Growth Through Correction

Recently one of my favorite authors released his latest book to be consumed by the masses. I was so excited that I couldn’t wait for it to be delivered by the UPS man. I opted, instead, to make the drive down I-55 and pick up my copy from a physical bookstore - an endangered species in this day in time. 

I’ll admit, when Malcom Gladwell puts pen to paper my patience tends to fly out the window. Especially considering this was no ordinary book. 

You see, 25 years ago Gladwell wrote his first best-seller which was entitled The Tipping Point. It focused on the topic of how minor movements make major impacts and was a massive success that launched his career. 

It seems, however, that despite this success Gladwell wasn’t content with his initial work. So much so that his new book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, is a corrective counterpoint to that debut book. 

If I am honest, this sort of self-correction is what intrigued me so much about the book. I mean, who is more interested in getting the work right than getting the credit and cash for a “25 Year Anniversary” print of the original book?

I guess Malcom Gladwell is. I’d like to think maybe I could be that kind of man one day too. 

This brings up a question: am I actually intent on growing or am I content to just appear as such?

If I am honest, I find it incredibly easy to check the church boxes - sit in the seat on Sunday, take notes from the teaching that will sit in the back of my bible, write out my tithe check so they don’t get hit with the online giving fees. It’s muscle memory at this point. 

But (trigger warning) what about our actual sin? Do I take a corrective stance when it comes to my mistakes?

In reality, I’m not very good at taking correction at all. 

Sometimes I can hide behind the “men don’t take advice” line, but the truth is that I get things wrong often and need insight and even instruction regularly. Hell, even when I’m right about something I often take it too far and hurt the people around me. 

Correction is part of gaining discipline. Discipline is what Gladwell has. Discipline is what I want. But discipline is not easy. 

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 11:12 (ESV)

At what point do we take accountability for our own discipline, or lack thereof? When do we see our own sin for what it is and, rather than wait for rescue, begin taking these challenges head on? When do we stop checking boxes and start winning battles?

Some would say that “Jesus is in the business of forgiving our sin so why worry?” I would respond that, like Gladwell, I’d rather be concerned with growth than taking advantage of grace. 

To be sure, God is gracious and salvation is irrevocable. But if spiritual growth is our goal, it will require self-evaluation, feedback from our friends, and continual prodding from Him.

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?  Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:1-4(CSB)

At the end of the day we are not just Hangarmen. We are Christians, called to look more like Jesus every day. On a journey to combine the discipline and the dynamic rebellion against the systems of the world just as He did.