For the 3 of you who care to know where my last post was heading, here it is. I left off saying the following:
Little dogs are lot like timid believers, a lot like scared Christ followers. And groups of little dogs are a lot like little groups of inward focussed Christians. They want to run with the big dogs but hey are too scared. They want to see God do great things in their midst but their faith is too small. They long to do great big things for God, but when they look in the mirror all they see is a little dog, not the God who made them standing right behind them. When they go to battle they think they’re going it alone, they don’t realize the God of the universe is right there with them. And so they live little lives. And while that’s sad enough, sometimes they do something far worse…
Tomorrow I’ll tell you what that is.†
What do they do? They lash out! They are so jealous of what they see happening in other people’s lives that rather than praising God for what He’s doing through others, they seek to tear it down. They are living defeated and insignificant lives by choice, but they seldom stop there.
What could be worse than living small and insignificant lives?
Encouraging others to live that kind of life with you, that’s what. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Misery loves company?’ Well, small minded people love company as well. It makes them appear bigger than they are—tougher, more significant than they are. I guess the theory is that a whole lot of small minds might eventually equal on average sized mind. Who knows?
And it usually doesn’t matter much except when godlypeople get caught in the crossfire.
Every now and then I see it and I’m faced with a choice. Do I try and say something to the small-minders or do I just let it run the same sad course? The compassionate side of me wants to grab them and get their attention long enough for them to see the damage they do to others when they slander and gossip about the great things God is doing in and through the big dogs (not physically, but propped up through their reliance on God). But the logical side kicks in and reminds me that they never listen. They can’t hear anything over all the yapping. Have you ever heard a little dog yapping incessantly? The decimal level is roughly the equivalent of a 747 getting ready to take off—only a wee bit louder. It’s useless to try and talk sense while that’s going on. So you wait. But while you wait for the yapping to die down people get hurt.
I’m telling you, it’s a dilemma!
It happened again this week as I heard of some hurtful people settling in at yet another church ready to do the same thing they’ve apparently done at countless churches for years—yapping. Undoubtedly, when the dust settles and everyone sees things clearly the pattern will be the same. And I’ve tried to help many times before so I might sit this one out.
I just hope someone else has the courage to stare them down. The worst thing that can happen is that they pee themselves. The best?–They repent and start to help build God’s kingdom rather than tearing it down.
If not? Well it’ll be their puddle, they’ll have to swim in it.
Rob Singleton is the lead pastor and founding pastor of 
Follow me on Twitter
Join me on Facebook
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Email 
Make that 4 people who care where this blog is going….:-)
GREAT STUFF! I am often affected by yapping and unfortunately, my response in the past has been to withdraw. I don’t like to be around the yapping so instead of trying to let my big and mighty God come out – I retreat and let the yappers run the show….your blog points out that maybe I need to be looking in the mirror and working on some new staring techniques.
Also – really hitting a nerve on the living small lives as Christians issue. I long for more and more from God and when He gives me more instead of stepping up – I retreat(again) afraid of His goodness or His mercy or His power and authority. What is it that we are so afraid of in Christ when we daily battle so many other powers that are so damaging to us?
Thanks, Pastor for nipping at my heels (in a good way)
I’m reading a book right now. http://www.unchristian.com/ It’s about what people really think about Christians and Christianity…and why it matters. We need to curl up with GOD daily so we don’t look like, act like or sound like dogs.
As a previous Pastor once told me, “when you find the perfect church, whatever you do, don’t join it or “you” will mess it up.” In my fallen state, there will never be a perfect church because I am far from perfect. The question then becomes…when my true nature rears it’s head, will I repent and seek forgiveness from those I hurt? Will I call my girlfriend and wallow in my hurt, or will I call the offender directly (as God says to do) to resolve the conflict? Will I prayerfully seek God and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal my part in the issue?
There is a commercial out right now that I love. It basically says…”Don’t like your job? Get a new one. Don’t like your wife? Get a new one? Whatever happened to committment?”
Commitment is defined as “to bring together.” So now I must ask myself, will I choose to divide or bring people together?
Kindest regards,
Your #3 reader
Donna Kanipe
You have said before Rob . . Christians are the only people who shoot their wounded. We need to be sure that we measure our words. We are her to bind each other up not wound each other more!!
We all know the “Golden Rule” but in this verse is how we should treat each other.
Ecclesiastes 4:10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
I am so glad that you are able to share such an experience with all of us. And I am also glad to see that you have recovered from your dog fear!
You know sometimes little dogs yelp and nip because they lack attention…they’re neglected. Sometimes they act out because they want to be noticed…they are so much smaller then the other dogs they have no other choice but to do something crazy to get everyones attention.
They know not what they do you could say…they are so caught in the moment that they do things that they don’t normally do, and that unfortunately ends up hurting someone…or in most cases themselves…I’ve yet to see a big dog ignore the little dog when the little dog decides to act out. So whoever these little dogs are that are yelping and kniping…I’d say you better be careful or the ultimate ‘Big Dog’ may bite back!
Kind of reminds me of the old cliche: “The only stupid question is the one not asked…”. I was a very shy, quiet child. Well, lets just say that things have changed since then. This is so parallel to living a “Christian” life. What are we if we don’t stand up when we have that “feeling inside”? That nagging, reoccurring feeling that says, “just say it already”? That’s the Holy Spirirt saying, come on you can do it, you know it’s time to speak up. But we don’t until it’s too late. At least in my experiences that is usually the way it works.
Of course, there’s always a time and a place but I also try to remember, like the in the song “superstar” by Stephanie Smith, why do I care what people think? I may not walk the hall of fame but I am covered by God’s Grace! I just have to keep saying it over and over…I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. And usually God works it out, I have to just let go and let Him work.
Thank you Rob for your insight and having the ability to say what’s on your mind. Truly is a God given gift!
Well said pastor…and, sometimes… it needs to be said.
BTW… A good hunting dog will not bark until the game is in the tree.
A bad hunting dog will bark and scare the game away.
BigDadGib…
Little dog bites do hurt Rob!
When I hear yapping, I really have to catch myself. I cannot allow the destructive, or at least pointless, yapping to continue around me. I know how annoying that yapping is, (in dogs and humans) and I don’t want to be around it so much that I begin to sound like that. There is a great invention, the bark collar, it sprays citronella at the dog’s face whenever it barks. What a great idea! It doesn’t necessarily cause pain, just an obvious reminder that your not suppose to do that. Hmm… if only we had an invention like that. oh wait, we do. He’s called the Holy Spirit, and as long as we turn up our sensitivity to Him, He can catch us in our yapping.