When It's Time to Flip the Tables

There’s a scene in the Gospels that always catches my attention. Jesus walks into the temple, sees the corruption and exploitation happening under the guise of worship, and flips the tables. It’s not the quiet, serene image of Jesus we’re used to seeing. It’s a bold, deliberate act—a refusal to allow disorder and injustice to continue.

I think about that moment a lot, especially when I’m wrestling with boundaries or the messy work of standing up for myself. Flipping tables isn’t about creating chaos. It’s about restoring order. It’s about saying, This isn’t right, and I won’t stand for it anymore. And sometimes, it’s the only way to reclaim peace—not just for yourself, but for the people around you.

Boundaries Are a Form of Flipping Tables

When you set a boundary, you’re flipping a table. You’re turning over the assumptions, habits, or dynamics that have been allowed to run unchecked. You’re disrupting the status quo—not to create harm, but to restore balance.