Creating Community

Somewhere between Matthew 18:22 and Matthew 7:6 exists a line. Not a line that isn’t to be crossed, but a balance point that sways from one side to the next.

On one side you have the never-ending, always present promise of His compassion. He will always forgive us, never leave us, no matter what our mis doing.

On the other, is the idea of knowing when enough is enough. It’s knowing that you’re off your mark and in throwing your pearls before the swine, you’re wasting something valuable.

This balance goes back and forth on the fulcrum of character.

And it’s killing me.

A good friend of mine called me the other day hurting his way through this as well. He is standing by, watching an old acquaintance fall apart but can not act as he knows it is a destructive for both if he does. How do you resist feeling responsible for those that are struggling?

It’s killing me to see my friends hurting in this way, too. I feel so incapable of helping when I see them wrestle with where to place the balance point.

I am frustrated with other relationships I have. I feel like I’m throwing my pearls before the swine. I am getting angry with individuals and am feeling like I’m carrying the weight.  I am angry that I feel spoken to from a point of  pride versus a point of humility but to speak it, I commit the same err.

Somewhere, the balance can be found. Christ has found this balance with me, and operates as to teach me through my “swine days.” Through Him, we are capable of performing this same balance. It’s difficult to learn how to practically apply this ability He has given us.

James says that faith without works is dead.

“Works” in this instance, and even James speaks from this point, is meant by actual doing, it’s a verb. He mentions helping women and children, serving your community, things of that nature.

What about works as a noun. “Works” as in the areas and times that our faith is tested. Faith without being tested means nothing. He mentions this, too.

It’s tough to keep focus on this idea when the trials are great, when the opposition is roaring it’s head.

If we’re able to apply stewardship to non-physical things, we’re able to fit it into this idea of works as a noun. Struggles and trials don’t come from our father, but from the other guy. The trails are noise surrounding his voice, they’re distractions. Scary ones, too.

I am struggling to be a good steward of my heart, my eyes, my character. In this trial, I am fighting him in healing my heart to become more like him, letting his character traits grow in me.  I am quickly looking away at other things and getting frustrated and turning away from him.  I ask him for the things I think I need and lose sight of what else He is doing in me.

He seems to be telling me (yet again) to quit looking there, and look at Him.

Psalms 46:10

My own lack of trust in him is showing and I don’t know what to do about it. It isn’t like it’s the dishes, I can’t just get it taken care of. I feel the need to address this, but don’t know how to go about actually doing it. How do you trust someone?

It’s such a non-tangible verb. A large majority of other verbs imply a path. Crank the gear lever, steer the car, squeeze the orange. All things I know how to do. My trust muscles are weak.

If faith is believing that which I can’t see, it’s in the same non tangible verb/noun boat as trust. They use the same muscles. The verb produces the noun. The beauty is that as I’m attacked on one specifically, He responds and both benefit.

As the guard changes, the new generation of Christ followers appears through the front line. This new generation is not wearing a three-piece suit and does not have it’s hair done, but it has seen the battle and is ready for it’s hand in it.

What characterizes this new guard? How does it carry the message to Judea and Samaria? How has it been affected and what will change about how it carries out His way?

“Generation Us” would be easier to describe from my point of view of I could encapsulate everything I’ve read, every thought I’ve had, and every emotion I’ve ignored over the past 2 years. It’s as if my heart was prepared for this generation but my head was off in la la land.

For now, Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 seems to sum it up. It is the change I’d like to see in my heart and I see what it could do for my home, my neighborhood, my community, my city…

I am working at preparing a cohesive, concise declaration of this message. Maybe it’s because I feel like I need you for you, but maybe it’s because I need you for me.