do i IMPRESS or do i INSPIRE?
The past 2 weeks have afforded me almost unlimited time for reflection and deep thought, because I spend about 8 hours a day priming and painting walls. If you are ever looking for a mindless activity that affords you tons of time to yourself, painting is your thing. Personally, I would rather set myself on fire slowly by rubbing sticks on my flesh than ever paint anything. That is beside the point.
So with extension pole in hand and surrounded by paint trays and buckets and lids, this question materialized…
DO I STRIVE TO IMPRESS PEOPLE OR INSPIRE PEOPLE?
When I am preparing to preach, when I am looking for good stories to use in a message, when I am deciding which illustrations I will use to make a point, when I am sharing a meal with friends in a ministry setting, what is my agenda? Do I drop names to IMPRESS the people around me? Do I always make myself the hero of every story to IMPRESS the audience? Do I throw in golden nuggets of historical factitudes to IMPRESS the scholars or theologians listening to me? Do I pepper my sermons or conversations with intelligent sounding words to IMPRESS other intelligent people?
The truth is YES, I do this quite frequently. And it is nothing less that sin. It is rooted in a desire to be seen as more important, more intelligent, more godly, and more in-demand than I really am. And this is rooted in idolatry, like all other sins, in that I desire to become greater and bigger while at the same time making Jesus smaller and less.
I want to mature beyond the need to IMPRESS people. I want my life under the lordship of Christ to INSPIRE people to wholeheartedly follow Jesus. I want people to leave a conversation with me and not think about me at all, but to ponder the things of God. I want people to walk away from my sermons and never think twice about me or the delivery, but to be INSPIRED to give themselves to God, heart and soul. I would rather my sons be INSPIRED to follow Jesus by watching me follow Him than to be IMPRESSED that their daddy preaches 200 times a year for Jesus. The difference between the two is colossal.
Here is the difference. The New England Patriots IMPRESS me because they are undefeated so far this season, but the Green Bay Packers INSPIRE me because Brett Favre is 38 years old playing like a high school senior with nothing to lose. Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney IMPRESS me because they can raise millions of dollars at one political dinner, but Dr. M.A. Thomas of Hopegivers International INSPIRES me because he has lived his whole life serving orphans and lepers in India and he has never owned his own house. I am IMPRESSED with sizes and numbers and attendance at concerts, conferences, and mega-churches. I am INSPIRED by 88 years of faithfulness to Jesus in the life of Billy Graham.
I was IMPRESSED when I watched The Dave Matthews Band live in concert earlier this year. No better musicians on earth. Never missed a note. But they did not make me want to go out and do something. I turned off the TV thinking they were a great band. But when I watched Bruce Springsteen and The Easy Street Band, I was caught up in the reality of his music and the conviction he possessed as he performed. Those songs, those lyrics, and his passion made me want to go out and change the world. I was INSPIRED.
We are too easily IMPRESSED with unimportant things. Maybe we can replace it with a desire to be INSPIRED by goodness, Godliness, service, suffering, and passion for Christ Jesus and His advancing Kingdom.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:07 am
Awesome Message. Thanks for the transparency. It sure helps the rest of us…knowing that EVERYONE struggles with sin in some form or fashion. I really appreciate your heart.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:49 am
Hey Clayton,
I write for Hopegivers and just wanted to say that I really liked your blog. Very “inspiring.”
Julie
http://www.JulieFerwerda.com
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
Clayton,
Thanks for opening your heart to us. I love the truthful thoughts about impress vs. inspire. I’ve discovered impressions last a season. Inspiration lasts a lifetime! I don’t remember a word of my impressive graduation speaker. But my professors inspired a life change. Thanks again.
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I’ve dealt with this issue as well. When I’m through preaching a sermon at my church, I’m hoping people will walk out the building saying “Wow! God is great”, rather than saying “Wow! David’s preaching is great.” You’re right on, Clayton! May people see more of Jesus and less of us. May He increase, and may we decrease. Thanks for this post.
December 4th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I feel so grateful that you are coming to speak into the lives of our High Schoolers this Sunday. It is this very attitude that God uses in you to rock the life of everyone you preach to. Your blog is a blessing to me and hearing you speak over the last 6 years has been incredible. I thank God that he is using you in this way!
December 4th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Hello Clayton,
Hope you had a blessed birthday! (Read your remembering 10 & 15 yrs ago)
You are sooooo young!
Thanks for making us think about: ALL the glory belongs to Him, and do we desire to INSPIRE, and what are we doing to share our faith in Jesus!!
Blessings,
Becky Wadkins
I Thess 1:2
December 4th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Thank you soooo much for coming to my highschool in Woodlawn. I really appreciated what you said to my school. See my parents have raised me up to believe that drinking and doing drugs are wrong. PERIOD! I have never done drugs or anything else that my friends think is cool. Your testimony inspired me and made me realize that I’m better off following the beliefs my parents have instilled in me. I hope that one day you can come back so I can thank you in person. Thanks again for coming, and have a Merry Christmas.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
What is your favorite DMB song?
December 6th, 2007 at 10:01 am
I’ve met you enough to truly say that you inspire. I have met countless people who’s lives have been changed through your ministry and your godly example who testify to this. God has gifted you to inspire! You don’t make people walk away and say, “Man, I wish I could be like Clayton King”, no, they say “I want what he’s got” and “How can I live a life that close to Christ and be more BOLD about it”. Thank you for your humble attitude and your servants heart. Thank you for speaking TRUTH even to your closest friends!
December 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Clayton, Never met you but just ran into your blog after you were at Elevation. Just wanted to say thanks for being open and honest. I’m in my first year of full time ministry and it helps so much to hear great advise. This blog has inspired me and I’ll never forget it. It’s amazing how one blog (thought) can be used by God in who knows how many different ways. Keep it coming and thanks. I know God will use me to Inspire and not Impress.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
It has been two years since the Lord spoke through Clayton at our youth event and 100 kids stood to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. You can tell when you have been inspired by someone when you are still praying for them even though you have had little or no direct contact but the Lord has made the connection in our inner man. For as you have been fed spiritual fruit through that person you desire to see others be fed as well. So may the God of peace continue to make Clayton holy in every way, that Claytons whole spirit, soul and body would be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who has called Clayton is faithful - 1 Thess 5:23-24
December 21st, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Clayton,
I’ve never heard you speak… but man, the reviews have been great. I found your blog online today. I really like what you’re doing. Good content! Keep up the great work.
I especially found this blog to be very challenging. Thanks.
//TC//