Someone's also learning... from you...

I have been digging into the fact that people are always watching our actions, and one thing that follows this thought, naturally, is that those who are watching us would be learning from us.  You might not know who is learning whatever it is they are learning, but someone is always learning from what you are doing.

Pulling from the same Scripture used before, I would like to hone the point of our need to NOT fall into idolatry down to the Christian segment, specifically.  You see, this is hard to type, and I'm certain it's hard to hear/read, as well, but it's the #truth, whether it is popular or not.  We fall into the same traps of idolization, even though we call it "study."

Think for a minute: peopl like Beth Moore, James McDonald, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, and a litany of other popular speakers all teach and preach and praise on a larger stage than you and I have at our disposal.  And for the new believer, the one who is watching your every move (especially if they were skeptical to start with), this is where the problem lies.  You see, the messages brought forth by these people can be so stirring, and they can be so amazing... a friend of mine, a personal mentor in fact, told me that he has fallen prey to putting the importance on the speaker or artist, and not on Jesus.  In my mind, if that can happen to him, then it can certainly happen to me.

In point of fact, it did (in a way) happen to me, with respect to my favorite worship band, #Downhere.  They are just amazing, and for the first weeks of listening to them, that's really all I thought of it.  It took time to realize that they are honoring the gift God gave them, and they are amazing BECAUSE of Him, and for no other reason under the sun.  He is amazing,a nd they are a part of that.

The same is true of speakers like McDonald and Moore: they are both immensely blessed by the Father with great insight, and they have the capacity to reach many, many more people than the average pastor or Sunday School teacher.  But their messages need to be kept in context (which I know is something they preach powerfully to their audiences, and they always drive it back to the Father), and we as the listener need to remember that Jesus is awesome, and Beth moore is a part of that.  Jesus is awesome, and James McDonald is a part of that. 

A new believer might miss this subtle and powerful lesson, and then what happens when a powerful speaker or teacher or singer falls from the graces of the crowd?  All of a sudden, that guy that was filled with the Spirit is just human, and that realization has sent people backwards on their walks before.  Michael English is a perfect example, given that he was the one who entertained the cream of the crop for the Gaither Vocal Band.  People idolized him, and placed him upon an unbelievable pedastal.  He did what any human would... he fell off.  It took years before he would return to the gifted voice he was blessed with, and his return was powerful.  But his own humility had to be brought into the picture, as did the views of some of his fans.  He is human.

I love English's singing and songs... and I love Moore's messgaes and studies... and I love McDonald's work in simple word studies... but they, like me, are all human.  They are following a calling, and they don't need your idolization, folks.  No, they need your prayers.  They need prayers, just like I need prayers, just like you need prayers, and here is the biggest and greatest #TRUTH I can ever share with you as a reason for all of us needing those prayers...

The ground is always level at the foot of the Cross... Jesus is above, and we are ALL below, and that is an absolute #fact.

God bless you all!!!