No, I’m not talking about the “Lying Down Game” which is the current rage today of people lying face down as stiff as a wooden plank. It’s also not the political planking recently used in a protest action that caused one lawmaker to file the “Anti-Planking Act of 2011.”
I’m talking about planking in the bible. Specifically in Matthew 7:3 –
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
It’s a more dangerous kind of game. The kind that blots souls and destroys relationships.
Planking in the bible is about always seeing the negative in other people. Overly-critical people constantly point out what is wrong with others instead of appreciating what is right. Funny thing is these critics aren’t flawless in the first place. And let me say that at times, I too am guilty of this – either by my own instigation or I get roped into the critique (oo nga, oo nga). [Note to self: avoid planking – dangerous to your health.]
Just last night I witnessed two incidents of planking – both in the biblical sense. One was directed at me as emcee of the Roots seminar for doing something taught in an emceeing workshop (ranting? – hehehe). The other was directed at our guest worship leader just because her worship was slightly different from ours.
The second planking reminded me of our recent Inter-Feast Music Ministry Gathering*. Among other things, George Gabriel talked about pride – the pitfall that music ministers should avoid. He said that many times we think that the way we do things in our community or in our particular Feast is better than the way others do it. That kind of thinking causes disunity and has no place in a Christian community.
Let me end by focusing on the positive instead. I praise and thank the Lord for my blessings - the compliments and kind words I received last night from many other people not into the biblical game of planking.
* Allow me to add a footnote about the Inter-Feast Music Ministry Gathering held on September 21, 2011 at the Makati Feast venue. I will describe it in one word: AWESOME. Just imagine around 350 music ministers singing and dancing in praise of our awesome God. What touched me the most was the simple worship – just George and Gigi de Jesus with a guitar onstage. It could have been grandiose what with all the Music Ministries from different Feasts present. But as George quoted Arun, “Worship is when there is nothing else.” No frills, no artistry…just you and God.
*Thanks to Emy Cañete for the Inter Feast Music photo.
