Trimming the Fat

Hello All,

There's just absolutely nothing that can be compared to good motivation!
I think that's why we love inspirational quotes. They seem to have the ability to identify with an inadequacy or fear deep inside us and then turn that fear into a resolute calm with a clear path for action. But as we're so busy trying to find that little push to make ourselves or our situation better, how often do we question the validity of a good quote? We need to be like butchers in a butcher shop. Not haking off any ol' side of beef and calling it "good". We need to evaluate the meat of the matter and check to see if it's all true. All beneficial. All meat, no by-products. We need to make sure we're trimming the fat.

Here's a well-known quote used in the movie "Coach Carter":

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Sounds good doesn't it? If a friend posted this on Facebook, I bet that more than a few people would give it a "thumbs up" and comment on how "true" it is. But is it really true? Let's trim the fat. Is "MY" deepest fear that I'm powerful beyond measure? Am I really powerful beyond measure? Is my light the thing that most frightens me? I suppose that I'm just not in that group she references as "Our".

Many people are of the mindset that says "Look! As long as it inspires positive change, let it be!" And a big part of motivation is helping you to become comfortable with an accomplishment you've yet to realize. Obstacles aren't overcome by lies, they're brought into proper understanding by truth.

Here's The Word:

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

God's Word is true. From this passage in Colossians, we understand why we have to be careful with things that just sound good. We can be spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit. I think this is why the Bereans were so adamant about verifying Paul's teachings against The Word. They knew the damage that fat could do and sought to trim it.

Do you know who wrote the quote? Are they a Christian who simply had a "spin" on a Biblical idea? I mean they used the phrase "You are a child of God" which indicates some sort of religious affiliation. When it comes to quotes that seek to get comfy with our doctrine, I think we need to be even more on guard. Every person is indeed a "Creation" of God, but there is a BIG difference between being a CREATION and being a CHILD of God and it's not an automatic correlation for "everyone" as stated in the quote.

This quote is from Marianne Williamson, and if you'd only heard a few things about the good things she's done, you'd be most impressed. She founded Project Angel Food which is a program that delivers food to homebound people with AIDS in Los Angeles.

Marianne is a member & teacher in Unity Church which teaches that God is Divine energy available to all. It teaches that we're all inherently "good" and that we all share the divine potential of Jesus. Another quote of Marianne's is "You've committed no sins, just mistakes". This is not just some random mis-quote or misunderstanding. This is her belief.

I'm all for you expressing the brilliance, gorgeousness, talent and "fabulousness" that God has blessed you with. But boast in Him, not in yourself. And definitely 'let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt 5:16)' . You can feel free to condemn me for raining on Marianne's parade. I pray that God would save her by His Grace.
I simply think it's more right to realize your inherent sinful nature; Cross over from death to life because of the Grace given by a Personal God through the atoning death of the most singularly distinctive being to ever exist. Jesus Christ, the God-man. And to appropriate the power to walk as Children of light by the aid of the Holy Spirit given to those who are His. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. And His Word is sharper than any two edged sword. Definitely sharp enough to trim the fat.



In Him,
Cros