Killing the DoDemon<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Dr. Randy White
With the advent of the New Year, one Satan's craftiest emissaries goes to work:  the DoDemon.  This demon, like the work of his master, covers himself in righteous wrap and spills forth spiritual sounding words in order to woo the Lord's faithful to do something, regardless of the will and work of God.
The DoDemon gives believers the DoSomething syndrome.  It often looks like this:
·        A monthly meeting is coming up.  Though there is nothing on the agenda, the Chair feels inadequate with what seems to be a purposeless meeting.  The DoDemon goes to work in his heart, and he feels he and his committee must DoSomething.
·        A family has an evening without homework, meetings, ball-practice, or late work, but the DoDemon sneaks in and the family creates another hectic evening because they "need" to DoSomething.
·        A church is not growing like the one down the street.  The Pastor has read the church-growth books, has been to the denominational seminars, and has heard the common consensus that this would all change if he would just DoSomething.  Congregation members, eaten up with the DoDemon, are also pressuring him to DoSomething, making an overwhelming DoSomething wave come upon him.
The DoDemon has so many tools in his satchel:
·        DoSomething else-this tool works by using the leverage of dissatisfaction and lack of contentment.
·        DoSomething more-a tool that has its basis in human ability, believing that "just a little more effort" would make the difference.
·        DoSomething different-What you are doing may work, it just isn't working well enough.
·        DoSomething new-This tool works best in a society that rejects the ways of their fathers.
Like all the work of Satan, the DoDemon memics the ways of Christ, so his work is often hard to quickly decipher.   Our Lord was not a DoNothing Messiah.  His work, however, was guided by the Father, who told him when it was time to do something!  It appears that there were many times when, by modern American standards, Jesus just needed to DoSomething:
·        He was 30 years old before he began to DoSomething!  Think what he could have achieved had he worked harder to promote himself in earlier years.  He could have really done something!
·        He had a line of sick people at Capernaum who needed healing.  He chose to leave to another villiage.  Think of the ministry He could have established if He had just DoneSomething.
·        In the midst of a storm at sea His disciples woke him, shouting, "DoSomething!"
·        He could have called 10 legions of Angels to rescue him from the cross.  Why didn't He DoSomething!
It makes me wonder, if Jesus had a group of modern, corporate Executive Coaches, would they have given the same advice His Father gave?  Something makes me think they would have created mission statements, agendas, action items, goals and objectives.  They would have categorized priorities, challenged supporters, and organized laborers.  They would have DoneSomething!
But that wouldn't be "my Father's business."
When you feel the urge to use the DoSomething tool, consider these unfortunate accounts of spiritual giants who succumbed to the temptation:
·        Abraham and Sarah became impatient and decided to DoSomething, and brought Hagar into the home.  The effects last to this day.
·        Moses became impatient and decided to DoSomething.  In the end, an Egyptian was dead in the sand and Moses would spend the next  40 years as a fugitive.
·        Saul became impatient and decided to DoSomething when the Priest had not arrived.  By hastily offering the sacrifice without the Priest, Saul lost the throne. 
·        Peter acted on impulse and drew the sword.  His DoSomething action was rebuked by the Lord.
There are, of course, some notable occasions when God's people waited on God.  David would not kill Saul because Saul was "God's Anointed."  He would leave God's work to God!  The Apostles obeyed the command to wait in Jerusalem, and the fruit was well worth the wait.
As you enter a new year, you may be tempted by the DoDemon and his DoSomething tool.  It is almost foreign to Western thinking to do nothing.  We are programed to action, committed to achievement, and stubbornly leery of meditation, prayer, and waiting.  I am convinced that most churches would be far better off if they would quit doing something and start walking with the Lord, letting Him be the Great Doer.  But, since Pastors feel the need to justify their salary and defend their leadership, they DO.  Church-members encourage the Pastor's "DoLeadership" and criticize any lack of action on his part. 
"We can't just sit here" are words that have been heard by every pastor.  "We have to DoSomething!"
I wonder…would we be better off just to sit here?

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Dr. Randy White is Pastor of First Baptist Church of Katy, TX, and has a daily radio program, Word for the World.