When Good Stuff Stinks

Sometimes good stuff, gone too far, can stink.

This often plays out in the church in the following ways:

1). The desire for “deep”

Learning is good. A hunger to grow is good.

Unfortunately, this can sometimes turn into an endless quest for deep truths.

It can become grabby, consumeristic, demanding, and obsessive.

It can distract us from the pure simplicity of the Gospel.

It can turn us inward instead of outward…

And it can stink pretty quickly.

2) The pursuit of “revival”

We certainly need to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit.

We want that sense of “God with us” in our church meetings. We want to “feel it” – and that’s a good thing.

However, this quickly becomes twisted when we work ourselves into a frenzy in an attempt to get more of God (imagine a poorly disciplined 3 year-old trying to get some candy from their parent in the grocery store).

Somehow, we start to believe that noise, tears, sweat, and bizarre antics will provide a blessing.

Honestly, I’ve been in some of these meetings—and they stink.

3) The quest for “purity”

Purity is right and good, ’nuff said.

Sadly, we tend to drift into legalism without even realizing it.

In our quest for purity, we become Pharisees—measuring, calculating, evaluating, and judging.

Before we know it, we’re concerned about his actions, her attire, and the loose morals over there.

We keep score. We make judgements. We label, put people in categories…

And we stink.

My response to the desire for deep, pursuit of revival, and the quest for purity?

Chill out.

Calm down.

Relax.

Breathe in a bag if you have to.

Stop straining. You’re trying too hard. You’re gonna burst a blood vessel in your eye.

God’s way is different.

In His kingdom, the prize is inherited—not won.

We’re not fighting to get.

We receive.

Which means we can chill out and trust.

The bible says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”.

Meek isn’t weak or lazy or shallow.

It’s chill. And it’s trusting.

It knows it doesn’t have to force things or fight. It’s not grabby.

Blessed are those who chill out and trust—for they will receive everything they need from God. (Matthew 5.5)