What If They Walk Out?
This past Sunday something happened that no preacher ever wants to witness. Two people walked out of the building right in the middle of my sermon. I knew that it was a mother and daughter who were visiting. They came in just at the start of the service and I was across the building from them. So I did not have the opportunity to get their name or to find out what brought them to us or where they were going. All I know is that they partook of the Lord’s Supper, and in the middle of my sermon, at about 40 minutes past the hour, they walked out.
I would not have thought much about their leaving if my topic wasn’t so controversial. It was one of those days that I had begun my message with a plea towards the congregation that they all might be open-minded, and listen, and think. I let them know that the sermon was being delivered out of love but that they might hear something that would, in opposition to my desire, offend them. I never want to isolate anyone from the pulpit. I never want to preach a message that is offensive. It is always my aim to preach the truth in love.
But, all that being said, what happened, happened. They walked out. So I was left dealing with the feelings of people walking out on my sermon. Did I say something I should not have said? Am I in error in doctrine or in attitude? Am I being too demanding or dogmatic or legalistic? Am I oppressive and offensive and unkind? Am I just completely wrong? Believe it or not, most preachers have anxiety about preaching error. They have concerns about saying something that might mislead someone or cause them to go astray. We are trying to help people draw near to God, not scare them away from him and his church. We love souls and we know we will be accountable to God in judgment for what we preach.
It occurs to me that maybe we should not limit this discussion of “walk outs” to just church buildings. What if people walk out of your life because of something you say or do? Have you ever had that happen? How did it make you feel? Did you question your deeds and words that caused that reaction? Did you begin to reexamine your attitudes and principles? Did you come to the conclusion that you were the problem? Or is it just possible that sometimes people are going to walk out for their own reasons?
If we believe and live according to God’s word, it will be impossible for us to get along with everyone all of the time. This doesn’t mean we seek to be abrasive. But we do need to have awareness that, even if we don’t want to ever lose a relationship, being a child of God demands that we are willing to let some people go. The Son of God was not always embraced as he taught the multitudes. The apostles were persecuted like the prophets of old. The infant church was a byword among the Jews and Romans of their day. It will never be an uncommon thing for those who follow Christ to watch people walk away.
I will never get to know why two people walked out of my sermon last Sunday. But it could have been worse, they could have stood up and challenged me and called me a false teacher. Or even still, authorities could have walked in and arrested me for what the world might now call “hate speech” (which ironically is really love speech). I would like to think that the people who walked out left because they were traveling and only had a little bit of time for worship. But that is a bit of a pipe dream since those folks usually wait until the sermon is over to quietly slip away.
Whatever the case, if people ever walk out of your life because of something you say or do, I would suggest that you pause and care about their leaving. It is healthy to ask why and examine your words and actions. I would also suggest that if people walk out you would realize that moments like this are inevitable for people who want to be faithful to God. And it will be ok.
So just take a long look in the mirror. Say a prayer of humility to God. And be at peace.
“Then He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.’” – Luke 17:1-2.
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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum
