Conned
Avoid the troublemakers.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. - Romans 16:17-18
Sometimes I think I am very simple minded.
But it is not usually smooth talk that I find deceptive and misleading. That isn't what moves me to believe someone who is out for themselves.
What gets my attention is emotion. When someone breaks down and cries, bearing one's soul, I tend to melt.
It is their story that gets me. I want to believe they are on the path to something better for themselves, for it is in helping others succeed that I feel I am doing God's work.
But one could become cynical in this work. It may only take one person who plays the con to make me not want to get too close again.
That's what we are being warned against here. Avoid the people who would lead us down the wrong path.
So, how do we know which people are telling us the truth and which are telling a tale to benefit themselves?
I don't know if we can tell. If we are fooled once, we will know the next time, and that may be the only way, but once fooled, we may not want to help someone else who is telling us the truth.
When we experience deception, we strengthen our defenses. The next time we encounter someone in need, we show greater restraint and reluctance to get close, fearing we will be deceived again.
In time, we become like those who walk by the man lying on the ground. We don't get involved.
I don't think that is what the message is in today's reading. We should avoid those who seek to deceive, but we should also be followers of Christ and welcome the opportunity to help those in need.
When Christ was tired and sought a place to rest his head, he still showed compassion.
So, perhaps we too can find the compassion to help even after we have been conned.
That is the real challenge for us. It is why we pray for strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
When we fall, we get up again.
More to come...