“When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”” (John 13:27, NLT)
Rev. Kenneth Haugk wrote a very thought-provoking book about antagonists in the church. In that book, he defined an antagonist as “someone who on the basis of non-substantive evidence, goes out of their way to make insatiable demands, usually attacking the person or performance of others; these attacks are selfish in nature, tear down rather than build up, and are frequently directed against leadership.” (Antagonists in the Church, p. 27). He argued that antagonists are so hard-headed that you can’t reason with them. You may think you can; you may try; but they don’t respond to reasoning. They are dangerous and deadly as friends, colleagues and parishioners. They are church killers.
Do you have any antagonists around you? So did Jesus.
In our scripture for today, Jesus witnessed Satan enter into Judas during the Last Supper. From then on, Judas was determined to follow through on Jesus’ arrest. Judas led the soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss. His actions directly influenced Jesus’ crucifixion and death. I find it Jesus' words during the Last Supper very interesting. Instead of reasoning with Judas, Jesus told him to “do what you are going to do” (John 13:27). Jesus knew there was no talking him out of it; no amount of reasoning would help.
Based on the scripture for today, when Satan entered into Judas, he became an antagonist. Satan himself is an antagonist against God. He is an antagonist against you. There is no reasoning with him. You cannot change his ways. He is hopelessly devoted to evil and sin. Sadly, all you can do with Satan is keep away from his presence when possible. Do not play his games. Do not listen to his lies.
Sadly, there have been antagonists in every church I have pastored. In conferring with other pastors, they have found the same. Antagonists are not only in every area of society, but they are also entrenched in the church. You will have to deal with them. You will have to work around them.
A new pastor was in his study, preparing for the next Sunday’s sermon. He liked to write his sermons early in the day, before the rush of ministry caused interruptions in his thoughts and reflections. As he pondered the scripture for the next week, he heard a gentle knock on his window. Peering out, he saw a member of the congregation who was smiling at him. The pastor went to the door of the church and let the woman inside. As she smiled, she asked if the pastor had just a few moments to talk. She explained that she needed his counseling for a few moments. The pastor was happy to oblige.
For the next few months, this woman made herself available to the pastor in many ways. She stopped over on his day off to bring cookies. She was quick to encourage his son when dealing with an issue at school. She befriended his wife. She invited them all to dinner. She offered to help with a project in the parsonage. What the pastor didn’t know was that the more the woman ingratiated herself into the pastor’s close acquaintances, the more she was weaving her web of destruction.
Two years later, after the pastor helped the woman become the head of the main women’s organization and a committee chairperson, things began to unravel. The pastor began to have problems in the church. Arguments broke out at several meetings. What the pastor didn’t realize right away was that this woman was an antagonist in the church. She warmed her way past the defenses of others. Then, when she had power, she often wielded it to cause disruption and hurt feelings all over the place. After five years, the pastor left that congregation, his faith severely shaken.
I bet within a month of the next pastor arriving, that woman was at his door with a plate of cookies. I bet she brought a warm greeting to the next pastor’s family. It was all a part of her antagonistic ways. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
If you are an antagonist, chances are you are blind to the damage you do. I’m sure you blame others for all the problems around you. I just want you to know that unless you repent of your antagonistic ways, you will be as deadly as Judas. Satan will love to increase your power in the church and in life. He can use you well.
If you must deal with antagonists, realize the same thing as did Jesus in our scripture today. Antagonists cannot be reasoned with. They will not change their ways. That is why Jesus told Judas to just “do what you are going to do”. Jesus didn’t reason with Judas. He didn’t try to change his mind. Once Satan had a hold on Judas, there were no words that were going to help. The only way Judas could be saved was if he came to his senses. And by the time Judas did come to his senses, Jesus was dead. With no way to make things right, Judas could only commit suicide. His antagonism paved the way for his destruction.
Antagonists destroy things. Its what they do. They are especially good at destroying relationships, even relationships with God. When you go up against antagonists, do not be mislead by their warmth. Do not be swayed by their seeming friendship. They are dangerous. Also, realize what Jesus knew. You cannot convince them of the truth. Sometimes, all you can do is walk away from them. I just hope their destructive ways don’t envelop you in the meantime.
There are some souls you can’t save. There are some people who can’t be persuaded with reason. There are those who will not listen to your wisdom or heed your warnings. Sadly, at times you may have to step back from those who are hell-bent on destruction. You may have to abandon that friend who will damage your soul. Please pray for them that it may not be too late. It is often too late before antagonists recognize their own sinfulness.
Is there someone near you now who may not be good for your soul? Is there a family member or friend who will not listen to reason? Be careful of antagonists. Satan loves to use them to get to you.
Red Flags of Antagonists To Watch For:
1. Previous track record
2. Parallel track record (antagonist at work, school, club, etc.)
3. Nameless others: "At least 24 others feel this same way."
4. Criticism of predecessor
5. Instant buddy
6. Gushing praise
7. "I Gotcha!" Asks leading questions, tries to trap you.
8. Extraordinary likeability
9. Church hopper
10. Liar
11. Uses aggressive means: extreme, combative, unethical
12. Flashes $$$
13. Takes notes at inappropriate times
14. Sarcasm, cutting language
15. Different drummer, always doing things their own way
16. A pest--incessant phone calls, questions, etc.
17. The "cause"
Do you have any antagonists around you? So did Jesus.
In our scripture for today, Jesus witnessed Satan enter into Judas during the Last Supper. From then on, Judas was determined to follow through on Jesus’ arrest. Judas led the soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss. His actions directly influenced Jesus’ crucifixion and death. I find it Jesus' words during the Last Supper very interesting. Instead of reasoning with Judas, Jesus told him to “do what you are going to do” (John 13:27). Jesus knew there was no talking him out of it; no amount of reasoning would help.
Based on the scripture for today, when Satan entered into Judas, he became an antagonist. Satan himself is an antagonist against God. He is an antagonist against you. There is no reasoning with him. You cannot change his ways. He is hopelessly devoted to evil and sin. Sadly, all you can do with Satan is keep away from his presence when possible. Do not play his games. Do not listen to his lies.
Sadly, there have been antagonists in every church I have pastored. In conferring with other pastors, they have found the same. Antagonists are not only in every area of society, but they are also entrenched in the church. You will have to deal with them. You will have to work around them.
A new pastor was in his study, preparing for the next Sunday’s sermon. He liked to write his sermons early in the day, before the rush of ministry caused interruptions in his thoughts and reflections. As he pondered the scripture for the next week, he heard a gentle knock on his window. Peering out, he saw a member of the congregation who was smiling at him. The pastor went to the door of the church and let the woman inside. As she smiled, she asked if the pastor had just a few moments to talk. She explained that she needed his counseling for a few moments. The pastor was happy to oblige.
For the next few months, this woman made herself available to the pastor in many ways. She stopped over on his day off to bring cookies. She was quick to encourage his son when dealing with an issue at school. She befriended his wife. She invited them all to dinner. She offered to help with a project in the parsonage. What the pastor didn’t know was that the more the woman ingratiated herself into the pastor’s close acquaintances, the more she was weaving her web of destruction.
Two years later, after the pastor helped the woman become the head of the main women’s organization and a committee chairperson, things began to unravel. The pastor began to have problems in the church. Arguments broke out at several meetings. What the pastor didn’t realize right away was that this woman was an antagonist in the church. She warmed her way past the defenses of others. Then, when she had power, she often wielded it to cause disruption and hurt feelings all over the place. After five years, the pastor left that congregation, his faith severely shaken.
I bet within a month of the next pastor arriving, that woman was at his door with a plate of cookies. I bet she brought a warm greeting to the next pastor’s family. It was all a part of her antagonistic ways. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
If you are an antagonist, chances are you are blind to the damage you do. I’m sure you blame others for all the problems around you. I just want you to know that unless you repent of your antagonistic ways, you will be as deadly as Judas. Satan will love to increase your power in the church and in life. He can use you well.
If you must deal with antagonists, realize the same thing as did Jesus in our scripture today. Antagonists cannot be reasoned with. They will not change their ways. That is why Jesus told Judas to just “do what you are going to do”. Jesus didn’t reason with Judas. He didn’t try to change his mind. Once Satan had a hold on Judas, there were no words that were going to help. The only way Judas could be saved was if he came to his senses. And by the time Judas did come to his senses, Jesus was dead. With no way to make things right, Judas could only commit suicide. His antagonism paved the way for his destruction.
Antagonists destroy things. Its what they do. They are especially good at destroying relationships, even relationships with God. When you go up against antagonists, do not be mislead by their warmth. Do not be swayed by their seeming friendship. They are dangerous. Also, realize what Jesus knew. You cannot convince them of the truth. Sometimes, all you can do is walk away from them. I just hope their destructive ways don’t envelop you in the meantime.
There are some souls you can’t save. There are some people who can’t be persuaded with reason. There are those who will not listen to your wisdom or heed your warnings. Sadly, at times you may have to step back from those who are hell-bent on destruction. You may have to abandon that friend who will damage your soul. Please pray for them that it may not be too late. It is often too late before antagonists recognize their own sinfulness.
Is there someone near you now who may not be good for your soul? Is there a family member or friend who will not listen to reason? Be careful of antagonists. Satan loves to use them to get to you.
Red Flags of Antagonists To Watch For:
1. Previous track record
2. Parallel track record (antagonist at work, school, club, etc.)
3. Nameless others: "At least 24 others feel this same way."
4. Criticism of predecessor
5. Instant buddy
6. Gushing praise
7. "I Gotcha!" Asks leading questions, tries to trap you.
8. Extraordinary likeability
9. Church hopper
10. Liar
11. Uses aggressive means: extreme, combative, unethical
12. Flashes $$$
13. Takes notes at inappropriate times
14. Sarcasm, cutting language
15. Different drummer, always doing things their own way
16. A pest--incessant phone calls, questions, etc.
17. The "cause"