Do You LOBOP?

I've discovered something a little disconcerting about myself. It's a little scandalous, perhaps a little life-threatening, but really just downright annoying.

I listen to sermons on behalf of other people.

It started off innocently, years and years ago. I'd been talking to a friend about a particular issue. Lo and behold, the sermon that very week was on the same issue. My scandalous thought? "X should listen to this." The practice of LOBOP* had begun...

The problem is, it's become a habit. It wasn't such a big deal when I was single and childless, and had the attention span to take in an entire talk. Even with the occasional "Take that, X, Y or Z!", I could still listen long enough to hear things that applied to me, and be sorry for my actions. The problem grew when I went to college, and had to "critique" sermons on a regular basis. It grew even further when I had small children, who reduced my ability to listen for periods longer than one-and-a-half sentences. I've now developed the stupendous ability to speed-apply: I can hear a sermon application and identify the appropriate malfeasant instantly. Entire sermons can go by without a single moment of introspection. LOBOP has become the order of the day.

Why is it such a problem?

Well, there's the blindingly obvious "water off a duck's back" issue. How can I be growing if I'm impervious to rebuke or encouragement? How can I expect people to listen to me teaching if I'm unteachable myself? An unteachable teacher creates unteachable students.

There's also the problem that I'm increasing my level of bitterness and unforgiveness towards others, and I'm becoming just plain unpleasant and judgemental. Often if I'm LOBOP-ing, it's because I've heard someone complaining or doing something I think is wrong. Someone who is tearing other people down instead of building them up. Someone who wants everything done for them, but won't put the effort in to do something themselves. Someone who's trying to see how close to the line they can get without crossing it. Someone who puts themselves ahead of Jesus and their brothers and sisters in Christ. Someone just like me.

I've been walking around with a very large timber plank in my eye for some time now...


*LOBOP= Listening On Behalf of Other People