I have discovered that it is so much easier to be a Pharisee than a disciple. You can probably relate, but many of you would never admit it (that was tongue and cheek, don’t get mad). You see, a Pharisee makes rules and then expects everyone to abide by them. A disciple hears the rules of the Master, lives by them and encourages others to live by them. They encourage others to “follow me as I follow Christ”. The difference seems to be how we approach people.
We like to beat folks into submission sometimes, don’t we? We have some standards and ideas, and most of them are good. The problem is the way I see them being handled. We set expectations and then provide punishment when they are not met. Every company and organization in the world does this, and sometimes we as the church follow suit. We even do it with our kids. At least I do it with my kids. In the process of fostering, I have become keenly aware of how easy it is to make rules and punish and not reward and encourage.
The problem is what human nature becomes. What is your reaction when you work with or for someone who is never happy and always points out where you screw up? You either get to be jaded or you begin to do the bare minimum. You do what you can to survive in an unhappy environment. Work become tedious, your joy is gone and often begin to shut down. Have you ever experienced it? I suspect that many of the people in our churches experience that. They are told they are not doing enough, not working hard enough, not loving Jesus enough, not at church enough and not devoted enough. Sometimes a pastor doesn’t want anyone else to do anything in case they screwed it up. Obviously the people won’t get real excited about serving in that church.
It’s harder in the church, because we have no real authority, just spiritual influence. I have heard pastor’s refer to themselves as “The Lord’s Anointed” as a way of trying to get some influence and some power. Unfortunately, the position of Messiah has already been taken, and people still leave the church. People have to be motivated to serve, not threatened or guilted. We can remove them from whatever position they have, but they can just go to another church and take a leadership position there. We can’t strong arm people into things.
We gotta figure out how to be more like Jesus. I have to figure out how to be more like Jesus with the people in my church, with my family, my friends. I can’t just level expectations at them, just expect them to do what I think they should do. I am not their master, Jesus is their master. Of course I want the church to fun and function like it should. Of course I want people to do the things they said they would do, to serve and to follow, but I’m not the master. I’m a sheep and I must follow the Shepherd. The funny thing about sheep is that one or two begin to follow, more and more begin to follow. We have to be lead followers and not leaders. We are not the head, Jesus is the head. Maybe it’s time we become the feet?
What if every time you heard the term “church member” you thought “hand, arm, leg, foot”? That was precisely the terminology Paul was using when providing connecting rhetoric for the early church.
Note that there is no Siskel and Ebert body part. 😉
” Let us recall that in our midst dwells God’s begotten Son;
As members of His Body joined, we are in Christ made one.”
from an old hymn written 12 centuries ago
Critical people create clicks. They are a cancer in the Body of Christ. I have been around a couple of people who were critical of others and in order to keep them as friends I had to only like the people they liked which were but a few. That is why I move around and have a variety of friends in church so those people do not attach themselves to me.
Good post.
“They are a cancer in the Body of Christ.”
That is a bold statement, especially in light of you being critical of others.
To whom was I critical?
To those whom you claim are critical.
It is critical to be sure those who you are being critical of are critical. That being said, the best idea is to make sure you are not critical and let God worry about those who are critical. I think that’s critical.
Joshua, One well known person was attacking me relentlessly without cause and there was no one responding in support until most of the damage was done. It was obvious that it was wrong for two Christians to be having a discussion like that and no one was responding. I believe my criticism of “those” you mentioned was not in the same category as this post. If you think my criticism was the same as this post please provide more detail as to why you believe that. Since you have pointed the finger openly I would appreciate some convincing statements so… Read more »
Dan,
Ver nicely said. 🙂
Bruce,
I am just showing how your critical statement of all critical people was self-condemning. You call those who criticize “a cancer in the Body of Christ.” In doing so…you become one of those who criticize. You gave no qualifier of what type of criticism these people were guilty of. You merely said “critical people.”
Joshua, I thought my qualifier was, “I have been around a couple of people who were critical of others and in order to keep them as friends I had to only like the people they liked which were but a few.” The question from Dan Barnes was, “What is your reaction when you work with or for someone who is never happy and always points out where you screw up? ” My comment was not based upon someone’s criticism to “me” because I usually don’t stay around people like that. I wanted to comment on the criticism of “others” because… Read more »
Bruce H.,
Is it possible that I may be the culprit you have in mind who “was attacking me (you) relentlessly without cause” in comment #8?
Maybe the right phrase would have been “without provoking” in lieu of “without cause” even though I think both would fit. I think our harsh comments toward each other helped prompt a couple of post about how we communicate on these comment streams. Yes, it was you referred to in my statement. Let’s make it clear that I never called your name nor called you a culprit.
Bruce H., I have been a culprit from time-to-time, no question about that in the least. But I must take issue with you there just you little, you must understand. Now, let’s be truthful here. Have I ever been critical of you? Yes. Have I ever “attacked” you? Well, that may be a little over the top. To me the word “attack” usually involves physical contact. I did say once that you needed to be slapped naked. I think maybe a better word for our use here would be “confront.” So let’s use that word, OK? Have I ever confronted… Read more »
cb,
Fine. Confirming that we have a bi-polar relationship is not what we would want to show on any comment stream. Comments that are productive for all is the desire of this .com . Let’s move on and disagree but lets lay the personal issues aside. Comment to the post and blog to the Glory of God. Simple!
Actually Bruce H.,
My polarity has been pretty one way with you. But, in the future, I will seek to be more supportive of you…..if I can…and if you refrain from saying crazy stuff. Deal?
Great post Dan!!! Very though provoking… Pastor’s as Pharisees can be either drill sergeants, hypocrites, or regulators: – (DS) constantly berating, constantly (poorly) encouraging, but ineffective… like an evil Tony Robbins – (Hypocrite) do as I say, not as I do (’nuff said) – (Regulator) The Lord says, do not do X, but I say stay 20 meters from X so it’s not an option; now there is a new regulation and if one doesn’t live by the 20m rule, then they are a sinner (even though it is un-Biblical) Even given good pastors (no one is good except God,… Read more »
Great post.
It’s interesting on a blog about being supportive to see those who are being supportive (thanks guys) and those who are arguing about not being supportive. Just an observation.
Are you being critical? 😉
Dan,
My comments did not come across in the right spirit of the post. Please forgive me.
Joshua,
Rereading the post and my comments this morning has shed new light and I can see why you said what you said. Thanks.
The idea of ‘encouragement’ among Christian people is so important, DAN. I often think of the Church on earth as a ‘pilgrim’ Church on a journey together towards our real Home. A story about ‘encouragement’: A Down Syndrome boy was entering a Special Olympics foot race and wanted to win a medal more than anything. He wanted to make his mother proud. He was doing well and nearing the finish line, when the child next to him fell down. The boy stopped and helped the fallen child up and together, hand in hand, they finished the race together. His mom… Read more »
The more subtle of Pharisaical attitudes is like the prayer, “I thank you that I’m not like that tax collector over there.” We too easily tut-tut others as being spiritually inferior to us without recognizing our own depravity: “Say, you have a splinter in your eye! I’m an expert in these things.” “Ow! Yeah, you just put it there rubbing that log you have in your eye across my face! Get away from me!” Usually this manifests itself in conversations like this: “I heard the Clippard’s daughter just got pregnant out of wedlock. Kids these days just don’t know how… Read more »