Standing for the Greatness of Others

From the excellent leadership blog of Michael S. Hyatt, chairman and executive officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers:

I don’t know too many normal people who find it easy to confront others. I sure don’t. I always go through an internal debate in my own head. Surely, this isn’t that big of a deal. Maybe I should just let it slide? or Someone needs to tell her. Wouldn’t I want to be told if I were in that situation? And on it goes.

I once asked Ilene Muething, a friend of mine and a consultant to our company, how she worked up the courage to confront and challenge some of the powerful CEOs I knew she coached. I had a difficult time imagining myself doing it.

She told me that it was tough at first, but over time it got easier. Usually, she just reminded herself of a few simple truths that gave her the courage to speak up. Her insights were extremely helpful to me, too. Of the many thing I learned from Ilene, this has been one of the most valuable.

Whenever I need to have a potentially difficult conversation with someone, I remember that:

What I have to say is important. If I am struggling with whether or not I should say it, this is generally a clue that I need to speak up. In that moment, I am seeing something or sensing something that is important and needs to be said. The risk of not speaking up is greater than the risk of speaking up.

They need it to go to the next level. Clearly, if they could see it on their own, they would have already changed their behavior. The fact that the behavior persists is an indication that this is a blind spot. They need help—my help!—to go to the next level.

They can handle it. Too often, we see others as weak and fragile. We are afraid that if we speak up they will shatter into a thousand little pieces. But this is simply not true. We need to think of people as giants. They can handle it, particularly if we “speak the truth in love” (cf. Ephesians 4:15).

It really comes down to taking a stand for the greatness of others. People have way more potential than we often think they do.

They can change, but unless we find the courage to speak up, they may not have the opportunity.

Question: Is there a potentially difficult conversation you need to have? What would have to be true for you to lean into it and speak up?

(Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/mevans)

Church of the Week: First (Scots) Presbyterian, Charleston, SC

The First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Meeting and Tradd Streets, is one of many venerable churches in Charleston, South Carolina. The first congregation was made up of twelve Scottish families who left the Independent Church of Charles Towne in 1731. The present church, built in 1813, features the Scottish Seal etched in stained-glass over the main entrance.

Symbols of its Scottish affiliation can be seen throughout the structure, with the seal of the Church of Scotland in the stained glass windows and the thistle, the symbol of Scotland, in the wrought iron grilles.

Like many other buildings in Charleston, the church was damaged by the 1886 earthquake, as well as a hurricane the year before. First Scots Presbyterian is one of more than 1400 historically significant buildings within the Charleston Old and Historic District. It remains a fully functioning church today (see their website here).

Sunday Night Rejoicings

Sunday after Sunday, I say this, but it just happens that Sunday after Sunday, I'm blessed by the pastors and people--and GOD--of the church I pastor. Today has been no exception.

Our InMotion children's ministry launched their new format, complete with many of the teachers and participants in thematic costumes, and I wish I could have been there to enjoy...and take pictures. Great job, all of you!

In the worship celebrations, the worship music, led by Under Cover, was--as always--utterly uplifting and upbuilding.

John Johnson planned and delivered the most imaginative message I think I've ever seen. He actually constructed a silo in the auditorium (on the left in the photo above; sorry for the quality, but the photographer is not the brightest bulb in the box) and delivered the first ten minutes or so of the message from INSIDE the silo, and had a video feed that showed him, contained and isolated in the silo, speaking to us from the big screen! He also had (thanks to Guy Moore and others on the tech team) a SECOND camera that he could switch back and forth from to show us the cozy confines of his self-imposed cell. After he introduced the topic of consideration--how many of us tend to prefer isolation from each other rather than engagement and vulnerability and community with each other.

Then followed a dramatic video that was just delightful--and powerful--that drove home the point even more. Then John--real, live, and in person--took the stage to give just the right challenge and persuasion, that I pray prompted many to become involved in one of Cobblestone's many journey groups. John concluded with a video promo for our next series, "The Blessed Life," starting next week, and a benediction.

As the 10 a.m. celebration let out, Cobblestone's journey group leaders were ready...people entered the atrium to the unprecedented sight of Cobblestone's finest (journey group leaders and other volunteers; the group leaders all wore bright yellow safety vests to make for easy identification) doing the electric slide!

Once that was (mercifully) concluded, people were able to snack on all kinds of goodies (include a fountain of chocolate) and browse displays and games set up by the journey groups, find out more about each group, and sign up to indicate their interest in any or all of them.

As hectic as this morning was for me, I was nonetheless able to welcome a couple newcomers, pray with a couple folks, and connect mightily with God throughout the morning. Thank you, Lord!

And the excitement continues: in a little over an hour, the official launch of "The Third," our 7 p.m. Sunday worship experience designed for students and twenty-somethings. Last week was in many ways the most exciting "Third" yet, and I'm praying for a great launch, thanks to God's power and the cooperation and effort of The Third's leadership team.

The Original Lie

We talk a lot about original sin, but have you ever stopped to consider the original lie? Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But how did the serpent tempt them? He suggested that God may be holding out on them. Maybe He didn't want them to eat that fruit because then they'd be like him. In other words, the serpent tries to get us to doubt the omni-goodness of God. He plants a seed of doubt. Maybe God is withholding something. And when we doubt God's desire to bless us we believe a lie, the original lie (Mark Batterson).

(painting by John Roddam Spencer Stanhope)

The Truths We Don't Believe

I've been thinking a lot lately about all the verses in the Bible we don't really believe. We SAY we do, but it seems from all appearances inarguable, undeniable, that our actions and habits reveal our disbelief.

For example, the Bible says, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" (1 Corinthians 12:21). In that verse, Paul is speaking about the interdependence of each of us, as members of the Body of Christ, on the other members of the Body. But, shoot, we say that all the time. We even say it loudly and proudly. And we certainly say it with our actions, when we give up on someone, or turn away from someone, or leave a church in a huff. Because we don't really believe 1 Corinthians 12:21.

Neither do we believe Jesus' words, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38). If we believed those words, the church in the U.S. would give far more than 1.7 percent of our income toward the Lord's work, as research says we do.

Another verse we don't believe is this one: "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Timothy 5:17). If it said "double criticism" or "double suspicion," we would be much closer. But double honor? I don't see elders and pastors being accorded that kind of honor, at least not in our culture.

Take Jesus' words in Matthew 5:22: "I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." We don't really believe that. Let me say it again: we don't believe Jesus' words. We nurse our anger, we're proud of it. We spread it around. We refuse to let go of it. We can't possibly believe that we are subject to judgment, or we would certainly act differently.

Or, "if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:15). Dang, if we truly believed those words of Jesus, if we REALLY thought our Savior spoke truth, we would act a WHOLE lot differently! Shoot, some of us even pray every day, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," and ACT as if those words have absolutely no meaning! We are inviting judgment on ourselves with our words and our actions when we don't forgive.

And, by the same token, can we honestly say we believe Jesus' words: "In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2)? Oh my. I am constantly amazed--flabbergasted--at people who can be so "righteously" angry at a brother or sister for the very things--the VERY THINGS!--they are blind to in themselves.

I had a dear brother, a long-time friend say to me not long ago, "I don't think I'll EVER be able to forgive some people." And he KNEW as he said it (I know, because I asked him) that he was condemning himself with his own words, revealing a spirit in him that may be worse in God's eyes than whatever offenses he is holding against others.

How can we do such things, how can we act in such ways, in light of what the Bible teaches, what Jesus so clearly--bluntly--said? It can only be one thing: we don't believe. We can't possibly call ourselves "believers," let alone "Christian," under such circumstances. Can we?

Can we?

Your Faith is Toast!

You might think it's a joke. You might want it to be a joke. You may even PRAY for it to be a joke.

But it's not. It's toast.

See it here at http://jesustoasters.com/