This, in my view, has long been a scourge not only of the Christian churches of ALL/ANY sort but of course the busness world, sports teams and individual vs. individual, even between marriage partners.
Wendi and I fussed over petty stuff in the first 2 or 3 years of our marriage. We were 19 year old kids, new followers of Jesus and full of ourselves. I was indeed a pharisee in that I had finally discovered God, His truth (law) and for the first time in my life had boundaries that made sense to me, therefore I wanted to shape my wife's spirituality (and most anyone else I got super close to) into my own. Read that last part again please.
So so very easy to place love, kindness, friendship and various fruit of the Spirit on hold when you're competing for "who wears the pants" in a family, "who calls the shots" and in a church recognizing that other churches are "a bigger deal" than you are.
Competition is all about winning something. It's about who controls who and/or what. It's becoming or staying in "king on the mountain" mode and frankly that attitude reeks of anything BUT grace, respect and a "building others up" lifestyle and manner.
Jesus said "I am among you as one who serves."
We seem to say "I'm bigger, tougher, smarter and more talented than YOU are". Uhhhh, so what? "Standing" next to God Almighty we're not even standing.
The anti-Jesus religious parties and political leaders saw Him as competition for what -they- wanted... the minds, money, control and glory of followers. They couldn't stand losing and they ultimately decided he had to be done away with so you know the rest of how that worked out.
The Risen Jesus Christ indeed came as God in the flesh but did not grasp and use His power to destroy but to save and redeem.
How sad when we fall into competitive mode -sometimes very much competing not only with one another but with God Himself.
"The one who loses his/her life for My sake and the sake of the Gospel shall find it." -Jesus
Yup. May the Spirit get those weeds out of our lives so that eternal fruit can grow healthy and strong!
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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