scholars and their commentaries.
“A very notable aspect of this is their complete lack of knowledge and ability on how to interact with someone they perceived to be smarter or superior in some way to themselves. Of course that is somewhat of a problem for lots of people. As for these belittlers they were completely at a loss on the matter. It would be so simple for people like you and I.”
“It’s their problem, isn’t it?” remarked Leo, “their shortcoming.”
“Yes,” responded Collin, “it is the mind-set they grew in, and their minds haven’t budged on it since childhood. They learned, or more accurately, automatically took on from their parents, peers and a large portion of society, the distasteful characteristic of hating and being prejudiced against what is commonly referred to in their language as ‘big shots’ and ‘smart alecks.’ They are just that way automatically since childhood. They give no thought to the fact that they, in this era of education and opportunity for all people, are better off than many of the types of people they had learned to scorn when they were children and which they still scorn now.
“Again, it is worth noting,” continued Collin, “that most of the people they label big shots and smart alecks are people whom you and I see as successful people. True, there are many seemingly successful, yet arrogant and otherwise questionable characters out there whom we would not endorse. But these people are not the ones the belittlers go after. Its the better quality people they like to bring down.”
Brett quipped, “Especially if they have been successful in business.”
“Why in business?” asked Albin.
“That’s easy, Albin,” answered Brett, “belittlers like to bring down anyone in any occupation if they perceive them to be superior in certain ways. But my opinion is they come down harder on fine people who are successful in business. You will hear them say or imply that making money is wrong. Again, it is my opinion many of them say that because they haven’t been successful at making money themselves, and they envy those who have. So they label us as bad guys, crooks, etc. but you should see how they go after money when the opportunity arises.”
After Brett paused momentarily, he added, “of course the belittlers usually think the only reason a person is in business is to make money; greedy after money. That’s a widespread notion in the church. What they don’t entertain in their minds is that although we have to make money to stay in business, often our primary incentive is building and creating something that makes life worthwhile for ourselves and others.
“The minister or teacher aims high in their academic training to qualify them to go up the ladder of success in their chosen field. If they are successful the result is a higher position with a higher salary. You can’t tell me they don’t appreciate the higher salary. So it is with the business man. If he has good qualifications and well developed incentive he will build his business up to the highest his ability will allow. Sure this will earn more money for him. And he will appreciate it, just as the minister and teacher does. The principle is the same. In practice, the business man is likely to make more money than the minister or teacher, but that is no reason for envy and hatred. Each has freely chosen his own field.
“Besides, the good business man is not likely to hoard his profits. Chances are he will reinvest them and continue to build for the good of all. In my opinion, business people like that deserve high respect. But they reap the scorn of belittlers perhaps more so than do the dubious greedy ones of the business world. There are ministers and teachers to whom I wouldn’t want to send my family, as we have heard previously in this group. Likewise there are good and bad business people.”
Collin replied positively to Brett’s business perspective. “I agree with you one hundred percent, Brett. There is a lot of envy that lumps good business people like yourself in with the shabby and questionable business people, or even turns on the good business people, leaving the questionable ones alone. To me, business and money are gifts of God to be properly used by us. When so used they are a blessing to God’s people. They can only be properly used by well charactered well meaning people. At a later session I will be discussing belittlers at work in the business and commerce of Terraprima, so I’m glad you mentioned it now. It is a good preview of some of what is yet to come. Keep the topic in mind for later.”
“Thanks,” said Brett, “I may have taken the group off track here. Let us get back to Durwin. Imagine that, he had to put up with abuse in the Bible study group for several months.
Owen added, “I can imagine the tension it produced for him. It must have been nerve racking.”
“It would have been nerve racking for most people” replied Collin, “but not for Durwin. He had been dealing with belittlers all his life and could cope well with them. Yet, even though it didn’t rack his nerves, it was extremely stressful. It got so that he didn’t know when to speak and when not to speak. Either way it didn’t please them.
“Tension there was aplenty,” continued Collin, “it was now obvious to Durwin that this congregation was dominated by belittlers. Such churches never prosper nor get ahead. Durwin knew what he was up against, but his reputation with the larger church of the area was already established, with his ministry described as excellent and superior. Good reports were getting out from the congregation generally. So with that kind of back up, Durwin resolved to try to change the mind-set of the administration of his local church. Easier said than done! Their proud position would in time be observed in essence as, ‘we are perfect as we are. Just give us the right minister and our church will flourish.’”
Collin went on with the story. “A second incident that set the stage of belittling in this congregation occurred simultaneously with the Bible study event. Even though the interior of the ministers residence had been put in top condition before the Lawtons’ arrival, there had been no smoke detectors installed in it. It was a simple oversight, easy to happen, easy to remedy. Durwin and Canda both had experience with fires in their lifetime and knew what could happen. One of their main concerns was that the bedroom windows were high above the ground which in the event of fire would make escape through the windows hazardous even though they had a rope ladder type of contraption for that purpose. Early warning would allow for possible escape through the doors. They wanted smoke detectors installed. So at a meeting of the appropriate committee, Durwin asked that two smoke detectors be installed in the minister’s residence at a cost of twelve dollars each, with volunteer installation by Durwin or by anyone else who wished to install them. It was a logical request, yet mouths dropped when it was made. The chairman of the committee sputtered out excuses, ‘Well we have to consider our budget and be thrifty; I don’t see any problem with that residence to cause a fire; there hasn’t been a fire there yet; we have an excellent fire brigade in the area; you can have a rope ladder to exit through the windows.’ Their undisciplined pride was ruling far, far above their reasoning.
“Durwin responded very gently so as not to ruffle that hollow pride any further, ‘But we already have a rope ladder. We are just asking for earlier warning; two smoke detectors at a cost of twelve dollars each. I will install them myself.
“The chairman raised his voice in rebuttal, ‘I will install the smoke detectors,’ he said, as his chest came up and his pride took over. ‘I am a member of a fire company. I can buy them at a discount,’ he snapped as he asserted himself.
“A few days later this person arrived at the residence with the smoke detectors and screw driver. Durwin and Canda had already chosen the places to install them. They suggested it to the man. He became outwardly perturbed. ‘No,’ he snapped, ‘I will place them here and here,’ and immediately began to install one where the smoke on its way to the master bedroom would go up the ceiling fan opening before it reached the detector. Canda was quick to stand her ground. ‘Look here, it’s my life
