I Was Just Thinking About – SELF-SERVING CHOICES.
Human behavior can be a fascinating study. Whether one approaches it from a strictly secular orientation or a spiritual determination, conclusions will vary considerably. The key focus is the self-serving choices one has determined to be best. A Lifezette News Story references the current political climate and the selection of a United States Supreme Court nominee. The article for today includes in its sub-headline the words that define one political party’s choice, that they: “Choose obstruction over principle as left demands resistance.” The primary Headline is declaratory: “Gorsuch Filibuster Shows Dems Powerless to Oppose Their Base.” The focus of those who are making that choice is the 2018 election cycle and their desire to continue in office for another six years. The issue of principle and that which is either right or wrong has very little or nothing to do with the choice made. It is the motivation for continuance in a position of governmental “power” and “influence.”
If we shift to the self-serving choices one makes in a spiritual setting, will we find similar behavior or a self-sacrifice choice versus a self-serving one? The Biblical text that should govern one’s choice is plainly given in James 4:16-17, “As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.” The New Living Translation of James 4:15-17 reads, “What you ought to say is: If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that. Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
Thom S. Rainer published an article on March 27, 2017 whose headline stated: “Urgent Church: Nine Changes We Must Make Or Die.” His conclusion is: “Around 200 churches will close this week, maybe more. The pace will accelerate unless our congregations make some dramatic changes. The need is urgent. Hear me well, church leaders and church members. For many of your churches the choice is simple: change or die. Time is running out. Please, for the sake of the gospel, forsake yourself and make the changes in God’s power.”
Among the nine changes are: Number 6, “We must stop focusing on minors. Satan must delight when a church spends six months wrangling over a bylaw change. That’s six months of gospel negligence.” Number 7, “We must stop shooting our own. This tragedy is related to the entitlement mentality. If we don’t get our way, we will go after the pastor, the staff member, or the church member who has a different perspective than our own. We will even go after their families. Don’t let bullies and perpetual critics control the church. Don’t shoot our own. It’s not friendly fire.”
How many us will genuinely care and change? If so, when?
Prayerfully – consider these things with me.
Human behavior can be a fascinating study. Whether one approaches it from a strictly secular orientation or a spiritual determination, conclusions will vary considerably. The key focus is the self-serving choices one has determined to be best. A Lifezette News Story references the current political climate and the selection of a United States Supreme Court nominee. The article for today includes in its sub-headline the words that define one political party’s choice, that they: “Choose obstruction over principle as left demands resistance.” The primary Headline is declaratory: “Gorsuch Filibuster Shows Dems Powerless to Oppose Their Base.” The focus of those who are making that choice is the 2018 election cycle and their desire to continue in office for another six years. The issue of principle and that which is either right or wrong has very little or nothing to do with the choice made. It is the motivation for continuance in a position of governmental “power” and “influence.”
If we shift to the self-serving choices one makes in a spiritual setting, will we find similar behavior or a self-sacrifice choice versus a self-serving one? The Biblical text that should govern one’s choice is plainly given in James 4:16-17, “As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.” The New Living Translation of James 4:15-17 reads, “What you ought to say is: If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that. Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
Thom S. Rainer published an article on March 27, 2017 whose headline stated: “Urgent Church: Nine Changes We Must Make Or Die.” His conclusion is: “Around 200 churches will close this week, maybe more. The pace will accelerate unless our congregations make some dramatic changes. The need is urgent. Hear me well, church leaders and church members. For many of your churches the choice is simple: change or die. Time is running out. Please, for the sake of the gospel, forsake yourself and make the changes in God’s power.”
Among the nine changes are: Number 6, “We must stop focusing on minors. Satan must delight when a church spends six months wrangling over a bylaw change. That’s six months of gospel negligence.” Number 7, “We must stop shooting our own. This tragedy is related to the entitlement mentality. If we don’t get our way, we will go after the pastor, the staff member, or the church member who has a different perspective than our own. We will even go after their families. Don’t let bullies and perpetual critics control the church. Don’t shoot our own. It’s not friendly fire.”
How many us will genuinely care and change? If so, when?
Prayerfully – consider these things with me.
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