One of the most difficult things to see in the life of a Christian in the sprint mentality in regards to risk.
What I mean is the idea that we can just pump out 100m and then walk it out for few km and hope to win the race.
This plays out in the area of “risk taking” or “leaps of faith” or whatever you want to call it.
It usually plays out something like this:
A relatively new Christian has some musical ability, but is incredibly shy. People around him encourage him to play on the worship team, and he confesses that God has been leading him to this. Finally, after much encouragement, maybe some rebuke, he gets up there and plays a set on the worship team, and he loves it! And life is exciting, and his obedience gives him confidence to be obedient in other areas.
However, before too long, it isn’t a big risk anymore. He is comfortable up on stage, and God is calling him to new risks. However, this time there is more resistance. Whenever God calls him to a new risk, Satan slinks up and whispers, “Hey, you’re already on the worship team, what more does God want? That was really hard for me!”
Now what was once a source of joy in God actually hampers spiritual growth as it become an agent of justification for all sorts of small, yet soul-draining compromise.
(of course, the worship team is just an example, it can be any area of service or risk...)
I unfortunately see this in myself as well. I want to be ready to obey whenever God calls, but there is a strong tendency to live off of the obedience of yesterday, but Jesus calls us to take up our cross each day.
The worst thing about it is that when I choose to ignore these prodding's, life becomes incredibly boring, and so does God. And I blame Him, but the boredom in my life is no one's fault but my own. Let’s get off the couch, there is no one, or nothing else worth living for.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Predator or Protector: What Kind of Man are You 2010
An updated version of an old blog, seems to be relevant right now.
"Wild at Heart" has been a huge thing, at least in the Christian community lately. It's call for boys to be men, it's declaration that all the longings for beauty and battle in men are God given and to be honored and embraced. But how does that translate to our culture of latte's and LCD TV's? How do we engage in battle for a beauty in this culture? That answer might surprise you.
I think I will just come right out and say that most guys believe that they are the good guy. The bad guys are out there somewhere: hurting, abusing, and otherwise degrading women. You are most prone to think this way if you have had a dramatic change in your life where you treat woman much better than you have previously. But make no mistake, the person you are protecting the women in your life from is primary YOURSELF. Yes you.
There are two general desires that our actions around females will emanate from: Our desire to be a protector and our desire to be a predator.
The predator may not even be aware he is a predator, but he only need as these types of questions to determine whether he is protecting women or preying on them: Am I doing everything in my power to protect this girls heart? Am I being as clear as possible about my intentions? Am I avoiding deep, soul connecting moments and conversations? (those conversations are appropriate when you have made your intentions clear to a girl!)
How many times have you seen it happen? Male A spends countless hours with female B under the guise of “we’re just friends”. Eventually (it can happen both ways), female B develops feelings for male A, and male A responds, “What? I had no idea! I thought we were just friends!” That’s garbage.
I see many predators in the church. I see a predator in myself from time to time, and by God’s grace, I am becoming more of a protector.
I understand the feelings of strength and masculinity that come from having these conversations and moments with a girl. But we have to face up to the fact that to draw out a woman’s heart when we have no intention of marriage, is cowardly and evil. We need to have our needs for significance and masculinity met in how God sees us, not how women treat us.
The protector sees girls not as a way to boost his own ego, but as precious treasures that he is charged by God to protect. Each young lady that is your friend puts you in the place of responsibility to fight and protect her heart. That means you watch what you say, you don't imply more than you want out of the relationship. That means you watch how flirty you are, you don't imply more than you want out of the relationship. And it means you are wiling to have the DTR talk (define the relationship) as often as it takes to make sure that your coming across the way you intend: as a loving brother. YOU PROTECT HER HEART!
So where does this fight come in? Well, you have to fight yourself. You have to fight to keep your mind on who you are before God, because if you don't, you will feel insecure and will need to have your confidence boosted by your girl friends, and therefore become a predator instead of a protector.
"Wild at Heart" has been a huge thing, at least in the Christian community lately. It's call for boys to be men, it's declaration that all the longings for beauty and battle in men are God given and to be honored and embraced. But how does that translate to our culture of latte's and LCD TV's? How do we engage in battle for a beauty in this culture? That answer might surprise you.
I think I will just come right out and say that most guys believe that they are the good guy. The bad guys are out there somewhere: hurting, abusing, and otherwise degrading women. You are most prone to think this way if you have had a dramatic change in your life where you treat woman much better than you have previously. But make no mistake, the person you are protecting the women in your life from is primary YOURSELF. Yes you.
There are two general desires that our actions around females will emanate from: Our desire to be a protector and our desire to be a predator.
The predator may not even be aware he is a predator, but he only need as these types of questions to determine whether he is protecting women or preying on them: Am I doing everything in my power to protect this girls heart? Am I being as clear as possible about my intentions? Am I avoiding deep, soul connecting moments and conversations? (those conversations are appropriate when you have made your intentions clear to a girl!)
How many times have you seen it happen? Male A spends countless hours with female B under the guise of “we’re just friends”. Eventually (it can happen both ways), female B develops feelings for male A, and male A responds, “What? I had no idea! I thought we were just friends!” That’s garbage.
I see many predators in the church. I see a predator in myself from time to time, and by God’s grace, I am becoming more of a protector.
I understand the feelings of strength and masculinity that come from having these conversations and moments with a girl. But we have to face up to the fact that to draw out a woman’s heart when we have no intention of marriage, is cowardly and evil. We need to have our needs for significance and masculinity met in how God sees us, not how women treat us.
The protector sees girls not as a way to boost his own ego, but as precious treasures that he is charged by God to protect. Each young lady that is your friend puts you in the place of responsibility to fight and protect her heart. That means you watch what you say, you don't imply more than you want out of the relationship. That means you watch how flirty you are, you don't imply more than you want out of the relationship. And it means you are wiling to have the DTR talk (define the relationship) as often as it takes to make sure that your coming across the way you intend: as a loving brother. YOU PROTECT HER HEART!
So where does this fight come in? Well, you have to fight yourself. You have to fight to keep your mind on who you are before God, because if you don't, you will feel insecure and will need to have your confidence boosted by your girl friends, and therefore become a predator instead of a protector.
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