Rebuke distractions.
If you want to make an impact for the glory of God, you have to rebuke distractions. Your life has to be totally focused on becoming who He has called you to be and what He has called you to do. If you don't, here's what will happen: unimportant things become important and important things become unimportant. One of the primary reasons we aren't advancing the kingdom like we could or should is because we major in minors. And that leads to sideways energy.
Let me touch on two kinds of distractions:
I think we have to avoid vision distractions.
I love the example Nehemiah set when he was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. A couple of thugs named Sanballat and Tobiah are trying to discourage and distract him. Nehemiah says, "I am doing a great work! I cannot stop to come and meet with you." I love that. He refuses to play defense. He's got a job to do and he's going to do it. One of the maxims I live by is something Andy Stanley said: saying yes to one thing is saying no to something else. You have to make every decision with that in mind. You can get so busy the vision will never be fulfilled.
I think the second kind of distractions we have to avoid in church circles are theological distractions. We need to study to show ourselves approved. We need to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe. But we can get so busy arguing about theological nuances that we lose sight of the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Sometimes, when a person is endlessly arguing theological nuances, I want to blurt out: people are going to hell. Let's get our theology straight. And we need to call blasphemy and heresy on the carpet. But let's get some perspective.
In the words of Titus 3:9: "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."
True theology doesn't just lead to endless arguments. True theology leads to action.
Let's follow Jesus' example: "I must be about my Father's business."
If you want to make an impact for the glory of God, you have to rebuke distractions. Your life has to be totally focused on becoming who He has called you to be and what He has called you to do. If you don't, here's what will happen: unimportant things become important and important things become unimportant. One of the primary reasons we aren't advancing the kingdom like we could or should is because we major in minors. And that leads to sideways energy.
Let me touch on two kinds of distractions:
I think we have to avoid vision distractions.
I love the example Nehemiah set when he was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. A couple of thugs named Sanballat and Tobiah are trying to discourage and distract him. Nehemiah says, "I am doing a great work! I cannot stop to come and meet with you." I love that. He refuses to play defense. He's got a job to do and he's going to do it. One of the maxims I live by is something Andy Stanley said: saying yes to one thing is saying no to something else. You have to make every decision with that in mind. You can get so busy the vision will never be fulfilled.
I think the second kind of distractions we have to avoid in church circles are theological distractions. We need to study to show ourselves approved. We need to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe. But we can get so busy arguing about theological nuances that we lose sight of the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Sometimes, when a person is endlessly arguing theological nuances, I want to blurt out: people are going to hell. Let's get our theology straight. And we need to call blasphemy and heresy on the carpet. But let's get some perspective.
In the words of Titus 3:9: "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."
True theology doesn't just lead to endless arguments. True theology leads to action.
Let's follow Jesus' example: "I must be about my Father's business."
7 Comments:
So true! Good is the chief enemy of best!
that is something i have been talking a lot to God about. what makes it hard is when they are both good things. sometimes we have to realize that just because something is good or spiritual, doesn't mean it is the better choice and sometimes that good thing is the distraction, distracting us from the best.
Great wisdom, Mark! I confess I'm much more tripped up by other kinds of distractions, maybe it's called the daily digital distractions, a la twitter, blog, facebook, email. :) And then there are media distractions and in-person distractions. Many kinds, and any of them can take us off course.
Well said... I don't think Christians do it intentionally but I have always wondered what takes place in the heart of a follower of Jesus for doctrine and theology to become more important than lost souls. Knowing what you believe and why you belive it is important but not when it consumes you.
I love it. While being distracted by Twitter and then your blog, I am reminded to rebuke Twitter and your blog. So I rebuke the distractions for now. But I will be back at a more appropriate time....unless I get distracted by something else.
Mark, great post. I couldn't agree with you more. I try to keep up on what Christian leaders are saying and sometimes it just breaks my heart. On one hand, you see some older guys who seem more concerned with turning America into a more Christian nation than actually converting more people to being Christians while on the other hand you have younger leaders who seem to be more fixated on leadership principles and being more hip and relevant than actually being faithful to Christ and His Church.
On the subject of theological distractions, I've seen plenty of disapointments there as well. From Christians who will endlessly argue about speaking in tongues to others with their insistence on adult Baptism. Yes it is easy to get distracted, but as you said, “We need to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe." I can’t think of anything more indicative of this problem than the countless surveys and studies (such as the Reveal Study) that show how many American Evangelicals who can’t articulate the Gospel, who believe in moral relativism, and who believe there are other ways to God than Christ.
There’s well know Roman phrase “panem et circenses” which can be translated Bread and Circus Games. This phrase refers to (typically) politicians who distract their constituents with amusements rather than sound policy. All too often the modern day, avant-guarde Church is doing the same thing offering their people panem et circenses in the form of fancy light shows, trendy coffee bars, and relevant sermons on sex, money, and leadership. All too often this is done seemingly with Christ as simply an after thought. Perhaps if we understood things a little better theologically, we would not be demanding bread and circus games, but rather bread and wine and God’s Word.
Excellent analogy! Seems to me some of the most effective (and least offensive) evangelists and warriors for Christ are the new believers. The ones that don't know all the theological arguments or viewpoints: the newly found! Seems some of the so called "mature" in Christ get so tied up in worldly analysis of theories etc. that they become wise in their own eyes, unforgiving, uncaring, and unprofitable. Seems they somehow got lost after being found. Yes, I want to learn the scriptures inside out, but I pray I keep my judgments and biased opinions out of it. I want to remain like a child before Christ; I just want to share Him.
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