The transportation business is, in fact, a commercialized impatience. Impatient people might be difficult at times, but too much patience would mean the bankruptcy of many companies. (Compassion, p. 90)
Nouwen and his co-authors aren’t only implicating our culture and economy for feeding the idol of impatience. They are warning the church about the threat that impatience poses to discipleship.
Surely there are valuable aspects of the many industries that play to our impatience. Travel is one; but the list of services that are both convenient and train us to be less patient is long—fast food, mobile phones, TiVo, and the internet (yes, I know you’re reading a blog).
Despite all the conveniences surrounding us, the impatience we are trained in is only seldom a Christian virtue. More often than not, and especially in our relationships with others, impatience plays herald to underlying individualism, self-centeredness, and pride. So what of the impatience that makes its way into church life?
· Do we say more about ourselves than our pastors when we criticize a long sermon or service?
· Are strategic planning sessions really just an excuse to take control and “make progress” so that we can feel the thrill of productivity?
· Are we stifling the discipleship of those we lead by not living in ways that could be characterized as patient?
The New Testament uses “patience” in at least two ways: (1) to describe endurance through suffering until the day of redemption; and (2) to depict how we relate to one another, especially how leaders relate to those they serve. In our world of convenience and multi-tasking, in our culture of impatience, are we trading in discipleship for effectiveness? Are we leading others to do the same?
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"They are warning the church about the threat that impatience poses to discipleship." - Our impatience most certainly includes attempts, mostly poorly thought out ones, to take shortcuts to achieve what we perceive as success. While the rate of spiritual growth and development varies one person to another, it is still in direct correlation to one's relationship with the Father. I believe there are no shortcuts to discipleship. Are there some tools that can advance a believer similar to taking the ladder in "Chutes and Ladders" (a children's board game)? If rightly applied, yes. But let us recognize that right application of truth and other elements of God's provision to develop disciples are quickly compromised by the presence of impatience in the process.
Discipleship is described in Scripture as sanctification, which is an ongoing, life-long process wrought in each believer at God's good pleasure for His glory.
Perhaps a greater focus on Isaiah 40:31 and loving Jesus will shield even the most attentive of us from the consequences of impatience.
Posted by: Grant | November 9, 2007 7:52 PM