On Culture of Entitlement (Part 1 of 2)

TITLE: On Culture of Entitlement (Part 1 of 2)
SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:32-35
Written by: Conrade Yap

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:32-35)

"Trick or treat!"

My Daughter's Pumpkin Carving

It's Halloween again. Once a year, kids, teens and young people will unabashedly knock on your front doors asking for candies, chocolates, and anything that is sweet. It has become a tradition in itself. Here in North America, Halloween is a fun day. In the morning, many school children will dress up in various costumes. Some wear elaborate movie characters. Others don a simple pony tail ribbon or some facial makeup. Even teachers get into the act. Everybody is in a cheerful mood. It is after school is where the Halloween celebrations really pick up speed. They will gather in pairs of small groups to raid the neighbourhood for candies. Of course, homeowners do their part by putting up delightful decorations outside their houses to welcome these visitors. The 'scary' props are actually quite impressive. It shows the creative part of being human, all for the fun of it. For all its negative religious undertones, Halloween is truly a family friendly event. Kids are happy. Candy sellers are happy. The dentists are happy.

While I see many excited kids in the neighbourhood, behind the fun, the chocolates, and the candies, hide something more sinister: An attitude of entitlement. Like Halloween where kids expect handouts, the general society at large too expect handouts. This week, I will argue that there is a deeper concern besides being aware of this culture of entitlement. It is knowing it but NOT doing anything about it.

A) Free Expectations

Individualism remains a challenge in every society. John Donne's famous words, "No man is an island," is often quoted by people to remind people including themselves that they do not live for selves or selfish reasons. What strikes me as inherently more true is that while no man is an island, man has that innate craving to carve out an island for himself! The infamous five words that individualistic people ask are: "What's In It For Me?"

By asking this question, one seeks to find out the benefit before entering into any contract, buying any service, or investing any money. The premise is simple. As long as the transaction benefits me, I say yes. If it does NOT benefit me in any way, I say no. It makes me sad whenever small businesses close down. It makes me sadder that when these businesses offer 'closing down sales,' the people immediately swarm the stores to wipe out all the goods in no time. The classic example is the case of the ill-fated tablet, the HP Touchpad. When it is first launched at an entry price of $499, sales hardly take off. When it is reduced to a fire sale price of $99, the entire inventory vanished within hours. The same can be said of newspapers. Free newspaper bins are the ones that get emptied much faster. The public generally likes free stuff. From free emails to free newspapers, complimentary samples to free coffee, people like free things. Free things only make the culture of entitlement even worse.

B) A Culture of Entitlement

The culture of entitlement is widespread. Citizens assert the right to be heard by the leaders. In the business world, thanks to the Internet freebies regularly dished out by the big corporations like Google, Youtube, and free WiFi services from fast food restaurants, people are generally spoilt for choice.  Unfortunately, freebies make the problem of entitlement worse. While consumers benefit, they too become spoilt.

The culture of entitlement has also affected the elderly. Many countries in the West have a social security welfare scheme. Upon reaching retirement, adults get a certain amount of money from the government. One advantage of such a system is that it compensates older workers when they give up their jobs to younger ones in the workforce. The overall effect is to reduce unemployment. At the same time, it is a token of appreciation to the worker for the many years of labour and contributions to society in general. It is common to see retirees repaying the welfare by volunteering themselves in charitable organizations in the neighborhoods they are in. A culture of entitlement turns this system on its head.

In this culture of entitlement, older workers refuse to retire early, feeling that they are entitled to receive back from society for all their past contributions. For many, after struggling many years to get promoted to their levels of seniority, are they going to simply give it all up? They easily justify their decisions to hang on to their jobs by blaming inflation and the tough economy. Young graduates think that they are entitled to a job, and that it is the responsibility of the government to find them one. A culture of entitlement is like blood clots in the system. If nobody gives, nothing flows.

Some civil servants I know often give this excuse for not helping.

"If I help you, who helps me? If I do you a favour, how does that do me a favour?" 

In societies where everybody expects everything and gives out nothing, everybody loses.

C) If Nobody Gives, Everybody Loses

I remember the story of how Robin Hood and Little John first met. They were trying to cross a stream on narrow beam of oak. Robin Hood happened to hop on one side first. Before he could make his way across, along came Little John on the other side of the stream wanting to cross over. Since the oak was large enough for one person to cross at a time, one of them had to give way. Robin claimed that he was entitled to go first. Little John rebutted that based on his bigger size, he was entitled to go first. Both of them refused to give way. As a result, they got stuck in the middle. The only way forward then was to wrestle each other until one wins the right to cross over first.

I have driven in both Asian cities as well as North American cities. I must say that driving in the West is a lot more pleasant compared to Asia. In the West, people generally adopts a first-come-first-serve attitude. When I try to change lanes, the moment I signal my intention with my signal lights, drivers tend to be generous in letting me pass. In Asia, this is hardly the case. In congested roads, it is common to find situations that when nobody give in, everybody loses. Drivers with a strong and arrogant sense of entitlement are least likely to give way. The trouble with our culture of entitlement is not only in public roads, but in our private lives. Anthony Selvaggio observes the effect of individualism in marriages. He says:

"Our self-absorbed individualism has had profound effects on our culture. For example, consider how the view of marriage has changed in our culture. Marriage was once thought of as the union of two people into one for life, but now marriage is viewed as a flimsy contractual arrangement between two companions who agree to temporarily live together until their individual needs are no longer satisfied by the arrangement." (Anthony Selvaggio, 7 Toxic Ideas That Pollute the Mind, P & R Publishing, 2011, p73) 

IF we feel that we are entitled to our own happiness, people can often become a means to meeting our ends. When people no longer meet our end, we go our own separate ways, treating people like disposables. For an individualistic person anchored in a world of entitlement, self comes first. All other people is a distant second. Even God has to serve him.

D) Not Doing Anything About It?

Speak to anyone and they will be quick to tell you that they KNOW we live in a culture of entitlement. They can even point out examples of everyday life where it is every man for himself. As they complain about everything, invariably the question will come to rest on the most important question.

• "What about you?"
• "What are you doing about it?"
• "Are you going to sit on your hands, shrug your shoulders and accept this culture of entitlement all around you?"

Many Christians remember Jesus saying that it is better to give than to receive. However, remembering is not enough. We need to do it. .. .. . . .

Oops. There's the doorbell. Time to give out candy treats, lest the kids go unhappy. I will write more next week.

Thought: Our refusal to submit to one another in Christ usually stems from an overly high view of ourselves, and a sadly low view of others. Aided by a laser-like focus on self-need, individualism  rationalizes everything from the angle of self. We are seeing a great reversal. While the builders at Babel seek to reach the heavens by building a tower, modern individualists seek to drag heaven down by building a pulley of ropes tightened with narcissism, individualism, and egotism.


sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Fear of the Lord

TITLE: Fear of the Lord
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 9:10
Written by: Conrade Yap

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

(Credit: thebaresoul.blogspot.com)

Wisdom means many things to many people.  For some, it means anything that brings about a good return on one's investment. For others, it may mean improving relationships overall. Yet, for some, it means simply cleverness, wit, or a masterful stroke of intelligent move performed at the right time. Buddhists have their Buddha figure as a guide to their ultimate nirvana. Hindus use holy men and Brahmins as objects of wisdom. Many in secular circles, especially atheists use their heads, often critically, against religion. For the secularists, the atheists, and the skeptics, the Christian religion is ultimately one big lie. Christopher Hitchens blames religion for their role in much violence and 'holy wars' and claims that 'religion poisons everything.' Richard Dawkins dismisses Christianity as a belief in a 'God delusion.' For these men, the fear of the Lord is farthest from their minds, for they are their own gods.

A) Foolishness to the Greeks

Greece is famously known as the land that has produced some of the world's most prominent thinkers and philosphers. People like Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates are still being studied by many people in schools, universities, and widely quoted by learned people all over the world. According to the Greeks, the word 'philosophy' comprises two words: 'philo' (love) and 'sophia' (wisdom). Literally, philosophy means the 'love of wisdom.' Paul is well aware of the prevailing cultural sentiment at that time. He writes to the Church at Corinth,

"For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness." (1 Cor 22-23)

This week, I like to reflect on true spiritual wisdom. It is a wisdom that the world cannot understand. It is a wisdom that is foolishness to the Greeks. It is a wisdom that is drastically different from worldly cleverness. It is a wisdom that begins with the fear of the Lord.

On Marital Conflict

TITLE: On Marital Conflict
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 17 Oct 2011

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” (Col 3:17-19)

(Credit: Authorsden.com)

Sometime ago, I spoke to a group of husbands, asking them to tell me about why they love their wives. The men were largely muted. Some were uncomfortable. Others seemed more protective about their own privacy. I ventured to provide a personal opinion, that I would tell my wife:

“I love you because you’re you.”

That sparked a flurry of responses. Of course, I am not at liberty to give out any further details. Safe to say, marital conflicts have changed the way many of us men perceive our marriage partners. Yet, a marriage is never just about the men or the women. A marriage is about both the man and the woman becoming one person, unique in themselves, united as one. That said, why are there so many troubled marriages?

This week, I will reflect on one of the biggest obstacles to marriage: Marital conflict and the management of it thereof.

Feeling Jaded About Church?

Title: Feeling Jaded about Church?
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 10 October 2011

“Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.” (Songs of Solomon 2:5)

Credit: furallover.com

One Christian leader I know recently laments to me that Church attendance is declining at all levels. The numbers at Sunday services have dropped. The already small young people group has shrunk even more. Even Bible study group attendance has fallen. What is happening? This week we tackle the issue of Jaded Christianity and that the cause of it is due less to church programs and popularity but more because of broken and non-existent spiritual friendships. It is not about programs, preachers, or prizes. It's relationship or the lack of it!

A) Changing Climate

George Barna and Mark Hatch has predicted a general decline of Church attendance through the Millenium since 2001. From a high Church attendance of 49% in 1991, to 40% in 2000, and to a low of 35% in 2010. Worse, it is still declining. The statistics are grim:

(Statistics adapted from George Barna and Mark Hatch, Boiling Point – How Coming Cultural Shifts Will Change Your Life, Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2001, p213)

Looking at the numbers can be depressing. Apart from small group growth, which is holding relatively well, all the other numbers are dropping across the board. In North America, small churches are getting smaller. Those who leave their churches flock to Megachurches. Growth is hardly due to new converts but believers moving through revolving doors from one church to another. What do we make of this changing climate? Is it due to a jaded sense of religion, or is it simply a sign of the church unable to change with times? Angela Kiesling consolidates some of the reasons why people are leaving churches. Let me highlight three.

B) Reason #1 – Consumerist Mindset

The first reason is a consumerist mindset a typical Church attendee brings to the Church. Such a consumer Christian wants:

• Lots of choices in Church programs, options that are catered to one’s personal preferences
• Church to provide a product/service while members return a 'favour' by their attendance
• No connection to the community interests except for one’s personal spiritual needs
• When one does not feels the Church is meeting one’s needs, off they go.
• Deny openly but practice a form of “Ask not what I can do for the church, but what the Church can do for me.”

If we are honest ourselves, we will see some of their consumerist tendencies pluck a sensitive string in our consumerist heart. That is not all.

C) Two Other Reasons – Era & New Communities

The second reason is based on which era we are born. If we are born before 1940, chances are we tend to be loyal in Church attendance. More often, we give structures and people in leadership the benefit of the doubt. If we are part of the Boomer generation born between 1940-1960, we tend to be more open to stay in traditional religion. If we are the Busters (1960-1984), we stay on the fence, waiting to see whether something is relevant to us or not, before deciding on change. Sometimes, these parents will simply choose church going on the basis of their children's needs. Those born after 1984 (Gen X) are more impatient and apt to change at the slightest disappointment. If these findings are correct, it more than verifies and explains the declining level of church attendance. In other words, we have a problem of archaic church structures that is increasingly unable to adjust to the changing population mix. For example, how can a Boomer-church make sense to a congregation filled with more Busters and Gen X? Is it then any surprise that pre-Boomer-style churches attract pre-Boomer and some Boomer people only?

The third reason is because of a more complex and sophisticated need that churches are not responding soon enough. While some churches are declining, others are growing. It is a decline of the old, but growth of a new. While the young tends to shy away from traditional religion, that does not mean that they are discarding the faith altogether. In other words, the decline is only for ‘traditional churches’ and NOT new forms of church. This explains the rise of new emergent churches that are full of young people and apparently meets the needs of ‘consumerist’ people as well as a changing landscape. Nate Krupp writes of three new types of ‘wine skins’ namely, the open Church, cell church and house church, where these people believes that the church is a community of believers gathered in the name of Jesus. Unfortunately, one church's gain is another church's loss. What is also not helpful is the increase of members who prefer individualized religion rather than community.

Kiesling warns of a 'Lone Ranger' Christian.

"Inherent dangers lurk anytime believers try to live a Lone Ranger existence, apart from other Christ-followers. We need each other." (Angela Kiesling, Jaded, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2004, p124)

How then do we respond to a consumerist, a cultural age gap, and an individualized kind of faith?

D) Refreshment and Renewal

It is important that when we read statistics like these, and the attempts to analyze them, we do not lose sight of the presence of faithful sheep among us. For every one person who leaves a Church, there is also a responsibility to take care of those who are still attending. For both, who faithfully come, or are not coming, it is also important to note that BOTH groups need refreshment and renewal. The faithful attendee needs to be refreshed in the Lord, to have their faith in God renewed week after week. We cannot presume that people who leave the Church automatically leave the faith as well. No! Instead of criticizing their decisions, we need to understand them. When we understand the reasons for their leaving, not only can we learn, we share Christlikeness of love and understanding with them.

Most crucially, our desire for refreshment and renewal must stem from LOVE. We need to be careful of two errors we make when trying to woo back the sheep or to fast-forward our spiritual recovery.

Firstly, do not focus on programs. It looks too commercial. It is tempting to try to renew people’s interest by throwing in better programs. This makes the Church look more like a spiritual station dishing out religious variety shows.

Secondly, do not depend on a powerful preacher. It breeds a cult culture. It is also tempting to throw in a charismatic speaker to inspire people. Unfortunately, this makes the Church become like a one-man-operated motivational speaker circuit. No. We come to Church to worship God, and not to meet our needs, though the latter can happen when the Spirit leads. Richard Foster reminds us about what worship leads to.

"To worship is to chance. As worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. Holy obedience saves worship from becoming an opiate, an escape from the pressing needs of modern life." (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins, 1978, p173)

In other words, we do not come to God to change God to fit our needs. We come to let God change us to befit His glory. For that, we need help.

E) The Gift of Friends

Let me suggest that the key to recovery from jaded Christianity remains 'relational.' In a nutshell, a Christlike relationship has 3 components.

"Draw close to God. Let God draw you closer. Together, let God draw others closer through you."

Such a relationship cannot be done on our own strength, simply because our moods fluctuate from time to time. We need a community called the gift of friends to help one another link up.

The Songs of Solomon tell of a joyful and loving connection between a lover and his beloved. Bible scholars have long taken these songs to be the love poems of a man and a woman, or more specifically, King Solomon and his lover. A few other scholars have allegorized this as a conversation between God and human beings. I prefer to see it plainly as a man and a woman. There is no need for precise programming. There is no motivational speeches or clever remarks, save the deep emotional desire for each other. It is love. Renewal and refreshment must begin in LOVE. Love grows in the crucible of a relationship. This is the key theme in the Song of Solomon. The relationship is expressed through words of desire, hope, and love for each other.

SS 2:5 shows us that it is the LOVE that drives the beloved to long for the lover. She pleads for raisins to sustain her physical longing. She asks for apples to spread over her pining. It is not the raisins or the apple that is the key point. It is the LOVE that drives the cry for raisins and apples. Much like our modern worship. Do we let our desire for programs (raisin), and a yearning for apples (feel good) dictate our Church going? Or do we let our relationship with the Lord lead us to worship REGARDLESS of the building, the church programming, the facilities or all the external offerings? In other words, isn’t the Lord Jesus’ presence reason enough for us to go to Church?

I know some readers will argue back: “I love Jesus. I just need help to love him more.” Yes. I understand. Help is never from within ourselves, but always from outside. It is from the Lord, and the Lord often chooses to use community of believers. There is a third party in the lovely conversation between the Lover and the Beloved in the Song of Songs. Friends. The unspecified friends join in the chorus to affirm the desire of the beloved damsel for the Lover.

“We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine.” (SS 1:4b)

They mirror the excitement of the woman for the man, in such a way that the woman is encouraged. They also praise the woman for who she is, encouraging her for her work, and her search for her lover.

“If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.” (SS 1:8)

We need friends to encourage us in our spiritual journeys. We need friends to encourage us in our relationship with God. We need people to understand where we are, and also to understand others when they need us. Perhaps, when we are jaded about Church, it is not about the poor church programs, or mediocre sermons. It is probably not because there is a lack of desire to go to Church. It is more to do with a lukewarm faith. Such lukewarm faith can usually be traced back to a lack of spiritual friends.

Thought: “ . . . you could be a solitary wanderer, but you can’t be a solitary Christian.” (Eugene Peterson, The Wisdom of Each Other, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998, p25)

When all things fail, try love. Love never fails. Perhaps, you can try to remember a friend. Pray. Then call up that friend to say: "Hello. I thought and I prayed for you today. Want to catch up sometime?"


sabbathwalk

---

Copyright by SabbathWalk. This devotional is sent to you free of charge. If you feel blessed or ministered to by SabbathWalk weekly devotionals, feel free to forward to friends, or to invite them to subscribe online at http://blog.sabbathwalk.org . You can also send me an email at cyap@sabbathwalk.org for comments or enquiries.

Pious Parents, Rebellious Kids

TITLE: Pious Parents, Rebellious Kids
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 3 October 2011

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

After Dr John Stott, and Billy Graham, the next most well-known name in evangelical circles is the late Dr Francis Schaeffer. Known for his wide ministry in university campuses, his writings have influenced many. Together with his wife Edith, the Schaeffers founded the L’Abri ministry (L’Abri means shelter in French) in Switzerland, which focuses on spiritual formation, intellectual development, as well as a safe place for people to cultivate their discernment of their callings and giftings. Due to its huge success, L’Abri ‘study centers’ have been set up all over the world, in Europe, in North America, in Asia, and South America. I have many friends who tell me how they have been blessed by the Schaeffers and the ministry of L’Abri. While a lot is known about Francis and Edith Schaeffer, what is not so well known is a troubled father-son relationship. This week I like to address a rather sensitive topic for pious parents, hurting with rebellious kids.

When Christians Disagree

TITLE: When Christians Disagree
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 26 Sep 2011

“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:2)

Love is not an option. It is a command. This means that it is to be obeyed, followed through, and lived out continually. Always. Love is possible because of God. Yet, there is a problem. It is hard. For some, it is impossible. How do we demonstrate love for one another when Christians disagree? This week, I like to touch on harmonious living in a fragile world where a broken relationship is just one careless word away.

Expressions of Grief

TITLE: Expressions of Grief – Three ways
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 21 Sep 2011

“This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.” (Lam 1:16)

It has been a year since my father passed away. Remembering how he has lived brings a moment of joy. Remembering how he died brings a tear to my eye. My dad has struggled with strokes, at least twice. The first time, half his body could not move. After the second stroke, his dependence on others moved from half to total. I was in Canada when he breathed his last. While I am sad not to be by his side in his dying hours, I am glad to have seen him, and him seeing me a couple of months before he died.

Photo Credit: Trialx.com

These couple of weeks, I realize that I have not fully gotten out of the grieving process. Responsibilities at work have grown. My studies have taken on a heightened level of urgency. Yet, the way I manage these outside activities is different from the way I manage the movements inside my heart. I learn that while I can rush work and external responsibilities, I have to let my heart move at a pace of grieving and mourning. Heart-work internally cannot be rushed. Heart-work is hard work. More importantly, grieving is not a problem to be solved, but a journey to be undertaken earnestly and honestly. It is in this light that I want to reflect on three ways we deal with grieving. While the first two are often practiced, it is the third one that I strongly encourage grievers and mourners to consider.

Burning Question on Suffering

TITLE: Burning Question on Suffering
TEXT: Luke 13:1-5
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 12 Sep 2011

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)

MAIN POINT: Suffering is blind. It affects the wicked and the innocent. It afflicts both adults and children. It kills one or many. Suffering often evokes the burning question 'why?' Learn to ask a better question.

Last Sunday, I preached on "Burning Questions: Suffering." After going through burning questions on topics like Bible, Salvation, Anger, and Homosexuality, it is quite fitting for a 9/11 sermon to be on suffering. Simply put, the burning question appears like this:

"If God is good, why is there so much evil and suffering in this world?"

Photo credit: EthicsDaily.com

Personally, I don't like suffering. I also don't like my own sermons. Whenever I listen to it played back to my ears, I can find many faults. I don't like my tone. I don't even like my style. What I do like is that, the Holy Spirit can use my clumsiness and my weakness for his glory. That way, when I see lives touched, it is definitely because of God's work, not my own glory. That said, I hope that my own dislike of my sermons will spur me to improve each time, and every time.

Regardless of like or dislike, this topic of suffering is always asked. Despite many attempts, there are few that can adequately address this difficult topic. Nevertheless, I shall try again.  For this week, I like my reflection to parallel my sermon's main point: "Turn burning questions into a better question."

The Gay Agenda

TITLE: THE GAY AGENDA
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 5 Sep 2011

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders.” (1 Cor 6:9)

A) The Question: Would Jesus Attend the Pride Parade?

Photo Credit: JustinBeach.ca

Last week’s sermon was about: “Would Jesus Attend the Gay Parade?” Moving through three distinct phases, the pastor touched firstly on the background of the Gay Movement, claiming that it is at least hundreds of years in existence. Secondly, he presented the biblical perspective from Genesis 1:26-28; 1 Cor 6:9-11; and the famous Rom 1 passage that argues against homosexuality. In a nutshell, the sermon declares that homosexuality as an act is a sin. Homosexuality is not part of God’s will for mankind. Otherwise then, how can you and me even exist? How can any same sex couple procreate by themselves? Finally, the pastor tackled the question directly, giving a cautionary ‘yes.’ Jesus will not be on the float flaunting his biceps. Instead, he will be among the spectators at the Pride Parade, and will consistently be seen pointing people toward God the Father.

Beware a Church of Nice Guys

TITLE: Beware a Church of Nice Guys
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 1 Sep 2011

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33)

Derrick Bird is British, drives a taxi, and lives a quiet life. He works hard, and is a loving father of two boys. Friends call him a ‘really nice guy.’ A neighbour observes that he ‘was always pleasant and never caused any problems.’ On June 2nd of 2010, this nice guy takes a gun, shoots dead 12 people, and seriously injures 11 more before killing himself. Since the tragedy takes place in Cumbria, the massacre is known as the ‘Cumbria Shootings.’ What happened? How can someone with a typical nice-guy image trigger a mad round of senseless shootings? A quiet man ends up with a thunderous act of violence. Whatever the motives, whatever the speculations, this incident reminds us again that nice guys on the outside, hide what is going on inside. Nice guy images are frequently superficial. They are good at hiding their private selves from the public eye. People do not really know them. They do not really want to know people.

Nice guys are everywhere. As long as you maintain a smile, speak nicely, and you will automatically be granted the title: "Mr Nice Guy." While not every nice guy is like Derrick Bird, unfortunately, a church comprising of simply nice guys or nice gals will hardly make any difference to Church growth or discipleship. The truth is, nice people are hardly nice. They are simply being politically correct. They know which buttons to push. They are careful not to press the wrong ones. They are guided by the theory that as long as feathers are not ruffled, everything will be all right. In this week’s Sabbath Walk, I shall argue that in order for any Church to grow, they need people who are not simply content about being a nice person. Instead, we need people to be the spice that God has gifted them to be.