To self-centered, selfish people it hasn't dawned on them that the world doesn't revolve around them. This is part of growing up--Reality 101. People don't exist to meet our needs! You cannot love others when you're wrapped up in yourself. We feel a disconnect and are not communicating when we focus on self. Let's empty ourselves like Christ! All of our thinking is distorted when self-centered, and we tend to think of "my way or the highway." In other words, we become less tolerant. Sometime we must learn to stop running from our problems and difficult relationships, and reconcile---work things out! God doesn't call us to be peace-keepers, but peacemakers; seeking to build bridges, not walls.
There are several ways we can discriminate or alienate, if we're looking, and the solution is to get our priorities right: We are Christians first; human beings second; members of a family third; Americans fourth; citizens of a state fifth (as opposed to those who would say: "American by birth, Texan by the grace of God," or "Texan first, American second, and so forth), and finally members of a party, if any. Tribalism is the gut feeling that we have when we belong to a group, faction, or party that gives us pride and is wrong, as is party spirit. This rating is not a cut-and-dried formula but a rough outline.
When we meet people we disagree with, we are to treat them as fellow human beings, sometimes even as brothers in Christ, and learn that God puts them in our orbit to practice the first of the fruits of the Spirit, which is love. This priority is contrary to the America First doctrine or that we put America first in everything; this is much like the Deutschland uber Alles (Germany above all) campaign of Germany during two world wars. This leads to jingoism and chauvinism, or extreme patriotism at the expense of our values. We must ask ourselves: Where is our ultimate loyalty?
God has a plan for us if we submit and abide, but we must deny ourselves, put Him first and die to self, as "living sacrifices"--living for Him. The essence of humility is not thinking less of yourself, but of yourself less! In order to say "Yes!" to Jesus, we must first say "No!" to self! We want God-confidence, not self-confidence! Even our goals, ambitions, and priorities must be aligned with His. Do you have great ambitions for yourself? "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them..." (Jer. 45:5, NIV).
Selfish ambition is a fruit of the flesh, even though it's what makes the world go round, known as greed and envy. Greed is not good, despite the movie Wall Street, and is a sin to be avoided--only godly ambition is acceptable to God--the desire to bring Him glory in all we do as Job One. Only in finding our true identity in Christ, setting our agenda in accordance with His will, and making an impact for Christ, will we see our true, rewarding importance in the mission He has given us--as we complete our marching orders--to make a difference for Christ in the world.
Nothing destroys churches like church politics or even party spirit--dividing into disputes about leadership or nonessential doctrine. We have more in common than divides us! Identity politics, so prevalent today, is evil! However, remember: The devil's strategy is to divide and conquer! Even Christians tend to take their politics more seriously than their faith and will cut off fellowship on this basis. Unfortunately, many believers focus on tribalism or identity with a party and owe their ultimate allegiance to it, like swearing an oath to a fraternity or club, and they will die for their political opinions, repeating the mantra: "My party, right or wrong!" "If you disagree with me, you're my enemy! Don't they realize that God works through the body in toto and we need every part? In the end, it's all about Jesus and how much glory we can bring to Him.
To ever find the truth we must admit we could be wrong, and that includes our politics. Everyone should ask themselves: What if I am wrong? We all accept something we cannot prove--a presupposition. You cannot get to first base with some believers politically because their news sources are different and they have bought into a foreign or alien worldview, buying it hook, line, and sinker, and have sold out lock, stock, and barrel to some ideology, to the point of being fanatics about a party or politician; this is nothing but deifying a party or person and worshiping at the idol of politics--get over it, God is not a member of your or my party and He isn't even American! The truth is in Jesus and when we get our eyes off Him we lose focus and go astray.
We must realize it's not about us and our happiness and fulfillment, but about God and our serving Him to His glory. Some believers think life is about what God can do for them and it's about turning in their spiritual lottery ticket and having their best life now; au contraire, it's all about being vessels of honor, being used by God. We were made to bring honor to Him, and any other goal is shortsighted and selfish--even selfish ambition--for the "chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (The Westminster Shorter Catechism).
We must yield control of our lives to His sovereignty and walk with Christ in His will, just as Christ's motto of life was: "Thy will be done!" The ultimate prayer of relinquishment. According to Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer, "The only truly happy people are those who have learned how to serve." Christ is so wonderful to behold that we are lifted in spirit as we get our eyes off ourselves. In sum, we find our purpose and fulfillment in Christ alone! Soli Deo Gloria!
There are several ways we can discriminate or alienate, if we're looking, and the solution is to get our priorities right: We are Christians first; human beings second; members of a family third; Americans fourth; citizens of a state fifth (as opposed to those who would say: "American by birth, Texan by the grace of God," or "Texan first, American second, and so forth), and finally members of a party, if any. Tribalism is the gut feeling that we have when we belong to a group, faction, or party that gives us pride and is wrong, as is party spirit. This rating is not a cut-and-dried formula but a rough outline.
When we meet people we disagree with, we are to treat them as fellow human beings, sometimes even as brothers in Christ, and learn that God puts them in our orbit to practice the first of the fruits of the Spirit, which is love. This priority is contrary to the America First doctrine or that we put America first in everything; this is much like the Deutschland uber Alles (Germany above all) campaign of Germany during two world wars. This leads to jingoism and chauvinism, or extreme patriotism at the expense of our values. We must ask ourselves: Where is our ultimate loyalty?
God has a plan for us if we submit and abide, but we must deny ourselves, put Him first and die to self, as "living sacrifices"--living for Him. The essence of humility is not thinking less of yourself, but of yourself less! In order to say "Yes!" to Jesus, we must first say "No!" to self! We want God-confidence, not self-confidence! Even our goals, ambitions, and priorities must be aligned with His. Do you have great ambitions for yourself? "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them..." (Jer. 45:5, NIV).
Selfish ambition is a fruit of the flesh, even though it's what makes the world go round, known as greed and envy. Greed is not good, despite the movie Wall Street, and is a sin to be avoided--only godly ambition is acceptable to God--the desire to bring Him glory in all we do as Job One. Only in finding our true identity in Christ, setting our agenda in accordance with His will, and making an impact for Christ, will we see our true, rewarding importance in the mission He has given us--as we complete our marching orders--to make a difference for Christ in the world.
Nothing destroys churches like church politics or even party spirit--dividing into disputes about leadership or nonessential doctrine. We have more in common than divides us! Identity politics, so prevalent today, is evil! However, remember: The devil's strategy is to divide and conquer! Even Christians tend to take their politics more seriously than their faith and will cut off fellowship on this basis. Unfortunately, many believers focus on tribalism or identity with a party and owe their ultimate allegiance to it, like swearing an oath to a fraternity or club, and they will die for their political opinions, repeating the mantra: "My party, right or wrong!" "If you disagree with me, you're my enemy! Don't they realize that God works through the body in toto and we need every part? In the end, it's all about Jesus and how much glory we can bring to Him.
To ever find the truth we must admit we could be wrong, and that includes our politics. Everyone should ask themselves: What if I am wrong? We all accept something we cannot prove--a presupposition. You cannot get to first base with some believers politically because their news sources are different and they have bought into a foreign or alien worldview, buying it hook, line, and sinker, and have sold out lock, stock, and barrel to some ideology, to the point of being fanatics about a party or politician; this is nothing but deifying a party or person and worshiping at the idol of politics--get over it, God is not a member of your or my party and He isn't even American! The truth is in Jesus and when we get our eyes off Him we lose focus and go astray.
We must realize it's not about us and our happiness and fulfillment, but about God and our serving Him to His glory. Some believers think life is about what God can do for them and it's about turning in their spiritual lottery ticket and having their best life now; au contraire, it's all about being vessels of honor, being used by God. We were made to bring honor to Him, and any other goal is shortsighted and selfish--even selfish ambition--for the "chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (The Westminster Shorter Catechism).
We must yield control of our lives to His sovereignty and walk with Christ in His will, just as Christ's motto of life was: "Thy will be done!" The ultimate prayer of relinquishment. According to Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer, "The only truly happy people are those who have learned how to serve." Christ is so wonderful to behold that we are lifted in spirit as we get our eyes off ourselves. In sum, we find our purpose and fulfillment in Christ alone! Soli Deo Gloria!
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