{"id":3703,"date":"2016-10-30T00:00:30","date_gmt":"2016-10-30T05:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3703"},"modified":"2016-09-17T19:11:29","modified_gmt":"2016-09-18T00:11:29","slug":"choose-substance-over-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3703","title":{"rendered":"Choose Substance Over Style"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

People come in all shapes and sizes with diverse genetic, cultural, geographical and family backgrounds. Because we are all different, our preferences and points of view may vary. Different does not necessarily mean wrong, it just means \u201cnot the same.\u201d God created us that way.<\/p>\n

Since we are all \u201cnot the same,\u201d we have strong opinions about what we like and don\u2019t like \u2013 in all areas of life: the color and cut of our hair, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the foods we eat, the books we read, the cars we drive, and so on. The list is endless. You might call this our style. We all have a certain style. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, God gives us the freedom to develop our own unique and distinctive style.<\/p>\n

However, if we aren\u2019t careful sometimes our style can lead to faulty thinking. The danger isn\u2019t so much in knowing what we like; the danger comes from wanting everyone to like what we like or even worse, thinking we know what God likes. Though we might not admit it, most of us secretly think God likes what we like and hates what we hate. Those who set up their style as God\u2019s standard have a tendency to judge others who don\u2019t measure up. Sometimes, if given the choice, people choose style over substance.<\/p>\n

We should never confuse style with substance. Let\u2019s take a church setting for example. Some might focus more on what people are wearing, the vocal quality of the speaker, or singing their favorite song than on Christ. Believers meeting together to draw closer to God can take a back seat to personalities, appeal, and presentation \u2013 or for want of a better word \u2013 style.<\/p>\n

\"Basic<\/p>\n

Style is a haircut or wardrobe. Substance is realizing God looks on the heart not the outward appearance. (1 Samuel 16:7) Style is how mellow or upbeat the music is. Substance is worshipping God by focusing on the lyrics sung. (John 4:24) Style is tradition and ritual which is totally different than doctrine. Substance is internalizing and actually living the word of God. (Matthew 4:4) There is nothing wrong with style, if you don\u2019t confuse it with substance.<\/p>\n

Some in biblical times had a problem with this as well.<\/p>\n

People didn\u2019t like John the Baptist\u2019s style. He was a bit of a recluse and lived in the wilderness. He dressed funny and had strange eating habits. (Mark 1:4-6) He seemed a little severe and stark. Many didn\u2019t know what to make of him so they called him demonic. (Luke 7:33) They didn\u2019t like his style so they rejected his substance \u2013 the message of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Christ was the opposite of John, but many didn\u2019t like his style either \u2013 especially those priding themselves on having \u201cgodly\u201d standards. Christ was not a recluse. In fact, he came eating, drinking, and joining in the midst of life at that time. (Luke 7:34) He associated with everyone including tax collectors, prostitutes, scribes, and sinners, so they called him a glutton and a drunkard saying, \u201cWhy do you eat and drink with tax gatherers and sinners?\u201d (Matthew 9:10, 11; Luke 5:27-30) In other words, \u201cYou need to change your style.\u201d Because they could only see His style, they missed His substance \u2013 His message of mercy, grace, compassion, and forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Sadly, today many would rather debate whether or not Jesus turned water into wine or grape juice (style) instead of being amazed by the miracle itself \u2013 and even more amazed by the miracle maker (substance). If examined honestly, we would probably find most church divisions come to pass because of style, not substance.<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 As we grow closer to God, we realize substance is more important than style and with God\u2019s help we learn to differentiate between the two. After all, styles will come and go, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Romans<\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choic<\/strong>e\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s all right to have preferences, but do not think your preferences are God\u2019s preferences.<\/p>\n

Do not look down on others who are different from you or don\u2019t share your point of view.<\/p>\n

Do not look down on sinners because, believe it or not, you are one.<\/p>\n

None of us want to be criticized, so practice being less critical of others. Sometimes it\u2019s best to keep our opinions to ourselves because it isn\u2019t our opinions that count, it\u2019s God\u2019s!<\/p>\n

Ask God to help you differentiate between style and substance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices By Barbara Dahlgren \u00a0 People come in all shapes and sizes with diverse genetic, cultural, geographical and family backgrounds. Because we are all different, our preferences and points of view may vary. Different does not necessarily … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3703"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}