Can you remember an occasion when someone jumped to conclusions about you? They didn't give you the benefit of the doubt...they thought the worst or you - rather than the best. How did it make you feel? Angry, sad, let down, frustrated, worthless, disappointed, wanting to give up...
Another question - can you remember an occasion when you've jumped to conclusions...about someone else? How do you think it made them feel?
In Joshua 22 we read a story of how some of the tribes in Israel jumped to a wrong conclusion about some of their brothers and almost went to war over what was essentially a misunderstanding arising from a lack of proper communication. And because they weren't talking they assumed the worst, they didn't give the benefit of the doubt, they jumped to conclusions.
But fortunately they started talking before they started fighting, and everything was sorted out.
Our world is full of tribes. We like to belong and in a tribe we have that belonging. We are 'in' and the rest are 'out'. We put boundaries around the tribe, things that mark the difference between 'us' and 'them'. And these tribes exist in the church too. Tribes like young/old, male/female, black/white, traditional/modern, old timers/new comers, doers/talkers ... And when we are with those from a different tribe in the church it can be very easy to jump to conclusions, think the worst, and not give the benefit of the doubt - because proper communication is not happening. Both sides may be talking but is anyone listening?
Whether it is in church, at home, in the office, family relationships, husband/wife ... we need to make sure that we are talking face to face (and listening). When you next have an 'issue' with someone go and talk to them face to face before things get out of hand. And don't jump to conclusions, do give them the benefit of the doubt and do think the best rather than the worst of them.
Showing posts with label Christian Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Living. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Monday, 16 June 2008
Why your CV will end up in the bin!
If you're a fan of The Apprentice then you will know that the ultimate winner of the series was exposed a week earlier for having lied on his CV. In an interview on Radio 5 Live this last week, Alan Sugar defended his final decision and stated that he could assure the listener that every CV he receives contains something that is not quite the truth. He also stated that it was OK to lie in order to get a job because we live in a commercial world and that is what everyone does. (To listen to an extract from the interview listen to this message - see below).
That's evidently the way that one of the top bosses in this country thinks - and obviously a lot of other people do too. But as a Christian I am called to think differently. In this week's passage from Ephesians - 4:17-32 - we read that one of the implications of becoming a Christian is that you have to think differently; you have a new attitude of your mind. Some people think that you have to remove your brain and stop thinking for yourself when you become a Christian - you just accept whatever you hear or read in church or on the God Channel. But as Christians we are called to use our brains to think - to think from a different perspective, as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. And different thinking leads to different behaviour.
In this passage Paul gives some practical steps to living as a Christian.
1) Don't lie but tell the truth.
2) When you get angry don't sin - don't punch someone, or swear, or kick the cat or say something that you will later regret - instead sort things out quickly in a loving way so that hurts don't fester and become poisonous.
3) Don't steal, or fiddle your tax returns anymore - instead work so that you can provide something for those in need.
4) Watch what you say - only say things that will encourage and build others up, rather than pull them down.
5) Live a life that is consistent with the fact that you are a Christian.
6) Get rid of things like bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice.
7) Instead be kind and compassionate and forgiving.
To listen to this message click here.
That's evidently the way that one of the top bosses in this country thinks - and obviously a lot of other people do too. But as a Christian I am called to think differently. In this week's passage from Ephesians - 4:17-32 - we read that one of the implications of becoming a Christian is that you have to think differently; you have a new attitude of your mind. Some people think that you have to remove your brain and stop thinking for yourself when you become a Christian - you just accept whatever you hear or read in church or on the God Channel. But as Christians we are called to use our brains to think - to think from a different perspective, as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. And different thinking leads to different behaviour.
In this passage Paul gives some practical steps to living as a Christian.
1) Don't lie but tell the truth.
2) When you get angry don't sin - don't punch someone, or swear, or kick the cat or say something that you will later regret - instead sort things out quickly in a loving way so that hurts don't fester and become poisonous.
3) Don't steal, or fiddle your tax returns anymore - instead work so that you can provide something for those in need.
4) Watch what you say - only say things that will encourage and build others up, rather than pull them down.
5) Live a life that is consistent with the fact that you are a Christian.
6) Get rid of things like bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice.
7) Instead be kind and compassionate and forgiving.
To listen to this message click here.
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