One of the idols of our age is that we are both the source and the measure of right. Thus, we look inside ourselves for the most reliable answers and strive to be true to our truest self. That begs the question of whether we can ever be wrong, or how to change if we are. It leaves us sadly incapable of learning and improvement. Interestingly the self-as-measure approach is completely opposite the approach aspiring Olympic athletes take, as they are determined to grow and improve by responding to other’s feedback.
Here are recommendations from the Distributed Library on trying to figure out if you’re wrong:
– Stop Dating the Church by Josh Harris – If you enjoy a church and it fits into your lifestyle, that’s success, right? It gets uncomfortable if we match up an attitude of mild affection and mild involvement against Jesus, “Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.”
– When People Are Big And God Is Small by Ed Welch– Another book whose title alone is a great corrective. The author counsels us love people far more, but need their approval less.
– Oops! I Forgot My Wife by Doyle Roth – Doyle is a member of our sister church, LBC, and helps us think more clearly about “husbanding”. In gardening and farming, “husband” means to develop, care for, and help grow. We need to not lose track of that definition in marriage.
– Walking With God Through Pain And Suffering by Tim Keller– Jesus promised us that his people would have trouble in this world. How do we walk with God in it?
– Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp – Sometimes we just want a certain amount of peace and order, which are good things, but the real goal is heart change. How do we lovingly and wisely pursue that?
– Evangelism and Sovereignty by JI Packer – Do we have a conflict between bringing the good news Jesus offers payment for our sins and peace with God and the idea that God is in control of his universe? Harder yet, are we thinking right, but acting wrong?