In the Closet: Keeping Secrets with God in a not-so-secret world
Essay 10: Friend, Move Up to a Better Place
Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more than they are doing now.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I deleted my personal Instagram account several months ago. I could be ashamed to say it, I guess, but I’m not: It was a pretty big deal.
I’d gotten too wrapped up in it, had too many fresh leads, potential opportunities. It was second nature to me, like opening my refrigerator when I’m hungry.
I’d been eagle-eyeing the networking–that modern, holy grail of finding my people. After all, I was just a mom waking up from the sleepy toddler-raising years, a bit hungry for a creative writing outlet and any sign that my identity as a grownup was still intact. It was entry-level stuff, wading in ankle-deep, and I was pleasantly surprised to find what anyone might describe as community–the gathering of like-minded folk who shared my love of written words. The lovely connections and support, the simple, attractive photos with insightful, 200-word count musings, witty comments, banter with and encouragement from successful writers. In other words, I was beginning to belong somewhere. And bonus points: it was only a matter of time until I realized some mediocre fame.
It was about then I came across a post of a popular Christian influencer whose words jarred and bumped around inside my heart. My reckoning had arrived by way of too-late nights thumbing my phone, a bright screen illuminating my tightly-held, unspoken hope that I, too, had a dream to fulfill. I suddenly, finally got an uneasy feeling I was getting too comfortable with living in this old Babylon.
The influencer said something to the effect of,
In the comments below, brag about yourself! If you don’t believe in your dreams enough to let the whole world know, why would anyone else believe in you?
Hundreds of comments were posted, links leading to websites, books, podcasts, portfolios. You name it, every dream was drawn up and justified. Cheap, easy self-advertisement–pull up a chair to the table and grab a bite before the cake is gone.
I think I shook my head in disbelief, finally becoming aware of all the elbows, the relentless, grabby, manifest destiny greed on the interwebs. We weren’t all here to “encourage one another”–and if we thought we were, it became crystal clear in that moment for me–no one naturally gave a hoot about anyone’s dream but their own.
At the time I was reading a best seller book where another popular self-help guru wrote,
I’m here to tell you it doesn’t matter what society thinks about you or your dreams…All that really matters is how badly you want those dreams and what you’re willing to do to make them happen.
(Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis)
Effectively, dang right it is up to you! There’s one path, one destiny. Go claim it!
This thought is outrageous in its opposition to the Gospel, but the push to self-promote is fundamental in the realm of internet influencers. It isn’t given a second thought. The world says if you don’t promote yourself, who will?
Somehow–thankfully–the scales fell off my eyes, and I was able to see–and understand–the damage caused by, as Bonhoeffer said, adjusting [myself] far too easily to the worship of power, or the Instagram ball and chain.
Our humble savior, Jesus, gave a parable of a feast to which many people were invited. First, take note: Jesus wasn’t against parties. He wasn’t a joy-killer, pious and pristine. He said when you are invited to a wedding party–clearly not condemning celebrations. It was an expected part of life, even as it is today, and the Lord assumed it, as He spoke, as a common fact.
But He quickly condemned the common approach of partygoers and the arrogant, thoughtless practice of assuming one’s seat at the table. I wonder if it doesn’t venture into social media territory today, this being our favorite method of interaction and “partying”, if you will.
Jesus said,
When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 14:8-11
Jesus made the point that a person should take the lowest place at the table and wait for the host to promote him to a higher position. After all, who is to say someone more important might not come sit down and bump you out of your seat? How embarrassing would that be?
Francis Shaeffer wrote,
Jesus commands Christians to seek consciously the lowest room. All of us…are tempted to say, “I will take the larger place because it will give me more influence for Jesus Christ.” Both individual Christians and Christian organizations fall prey to the temptation of rationalizing this way as we build bigger and bigger empires. But according to the Scripture this is backwards: we should consciously take the lowest place unless the Lord Himself extrudes us into a greater one.
The word extrude is important here. To be extruded is to be forced out under pressure into a desired shape. Picture a huge press jamming soft metal at high pressure through a die, so that the metal comes out in a certain shape. This is the way of the Christian: he should choose the lesser place until God extrudes him into a position of more responsibility and authority.
No Little People, Francis Shaeffer
This is fascinating to me, though shouldn’t my heart already know it by now? Why should I ever walk bold-faced into any arena, internet or otherwise, and force my presence there?
What gives me the right?
Without exception, we are to begin in the lowest place and simply wait for Jesus to elevate our position. Doesn’t that sound like some kind advice? Wait. Just wait. Hang out here at the end of the table.
As Jesus put it– “so that you will not be humiliated when someone more distinguished than you arrives”.
The good Shepherd inserted a clause to protect us fools who might otherwise think we were just the main guest at the party. The Potter doesn’t let the clay decide what He is making; the clay only has the right to warm up in the Potter’s hands. And so, while we are given the option to play loud or quiet, the wisdom of Jesus promises that when we wait, honor will always follow.
Schaeffer says,
...We should seek the lowest place because there it is easier to be quiet before the face of the Lord. I did not say easy; in no place, no matter how small or humble, is it easy to be quiet before God. But it is certainly easier in some places than in others. And the little places, where I can more easily be close to God, should be my preference. I am not saying that it is impossible to be quiet before God in a greater place, but God must be allowed to choose when a Christian is ready to be extruded into such a place, for only He knows when a person will be able to have some quietness before Him in the midst of increased pressure and responsibility.
Quietness and peace before God are more important than any influence a position may seem to give, for we must stay in step with God to have the power of the Holy Spirit. If by taking a bigger place our quietness with God is lost, then to that extent our fellowship with Him is broken and we are living in the flesh, and the final result will not be as great, no matter how important the larger place may look in the eyes of other men or in our own eyes.
…So we must not go out beyond our depth. Take the smaller place so you have quietness before God.
(No Little People, Francis Shaeffer, pg.12, c.1974)
Listen, friends: It is God’s place to promote. And why? To shut up us pesky little humans? Of course not.
It is for the Shepherd to prepare the better pasture for us, for the Potter to mold us into the perfect pot. It is to ensure the power of His Holy Spirit isn’t quenched inside us by our own impatient dousing. The fire burns brightest where the Living God breathes–may we never promote ourselves away from His presence! May we resist the idolatry of the world that encourages self-centeredness and prominence. May we refute the lie that success only comes if we name it and claim it.
Quietness is simply an attitude–a hands-open posture–of trusting Him, instead of oneself, to make things happen, because He makes things happen better.
Think of it this way: We are training our ears to listen for His command. One day, whether by wind, will, word, or whisper, He will say it to each of us who has been patient enough to hear:
Friend, move up to a better place.
When He says it, it will come with a measure of honor, not with grappling and elbow-throwing chaos. We might be surprised it looks different than we expected, or maybe even that we had been wrong all along about what it was we were seeking. We might know ourselves better, might find that the disciplined life is rather a refreshing one.
He will say to us, Friend, move up to a better place.
And all our waiting will have been worth it.
Such wise words, Pearl! Keep on, listening, reading, thinking, writing!