Living Authentically: Freedom from Performance Pressure

Performance is where we try to make an impression rather than just be what we are. To perform in this sense is where I try to impress you in a certain way rather than simply allowing you to see me who I am, and we get sucked into this all the time. [00:00:53]

The element of performance would be absent in the Trinitarian gathering. Now what we're looking at here is the context Dallas is talking about how the church's job is to try to make apprentices of Jesus and then invite people into being immersed in the Trinitarian presence. [00:01:51]

God is the primary agent in the gathering. The truth is, from the only point of view that matters, God's, it is very likely no human knows how the service went, and in any case, that cannot be judged by reading overt responses of the attendees. [00:01:59]

The reality is, Jesus is present at every gathering wherever two or three or more are there. I am in the mission. He is always there. We never have to worry about that, and when his word is spoken, when thoughts are communicated, and we seek to do that in an honest, open, sincere, helpful way, then we can trust God is going to be at work. [00:03:42]

Dallas goes on, the sufficiency of Christ to all is the basis of our efforts in gathering in service. It's not my profundity, it's not the skill of musicians, it's not anything else on a human level. The sufficiency for Christ to all, that's the basis. [00:04:35]

The minister does not need tricks and techniques but need only speak Christ's word from Christ's character standing within the manifest presence of God. Of course, we're talking about a steady course of life, not a momentary inspiration, and for such a life in its leaders, the church languishes. [00:05:14]

We do not come to see how the speaker and other leaders do. We are not checking their performance. We come to encounter the Trinitarian presence and to hold them up within it. This is our expectation, and this frees us from the debilitating impact of going through life trying to perform, which is so exhausting. [00:05:39]

There were fascinating studies done going back all the way to the 70s by two psychologists, Bob Wiklen and Shelley Duvall. They discovered something happens to people; they become different when they become deeply aware of themselves. Even just having a mirror present makes people more honest in their answers. [00:06:09]

Saul was a very handsome man and stood head and shoulders taller than everybody else in Israel, but he did not apparently see himself that way. When we first meet him, he's on an errand looking for donkeys for his dad. He's ready to give up, and his servant has to come up with the ideas and the strength to keep going. [00:07:59]

When Samuel tells him that he's going to be king, his response is no because my tribe is the least of all the tribes and my clan is the least of all the clans, not me. And then when it's time for the anointing ceremony, when it's time to let all the people know, it's going to be Samuel. Samuel is nowhere to be found. [00:08:23]

Saul lets them when Samuel confronts him on this. First, he says, well, it wasn't me, it was the people, and then he says, well, I was afraid of the people, anxiety again, and then he says, uh yes, Samuel, you are right, but please honor me in front of the elders and the people. [00:09:30]

Today, as best you can, in your conversations with people, in your facial expressions, in your body, no performing, just the pressure's off. God loves you anyway, no pretending, just truth, be who you are, guard your heart. [00:12:15]