I lied

Today, I lied.

I found myself caught in an unusual situation that I will summarize here in a nutsehll.Two weeks ago, the pastor of an evangelical church in the area - whom I know - contacted me to ask for a favor - to help a lady during the outgoing inventory of his former apartment. This lady called herself a "believer" and lived in the neighboring town where I live. According to the very few details that I had of the case, this lady had been in conflict with her landlord - an unbalanced and mean man - and preferred to have to be assisted by a Christian witness (me) on that occasion. I accepted. The lady then contacted directly with me and gave approximately the same details.

Uncomfortable about this situation, I did go with the lady and her friend to the apartment. The landlord was already there. On our way to the place, I had received no further details on the case, nor on the lady. Two or three things to pick up and put away, nothing more to do. In addition to taking some pictures of the furniture. But, the atmosphere became tense very quickly between the lady and the landlord, giving rise to a degenerated exchange of insults from both sides. The lady reproaching the owner with a lot of things, the owner doing the same, and both trying to convince me to rally their respective camp. As I was completely ignorant of the background, I was really not in a position to judge the situation or take sides. I strove to keep my calm until the end. But I finally lost it just before leaving, as the landlord started to insinuate that I was not welcome there and hurled abuse at me, among other things. My answer to him "I am a bailiff." Hard to believe of course when you know me and see me at this moment. My goal was to intimidate the landlord in order to bring the tension down  and force a return to calm. Which has not the case at all; the landlord started to make fun of me, arguing that I didn't look like a bailiff (that's right), that I did not know anything about law (still right), and that I was in big trouble with this lady (based on this situation, I can but agree afterwards). He then called me a "jerk."

In conclusion, I lied; the situation got worse; I didn't keep my calm; my testimony as a Christian was a major fail; my presence was indeed useless as I didn't know the pros and cons of the argument. My rendering: a manic and perverse landlord, a disoriented and a little provocative tenant, ad nauseam accusations and blackmails, and my lie.

This story to remind that it is important that as a Christian to have a good discernment, common sense, to be at peace, to bring peace and to be an example. But it is equally important not to do a  "favor" on the pretext of being a Christian. There are works that serve God and through us bear good fruit. And others that deal only with the world affairs and bring only trouble and remorse.

The life of the Christian here on earth is trying. And the Enemy will try to back us into our corner, watching for the slightest flaw to put us to the test. Let us act with wisdom and discernment.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33