Sunday, March 13, 2011

Whose drum?

Found on Facebook as a status: "‎...wants to love, live and laugh to the beat of her own drum...but first I must find my drum." 


Humorous? Cute? A status that will generate a lot of "likes?" All three are true. I have no doubt this was posted in fun for a response and more than likely really isn't this person's worldview at all.  However, how does this  sentiment of this cute, humorous post gel with a Christian worldview?


There are certainly a number of people who are living to the beat of their own drum. The humanistic worldview encourages and caters to members of society to have it your own way. Is this wise? 


Solomon, recognized by both Scripture and Christians at large as the wisest man who has ever lived addressed this in one of his wisdom books. As a matter of fact he felt so strongly about this that he didn't mention it but once, he recorded it twice. It was an important lesson he wanted to get across.


"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25)


The more that I grow in the grace and the knowledge (II Peter 3:18) of the Lord Jesus Christ the more my worldview comes in line with that the Scriptures and our sovereign God. The more I grow the more I see that Paul realized the utter fallacy and even danger of such a thought process. However, Paul's worldview, daily ground into him by both experience and the Holy Spirit is one which must people grow in. 


If you read Paul and truly understand his heart you will discover Paul didn't want to live, love, or laugh to the beat of his own drum. As a matter of fact Paul longed for and looked for the destruction of his "drum." Listen to Paul:


"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."  (I Timothy 1:15)


"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out, For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do want I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand...wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"  (Romans 7:18-19,21,24)


Let me say I have nothing against drums or most drummers. I have been a drummer since I was eleven. Let me also say that allegorically we are all "drummers" in this life. Besides didn't we have someone who made it his motto in order to be able to say, " I did it my way?" How did that work out for him in the end. I mean when he drew his last breath.


So, let me ask you; do you still want to live, love, and laugh to the beat of your own drum? Or is it more wise to seek the suppression of that drum that lives in all of us, and seek to live, love, and laugh to the beat of "the drum" Christ Jesus our Lord?

9 comments:

Brian Ray Todd said...

It seems to me, like a vicious social issue to want to be uniquely yourself (who YOU are), yet not be different (unacceptible) by everyone else in ths secular culture with its humanistic world-view. Maybe a results of seeking and not finding preceived and/or actual needs in life. Without the Lord, we will blindly search for significance, love and acceptance will not be falsely filled with empty, temporal distractions and pleasures with no lasting satifaction and eternal consequences.

God did make each of us uniquely different. Different minds, abilities, gifts, hair and eye color, et cetera for a good purpose and we need to discover "who we are" in the context of who He created us to be in this world. The Bible tells us too that we are to have love, joy, and peace from the Spirit as we walk this life found by walking to the beat of Jesus' drum (aligning our mind, will and emotion to His holy will and way). We are here for an awesome reason and purpose; His good reason and reason for us, because God is love. He put us here; in this world, but not of this world, as a child of God, living the abundant life, lead by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the world.

Thanks again for the thought proking and self-searching post.

Anonymous said...

I did it my way for the first 33 years of my life and almost killed myself and others around me. Since the Spring of 1980 (by the grace of God) I have been walking to the beat of a different drum...Jesus and His Word :-)

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I am not into drums.....now if you said tambourines Gregg I'd be there like a shot.
I think we all make our own mark in life whether good or not so good, but knowing God is there is wonderful to know.

Have a great Sunday.
Yvonne.

kc bob said...

The mind is a wonderful tool and it can do amazing things. But living from our heads, instead of trusting God with our hearts, will often lead us in the ways of death.

Survivormama said...

Brian...in regards to "God did make each of us uniquely different. Different minds, abilities, gifts, hair and eye color, et cetera for a good purpose and we need to discover "who we are" in the context of who He created us to be in this world." Perhaps this is exactly what this person was trying to convey without saying it exactly...I should know because it was me who wrote this post...Gregg, I am not offended at all and completely agree with all you have said...we do need to die to self and live for Christ...loved the post and love you brother!

Brian Ray Todd said...

Thanks Shannon. We were saying the same root drummer problem and Christ answer. I was just trying to solicit commenter's thoughts on the reason why people seek to find and live to the beat of their own drum and is it truly "their" drum or the cultures. In evangelism, and as your article brings out clearly, these questions and dialogue are real and live issues that people are confused by in this society. It is great that you are bringing this to light today. Thank you for pointing to Jesus. Sorry for any mis-understanding. Blessings.

John Patrick Donovan said...

My drum sounds it best when its in tune with Christ.

Trisha said...

Gregg,
How true this is. I'm thankful God has not left me to my own understanding. This is another post that leaves me freshly amazed at His grace.

Petra said...

Great post. I thank God for His grace! My own drum beat was deadly to say the least!