The Power of Your Name

I found this when I was googling for information for the message on Humility.

Humility

Humility

Let me set this up so that we’re all operating on the same page.  In my discussions with those who don’t believe in God, Jesus and the Bible, I have sometimes found myself making a statement, only to be howled down by the “other side” as being arrogant.  I wasn’t trying to be arrogant.  And I realise that just because somebody says you doesn’t mean that you are arrogant. 

But it does raise the question.

Where do you draw the line between confidence and arrogance?

Examples:

I am confident there is a God, but I have friends who believe there is no God.  If I say there is a God, is that being arrogant?   If my atheist friend declares just as confidently that there is no god, is he being arrogant?  What is the difference?

I am confident there is only one God, while there are Hindus who believe in many gods.  So, if I declare that there is only one God, am I being arrogant towards my Hindu friends?  If the Hindu declares many gods, is he/she being arrogant?  What is the difference?

I am confident that Jesus is the only way to get to God, but there are many Muslims who don’t.  So, if I tell my Muslim friend that Jesus is the only way, is that arrogant? 

God calls us to be confident, but we are to never be arrogant.

BIG IDEA NO. 1

Respect the person rather than what they stand for

In preparing this message I came across a question that made me think.  Is it really possible to respect another person’s point of view, even when you strongly believe the opposite?

My answer is: maybe it’s not.

If there is someone who holds a belief, or who is involved in behaviour, that you actually believe to be morally or ethically wrong, you may find it almost impossible to respect their views.

While I may or may not respect person’s beliefs or behaviour, I am under obligation from God to treat the person with the respect and dignity due to someone who is loved by God.

Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. 1 Peter 2:17.  NLT

That word that is translated “respect” (timao) means to give value to or to honour.  That is, treat them as valued and honoured people. 

But what if the other person doesn’t act like an honourable person?

That doesn’t let us off the hook.

In fact, the king that Peter says they are to respect was, at the time, the Emperor Nero.  Nero was no friend of the early church.  He was the guy who reportedly set fire to Rome and then blamed the Christians for starting the fire.  And Peter told them to have respect for this guy!

I may not agree with people.  I may not respect what they believe. 

I must treat people with honour. 

BIG IDEA NO. 2

Avoid belittling

One of the sure signs of arrogance is that it has a tendency to belittle those who are different in some way.  To say or do something that in some way puts them down, makes fun of them, minimises their value or makes them look bad in the eyes of others.   

This will come out in a number of ways.

• Ridicule & sarcasm. 
• Insults & derogatory comments
• Personal attacks – playing the man and not the ball. 
• Degrading humour.  You see this when it comes to racism and sexism, where one will use humour to make someone appear to be less than they really are.
• Misrepresenting the other side.  You see this a lot in politics.  One side, instead of attacking the policies of their opponent, will exaggerate or misrepresent their views in order to make them look unreasonable. 

The Bible tells us to behave differently.

Remind the believers to yield to the authority of rulers and government leaders, to obey them, to be ready to do good, to speak no evil about anyone, to live in peace, and to be gentle and polite to all people. Titus 3:1-2. NCV

Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. Eph 4:29. Complete Jewish Bible

BIG IDEA NO. 3

Listen

One of the ways we belittle or devalue someone is by not listening to what they have to say. 

There are a number of reasons why we don’t listen well

1. We are so preoccupied with our own thoughts and our own agenda that we can’t hear anything or anyone else.  This is self focus to the point that we tune out what others think or have to say.

I was putting this together and came across a thought that hadn’t dawned on me before: Pride is an attitude of self-worship.

When I am engrossed in my own ideas, opinions and thoughts, that is a form of self-worship.

1. We have already worked out what we think the other person feels or believes and we’ve decided they’re wrong.  Our tuning them out is a way of showing our disapproval.
2. 3.       We don’t want to give the impression that we think we might be wrong, or that they might be right. 

The faulty reasoning is that by listening to someone we are telling them that they might have something to teach us.  That, in turn, might give the impression that we secretly think we might be wrong.  So, therefore, we shouldn’t even give their views and opinions the time of day.  Don’t listen.

And that is exactly why some people don’t listen.  It’s not a sign that they are confident in what they believe.  It’s a sign of fear.  Secretly, they fear they might be wrong and don’t want to admit it.  So, they hunker down and refuse to listen to any other point of view. 

Listening to someone does not mean you agree with them. 

Listen is about respect.

Listening to someone is to give them the gift of being.  About recognising them as a whole and valuable human being.

Not only that, but listening to someone, even when you think what they are saying is balderdash, makes it more likely that they will, in turn, listen to you.

If you really believe that everything they say is rubbish, then you will also be wanting to verbalise to them what you really think. 

If you refuse to listen, don’t be surprised if they also cut you off.

One of the best ways to be heard is to first of all be a listener.

Having said all that, let me also add this big idea…

BIG IDEA NO. 4

Admit you don’t know it all

The reality is, we don’t know everything there is.

Even when it comes to God, Jesus and Bible, we do not know it all. 

First of all, there are a lot of things about which the Bible doesn’t speak. 

Second, we live in a different culture from which these things were written.  To fully understand the Scriptures, you have to have a good understanding of the culture in which it was written.

Third, our powers of interpretation and understanding are limited.

I don’t know how many things there are that I thought I understood, only to have the Holy Spirit come along and change my mind.

The reality is, just about everybody can teach us something, if we are humble enough to receive it. 

BIG IDEA NO. 5

Present what you believe with confidence and respect

Let’s come back the question of how we can talk about God, Jesus and the Bible to those who do not believe in God or accept the authority of the Scriptures. 

Here is the approach we’re told to take…

The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants. 2 Tim 2:25-26. NCV

How do you feel when someone tries to force their ideas on you?

Isn’t it a much better approach to put things in such a way that people will listen rather than tune you out or, even worse, get ticked off at you?

Here are some possible discussion starters.

I believe the Bible.  Can I share with you how the Bible puts it?

I see it a little differently.  Would you like to hear what I think?

Can I give you my impressions from a different point of view?

BIG IDEA NO. 6

Live the message

We believe in grace and redemption. 

We believe that God is with us through everything.

We believe we are loved by God in spite of all we’ve done.

We believe in kindness, mercy, forgiveness, love.

Do we live those things?

Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ. Philippians 1:27. NCV