Approval Addicts

            

           I remember while in high school wishing I could “fit in.”  I wasn’t in band, or in any clubs, wasn’t a cheerleader or attend football games or any other sports, attend parties, or do any of the other really “cool” stuff my peers seemed to be involved in.  I did well in school and had friends, but never saw them outside the classroom (or lunch room).  Because of my lack of “extra-curricular” activities, I was set apart. There were times when that bothered me; not always, but sometimes left me feeling like an outsider.

            We all have a deep-seated fear of rejection.  It’s important, especially at the teenage level, to feel like you belong and “fit in.”  There are horror stories about kids so intensely desiring to be part of “the crowd,” they partake of bad behaviors which can become habitual, like taking drugs, drinking alcohol, getting covered with body art and any number of other things.

            While we believe we eventually outgrow this need to fit in, sometimes we never do.  We still worry, “What do people think of me?”  This is especially evident in a room of mixed Believers and non-believers. In a one on one conversation, depending on who we are talking with, we may be willing to share our faith, if we are relatively certain talking about our faith won't ruin our relationship.  

            In a room of “mixed company” where the language may become offensive, or behaviors become less than Christ-like, we often tend to just shut down and not say anything.   We are certain if we do, it’s going to set us apart and our friends will be totally non-forgiving and non-understanding!

            Can you imagine what Mary, the teenaged mother of Jesus, must have felt? She was to be married to Joseph, yet here she was--- pregnant!  The scandal; worthy of stoning!  And to make matters worse, people would either think she engaged in pre-marital sex, or think her crazy to say the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  

            Can you imagine being visited by a sword carrying, brightly lit angel? There are some places in God’s Word which says those visited by angels were terrified. Even the angel who visited Mary said, “Do not be afraid.”   Our television world has images of angels as soft, tender and pleasant.  That isn’t necessarily a Biblical perception.  As she faced this angel, do you think she wondered what the world would say about her situation, her parents, or even Joseph? Perhaps she did consider this, but only for a moment, because her response to the news was, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)

Mary made the choice to accept the responsibility of carrying the Christ Child.  Would we be so brave? Would we, in today’s world, be more likely to consider our personal character defamation before we considered God’s instruction?  I think we often do.  We are certain we won’t “fit in,” we aren’t prepared, don’t have enough funds to do what He’s asked, are unwilling to risk ridicule, mockery, scorn or anything that makes us uncomfortable.

Rather than being an "approval addict," I encourage you to consider what God is calling/asking you to do.  Is it outside your comfort zone?  Will it place you in a situation where ridicule may be possible?  Noah, the apostles and others were in a good place for that, but they followed God’s call; as did Mary. Shouldn’t we?