They’re gonna get ya
Part of the awesome team doing the right thing at Fellowship
Let’s assume that you want to do the right thing. And you have a vision to see the right thing occur. This may not be the case, but it’s fun to think that way.
The problem in wanting to do the right thing is that there are people who a)want to do the wrong thing, b) want you to do the wrong thing, or c) just want to hate you no matter what you do.
So here’s what generally happens in a person’s life who wants to do the right things from the beginning. They come out of college ready to “change the world” or do the right thing, and then get to work. This occurs in many professions – politics, law, church, medicine, education, engineering, and even entertainment. Eventually they run into resistance, or people who would rather do a), b), or c) than allow that person to do the right thing.
Consequently, that person spends all of their time early on trying to fight the system of people who don’t want to do the right thing, and they never get around to actually doing the right thing. They get angry. They get complacent. And typically they quit. But there’s a solution.
Point the people that want a), b), and c) to someone else’s vision
Now lest you point out this post, please note that I did not say don’t love them. In fact, sometimes pointing people away from where you are to somewhere else is indeed the loving thing to do. Some of the most freeing moments in my life here at Fellowship have been when I’ve invited people to attend a different church that they would connect with on a vision scale. It’s not because I hate them, but because it’s the loving thing to do based on keeping unity in the body of Christ.
If you’re trying to do the right thing, don’t attempt to change people’s minds or spend all your time fighting those who want to see you do the wrong thing or even their version of the right thing for your life. Either leave or ask them to leave, depending on what’s best for the right thing. Don’t quit. Don’t let them get the best of you.
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One of the things that this brings to mind is the tight rope we all walk:
On the one hand, if we leap into backing a vision that isn’t close to our hearts, we are really selling ourselves out.
On the other hand, if we won’t partner with anybody because their vision is identical to ours, than everybodys just running around, on their own, not accomplishing much.
And in the middle of all this are questions about servanthood, submission, and realizing that the world needs more “chiefs” than “Indians”.
There was a time when i would have considered this post utter nonsense. There are many who still do. The thing is, i really can’t say anymore that they’re wrong.
The beauty of being freed from thinking that there’s only a ‘right’ way to serve God is found in understanding the falacy of condemning. “Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth” is by design the state of releasing people to escape the trap of the “mountain” and the “temple”. God is not found exclusively in those places…anymore.
Thanks be to Jesus Christ.