Airs

[Luke2427]

Wouldn't it be nice if, with your church folks, you could REALLY be yourself?

I mean if each church member was the kind of person who was so critical of his own faults that he hardly noticed other people's?

You could let your hair down a bit around them. If you lost your temper for a moment in front of them, you wouldn't worry yourself about how it might change how they think of you. For example, you were a bit over aggressive in correcting one of your children or snapped at your wife or threw a golf club out of frustration over your performance.

You could keep hanging out with them knowing they would be just as warm toward you and respectful of you as they were before. Wouldn't that be nice? They would think, "Bless his heart! But I bet he doesn't struggle with his temper any more than I struggle with _________________"

How much energy do we waste pretending?
Pretending we have model marriages.
Pretending we have no anger issues.
Pretending we read our bibles and pray a great deal.
Pretending we are very mature Christians.
Pretending to love people more than we really do.

I'm afraid most churches really are just plays we put on every week. It is not real. Rather than being ourselves and letting people see how Christ is very slowly making us more and more like him, we play act.
We hold our wives' hands in front of everybody when we do it rarely when we are by ourselves with our wives. Airs. We are saying, "LOOK EVERYBODY!!! Look at how wonderful a husband I am!!" Airs.
We act like we don't watch certain shows on TV because we have a such a terrible aversion to the three or four cuss words in every episode. Airs. We are saying, "LOOK EVERYBODY!! Look at how spiritually sensitive and holy I am!!!"
We act like we are so busy because the work place and the family requires so much of our time, when we spent as much time last month watching TV or fishing or hunting or playing video games as we did at work. Airs. We are saying, "LOOK EVERYBODY!! Behold what a hard worker I am!!!"

And why do we do that?

Because we deny the doctrine of human depravity. If we really believed it- that we were all born sinners and struggle with it until we die then we would not feel so compelled to pretend. And even if we believe in the doctrine ourselves, we figure most of the other church members don't so we pretend so they won't think bad of us and talk bad about us.

I'm not advocating we all become confessors. The Bible says, "The fool utters all his mind." I don't think you ought to go around telling everybody every sin you've committed. I just think you ought to be able to be yourself around fellow church members because you know they are so critical of their own selves that they don't see your faults as any big deal in comparison.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I admit to hateing that type...you know them. They sit in the front part of the church, impeccably dressed, generally ahead elder or deacon & always with the latest new car blab blab blab. Makes me want to vomit.

 

[Scarlett O.]

And why do we do that?

Because we deny the doctrine of human depravity.

You give us too much credit. We don't piously deny any doctrine.

We behave this way - in full knowledge of our own depravity. I know EXACTLY what I am capable of and EXACTLY how depraved I am. This behavior is part of our depravity, not an outward reaction to a side-line denial of it.

We behave this way because we are arrogant hypocrites. Self-centered and unloving idiots who like to pretend that our own excrement doesn't stink like everyone else's.

 

[Winman]

There is another side to this coin, going around telling everybody how depraved you are doesn't make you any better than the rest of us. If you are such a lousy person, do something about it.

Much humility is feigned.

And if you ever find the perfect church, don't go there, YOU will mess it up. :thumbsup:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

There is another side to this coin, going around telling everybody how depraved you are doesn't make you any better than the rest of us. If you are such a lousy person, do something about it.

Much humility is feigned.

And if you ever find the perfect church, don't go there, YOU will mess it up. :thumbsup:

Are you talking to me?!?

 

[salzer mtn]

What about the person that can't carry on a conversation in the church house without ending every sentence with amen brother, or praise the Lord brother, or hallaluya brother, or praise Jesus brother.

 

[Luke2427]

What about the person that can't carry on a conversation in the church house without ending every sentence with amen brother, or praise the Lord brother, or hallaluya brother, or praise Jesus brother.

Airs. And nobody can see the real work Christ is doing in us because we hide it with a facade.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What about the person that can't carry on a conversation in the church house without ending every sentence with amen brother, or praise the Lord brother, or hallelujah brother, or praise Jesus brother.

Quite ridiculous aren't they?

 

[HeirofSalvation]

Airs. And nobody can see the real work Christ is doing in us because we hide it with a facade.

I couldn't agree more....it is a major obstacle for the church IMO.....I am FULL of "airs". My main concern often involves putting on those airs in front of the Pastoral staff because....if they know I'm imperfect, I can't serve....If they know I'm imperfect, they won't let me teach Sunday School, If they know I do this or that sometimes, they won't let me preach again blah blah. We place ourselves in between a rock and a hard place.

It's a nasty situation all around. I think it does a lot of harm to the church. Whatever I am....basically, no-one at church knows about it. One of the worst failings of the Church is IMO...it's failure to create loving and supportive relationships (even deep friendships) within the local body. I must confess, NONE/ ZERO of my closest Christian friends attends my church. NONE of them. I have been blessed with Godly Christian friends...and we ALL attend different churches. We can be ourselves around one another, but I have no such friends within my church body.

Now that you mention it, the church is gravely hampered in it's mission because we aren't friends. We don't "break bread" together (in the sense of fellowsip)...We organize such events, but we never personally attend....my perfected avatar attends, but I sure don't. :tear:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What...HOS you are not preeminent? :laugh:

 

[HeirofSalvation]

What...HOS you are not preeminent? :laugh:

Nosir....not yet...I must confess I am only 90% perfect :laugh: and, yes....I put on the air at my local church that I am in fact 95% perfect :laugh:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Nosir....not yet...I must confess I am only 90% perfect :laugh: and, yes....I put on the air at my local church that I am in fact 95% perfect :laugh:

When I go, I sit in the loft with the other miscreants & scoundrels. We are the obscure. The ones Jesus came for. I think thats where he would sit.

 

[HeirofSalvation]

When I go, I sit in the loft with the other miscreants & scoundrels. We are the obscure. The ones Jesus came for. I think thats where he would sit.

OHHHH!... I get it... you are more honest with everyone than the rest of us HUH???? We put on "airs" and you don't....therefore....you are the more Spiritual one. ...I get it...we are the liars and the Publicans, and you are the sinner who beats his breast LOL......HA!!! you're just playing the same game huh? :laugh: :wavey:

 

[Winman]

OHHHH!... I get it... you are more honest with everyone than the rest of us HUH???? We put on "airs" and you don't....therefore....you are the more Spiritual one. ...I get it...we are the liars and the Publicans, and you are the sinner who beats his breast LOL......HA!!! you're just playing the same game huh? :laugh: :wavey:

This is what I was talking about, FEIGNED humility.

Guess some folks have never heard of Uriah Heep.

 

[Iconoclast]

Luke2427

Wouldn't it be nice if, with your church folks, you could REALLY be yourself?

You can and should be if you are obeying lawful biblical commands

I mean if each church member was the kind of person who was so critical of his own faults that he hardly noticed other people's?

Again....this translates to each professed christian actively studying to show themselves approved unto God.....maintaining certain disciplines that are not optional in the life of a real christian.

You could let your hair down a bit around them. If you lost your temper for a moment in front of them, you wouldn't worry yourself about how it might change how they think of you. For example, you were a bit over aggressive in correcting one of your children or snapped at your wife or threw a golf club out of frustration over your performance.

While we must live before the eyes of God primarily , we also receive directives to have a certain behaviour before the eyes of those around us.

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

I do not think the goal is ; well here I am warts and all, take it or leave it,
or ...yes i have a sinfully nasty disposition...just get used to it...

or any other excuse for our sinful conduct being manifest.....

love covers a multitude of sins- does not translate to> let me continue in sin that grace may more abound.

You could keep hanging out with them knowing they would be just as warm toward you and respectful of you as they were before. Wouldn't that be nice?

Unless I misunderstand,this would help perpetuate sinful conduct and not fulfill our responsibility to be our brothers keeper.

To the degree the older members of any local church are disobedient to God, it sets up a chain of events that lead to the very hypocrisy we all want to avoid.

They would think, "Bless his heart! But I bet he doesn't struggle with his temper any more than I struggle with _________________"

Again this is problematic....it is carnal worldly thought seeking to impose itself over the clear scriptural commands and principles.

How much energy do we waste pretending?
Pretending we have model marriages.
Pretending we have no anger issues.
Pretending we read our bibles and pray a great deal.
Pretending we are very mature Christians.
Pretending to love people more than we really do.

I'm afraid most churches really are just plays we put on every week. It is not real. Rather than being ourselves and letting people see how Christ is very slowly making us more and more like him, we play act.
We hold our wives' hands in front of everybody when we do it rarely when we are by ourselves with our wives. Airs. We are saying, "LOOK EVERYBODY!!! Look at how wonderful a husband I am!!" Airs.
We act like we don't watch certain shows on TV because we have a such a terrible aversion to the three or four cuss words in every episode. Airs. We are saying, "LOOK EVERYBODY!! Look at how spiritually sensitive and holy I am!!!"

This can only be by disobedience.

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:




8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

We act like we are so busy because the work place and the family requires so much of our time, when we spent as much time last month watching TV or fishing or hunting or playing video games as we did at work. Airs. We are saying, "LOOK EVERYBODY!! Behold what a hard worker I am!!!"

And why do we do that?

This is the root cause of the disobedient actions....unbelief in the promises of God to those who obey..or...unbelieving believers, or tares among the wheat.
:type::type:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

OHHHH!... I get it... you are more honest with everyone than the rest of us HUH???? We put on "airs" and you don't....therefore....you are the more Spiritual one. ...I get it...we are the liars and the Publicans, and you are the sinner who beats his breast LOL......HA!!! you're just playing the same game huh? :laugh: :wavey:

You dont get anything..... Im not the spiritual one, but by the same token I dont playact for approval. Truthfully, I dont care if I get approval or not. I just do what I do & I am who I am ...no pretensions.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

This is what I was talking about, FEIGNED humility.

Guess some folks have never heard of Uriah Heep.

Its called confidence & its called honesty. Guess you dont have it so you placate others to garner their approval. That is a sad commentary on your manliness that you have to pretend to be something your not.

 

[HeirofSalvation]

You dont get anything..... Im not the spiritual one, but by the same token I dont playact for approval. Truthfully, I dont care if I get approval or not. I just do what I do & I am who I am ...no pretensions.

:flower:I know....I am merely joking with you. I am being facetious. :thumbsup: NO NEED to be defensive...............Ya know...light-hearted hardy har har. that's all man:thumbsup: I'm with you Earth...just having fun, man

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

:flower:I know....I am merely joking with you. I am being facetious. :thumbsup: NO NEED to be defensive...............Ya know...light-hearted hardy har har. that's all man:thumbsup:

Damn, I was hoping for a war.....OK, Lets see what Wingman has to say.

 

[HeirofSalvation]

Damn, I was hoping for a war.....OK, Lets see what Wingman has to say.

No war :tongue3: I'm just joking with you brother :1_grouphug: