****Disclaimer: half of this blog is serious and half of it is said tongue-in-cheek. Here's how to tell the difference- if you read something that offends you, that was the part that was tongue-in-cheek.***
Yes, it's true- America is growing wimpier by the day.
Now, there are a lot of signs of this wimpiness around- kids staying inside on their cell phones and video games instead of playing contact football outside, the disappearance of diving boards in pools, kids needing a bike helmet to ride their bikes next door, the proliferation of "participation trophies" (as opposed to real trophies where the people actually WIN something before being rewarded for it) in sports, and an increasing sense of entitlement where Americans feel that they deserve things they didn't work for or earn.
But I'm not talking about any of those. The biggest sign, I feel, of increasing American wimpiness is everyone's hyper-sensitivity to "being judged."
When did this rough-and-tumble country that pulled itself up by its bootstraps, set out on the frontier, hacked its living out of the wilderness, kicked Hitler's butt, and set up the most prosperous country in the history of the world all of a sudden start caring about what other people MIGHT say about their choices?
I think this is the biggest sign of a wimpy country. A country made up of citizens who can't handle someone disapproving of their politics, their religion, their weight, their family choices, their sexual orientation, or their socioeconomic status isn't going to last very long. When did we all of a sudden start caring what other people approved of or disapproved of?
I was reading in 1 Corinthians 4:3 where Paul says, "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself." American wimpiness, and our nation's fear of "being judged" can be remedied by following Paul's example. We need to move from "don't judge me" to "I care very little if you judge me."
The statement, "I care very little if you judge me," is said by someone who isn't a wimp. This is said by someone who has self-confidence, has a strong sense of identity, is goal-oriented and focused, and therefore doesn't listen to the cacophony of voices trying to tear him down. Paul is saying, "Your statements fall off me like water off a duck's back. I am impervious to your statements, to your judgments, to your opinions- they matter to me about as much as bird doo on a park bench."
We have become a nation that is so fragile in our self image that we can't handle anyone saying anything disapproving about us. My soccer coach had a term for people like that- he said they were "made of glass." A player who was made of glass shattered at the first hint of contact. Have we become a nation of people who are made of glass? One comment throws us into a frenzy?
In all seriousness, the increasing amount of people being worried about someone "judging" them shows how we are increasingly dominated by the opinions of others. People whose self-image and self-respect come from the opinions of others will not last long in this world. Their day is dependent on hearing the right words from people. They are unable to handle any criticism, any question, any truth that might tell them they are wrong. On the other hand, people who don't base their self-image on the opinions of others; rather, on a strong sense of purpose and confidence, don't change with the tide of public opinion.
I believe that Paul's statement was very significant to the era in which we live. It was his key to staying on purpose in his mission and calling from God. It was the reason he finished strong in life when so many don't. His sense of self and purpose didn't come from the judgments of others. It came from his sense of self that was born out of his love for God. This is how he defeated the cultural wimpiness that other people were drowning in.
So, today, put into practice Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 4:3. Stop worrying about people judging you, because they always will. So, instead of running around with your hypersensitive antennae up looking for people who are judging you (and telling them to stop), just simply quit caring about their judgements. Follow the example of the apostle Paul and see what happens in your life.
At least you won't be a wimp.
Yes, it's true- America is growing wimpier by the day.
Now, there are a lot of signs of this wimpiness around- kids staying inside on their cell phones and video games instead of playing contact football outside, the disappearance of diving boards in pools, kids needing a bike helmet to ride their bikes next door, the proliferation of "participation trophies" (as opposed to real trophies where the people actually WIN something before being rewarded for it) in sports, and an increasing sense of entitlement where Americans feel that they deserve things they didn't work for or earn.
But I'm not talking about any of those. The biggest sign, I feel, of increasing American wimpiness is everyone's hyper-sensitivity to "being judged."
When did this rough-and-tumble country that pulled itself up by its bootstraps, set out on the frontier, hacked its living out of the wilderness, kicked Hitler's butt, and set up the most prosperous country in the history of the world all of a sudden start caring about what other people MIGHT say about their choices?
I think this is the biggest sign of a wimpy country. A country made up of citizens who can't handle someone disapproving of their politics, their religion, their weight, their family choices, their sexual orientation, or their socioeconomic status isn't going to last very long. When did we all of a sudden start caring what other people approved of or disapproved of?
I was reading in 1 Corinthians 4:3 where Paul says, "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself." American wimpiness, and our nation's fear of "being judged" can be remedied by following Paul's example. We need to move from "don't judge me" to "I care very little if you judge me."
The statement, "I care very little if you judge me," is said by someone who isn't a wimp. This is said by someone who has self-confidence, has a strong sense of identity, is goal-oriented and focused, and therefore doesn't listen to the cacophony of voices trying to tear him down. Paul is saying, "Your statements fall off me like water off a duck's back. I am impervious to your statements, to your judgments, to your opinions- they matter to me about as much as bird doo on a park bench."
We have become a nation that is so fragile in our self image that we can't handle anyone saying anything disapproving about us. My soccer coach had a term for people like that- he said they were "made of glass." A player who was made of glass shattered at the first hint of contact. Have we become a nation of people who are made of glass? One comment throws us into a frenzy?
In all seriousness, the increasing amount of people being worried about someone "judging" them shows how we are increasingly dominated by the opinions of others. People whose self-image and self-respect come from the opinions of others will not last long in this world. Their day is dependent on hearing the right words from people. They are unable to handle any criticism, any question, any truth that might tell them they are wrong. On the other hand, people who don't base their self-image on the opinions of others; rather, on a strong sense of purpose and confidence, don't change with the tide of public opinion.
I believe that Paul's statement was very significant to the era in which we live. It was his key to staying on purpose in his mission and calling from God. It was the reason he finished strong in life when so many don't. His sense of self and purpose didn't come from the judgments of others. It came from his sense of self that was born out of his love for God. This is how he defeated the cultural wimpiness that other people were drowning in.
So, today, put into practice Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 4:3. Stop worrying about people judging you, because they always will. So, instead of running around with your hypersensitive antennae up looking for people who are judging you (and telling them to stop), just simply quit caring about their judgements. Follow the example of the apostle Paul and see what happens in your life.
At least you won't be a wimp.
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