Generation Selfish
I recall the first time I heard the story about how some slaves in the Old Testament would come to their masters as the time for their release neared seeking to remain with them. I remember hearing about the piercing of the ear and the loving plea to "make me a servant." As the old song says, "Make me a servant, Lord, make me like you." It is the perfect picture of godliness and goodness. Yet, it is a picture that time has yellowed and diminished like an old Polaroid. These details of spiritual servitude have bleached out over time, and we are left with little, but a ghost of what once was.
Perhaps the biggest clue to our current reality is the number of times we get to hear each week about how someone or some group is offended by another group that simply does not care what anyone else things. One group calls the other group "snowflake," but at the same time demonstrates a serious lack of willingness to serve any agenda but their own.
Another clue is the ease with which divorce is sought and granted. The "you complete me" idea of marriage touted in pop culture is nothing more than veiled, humanistic approach to what God originally saw as a giving up of self to unite inextricably with another; personal identity given up to servitude.
Even most "brands" of Christianity start with an unhealthy notion of self and spread outward more like a virus rather than light and salt. Laziness of faith strips the church of both workers and servants, replacing them with audiences and spectators, who seem to incessantly ask, "What am I getting out of this" or "how are my needs being met." Granted, you should be getting something out of worship and your needs should be met, but when such pursuits are viewed as "someone else's job," replacing our own attempts to make "your call and election sure," then selfishness has taken over. No minister, elder or deacon can make you spiritual, though there are plenty of godly men who will encourage you toward full responsibility of faith.
It is such selfishness that has built the country's "safe spaces." It is selfishness that drives all entertainment-based worship. It is selfishness that keeps our court system bogged down with fraudulent claims and frivolous lawsuits. It is selfishness that keeps the door to the abortion clinic open and makes beggars of our missionaries. What can be done? It's time to get back to some basics.
1. Observe the Golden Rule and treat others the way you would want to be treated in all things. It is so often so hard to get over ourselves long enough to see others and yet this very behavior is high on God's list of priorities. It is this very thing that separates the sheep from the goats; heaven from hell (Mt. 25).
2. Love others with the same love we have for self. Do you think that all of these people crying "offense" and running off to some court to support their self-created moral cause ever stop to think about the rights and reasoning of the other people involved. Does the unreasonable soul who wants to force their immoral lifestyle on another, stop to think about the person upon whom they thrust it? Bake my cake, print my flyer or make my shirt that violates your religious beliefs, or I will ruin your life in court. Where is the love? By the same token, there is little love in offering no help to those struggling with moral, mental and mortifying issues, save the condemnation that's offered in full portion, hot and ready.
3. Seek peace. Seeking peace is an idea that inherently puts us in the position where we must consider the needs and desires of others. It is constantly cognizant of how others feel and what we may do to help, rather than hinder. "As much as within you is, be at peace with all men..."
4. Give others the benefit of the doubt. People love to think that they understand the motives of others. "He did that just to hurt me." "She likes it when I..." We don't know any such things. How do we feel when others tell us what we think or feel, or put words in our mouths? Do not impart motives to another person. It is presumptuous and sinful. If God does not accept it in our relationship with Him (Dt. 7:9-13), then he will not accept in our relationship with others.
5. Finally, be quick to listen and slow to speak. Often the truth goes unheard and service is a non-starter because we can't keep our mouths closed long enough to hear it or see the opportunity. Our lens is only focused by the many words that we speak, creating a distorted image of reality and our family of Me.
Its time to get back to these godly principles and begin once more the servants of our mighty God.
Perhaps the biggest clue to our current reality is the number of times we get to hear each week about how someone or some group is offended by another group that simply does not care what anyone else things. One group calls the other group "snowflake," but at the same time demonstrates a serious lack of willingness to serve any agenda but their own.
Another clue is the ease with which divorce is sought and granted. The "you complete me" idea of marriage touted in pop culture is nothing more than veiled, humanistic approach to what God originally saw as a giving up of self to unite inextricably with another; personal identity given up to servitude.
Even most "brands" of Christianity start with an unhealthy notion of self and spread outward more like a virus rather than light and salt. Laziness of faith strips the church of both workers and servants, replacing them with audiences and spectators, who seem to incessantly ask, "What am I getting out of this" or "how are my needs being met." Granted, you should be getting something out of worship and your needs should be met, but when such pursuits are viewed as "someone else's job," replacing our own attempts to make "your call and election sure," then selfishness has taken over. No minister, elder or deacon can make you spiritual, though there are plenty of godly men who will encourage you toward full responsibility of faith.
It is such selfishness that has built the country's "safe spaces." It is selfishness that drives all entertainment-based worship. It is selfishness that keeps our court system bogged down with fraudulent claims and frivolous lawsuits. It is selfishness that keeps the door to the abortion clinic open and makes beggars of our missionaries. What can be done? It's time to get back to some basics.
1. Observe the Golden Rule and treat others the way you would want to be treated in all things. It is so often so hard to get over ourselves long enough to see others and yet this very behavior is high on God's list of priorities. It is this very thing that separates the sheep from the goats; heaven from hell (Mt. 25).
2. Love others with the same love we have for self. Do you think that all of these people crying "offense" and running off to some court to support their self-created moral cause ever stop to think about the rights and reasoning of the other people involved. Does the unreasonable soul who wants to force their immoral lifestyle on another, stop to think about the person upon whom they thrust it? Bake my cake, print my flyer or make my shirt that violates your religious beliefs, or I will ruin your life in court. Where is the love? By the same token, there is little love in offering no help to those struggling with moral, mental and mortifying issues, save the condemnation that's offered in full portion, hot and ready.
3. Seek peace. Seeking peace is an idea that inherently puts us in the position where we must consider the needs and desires of others. It is constantly cognizant of how others feel and what we may do to help, rather than hinder. "As much as within you is, be at peace with all men..."
4. Give others the benefit of the doubt. People love to think that they understand the motives of others. "He did that just to hurt me." "She likes it when I..." We don't know any such things. How do we feel when others tell us what we think or feel, or put words in our mouths? Do not impart motives to another person. It is presumptuous and sinful. If God does not accept it in our relationship with Him (Dt. 7:9-13), then he will not accept in our relationship with others.
5. Finally, be quick to listen and slow to speak. Often the truth goes unheard and service is a non-starter because we can't keep our mouths closed long enough to hear it or see the opportunity. Our lens is only focused by the many words that we speak, creating a distorted image of reality and our family of Me.
Its time to get back to these godly principles and begin once more the servants of our mighty God.
posted by Believer | 1:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home