As Christians, do we find ourselves reaching out to others not with a sense of superiority, but with a desire to serve?

[Irish_Polock]

This question was recently brought up to me? What are your thoughts?

 

[edwest2]

Excellent question. The Bible tells us that God resists the proud. We must be humble and even pray for humility. Sometimes others view Christian behavior as a sign of superiority but, as Christians, we must do works to live out our faith. We must imitate Christ since we are to be doers of the things He told us. I know that people are sometimes made uncomfortable when Christians around them don’t do the things they’re doing. We don’t do certain things because we should observe the Commandments and the limits set for us for our own good. By living this example out of obedience, we could be an example to others. If we are to be the salt of the earth we must follow Jesus Christ and His example. We are told that if the salt loses its savor, it is thrown out and men trample it underfoot.

Hope this helps,
Ed

 

[liquidpele]

Excellent question. The Bible tells us that God resists the proud. We must be humble and even pray for humility. Sometimes others view Christian behavior as a sign of superiority but, as Christians, we must do works to live out our faith. We must imitate Christ since we are to be doers of the things He told us. I know that people are sometimes made uncomfortable when Christians around them don’t do the things they’re doing. We don’t do certain things because we should observe the Commandments and the limits set for us for our own good. By living this example out of obedience, we could be an example to others. If we are to be the salt of the earth we must follow Jesus Christ and His example. We are told that if the salt loses its savor, it is thrown out and men trample it underfoot.

Hope this helps,
Ed

I think that you make good points, however I think one issue is that many people see Christ as being different than how other see him (or how they want) and thus would imitate an inaccurate model. The easiest place to see this is politics, where people assert that Jesus would have been for X or against Y with no real factual basis for such a claim. I once saw a bumper sticker that said “Jesus was a conservative”.

 

[edwest2]

I think that you make good points, however I think one issue is that many people see Christ as being different than how other see him (or how they want) and thus would imitate an inaccurate model. The easiest place to see this is politics, where people assert that Jesus would have been for X or against Y with no real factual basis for such a claim. I once saw a bumper sticker that said “Jesus was a conservative”.

I would never want to be a politician. Sometimes, people treat their political party, or personal classification, as if it had the quality of a religion. I am a Republican, Conservative, whatever!! I find it puzzling when I hear the following on TV: Well, he was a left of center, Reagan democrat who…" Oh boy, I just learned a lot (? ?)

Peace,
Ed

 

[Kamalayka]

I think I have felt the grace of God today. The only thing that matters is love.

Paul truly spoke in the Holy Spirit when he said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

I would read this all the time, not really paying attention. Today, I have truly read it, and it is the first time it makes perfect sense to me. This is what it means to live in Christ.

Once everything is finished, after there is a new heaven and earth, love will be complete. In the end, Christ will love the Church, Christ will love Himself.

If you have ever felt what it is like to be in love, you don’t care what happens at all, or what anyone says or thinks.
The love of God is this times ten thousand!
When you are madly in love, but the person you love could care less, this is only a glimpse of how much God suffers over a soul that ignores Him.

I have truly learned this today, and now I see that the only thing that matters is love.

When you are in love, do you care about pride, or envy, or being first? They are the last things on the mind!!

To imitate Christ is to be madly in love, and to love. It is that simple!
The hard part is taking the first step.

The sole purpose for our existence is love,
to be loved and to be in love!!!

 

[Irish_Polock]

I think I have felt the grace of God today. The only thing that matters is love.

Paul truly spoke in the Holy Spirit when he said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

I would read this all the time, not really paying attention. Today, I have truly read it, and it is the first time it makes perfect sense to me. This is what it means to live in Christ.

Once everything is finished, after there is a new heaven and earth, love will be complete. In the end, Christ will love the Church, Christ will love Himself.

If you have ever felt what it is like to be in love, you don’t care what happens at all, or what anyone says or thinks.
The love of God is this times ten thousand!
When you are madly in love, but the person you love could care less, this is only a glimpse of how much God suffers over a soul that ignores Him.

I have truly learned this today, and now I see that the only thing that matters is love.

When you are in love, do you care about pride, or envy, or being first? They are the last things on the mind!!

To imitate Christ is to be madly in love, and to love. It is that simple!
The hard part is taking the first step.

The sole purpose for our existence is love,
to be loved and to be in love!!!

Through the grace of God, I am in love.

Blessings

 

[annie678]

I think the two points spoken of so far, loving and serving, are intimately joined.

As my true love has grown, so has my desire to reach out to others as a servant and through that service, my love grows.

Not that there aren’t times when I respond or react in a self-serving way, I do. And if I am honest with myself, I can see myself feeling superior, thinking I can do (whatever) faster or better. But when I reflect on those times, I see a pattern in that I didn’t first take the time to be with the Lord, the source of my love, to share my heart, my needs and my questions and ask for His assistance.

And although regardless of my attitude in reaching out, the need is usually met/contact made, etc., but I can feel the difference my attitude creates: when I act out of superiority, I feel driven to act and drained afterward; when I act as a servant, I feel energized and joyous.

The actions of serving and loving are imitating Christ; I’m sure there are more actions to add to the list but these are the ones, along with forgiving, about which Jesus has been speaking to me lately. I hope my words have adequately portrayed what’s in my heart.

Thank you Lord for the gift of service - help me increase the time I spend with You.

 

[James_S_Saint]

This question was recently brought up to me? What are your thoughts?

Everyone has a desire to serve. The question is, “Who do they attempt to serve?”

A person does not speak without intent to influence. Even if he is merely asking a question, he is still attempting to solicit a response. But often he is attempting to imply via a question or even instigate; “Why do the French hate the Americans so much?”

In reality and philosophically speaking, every effort is an attempt to serve oneself although at times such is not at all apparent.

Is the Christian attempting to serve the person he is “reaching out to”? Or is he attempting to serve his higher devotion via serving the person? Or is he not really attempting to serve that person at all, but merely attempting to serve that person to his higher devotion (alter the person)?

My question would be, “why is there question of it at all?” Why is it not more clear and certain as to what a Christian is attempting to do? Why is it so easy for the anti-Christian to make the wrong assumption and spread the wrong idea? Who is really response-able to prevent further deception about true intent?

The “good Christian” is attempting to serve eternal harmony, but such is not obvious. Why isn’t it? Who but the Christian can make it more obvious and less questionable?

So in the long run, who does the Christian really serve despite any intent, but the spirit of doubt (ie. the Devil)?

 

[Nec5]

Reaching out turns out to be a fine line because of our tendency to employ pride. In this modernist world of relativism, you have a responsibility to call a sin a sin.
At the same time, it is difficult to prevent that responsibility from morphing into “i’m right because I’m Christian. You’re sinning, and need to listen to me.” It’s tricky business because you need to be be humble,compassionate, and firm at the same time. That’s why prayer and asking for patience and temperance are equally necessary.