Responsibility Gone Wrong

There's an epidemic among Christians today.

Actually, let's rephrase that. There's a disease among American Christians today. (And probably many other Western civilizations.)

Almost all of us suffer from it and it spreads like a progressive cancer. 

Typically, children and youth are immune from it. College students (who are able to stay in the faith) will find themselves attacked sooner or later.

The symptoms of the disease normally show up around the time that one gets married or begins a career. Moreover, it rears its head whenever the word "responsible" becomes a necessary adjective to describe their life.

For me, the first signs came in the Spring of 2006 when my wife passed a test by urinating on a stick.  I had no clue I had been infected. (No, I didn't touch the end that she peed on.)

We were both wanting a child, so the news was nothing short of monumental. 

I was a full-time seminary student at the time, working part-time at Cracker Barrel to help pay some bills. My wife, or as I liked to refer to her my "Suga' Momma", was really paying all of our bills by teaching. 

But I knew it was time for me to step into the greatest role I would ever play--father. 

Embracing the new responsibility, I finished out the semester as a full-time student. During the summer, I applied and got a position as an elementary school teacher. I went on staff at my church as a part-time youth director. I dropped down to part-time seminary student. I was on track to be an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. It was at this time that I began writing.

I had my stuff together. At least I did for a little while. Or so I thought. But it was at this time that I began struggling with my disease.

The disease is a spiritual disease brought on by responsibility. Not that responsibility is a bad thing; in fact, it's a privilege.

What's dangerous about responsibility is that it causes people to play it safe and causes Christians to live by the opposite of their faith. We find ourselves trusting in ourselves rather than in God.

Playing it safe can be confused with wisdom. But God is always leading us into positions that require trust, which moves us away from the direction of playing it safe. 

I'm constantly having to battle the urge to play it safe.

Right now, I'm struggling with it writing this post. This is more of a Monday post and I'm posting it on a Wednesday! Should I wait? Also, I haven't posted anything humorous the last few days, what if people get bored and quit reading? Will they think I've lost my wit? But I keep getting overwhelmingly pushed by the Spirit that someone needs to read this today.

One thing is clear throughout Scripture (and every other person you look up to in your faith), it's the risk takers who make the greatest impact. You can't tell me a single person in the Bible who is seen as a positive influence who got their name in there for playing it safe.

God calls everyone to be risk takers. We have too many Christians playing it safe, afraid to take a step that will impact the world.

That's the problem with "responsibility". We're afraid of risks because they might have an effect on what we are responsible for.

But you will find that your greatest achievements in life have all involved hard work and risks.  

How do you know if you are suffering from this spiritual disease? Tomorrow, I'm going to post some tell-tell signs of how you know when you are playing it safe. Don't play it safe, read it tomorrow.

Question:
Do you suffer from the disease?