We have magic words in the church world. These words, when spoken, are used frequently to keep our brothers and sisters covered in whitewash. Sometimes these words keep us from any sense of involvement in messy matters. Sometimes they make known what is expected from a "spiritual" person. Sometimes they serve to make us appear to be a sweet group. Sometimes they put you in your place so your needs are not our responsibility. Yes, words like glory, joyful, spirit, praise, stronghold, forgive, victory, repent, bold, worship, reconciliation and more, are used to keep us in various comfortable niches.
Apparently, the word "bitter" has a special magic: it can shut the mouths of those who are in danger, pain, or distress from domestic violence. I haven't figured out the logic of it quite yet. A church can post and distribute warning information about a local pedophile: this is not bitter or unforgiving of his sin. A church can support military action used to protect populations: this is not bitter or unforgiving of the sin in terrorism. A church can install alarms for police protection of its possessions : this is not bitter or unforgiving of the sin in theft. But, a victim of horrible abuse can expose the dangerous behavior of a tormentor for a limited time only. After church leaders have made some initial effort and counseling, the crime of abuse becomes "private". Any cry of a continued threat is labeled "gossip". The abuser becomes the victim. The abused woman becomes "bitter" and "unforgiving". If she has only slight knowledge of Scripture, she may be easily manipulated by these magic words, backing down into her quiet black hole. Alone again, she cries out to God, waiting, waiting for miraculous deliverance. But God has already said, "The prudent see danger and take refuge..." (Proverbs 27:12). There is no refuge in the Land of Magic Words.
The word "bitter" as used in the Scriptures is not a magic word at all. It is not a blanket word. It is a word that takes its meaning from its context in a narrative. It is a strong word. The Scripture says "woe" to those who put the label "sweet" on things that are really "bitter" and vise versa (Isaiah 5:20). Bitter is the taste of poison. Poison is not always produced in the person. Sometimes it is poured over the person, or fed to her, or injected. There are things that we should very well experience as bitter if we have any wisdom, if we have any fellowship with the good, sweet Holy Spirit. When we encounter evil cruelty, for instance, it should taste bitter. The book of Hebrews calls idolatry, specifically, a "bitter root" or a "root of bitterness" depending on translation. Idolatry is poison and it grows poison fruit, so it should be experienced as bitter. Many times the Scriptures speak of people "weeping bitterly" as a true and proper experience of horrible things. Are we in America attempting to train American Christians to put to death human emotional response to torment? Ezekiel was commanded by God to groan and weep with bitter grief (Ezekiel 21:6), because that was the right response to traumatic events.
I was especially fascinated, however, with the bitter distress of 2 Kings chapter 4. It was not a sin, but a signal to offer compassion and assistance. Bitter distress is probably a good description for the agony of recovery from trauma. The story tells of Elisha's concern for his friend, the Shunammite woman. The woman's son has died and when she runs to Elisha for help, Gehazi pushes her away. [Ever been pushed away?] But Elisha responds, "Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress..." (NIV). Then, he proceeds to find out what she needs and provides her with appropriate help. He has compassionate concern expressed with action, not magic words.
Have you ever been in bitter distress? Have you cried with bitter weeping? If so, you have a sweet soul. You can sense the poison in the bitter waters that have been thrown upon you because they are so opposite your sense of sweet. You can feel the affects of the serpent's bitter venom as it bites because it is an evil attack on a sweet daughter of God. When you sound the trumpet so that the watchmen can be alert to danger, you are not filled with a spirit of fear but a spirit of wisdom. Bitter distress is relieved by real compassionate effort from the Body of Christ. Christ is the healer of the brokenhearted (those in bitter distress) and Christ's people are the Hands to deliver that healing. He does not ask you to sit alone in the black hole, unseen and secret, waiting for a big zap. He expects you to run to God's people and speak your need. He expects His people to do everything possible to relieve your legitimate distress: bitter as it is. You are not your distress. You are an opportunity for ministry from some willing Elisha. You are a strong woman who asks boldly. If we continue to weep it is not because we are whiners, but because our burden is increased rather than relieved.
Do you continue to weep unrelieved by compassion? Perhaps Gehazi is still pushing you away. But if we move along past him, Elisha is back there with compassionate action. Elisha will run and sweat and care. He will hurt because you hurt. Let's not get caught at Gehazi's guard post, but, recognizing him, lets run on by and look for the real thing. Let's tell the truth because lies should not be used as magic words.
Apparently, the word "bitter" has a special magic: it can shut the mouths of those who are in danger, pain, or distress from domestic violence. I haven't figured out the logic of it quite yet. A church can post and distribute warning information about a local pedophile: this is not bitter or unforgiving of his sin. A church can support military action used to protect populations: this is not bitter or unforgiving of the sin in terrorism. A church can install alarms for police protection of its possessions : this is not bitter or unforgiving of the sin in theft. But, a victim of horrible abuse can expose the dangerous behavior of a tormentor for a limited time only. After church leaders have made some initial effort and counseling, the crime of abuse becomes "private". Any cry of a continued threat is labeled "gossip". The abuser becomes the victim. The abused woman becomes "bitter" and "unforgiving". If she has only slight knowledge of Scripture, she may be easily manipulated by these magic words, backing down into her quiet black hole. Alone again, she cries out to God, waiting, waiting for miraculous deliverance. But God has already said, "The prudent see danger and take refuge..." (Proverbs 27:12). There is no refuge in the Land of Magic Words.
The word "bitter" as used in the Scriptures is not a magic word at all. It is not a blanket word. It is a word that takes its meaning from its context in a narrative. It is a strong word. The Scripture says "woe" to those who put the label "sweet" on things that are really "bitter" and vise versa (Isaiah 5:20). Bitter is the taste of poison. Poison is not always produced in the person. Sometimes it is poured over the person, or fed to her, or injected. There are things that we should very well experience as bitter if we have any wisdom, if we have any fellowship with the good, sweet Holy Spirit. When we encounter evil cruelty, for instance, it should taste bitter. The book of Hebrews calls idolatry, specifically, a "bitter root" or a "root of bitterness" depending on translation. Idolatry is poison and it grows poison fruit, so it should be experienced as bitter. Many times the Scriptures speak of people "weeping bitterly" as a true and proper experience of horrible things. Are we in America attempting to train American Christians to put to death human emotional response to torment? Ezekiel was commanded by God to groan and weep with bitter grief (Ezekiel 21:6), because that was the right response to traumatic events.
I was especially fascinated, however, with the bitter distress of 2 Kings chapter 4. It was not a sin, but a signal to offer compassion and assistance. Bitter distress is probably a good description for the agony of recovery from trauma. The story tells of Elisha's concern for his friend, the Shunammite woman. The woman's son has died and when she runs to Elisha for help, Gehazi pushes her away. [Ever been pushed away?] But Elisha responds, "Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress..." (NIV). Then, he proceeds to find out what she needs and provides her with appropriate help. He has compassionate concern expressed with action, not magic words.
Have you ever been in bitter distress? Have you cried with bitter weeping? If so, you have a sweet soul. You can sense the poison in the bitter waters that have been thrown upon you because they are so opposite your sense of sweet. You can feel the affects of the serpent's bitter venom as it bites because it is an evil attack on a sweet daughter of God. When you sound the trumpet so that the watchmen can be alert to danger, you are not filled with a spirit of fear but a spirit of wisdom. Bitter distress is relieved by real compassionate effort from the Body of Christ. Christ is the healer of the brokenhearted (those in bitter distress) and Christ's people are the Hands to deliver that healing. He does not ask you to sit alone in the black hole, unseen and secret, waiting for a big zap. He expects you to run to God's people and speak your need. He expects His people to do everything possible to relieve your legitimate distress: bitter as it is. You are not your distress. You are an opportunity for ministry from some willing Elisha. You are a strong woman who asks boldly. If we continue to weep it is not because we are whiners, but because our burden is increased rather than relieved.
Do you continue to weep unrelieved by compassion? Perhaps Gehazi is still pushing you away. But if we move along past him, Elisha is back there with compassionate action. Elisha will run and sweat and care. He will hurt because you hurt. Let's not get caught at Gehazi's guard post, but, recognizing him, lets run on by and look for the real thing. Let's tell the truth because lies should not be used as magic words.
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