Summary: Embracing the pain from a brother is worse than pain from a hateful outsider. Have you ever experienced the pain of friendly fire? If you are going to serve in ministry, this is bound to happen. The goal is to be Christ-like and not fire back evil for evil.
Friendly Fire is what happens when someone is shot by their own army. It is tragic. It happens in war. It can happen in ministry. David said in Psalm 55, “For it is not an enemy who hurts me, then I could bear it. But it is you, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together within God’s house.” Friendly fire hurts.
Embracing the pain from a brother is worse than pain from a hateful outsider. Have you ever experienced the pain of friendly fire? If you are going to serve in ministry, this is bound to happen. These things happened to me and it was devastating.
The first few times, I literally could not sleep. I was strung out and listless. Third time, it hurt but was less shocking. Fourth and fifth and tenth time, it was no less sad, but experience has its advantages. Cold and callous I am not. Yet I have a deeper understanding of the human condition. I understand a deeper degree of our collective human plight. I also share in the sufferings of Christ. I take deep honor and beauty in being counted worthy of taking shrapnel for the Kingdom. We can be called to absorb someone's painful and friendly fire. Ministry requires the development of thick skin.
Personal shots are going to come. David said again in Psalm 109, “In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”
Friendly fire will happen within the ministry. The goal is to be Christ-like and not fire back evil for evil.