I have wanted
to start a blog for a while now, but I always felt like the topics I come up
with would be weird for a first post, because for the most part, I do not have
stories to tell or insights to offer. Usually, I find myself only with
questions to ask, and no clear answer to find. This post is about such a
question.
However,
this question comes with a back-story; yesterday was Ash Wednesday. Like many
congregations, the local church I attend decided to hold an Ash Wednesday
service to kick off the season of Lent, a season of fasting and repentance in
prelude to the celebration of Easter. At this service, the congregation partook
in the Eucharist, made pledges of things to give up as a fast for Lent, and
received the sign of a cross of ashes placed upon our foreheads. After the service, I felt it appropriate to
take a picture with the ashes on my forehead to serve as Facebook profile
picture during the Lenten season. When I got home, one of my housemates
mentioned that he had thought of doing the same thing, but did not want to
appear to be bragging or to have a “holier than thou” attitude. (He did not say
this with any condemnation, just as a comment.) Writing this, I find it ironic
that that such an act should provoke this question, being that the ashes are a symbolic
representation of our remembrance that we are but dust and ashes (both
literally and figuratively) next our God and Savior, yet the question remains:
when does sharing one’s story turn into bragging?
When
does speaking about my response to God’s work in my life stop being witness and
testimony and become self-promotion and possibly even a stumbling block to
others? Is it acceptable to God when I thank Him for saving me from sin, even
sins I had not committed, or is that too similar to the prayer of the Pharisee in
Luke 18, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men…”? Can a share what I am
giving up for lent, or is that against Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew 6 that one
ought not to make it obvious when they are fasting? Am I over thinking this? Am
I being too legalistic about this? Did I use the word exhortation correctly?
My mind
can be a scary place sometimes.
In
looking to answer these questions, my initial thought is that it a matter of
intent. Does one intend to give God glory with his or her words, or to gain
glory for his or herself? However, I still fear causing someone to think poorly
of myself and the Gospel I preach due to accidently expressing a “holier than
thou” attitude. Yet, I cannot let others perceptions stop me from honoring God.
And if I continue to write, it will just be more of the same back and forth as
above.
So, I
give this to you dear readers, whomever you may be, for thought, for
discussion, and for the sake of finally kicking off this blog. How can one make
witnessing distinguishable from bragging?
A Jones
P.S. If
you are still considering what to give up for lent, or do not mind adding to
what you have already decided upon, I encourage you read Isaiah 58 for
inspiration.
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