Thoughts from "D6"

D6 is our family ministry at my church. D6 stands for Deuteronomy 6 where parents are commanded to raise their children in the knowledge of God at all times: day, night, eating, walking, etc...

Roger Wheeler, an elder at my church, filled in for the family pastor and discussed a concept from Shepherding a Child's Heart

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

We discussed the traditions of men that we often embrace as Americans. Be a leader, not a follower! Always win! Never give up!

There are times to try to win. There are times to persevere and not give up. There are times to lead. However, winning is not literally everything. Winning is something. Just not everything. Working hard is a Biblical virtue. Winning often comes a result of working hard. But winning can be achieved by cheating, dishonesty, unchecked aggression, and hatred.

Persevering is something. Just not everything. Devotion and convenant are Biblical concepts. However, giving up on your attempts to achieve righteousness by merit and achievement is also a Biblical concept. It is ok (and even preferable) to give up being self-reliant. To abandon your devotion to the world and its ways.  Sticking it out is not a virtue in all circumstances.  Better to kick that sinful habit than to devotedly cherish it.

Leading is something. Just not everything. We are called to follow Jesus. If people follow us as we follow Jesus, then we may be rightly said to be leading them. Jesus empowers, gifts, and calls some to lead. He always does so by calling them first to follow hard after Jesus.  Leading is only as virtuous as the place or Person to which it leads.

Phariseeism is most often the result of people attempting to get other people to follow them. The desire for followers never leads to that person following Jesus or encouraging others to follow Jesus. Your desire to lead always leads to humiliation when you fail to lead the way even you desire.

Only Jesus can be trusted fully to lead. We must commit ourselves to following Him.

Some good thoughts. I love mulling over stuff like that and I am so grateful that Cornerstone has so many elders who are rightly qualified to teach as prescripted by the Bible.