Rejecting the Kingdom of Self

"Only when we have become completely oblivious of self are we ready to bear the cross for his sake."

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I've been reading through The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and let me tell you, it will definitely convict you of your shortcomings and unveil any selfishness that still exists in your heart. Though it's hard and feels like a slap in the face, it's necessary in order to live with complete abandon to Jesus. Pride and self-centeredness are two great evils that must be combated in every individual so as to preserve the integrity of the Christian mission, and I'll be the first to tell you that I've been complacent in my own battle until recently.

I'm not exactly sure how it happened, and it was probably due to a myriad of factors, but at somepoint, I stopped making an effort to reach out to people and be truly concerned about what they were doing in life and what struggles they were facing. I was taking the ostrich approach to life: head in the sand to ignore what was going on around me. But by being too busy focusing on myself and all of the recent changes in my life, I forgot to use my spiritual gift of encouragement. I think in my mind I convinced myself that if I was discouraged with the path I was on, what's the point of trying to encourage someone else? And that's where I was wrong. I forgot that the Christian life is upside down and backwards, which meant that I forgot that by choosing to encourage someone else, I in turn would end up being encouraged. Selfishness will do that to you, though. It'll convince you that there's no sense being involved in somebody's life when things aren't going they way you had hoped.

It wasn't until I saw a particular post on Facebook that I had my head yanked back out of the sand. I can't remember the exact wording, or even who posted it, but it basically called for the reader to ponder how many people struggled to get through their day because the person God appointed to encourage them chose not to. In that moment, the hamster on the wheel in my brain literally started sprinting and my eyes were opened to how I was being flagrantly disobedient. Not only was I not wielding my spiritual gift, but I was ignoring other Scriptures that call for us to encourage others and be supportive of the Christian community such as Hebrews 10:24-25 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11. It also made me wonder how many times I'd potentially missed the opportunity to make a new friend because I was too busy wanting life to be all about me, rather than about Jesus and his kingdom.

As of late, I feel like I've finally returned to my old encouraging self now that I'm a little less focused on my own life and am instead reaching out to others. It honestly doesn't take that much effort, which makes me realize how selfish and complacent I had really become to not bother extending myself either via text, phone call, or any other form of communication. You, also, can easily encourage others by either going to an event a friend is participating in, streaming it online, forwarding posts that remind you of someone, patting someone on the back after they courageously share their testimony in public, or passing along information about a cause that is near and dear to someone's heart. All we need to do is burst the bubble of self and cheer on other people and we will in turn realize that we end up getting blessed by purposefully choosing to bless and encourage others.

"The inability to celebrate what God is doing in and through someone else simply reveals a profound sense of fear, insecurity, and lack of trust in a big, gracious, faithful, and loving God. If you are in your lane running your race and another person is faithfully in their lane running their race then there is no possible way that the success of one can diminish the effectiveness of another. It is God who calls us and He is good and He does good. We need to get a bigger view of God so we do not allow our own flesh, feelings, thoughts, and limitations to rule and reign. Why don't we choose to celebrate each other rather than compare and compete with each other." ~Christine Caine

Thoughts on Evangelism

"I want to learn how to unlock the locks to our minds, my mind, so that when I hear opinions or views that don’t match up with mine, I can still listen and understand." ~Charlotte Eriksson

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a great theologian who was executed during World War II. His life and his convictions have always intrigued me, but I think what fascinates me most is how he comprehended theological issues and applied them to daily life. In his book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Eric Metaxas described Bonhoeffer's viewpoint as follows: "To be an ethereal figure who merely talked about God, but somehow refused to get his hands dirty in the real world in which God had placed him, was bad theology. Through Christ, God had shown that he meant us to be in this world and to obey him with our actions in this world." Reading this, I'm drawn to how we're meant to get our hands dirty. We can't be Christians who impact this world by remaining in the confines of a Christian bubble. Yes, we must make sure that we don't get tripped up by sin, but we can't avoid involvement in the community around us just because the people might hold different beliefs and convictions than us. I believe that's exactly why Jesus specifically prayed, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one," in John 17:15. He knows that the only way for us to reach people is by going into the lion's den to confront evil and try to provide hope for those who are lost in this world.

There are a few things that we must all keep in mind when intently sharing the Gospel. First of all, just because you're a Christian doesn't mean that you're better than anybody else. It means that you are forgiven and have salvation from your sins through the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross, but it doesn't move anyone up a rung in some imaginary hierarchy. Ecclesiastes 7:20 is very clear on the matter stating, "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." Christians must never forget the fact that we're all broken and have back stories, especially when trying to minister to those around them who don't share the same belief systems. In his song "Broken," Lecrae raps, "We some broken people, came from broken homes. Broken hearts inside of a broken soul...Ain't a soul on the planet that's better than another and we all need grace in the face of each other." Always remembering this fact will go a long way in your encounters and interactions with those around you.

Something else to take into account when sharing the Gospel is that we're not here to point fingers. Too many Christians have taken it upon themselves to be judge over humanity, which is God's job. This might be why so many unbelievers just assume Christianity is all about following rules, rather than having a relationship with Jesus. We're here to imitate Jesus, which means sharing the truth in love, rather than being judgmental. It's time to remember how Jesus ministered to those around him. A beautiful example of how Jesus advocated for an outcast occurred in the beginning of John 8. The Pharisees interrupted Jesus' teaching at the temple by flaunting a woman they had just caught in the act of adultery. According to Old Testament law, she deserved to be stoned, though they neglected to pay attention to the entire letter of the law in Leviticus 20:10, which states that the man caught in the act of adultery should also be stoned. Jesus responded by scribbling in the dirt and then telling the Pharisees that the person without sin could be the first to stone the woman they had caught committing adultery. Needless to say, only Jesus was left there with the woman and I believe the most important take away from this situation comes in John 8:10-11. It states, "Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'" He chose not to condemn her. Let that sink in. The Son of God didn't ridicule her for her decisions and the situation she found herself in, but rather told her to sin no more. He extended grace and pointed out where she needed to make improvements in her life in a loving fashion, which is how we must approach unbelievers around us.

I firmly believe that we need to have a certain level of awareness when trying to share the Gospel with those around us. There are those who will be open to listening to what you have to say and others who will completely shut you down. Still, there will be those who will ask questions, but decide that it's not for them at that particular time. Christians need to be astute in how to approach each situation that they are given to share about Jesus, and do so as Jesus. Only God can change people's hearts. We can plant seeds, but whether or not somebody becomes a Christian and trusts in Jesus as their Lord and Savior is up to God. The words Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 are very fitting here. Paul wrote, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." Someone's personal conversion to Christianity doesn't not rest in our hands, but in God's. This should come as a relief to every disciple who is out sharing the Gospel. Yes, it's important to share the Gospel, but it's ultimately up to God whether that person receives Jesus into their heart. We aren't here to shove the Gospel down people's throats. We are here to share it in love and we are to listen to the plight of people around us. It isn't our job to chase people down and force our beliefs on them. Jesus didn't even run after people. Just consider the rich young ruler who came to Jesus to find out what he needed to do in order to get to heaven. After hearing him out, in Mark 10:21, it states, "And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'" Unfortunately, this young man went away disheartened because he couldn't bare to sell his possessions. One would think that Jesus would run after him, telling him why he is making a poor decision, but Jesus didn't do that because it wasn't his style. He knew and understood that it was up to God to change the young man's heart and no amount of pleading or berating him with Scripture would do change him.

Lastly, I believe the key to being a good evangelist is to have a listening ear. Too many people in society are so self focused that they spend more time trying to formulate the perfect response than truly listening to what another person is saying. A friend of mine counsels people and he has told me that most people yearn to have others listen and understand them in order to receive validation. As evangelists, we too must take this into account. Don't be so focused on sharing your spiel on the Gospel that you forget to live it out. Jesus loved on people and he listened to them, and we must do the same. If that means altering what your ultimate plan was in sharing the Gospel, alter it. Remember that sharing the Gospel and the love of God doesn't always have to be about the words you say, but the actions you display. If you refuse to listen or appear shocked and appalled by someone's story, do you really think that they are going to want to listen to you about Jesus? By listening, though, you can grasp a better understanding of someone's life and experiences and you can internally grieve for what they have endured. It also provides an opportunity to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in responding to a person, whether that be through words or just your presence.
Remember, you are going to come across people in life who you don't agree with, but that doesn't mean that you can't lovingly listen to what they have to say in an attempt to understand their life. We're all a bunch of screw-ups who need the love of Jesus. Sure, other people are aggravating and frustrating at times, but it's our job to get into the fray and encourage others to seek a different path. Charles Spurgeon wrote, "I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary." Christians need to share this attitude towards the lost instead of looking down on others in disgust. There are billions of people on Earth and not everybody is going to share your viewpoint, which is why it is worth trying to listen and understand amidst sharing the good news of Jesus.
I'll leave you with this quote that has an unknown author. It is one that has helped me be patient with others in the past, and it is my hope that it will help you in the future: "Always see the God in people. No matter what they do or say love them despite themselves. God created them with love and purpose, see that love in them and not their mistakes. We're not forgiven to walk around with unforgiveness in our hearts, we're forgiven so we can forgive. People make mistakes but not one person is a mistake. Let us love like Jesus loved, let our actions bring Glory to His name forever and always."

Community Built on the Foundation of the Holy Spirit

This post is dedicated to ERobb for her friendship, kind contributions, and understanding/sharing my viewpoints on community and solitude.

Toward the end of Jesus' ministry, He began to talk about how he would be leaving the apostles. Thoroughly enjoying fellowship with Jesus on Earth, many of the apostles could not comprehend the necessity behind His departure. They insisted that Jesus remain with them, but in John 16:7, He responded by saying, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." The Helper that Jesus was speaking of was the Holy Spirit, which is contained within each and every believer in Christ. It assists us in many ways and is quite powerful because it is the living God in all of us. I've borne witness to its amazing power on some of my deployments with Samaritan's Purse because without the Holy Spirit, some of the volunteers would not be able to do what they were doing because they were so far out of their everyday comfort zone.
Not only is the Holy Spirit powerful enough to allow us to gracefully function outside of our comfort zones, but it is what holds the body of Christ together. What many may not realize is that the Holy Spirit binds us to one another, creating a great big family. As Chris Smith said in an article for the Gospel Coalition, "The New Testament reveals that family ties—the strongest human bonds—are redefined not by biological relationships, but by mutual faith in Christ." Through our love of Christ, we can discover and acquire an entire new family if we so choose. Unfortunately, our natural instinct is to seek solitude and avoid community because we are either pursuing our own selfish desires, or we don't understand the importance of a solid Christian community. Proverbs 18:1 warns against this solitude by stating, "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment." Obviously remaining within a community of believers must be important if it is included in the wisdom that Solomon chose to impart to others. Rather than be self seeking, we must focus on the Holy Spirit within us, which will draw us into community and fellowship with others. As C.S. Lewis put it, "No man can be an exile if he remembers that all the world is one city."
It is necessary to look back at the original Christian church to fully appreciate the bonds of community and how we are all tied to one another. Our goal should be to emulate the first century church in our interactions with fellow Christians. "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common," is what's written in Acts 4:32 describing this first century group of believers. The Holy Spirit provided them with a singular heart and mindset creating a commonality within the group. Their group dynamics molded them into a tight knit family. They wanted to live their lives in service to one another by reflecting the words found in Galatians 6:2 ~ "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." It is the duty of the community to help and assist one another in any way possible. This requires us to live outside of the walls of isolation and put other's needs ahead of our own. Though this may sound impossible at first, over time and through prayer, the Holy Spirit will give you the mindset to act in an unselfish manner. By putting the needs of others first, you will grow even closer to fellow believers.
The bonds we have with our fellow Christians are strong and unyielding due to our common faith. As the authors of the book Creature of the Word wrote, "Unity in the gospel is much deeper than surface uniformity." In the secular world, we maintain friendships in category subsets that have few, if any, overlaps. You might have friends who shared your college major, others who enjoy similar sports interests, or others with similar music tastes. An amazing aspect of great Christian community, though, is the fact that the Holy Spirit can transcend all boundaries and bind us together in spite of our differences. "The reason Christian love will stand out and bear witness to Jesus is that it is a display, for Jesus' sake, of mutual love for social incompatibles," is a really powerful and eye-opening quote from a D.A. Carson book. By analyzing the community of believers I surround myself with, it becomes evermore apparent that only the Holy Spirit binds me to them. That's because this group of believers consists of a retired firefighter, an accountant, a personal trainer, a registered nurse, a fashion designer, a jazz musician, an avionics specialist, an unemployed computer geek, school teachers, eye doctors, scuba enthusiasts, a marine helicopter pilot, stay at home moms, social workers, a fitness manager/custom painted shoe artist, a pharmacy tech, an outdoor recreation enthusiast, a 911 operator, a college professor, a concert pianist, and an engineering student, just to name a few. Each time I think of all of these family members, I consider the intricate plan that God formulated in order for me to cross paths with these individuals. I know that He has a hand in every aspect of my life and that these people were placed in my path for specific reasons, and for that I'm very thankful.
For a Christian community to be fully effective, the members of the community must not become apathetic about the ability to gather together, and they also must understand how to find a healthy balance between fellowship and solitude. In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed." We aren't to neglect the blessing of community by forfeiting it out of laziness or selfishness. In the United States, there are no consequences for Christians who meet together and so we let community go to the wayside. In some foreign countries, though, Christian's who meet risk punishment or death, which is why they appreciate the sweetness of fellowship above and beyond those who can freely meet. Rather than becoming apathetic, let us constantly yearn to remain connected to a Christian community. As it is written in Hebrews 10:24-25, "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Our motivation to love and care for each other should stem out of the knowledge that the last day is creeping closer and Jesus will soon be returning. Why not spend our days encouraging one another and glorifying God in the process?

One danger about community is that some might develop an unhealthy dependence on others. This is on the opposite side of the spectrum to those who have no desire to meet in any form of community. A balance must be struck in order to garner the benefits of fellowship while still being able to maintain a  sense of self. Some forget that solitude is necessary in order to build one's relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible. Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers an ample description involving the dangers of imbalance:  

"One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair." We must find solitude with Jesus so we can learn how to love others. Then we can bring that love into our communities in order to serve and love one another just like Jesus.
In closing, if you're blessed with a Christian community that becomes like family, don't neglect it or take it for granted. We need each other more than we know. "The physical presence of other believers is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer," is how Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it. In the past couple of months, I have discovered this joy honestly and truly for the very first time. At the moment, there is a ten hour distance between me and the majority of that family. It is my hope and my prayer, though, that God has a plan to provide me with a way to be put in closer proximity with them so that we can encourage one another and share the true joy of community that Bonhoeffer wrote about.

Maundy Thursday, Bonhoeffer, and Birthday Reflections

Maundy Thursday is the day during Holy Week that marks two events in Jesus' ministry; Jesus washing His disciples' feet and the Last Supper and establishing the New Covenant. John 13:3-5 outlines the washing of feet: "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." This act represents the reason Jesus came to Earth, which was to be a servant of God. Jesus demonstrated that He was not above serving others, and we should follow in His actions by serving our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Jesus said in John 13:16, "Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."
The Last Supper also took place on what is remembered as Maundy Thursday. This was when Jesus and His disciples took part in the Passover Feast on the last night of Jesus' life. During this feast, Jesus predicted His betrayal, Peter's denial, and how He would be abandoned by His disciples. The most important event to occur during this meal, though, involved Jesus establishing the New Covenant with His people through the Lord's Supper or Communion. Mark 14:22-24 outlines this significant event: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,'Take it; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,' he said to them." As author Adam Hamilton stated in his book 24 Hours That Changed the World, "In this meal and through his death and resurrection, Jesus invited all humankind to become God's covenant people." This is the greatest blessing any of us could possibly receive if we accept Jesus into our hearts, and it is this blessing we must always remember when we take part in the Lord's Supper.
Another event that coincides with Maundy Thursday this year that is not as well known is the  69th anniversary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer being arrested by the Gestapo. Eric Metaxas outlines this event in his book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy: "He knew what was happening: the Gestapo had finally made their move. They were at the Dohnanyis, searching the house. Bonhoeffer calmly went next door to see Ursula and told her what had happened and what would likely happen next: the Gestapo would arrive and arrest him too. She prepared a large meal for him, and then Bonhoeffer went back home to put his papers in order, since the Gestapo would be having a good look around, as was their habit. He had prepared for this moment for a long time and even left a few notes specifically for their benefit. Then he returned to the Schleichers and waited. At four o'clock Bonhoeffer's father came over and told him that two men wished to speak with him. They were upstairs in his room. It was Judge Advocate Manfred Roeder and a Gestapo official named Sonderegger. Bonhoeffer met them, and taking his Bible with him, he was escorted to their black Mercedes and taken away. He would never return."
It seems fitting that Bonhoeffer had his own last supper of sorts prepared by his sister as he awaited the Gestapo. Much like Jesus, who was aware of his own impending arrest, Bonhoeffer also dealt with a similar situation, but on a much lesser scale. I also find it quite interesting that Bonhoeffer made no attempt to flee the Gestapo, even though he knew that they were coming. But that just speaks to the character of the man that Bonhoeffer was. He knew his fate and was prepared to face it. His arrest was originally in connection with his work with the Abwehr, but it eventually became known that he was deeply involved in a coup and conspiracy against Hitler. This sealed his fate, and Bonhoeffer was eventually executed upon a decree from Heinrich Himmler. It seemed fitting for Bonhoeffer to die for actions backed by his faith considering he is maybe best known for the quote, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."
My birthday seems much less significant when paired with the other events that are also commemorated on this day, April 5, 2012. Upon reflection of this past year, I think the opening to Paramore's "Hello Cold World" seem to best describe how I feel: "I feel happy, I feel sad, I feel like running through the walls. I'm overjoyed, I'm undecided, I don't know who I am." Needless to say, it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride. The highs include completing the Delaware Marathon and being awarded a Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology. I was also blessed with the opportunity to travel extensively to Washington D.C., Germany, Paris, New Orleans, and New York City. Unfortunately, part of my twenty-third year seemed to hold an eery resemblance to "When I Go Down" by Relient K, specifically the line, "I've thrown away the hope I had in friendships." I had a lot go wrong in a very short period of time, and I had very few stick by my side during my darkest moments, which made me lose hope and trust. Thankfully, I grew closer to Christ in this period of my life and I held fast to Psalm 118:8, which says, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans." I am also thankful that after a period of a few months, I've been able to forgive those who hurt me and weren't even aware of the pain caused.
I'm also aware that some of my actions assisted in my own fate. That realization became even more apparent from listening to "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" by Relient K on my way home from work yesterday. That came after I spent some time reading part of Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours That Changed the World. Here are two quotes that stuck with me from my reading: "It is worth considering, as we look at repentance and restoration, that although Jesus knew Judas would betray him, Peter would deny him, and the others would desert him, he still washed their feet...Jesus looked past their betrayal, their sins, and their failures and called them his friends," and "Remember, these close companions were not perfect. They had let him down and would do so again. One would even betray him. Still, they were the best friends he had; and they were with him as he approached his darkest hour." What I learned from the song and from these quotes is that I need to stop placing such high expectations on people. I need to remember that I'm a screwup and so is everybody else. We still stem from Adam and Eve, even though we can find new life with Christ. No matter what, we still have the dead sin within our hearts that can hinder our walk if we allow it. More importantly, I need to learn to be more like Christ. Despite the hurt or abandonment I might endure at the hands of my friends, I must still remember to forgive them for their actions because I'm sure I'm bound to do something insensitive or knuckle-headed that we need to be forgiven in the future. That's not just a guess. That's a fact.
Looking back on all that's happened in the past year, I'm a better person after enduring all of the events.  Much like a line from "24" by Switchfoot, (which seems fitting to listen to on my 24th birthday, an idea I got from a man who herded goats for Heidi), "I'm not who I thought I was twenty-four hours ago." I am continually learning each and every day and striving to better myself and my attitude as I encounter adversity and blessings in this life. My hope is to recapture hope and my ability to trust people. Every day won't be perfect, but each day is a chance to repair a broken friendship, enjoy laughs with an old friend, make new friends, or be thankful for the family that I have in my life.

W.A.I.T. Part 8: Fear of Man

According to Anxiety Disorders Association of America, there are 40 million adults in the United States dealing with anxiety disorders. People can have anxiety for all sorts of reasons, but my assumption is that social phobias and fear of the unknown are the top reasons behind most anxiety. I speak from experience because I am an introvert by nature and I have to force myself into certain situations that usually make me uncomfortable. Sometimes I try to focus on Proverbs 29:25 which states, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." I would rather not be hindered by my fear of man because it keeps me from enjoying life to the fullest and it gives me unnecessary stress.
For those of you who know me, you are probably aware of the occasional stress I feel under certain circumstances. One of my least favorite things involves talking on the phone. I'm not sure why I have this particular fear, but it exists in my life. What's humorous, though, is the fact that God keeps putting me in jobs or situations where I must talk on the phone. I had to call campgrounds to make reservations on my cross country roadtrip, I had to use the phone working at my summer campground job to verify reservations and boat counts, and I currently have to use the phone at my temp job, which has proved interesting with two incidents of a man making harassing phone calls. By submersing myself in these situations, my fear has slowly subsided because God has been with me the whole time. He presents a reminder in Isaiah 41:10 stating, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Knowing this, I try to dive into new situations even if I feel ill at ease. With music as another motivator, the song "Miracle" by Paramore has a line that says, "I don't want to run from anything uncomfortable..." This mentality has proved especially useful recently, and I'm thankful for that because the uneasy feeling in my heart has since subsided.
I think what many don't realize is how living in fear caters to Satan and his minions. Satan is a master at taking advantage of us during our weakest moments and infusing our minds with fear and doubt to further put a strain on our lives. I think in the song "A Dustland Fairytale," The Killers hit the nail on the head with the lines, "God gives us hope but we still fear what we don't know. Your mind is poisoned." This is exactly what the devil does; he poisons our minds with meaningless garbage in order to create stumbling blocks. This can hinder both our relationship with God, along with our ability to share the Gospel with those around us. By creating doubt in our mind, we question God's sovereignty and authority, which limits our ability to trust Him in times of need. Also, if we have an unnecessary fear of man, we will never reach out to them in order to determine if they have heard about Jesus Christ and the importance of building a relationship with Him. Instead of fretting over people and their opinions, focus on Jesus' words in Matthew 10:28, which tell us, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One both soul and body in hell." It is only once you realize how this fear hinders your life that you can move towards change and a different framework of thinking.
No matter where you are in life, you are bound to be surrounded by people who don't like you for some reason or another. Most people would avoid contact with these people, but I think it would be beneficial to analyze the Parable of Weeds in Matthew 13:24-30. This parable says, "Jesus told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 'The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' "'An enemy did this,’ he replied. "The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?' "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'" The weeds symbolize the unpleasant or evil people that Satan sprinkles into your life, and according to Jesus, it is actually better to live among them than avoid them. It builds character and patience when you spend time with people who you don't always agree with, or don't even really like. Some might actually be enemies who try to break you down, but if you trust God and don't live in fear, you can serve as an example to God's sovereignty in your life, which will glorify Him at the end of the day.
The bottom line is that in order to thrive in the Christian life, one must face their fears and realize that they are holding you back in the long run. We must allow God to be glorified through us by holding our ground in the midst of our foes. By trusting God, you will be able to hold your ground instead of running the other way. I think Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it best when he stated, ‎"Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes." It is our job in life to try our best to exemplify Christ in our actions in order to try and bring others closer to Him. If we live in constant fear, others will doubt the greatness of God. By embracing God's love, fear can diminish in your life so that you can thrive, for 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

W.A.I.T Part 7: Clouded Vision When Consumed by Self-Righteousness

"If God's the game you're playing

Well we must get more acquainted

Because it has to be so lonely

To be the only one who's holy.

It's just my humble opinion

But it's one that I believe in

You don't deserve a point of view

If the only thing you see is you."

~"Playing God" by Paramore

In today's society, it is too easy to get caught up in all the finger pointing and believing that we are right and everybody else is in the wrong. All you have to do is watch any political ad and you can see just how far we've fallen in our great nation to resort to slandering others in order to paint ourselves in a better light.  The unfortunate part is that this has crept into our everyday lives and we may not even realize it. 

Too often we focus too much on the preachings and teachings of Jesus and forget that he lived his life with a great love for the people. When we are centralized on all that Jesus taught instead of on how he lived, we gain this "holier than thou" attitude that can get us into trouble. A perfect Scriptural example of this is Matthew 7:3-5, where Jesus says, "'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.'" We are very apt to believe that we have done no wrong in a situation, placing the blame on someone else, when realistically, both are at fault and should take notice of personal fault before pointing fingers. It is then important to meditate on Romans 3:23, which serves as a reminder saying, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 

We need to remind ourselves that we are not fit for the throne of God, so we must not act like it when dealing with our peers. When we begin to focus too much on the legalism of Christianity, that is when you become prone to pointing out all the wrong others around you are doing. This is much like the Pharisees who lived during Jesus' time. They were so blinded by the laws everyone had to keep and had a trumped up view of their own goodness based upon the amount of theological knowledge they possessed that they could not see their Savior when He stood right in front of them. How easily it is to lose focus on the purpose of Jesus when we focus inwardly on the knowledge we gain about His teachings and what He expects of His followers. Even the great theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, fell prey to this line of thinking early on, and even felt devoid of even being a Christian yet because his vision was so clouded. There is a quote in his biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas, that states the following: "For the first time I discovered the Bible...I had often preached. I had seen a great deal of the Church, and talked and preached about it - but I had not yet become a Christian...I know that at that time I turned the doctrine of Jesus Christ into something of personal advantage for myself...I pray to God that that will never happen again." It is scary to think that even Bonhoeffer could be so internally focused on his own knowledge, with a doctorate in theology no less, that he felt that he was not a Christian because he lost focus on Christ's true purpose.

What we need to turn our focus towards is the fact that God is love and that the one strict command we must follow is to love one another. If we are caught up in condemning each other for supposed wrong actions, we forget to love the people around us. Life is not supposed to be lived out by pointing out everybody's flaws and mistakes. Instead, we are called to embrace one another. 1 John 4:7-21 describes this beautifully: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." (emphasis mine)

My wish is that more and more we will remember to love those around us. It won't always be easy because of past hurts, but God commands us to stick with one another until the very end. If we can't do that, then there is no possible way to thrive as a Christian in this dark world. 

I'm leaving you with a lyric from a song that I discovered last week, and I don't believe it was a coincidence. I played it numerous times yesterday to ingrain the concept into my brain. The song is entitled "Dark Design" and is performed by the band Among Savages. The piece that struck me and that I now hold dear to my heart is, "I would rather live with you as my friend, than someone that I was trying to condemn."