There is an epidemic of indifference facing our generation right now. A general atmosphere of apathy and uncaring hearts seems to have settled over our culture and my gender as well.
The topic of this post is sensitivity. I'm not talking about how fast your target reticle moves in Halo 3, so try to follow me here. I'm mainly talking to the men here (as usual) because I think that women, by nature, have an easier time accepting, embracing and expressing the emotional side of our humanity. I'm specifically talking about two forms of sensitivity: to God's spirit and work, and to the travesties and inhumanities we face in the world.
Our culture tries on a daily basis to draw men into this pseudo-masculine pile of self-destructive and soul-suppressing lies. We're told that "real men" don't let anything get to them, they don't allow things to bother them. "Real men don't cry" is the mantra. Hmm, I wonder what King David would say about that. The "man after God's own heart", the guy who killed lions, tigers and bears with his bare hands, the guy who single-handedly downed the most famous giant in human history, the successful general and king of Israel...by current societal standards would be a cry baby. 46 times in scripture we find David with tears on his face.
I used to take pride in not letting stuff get to me. "Rolling with the punches" became a way of life. The easiest way to avoid the uncomfortable, painful, tragic, unjust, etc. was to wall off my heart and refuse to feel anything. Over time, my heart got so calloused that it was hard to really feel anything. I remember sitting in church once, while a missions video was playing about children in Africa, and thinking to myself "I wish I felt something, but I don't." Only after this summer, where significant time was devoted to the things of God, was I able to remove the walls around my heart and begin to feel again.
If you are the same way, if you struggle to feel any pain, empathy or sympathy, if you're not motivated to action when you see things that aren't right...there is hope. You are not simply stuck with your apathetic self. God stands ready to touch you with the tenderness and sensitivity that we were designed to have. It will require time and genuine effort on your part to regain these parts of your heart that you have walled off. However, you know that it is worth it.
The other side of the coin is possessing a sensitivity to God's work in your life and the lives of those around you. Col. 2:6-8 "6- So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7- rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8- See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
"Overflowing with thankfulness" is a sign that we are sensitive to God's work. It's a sign we're aware of His presence and His gifts in our lives.
A couple of weeks ago, during a particularly hard time, I was listening to a Hillsong United song when I was suddenly overcome with emotion over how good God has been to me. I began weeping uncontrollably at how much undeserved grace, favor and blessing I've been shown by Almighty God. I found myself on the floor, face up, asking again and again "Why do you love me? I don't deserve this......" After everything had calmed down and a whole bunch of praising God and hardcore praying had occurred, I realized how amazing that experience was. I've been praying for a while that God would make me sensitive to His Spirit, that I would be emotionally moved by His works. That incident on the floor of my bedroom was one big answer to prayer.
My friends, if you want to get the most out of your walk with Christ, if you want to feel the life-transforming power He offers, you must cut down those walls around your heart. You must be willing to feel, to be moved to tears by injustice and suffering and to be motivated to action by seeing the work of God's hand.
Men: Don't buy into the lie that real men don't feel anything or show emotion. Embrace the emotion that God has placed inside you. For the record, I don't know any woman who wants to marry an emotionless robot. I don't think any child deserves to be raised by a man who is incapable of feeling sorrow or being moved by God's work. Your heart is vibrant and beating. Your soul desires to experience the full gambit of our God-given emotions and sensitivities. Forcefully denying them causes nothing but trouble, for you and for the special ones in your life.
Ladies: Properly embrace the emotions God has placed in your hearts. If you have callouses from past hurts or abuses, give them to God and allow Him to heal you. Your tenderness, compassion and empathy encourage us men and spur us on to follow godly precepts. This is an area where you vastly surpass men in your ability to exemplify God's character. Never see your emotional sensitivities as a problem, they are part of who you are...God's masterpiece.
Go forth and feel. Be blessed...
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