Proverbs 29:20-“Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Earlier this week in my “haste” to resolve a conflict I undoubtedly sinned against a couple of my friends. The “haste” was not born of conviction of the Holy Spirit, rather a desire to lessen the discomfort of the situation by forcing the issue of resolution. That is to say, that although bringing the issues that were causing the conflict to the surface, was and is in and of itself good, the manner and order in which we do this, either leads to potential healing, if willingness is present, or has a great opportunity to be used (by Satan) for the stirring up even more dissention and division.
The speed of the tongue is often times the issue. Although scripture speaks of keeping “short accounts” with one another (Ephesians 4:26-27: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold), often times in our haste to deal with the situation causing the division, we skip out, as I did this week, on an important step. The necessary humility for dealing with such tension in relationships is born of time spent in willingness and allowance for the Holy Spirit to show you first, where in your own life, past or present, in similarity to the very issue at hand, you have been on the offending side. It is only when speaking from such a place of humility and gentleness that willingness possibly can be born in the others involved, to confront the issue at hand. When done in any other manner, pride is most likely the motivating factor for dealing with the conflict, comfort and stroking our self-righteousness the goal, and shame cast on the individuals involved is the resultant. Shame driven acts cannot lead us to true forgiveness and healing with one another.
Psalm 4:4- In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Jeremiah 17:10- I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind
Matthew 7:3-5: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? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye
We shame one another into dealing with our sins against one another only when we forget that we ourselves are as Paul saw himself, “chief is sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15-Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst). The humility that prevents “speaking in haste” is born of a healthy perspective of our own need of Jesus. It is when this need of grace is skewed, or hasn’t been freshly visited by us, that often times we act in a way that is not under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Yet in his infinite grace, and all encompassing redemptive nature (Romans 8:28-And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose), God can and will use even our haste, born of not staying in step with the spirit (Gal 5:23), to bring us through humbling, back into the reality of our dependence upon him to do anything right (Isaiah 64:6- our righteous acts are as filthy rags).
Psalm 137:6 - May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
Before a word is spoken in haste, we must first be humbled in remembrance. This may take seconds, minutes, hours, or even days. It is only in this grace soaked state that we should move forward with tongues guided by the Holy Spirit. And we should be encouraged, that even when we fail to do so, it can become for us a window to renter the reality of the grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:2)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
The bread of adversity, the water of affliction.
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change? Would you change?
Tracy Chapman-Change
Often times it is through adversity and affliction that our truest self raises to the surface. Our fundamental beliefs and trusts are exposed only in these times of contention and suffering, and often times we find that the claims we make are like “paper tigers” (indigo girls-“love will come to you”), just spoken words, not deep-heart, suffering-born conviction. They lack the power to heal, comfort, challenge, or make sense of the pain we are experiencing. It is our absolute commitment to not suffering in our culture that often erodes our ability to experience the guidance that the Lord often brings to us though suffering. Many of my daily interactions are had with people seeking guidance and direction from the Lord concerning their lives; yet they live diametrically opposed, via unwillingness, to receive from the hand of the Lord the “bread of adversity and the water of affliction” that often can lead to hearing his (“the teachers”) voice. That is to say, we want Jesus to lead us, we just don’t want to have to suffer. Yet as Paul knew all to well, being united to Christ in sufferings is part of experiencing this type of resurrected living (Philippians 3:10) Isaiah 30 gives us a beautiful picture of this.
Isaiah 30:19-22: 19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"
It is hard for us to believe in a society so bound to comfort masked as safety, that the Lord could possibly be answering our cry’s for help with affliction. It is due to idolatry masked as “personal responsibility” that we continue to depend on our self for our provision rather than Him. Yet these idols, when shown to us for what they truly are, often through God given adversity, become as menstruation to us. That is they become utterly worthless and undependable to save. It is only in this God authored awakening thorough affliction, that we are finally set free enough to “defile” these very things we have trusted.
I find often a deep resistance to suffering within myself. An unparalleled allegiance to my comfort that takes on the form of hedonism (pleasure) and materialism (possessions) expressed through a deceptive and often times seemingly hard to pinpoint narcissism (self). Again we see this played out well earlier in the passage of Isaiah 30.
Isaiah 30: 9-11: These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction.10 They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"
“Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.” “Tell me a lie, if it’s true” (griffin house-lyric from tell me a lie). I would rather live in a lie, in an utter illusion, that affords me comfort, than be faced with the truth, if it means I come to grips with the fact that as a Christ follower, I will be partially groaning the rest of my life. (Romans 8:23) This is not to say that the Lord never provides seasons of rest, peace, and comfort. Rather to say, that we must receive those things as from the Lord, just as we are free to receive affliction from him as well (Job 1:21). It is my (our) unwillingness to part with the first (comfort) that often times leads to a misunderstanding of the second (affliction). (Job 2:10- shall we not accept the good from the lord as well as the trouble?)
It is through the bread of adversity and the water of affliction that we often come to hear the Lords voice more clearly. The voice that says “this is the way, walk in it.” But the invitation to walk in this “way” is not an invitation to go it alone. For he has gone this way before us, and calls us to go with him where he has already gone.
Philippians 2:5-8: 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross.
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change? Would you change?
Tracy Chapman-Change
Often times it is through adversity and affliction that our truest self raises to the surface. Our fundamental beliefs and trusts are exposed only in these times of contention and suffering, and often times we find that the claims we make are like “paper tigers” (indigo girls-“love will come to you”), just spoken words, not deep-heart, suffering-born conviction. They lack the power to heal, comfort, challenge, or make sense of the pain we are experiencing. It is our absolute commitment to not suffering in our culture that often erodes our ability to experience the guidance that the Lord often brings to us though suffering. Many of my daily interactions are had with people seeking guidance and direction from the Lord concerning their lives; yet they live diametrically opposed, via unwillingness, to receive from the hand of the Lord the “bread of adversity and the water of affliction” that often can lead to hearing his (“the teachers”) voice. That is to say, we want Jesus to lead us, we just don’t want to have to suffer. Yet as Paul knew all to well, being united to Christ in sufferings is part of experiencing this type of resurrected living (Philippians 3:10) Isaiah 30 gives us a beautiful picture of this.
Isaiah 30:19-22: 19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"
It is hard for us to believe in a society so bound to comfort masked as safety, that the Lord could possibly be answering our cry’s for help with affliction. It is due to idolatry masked as “personal responsibility” that we continue to depend on our self for our provision rather than Him. Yet these idols, when shown to us for what they truly are, often through God given adversity, become as menstruation to us. That is they become utterly worthless and undependable to save. It is only in this God authored awakening thorough affliction, that we are finally set free enough to “defile” these very things we have trusted.
I find often a deep resistance to suffering within myself. An unparalleled allegiance to my comfort that takes on the form of hedonism (pleasure) and materialism (possessions) expressed through a deceptive and often times seemingly hard to pinpoint narcissism (self). Again we see this played out well earlier in the passage of Isaiah 30.
Isaiah 30: 9-11: These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction.10 They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"
“Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.” “Tell me a lie, if it’s true” (griffin house-lyric from tell me a lie). I would rather live in a lie, in an utter illusion, that affords me comfort, than be faced with the truth, if it means I come to grips with the fact that as a Christ follower, I will be partially groaning the rest of my life. (Romans 8:23) This is not to say that the Lord never provides seasons of rest, peace, and comfort. Rather to say, that we must receive those things as from the Lord, just as we are free to receive affliction from him as well (Job 1:21). It is my (our) unwillingness to part with the first (comfort) that often times leads to a misunderstanding of the second (affliction). (Job 2:10- shall we not accept the good from the lord as well as the trouble?)
It is through the bread of adversity and the water of affliction that we often come to hear the Lords voice more clearly. The voice that says “this is the way, walk in it.” But the invitation to walk in this “way” is not an invitation to go it alone. For he has gone this way before us, and calls us to go with him where he has already gone.
Philippians 2:5-8: 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Always take yourself seriously, just not literally.
Most people always take their emotions and feelings in a literal sense. That is to say, that how they are feeling at any given moment is literally about the issue at hand that has brought that specific emotion to the surface. With more reflection, and by that I mean listening by the Holy Spirit, to the one who can guide us through the depths of our hearts, we often come to realize that the emotions being experienced are serious, but not literal. (Proverbs 20:10-The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out),
We need a man of understanding to draw out the depth of what is going on in our hearts. That is, to take us beyond the literal situation and feelings to their very root and source. What is often mistaken is that we need to become a man of understanding, rather than realizing that Christ is the man of understanding, and we have been given fullness in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.)
When we seek the man of understanding, instead of trying to be him, we find the freedom in Christ to take our emotions seriously, rather than literally, and we can access healing and understanding that in taking our emotions literally and dealing with them alone, can never be had.
John 4:9-15: The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
When we take the thirst seriously, not literally, we find what the thirst is really all about. Jesus took the woman seriously, just not literally. Water was what she thought she literally needed, but what the “man of understanding” knew she seriously needed was the “living water” only he could bring.
We need a man of understanding to draw out the depth of what is going on in our hearts. That is, to take us beyond the literal situation and feelings to their very root and source. What is often mistaken is that we need to become a man of understanding, rather than realizing that Christ is the man of understanding, and we have been given fullness in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.)
When we seek the man of understanding, instead of trying to be him, we find the freedom in Christ to take our emotions seriously, rather than literally, and we can access healing and understanding that in taking our emotions literally and dealing with them alone, can never be had.
John 4:9-15: The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
When we take the thirst seriously, not literally, we find what the thirst is really all about. Jesus took the woman seriously, just not literally. Water was what she thought she literally needed, but what the “man of understanding” knew she seriously needed was the “living water” only he could bring.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hope vs. Optimism and the American Dream
The 2008 version of the “American Dream” is not rooted in true hope. It is often nothing more than humanistic, self-generated optimism. For it to be hope, it would have to be something we have not yet seen (Romans 8:24 hope that is seen is no hope at all), and if you ask most people if we have seen “the American Dream” yet, they would say, “sure”, and then talk about a rich person they know. Although wealth is never in and of itself an evil, it’s expression in the form of the “American Dream” has been reduced to nothing more than an idol of self-sufficiency. Thus the goal of most Americans is to need nothing, and in particular no one, outside of themselves to gain anything that they desire. This is not the true “American Dream”, and is far from a gospel-centered perspective on life.
Cornell West states, “ I do worry at times that our culture confuses mature hope with naïve audacity. It is important to remember that the blues conception of hope is in no way identical with the optimism of the American Dream. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was not the American Dream. It was rooted in the American Dream- it incorporated the need to work hard, defer gratification, and aspire to be the best. But it was also a rejection of crass materialism, hedonism, and narcissism.”
Sadly if you were to ask most Americans what they hope for in the future, they’re hopes would be inexplicably linked to materialism (possessions), hedonism (pleasure), and narcissism (self). The hope the gospel gives us, and that was evident in the fabric of the formation of the United States, is one not of narcissism, but of self-sacrifice and denial. Such terms are not sexy in a world that promotes that you can change the world around you without being changed yourself, first.
Our Declaration of Independence reads, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”
The absolute despotism we find ourselves under is not the government of our country, but the ruler of self, sitting on the throne of our hearts. What needs to be thrown off is my flesh and self. The gospel gives us the opportunity to move off the throne of our lives, and it replaces us with Christ’s peace. (Colossians 3:15- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.) It is our allegiance to self, that makes us “disposed to suffer“ rather than “abolishing the forms” to which we have become “accustomed”. It is our allegiance to our comfort that keeps us from living in hope. It is easier to just suffer with “how it is” than to be apart of changing the tide.
America was founded on love for others and greater concern for all mankind. The gospel displays a love that is defined by the laying down of ones life for a friend (John 15:13). Our culture has reduced love to pornography, and sacrifice to a sexy “go-green” mentality. But real change, change that comes from “mature” hope is not sexy. It’s deadly. And the first death is your own. If we were all honest with ourselves, the problem is not out there somewhere, it’s inside us. I am the problem. That’s why hope is necessary, and optimism is powerless. We need something outside ourselves to see this become reality. That’s where Jesus comes in.
Cornell West states, “ I do worry at times that our culture confuses mature hope with naïve audacity. It is important to remember that the blues conception of hope is in no way identical with the optimism of the American Dream. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was not the American Dream. It was rooted in the American Dream- it incorporated the need to work hard, defer gratification, and aspire to be the best. But it was also a rejection of crass materialism, hedonism, and narcissism.”
Sadly if you were to ask most Americans what they hope for in the future, they’re hopes would be inexplicably linked to materialism (possessions), hedonism (pleasure), and narcissism (self). The hope the gospel gives us, and that was evident in the fabric of the formation of the United States, is one not of narcissism, but of self-sacrifice and denial. Such terms are not sexy in a world that promotes that you can change the world around you without being changed yourself, first.
Our Declaration of Independence reads, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”
The absolute despotism we find ourselves under is not the government of our country, but the ruler of self, sitting on the throne of our hearts. What needs to be thrown off is my flesh and self. The gospel gives us the opportunity to move off the throne of our lives, and it replaces us with Christ’s peace. (Colossians 3:15- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.) It is our allegiance to self, that makes us “disposed to suffer“ rather than “abolishing the forms” to which we have become “accustomed”. It is our allegiance to our comfort that keeps us from living in hope. It is easier to just suffer with “how it is” than to be apart of changing the tide.
America was founded on love for others and greater concern for all mankind. The gospel displays a love that is defined by the laying down of ones life for a friend (John 15:13). Our culture has reduced love to pornography, and sacrifice to a sexy “go-green” mentality. But real change, change that comes from “mature” hope is not sexy. It’s deadly. And the first death is your own. If we were all honest with ourselves, the problem is not out there somewhere, it’s inside us. I am the problem. That’s why hope is necessary, and optimism is powerless. We need something outside ourselves to see this become reality. That’s where Jesus comes in.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Friendship
Friendship. Time to see what’s real and what’s counterfeit.
Proverbs 27:6- Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
I remember a day when a man who is one of my best friends warned me what he was about to do. He asked me, “Do you trust me? Do you trust that I love you?” I replied yes. He said to me, “I am about to wound you, because I have to wound you in order for you to be healed.” It seems backwards to us, especially in times of acute pain and emotional suffering, to think of being willing to allow those nearest to us to do speak into such pain with words of rebuke and challenge, rather than words of comfort. Although I am a firm believer of comforting first from the comfort that we ourselves have received (2 Corinthians 1), there are times when what the Lord calls you to do for the sake of your friendship and your healing, is to be willing to say or receive the words that wound, the words that can lead to true peace and rest.
Like a doctor with surgical precision who cuts away the infected tissue, is the friend whose tongue speaks words of rebuke under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although there is pain in the moment, the healing that is afforded by the surgery is far greater than what could be accomplished without.
Proverbs 27:6- Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
I remember a day when a man who is one of my best friends warned me what he was about to do. He asked me, “Do you trust me? Do you trust that I love you?” I replied yes. He said to me, “I am about to wound you, because I have to wound you in order for you to be healed.” It seems backwards to us, especially in times of acute pain and emotional suffering, to think of being willing to allow those nearest to us to do speak into such pain with words of rebuke and challenge, rather than words of comfort. Although I am a firm believer of comforting first from the comfort that we ourselves have received (2 Corinthians 1), there are times when what the Lord calls you to do for the sake of your friendship and your healing, is to be willing to say or receive the words that wound, the words that can lead to true peace and rest.
Like a doctor with surgical precision who cuts away the infected tissue, is the friend whose tongue speaks words of rebuke under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although there is pain in the moment, the healing that is afforded by the surgery is far greater than what could be accomplished without.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Temptation?
Temptation.
Devil said to Adam “You will be like God.” (Genesis 3:4) That backfired huh?
Jesus, when returning from his time of prayer in the garden, challenged his disciples by questioning them on why, instead of praying, they were sleeping. He encouraged them to pray and to do so that “they may not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:46) This has always struck me as being an odd thing for Jesus to say, and in particular, what temptation was he talking about?
Jesus, during his prayer in Gethsemane, clearly voiced his desire to the Father to ‘have this cup” taken from him. Is it possible that the temptation that Jesus is referring to was the temptation to act out of what one feels vs. living out of what one knows to be true? When I am experiencing temptation, most often it takes on the form of feelings that I am experiencing. Feelings that scream with such intensity that my very life and will seems bound to them. Temptation is speaking to my soul through the conduit of my emotions saying things like, “If this desire or feeling goes un-satisfied, or un-gratified, I may not make it.
Have you ever been so sad about something that the feelings about that situation begin to bleed into everything in your life? It’s the red sock in the white laundry; everything is now tinted a shade of red. When how you feel is the only lens, or the primary lens by which you look at your life and determine what is true, things have a tendency to get pretty messy, quickly.
This temptation to trusting our feelings is fundamentally a temptation to trust ourselves over what the Father has called us to, namely to trust him with our very lives. The obedience we see displayed in Christ in Gethsemane and on the cross is the very obedience we see lacking in Adam in Genesis 3. Theologians have referred to Christ as the “second” Adam for centuries. What was proved to be impossible for Adam, to trust the Father over himself and his feelings, was accomplished in and through Christ (Romans 5).
This should give us great hope and comfort. If we are to become people who live beyond the scope of our feelings, we need help. Actually we need more than help, we need for Him to do something for us and in us that we cannot do for ourselves. It should comfort us because Adam, Eve, and everyone since are living proof that something outside of us is needed to live in obedience to the Father. It also changes what we do with our feelings. We don’t spend needless amounts of time in shame over feelings we didn’t conjure and can’t overcome. It drives us to the very place and person who can set us free. The problem is that we actually believe that we are free in the first place. We think that we are free, but in reality scripture teaches us that we are slaves. Slaves to sin, slaves to our feelings, slaves to ourselves (Romans 6:17). We need to be set free.
That’s the whole reason Jesus came, to make free men and women out of slaves.
Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Devil said to Adam “You will be like God.” (Genesis 3:4) That backfired huh?
Jesus, when returning from his time of prayer in the garden, challenged his disciples by questioning them on why, instead of praying, they were sleeping. He encouraged them to pray and to do so that “they may not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:46) This has always struck me as being an odd thing for Jesus to say, and in particular, what temptation was he talking about?
Jesus, during his prayer in Gethsemane, clearly voiced his desire to the Father to ‘have this cup” taken from him. Is it possible that the temptation that Jesus is referring to was the temptation to act out of what one feels vs. living out of what one knows to be true? When I am experiencing temptation, most often it takes on the form of feelings that I am experiencing. Feelings that scream with such intensity that my very life and will seems bound to them. Temptation is speaking to my soul through the conduit of my emotions saying things like, “If this desire or feeling goes un-satisfied, or un-gratified, I may not make it.
Have you ever been so sad about something that the feelings about that situation begin to bleed into everything in your life? It’s the red sock in the white laundry; everything is now tinted a shade of red. When how you feel is the only lens, or the primary lens by which you look at your life and determine what is true, things have a tendency to get pretty messy, quickly.
This temptation to trusting our feelings is fundamentally a temptation to trust ourselves over what the Father has called us to, namely to trust him with our very lives. The obedience we see displayed in Christ in Gethsemane and on the cross is the very obedience we see lacking in Adam in Genesis 3. Theologians have referred to Christ as the “second” Adam for centuries. What was proved to be impossible for Adam, to trust the Father over himself and his feelings, was accomplished in and through Christ (Romans 5).
This should give us great hope and comfort. If we are to become people who live beyond the scope of our feelings, we need help. Actually we need more than help, we need for Him to do something for us and in us that we cannot do for ourselves. It should comfort us because Adam, Eve, and everyone since are living proof that something outside of us is needed to live in obedience to the Father. It also changes what we do with our feelings. We don’t spend needless amounts of time in shame over feelings we didn’t conjure and can’t overcome. It drives us to the very place and person who can set us free. The problem is that we actually believe that we are free in the first place. We think that we are free, but in reality scripture teaches us that we are slaves. Slaves to sin, slaves to our feelings, slaves to ourselves (Romans 6:17). We need to be set free.
That’s the whole reason Jesus came, to make free men and women out of slaves.
Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Freedom to feel, just not the freedom to act.
Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
The freedom to feel, not the freedom to act.
Most of our lives as Christ followers are not lived in the delicate balance of the above statement. I say delicate because our lives are a complexity of feelings, emotions, thoughts, and circumstances. Most people find themselves in one of two places concerning their feelings. Either my feelings are the truest part of myself and therefore deserve unparalleled allegiance, or my feelings are rooted in my flesh and therefore are always twisted and laced with sinful motive and should never be trusted. Either “ditch” is a place, that if lived in to long, can become crippling to our journey with the Lord.
So what do we do with our feelings? How are we to treat them in the context of how we live our day to lives?
In looking at the garden account of Gethsemane, we see this paradox of freedom to feel, but not freedom to act, lived out in full color by Jesus himself. Matthew 26: 39 “ My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
It couldn’t be clearer that Jesus desire was to not have to suffer what He knew was about to transpire. In the account in Matthew he asked this three times of the Father to take this “cup from him”. Jesus even states that “his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” to his disciples in verse 38. His feelings on the matter were infinitely clear. He sweated drops of blood as result of anguish over knowing the cross he was about to bear (Luke 22:44). Still he felt as Gods son the full freedom to communicate this to the Father. I have often wondered why, if Jesus knew that the cross was coming, and that it was clearly the will of the father for him to bear it, would he still communicate this desire to the Father. What good could come of it? Why be honest and reveal the true desire of your heart if nothing is possibly going to change? How is it that Jesus could be so honest about what he desired, and yet live and act out of the second part of his statement “thy will be done?” Although I believe there are a myriad of complexities to consider here, many far beyond my grasp, I would offer a few considerations that, although they do not wrap up neatly this matter entirely, do offer some direction for such a pervasive issue as our feelings.
I would suggest that most Christians only do half of Gethsemane. We say, “your will be done”, but never feel the freedom to express to God the depth of our desire concerning the matter at hand. This inevitably leads to a relational disconnect with God the Father, and consequently to a bitter heart and flawed thinking concerning the Father, and in particular his heart towards us. This relational disconnect also keeps us from something else absolutely vital, namely experiencing God himself, the only one who can give us the comfort and peace we need, which fuels our wills to trust his plan over ours.
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I don’t think that what Paul is saying is that if you have anxiety about your life then something is wrong with you. I think that the anxiety that God is warning against is the anxiety of bringing our hearts to him. It is not so much a statement of “if you find yourself anxious, don’t be” but rather “when you find yourself anxious, come to me” and let me give you peace, let me protect and guard your heart. Let me give you myself. I will be your peace (Micah 5:5)
Colossians 3:15- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you wee called to peace.
It is difficult for two things two sit on the thrones of our hearts at one time. In fact it is impossible. In a culture that celebrates feelings as having the highest value, it is safe to say that what “rules” most of our hearts are those very emotions. It is only though spirit initiated and sustained willingness that our feelings can be replaced on the throne of our hearts with Christ’s peace.
The freedom to feel, not the freedom to act.
Most of our lives as Christ followers are not lived in the delicate balance of the above statement. I say delicate because our lives are a complexity of feelings, emotions, thoughts, and circumstances. Most people find themselves in one of two places concerning their feelings. Either my feelings are the truest part of myself and therefore deserve unparalleled allegiance, or my feelings are rooted in my flesh and therefore are always twisted and laced with sinful motive and should never be trusted. Either “ditch” is a place, that if lived in to long, can become crippling to our journey with the Lord.
So what do we do with our feelings? How are we to treat them in the context of how we live our day to lives?
In looking at the garden account of Gethsemane, we see this paradox of freedom to feel, but not freedom to act, lived out in full color by Jesus himself. Matthew 26: 39 “ My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
It couldn’t be clearer that Jesus desire was to not have to suffer what He knew was about to transpire. In the account in Matthew he asked this three times of the Father to take this “cup from him”. Jesus even states that “his soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” to his disciples in verse 38. His feelings on the matter were infinitely clear. He sweated drops of blood as result of anguish over knowing the cross he was about to bear (Luke 22:44). Still he felt as Gods son the full freedom to communicate this to the Father. I have often wondered why, if Jesus knew that the cross was coming, and that it was clearly the will of the father for him to bear it, would he still communicate this desire to the Father. What good could come of it? Why be honest and reveal the true desire of your heart if nothing is possibly going to change? How is it that Jesus could be so honest about what he desired, and yet live and act out of the second part of his statement “thy will be done?” Although I believe there are a myriad of complexities to consider here, many far beyond my grasp, I would offer a few considerations that, although they do not wrap up neatly this matter entirely, do offer some direction for such a pervasive issue as our feelings.
I would suggest that most Christians only do half of Gethsemane. We say, “your will be done”, but never feel the freedom to express to God the depth of our desire concerning the matter at hand. This inevitably leads to a relational disconnect with God the Father, and consequently to a bitter heart and flawed thinking concerning the Father, and in particular his heart towards us. This relational disconnect also keeps us from something else absolutely vital, namely experiencing God himself, the only one who can give us the comfort and peace we need, which fuels our wills to trust his plan over ours.
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I don’t think that what Paul is saying is that if you have anxiety about your life then something is wrong with you. I think that the anxiety that God is warning against is the anxiety of bringing our hearts to him. It is not so much a statement of “if you find yourself anxious, don’t be” but rather “when you find yourself anxious, come to me” and let me give you peace, let me protect and guard your heart. Let me give you myself. I will be your peace (Micah 5:5)
Colossians 3:15- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you wee called to peace.
It is difficult for two things two sit on the thrones of our hearts at one time. In fact it is impossible. In a culture that celebrates feelings as having the highest value, it is safe to say that what “rules” most of our hearts are those very emotions. It is only though spirit initiated and sustained willingness that our feelings can be replaced on the throne of our hearts with Christ’s peace.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Desire
Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
It is in the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most human beings live for only the gratification of it. - Aristotle.
I have often heard it taught that what this verse is saying is that God will give you desires for your heart. That God causes and affects your heart to desire certain things that are in line with his desires for you. This is complicated due to the fickle nature of our flesh and a heart that the Lord has told us is “deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)” and that we are in need of assistance to understand our own hearts. If this is true, then what I confess I desire is in all probability just the surface of my true desire. For to come in contact beyond the surface and into the depth of my desire, I need the holy spirit to reveal it to me (1 Corinthians 2). This leads us to conclude then that what this passage is not saying is that whatever you find your heart desiring, that God has given you that desire.
So why do I have such a vast range of desires? Why am I bent on having them satisfied immediately? I understand that if I have a desire to sell cocaine to minors, that clearly isn’t a desire that the Lord has given me, but what about the desire to have a husband or wife for the single person? What about the desire for having a child for a married couple? What about the desire to make enough money to pay my bills? Is it possible for God to give you a desire that he doesn’t intend to fulfill in this life? If so, why? How does my desire not turn into entitlement? In other words, if the Lord has given me this desire, now he needs to fulfill it, and do so now. It seems that understanding our desire is at the root of all of this. Is it possible, that like hope, desire is something implanted in us, rather than something we have in and of ourselves?
If Aristotle is right in his statement, that the nature of desire is to not be satisfied, and Paul is telling the truth in Romans 8:23 that as a result of the implanting of the Holy Spirit we find ourselves “groaning” as we wait for the redemption of our bodies, then what is this desire inside of us all about? We need to understand what it is all about, for if we don't we are a ship without a rudder, tossed about by the sea. I would suggest we go back to “delight” in Psalm 37. What does it it mean to delight in the Lord?
Eden is defined as "a state of perfect happiness or bliss, a delightful place, a paradise". In the creation account of Genesis 2 and 3 we find a picture the first of humanity experiencing what we "groan" for as Christ followers in this current day. What we are seeing in Eden is the desire of God for mankind concerning the nature of their relationship. Prior to the fall, it was the delight of the Lord and of man that they were fully in relationship with one another; in spirit and in body. It is often easy for me to think of Eden in terms of its content (the beauty, peace, security, no sorrow, work rather than labor and toil, etc). It would serve us better to think of Eden not just in terms of the resulting content, but rather the preceding context that is the cause, namely the presence of God himself.
Is it possible that all of our true desire is liked inexplicably with this truth, that the only experience of true satisfaction and gratification require the full presence of God Himself? That what will be so profoundly great about being reunited to Christ in death will not be the byproduct blessings of heaven but the glory ridden experience of being face to face with God himself. It is easy to see that if this is what I was made for, why I live so many days trying to kill my desire by my vane attempts to satisfy it now. I have “eternity” placed in my heart by him, and I have no way of brining it about. Ecclesiastes 3:11.
As a result we usually do one of two things. Try to kill desire by grasping anxiously at some lesser thing, robbing me of freedom and “nailing” my desire to some attachment that supplies temporary comfort. But desire having been given not manifested, and having its root in God not man, cannot be destroyed, any more than it can be satisfied outside of Him. The other option takes us back to the garden. For we have now, as Christ followers, one of two parts. A new heart and new Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19) We can begin to taste the first-fruits of what we one day experience in full, when our bodies are restored along with this work he has already accomplished in our spirit. It is safe to say, that the only lasting satisfaction I will experience this side of glory will be “in spirit”. Knowing this and staying in step with this truth (Galatians5: 23) then becomes quite paramount for understanding and living out of my true desire. It is only in times when I live minutes, days, hours, weeks, months, and even years out of touch with the holy spirit that my sense of entitlement for the desires of my heart to me satisfied now is the dominating emotion of my life.
It is why when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray; the first request was for the” thy kingdom to come”. When I demand all of my desires to be met by God now, it is safe to say that I have replaced “thy” with “my”. That’s a whole other topic.
It is in the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most human beings live for only the gratification of it. - Aristotle.
I have often heard it taught that what this verse is saying is that God will give you desires for your heart. That God causes and affects your heart to desire certain things that are in line with his desires for you. This is complicated due to the fickle nature of our flesh and a heart that the Lord has told us is “deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)” and that we are in need of assistance to understand our own hearts. If this is true, then what I confess I desire is in all probability just the surface of my true desire. For to come in contact beyond the surface and into the depth of my desire, I need the holy spirit to reveal it to me (1 Corinthians 2). This leads us to conclude then that what this passage is not saying is that whatever you find your heart desiring, that God has given you that desire.
So why do I have such a vast range of desires? Why am I bent on having them satisfied immediately? I understand that if I have a desire to sell cocaine to minors, that clearly isn’t a desire that the Lord has given me, but what about the desire to have a husband or wife for the single person? What about the desire for having a child for a married couple? What about the desire to make enough money to pay my bills? Is it possible for God to give you a desire that he doesn’t intend to fulfill in this life? If so, why? How does my desire not turn into entitlement? In other words, if the Lord has given me this desire, now he needs to fulfill it, and do so now. It seems that understanding our desire is at the root of all of this. Is it possible, that like hope, desire is something implanted in us, rather than something we have in and of ourselves?
If Aristotle is right in his statement, that the nature of desire is to not be satisfied, and Paul is telling the truth in Romans 8:23 that as a result of the implanting of the Holy Spirit we find ourselves “groaning” as we wait for the redemption of our bodies, then what is this desire inside of us all about? We need to understand what it is all about, for if we don't we are a ship without a rudder, tossed about by the sea. I would suggest we go back to “delight” in Psalm 37. What does it it mean to delight in the Lord?
Eden is defined as "a state of perfect happiness or bliss, a delightful place, a paradise". In the creation account of Genesis 2 and 3 we find a picture the first of humanity experiencing what we "groan" for as Christ followers in this current day. What we are seeing in Eden is the desire of God for mankind concerning the nature of their relationship. Prior to the fall, it was the delight of the Lord and of man that they were fully in relationship with one another; in spirit and in body. It is often easy for me to think of Eden in terms of its content (the beauty, peace, security, no sorrow, work rather than labor and toil, etc). It would serve us better to think of Eden not just in terms of the resulting content, but rather the preceding context that is the cause, namely the presence of God himself.
Is it possible that all of our true desire is liked inexplicably with this truth, that the only experience of true satisfaction and gratification require the full presence of God Himself? That what will be so profoundly great about being reunited to Christ in death will not be the byproduct blessings of heaven but the glory ridden experience of being face to face with God himself. It is easy to see that if this is what I was made for, why I live so many days trying to kill my desire by my vane attempts to satisfy it now. I have “eternity” placed in my heart by him, and I have no way of brining it about. Ecclesiastes 3:11.
As a result we usually do one of two things. Try to kill desire by grasping anxiously at some lesser thing, robbing me of freedom and “nailing” my desire to some attachment that supplies temporary comfort. But desire having been given not manifested, and having its root in God not man, cannot be destroyed, any more than it can be satisfied outside of Him. The other option takes us back to the garden. For we have now, as Christ followers, one of two parts. A new heart and new Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19) We can begin to taste the first-fruits of what we one day experience in full, when our bodies are restored along with this work he has already accomplished in our spirit. It is safe to say, that the only lasting satisfaction I will experience this side of glory will be “in spirit”. Knowing this and staying in step with this truth (Galatians5: 23) then becomes quite paramount for understanding and living out of my true desire. It is only in times when I live minutes, days, hours, weeks, months, and even years out of touch with the holy spirit that my sense of entitlement for the desires of my heart to me satisfied now is the dominating emotion of my life.
It is why when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray; the first request was for the” thy kingdom to come”. When I demand all of my desires to be met by God now, it is safe to say that I have replaced “thy” with “my”. That’s a whole other topic.
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