The story...
There's a news show on TV and people I care about are watching and kind of listening to it. The broadcaster is tainting the news coverage in a way that seems partial and unfair to me. I quickly interrupt the coverage, from another room, to bring attention to the bias so that they won't be misguided and swayed to think like the crowd. I certainly don't want to have future arguments with them or to "allow" them to live a life clouded with partial truths and popular opinion guiding their thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. Might my underlying motive be to push them toward thinking more like me?
My actions do suggest that they aren't capable of living out, or interpreting, their lives without me. I expect that they know this and they often hear my interfering voice as a clanging gong or loud droning sound that they wish would respectfully let them be - to think and live on their own. I might be exaggerating to make the blog more interesting; however, I know it's true and want to change.
Are you trying to get somebody to behave in a way to help you? If so, that should be a glaring red "stop" light.
Within the only church in town, there'll be popular opinion and campaigns to push congregants to agree with... A primary function of the church is to clearly preach, teach, and work out the Word of God into the actualities of each person's life. Other times, there will be "righteous" noises that divide, drive strong emotions, and end up with more guarded, separated, and lonelier people. When that becomes more the norm, it seems that their ears and hearts won't be as open to receive the Word of God - that'd be tragic.
Just for today...
"I was busy projecting a horrible outcome to my loved one's crisis and dreading the ways in which the consequences might affect me . . . Part of me gambles that by worrying in advance, bad news will be easier to face if it comes. But worrying will not protect me from the future." Courage to Change (p. 15)
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