Day 2. Believe – I Write Because I Am A Writer.

I write because I am a writer.  This may seem obvious, but so often we think the converse is true.  I am a writer because I write.

The question is, ‘What defines me?’, is it what I do, or what I am?  Here is another example.  Does going to church or praying make you a Christian? No!  But if you are a Christian then you will go to church and pray.

If you or I take our definition and identity from what we do, then we are never secure.  We are like butterflies, we may seem beautiful, but we are fragile and are easily blown around by what is going on outside us, we have no real inner strength.  It is true from Chaos Theory that there is the butterfly effect where one wing beat could cause a hurricane, but there is no intentionality or real control of the situation.  You are like a ripple in a pond, just a part of the larger whole.

If, on the other hand, I know who I am regardless of what I am doing then I am always secure.  Then I am like a mighty eagle.  I am strong and powerful, and it will take quite a lot to blow me off course.  I know that I have an effect on things, but what I do is not just by accident; it is intentional, it is planned.  I am like a pebble cast into the pond.  I initiate things, I make waves!

So I write because I am a writer.  I am a Christian, saved by the grace and mercy of God.  Like Richard Teasdale this is central to my writing, it has been ever since I became a Christian which is now over 22 years ago.  I am a writer. Yes, I am!  But I am only a writer because that is how God has made me.  I want to use this gift for the encouragement and edification of others and to the glory of God!

Psalm 62:3-4

‘How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?  Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.  They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.’ (Psalm 62:3-4. NRSV)

These two verses give quite a picture of how the enemy uses people to try to bring down those in leadership.

Firstly, he uses the tactics of demolition, keep pounding long enough and it will fall down!  Satan’s ‘only plan is to bring down a person of prominence’ and he will use whoever he can, both inside and outside churches and organisations to do it.

Secondly, he is the father of lies and will do all he can to make you a hypocrite, a slanderer, or a back biter.  If he can’t use a person openly, he will try to use them covertly.

How do we as Christians stop ourselves from being used by the enemy to pull down those in leadership?

Firstly, in the New Testament we are frequently told to build each other up. If we are active about being edifiers then the enemy won’t be able to use us as demolishers.

Secondly, Jesus hates hypocrisy in all its forms, we need to ask him to help us to as well.  We must be accountable to each other and to tell each other off if we fall into complaining or worse.

If we do these two things then we will see a drop in those who leave their God-given roles due to stress and other factors.

Lord Jesus, help us to build up those in leadership and authority in the church, ans we pray that you will protect them from the overt and covert attacks of the enemy. In your name.  Amen.