that's "nice"
posted by matt beres | | Posted On 10.23.2008 at 11:04 AM
nice is the enemy of passion.
i was taught from the time i was a little boy to be a nice boy. people would tell my parents, "oh, matthew is such a 'nice' boy!" my teachers would write, "he's such a 'nice' kid." friends have often described me as being, "a 'nice' guy." really? is that it?
society and the church have done me a disservice. i'll admit it. i'm nice.
i am a nice guy.
i do nice things.
i say nice words.
i act nice.
nice is the enemy of passion. i don't want to just be known as a "nice" person. honestly, look at history. what "nice" person in history changed the world, or called people to something bigger than themselves? what "nice" person really did something big in life?
nice is the enemy of passion. you see, christians have been told to be nice. we've been told we should turn the other cheek and not make relational ripples, but the problem is we become passive instead of passionate.
we compromise what is right for what feels right.
we keep our mouths shut when we see a need for change.
we become relational doormats that don't ruffle feathers.
so, how do we change this? how do we take our "nice" little lives and change them so they become more passionate? here's what i'm thinking - live with intention.
nice is passive.
passion is intentional.
when i love - i want it to be intentional and sacrifical.
when i show compassion - i want to be broken and affected.
when i challenge people - i want to call them to something bigger than themselves.
when i speak up - i want to change people's thinking and maybe upset them in the process.
when i speak encouragement - i want it to be full of truth.
when i see sin - i want it to be black and white.
i'm tired of being nice. nice never gets you anywhere. at the end of my life i don't want someone to say, "matt beres was such a nice guy." instead, i'd rather have someone say, "matt beres lived every day with passion."
there's a huge difference.
i was taught from the time i was a little boy to be a nice boy. people would tell my parents, "oh, matthew is such a 'nice' boy!" my teachers would write, "he's such a 'nice' kid." friends have often described me as being, "a 'nice' guy." really? is that it?
society and the church have done me a disservice. i'll admit it. i'm nice.
i am a nice guy.
i do nice things.
i say nice words.
i act nice.
nice is the enemy of passion. i don't want to just be known as a "nice" person. honestly, look at history. what "nice" person in history changed the world, or called people to something bigger than themselves? what "nice" person really did something big in life?
nice is the enemy of passion. you see, christians have been told to be nice. we've been told we should turn the other cheek and not make relational ripples, but the problem is we become passive instead of passionate.
we compromise what is right for what feels right.
we keep our mouths shut when we see a need for change.
we become relational doormats that don't ruffle feathers.
so, how do we change this? how do we take our "nice" little lives and change them so they become more passionate? here's what i'm thinking - live with intention.
nice is passive.
passion is intentional.
when i love - i want it to be intentional and sacrifical.
when i show compassion - i want to be broken and affected.
when i challenge people - i want to call them to something bigger than themselves.
when i speak up - i want to change people's thinking and maybe upset them in the process.
when i speak encouragement - i want it to be full of truth.
when i see sin - i want it to be black and white.
i'm tired of being nice. nice never gets you anywhere. at the end of my life i don't want someone to say, "matt beres was such a nice guy." instead, i'd rather have someone say, "matt beres lived every day with passion."
there's a huge difference.
Posts
Matt, my husband and I are still talking about how important it is to live passionately. Like you we both grew grew up as the "nice kids" and even today are mostly seen that way, but we like to think we are at heart passionate people. Very well said...I love your point of view. Looking forward to hearing more from you!