W-1630
As Fran works at her desk, her Christian friend Louise comes up to her. “Fran, what are we going to do about Jack? It’s really getting to be a problem.”
Fran puts down her pen and says, “Yeah, I know what you mean, Louise. Barbara from accounting came in here yesterday and said to me, ‘Hey, I thought Christians were supposed to be honest. But that Jack—he’s as devious as the next guy. He tried to cheat on his expense accounts, but I caught him.’”
“You know, if he’s not going to behave like a Christian,” Louise says, “I wish he’d stop telling everyone what a big Christian he is. It makes you and me look bad.”
“I know, it just burns me up,” Fran agrees. “He went to management to try to play both ends against the middle and get that new account that’s been assigned to Ben. He actually told Marilyn some lies about Ben, and Ben is hopping mad. He said to me, ‘Is this how you Christians behave?'”
“Doesn’t he realize that if he’s going to talk the talk, he’s got to walk the walk?” Louise responds. “I’m really fed up with him—well, I gotta run. See you later.”
As Louise leaves, Fran gets even angrier thinking about how Jack is ruining the testimony of Christians in their company. But that quiet, still voice of God’s Spirit begins to convict her about the way she and Louise talked about Jack. It certainly wasn’t very loving.
“Well, Lord, we were just talking about a problem. I mean, something’s got to be done,” Fran says in frustration. “He’s making you look bad.”
As she says the words, she knows it reveals her true heart. She doesn’t have to protect Jesus’ reputation. It has stood for thousands of years and Jack won’t wipe it out. She is far more upset about the way Jack is affecting her than she is about Jack’s true condition. And she knows that she and Louise need to respond to Jack correctly, not in anger and gossip.
As Fran is getting ready to leave the office later that day, Jack walks in. “Hi, Fran, how’s my sister in Christ today?”
Fran gives him a look that could kill. “You know, Jack,” she says, “it’s great to talk about your faith in Jesus openly like you do, but one thing I try to do is practice what I preach.”
“Yeah, me too, Fran,” Jack says, undaunted. “Gotta walk it before you talk it. Listen, we’re having a big concert at our church this weekend. I’ve invited the whole department, so try to make it, okay? See ya’, Fran,” and with that, he leaves.
Fran is steaming. “He’s invited the whole department—like he’s some great Christian. He’s just a big hypocrite, that’s all he is.” She grabs her things and leaves the office.
On the way home, Fran begins to think about Jack. Again, the Spirit of God convicts her about the way she responded to Jack. The verse comes to her mind where Jesus said that the world would know we are his disciples if we love each other. There’s a tug of war going on inside Fran. She knows her attitude toward Jack is wrong, but she just can’t stand to see him behave the way he does and get by with it.
She starts to talk to the Lord about him. “Lord, I love him, but . . .”
“But what?” she thinks.
In the quiet of the car, Fran begins to think about her pride, reacting as though she was the perfect Christian and Jack was going to spoil all she’s done. And then actually being jealous because he invited the whole department, and she’s never had the nerve to do something like that. She is ashamed to see what is in her heart. “Oh, Lord,” she says to Jesus, “I was so prideful and arrogant in my response to Jack. You said to cast the plank out of my own eye before I look at the speck of sawdust in my brother’s eye [Matt. 7:3]. I’m sorry.”
Immediately that inner peace comes as she surrenders to God’s Spirit and does what Jesus wants her to do. “I guess there’s no way I can help Jack as long as my own heart is judgmental and angry. Lord, please show me how you want me to respond to Jack. I’m ready to do it your way,” Fran prays.
The next morning during her time with the Lord, Fran prays for Jack. “Lord,” she says, “help me to see Jack the way you see him and to love him, as you have commanded me to do.” While reading the Bible that morning, Fran reads Galatians 6:1: “. . . if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”
“Well,” she says to Jesus, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence I was reading this chapter today, Lord.” He prompts her to look up another passage that comes to mind.
“Where is that verse,” she asks herself, as she researches her concordance. “Ah, here it is: Matthew 18:15-16: If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
“Well,” Fran says, “I guess I need to talk to Jack, right, Lord?” She looks at that passage in Galatians 6:1 again. “But I have to restore him gently. Help me, Lord.”
All morning long Fran is thinking about how best to approach Jack. She talks with Jesus about it several times. “Should I ask Louise to join me?” Then she remembers that Jesus said first go by yourself. She wonders how best to do that.
Not coincidentally, Jack comes to ask her a question about one of her accounts. As the conversation is ending, Fran says, “Jack, are you busy for lunch today?” He says no, and they agree to meet at the coffee shop.
As she walks to the coffee shop, that one word keeps playing in her mind: Gently, gently, gently. She prays that Jesus will help her to be gentle.
As their sandwiches are delivered, Fran works up her courage and says, “Jack, this morning as I was reading the Bible, I felt that the Lord wanted me to talk privately to you about something.” She quotes Galatians 6:1 to him and continues. “Are you aware that several people in the company have found you to be dishonest and deceptive? For example, I’ve been told that you consistently cheat on your expense accounts and you lied to Marilyn about Ben.”
Well, she’s jumped in with both feet now, and there’s no turning back. Her stomach is churning. “Lord,” she whispers to Jesus, “please help me to be gentle.”
Jack looks stunned. “Who told you I’ve been cheating on my expense accounts?” he asks. “That’s a lie. And I never lied about Ben. I know he’s been saying that, but he’s the liar!”
“Look, Jack,” Fran says, “I’m not here to argue about these things, but it’s just so important that we live a completely upright and blameless life among non-believers. And believe me, I don’t always do it right. For example, I’ve had to apologize a couple of times to my coworkers for losing my temper and saying things I shouldn’t. So, all I’m saying is . . .”
“All you’re saying is you’re the perfect Christian and I’m not. Sorry if I’m not perfect like you, Fran,” Jack says sarcastically.
“Jack, I’m not perfect; I just told you that, but your lack of honesty is pretty widespread knowledge. Many people have mentioned it to me, and I just felt it was important to confront you, as your sister in Christ.” Fran feels her heart sinking.
“Well, Fran, what I do is none of your business,” Jack says in anger.
“No, that’s not true, Jack,” Fran replies. “We’re both part of the Body of Christ, and what we do affects each other. Besides, Jack, I care about you, and I just want to encourage you to get these things out in the open and deal with them.”
“Frankly, Fran,” Jack says, “you’re just sticking your nose in where you’re not welcome.”
“But Jack,” Fran answers, “Jesus said we are to go to each other when there is a problem . . .”
“So, since this is none of your business,” Jack interrupts, “this matter is closed. Understand, Fran? Closed.”
And with that he throws his money on the table and walks out. “Oh great, Lord,” Fran puts her head in her hands, “I’ve really blown it.”
She feels terrible, but the Spirit of God comforts her. She is reminded that she followed the guidance of the Lord: she dealt with Jack in a gentle way. Now, how he responds is between him and the Lord.
The rest of the day Fran fights off feelings of false guilt, because it feels like she did something wrong. Otherwise, it would have had a happy ending—right?
That evening she shares her experience with Louise, and they both pray over the phone for Jack. “You know, Louise,” Fran says, “the important thing is Jack’s relationship with Jesus, not how his life affects our witness at work.”
“You’re right, Fran,” Louise says. “I’ve been very critical and gossiped about Jack myself. I’m not doing that anymore. Let’s covenant to keep praying for him.”
“Absolutely,” Fran replies. She’s able to go to bed with a better feeling about the whole situation.
Two days pass by and Fran doesn’t even see Jack. But on the third day, Jack calls her. “Fran, could you have coffee with me after work?” They agree to meet, and when they’re alone, Jack says, “Fran, I’ve been so miserable since we had lunch.”
“Oh, Jack, I’m sorry,” Fran starts to respond.
“No, no,” he interrupts, “you don’t owe me an apology. You were right. I have been dishonest and greedy and . . .” Jack fights to keep back the tears.
“Oh, Jack, all you have to do is tell Jesus and you’re forgiven.” Fran puts her hand on his.
“I know,” he says, “I’ve done that. Now, I ask you to forgive me. Money is a real problem with me, Fran. It’s not going to be easy to change, but . . .”
“I promise you, Jack,” Fran says, “I will pray for you daily, and you can talk to me any time you please. If I can help you in any way, I will.”
They talk for another hour about forgiveness and restoration and about how God turns deserts into gardens. Fran goes home that evening with a joyful heart and a renewed commitment to love Jack as a brother in Christ, without criticizing him or running him down.
“Lord,” she prays, “when I thought nothing was happening, you were working in Jack’s heart. Help me to remember the lessons I’ve learned through this, and help me to truly pray for Jack as I promised.
Well, that’s a happy ending to this story. Fran followed biblical principles with Jack, as a sister in Christ, and Jack was finally able to confess and seek help. That’s certainly preferable to just continuing to gossip about him and get angry at him. Of course, not all stories have happy endings, so it could just as easily have ended with no apology or change on Jack’s part. But Fran followed God’s promptings and biblical instructions for dealing with a brother or sister who is wandering from the way, and regardless of the outcome, the ball is now in Jack’s court and he will be responsible to God.
