As a small group leader and teacher, I realize that I've spent a lot of time talking about having to get over the lust and porn (a big deal if you're a guy) or jealousy or gossip (if you're a girl). But how many times have I just sat down with everyone, and said, "Look. We're never going to get anywhere with this if we don't go beneath the skin." Not a lot. How many times have I asked them, "Whatever happened to loving others? Whatever happened to not being judgmental and condemning? Whatever happened to forgiveness and mercy and grace? Whatever happened to selflessness and sacrifice? Whatever happened to repentance?" I think we'd all just look at one another. Because every one of us, as a general rule, has a tendency to be mean and selfish, judgmental and hypocritical, back-biting and vengeful. We treat others like scum and make fun of them and reject them or despise them, we are judgmental and condemning, we hold grudges and exact revenge and don't know what grace is all about. We're all ME, ME, ME and hoard everything we own. It is really sad.
This isn't a very happy post. My posts have been really happy lately, and I apologize for this break in the flow. This is just something that has been on my mind: a concern for those around me and for myself. Because we aren't really going anywhere. We're not making much progress. Who we were at baptism is who we are now, for the most part: we haven't grown up! We still yell at people we don't like, we still hate others, we're still mean and we still back-stab. It is really sad. My friend made a good point of this when, at a small group, after reading Galatians 5:19-21, he eloquently noted, "That's every one of us in this room."
Why can't we get anywhere? Why haven't we changed? How come we are just forced to look at one another with stupid gazes when reading such ancient texts as Galatians 5:22-6:10 or 1 Corinthians 13? I just want to know how to express this to people to make them care as much as I do. I want us to really change. I have felt the changes happening in my own life and I am thankful. That's another story. But how do I share my concern with others - and how do I let them see how much a concern this really is?
This isn't a very happy post. My posts have been really happy lately, and I apologize for this break in the flow. This is just something that has been on my mind: a concern for those around me and for myself. Because we aren't really going anywhere. We're not making much progress. Who we were at baptism is who we are now, for the most part: we haven't grown up! We still yell at people we don't like, we still hate others, we're still mean and we still back-stab. It is really sad. My friend made a good point of this when, at a small group, after reading Galatians 5:19-21, he eloquently noted, "That's every one of us in this room."
Why can't we get anywhere? Why haven't we changed? How come we are just forced to look at one another with stupid gazes when reading such ancient texts as Galatians 5:22-6:10 or 1 Corinthians 13? I just want to know how to express this to people to make them care as much as I do. I want us to really change. I have felt the changes happening in my own life and I am thankful. That's another story. But how do I share my concern with others - and how do I let them see how much a concern this really is?
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