Quit Sweating the 'What if's'

I find it ironic that this one little section of my life (this blog) often leaves me scratching my head. Here is why I say that; it becomes a double-edged sword, of sorts. If you are reading this, let me first say, "Thank you!" Secondly I would say, "Stop it! Stop reading this!" I know, a double-minded man is, truly unstable in all that he does. I am malcontent. One the one hand, this blog is a release, of sorts; a cathartic purge. I can write away, not caring whom may read this. Click, click, click...the sound of the key strokes is soothing. Whatever malady may come, whether physical or subconscious, I can pluck away on this keyboard and be, even for a moment, at peace. One the other hand, the damned "Publish" button is staring me in the face. By itself, it is completely harmless; just a benign section of some code that is meant to release my inner-most thoughts to the masses. Whoa! Wait a second....

This is where the aforementioned head-scratching comes into play. What started out as something...I don't want to say 'pure' but at the very least it's real, almost instantaneously becomes something superifical! 

"What if _____ doesn't like what I said?" 

"What if what I said is taken out of context by (insert name of that one person whom never seems to 'get it')?"

What if?...What if??...What...if...???

I'm starting to sound like Scot Stapp, circa 1999. Back when Creed was still cool (in my mind anyway). See...there it goes again. I've never shied-away from the fact that I was a Creed fan growing-up. Now some person, maybe you, is gonna discard my musical prowess because you don't like a 30+ million-album-selling, albeit douche-riffic, band. Screw the "what if's" man. Maybe its the 30-year-old coming out in me, but like Sweet Brown said, "Aint NOBODY got time for that!" 

As I approach the close of my 30th year on the earth, there are still things left undone. Planes I have not jumped out of. Places I have not traveled. Things I have not yet, and may never, do or see. Don't get me wrong, this is not some sob story or tirade about my miserable life. It's actually quite the contrary. Presently, I have a beautiful woman lying next to me, sleeping. She looks so peaceful when she sleeps. (***Sorry...no joke...she started snoring as I typed that!) This woman loves me. After almost 10 years of marriage, I still don't how I lucked into snagging her! I also, presently, have another woman in my bed. She's 60 lbs., has four legs, and loves to give sloppy kisses. Just having those 2 women in my life makes me a pretty lucky guy!

I don't have a lot to complain about. I'm here, and by the grace of God alone, I'll here until He says I'm done. As Mr. Tyler Durden said, "Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives." Life is a great depression because we spend it pursuing things that, ultimately, will not matter. How much time will I spend, hoping that you, yes, you who is reading this, will "like" or "share" or comment on this. And while I can think this is some Pulitzer Prize-grade writing, it's not. It is what it is; the groaning of a 30-year-old man whom is trying to be like Jesus, but sometimes (especially this week!) fails. 

So while I appreciate you taking the time to read this, I won't worry about the "What if's". If you would like to leave feedback, I would welcome it and thank you for it. I hope that as I continue to do this, the "Publish" button wont be the bane of my, continued writing. While I do not ever intend to be intentionally controversial, I will push the Publish button with the satisfaction and release I first longed for. It's time to quit worrying about the "What if's"! It's time to Publish.

Kids...

While the theme of this post is not intended to be light-hearted, I must start with an eventuality that we all will face.

The kids table.

That's right. In our earlier, formative years, we spend countless holidays, parties, and get-togethers, relegated to that loathsome table. Oh, how we long for the sweet day that we can ascend to the adult table, or at least the 'older kids' table. We want so badly to grow up. Yet, some of us whom long to be mature never move beyond the kids table. I am now speaking metaphorically. Time is not lost on us. Although, while we progress in numerical age, our minds and thoughts are still that of a child. It's never a good site when you see a teenager at the kids table. How much worse it is when a full-grown man has to sit at the kids table. So, let's talk about why there can be a 'failure to launch' that happens in our lives. From hence forth, I am speaking to those whom are found in Christ. If you profess Christ as Lord, then this is directed to you. If not, then please feel free to read along, but know I am not necessarily speaking to you.

"But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people,

but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it.

And even now you are not yet ready..."

1 Corinthians 3: 1, 2

There are certain concessions we must make when discussing the maturity of a Christian. Just as Paul is referring to in the above passage. He calls them "brothers" but could not address them as spiritual people. Being the great church planter that he was, Paul knew his audience. This passage is no way an indictment. Rather, it is an observation. One would not expect a newborn to be able to digest solid food while it's still nursing. That would be absurd! But infants need milk. An infant needs that sustenance to survive. This is why new Christians are not asked to write a dissertation on the the sovereignty of God. There must first be a firm foundation. [a] So, what about those whom are no longer infants? What about Christians who should be mature, but are not? What about the Christian whom is perfectly content suckling at the, proverbial, breast their entire walk with God? 

I would argue that if you call yourself a Christian, and are perfectly content to never grow beyond an elementary view of God, then you may not actually be a Christian. You may disagree, and that's ok. But I would ask you to listen to the words of Jesus. Again, if we claim Christ, then we should listen to him, right? In Matthew, chapter 7, Jesus warns against false prophets. Contextually, you may make the argument that "Well, that's not talking about me." However, in describing a false prophet, Jesus says, "You will recognize them by their fruits." Bad trees can not bear good fruit, and good trees can not bear bad fruit. What about the tree that produces NO fruit? In John 15: 1-6, we see Jesus refer to those in him, and those that are not. If you're not bearing fruit, again, I would argue that you are not in Christ. Are you ok with that? If you are, then please stop reading. If Jesus's words won't stir you, then mine most certainly will not. 

I wont drag this out. I say all this because a "Christian" being perpetual infant is offensive. Like a grown man breast-feeding, its a disgrace. There has been a shift, and common thread, for spiritual growth in our church and in my personal life. So, I would also like to make perfectly clear that I am in no calling to the mat a Christian that is currently working through the process of sanctification. If you are pursuing Christ, and striving to be more like Him, then I have no qualms. As stated in 2 Peter 3: 18, let us grow in our knowledge of our Lord. 

Where do you fall on this paradigm? Are you diligently seeking the Lord, or are you contented to be an infant? If you are content to never grow, never seek, never mature, then I say, "Enjoy the kid's table. You look ridiculous!" Also, don't be surprised when you're treated like a child. When you think and reason like child, willingly mind you, then you'll be treated as such. 

Be a perpetual student!

To you whom are seeking, keep it up! To those growing in the knowledge of God, don't stop. To those whom are maturing I say, "Welcome to the adult table!"

In Christ,

Rev. James D. Owens