We often hear the phrase, "His heart's in the right place," which, being interpreted, means, he means well, wants to do a good thing, but is sort of a bumbler and makes the situation worse." Or something like that.
Let's take a look at that phrase, one we've all said at one time or another: "His heart's in the right place." We use this as an excuse for someone who's made a mess of things and now we and others have to clean it up.
There was a man who might just be the epitome of that saying--his doctor tells him that the reports are in and the results are bad. He's got terminal cancer. Not only that, but there's more --we check into his family and find that his wife is expecting their second child and their other child is in high school, is disabled, and the object of teasing and bullying.
The man knows that with the diagnosis he's just heard, he won't be there for his family, the wife, the son, and the daughter who's on the way. The career he's chosen doesn't well; he's a teacher in a public school. To make ends meet, he's had to take a second job, a menial one, one that's beneath his education, experience, and training. To make matters worse, when those he teaches run across him at his second job, they're shocked, they giggle, one even takes his picture. You have to pity him.
But his heart's in the right place because he wants to provide for his family after he's gone and his heart is in such a right place that he wants to provide so that neither his wife, son, nor daughter to come will have to worry about money. He won't stoop to begging and pleading, or calling in debts from long ago. He and he alone will provide for his family; that's what a man does. That's the American way and that's his way.
His heart's in the right place.
Of course, unless you've been living on the planet Pluto for six years, you know that I've described the monster hit TV series, "Breaking Bad," the story of high school chemistry teacher Walter White, a man who uses his knowledge, skills, and life experiences to become a murderous, destructive manufacturer and dealer of drugs, death, ruined lives, and crystal meth, a man who poisons every relationship he has in his ruthless pursuit of the millions and millions of dollars he wants to leave his family, a family he destroys in the process. As the creator of the show said, "It's the story of Mr. Chips becoming Scarface."
But his heart was in the right place.
So, let's eliminate this false and trite saying we use in Christian circles way too often to reflect a biblical stance: not only must our heart be in the right place, but our brain has to be there too. Haven't we all seen those (and been one of those) who give away and compromise the truth for the sake of peace, for the sake of just getting along, for the sake of unity, and for the sake of someone's feelings?
But aren't we to love the Lord with all our hearts and minds? When our heart's in the right place, but our brain isn't, we give away the truth like a piece of birthday cake, all for the sake of maintaining a peaceful party.
Those in our churches whose hearts are in the right place but their brains aren't, make one mess after another, as they give away one truth after another.
When Saul intruded into the priest's office and made a sacrifice, his heart was in the right place ("God requires a sacrifice before battle.") but his brain wasn't. When Peter drew and used the sword to carve off an ear ("I'm defending the honor of the Lord."), his heart was in the right place, but his brain wasn't. When Peter withdrew from the gentile believers to preserve peace with the legalists, his heart was in the right place ("Keep the unity."), but his brain wasn't.
In Walter White who broke bad, we can see the fallacy of that bromide, "His heart is in the right place." The Bible wants our hearts and minds in the right place, centered and subservient to the Word of God.
His brain, yes, but also his guts. We used to disrespect a person who did not have the "gumption" or "guts" to stand up to the pressure from others in order to take a stand for the Godly route, or to be a "lone reed" forging a road less traveled to do the right thing. (We called them a,"Chicken".) This person is a follower, not a leader..... and they are not in tune with God's Will; nor or they courageous enough to make decisions with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and step out there to be a Godly example for others to follow..-- They are more than willing to compromise to keep peace and harmony. They do not stand strong because they do not have a close and intimate relationship with God. He is the one who gives discernment and wisdom, and supernatural strength, but a fool has none of these traits. This type person is an ineffective leader, and unable to evoke positive change in the people around them. -- They are into themselves. No, this type person has a Weak Character, and is more into their own personal peace and comfort than having the courage to live a Godly life. And that is the flaw in them - a weak Character; no honor or integrity. They are still feeding on comfortable Pablum, willing to hide behind the coddling label of, "Oh his heart was in the right place; He meant well"..........Only a corrupt manipulator would accept this EXCUSE without standing up and having the “guts” to be accountable for their actions. This is a person who will shirk responsibility, and is too weak to face their mistakes and fix what caused them.
ReplyDeleteOur Faith is constantly tested by this world, and many Christians just hide behind a shallow manufactured “Image" rather than deal with the more difficult issues. - This type person probably is spoiled by doting parents or coddled by a "forgiving" church atmosphere – or both. They have been too pampered, spoiled, and coddled -- and they have a problem with hedonism, yet are not able to understand why others disrespect them. ----- And here is the Real Tragedy in it all: The church is breeding these type people. In the church, they are protected from the harsh realities of this life. They live surrounded by legalistic "Godliness" -- coddled into thinking they are something better than others just because they have more cognitive knowledge about God's Word. They are horrified by the harshness of this world and refuse to believe in real evil, and certainly are naïve and unable to cope with it. Therefore, their faith, when tested by this world, crumbles. They are trained to believe that being naïve is a "Godly" trait, when in reality it is the trait of a Fool. A fool tries to feel sorry for evil people instead of having boundaries of responsibility and accountability against their seductive ways. They use their naïve claims as an excuse to cover their weak character and the fact that they really are fools whose heart is not in tune with Gods. The cold harsh truth is that they are weak and limp of Character when tested. -- Our churches today should be ashamed, but they sit with blinders on and wonder why no one makes church attendance a priority any more in this country. People do not attend church for one main reason.......It is called Disrespect.