Popularity Contest...

Life is a popularity contest....at least it seems that way to me.  As a whole, I think that we all want to be the best, look the best, and be known as the best.  When we are little, all of us want to be thought of as the coolest and the best.  Well, at least I did.  Then when we get rejected or told something contrary to what we want to be know as, we react.  Some of us get angry and become bullies and rule the playground with all kind of manipulations.

As we get older, we just become more sophisticated at manipulating or covering up our pain and  the need to fit in.   Now, I want to be clear on one thing.  I think compitition is a great thing when it comes to sports or music, or whatever our talents are.  Being the best at something is excellent.  I cant stand this new idea of not keeping score, or not wanting to leave someone out, even though another teamate worked their tail off to win and better themselves.  We are creating a new society of mediocrity..... And dont even get me started on the ideas and plans in our Government!  
    I think that this is where positive peer pressure comes in.  Wanting to be better, and not giving up, working hard to earn something.  We get into trouble when our attitude becomes prideful and we let those things DEFINE us.  Talents are amazing things to have. But once we start using them to "show up" others or have a prideful attitude, we get lost.  When we forget to encourage our teamates and tell them great job, even when we loose, we get in to all sorts of trouble.

     As I said before,as we get older and get jobs, and get on bigger and more important teams, and the stakes are higher, our manipulation or pride just becomes more sophisticated  and in many new forms. The one place that this showed up ,and I was shocked, was church.

     Before I became a Christian, my life was a mess.  I had gotten myself in many jams, and allowed so many things into my soul.  I felt so lost, so broken. A place where no one could help me or make me feel any better, or heal my broken heart.  I felt this deep love from God pulling me and drawing me in.  I felt so loved, but couldnt understand why.  Why would the King of the Universe love me?  After all of the thing s that I did...and He knew them ALL.  He still was calling me to Him?  I DID come to Him.  I gave it all to Him.  I  thought He would condemn me, but it was the opposite.  He healed me from all of that junk. I know EVERYONE wants to be healed from one thing or another.  I found that God is good and He is true, and will not change like our fellow"humans."

     In my mind, church should be the most safest places that you could be.  The place where you can be you and learn to cope with life, and grow and change and learn to be what God created you to be.  I have found it to be, in some cases, one of the worst.  From the pulpit, to the music, to the preschool workers... there is so much pride!  So much of a need to be "seen" as someone that is amazing.  I have seen some people so prideful and so haughty because they led groups, and led music, and did a ton of things "for the church".  One of the biggest shockers of all for me...is I started doing that!  Looking for accolades and wanting to be seen as popular or the "best"!

     I dont know about you, but I think this completely makes the love of God almost obsolete, or the thing that is in the back corner instead of the forfront of the conversation and of the church.  Hearing people in church speak of others who are not believers like they are the plague grieves my heart!  Werent  you once in a bad place? Wasnt I?  The God I know came to seek and save the lost, not condemn the lost. It is the LOVE OF GOD that brings us to repentance... Who are we, then, to go above the God of the Heavens, and be unloving? And Of all People! Those in the Church!

     Yes, I need to earnestly seek and cultivate and desire the best that God has, the best gifts and graces...but there is a more excellent way by far...which is LOVE.

      Even if I could speak like the angels, and I did not love, I would just be a clanging symbol.  I could understand all the mysteries of heaven and the secret truths of the Universe, have faith that could remove mountains, but did not have love...then I am useless and have gained nothing!

     Do I endure ,am I patient, kind?  Am I envious, and boil over with jelousy? Do I boast, am I vanglorious and display myself haughtily?  Self seeking, arrogant, inflated?  Do I insist on my own way, my rights?  Do I give attention to the wrongs done against me?  Unfortunately...if I am honest, I have to say yes to many of these things!

     Then what is the point?  If you are a part of a church, make sure you love and you love those who dont go!  And those who dont go to church, dont let one or two bad churches or the sound of haughty Christians keep you away.  God is good and filled with mercy.  I know many Christians who are working hard at changing the negative view of God and Church.  I want to be one of those people!