Developing Strong-Minded Men and Women! (Part 1)
“A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I’ve recently reminded our church that if God ever decided to “grade on the curve,” people like Dr. King and Mother Theresa of our past generation would mess things up for us! Thank God He doesn’t and thank God He has given us such wonderful role models of self-sacrifice and purpose to emulate. Historical vision has a way of distorting the real humanity and devotion people such as Dr. King possessed because we’d like to think of them as super-human or beyond special. The truth is so far more distressing to those who would like to coast through life walking on the backs of those who laid their lives down for us! You see, the truth is – they were very much HUMAN, with weaknesses, fears and even self-doubt. But somehow, through their trust in God and devotion to the lives of others – they surrendered their weaknesses and thereby accomplished great strides in the development of others. Why? Well, to observe Dr. King’s quote is to observe his belief system and it speaks volumes of the type of person Mother Theresa of Calcutta was as well as others who dot our history’s landscape. They were NOT soft-minded!
I thought I would contribute something to the discussion since Lord knows I want to be a strong-minded man! But I also would like to see the corner turned in our present developmental crisis by helping us steer people in the right direction toward maturity. Perhaps seeing what are some of the contributory elements to a soft-minded person will help us avoid its pitfalls.
#1 THE IDEA THAT WE ARE “ENTITLED” TO ANYTHING WITHOUT SACRIFICE
We are definitely living in a time of unprecedented entitlement in the western world and the church has not been excused from this “spirit.” This speaks to the notion that somehow we deserve certain things or better stated we deserve things that others have worked hard to attain! It’s as if there exists a wonderful bubble of exclusion for our current generation from all things labeled “work” or “sacrifice.”
Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (NIV)
This mindset of entitlement has almost depleted us of generational reaping were it not for the longsuffering of past generations, or the sacrificial “planting” of a relative few! We simply cannot produce or birth strong minded believers until they understand that God’s principle of sowing and reaping still exists. Sometimes we just have to come to grips with the reality that we have not—because we plant not!
#2 THE NOTION THAT OUR MISHAPS ARE MERELY THE PRODUCT OF EVERYONE ELSE’S “OFFERINGS” TO OUR LIFE
I am deeply grateful for the truth (and science) that has made the connection between the outgrowths of people’s maladies and their associated past. Many, many people have discovered freedom when they realized they were “living out” of loss because of issues that had little to do with them but were reactions to actions perpetrated against them in different times throughout their life! I have seen countless “releases” as folks were able to exchange real forgiveness for absolute freedom! Who can argue that? Through Scripture, Christians have discovered the trail of curses that follow generations, which at times have real design in keeping them bound. However, these scenarios are a far cry from what I believe to be a current malaise in the Body of Christ.
Philippians 4:11-12 “… I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (NLT)
Strong-minded people accept their circumstances (as Paul did) not as permanent shackles of impotence – but as the starting point for their race to begin! When the proverbial starter fires his round – it awakens us to our current condition. It is at that point that we determine whether we sill start running forward or simply ignore the gun! What I have heard over and over again from those who are stagnant in their maturing process is not the response to age-old curses or past crimes perpetuated against their soul as the culprit to holding them back. Instead, it is always their boss, their spouse, their work schedule, their lack of work, their lack of money, their pastor, their sadness, their loneliness, their church, etc. etc. It’s ALWAYS somebody else’s “offering” that has been sown or withheld from their life—that keeps them bound! Paul found the antidote to such childishness by discovering contentment IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE! The secret – was trust in his offering before God! Paul realized that God had already purchased freedom for him and he wasn’t going to trade that in for a momentary pity-party, which would have the potential to put him back in chains! On the contrary, even when HE WAS IN CHAINS, Paul acted as if he wasn’t – because he TRUSTED that the One he sowed to had the power to give him his harvest. Now THAT – is strong-mindedness!
We must take credit for our own lack of starting-power as well as, the mistakes we make along the way. When we “share” the burden of responsibility with others, we perpetuate a condition that allows us to produce NOTHING since we have no power over others in our race. Take stock right now of your life and make the decision to free others by releasing yourself to acknowledge YOUR OWN CONDITION. When you do—you’ll be free to avoid the real curse of being soft-minded!
