We Christians are the most-competitive humans,

in my experience. Wait, Dave, I’m not competitive. Really? Not all competitives are sports fans. Competitive means judging others and their creations — thumbs up, down, or just okay. Competitives who are unusually self-aware secretly ENJOY seeing others fail, mess up like we do, or worse than us — especially opponents, enemies. So we feel superior by comparison. Or inferior. It feels good when we spot weaknesses in others, because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Pride, not humility. A turnoff to discerning seculars around us who smell our pride.

Okay, Dave, so why do you think Christians are worse than other humans? Because even in grace-centered churches, we all wannabe good Christians — good examples, not [shudder] bad examples. So our personal performance is a big deal to us, when actually, it oughtabe no big deal. Our personal performance is filthy rags. Only Jesus’ performance counts for anything. Except my human-wisdom/flesh, doesn’t agree, and wants me to avoid failure, deliver success. Causes me to be defensive, hate criticism. Pride, not humility.

So what’s the opposite of being competitive? Being an observer/enjoyer of everyone just as we are, and everything just as it is, all according to Jesus’ genius plan. Contented. Observing — not performing, proving, judging, competing. Curious/expectant to see what Jesus does NEXT, in us, others, circumstances. And when we fail? CONFESS, instead of trying harder to enjoy everyone and everything. CONFESSion under-rated, striving OVERrated in the Church today.

— Dave McCarty, GospelFriendships, great example of a bad example, but baby-steppin at times in a healthier direction, because of the convicting work of Jesus’ Spirit — no credit to DAVE

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