Downers

"Downers" are medications which are depressants which slow down levels of arousal. Why anyone would want to be "down" on purpose perplexes me! However, I've seen people with little motivation to even eat, let alone be motivated to accomplish objectives.

However, the topic of this commentary is about what others do to contribute to feelings of being "down". Yes, people are "downers" too because being around them brings others down. Such people may be melancholic themselves or, on the other hand, be exuberant. However they are, their disposition brings others down.

We've all been around people who are down. It's hard to leave their presence with a positive attitude. Their lackadaisical non-caring attitude demotivates any who come in contact with them. When they are around, there is "no joy in Mudville"!  (Casey at the Bat, 1988).  However, wise people avoid others that bring them down!

Matthew 27:5 "And he (Judas) cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Judas was the ultimate "downer". Because he felt badly, he hanged himself. My guess is that Judas was not very pleasurable for Christ's faithful band to hang around.  Although Judas did bring down Jesus, if he had lived, he could have brought them all  down.  Guilt made Judas depressed. Depression brought him down. There was "no joy in Apostleville that day"! If he had lived, the melancholy of Judas could have took the joy out of Christianity. Dissension in the church is how Satan endeavors to defeat Christianity.

We all know of Judas' in the church. One man I knew was nicknamed "Grumpy". When I was around him, I soon became as grumpy as Grumpy was! With negative Christians like him around, the church would soon become a dire place to attend. Of course my prayer is that Grumpy would get a little joy in his life and assist in making church a pleasant place for  him and everybody else!

In contrast to Grumpy are those who rob sanctuary from those who go to church for fellowship and peace. Let's call those overly exuberant people "Dopey". They seek attention and the minute they enter church the "Dopey Show" ensues. Dopey is disguised as another of the dwarfs: "Happy". Everything is always hilarious and Dopey is always ecstatic. They are attention seekers and attention they get. Church is all about them!

Mark 10:35 "And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory."

These two apostles were "Dopeys". They missed the entire point of why Christ came.

 Mark 10:40 "But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John."

James and John were overly exuberant! They wondered "What's in it for me?" My impression is that they were the two that when they gathered in the upper room, the attention of the crowd was on them, not humble Jesus! Indeed, even John was popular with Jesus. He was the one whom Jesus loved! Because of their zeal, James and John wanted attention. Their attention-seeking ways was a "downer" for the others. "They began to be much displeased with James and John."

James and John were doers. They were active disciples. They made things happen in the church. However, from these passages, at least some of the time, they were zealots for themselves. Many doers in the church are attention-seekers if they do it for a special position. Of course hard workers in the church may be humble servants as James and John matured into, but others are flamboyant in their desire for recognition. We always need to be careful as to why we do things!

Those who are perceived to be seeking popularity in the church bring others down. Others become displeased because of the narcissism  they witness. Overly and falsely exuberant people bring others down just as do melancholic people! Both types of people are "downers".

Matthew 6:5 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

Those attention-seekers are those who are self-righteous. They do things to build themselves up at the expense of those who do their works in secret! If the hypocrites had been ordained by Jesus, church today, would be filled with glory-seekers!

Oh, what are we to do?

Matthew 9:29 "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country."

We are to keep our eyes on Jesus and do what he says! Some spread the word of his fame because people have a tendency to glorify themselves to be the first out there with the story! I think Jesus expected that! However, the glory stops with him. Jesus didn't come to magnify people, but so that people would magnify God!