there is something grevious that we do. most of us. everywhere. especially, though not exclusively, i have noticed it in "church people". i have noticed it in myself.
when we are speaking with certain persons why do we feel that we always have to one-up them? that when they are stating some opinion or revelation or thing they perceive as truth, why do we always feel that we have to instruct them and interject our superior knowledge? have you ever had someone do that to you? instead of bringing you closer together with that person in a comaraderie of sharing, it elevates them in some way over you. it's as if they have a propensity to instruct the world. and to me it just feels....well....contentious.
two examples. there is a couple of fellow christians. i really have to guard how i interact with them, always doing the dance. it doesn't hardly matter what i say, they ALWAYS have to interject something. they can almost never just enter in with me to the thought. they are contentious towards me. maybe they are not that way with everyone. but they are with me. if i say one thing, they usually must repeat it with a different twist that wrestles me down into feeling like an underdog. i'm not saying that it is a bad thing to converse and interchange ideas in the conversing. but when someone interacts with you in this spirit it always wrestles you down. if you say it is a good day, they say, no it is rather....an excellent day. if you share a thought, they feel as if they have to interpret that thought. they can never just let you be...and they can never just be....with you.
example #2. the other day a dear friend (a very talkative and demonstrative friend:) was sharing a revelation she is in the process of receiving from the Word...and from the way her life experiences have recently intersected with it. i was entering into the conversation with her enthusiastically, trying to help her along the way and understand for myself and interpret what she was saying by what i know from the scriptures. today as i am meditating on the subject matter of this blog i got to wondering......i have been a christian far longer than her, i have more knowledge of the scripture, i was trying to enhance and, yes interpret, what she was saying by interjecting that knowledge here and there. was i being contentious to her as those in ex.#1 are to me? perhaps i was in some fashion, for as i examine my heart about it i find that there was perhaps something deep down in me that really did want to prove my superior knowledge in some way.....to be her instructor.........you see? for this my heart is repentant. now as it is unfolding in my writing, i can remember how my spirit was towards her though. even though i do have superior knowledge of the scripture, what i was seeking was to understand, and to find some ground for agreement and advancement in the process, because what she was sharing was good. ahh. now this is different. and this is what i want to be about.
sometimes i am afraid that with my children especially, i come across as those in ex.#1. this is a turnoff. so please. if you are close to me and you read this blog. forgive me. and if i ever come across to you in that manner..........TELL ME! because my desire is to walk in a spirit of humility that draws others near to the heart of God, to understand His ways.... not to brashly seek to prove what i know all the time, or that i am superior. we all have strong convictions about certain things, and there are very many absolutes in the Word of God. but. come let us reason TOGETHER. that we may draw close to the King in love, understanding and support. the Word of God judges and reveals all things. if that ends up being negatively so in a certain matter, then so be it. let us uncover it together if that is the case and submit ourselves to it. let's encourage one another as we provoke each other to good works. i don't always need the person i'm talking with to have "the answer". a great many of times i will figure it out myself if you just shut up and take a back seat to my ramblings for minute. we're on this journey called life together aren't we? well now i'm just getting too deep........
anny wayyy....... check yourself out. are you contentious towards others.....it may not be everyone. just some. you always have to one-up. or re-phrase. anything to place yourself above. superior. it's very subtle. almost intangible at times. (because it's a spiritual thing....an attitude of the heart) and sometimes it's done in the smallest most insignificant of ways or comments.... if you look deep down, i can almost guarantee you, in some fashion, it's there.
thank God for His grace. whew, glad i got that off my chest. have a nice/excellent/stupendous day ;)
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