A Purpose Driven Life - Day 21

I’ve been remiss in reading this most excellent book daily as the prescription goes. Therefore I’ll begin posting my musings and analyses of the chapters on a daily basis to keep myself on task. I’m on Day 21 so rather than start over; I’ll run full circle back to Day 1 after Day 40. Day 21 may be the longest post as it struck several chords in me. Here goes:

APDL –21

Unity??? Oye! In this culture of bilious rhetoric, a.k.a. ad-hominem arguments, Unity is a tough hill to take – many casualties. However, in every obstacle or barriers presents new opportunities to true leaders. Today’s cultural strife gives mature Christians an advantage in presenting how adults behave as adults. Today’s culture has whole brigades of people out there waiting to be offended by somebody or something. But there is a wider majority of the Michael Moore/Howard Dean/Dan Rather weary public yearning for something true to believe in. What an opportunity for Christians to present true unity in spirit!!

Now as Warren warns us, unity does not mean uniformity. Or “robotic” as the smugger of the anti-religious would gloat. No, Christians are not perfect, nor cookie cutter copies of each other (how boring!), nor are they “red-state bible thumping apes.” Mature Christians are thoughtful, caring, intelligent and very different people. The same critics are often unrealistic as well. They search futilely for the ideal world pot-of-gold. A Christian community is often far from ideal being populated by sinners, but to base criticism on failure to achieve the ideal is juvenile. Presidential wannabe Howard Dean in divorcing his church over a bike path displayed for all to see the depth of his beliefs. Adult Christians understand the impossibility of actually achieving the ideal but know to reach for something less than that is complacency. Complacency eventually leads to failure and ruin. Bill Gates didn’t get to be who he is by saying DOS 6.0 is plenty good. No less should we accept in our spiritual life.

But it’s so easy to pick apart another’s shortcomings or to gossip. A wise friend once said to me, “The easiest thing in the world to be is a cynic.” While cynics may make excellent movie reviewers or political pundits, they produce very little of value. Least of all in a Christian community. So where does one draw the line between “constructive criticism” and “devouring one another?” Situations like this often give life to human emotions best kept in the cage, so this is a tough question. One that only God can answer I’ll venture. Best to go to God with a prayer for tongue guidance - or tongue tying failing that.

As today’s culture preaches, leaders are suspect. There’s always a palm being greased or a self-interest being ill-“rottenly” gained so sez post-modernism. Being a leader today sux to use a word. Nearly every part of it is thankless. So why be surprised when those you think would make great leaders politely decline the nomination? That may explain why “flip-floppers” manning a “Desk of a Thousand Indecisions” seemingly populate most leadership positions today. This is why true leaders, when found, are the most deserving of prayer rather than scorn, especially when they are wrong. Prayer will deliver truth to a true leader who needs his eyes opened. Scorn delivers only more scorn. God does not scorn so it has no value to Him. By these means, we are delivered the leadership we have asked for – those who will lie for our vote and those who won’t. Praying for good leaders who make wrong decisions to find the truth is in our own best interest as well as theirs. That’s why Paul exhorted us to submit to the authorities. Let God apply the correction where needed. That will deliver unity.