THIS IS GOING TO SOUND...

There's no way for this not to sound arrogant but I am tired of putting up with ignorance.

Now, I am in no way saying that there isn't plenty of things I am not ignorant about myself.  So, maybe this won't sound too arrogant after all.  Yet, I try to listen to others and learn about these things and not speak on them as though I am some authority.

But isn't it hard to talk about things with people where their knowledge of the subject is paltry compared to yours?  Ok, that's kind of arrogant, I agree.

Take for example, UT basketball and the game of basketball in general.  I have played (not greatly but that's not the point :) basketball all my life, so I know the game pretty well.  So, when someone starts giving their opinion on what player/coach is good/bad, etc., sometimes its hard not to use FACTS/LOGIC/TRUTH and completely tell them why they are wrong.

Usually, for this or any subject, what happens when you attempt to rationally correct those "someones" is, you spend a vast amount of time, breath, and energy, only to end up frustrated that they won't budge from their "OPINION".

Yes, I realize its a free country, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, blah blah blah, LOL.  But, that HAS to have limits, right?  I mean, you can't have the opinion that the sky is LIME GREEN can you?  Or, is it okay to say its your "OPINION" that the Grand Canyon is not a canyon?

It seems to me alot of us hold opinions out of ignorance to the point where we KNOW its a BASELESS opinion and don't care.  That kind of thinking is dangerous to an individual AND a society, and unfortunately has taken roots in our churches, too.

Or, am I just being arrogant...or ignorant here?  

WHAT IF...

...churches quit measuring success by the numbers of church hoppers and plate droppers and started measuring it based on the quality of discipleship being done...or the quantity of the "least of these" being ministered to "in Jesus' name"...

...all Christians truly meant it when we sang "Wherever He leads I'll go..."

...God, in all His glory, high and lifted up on His throne in heaven, asked for volunteers that He could send to go "for us".  Oh wait, He already did.  Guess we need to respond to that, huh?...

...there was something akin to an "M & M" (Missions & Ministry) Center in every town, where people could receive shelter, food, clothing, health services, crisis pregnancy help, and most importantly spiritual guidance.  Christians from different churches in the community could cooperatively serve together at this type of center and watch as the Master used them to "be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth."  Gosh, seems like we're commanded to do something like that...

...there were no more super talented praise bands...multimedia projectors...multi-million dollar church campuses...ridiculously over-priced church buses...over extended or under used church budgets...

And all we had before us was a question.  The same question that Simon Peter answered before any of the other boys spoke up.  "But who do YOU say that I AM?"

The correct answer is all we NEED isn't it?  To KNOW that He is "The Christ, the Son of the Living God" changes EVERYTHING in and of itself, doesn't it?

As we say around here in good 'ol East Tennessee, "The rest is just gravy."