Interesting Thoughts

 I read something interesting today. First, I read that we as people tend to be tribal. We associate with groups of people with whom we feel safe and accepted. We give and receive mutual provision and mutual defense from enemies. The church provides that tribal experience in more ways than one. From the pastor to the young new convert, we have something in common that binds us together in love.

Another thing that I read today talked about people who expend emotional energy tied to outcomes that they cannot control. As you watch football on TV nothing that you do or say will effect the outcome on the field. Getting emotionally worked up over the weather is spending emotional energy on something that you cannot control. The only difference we have as followers of Jesus Christ is that we can spend spiritual energy through prayer and giving that can help those out on the front lines of evangelism to do their job well.

One last thought. We have topics of conservation that they call our default topics. That in social communication there are topics that we default to when we chat. Sports, the weather, politics, pastors. Notice that casual conversation is often about things that we have no control over. Maybe that's why we feel safe talking about these topics. Nothing that we say makes any difference.

I wonder if it is pride that motivates people to talk like experts about things we are not involved in.