"Stranger Dangers"
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If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? For me, I think the most useful ability might be the power to read minds. Peering into someone’s thoughts could come in handy — especially when trying to communicate with my wife!
“And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?”” (Mark 2:8).
Unlike Jesus, we can't see into another person’s heart. When we meet a stranger, there are particular challenges in getting to know them. So, let’s look at a few dangers we face when trying to talk to strangers.
Trust But Verify
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
When was the last time you checked that the barista calculated the tax correctly when ordering your morning coffee? For even the most skeptical, trust is a part of our interactions with strangers. But despite our tendency to believe what we hear, we do need to verify if those things are correct. Ultimately, it’s the Shepherd’s voice that we listen to, not the voice of strangers (John 10:5).
Looks Can Be Deceiving
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits ...” (Matt. 7:15-16).
So, how will we know who’s telling us the truth? Jesus tells us to look beyond their words and appearance, to their deeds. The art of disguise is one of Satan’s most powerful tactics against us. As Paul warns, “So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). But let’s also be careful not to write off a true believer as a sinner, as they invariably did with Jesus. May God give us the ability to discern the righteous man from the unrighteousness man.
Consider the Context
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22–23).
Paul could have blasted these strangers for their idolatry and paganism. But instead, he saw an opening to introduce them to God. Jesus could have treated the woman caught in adultery with contempt (John 8:1-11), but instead, he showed her compassion and mercy. We also need to consider the context of people’s lives and look beyond their sin towards the possibility of their salvation.
So let’s be careful with how we deal with strangers, treating them with love and mercy, while also being aware of the possibility of danger.
