"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
'Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Mark 7:20-23
Webster's says that commitment is a verb that means -
: to carry into action deliberately
: to say that (someone or something) will definitely do something : to make (someone or something) obligated to do something
: obligate, bind or pledge oneself
: to pledge or assign to some particular course or use
Great! That helps some, but often to better understand a word's meaning, it helps to know what it is NOT. So then, what is the OPPOSITE of a a commitment, or being committed? Webster's helps here, too.
Antonyms (opposites of) commit/commitment
: disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, inconstancy, infidelity, perfidiousness, perfidy, treachery,
unfaithfulness
That is quite a dark list, I think. I have to look up "perfidiousness". I have never heard that word before....
OH WOW! A word that means the OPPOSITE of commit(ment) is perfidiousness--- and it turns out that perfidiousness is the crux of this train ride to begin with! (GOD is so great!!! - He even speaks through the dictionary!)
Perfidiousness (also from Webster):
: not able to be trusted
: showing that someone cannot be trusted
Let me explain. I have been homeschooling my boys for 12 years. During these years I have been involved with many Christian churches, organizations, groups and people. Over the last few years of this journey I have observed a strange and disappointing shift in the way that Christians in general deal with one another and with society at large. To compound the botherment here, there is also the shift I have observed first-hand within a large number of home schoolers. Flexibility: it used to be a blessing or advantage of homeschooling, however, it has been turned on it's head and become a curse or a hindrance!
It seems that the number one reason home schoolers don't actually show up to keep their commitments to things they willingly sign up for or even sign up in the first place is because of the all-powerful, life-ruling 'god of FLEXIBILITY". I am not quite sure many realize they are sacrificing integrity and character AND RELATIONSHIPS on the altar of the god of flexibility, but in some circles people are leaping off the deep end. Instead of being the REASON they (home schoolers) DO things, flexibility has become the reason they can't/don't/won't commit to ANYTHING --- they don't dare commit and lock themselves into something they may regret, and if they do, "everyone around them should realize that they are home schoolers, and they have to be able to be flexible -- no, they demand the RIGHT to be "flexible" at any time, no matter what hardship it causes others, and no one should hold them to things!"
Whoa, Cowboys! That's CHAOS!
Webster, shed some light on what "flexible" means, please... The last time I checked it was not a selfish. entitled demand or excuse to do whatever one wanted. Has the definition changed and I didn't get a memo??
Flexible
: capable of bending or being bent
: easily changed
: able to change or to do different things
: willing to change or to try different things
Whew! I see it still means what I thought.
Instead of behaving as they have historically, as trust-worthy, committed individuals, full of integrity, some (many!) Christian home schoolers I know have begun to turn "flexibility" into an excuse to be perfidious -- i.e. making them not able to be trusted, and showing repeatedly that they can't be trusted to keep commitments or promises, as they are lacking in integrity and righteous character to follow through and KEEP commitments. A commitment SHOULD cost us something, be it time, energy, humility, growth, etc. It SHOULD not be frivolous and free or easy to just throw it away! I know I am being harsh. Please forgive me...it's been a long week, and it's only MONDAY! I am preaching this to myself, too!
"Self, DO NOT BE perfidious. If you say you will do something, DO IT! If you commit to a person or group, STICK TO IT! Show the world the fruit that will point them to the GOD of the Universe and Most High King. Show them righteousness and trustworthiness. Show them the love John spoke of in chapter 13 by following through, showing up, staying committed, pitching in, being trustworthy, remaining loyal, keeping your pledges and promises and being faithful!"
Now, can I get a witness from the crowd!!!??
(maybe, just maybe, I should have posted this under "soapboxes")