Fight Fire with Water, not Fire. Be a Cooler, not a Fueler.
/I know the familiar phrase, “fight fire with fire" can be taken a few different ways, so let me take a few paragraphs to set the stage…
I’ve always heard that phrase and thought it was a fairly good thing, implying that we should never back down and always stand our ground. Until, that is, when I heard Kayleigh McEnany reference it in the keynote speech she gave at a fundraising event for the Pennsylvania Family Institute. She closed her address with a spin on the popular saying, a spin that was spun by one of her political mentors. His advice to Kayleigh, for some rather hot, heated, and fiery debates she’ll likely find herself in, was simply:
“Fight fire with water, not fire.”
And as she passed that piece of advice on to her audience, it resonated deeply with me. And here’s what I mean…
I’ve always been under the impression “fighting fire with fire” is not necessarily a bad thing, both literally and figuratively. It’s better than not fighting the fire at all and definitely has its place if done the right way.
I’ve also been under the impression “fighting fire with fire” is probably not the best thing, and water, when available and accessible, should be used to extinguish the flames.
The origin of the phrase is believed to come from firefighters and early settlers, who will literally fought fire with fire with a method called “backfiring.” By deliberately raising small controllable fires, called “back-fires,” they could control small brush fires and even violent forest fires. The fires they’d start would remove any flammable material in advance of a larger fire and so deprive it of fuel.
So, again, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. But what stood out to me about this technique — it uses strategy to defeat the enemy. The fire that is being used to eventually extinguish the other fire is set in front of and in anticipation of the oncoming flames, not on top of or in addition to the already raging fire.
Strategic. Wise. Controlled. God’s Word has quite a bit to say about these three things. So, from that point of view, I can see “fighting fire with fire” being a good thing.
But, for the sake of this point I’m trying to make, and the reason Kayleigh’s advice resonated so deeply with me, is because we find ourselves in a really “heated” environment right now — in all areas of our life, fires are raging — in society, in schools, in churches, and in families. Who once was a friend is now a foe. What once was civil and above reproach is now disrespectful and stooping low.
Figuratively speaking, the use of the phrase “fight fire with fire” dates back to 1623. It was used by Shakespeare in his play “King John,” and it meant to use the same tactics as an opponent or employ extreme methods to beat them, even if you have to play dirty.
And viewing the phrase from this point of view is where it got real for me.
Why would Christians use
the same tactics as the enemy
when we have access to
an armory of weaponry
that is fail proof
from our position of victory?
Why would we stoop to
the level of our scoffer
when we can extinguish his fiery darts
by the Living Water Jesus offers?
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” ~ Romans 12:17-21
Water not only extinguishes,
it quenches.
Fighting fire with fire,
when strategic,
can be productive,
but what then is left in the end?
A dry and desolate land,
scorched and parched,
desperate for water.
“Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.’” ~ John 4:13-15
We can’t JUST fight fire with fire because 1) If we are not strategic, we merely added fuel to it causing it to burn out of control and 2) Even if we are strategic, the aftermath is scorched and parched and in desperate need for a cool drink.
We must fight fire with water. The Living Water of Jesus Christ and the Good News He gave through the Gospel that saves.
When we only fight fire with fire, we play the enemy’s game.
Yes, there is a time to stand up and speak out, but you can always do that humbly and respectfully.
Conversations are more productive when they are less eruptive.
Don’t be a pot stirrer.
Be a thought spurrer.
When others are looking for a fight,
give them God’s Truth,
which is always right,
and will always give light,
not to fuel their fire,
but to guide their way
to thoughts that are higher.
“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Fight fire with water, not fire. Be a cooler, not a fueler.
Other related articles:
Sound the Alarm. Remove from Harm. Equip and Arm.
Culture vs. Scripture. The Difference is Significant