Attitude Balance Check [Y]

In this article:Toggle

1. Attitude:

2. Balance:

3. Check:

Attitude:

Yin-Yang (the Chinese word for Balance)

Children need help to obtain and keep their balance in world-view, lifestyle, and destiny.

What is not meant by yin-yang, is living in such a way as to achieve a balance between good and evil, the idea that was made popular by the Star Wars series where the goal was to bring the force of the dark side into balance with the force of good.  The idea of yin-yang can also signify opposite but complementary forces like winter/summer, or a way to achieve holistic balance among the parts of the body.

Instead, I am referring to the attitude of balance in living a life of faith in Jesus Christ. At once, our hearts are grateful that He fulfilled the law of God on our behalf when we could not, while at the same time, our hearts burn with desire to witness to those we live among of His righteousness. An attitude of balance is needed in order to do this with respect, gentleness, and clarity, especially before those who would oppose this gospel message.

Balance:

In John 17, Jesus, the supreme Ruler, prays for His followers who are in the world but not of it. He continues to pray for His people who must walk in this present evil age while looking forward to life in the age to come “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:2

Check:

How, then, should we now live?

Stress and tension mark many of our activities because we do them to please ourselves rather than God. God gives many gifts that are good but, when loved inordinately, become idols. (An idol is anything that we love and look to be satisfied by more than we love and are satisfied by Jesus.) Even our very communication can become such an idol. We often do that which ought not to be done and leave undone the things that we ought to do, like when we speak before listening. Wanting to get our point across or be viewed as right at all costs is lopsided, self-righteous, an evil of the heart. We want our children to learn to be first interested in hearing how people got where they are before telling them where they should be, to develop sympathy. Holy Spirit-wrought perspective in faith reveals opportunities to communicate in God’s providence, as they are placed in situations conducive to sharing the gospel.

God provides balance as initiator and calls for a response, as Philippians 2:12-13 states, He works salvation in His people and commands His people to work out this salvation with fear and trembling. Both are true in God the Father’s answer to Jesus’s prayer for balance in John 17: God’s people strive to love the giver of the gift, desiring union with Christ, more than the gift itself, turning from selfish to selfless in heart.

First, we listen actively and carefully with compassion toward others, taking careful reconnaissance of where they are in their belief systems. Find out by asking. “Tell me about it.” Then, we can address presuppositions, sharing how we differ in our views. This may or may not result in agreement; however, this social understanding is a lifestyle gift to our children as it models for them how to graciously and confidently communicate hope in Christ to a lost world.

Watching and praying for wisdom and discernment in our walk with God diminishes anxiety as we balance living in this present evil age with waiting for our destiny to live together with Jesus forever in the age to come, new heavens and a new earth, which is marked by righteousness. “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” ~ 2 Peter 3:13

For further study and research read:

John 17 Hebrews 12 2 Peter Ecclesiastes 3 Schaeffer, Francis A., How Should We Then Live?

References:

“Culture: Keeping Your Balance”, Sermon by Pastor Ken Smith at the Covfamikoi Family Conference, July 8, 2007.

“Yin and Yang”, Robert Sickler, sermoncentral.com