Don't Be a Ted Baxter

You may remember a TV show from the 1970's called "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". It was about a young single women living in Minneapolis, Minnisota who works for a local TV statation, WJM. One characters on the show was Ted Baxter. He was the anchorman who reported all the major news stories.

In one episode, Ted and Mary are up for awards in their respective areas. As they are waiting to hear the results, Ted realizes that if Mary wins they probably won't give the same station two awards so he confesses that he hopes she loses so that he can win. In the end he wins and Mary does not.

For the rest of the episode Ted is running around interrupting conversations to talk about his award that he carries with him everywhere he goes. In general terms, Ted Baxter is a selfish, self centered person.

This made me think "Don't be a Ted Baxter". If you were to be a Ted Baxter you would have TBS - Ted Baxter Syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by the following:

• Making yourself the center of attention
• Crying or whining when things don't go your way
• Being the epitome of arrogance and pride
• Interrupting the conversations of others to talk about yourself

We all struggle with this syndrome because in reality, this "TBS" is our sin nature. Because of sin, we always think about ourselves and what we can get or gain from everything or everyone

around us. In Christ there is a change that happens. It is new birth; it is to become a new creation; the old has passed and the new has come. (2 Cor 5:17)

Philippians 2 is one passage that teaches us about this change He makes in our lives to rid us of this "TBS". Here is what it states:
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Don't Be a Ted Baxter - Have the mind of Christ.