In my last blog, Understand the Devil’s Plan, I wrote about the excuses my mother made for my rude behavior as a teenager. However, it dawned on me that growing up in New York, I wasn’t alone in my “former” rudeness. It was common-place for people from other parts of the country to refer to New Yorkers as rude in general and highly critical of people from the south. It was rather ordinary for them to mock southerners from the Bible Belt. In fact, I’ve heard it said that when southerners say “bless your heart”, they’re really being sarcastic.
There was a mindset that would stereotype certain southern women as snooty southern belles with their racial bias’ like in the 2011 movie “The Help”. Now, I realize that the mocking of southern hospitality is a merely cultural defect devised by the devil to pit people against each other and cause division. I admit that before I really knew Jesus, I was a creature of a cultural habit. But, today, because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the power of the Word of God, I am changed. I am a new creation in Christ, and I have a new mindset.
In a recent trip to South Carolina, I saw and felt the genuineness of southern hospitality firsthand. There was a clear juxtaposition between northern culture (South Florida included) versus southern culture. (Exceptions noted, naturally, no one is perfect.) For the most part, the trip was an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Everyone was friendly, they stopped to say hello with a smile, engaged in polite conversation and even stopped their cars for pedestrians crossing the road without yield signs (something I’m definitely not used to). A lovely young barista in a coffee shop in Greer, SC even gave us specialty coffees on the house just because we were visiting.
When engaging in a conversation with a lovely southern lady, she referred to a problematic person by using those infamous southern words, “bless their heart”. I must say, it gave me pause as I tried to discern her intent. But, as I reflected on those words and the possibility of it being a subtle form of ridicule, I decided that the benefit of the doubt was warranted. Maybe, it was genuinely a really nice way of saying something to or about an offender of sorts. According to another hospitable woman we met in a breakfast place, South Carolina is considered to be the buckle of the Bible Belt. Many of the people there grew up with the Bible engrained into every fiber of their being; not to mention, there are churches on practically every corner. That’s why it’s called the Bible Belt!
The Bible is the unchanging Word of God. I’ve noticed the people in the south have a deep respect for God’s Word. They live it out (for the most part). The Word says “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks…”. (Luke 6:45) Jesus, who is the Word made flesh, told people to pray for their enemies and those who persecute them because of Him. And it is a fact that southerners are mocked by worldly people for loving Jesus. They even call them Bible thumpers.
I reasoned, it would be normal for a southern “Bible thumper” to pray for those who may have offended them. And what better way to pray for one whom they may “feel” like cursing than to say “bless their heart”. Jesus did NOT say “out of the abundance of the thoughts or mind the mouth speaks”, but rather, the heart! A heart that is yielded to God and “His Word” will do what the Word says. Remember friends, the devil is a liar and he will cause all kinds of negative thoughts and feelings to cross your mind. God’s Word tells us how to handle those thoughts.
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Jesus tells us how to manage our situation after taking those thoughts and feelings to Him. He tells us to pray for those we may “feel” like cursing. Feelings can be lies of the devil. Only when we take our thoughts captive to obey Christ, will we be able to discern the truth from the lies. So, we look to God’s Word for answers. Here are some Bible verses that speak to dealing with problematic people.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:21)
This imagery of burning coals is a metaphor that suggests a strategy that’s not what your enemy would expect. Your prayers could bring conviction to that person through the Holy Spirit, who can purify them spiritually; or it can possibly be God’s power and judgement falling on them. Therefore, the next time someone offends you and you feel like telling them off, simply say “bless his or her heart” instead. In this way you will be praying for them. And most likely, if there is any assumption of sarcasm on the part of the offender, you can chalk it up to the devil’s reaction from your prayers feeling like burning coals to him.
Your number one enemy is the devil; the fight is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), so pray for people and defeat the devil. When you understand the devil’s plan to get under your skin, you can overcome all evil and experience the peace and joy of the Lord. And that is something the enemy can’t take away from you.
Reading and living out God’s Word in your life, will lead you to the abundant life that Jesus promises. It will be your best life ever! Stay tuned for more reasons for Why “The Word”. Until next time, God bless you all.
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