Meetings to Avoid: Using Spiritual Discernment to Promote Success
Dean Jason Curry • August 9, 2017

I am a proponent of attending meetings. As a university chaplain, I make it a point to attend both formal and informal meetings throughout the day. My formal meetings may include discussions about fundraising in order to make repairs to the Chapel. My informal meetings may include brief and unscheduled pastoral counseling sessions in a parking lot or on a sidewalk in order to provide advice and encouragement to the faculty, staff or students. However, there are some meetings that I consciously seek to avoid. Over time, I’ve learned that they are often unproductive, unsettling and sometimes ungodly. At one informal meeting, I quickly discovered that the participants were determined to spread personal and negative information about someone for no apparent reason. Unfortunately, I also attended an informal meeting in which a group of people were committed to undermining another person’s professional and personal progress. It seemed as if the people in these meetings were intent on gossiping and engaging in slander. Even though I am an advocate of attending formal and informal meetings, I’ve learned to identify and, if possible, avoid meetings that are hostile to Christ’s message of love.

               King David was a wealthy, wise and powerful king. He truly loved the Lord, and he is credited with writing the book of Psalms. As a leader, he was responsible for attending many formal and informal meetings. He knew that meetings were taking place among his supporters, political detractors and/or enemies. On one occasion David prayed: “Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity (Psalm 64:2).” On another occasion he prayed: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).” David neither wanted to be discussed by people in meetings who were intent on doing evil nor did he want to participate in these meetings. He was a wise king, and ultimately, he believed that God was and would be responsible for his professional success.

               If possible, try to avoid some informal meetings (e.g., meetings among friends, family and co-workers) in which people are intent on dishonoring themselves, others and God. If you must attend, pray for spiritual strength, guidance and protection while you are in the meetings. Lastly, if possible, try to direct the content of the meetings to subjects that reflect the things of God (e.g., peace and forgiveness) and your love for God. We must remember 1 Peter 1:16: “…Be ye holy; for I am holy.”



By Dean Jason Curry February 26, 2020
I was blessed to have had the opportunity to be raised by someone who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. My uncle, Mr. Bob Gore, who is much like a father to me, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others during the 1960’s. I continue to be amazed by the heroic and unprecedented sacrifices made by both the leaders and the participants of the Civil Rights Movement. To my surprise, Mr. uncle informed me that many African-Americans and white Americans did not participate in “The Movement.” Some people were resistant to Dr. King’s leadership because they were concerned about their employment or their physical well-being (e.g., it was possible to become injured or killed while marching). Like the Hebrews in Moses’ day, people “grumbled” against Dr. King (see Exodus 16:2). Nevertheless, Dr. King, additional leaders of the Movement and many followers stayed the course. The criticisms of white clergy (see Dr. King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”) , the threats and acts of violence, the loss of income and the ostracization by family members or friends did not dissuade them from their mission. The leaders often heard the “grumblings” of the people; however, they held on to their purpose. My uncle’s commitment to assisting African-Americans in the process of attaining our Civil Rights would prove to be instrumental in my character development and sense of political consciousness. I am eternally grateful for his involvement in my life. Leadership is a challenging phenomenon. Undoubtedly, leaders are essential for the cohesion of society. People need leaders, and in the absence of ethical and visionary leadership, the historical record throughout the world has proven that people will following myopic, ineffective, unethical and seemingly incompetent leaders. Moses and his brother Aaron were competent, ethical, divinely-inspired and visionary leaders; however, the people often “grumbled” against them. At one point, the Hebrews criticized Moses, and wished that he had not freed from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:3). Moses listened, but depersonalized their grumblings. Essentially, he said: “You are not grumbling against me, but against the Lord (Exodus 16:8).” Moses loved the people and cared for the people in spite of their grumblings. Moses prayed to the Lord during his challenging, leadership experiences, and the Lord provided the people with manna, which is bread from heaven (Exodus 16:15).” If God has appointed you as a leader at you job, in your home, at your church or in your civic or social organization, I want to encourage you to continue to be an ethical, visionary, competent and divinely inspired leader. Stay the course, even when you hear the grumblings of the people, and watch the Lord provide resources (also known as manna) for you.
By Dean Jason Curry July 23, 2019
As an African-American, I celebrate the recent election of four Congresswomen of color: Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Even though there were Congresswomen of color leading the nation on Capitol Hill prior to their arrival, their election to the most powerful and prestigious legislative body in the world should be celebrated given the racist and sexist history and extant racist and sexist climate of this country. As a Christian minster, I do not embrace each and every political position championed by these courageous, four women; however, I celebrate their achievements, support their vision for a more inclusive society and support their Constitutional right to dissent and challenge the status quo. Lost in this mainstream discussion about their views which are in opposition to the President, conservative America and racist America is the fact that they are Black people (i.e., people of African descent) whose brilliance, tenacity, vision and diligence earned them a place in history. Their very presence should be cause of celebration for America. I know many people who are affiliated with the Black Church celebrate their historic achievements and/or their current political position(s). I understand that some white, evangelicals cannot or will not celebrate black excellence. However, the caustic, racist, xenophobic political climate that they refuse to denounce poses a threat to both Black life and the Christian message. Much of the rhetoric which appears in national headlines is anti-Christian. For example, the popular chant “Send Her Back” is in direct contradiction to the Christian mandate to love one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:39) and to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). The silence of the church as it concerns the racist, sexist, xenophobic, divisive and dangerous national narrative, means that church is in agreement with it. This silence cripples community, cheapens Christianity, causes faith to falter, truncates the truth, promotes a nihilistic threat to Black life as it dissuades a generation of people from wanting to embrace Christ. If it is not careful, the evangelical church that supports this caustic narrative will be on the wrong side of both human and salvation history. Jesus encouraged humanity to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:34-40). As members of the church universal, we have a Christian mandate to support a narrative which affirms the humanity and dignity of people wherever and however they may be found. As Christian leaders and laity, we must denounce any narrative which seeks to devaluate and dehumanize people. Indeed, we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). However, if the salt has lost its saltiness, what is it good for (Matthew 5:13)?