Elevated Above Paul

It is in every person's nature to be offended when one's motives and even actions are questioned.  And if  a person isn't all-out offended, there's always that niggling hurt to deal with.

I think I've mentioned here before how I question everything I do.  I wonder if I'm being selfish, I wonder if I'm doing things with ulterior motives, and I wonder if I'm acting like my mother.

That's the emotional side of me.  The logical side of me says, "Fire away!"  Especially when I feel like what I've done is above reproach.  It's like having someone proof my work.  When I'm sure I've done things correctly and I've checked and double-checked it already, I'm fine with someone looking it over. 

Paul commended the Bereans for comparing his teachings to Scripture.  He was glad they were checking up on him; that they had the personal investment to question what he was teaching.  We should not be above that same attitude.  So when a person or an organization takes offense at being questioned, it galls me. 

I've seen my share of proud "leaders".  I've seen people who usually wear a great church face or Christian face chew out students for accidents.  I've seen these same "leaders" complain that they aren't being treated with deference.  What?  Seriously?  Jesus was not a respecter of persons.  The last shall be first.  The meek shall inherit the earth.  So do not be afraid to question the action of those who have been put or have put themselves in postions of authority.  On one hand they may be an authority figure, but they are also your equal.

A Lie

Somewhere along the line, we've been taught a lie.  And being the good little Christian sponges we were, we soaked up the untruth that in order for us to be blessed or to be in the center of God's will, we had to commit our lives to full-time Christian ministry.

It's a lie.  Like I tell my kids, it's a lie from the pit of Walmart. (lol)  It's not true; it's not practical.  It's a tool of Satan. 

I think I really saw this for myself when a pompous A$$ told my dear sweet brother that he would never be anything unless he was in "F-TCM".  Really?  I saw a Facebook post today that almost made me sick to my stomach, and it had to do with this idea.

It's this thinking that fans the flames of self-righteousness and pride. "I" am in F-TCM, and you are not.  "I" am in the center of God's will for my life, and you are not.  "I" "I" "I".  "I" have been there.  I'm ashamed.  And now that I'm a stay at home, homeschooling mom, Satan tries to use that thinking to defeat me.

How are we to be salt and light if we never live in the world?  Jesus didn't tell us to live together in our little convents and occasionally venture out to share the Gospel.  We're supposed to live in the world - rub shoulders with sinners - eat with the prostitutes and the lepers - SHOW them God's love.  Show them that the Gospel makes a difference.  Not that we can get together in church and put on our church faces and sing pretty dirges songs to God's glory. 

Chonda Pierce touched on this when I saw her with Natalie Grant a couple months ago.  She said she was excited to see Christians competing on AI, and other entertainment shows - they are being salt and light where salt and light are needed.

I'm not saying Christian schools or college are wrong.  I'm not saying homeschooling is bad.  I'm not saying that we should throw our children out into the darkness unprepared.  But we cannot tell our children that God's blessings only fall on those who preach, who teach in Christian schools or who go to foreign mission fields.  Not with any Scripture to back us up.