GROWING SEEDS: Take A Knee

 

"Take A Knee"

 

"Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." 
Philippians 2:5-7

We quit watching football years ago.  Truth be told, I quit watching when Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry.  I haven't quite gotten over that grudge yet.  But even more than my grudge towards Mr. Jones, the issue of kneeling instead of standing in respect of our American flag has infiltrated the walls of our churches....the place we go to kneel before our God....and is causing bitterness and hurt among the people we sit next to each Sunday.  It has infiltrated the Pee-Wee football team down the street, the multi-cultural Sunday School Class and the friendships we thought were rock-solid.

"Are your hearts tender and compassionate?" 
Philippians 2:1b

Did you know that Philippians 2 was believed to have been written because two ladies were having a fight, or at least a strong disagreement, in the church?  We are to use the love God placed within us, be of one mind and quit fighting with each other to gain the upper hand.  Paul tells us to consider the other person BETTER than ourselves, and SERVE him by looking out for his interest:

"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. 
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 
Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."
Philippians 2:3-4

Personally, I believe we should stand for our National Anthem.  Many of my family and friends sacrificed their lives for me to have the right to stand.  But would I stand in my living room if I were watching the game on TV?  Do I stand when I'm alone and hear the anthem?  Hummmm......

Jesus didn't allow the hostility of the world against Him to JUSTIFY hostility against those who were mistreating Him.  Paul taught that we are to respect each other....have tender hearts and compassion.....regardless of our differences. 

If we would consistently take a knee for the RIGHT reason, there would be no need to take it for any other reason.