Pigweed and I are thinking of a new series for our podcast (something related to churches), and to get a sense of whether I could tolerate it or not, I tried to listen to Joel Osteen’s show.
I only lasted about ten minutes, and I felt I needed to bend my brain in a more sane direction, so I looked up a video by Sinclair Ferguson (a very sober-minded Scot). In it, he said the following.
And for some of us who are not blessed with the American perspective on existence but have a Celtic melancholy running through our disposition, and know that our mother would’ve beat the living daylights out of us if we’d ever talked in public about anything that we ourselves have done, you realize that there is a certain discomfort level in [talking about his book].
There are some things in life where you can’t succeed unless you’re willing to promote yourself, and I’ve long recognized that I have competing instincts in that regard. I can and do promote myself, but I hate it, and I only do it half-heartedly.
I’ve also suspected that a lot of my reticence to promote myself comes from my mother — who was English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. So maybe that confirms SF’s comment about Celts. (My reticence also comes from the Proverbs: “Let another praise you and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.”)
I’ve known many people who, with little talent, do very well for themselves, because they have no hesitancy about promoting themselves, asking for things, etc.
Since a lot of that probably comes from nature and/or nurture, that’s yet another kind of “privilege” that’s very important to a person’s success. (If anyone is keeping track.)
Then again, if you don’t promote yourself, who is going to do it for you? I have missed a lot of opportunities because I was too reticent. Only in recent years have I realized this. I do think that it has much to do with nurture, primarily coming from a social milieu where my particular talents mean very little. But I am very hesitant to put any stock in notions of national character and the like. The people who believe that they know what this or that people is like are precisely the ones who haven’t traveled very much or very far.
In this case, I’m pretty sure you’re wrong. Sinclair Ferguson has traveled much and far.
There are of course exceptions. Some people feel like their ethnicity makes them cool, no matter how much and how far they have traveled.
QUOTE: (My reticence also comes from the Proverbs: “Let another praise you and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.”)
Considering the entire panoply of scripture, it seems to be discouraging pride/arrogance, not sharing information about one’s capabilities…especially if those capabilities (once known) can benefit others. There’s a distinction between “pride” and “informing” others in which motive and means seems to be a key. If one is in business, then it’s prudent to promote themselves (as long as the means and motives aren’t malicious).