Humblebragging in the Lord
Dear Mosaic Family,
A humblebrag is a statement in which you pretend to be modest but which you are really using to tell people about your success or achievements. Bragging disguised in humility.
Here's some real humblebrags from twitter:
"I just did something very selfless. But more importantly, it was genuine & I know it means a lot to the person in the long run #soworthit"
"Setting up your own charity and event is no joke. Would have thought it to be easier... this serious"
"I'm truly humbled you follow my tweets. I pray they enrich your life &strengthen your ministry. God bless all 200,000 of you!"
"In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God"
That last one isn't from twitter. It's from Holy Scripture: Romans 15:17. The Apostle Paul isn't humble bragging, he's holy boasting.
Here it is in context:
17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written,“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
Is all boasting sinful? Apparently not.
Is there such a thing as "holy boasting"? It sounds like an oxymoron. Holy people are supposed to be the most humble, right? Right. But not boasting about the work God is doing in and through you, is actually neither holy nor humble. Why? Because you don't give God the glory He deserves. So if you don't give God glory for His work, who gets the glory?
Have you done work for God? Well, He did it through you. But He did it through you. "Look at how awesome God is, look at what He did, through me of all people." Watch your heart, that you never begin to think you are indispensable to the Lord's work. But if you are truly humble before the Lord, and recognize you can do nothing apart from Him, and then you actually do something great for Him (by His power), boast away (in the Lord)!
Join us tomorrow as we study 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4, and meditate on "holy boasting."
Praying for you!
Pastor Jan
This Week's Announcements
Parent Commissioning Class
Sunday, September 5th, 11:15 am
At Mosaic, we don't dedicate children. Instead we commission parents who have dedicated themselves to living gospel-centered lives in front of their children. Whether you've just had a child or your kids are older, we invite you to come join us for an informative session on Parent Commissioning. Learn more & sign up here.
Baptism Seminar
Sunday, September 12th, 1:00 pm
Want to be baptized? The first step toward baptism at Mosaic is to attend our baptism class. For more information or to sign up, visit Brookline.MosaicBoston.com/Baptism.
Mosiac Membership 101 Class
Sunday, September 19th, 1:00 pm
If you'd like to learn more about Mosaic Boston Brookline, join us to hear why we are here and how you can join the church through membership. Visit our website to RSVP.
Songs for Sunday
If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.