Real Life ~ Real Answers

A Christian Hypocrite

Susan (who is saved, attends church faithfully and teaches SS) looks forward to her daughter’s basketball season starting. Her daughter has really improved in her ability to play the game since last year and Susan thinks her daughter will get a lot of playing time this year. The first game day arrives and as Susan anxiously waits for the game to start in the stands she cheers for her daughter during the warm-up time. Finally it’s time to start and as the starting line up is announced, her daughter is not one of the girls who is starting. Susan wonders why and by the time the first 5 minutes of the game has passed she becomes angry. She moves from her spot in the bleachers to sit closer to the coach and begins yelling for him to put her daughter in and goes on and on about how good of a player she is. The coach ignores Susan during game play, but during a time-out takes a minute to ask her kindly if she would not yell at him like that during the game. Susan becomes furious and begins to rant and rave over the fact that her daughter is not playing.

How well is Susan demonstrating what she believes?

What is she showing by her words and actions?

How should Susan respond? What would be a godly response in this situation?

Real Life ~ Real Answers

Arrogance

You love your church. You love the people in your church. You have been faithfully attending this church for many years. You are an older woman in this church and have come to accept some of the changes in music style that have come over the years, and love that your pastor preaches and stays true to the Word. You like the comfort you feel about the Word, worship and people you fellowship with each week. One Sunday, a rugged man comes into the service and sits just two rows behind you. You can’t help but notice the smell coming from the man. He looks homeless and after the service you over hear him asking the pastor for money and food while explaining his so-called crisis. Your attitude toward him is negative and you wish he wouldn’t take advantage of the church and just leave.

What is sinful about this woman’s response? How might she show God’s love and grace to someone in need?

Love is not Arrogant

Arrogance in our hearts often comes out as rudeness in our behavior. Proverbs 8:13 tells us that God hates pride and arrogance. This can be a hard area to identify in our lives. How can we tell if we are arrogant in our own lives; in our children's lives; in our homes; in our church? What does arrogance look like? A few things that could show up as arrogance in our lives: 1) boasting about accomplishments or gifts, 2) the money we make or possessions we have, 3) boasting about our body (diet, exercise, clothing), 4) being super-mom. How do we combat an arrogant attitude? Keep God in mind and realize that He is the provider of all things.