Is Quitting Noble

Objective:

To have each christian take a look at our current worldview, and realize the poison behind it. To ensure that each disciple doesn’t get caught in the trap of the societies new normal agenda.

Diagnosis:

Our current society has many positives. For example, technology has become better, in my opinion interracial relationships are beautiful, opportunities have become more accessible, transportation is incredible, in which you can go anywhere, and amazon has shown us that whatever you need or desire is only a day away. For the most part when we look at tangibles it would appear that we are winning. However, it is the character that seems to be suffering the most, and the intangibles attributes suffer, because society now seems to make an excuse for some many peoples unexcused behavior. The question I pray that you ask yourself is my character akin to that of who I follow.

Focus Verse: Luke 14: 25-33 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Sermon: (The question this Sunday is it noble to quit). First of all let me state the obvious, so that no one later can come along and state the obvious and use it as a defense. It would be beyond fictitious to say that quitting isn’t ideal in some cases. I mean I wouldn’t call a man a coward for quitting alcohol, in fact he would be a hero. I wouldn’t think a women crazy to quit an abusive relationship, I would applaud someone who quit a job that promoted unethical treatment. However, when quitting is applauded and the reasoning for the quitting is somewhat impotent, then one most ask is quitting noble. Today in our current climate quitting is what society will call the new norm, and it is given to many different reason, and most of all it is due to mental stress. I am not insensitive to believe that mental stress is not a factor. However, that question leads us to our main verse today.

Before we begin to dissect this verse please understand as a rule of biblical hermenutics there is only one interpretation of scripture. However, in some cases it can be more than one application as long as truth is in that application. Our verse for this evening has that rule. Reading it in its proper interpretation.

When first exploring this verse we must Christ is pushing his way to Jerusalem. He already has his internal disciples following him and his external disciples following him. However, it appears that it might have been some pilgrims included in the Journey. Jesus without hesitation made a imperative statement and posed a serious question.

Jesus wants all potential candidates and current teammates to understand that undying loyalty is a must if you are to join his team. The illustration is enough to make you cringe, and other time the word hate has been watered down. However, the Greek word is miseo and it meaning is seen all throughout scripture. It to hate, detest, love less, esteem less. For example we see this word used again in Romans 9: 13 when Paul recalls God saying for Jacob I loved but Esau I hated. So as we Christ is very serious about the team you are about to join.

Next Jesus expects his followers to duplicate him. Christ carried a cross that contained the sins of the of the world. However, he commands that you pick up that unfair cross and come after him No Excuses.

Lastly, and our focal point this morning, Christ uses to analogies that ask the question; before you started or entered into an event did you weigh the cost of the event first. I want to be clear most people would say that the did weigh the cost, but Christ is talking about the cost in it’s totality.

In it proper interpretation; it is quite simple Christ is lying out the bad and the ugly of being one of his disciples. And if you are only here for blessings and miracles then you are on the wrong team.

As we look at this same passage in today’s context we are starting to see quitting is becoming a normal thing, and it is being excused by factors that should have been weighed and consider before stepping on the platform. This idea of quitting because of stress, or a load that is to heavy is understandable, but not acceptable. The reason it is not acceptable, is because with examples there comes wisdom. To many examples have existed that has shown us that certain decisions come with an certain amount of pain. I remember Brett Farve losing his father and having to push through, I remember Kobe fall out of favor with everyone while facing rape allegations, or Ray Lewis winning the Super Bowl and still performing at a high level while facing murder allegations. I would have to assume that these situations were stressful, but the moment you put on that team uniform the coaches shouldn’t hear any excuses. It is one thing if the coach sees you under performing and takes you out the game, but how is it noble to pull yourself out, how is it noble that the senior engineer walks off from the project, is it noble for a father to quit on his family, or a teacher to quite on his or her students. The answer is no because quitting has never been noble. Quitting was something decades ago that wasn’t tolerated, quitting was the thing that you were encouraged not to do, losing was more respectful than quitting, sucking it up was noble, quitting was for the sore loser, the crybaby who would run when things got hard. However now, quitting is somehow synonymous with glory and honor. Quitting now provides shelter, and a pat on the back, and a bunch of people defending you decision to run, with the second excuse of unfairness. Booker T. Washington in his Book Character building acknowledges that there are many reason people act unfairly, it could be they are having a bad day, they are of bad character, or racist. Nonetheless no matter what the reason is, you should never quit. However, the question still remains why do people quit. First I don’t believe it is lack of discipline, I have seen so many individuals put themselves through rigorous training to accomplish there goals, I tend not to think it be sacrifice for I have seen many give up those things they love, I tend not to think it be desire because desire drives both discipline and sacrifice. However, if we where to look back at the passage again even before counting the cost. Christ has asked us to pick up our cross, and other words our goal should be to conform Philippians 3:10 to that of Christ, if we share in Christ then we share in his suffering meaning we should expect all sorts of persecution, in which hear lies the problem. It is all good until the suffering comes, it is all good until the insults, it is all good until the failure strikes. Christ is teaching that quitting is almost inevitable when the cost is not weighed. This reason is why so many have walked away from the faith. In this is why the church must speak, how many young men and young women have we lost in our communities because they just gave up, how many fathers and mothers quit on there kids, what about when teachers quit on there students, or worst of all what about when citizens quit on their communities. Sadly what if God quit on us, what is salvation wasn’t available.

God vs Man:

Jesus told us to pick up our cross, it is not our Job to pick up the cross of others. However, when carrying your cross be sure not to add unnecessary yoke. Although quitting isn’t a excuse; there are factors that lead to quitting. Social Media, wrong circle of friends, boasting, lack of humility, and lastly a non existent or lack luster relationship with God. What makes God different is that he weighed the cost of creation, and has yet to quit on mankind .