Inconsistent Reader -

I first mentioned Philip Lancaster's Family Man, Family Leader three months ago on this journal. It is a very good book and really is a fast read for folks who regularly set aside time for such reading. It has taken me a long time to finish the book because I am very inconsistent when it comes to reading outside the Scriptures. I usually have at least three books in progress and when I have time to read, I usually just pick up whichever book is most readily available. Well, this one has been readily available enough times now that I completed its 310th and final page last night.

I was particularly struck by some closing exhortation. With permission from Phil, I give you some good instruction from the pages of this fine work:

From the sub-heading "Needed: Obedience Not Sentimentality"

"We live in an age of sentimentality: the important thing is how you feel about something, not necessarily what you do about it. Sentimentality is feeling divorced from action.

"I grieve as I look at myself and see how infected I am with this spiritual disease of modern man. How often I have heard myself professing some godly desire to a fellow believer, relishing the rightness of my feeling, but with no clear intention of doing anything about it and no actual change of behavior. Probably you have done the same thing. 'I don't pray enough, and prayer is so important.' 'I haven't been spending enough time with my kids.' 'I ought to be memorizing Scripture.' 'I reall should stop speeding.' 'I need to work at being on time.' 'I need to be more consistent in the discipline of my children.'

"It's easy to utter claims to right feelings, and even to feel a sort of piety as a result: 'At least I want to do what is right!' We may even think that this is an expression of faith. But it is not! It may just be a cover for the intention to continue disobedience, or the lack of real intention to change, which is the same thing.

"True Christian faith is not a pious feeling. Faith involves obedience; faith shows itself as faithfulness. You cannot separate the two.

"Sentimentality is not Christianity. Let's not deceive ourselves with righteous feelings divorced from action."

Lancaster makes an excellent point and highlights (indirectly) a potential danger of journaling, especially weblogs. Any journaling involves written expression of some thought, feeling, or belief. Such expressions are good and usually helpful as I have mentioned previously here. But the proof is in the putting. Expressed resolve should translate to action. Too often, we are satisfied with having identified a need to change or improve instead of pursuing that change or improvement.

This is good stuff. Buy this book at your next opportunity. FAMILY MAN, FAMILY LEADER by Philip Lancaster