How to Respond to Mistreatment

A couple of years ago, a brother in Christ somehow thought it would be a good idea to rent a moving van and hang a billboard on the side of that truck. That billboard happened to have my picture on it, along with three other preachers whom I highly respect. Under our pictures was a website link that claimed to expose how we were all false teachers. Then, this brother parked this moving van on a busy highway outside a lectureship venue so that thousands of people, in and out of the church, could see it.

It’s been two years since this event took place, and I’ve finally decided to say something about it.

As I was driving to the lectureship, one of the organizers called me and informed me of what this brother had done and to be prepared when I arrived. I am thankful for the call because it gave me time to think. Without that call, my immediate reaction more than likely would have been anger, and I would find myself regretting some of the things I said. But the call allowed me time to think as I drove and by the time I had arrived at the venue, I had decided upon a response. Before I tell you what it was, let me tell you what prompted me to respond as I did.
When I started preaching full-time in 1984, I heard a story about Batsell Barrett Baxter that I have never forgotten. Because of brother Baxter’s role with the Herald of Truth, he experienced a great deal of criticism. One day, Ira North and Willard Collins were to pick up Baxter from the airport and have lunch with him. North and Collins had in their possession, a magazine in which a preacher from Texas had maliciously criticized brother Baxter. However, due to his travels, Baxter didn’t yet know about the article. So, when they got settled for lunch, brother Baxter was asked if he wanted to know what this brother in Texas thought of him and handed him the hit-piece. Before he could finish reading the article, their food was delivered to their table, and brother Baxter led the prayer. But in his prayer, brother Baxter prayed for the man who wrote the mean-spirited article, along with his wife, and children by name. Nothing more was said about the article after the prayer.

Through the years, I have never been able to shake that story. Brother Baxter’s example has helped me on several occasions through the years when my knee-jerk reaction would not have been nearly as godly. So, as I drove to the lectureship venue, once again, I remembered brother Baxter, and determined to follow his example. When I reached the venue, within 30-minutes, I was literally met by more than a hundred people wanting to ask me if I had seen the “billboard” on the side of the road. To the best of my remembrance, my standard response to hundreds of people that week was, “Yes, I’ve seen it. Isn’t it sad? Please remember to pray for the brother and his sons who did this.”

This response accomplished the following:

• It helped to keep my anger in check. I could have flamed the fans of anger by discussing with hundreds of people how I had been mistreated. Instead, I conquered my anger on this occasion. It’s hard to be vengeful toward those for whom you are praying.
• It put to an end “railing speech” by others before it got started. I think my response took some people by surprise. They came to me, ready to speak evil of this brother, but instead went away being asked to pray for him.
• It created a contrast. I wanted my behavior to stand in stark contrast with the brother who made the billboard. I didn’t want anyone thinking my response was just as bad as this man’s actions.
• It made me thankful. I was thankful brother Baxter, whose example strengthened me to respond in a way, I’m pretty certain I would not have if I had not had his example.

The reason I am writing this article is to make you aware of this event in the life of the late Batsell Barrett Baxter. His example has given me strength through the years, and I believe it will help you, too. Next time you’re mistreated, remember Batsell Barrett Baxter’s response.