"BELIEVE IN YOURSELF"--really?

[Jenn]

One of the biggest issues I often face when I try sharing my faith, is the humanistic, ego-centric attitude of so many people. Even those who don't' consider themselves egotistic. We just live in a world of iPhones, myspaces, iTouch, Twitter--where everyone likes to pretend they are the most important ppl in the world. There's this We-can-do-it attitude, science-knows-everything, believe-in-yourself....

One of my friends was telling me about her extreme dislike for Carrie Underwood's song: Jesus, Take the Wheel. "No, don't let Jesus take the wheel, get up and drive yourself," she said, "why would anyone want to promote such surrender, and giving up?! it's such a bad morale for our society!" She was getting pretty worked up.

No, we can't do everything. We don't believe in ourselves, we believe in the power of Jesus that lives within ourselves. How do I share this without sounding cocky and ostracizing? Sometimes, we have to admit that we're wrong. And another thing is, I often find myself feeling uncomfortable with using terms like "the lost" or "the blind" of the world to describe non-believers. Yes, we know something that they have yet to take advantage of, but do we have to be so patronizing?

Am I just understanding this all wrong?

[tali]

I completely understand where you're coming from. I find it difficult to use those terms too, i mean people don't really take well to others saying, "hey everything u believe in is wrong and everything I tell you is right". So what do you say?, you explain your point of view if you're having a discussion. I personally don't believe in shoving my beliefs on other people, if they're your friends I think that just by what you tell them you believe and them seeing you live a God-centered life the Holy spirit will work on their heart. I mean thats just what I think. So as in the case with you friend and the song, I'd just tell her what i felt like, " hey i dont think that song has such a bad message, I mean what could be so wrong about giving over your wheel to the person in charge of the universe, I'd think hes the best person" and i mean u're friends so its not a matter in saying it in a combative way or a condescending way. Maybe it can spark a good discussion

[Jenn]

Thanks so much for understanding what I was trying to say. And you're absolutely right--sometimes the only thing we can do is just let our light shine by example rather than by what comes out of our mouth. I go to a public school, so I just find it aggravating sometimes that people put so much faith in themselves. Thanks for the advice :)

[Adrian]

r u saying u disagree with ur friend about the song and don't know how to approach her about it?

[Adrian]

Is your friend a Christian? If so, these verses might be helpful. Otherwise, she wouldn't benefit from them

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” Luke 22:42.
Just as Jesus surrendered completely to His Father, we are to follow His example and surrender completely to Him.

"Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men" 1 Corinthians 7:22b-23.
We are to be Christ's slaves. In other words, completely surrendered to His will. Free from sin and slaves to righteousness.

We are to be "free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants [slaves] of God." Paul, Peter, James, and Jude all call themselves bondservants of Jesus Christ (see Romans 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1).

We are definitely supposed to surrender completely to Jesus, for our own good. We get ourselves into trouble when we do things our way. Of course we have to live our lives, but we need to live them in surrender to what God wants for us, to His will.

[Adrian]

The world is always telling us to follow our heart, but God says,
"The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9.

"There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death." Proverbes 14:12; 16:25

One of my favorites Bible passages is Proverbs 3:5,6:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."

Sorry to make such a lengthy response. The Bible has a lot to say about this subject!

[Jenn]

wow, those verses helped a lot. really. especially your last response with jeremiah 17:9 you wont believe how pertinent to my life that is to me at the moment. thank you.

and, yes i was asking abt how to approach my friend--who, btw isnt a Christian. but, your response def helped clarify why we as Christians adhere to complete surrender. this will def help in future conversations on the subject. after that, its up to the holy spirit, is it not?

thank you so much, again :)

[Adrian]

fer shur. the Holy Spirit is what works on people's hearts, not arguments. That's easy for me to forget =P