Go to the Grammys or Keep Your Word?

I write this the day after our church youth group went to a concert in the St. Louis area.  Several major artists were to appear, including two that were nominated for a Grammy award.  

The Grammys are the most prestigious music awards in America.  To win a Grammy means that you have reached the pinnacle of your craft as a music artist.  To be nominated alone is quite an honor, and it also gives you the opportunity to attend the awards show with all of the other top singers and musicians in the world.

So what do you do if you are nominated for a Grammy, but on the night of the awards show, you have already booked a concert?  Do you cancel your concert appearance in order to attend what may be a once in a lifetime chance?  Or do you keep your commitment, even though it was made before you knew about your possible Grammy opportunity?

For some this is a no-brainer.  You go to the Grammys!  It would be like passing up a free trip on the space shuttle, it’s something you just don’t miss.  

But what about that earlier commitment?  Well, surely everyone will understand…

Now let me rewind to our Sunday School lesson that same day.  Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”  What was His attitude?  “He humbled himself.”

And how!  Look at the amazing descent of His humility – from God to a man, to a servant, to a servant who died, not just any death, but the kind reserved for the worst people on the planet, capital punishment.

Our attitude should be like His.  He did not claim all of His rights.  Instead He gave them up in order to serve others.  

Yes, you could choose to go to the Grammys.  It’s logical and understandable.  But it’s not noble.

Of the two groups nominated, one chose to attend the Grammys, and the other chose to keep their commitment in St. Louis.  I smile as I report to you that the group that kept their commitment is now the proud owner of a Grammy Award!

Now what about us?  The lesson is easy to hear and challenging to put into practice.  Humble ourselves, in order to serve others.  Don’t claim all of our rights, but instead give them up.  I know there is at least one group of singers today that will attest to the truth of James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

The X-Man of Ephesians

The X-Man of Ephesians

As a child, a boy to be exact, I was always interested in comic book heroes and their special powers.  The Hulk.  The Thing.  Spider Man.  Thor.  Iron Man (Dave Calhoun’s hero!)  You get the picture.  

One comic book character that has been made more popular in the movies lately is Wolverine.  This man has two superhuman capabilities:  his body heals itself of all wounds, and when he is angry large claws come out as weapons.  Actually these claws are very long razor-sharp knives that extend from his knuckles.

I want to use Wolverine’s special powers to illustrate two principles.  First let’s look at his “claws”.  You know, we all have claws like this that can cause great harm to others.  They are our words, and they tend to inflict more pain when we are angry.

My goal is to eliminate all the claws from my words.  It’s a very difficult task, but I think God is for it and will help accomplish it.

Watch your words, and how often there are claws in them meant to do harm.  Look for little sharp comments that give a little “dig” at someone.  

Recently I was answering a complaint letter sent to the radio station where I work.  As a professional, I take great care to word such letters in exactly the right way.  I try to make sure there is not a single claw.  After I write a letter like that I often set it aside, then read it a little later from a fresh perspective, again trying to ensure that I am not simply “snapping back”.

Unfortunately we do not have that time luxury in most conversations.  When someone is speaking to us, a response is required immediately.  In the course of normal conversation, can we remove the barbs, the claws?  Can we sand off all the rough edges?  

Why should we “de-claw” ourselves?  Because the Bible says in Ephesians 4:29-32 that we should only say things “helpful for building others up” and words that “benefit those who listen”.  It also instructs us to get rid of “every form of malice”.

HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE

I love that little phrase, and it’s so true.  When do our claws come out?  When we are hurt or threatened.  Recently someone said some less-than-kind things to me, and it caught me off guard.  As I pondered it later I think something I had done may have hurt their feelings.  When we are hurt, our claws come out and we strike back.  It’s human nature.  

But if it’s “hard-wired” into us, how can we avoid it?  Here is where Wolverine’s other super power comes in, the immediate healing.  

When a foe injured Wolverine, it was short-lived.  No matter how deep the cut, it didn’t last.  Soon the wound was completely healed, leaving no scars.

That’s the way we need to be when people wound us.  It’s called the power of forgiveness.

Back to Ephesians 4, where verse 32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  This is the foil to the mortal coil (that wording is just for you, Pastor John!)

People will wound us and hurt us.  That is a given.  But can we be like Wolverine and heal up instantly?  Yes, we can.  Forgiving brings the healing.  The sooner we forgive, the sooner we are healed from any wounds.

I imagine it this way.  Someone claws me with their words.  I feel the pain, followed by the desire to respond out of my own hurt.  But then, like Wolverine, the wound instantly heals as I instantly forgive.  Now, instead of responding with claws out of my own anger and pain, I can respond as Christ calls me to respond, with kindness and compassion.

So there you have it.  My goal for the year:  Remove all claws and barbs from my speech, and heal instantly when claws and barbs injure me.