Who’s the Doctor?

Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us. Micah 3:11

Often, while engaged in a discussion at home that I feel isn’t going my way, whether it’s regarding house paint or gardening, I pull out this conversation stopper: Who’s the Doctor? It’s supposed to remind whoever I’m arguing with that I know everything, but it’s faulty logic and it never works. Still, in my arrogance, I keep trying.

This seems to be the attitude of the priests to whom Micah spoke in today’s passage. Accusing them of greed, bribery, and corruption, Micah warned of the approaching consequences, but they used a similar argument as me, not claiming to be physicians, but rather, clinging to their pseudo-faith in God. Who are the priests here? We are God’s chosen. We cannot be wrong.

It’s easy to see through their faulty logic. Just because someone says they believe in God, it does not follow that everything they do and say is right.

This kind of thinking is subtly tempting for Christians though. We often misuse God’s word to convince ourselves that he wants whatever we want. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? God is on my side! I can’t be wrong! This is like the young man who is convinced God told him to marry some uninterested young woman. But God told me! You have to marry me!

Again, it’s easy to recognize when others do it. When someone’s behavior doesn’t align with their claim to faith, it’s easy to see the faulty logic. The challenge though, is to be honest enough to recognize when we do it. It’s not that we cannot be certain about God. It’s that we must always question our own motives. Is this what God truly wants? Or, is it just what I want and I’m trying to use God to get it?

Because it’s so tempting to confuse our will for God’s, we must daily abandon our path for his. We may be doctors and Christians, but the only way to live rightly is to humbly admit when we’re wrong and to follow the only one who is always right.