There is a popular concept in emerging churches today. It is arrows pointed out. The main premise is to make sure you are focusing on others before you focus on your self. I have many friends who are part of churches that use this to describe the way they achieve the Great Commission. It is a concept I have taught and preached on many times. There is a potential for imbalance though. As with anything, when the heart attitude is wrong, the action has no lasting effect or spiritual advantage.
When Jesus spoke of the two greatest commandments he told us that all of the law and the prophets hang on these two. Both of these commandments, loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor as we love our self, are the epitome of arrows pointed out. They are all about denying self and giving all to God and others. We need to weigh all that we think, say and do against this. What is our heart attitude to volunteering at the shelter? What is our motivation for short term missions trips? Why are we leaving a $50 grocery gift card in the young couple's mailbox down the street that are having trouble making ends meet? These very acts, though much needed and required of all followers of Jesus, can be accomplished with the wrong heart attitude or motivation. The act appears to be an act of arrows pointed out but it can be an act of arrows pointed in.
Jesus specifically teaches us to not flaunt our fasting in public as the religious leaders of the time did. He specifically tells us to not stand on the street corners loudly praying for all to hear like the Pharisees. Is there anything wrong with fasting? No. Is there anything wrong with people knowing you are fasting? No. Is there anything wrong with flaunting the fact that your fasting and trying to gain attention for yourself? Yes! The same holds true for praying. Jesus teaches not to draw attention to yourself, but to draw attention to the Father in Heaven.
What about some things more in line with christian living today? There is some debate about recognition of giving in the church. There are those who only give in cash and do not want any receipt. That's fine. There are others who believe it is being a better steward of funds by getting receipts and tracking what you give so it can be claimed on your annual tax return for credit from the government thereby reducing the amount paid in taxes. Again, what does your heart say? What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about it? If you are giving so that you can compare yourself to others or have peace of mind that church leadership knows you are giving, that's the wrong motivation. That is arrows pointed in. If you are giving to set up a camp scholarship for kids to go to summer camp every year and want it named after you, that is arrows pointed in.
Volunteering is another great area where apparent arrows pointed out can rapidly become arrows pointed in. Is the recognition that you gave time to serve more important than the accomplished task? Are you spending more time in the spot light than being the church, that is being the hands and feet of Christ to others? Do your stories have more of your experiences than how the recipients of your service received the grace, mercy, forgiveness and provision of the Lord?
God made us self aware. That is one of the basic blocks of our free will. He has left our decisions up to us. He asks, not demands, us to relinquish our dreams and desires for the ones He gives us. He asks us to not point to ourselves, but to point all to Him. He asks us to give Him all the glory and recognition. Arrows pointed out is a fantastic concept and teaching tool. We need to make sure that even that doesn't become arrows pointed in. That is the natural tendency and we can only prevent it by being authentic followers of Jesus who humbly present ourselves, one to another, for accountability and sharpening.
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