Almost every organization says, “People are our greatest priority.” Businesses say it, governments, sports teams… churches. But you usually discover the truth when caring for people begins to interfere with an organization’s success. What happens when protecting someone becomes expensive? When patience slows down the progress of the mission? When wounded people become burdens? When doing what is best for them threatens the goals, reputation, or future of the institution? That is when the slogans disappear and the real priorities become visible. Because it is possible to believe deeply in an important mission while slowly sacrificing the very people that mission was supposed to serve. It is possible to defend the right cause while treating people in ways that contradict the heart of that cause. We assume that belonging to the right side automatically means we are operating in the right way. THis passage asks a painful question: What happens when the right cause is pursued w/the wrong kingdom’s methods & who pays the price?
