Genesis

1 - I think there is a certain grace necessary to this process of humility. What’s my motivation – what is the “big picture” and am I being sincere with my words and my actions and a church body...whom are we serving?

There’s that certain acceptance that a Christian has that believes that through God all things are possible and that if you ask He will answer. What’s difficult, as a human surrounded by doubt and sin, is the whole “listening/patience” step where you are waiting for a sign or some words to follow and all you may hear is silence.

If someone hasn’t ever heard that God can be their strength and you have the ability to respectfully point them to that answer – why not be bold? Maybe there’s a greater purpose to your conversation?

However, back to humility and the fine line I think we sometime tread between being “holier than thou” (as my grandma used to say) and reaching the world with the message of God’s love for them…maybe there is something to be said for humility - recognize that we might not know the answer to this one – or the right way to approach every situation, and perhaps we could pray for God guidance to help orchestrate the movements?

Perhaps those people accusing the christian church as being self-righteous and arrogant are merely questioning our motivivation? Setting up some sort of scenario of them vs. us? If that is how my actions are being percieved perhaps that's yet another reason to humble myself and change the action? Perhaps we need to become more aware of how "boldness" can be misinterpreted?

Was it easy or hard to come up with one word to describe a Christian? I only heard one or two people’s words around me, however in their differences they also showed great insight - one was more internally focused and the other actively reaching out towards the world. (Again, I’m impressed by the exercise to actually talk to the stranger next to me…because seriously I am always somewhat terrified that the answer I will share will be something incorrect, but hey – how about that - by talking perhaps I gained a bit more insight?) (Comment this)

2 - I think it is in human nature to find offense in almost anything. For example, there are some people in my exteneded family that don't believe I attend "real church" because I attend a contemporary style service. They believe I'm doing myself and God wrong by the choices I am making. Balancing certainty and boldness is a tough thing when each individual believes they are correct. I am more apt to not rock the boat and offend someone who does not believe in God or believes differently than I do, by just not saying anything at all. Perhaps if there were more people taking a chance to be bold - when the cause was justified, to defend their own Christian belief - imagine how the dialogue in our schools, government, workplace, family might be? (Comment this)

3 - I think there are many christian churches made up of people who lose sight of what their purpose is all about and while they may have the best intentions, their message or actions come off sounding/looking very arrogant and judgemental. The portrayal of evangelising (sinners repent or be doomed!)makes me cringe and yet there are some leaders still leading their church that way. (I'm not judging them - just not going to sit through their service.) If the idea is to meet the unchurched where they are at, perhaps it will take bold steps with humility? Maybe knowing when being bold with sure conviction or being humble might be a few of those walls we need figure out how to topple? (Comment this)

4 - FYI...Interesting articles if you attempt to "google" humility. Not sure exactly on the authors but some of the context is surely something to ponder if you are like me, just wandering the internet... (Comment this)

5 - As opposed to Oxford's dictionary and low self-esteem:
hu·mil·i·ty
n.
The quality or condition of being humble.
hum·ble
adj. hum·bler, hum·blest
1. Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.
2. Showing deferential or submissive respect: a humble apology.
3. Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly: a humble cottage. (Comment this)

6 - For me humility is a hard line because often if someone knocks the church or Christianity, I get defensive or offended. And instead of stepping back to remember God's grace is offered to all, I instead either feel like I need to "correct" the person or I feel small and insignificant becuase I don't know the answers. I find I am often more "bold" when I am defending me rather than standing up for Christ, I suppose it is out of a selfish need to not be wrong. (Comment this)

7 - Ok, a little off topic, but it has to do with boldness... I am friends with a woman who is undergoing lots of family stress related to her children and a husband who is extremely disengaged. She looked at me today with tears in her eyes and said "I just hate him for not helping me with our boys." Then after a few minutes says, "I've got it, I am going to leave him." After a moment of shock, I offered to watch the boys while she went out for a walk to calm down and collect herself, hoping that a sense of peace would come over her and calm her down, but she came back even more resolved to leave. She never talks faith, shys away from me when I start to bring it up, doesn't like it when I offer to pray with her (has even asked me not to do it again), and I just don't know how to look at her when she seems so much happier thinking about leaving and say..."i think you should try to work it out, you are under a lot of stress right now". I love her and her children, I pray for them all the time...thoughts? (Comment this)