to know, because when I trust the wrong people I get hurt.