I put my finger on something today
I put my finger on something today at a Bible study. We were studying John 11, and we were talking about how Jesus knew His identity. He did not question His purpose. Midst all the accusations and questioning, He knew that He was not the stranger who came to harm people. He was not even the hired hand who cared nothing for the sheep but only for the job and the money. He was and is the Shepherd. If people did not hear Him, that had not reflection on His identity. It only showed they were not His sheep.
This led us into a discussion about knowing our identity in Him, knowing who God created us to be, knowing His purpose for us - despite the persecution and misunderstanding.
We discussed how easy it is to take other people's word for who we are - how easy it is to give into peer pressure. How easy it is to just sit back and do nothing.
We discussed how difficult it is sometimes to know who is talking to us - the Shepherd, the stranger, or the hired hand. We discussed that false prophets are still in the world today, just as they were when Jesus walked the earth.
This discussion led to an interesting question. How has our willingness to listen to others, to follow the crowd, to not realize our own identity in Christ, to not discern the difference between these three persons led to corruption of religious power, of governmental power? There is no doubt, it has.
We refuse to question what we're taught. We decide it's better to wear a fake smile and think positively than it is do what Jesus did. He didn't smile at the Pharisees and say, "Well, just think positively. They'll figure it out." He stood against the corruption. The apostles followed in His steps after His crucifixion and resurrection.
But somewhere down the line, over the past couple of centuries, we have decided that positive thinking is more important. And look at where Christianity is now. It's divided into denominations. It's doctrinal rather than relational. It has a form of godliness, but denies the real power.
So I put my finger on the idea that this is what I have meant by positive thinking leading to complacency. This is why I cringe when I hear the idea of "just think positively." Jesus didn't "just think positively." He taught that if we truly love someone, we'll lay down our lives. That doesn't necessarily mean die. That means lay down what people think of us. It means putting Him and what He wants ahead of everyone and everything else - including our holy reputations.
How far we have fallen.
This led us into a discussion about knowing our identity in Him, knowing who God created us to be, knowing His purpose for us - despite the persecution and misunderstanding.
We discussed how easy it is to take other people's word for who we are - how easy it is to give into peer pressure. How easy it is to just sit back and do nothing.
We discussed how difficult it is sometimes to know who is talking to us - the Shepherd, the stranger, or the hired hand. We discussed that false prophets are still in the world today, just as they were when Jesus walked the earth.
This discussion led to an interesting question. How has our willingness to listen to others, to follow the crowd, to not realize our own identity in Christ, to not discern the difference between these three persons led to corruption of religious power, of governmental power? There is no doubt, it has.
We refuse to question what we're taught. We decide it's better to wear a fake smile and think positively than it is do what Jesus did. He didn't smile at the Pharisees and say, "Well, just think positively. They'll figure it out." He stood against the corruption. The apostles followed in His steps after His crucifixion and resurrection.
But somewhere down the line, over the past couple of centuries, we have decided that positive thinking is more important. And look at where Christianity is now. It's divided into denominations. It's doctrinal rather than relational. It has a form of godliness, but denies the real power.
So I put my finger on the idea that this is what I have meant by positive thinking leading to complacency. This is why I cringe when I hear the idea of "just think positively." Jesus didn't "just think positively." He taught that if we truly love someone, we'll lay down our lives. That doesn't necessarily mean die. That means lay down what people think of us. It means putting Him and what He wants ahead of everyone and everything else - including our holy reputations.
How far we have fallen.
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