sides
Mark E’s comment here got me thinking. The whole idea of pathology will win out is one of those biological prinicples that translates into spiritual issues. (Or vice versa.)
Jesus said something similiar to this when he said “Out of the overflow of the heart a mouth speaks.” Quit worrying about the outside of the cup and concern yourself with the inside. Inside out, overflow ministry. You can only fake it for so long. The pathology wins out.
Here’s my question though - how much does environment play in that role? Meaning when the pathology plays out and you realize you don’t fit where you are, what then? Was it a case of being dishonest and fake (excuse me while I get my mask…)? Was it a case of people change and grow?
Or does answering those questions miss the point altogether? What difference does it really make HOW it happened - the misfit - the point is that it did happen. So now what?
I will say this - the more mature we grow in our faith, the more vulnerable we will be. It is the chicken/egg discussion all over again to some degree but maturity in Christ (at least in scripture) always produces more humility, vulnerability, and love. Yet we celebrate and elevate the ones that “have it all together” and have great ideas and “buck stops here” drive.
The pathology does always come out - sooner or later - but evn after that you still have to decide what you are going to do with that pathology. Will there be judgment, guilt, shame, law or will there be grace, love, vulnerabilty, teachability, and hope? I hope we can continue to grow to be a place where the latter is chosen.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Generation Leadership // Jun 5, 2006 at 5:07 pm
The Pathology Wins Out…
[Source: the G sides] quoted: Meaning when the pathology plays out and you realize you don’t fit where you are, what then? Was it a case of being dishonest and fake (excuse me while I get my mask…)? …
2 Mark // Jun 5, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Who says we are supposed to “fit?” When we are talking about the church, aren’t we talking about a group of people that are held together by some basic creedal type beliefs, but are all over the map in terms of peripheral beliefs and, importantly, application of beliefs (practice)? This seems so, despite whatever leadership is in place.
We probably all have our point at which we decide it is better to cut and run. However, we need to be very sensitive to the possibility that the greater test and opportunity for growth and maturity would be to stay and do the hard work of trying to live out what it means to be a follower of Jesus where we are at.
I think God does not “call” us to a particular ministry location as much as as he calls us to follow him wherever we are at, particularly when we are in tough spots. This would include being honest when it is possible that that honesty will be misinterpreted or misused. Since when are things ever fair? In that same context, if we look, we can find grace and love, which, if we let it, can eclipse the injustice.
3 Grant // Jun 5, 2006 at 10:49 pm
hahah….okay, I’ll bite.
Post coming as response! hahaha…:)
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