Don't Rock the Boat

My mother, a Scandinavian Matriarch god-bless her soul, was famous in our family, at least in my memory for phrases which would capture the spirit of what she was trying to teach us as her wildly energetic children.

Usually the phrase, "don't rock the boat" meant to leave things as they were and don't interrupt with another idea which would require more time and discomfort to deal with.

The attitude of "don't rock the boat" has crept into our churches and hinders the growth of our believers to a place of wisdom and strength. The don't rock the boat mentality does not produce men "who stand in the bean field and sling the sword from dawn to dark," or men who are able to "kill 500 with the spear in one engagement."

In the realm of spiritual growth and our walk with Christ so we will present to Him a heart of wisdom - Psalm 90 -"Don't rock the boat" stops the growth of believers into saints making a lasting impact on their culture.

We need a forum where we can interact with each other in significant and deeply thoughtful ways. Older men mentoring younger men in the art of wisdom to become men who together walk into the Darkness with the Light and speak Christ as Light.

Talking, questioning, disagreeing, thinking, challenging, formulating, confessing are concepts which are part of dynamic interaction and our growth to wisdom.

We need believers who jump into a pit on a snowy day and slay a lion. Can't you just hear the; words: that's stupid, someone will get hurt; it's too cold out to be doing such a thing; maybe we should think about this; you need to learn to be more gentle and express your feminine side.

As Christ was walking on water and the disciples were rowing into the wind and Peter was about to jump into the water and start his infamous walk across the waves, can't you just hear the words, "sit down, don't rock the boat, we are in deep water here!!"

Sometimes rocking the boat is more about valor and the subsequent failure is about growing into a Rock upon which He will build the ministry. Sometime a great energetic act of valor results in some of the greatest lessons for molding the character of believers into saints who leave a lasting legacy - if we live. James 1/1-5

Who will stand in the gap? Oh! don't rock the boat.