THE "B" SYNDROME

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

An old saying suggests: “You only have one opportunity to make a good first impression.” In personal contacts or when being interviewed for an educational or employment position, one is measured by appearance, ease in communication and believability. Those whose profession is to assess others can easily detect whether or not one is being real and honest. The “B” Syndrome has contributed to many casualties along the way. Why has the “B” Syndrome been such an important factor in the assessment process? There are at least three “B” factors. In no particular order, they are Boasting, Bragging and Bloviating (talk at length in an inflated or empty manner). For some reason, a person creates a narrative about himself and his exploits or achievements. In time, it is no longer just a narrative but a claimed feat, experience or achievement. It no longer is distinguishable whether any of it is true or not. The longer the narrative is stated the more the person who created it in the first place begins to believe it actually occurred.

An sad example of The “B” Syndrome is a news story that was reported on Wednesday, February 4th, 2015. The following summary was posted on The Drudge Report: “NBC News anchor Brian Williams conceded on Wednesday that a story he had told about being under fire while covering the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was false. Williams said he was not aboard a helicopter that was hit by enemy fire and forced down — a story he retold as recently as last week during a televised tribute to a retired soldier during a New York Rangers hockey game. On NBC Nightly News Wednesday evening, Williams read a 50-second statement apologizing for his characterization of the episode. “After a ground-fire incident in the desert during the Iraq war invasion, I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago,” he said. “It did not take long to hear from some brave men and women in the air crews who were also in that desert. I want to apologize. I said I was traveling in an aircraft that was hit by [rocket-propelled grenade] fire. I was instead in a following aircraft…This was a bungled attempt by me to thank one special veteran and, by extension, our brave military men and women, veterans everywhere, those who have served while I did not.” The admission is a rare black mark for Williams, a poised, veteran newsman who has anchored NBC’s signature newscast since 2004…”

Regrettably, this is also true within the Church and the lives of those involved in ministry. There is a subtle biographical expectation by the Church for one to be its Pastor. With both the Church and the one being considered, there is an unreal expectation. A Church may have an inflated view of itself and seek a man who is equal to that expectation. To be considered, the applicant submits a resume that may be tweaked in order to have a chance to be the one chosen. Rather than both the Church and man spending time in prayer and fasting to determine God’s will, the process becomes secularized and inflated Church expectations and expanded Minister skills slowly and subjectively become exaggerated. How does the Scripture address the pervasive “B” Syndrome? Note II Corinthians 10:12-18 (ESV), “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.” A guideline one should purpose to follow is Proverbs 27:22 (ESV), “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” One consideration that should cause one pause is in James 4:16 (ESV), “As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” Each of us needs to exercise care in terms of The “B” Syndrome. Consider these things with me!