The Human Contest.

The human contest in perhaps our most perplexing life endeavor. Something in us needs the lift of being bigger, better, beyond the limits of the guy next door. Perhaps it's the reason there are 59 one another passages in the New Testament, this human contest that takes so much of our energy and time. It certainly is a significant faith challenge, the personal discipline to elevate others above self. With little doubt it is among our most critical daily challenges. Yes, our relationship with the Heavenly Father extends to every life arena. It is most pressing, however, in how we interact with the other humans who vie with us in this on-going human contest.

The Apostle Paul wrote much about our relationship with other humans. One of those texts captured my attention this morning because of the way it confronts me with self. At the conclusion of Romans 12:10, Paul penned this: "Outdo one another in showing honor". He had already noted that believers must "Love one another with brotherly affection". Treating the guy next door like a brother may be the opening round of this competition. Especially when our response to that neighbor is usually measured by how he treats me. You know, we humans like to balance the scales, give as it is given. It's what Jesus taught when he said, " Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6: 38, ESV). Be nice to me, and I'll be nice to you is our thing.

Then again. Paul wrote that we should go overboard in honoring others. Its the same Greek word Jesus used when he told his followers to honor their fathers and mothers. It is a term that means to fix the value of something, to revere or venerate someone beyond self. The Apostle Paul's command is that every believer should place great value on the other people in our lives and that we should do so in a manner greater than the people around us. And, that seems an insurmountable task for us score keeping humans. In our calculations that other person may not deserve my words or thoughts or actions of honor. That other person may be my most deplorable life connection.

Oops. Then there is grace. The Apostle Paul also wrote, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4: 32, ESV). Surely honoring others involves graciously overlooking their actions toward us. Outdoing each other in this regard is the trait that clarifies this honor thing. We can honor them as Christ honors us. Personal faith celebrates God's grace and the work of Christ is shifting our human nature so we can belong to him. Should this grace not also be extended to the people around us, troubling as they may be?

This human contest places us at odds with many people. Faith should direct us above the limitations of our human nature, and we should outdo one another is showing honor. If there's going to be a contest with others, let it be that we outdo one another in showing honor.

Let it shine.

So, there's visual learning. That is learning by seeing. And, I am a visual learner. The recent progression of my blog heading is an element of that educational process. It just has to look right. And, the above image looks a little more right than my first stab at it last week. Let's see if it teaches me anything new this week.

And, that's a church matter these days. The people over in the education department, as well as the execs on the advertising floor, remind us that America's younger generations, the millennials and zoomers, are visual learners too. With attention spans clocking in the mere seconds, images must capture them and teach them something fast. It's one of the reasons so many churches have screens, use Power Point and ProPresenter, and have techies on their worship teams today. Yes, there are church people of every age, like me, whose neural synapses are activated by imagery. Still, if your church wants to reach the younger generations, the profound truths of Scripture should be spoken and seen. Preaching and teaching are much larger concepts than the pastor's voice-over.

It's a delicate topic too, this idea of faith that is seen. Jesus warned about self-focused faith that is lived openly for the personal attention. He said, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 6: 1, ESV). The applause of men isn't the aim of living faith. Still, Jesus previously taught, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5: 16, ESV). It is a strong element of our personal witness in this broken world, that is, living our faith out there in the mean streets where others can be influenced by a biblical example. It's not complicated. This is our Christian witness. It is more than words. Sure, we should be able to verbalize our faith (see 1 Peter 3: 15). Living it out in the open, for others to see, however, is the real deal.

It's an even greater influence these days, the openly visible faith life. You see, there's this secular mood in our culture today that permits and even encourages religious language and witness. That is, among all the other religious systems out there. But, the Christian voice is basically verboten. Sure, Christians can buy television time in certain slots but can no longer pray or speak in most public venues. Living faith does, however, touch the people around us with profound witness. It is the most vivid and convincing witness of our personal beliefs, the way we live. Jesus explained it in another context. We're supposed to be a city on a hill whose light beams in the darkness. It cannot be hidden.

Here we are, Monday in February, weather patterns blasting us, the Pandemic still an issue, and uncertainty in many life systems. And, here I am, seeking my place in it, with the clear instruction to let it shine.

Gobbledygook.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum. Nulla metus metus, ullamcorper vel, tincidunt sed, euismod in, nibh. Quisque volutpat condimentum velit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Nam nec ante. Sed lacinia, urna non tincidunt mattis, tortor neque adipiscing diam, a cursus ipsum ante quis turpis. Nulla facilisi. Ut fringilla. Suspendisse potenti. Nunc feugiat mi a tellus consequat imperdiet. Vestibulum sapien. Proin quam. Etiam ultrices. Suspendisse in justo eu magna luctus suscipit. Sed lectus. Integer euismod lacus luctus magna. Quisque cursus, metus vitae pharetra auctor, sem massa mattis sem, at interdum magna augue eget diam. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Morbi lacinia molestie dui. Praesent blandit dolor. Sed non quam. In vel mi sit amet augue congue elementum. Morbi in ipsum sit amet pede facilisis laoreet. Donec lacus nunc, viverra nec.

Truth is, sometimes we just don't have anything to say. The gibberish above is referenced by the word industry as lorum ipsum, that is, meaningless text. It occupies space but doesn't mean anything. Now, let me be quick to mention that I have something to say every moment of every day. You know, opinions, thoughts, ideas, directions about life, how we live it, and our place in the world around us. I tend to talk too much. Or, so they say. And, you know the trends these days, the path social media paves for people to say something about everything.

Sometimes, however, we verbalize too much. Everything doesn't have to be spoken or written. Silence is often the best communicator. It's a profound lesson of Scripture, the discipline of silence---

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is

prudent.

Proverbs 10: 19, ESV

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed

intelligent.

Proverbs 17: 28, ESV

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Psalm 141: 3, ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak...

James 1: 19, ESV

And, hundreds more. The point? Silence is often the best communicator. We just don't have to verbalize everything. A nod, look, wink, or blank look communicates much. Take the silent path on occasion. Your opinion will be more valuable.

Says the guy with a thousand words.