THERE is a book near at hand on my desk next to my computer that I frequently referenced when I wrote Character Matters – character comments, for the Covenant Christian Academy Tuesday Bulletin. The book is David Brook’s, The Road to Character. At the time, that book provided at apt antidote to the disease of narcissism that was plaguing our society then now. It offered a prescription and counter-culture cure calling for self-control after a season of failed indulgence with the disastrous thirty-some year experiment with the self-esteem movement! David Brooks draws upon real life studies in the stories of nine historical individuals, from prominent world leaders to Augustine who embarked upon their own personal journeys against “self.” The Road to Character aptly demonstrates how we are all wonderful endowed but deeply flawed individuals in need of grace. He closes the book noting that, “there is something heroic about a person in struggle with [self]…sacrificing a worldly success for the sake of an inner victory.”
IN the shadowy light of our current culture, Brooks calls us to join a counter-culture movement that builds on a different model he defines as the Humility Code. I may comment a little more on this in the next posting. But what he suggests does remind me of my favorite and oft repeated quote acquired from Miles Stanford – a quote in fact that Brooks appeals to a couple of times in his book: “The Way Up is Down.”
WITH that, let’s continue where we left off last time on this every topic.
In the inexorable blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas 1:2
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Chapter 55—“The Way Up Is Down” – Part 2
Failure Categorized
With some, the downward trend begins early in the Christian life. After a time of faithfulness in Bible study and memorization, church activity, prayer and witnessing, there comes a decline. Guilt-fostered attempts are made to regain the ground lost, but without avail. Heartbreaking as it is, the badly shaken Christian is being prepared early to realize the power of the self-life.
For most, the awakening comes much later. A pastor, for instance, after years of training and the hard work of becoming established in the ministry, is confronted with failure in both life and service. All of his praying, preaching, visitation, and counseling have not brought into being a growing and spiritual congregation.
Another leader has been successful in developing a large Sunday school and congregation, including an impressive missionary budget, only to realize at last that all has been man-centered and not established upon the Lord Jesus Christ and wholly for His glory.
A faithful layman has given time, talent, and treasure to his church, serving in various capacities of responsibility for many years. Ultimately he becomes discouraged and even disillusioned due to his own lack of growth in Christ, and the dearth of spiritual development in the lives of those whom he serves.
A Christian wife and mother seeks to establish and maintain a Christ-centered home for her family, as well as faithfully to carry out her church duties and activities. Often husband and children fail to respond to the Savior, resulting in heartache and sometimes tragedy.
Teenaged believers revel in their church activities and the fellowship of other groups. Then, off to college. All too often the sophistication of the present-day campus and classroom, whether secular or Christian, overwhelm the immature. The result is spiritual failure and conformity to the camel crowd.
On the other hand, many Christian young people make spiritual progress during their schooling and respond to a missionary challenge, only to turn aside before the goal is realized. Still others go to the foreign field, but drop out after the first term abroad.
Lastly, there is the missionary who has labored faithfully on the field term after term, who finally comes to the place of hunger for a deeper work in his life, as well as in the lives of those being served.
Failure Recognized
Need, spiritual need! This is the prerequisite for growth in Christ. All of these circumstances of failure have been controlled by our ever-faithful Father, the God of circumstances. ….to be continued
