Pros and Cons

Hard work. Training. Hours in the gym or hitting the books. These are the steps --we're told --to becoming a professional. But these days, we have professional athletes, professional chefs, professional entertainers, professional designers, professional exterminators, professional teachers (professors), professional landscapers, professional gamers, professional animal trainers --it seems as though everyone's a professional at something. Did they really put in the work? Did they receive some special sort of commission or certification? And, if so, from whom? Can one declare oneself to be a professional? 

Alright, so let me throw some amateur etymology on you today. Stick with me. According to Webster's 1936 Collegiate Dictionary, to profess could mean to pretend, or to claim to be (implying one is not truly) something. To confess, however, is to declare adhesion to, to admit as true; almost as though there is a greater burden of proof or level of commitment than mere profession. It appears better to be a confessional than a professional. But that's 1936. When comparing the etymology (the history and development) of these two words, confession seems to have its origins in the late 14th century, and in its religious sense, referred to someone who stood fast in their affiliation with faith despite the disapproval of others (think Edward the Confessor). However, profession originated much earlier, around AD 1200, and was associated with the vows taken upon entering a religious order; publicly declaring one's faith, and rendering one susceptible, possibly, to public disgrace or other consequences should that vow be broken. To be a professional, or to profess anything was a solemn and significant matter of public accountability. Was.

Therein lies the reason for the Grammar lesson. Scripture tells us, if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in our hearts God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). Confess, stand fast in our affiliation with Jesus Christ! Not simply profess allegiance. Now that's Bible! The world has placed such value on profession, specifically calling oneself a professional. Children on basketball courts or football fields everywhere are dreaming to "go pro." We pay professional litigators and professional entertainers ridiculous money. But it's those who confess Jesus, who believe in the depths of their hearts in His resurrection, who will be saved; a confession of Jesus that's willing to face disapproval or die defending it. It's interesting to me, the concept of confession has held its value throughout the years. Confession still brings to mind an act of integrity or upright character, while profession can be separated from virtue and moral distinction.

So, are you professing to be a Christian? Are you using the title but not really at the top of your game, not really putting in the work? Are you receiving --or hoping to receive --the payout, but haven't really taken up your cross, died to your own plans and desires? Are you pretending? Or are you a confessing Christian? Are you regularly before the Lord, subjecting yourself to examination by His Holy Spirit that you may confess and be forgiven, restoring the intimacy of your relationship with Him again? Have you noticed your life and your being developing a congruency with the truth of God's Word, your heart becoming reconciled to your mind and body --all of you reconciled to your identity in Jesus Christ? Can you admit your emptiness and powerlessness apart from Jesus? Is glorifying the Father in concert with His Son your greatest aspiration? Are you prepared, under any circumstance, to confess Jesus before the world, despite disapproval (or worse)? Let us be confessing Christians who would have the integrity of our confession borne out by the desires of our heart and the fruit our life bears. And if our professions would hearken back to the days when they were honored and public vows, let us all be professionals.

Midweek: Step One

Would anyone like to share something they've learned as we've studied the First Step? the leader of our Twelve Step program asked.

Yes, I said, I had to keep reminding myself it was the first step. Appearing perfect is a huge part of my history. As a child I learned that life was much different behind closed doors than it was, say, on a Sunday morning, before the congregation of our large church. Going through a program that I might conduct myself soberly as the Bible commands can be difficult for someone who is doing the work but still meeting with "failure." Why aren't I fixed yet? Why am I still finding this difficult? Why am I still finding myself drawn to the same old habits? The short answer is, it's a twelve-step program for a reason. The first step --I admit that (by myself, without Jesus) I am powerless over my addiction; that my life has become unmanageable --is just that, a first step.

I remember saying The Sinner's Prayer, "accepting Jesus into my heart," when I was a young child. I wanted to please the grown-ups and, quite frankly, I wanted the accolades. I wanted to be special, to have people celebrate my new birthday, and to be "fixed." I craved those things so badly, I said that prayer almost every time there was occasion to do so. But each time I returned to the "old me," I was pretty sure Jesus had packed His bags and left my heart within a day or two of moving in. What those grown-ups had failed to explain, or what I had failed to grasp was that praying any sort of prayer surrendering one's life to Jesus is simply the first step. Generally speaking, the Holy Spirit does not wave a magic wand and instantly transform habits, circumstances, proclivities, and desires the moment a prayer is prayed. Generally speaking, and I think I'm safe in saying, more often than not, there is work to be done. 

We realize our need for a Savior. 

    We recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world. 

        BUT there is work to be done.

"Doing the work" in a recovery program seems to be modeled after working out one's own salvation with fear and trembling. In my case, maybe more so, as my "addiction" is more of an addiction to sin than anything else. Can I pass a Qdoba without wanting to stop in? Sure, I can. Can I pop on social media and still obey my alarm when it sounds? Yep. Can I go shopping without slapping down the "emergency" credit card and promising myself I'll pay it right off? No problem. But can I obey when I'm upset and uncomfortable and looking to self-medicate in some way? Can I obey when I've got it in my head that I want what I want and I want it now? If I'm seeking to be honest, not always. Addiction demands I give inferior people, places, and things control over my life. Sobriety demands I obey the Lord of my life. But there is work to be done. 

Think of all the things in life that take time. We don't ask people how to get from Point A to Point Z, right? We're happy just getting to the next place. If you're reading this right now, chances are you've done a lot of growing since you were a toddler. You'd have had a pretty tough time driving to work last week if you were still just three feet tall. The sun takes hours to move from one side of your yard to the other, warming the ground where you've planted those tomatoes as it goes. We understand the process and the benefits of it being a process. The process of recovery --from addiction and from self-indulgence and sin --begins with acknowledging the problem; but it is a process thereafter. It is a day-after-day obedience to the One who is perfect Truth, who loves us and is willing to forgive us, who remains with us and guides us, who died and rose for us that we might have a fresh start and a new nature, who is sovereign over all, and promises the work will be completed (providing we submit) in His time. When we fall short, we don't become discouraged; we don't beat ourselves up because we've failed or abandon the work. We confess our failure and draw closer to Him. We reconcile ourselves to God and thank Him that He hears our prayers. We trust He is with us every step of the way.

   

Challenge Accepted!

Challenge accepted! I teased. A friend had just given me an assignment: Find each of the Twelve Steps in the Book of Lamentations. As the days passed, as I began to pray and to search, Step One which was present in abundance (I admit that --by myself, without Jesus --I am powerless over my addiction; that my life had become unmanageable.) was the only one I could find. But I kept at it. This is difficult, I'd sometimes think to myself. But I kept at it. I didn't complain, I didn't doubt, I didn't question my brother's wisdom or the implied claim that all twelve steps could be found; I just kept going, certain I would eventually get it. Why? Because this leader, this friend, this brother, this one who had never proven himself anything but trustworthy had charged us with finding them.

Can I say the same about every task to which my Savior leads me? Can I say, Challenge accepted! as enthusiastically as I blurted it out at our meeting? Can I, when things become difficult, merely notice the difficulty and continue forward? Can I trust that because my Leader, my Friend, my Brother, the One who has never proven Himself anything but trustworthy has given me something to do that it is entirely possible? not only that it is possible, but it is possible with Him as my ever-present Help? Do I have as much faith in my Savior as I have in my leader?

When Jesus speaks, Follow Me, do I look over my shoulder --first the right, then the left --hoping He's not speaking to me? Or do I drop my work, forsake the trappings of my immediate existence, and follow? When Jesus casually invites, Let us cross over to the other side, do I examine the skies, check my schedule, and calculate the level of difficulty? Or do I hop in the boat, pull up a cushion, and fall fast asleep in the company of the One the seas obey? When I hear the sounds of His work around me and feel the touch of His hand on me, do I recoil? I'm not sure I like the way You are working. Or do I submit? Thy will be done. When I read of His promises and the wonders He has performed for His people, do I allow that encouragement to be snuffed out by the feeble bottom line of a bank account or the echoes of generational curses? Or do I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the same God who cared for His people throughout history and promised eternal reward to His followers long ago is the same God who longs for my trust today? 

What I choose to believe is revealed by how I follow. If I believe what Scripture says about Jesus, His deity, His virgin birth, His death and resurrection, and all that does for the reconciliation of mankind to our Creator God, how can I not follow with my whole heart? How can I not follow immediately, assuredly, explicitly, and passionately? How can the troubles of this life receive more than a passing citation, and my King, my Savior, my Teacher, my Commander, my Shepherd not be lavished with all the glory He is due? How can I not carry on undaunted and resolute, knowing the very Way, Truth, and Life is calling me to do His work? How can I give up when the training is rigorous, or the labor is tedious? It is my Lord who leads the way. He is perfect and omniscient; He is trustworthy and omnipotent. He is Faithful and True, and will see me to the Finish Line of every race He calls me to run. I have only to agree and obey. Challenge accepted!