BEATITUDES - THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
What place do the "beatitudes" taught by the Lord Jesus have in the Christian's life? Are they impossible laws to keep, general ideals to aspire for, the outline for some kingdom other than that to which believers belong, or something deeper? Perhaps comparing these nine promises of blessing with the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians will help give a healthy perspective.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT: God gives grace to the humble. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. Unless one humbles himself as a child he will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and unless one is born again he will not see the kingdom of God. Humility or being poor in spirit is not a lofty ideal, but a requisite for all who would enter into life. Similarly, the sum of the law and the prophets is to love God whole heartedly, and to love one's neighbour as oneself. If we are captivated by the Spirit of God, then His character will be evident in us, as it was in Christ, as we consider others' interests above our own. This is love in action. Whoever does not love, does not know God.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN: There is no proof of God's presence when one perseveres only as long as things are going well and good feelings prevail. Those who know God also learn to grieve and hurt deeply, knowing that patience leads to experience, and experience gives hope - knowing that the Comforter is never far away.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE - bearing under suffering.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK: Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have placed their confidence in God. They do not have to scheme and strive for mastery over their fellow men. They can afford to be yoked together with their Master, who promised that all who came to Him and learned from Him who was meek and lowly of heart would find rest for their souls.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS MEEKNESS.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: To be a follower of God, a child of the Father, a citizen of His kingdom, predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, is not just a matter of believing the right things. It is the righteousness of God lived out in visible action through the disciple. One in whom the Spirit of God dwells will have a hunger to do what He does.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GOODNESS.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: Those who are relying on God's grace and not their own righteousness do not hold themselves as judges to condemn others. Those who recognize God's undeserved forgiveness of them, cannot hold a record of wrongs against another. Any irritation or offence must be displaced by a concern and desire for the welfare of the other.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GENTLENESS.
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART: No one can serve two masters. We cannot claim to have placed our faith in God while our true interest is in grasping for ourselves. A double-minded man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. God will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. Trials come so that faith, like gold refined by fire, may be proved genuine.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS FAITHFULNESS.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: We were reconciled to God because He Himself, who is our Peace, destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, creating one new man, making peace. To all those who participate in that new creation is given the responsibility to bring this reconciliation to others. Jesus' prayer for all those who would believe was that we should experience the same kind of unity with God and one another as He Himself did with His Father.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PEACE.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Those who call on the name of the Lord are called to follow in His steps - when they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered He made no threats. Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS SELF CONTROL.
BLESSED ARE YOU, REJOICE AND BE GLAD WHEN PEOPLE PERSECUTE YOU BECAUSE OF ME: The joy of the Spirit is not a natural animal reaction to being well fed and comfortable. It is always mentioned in the presence of hardship, disappointment and opposition. We are called on to endure hardship as discipline, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him endured opposition from sinful men. Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS JOY.
As we see the Lord's description of life in the Kingdom of God, we see that it is no less than the character of God Himself put into action in the lives of those in whom He dwells. -philw
Friday, October 30, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Diabolos
Diabolos (Greek)
1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
1a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer,
2) metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him.
Satan the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God and enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding.
from diaballo
1) to throw over or across, to send over
2) to traduce, calumniate, slander, accuse, defame
(Strong’s Revised Lexicon)
It is odd that those who would stumble at the existence of a good and powerful personal God because there is too much evil in the world, seem to have even more difficulty with the existence of a supernatural evil being. Like many Biblical names, Diabolos is a description, with the imagery of throwing things. God (Father, Son, Spirit) is pictured in such terms as the Creator, Author, Finisher, Sustainer, Builder, or Advocate. Diabolos, on the other hand, does not create, but merely accuses and twists / perverts what has already been created. There is no evil in the world that is not merely a perverting of something that was originally good.
Mankind has a unique ability to imagine something that never was, plan how it might become a reality, and then work to make it so. The resulting creation becomes an expression of the person/s who did it. They are identified with each other, and for better or for worse, we take ownership of what we have done. Possibly one of the greatest senses of satisfaction comes from carrying through on such a creative plan, and some of the most acute disappointments at seeing it crash and burn.
Children start out as imitators. Most of our kids’ actions that appear cute to us, are actually just attempts to do what they see us doing. The first signs of the dawn of adulthood (“adolescence”) are often marked with a newfound ability to criticize. Growing children feel freedom to move beyond mimicking the parent, and proceed to find fault, and to add their own twist to how they perceive things. Done well, this process leads to a deeper understanding of how to function as an adult, and to dream and create what even their parents could not have imagined. Gone awry however, it can get stuck on looking for more ways to pervert and break down what others have risked to do. This may happen when early attempts to dream and build were met consistently with criticism and smashing down by parents or others who never learned themselves to move beyond this stage. At the other tip of the horseshoe from adolescent whining is senescent bitterness. In practice there is not much difference, the former feeling overwhelmed at the challenges life is throwing at them, and the latter despairing that they cannot do anything about it anymore.
Criticizing and accusing is about as easy as breathing. If we don’t speak it, we likely have thought it anyway. We are immersed in it. The workplace and media ooze with it. Acknowledged, it is not without benefit. Dreams without critical analysis are folly. Diving in without consultation is reckless. The very act of criticizing is part of our creative ability. But most criticism and accusation is not that. It is only tearing down what someone else is building. And it is done as a cheap attempt to make ourselves feel more important, to feel better about our own failure to do what we should be doing, or from jealousy of someone with the imagination and courage to follow through.
How can we respond to this? First, with a good dose of humility before we arrogantly presume to be the authority on someone else’s observations. It is possible to look for the constructive element contained in any criticism, and the truth communicated by any accusation. That gives us an opportunity to move on to the next step we might not otherwise have seen. When we feel the irritation of someone else just wanting to tear down, we can see that as an expression of an emptiness in them, rather than a signal for us to lash out in self defense or to despair and give it up. When a thought of criticism or accusation comes to us, which it will do by the hour, we can pause and consider our own motive before we express it. Is it from Diabolos, who comes to “steal and kill and destroy”, or from our God-given ability to build up? Then, if we do let our criticism be known, it can always come with a realistic suggestion of how things might be better. -philw
1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
1a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer,
2) metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him.
Satan the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God and enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding.
from diaballo
1) to throw over or across, to send over
2) to traduce, calumniate, slander, accuse, defame
(Strong’s Revised Lexicon)
It is odd that those who would stumble at the existence of a good and powerful personal God because there is too much evil in the world, seem to have even more difficulty with the existence of a supernatural evil being. Like many Biblical names, Diabolos is a description, with the imagery of throwing things. God (Father, Son, Spirit) is pictured in such terms as the Creator, Author, Finisher, Sustainer, Builder, or Advocate. Diabolos, on the other hand, does not create, but merely accuses and twists / perverts what has already been created. There is no evil in the world that is not merely a perverting of something that was originally good.
Mankind has a unique ability to imagine something that never was, plan how it might become a reality, and then work to make it so. The resulting creation becomes an expression of the person/s who did it. They are identified with each other, and for better or for worse, we take ownership of what we have done. Possibly one of the greatest senses of satisfaction comes from carrying through on such a creative plan, and some of the most acute disappointments at seeing it crash and burn.
Children start out as imitators. Most of our kids’ actions that appear cute to us, are actually just attempts to do what they see us doing. The first signs of the dawn of adulthood (“adolescence”) are often marked with a newfound ability to criticize. Growing children feel freedom to move beyond mimicking the parent, and proceed to find fault, and to add their own twist to how they perceive things. Done well, this process leads to a deeper understanding of how to function as an adult, and to dream and create what even their parents could not have imagined. Gone awry however, it can get stuck on looking for more ways to pervert and break down what others have risked to do. This may happen when early attempts to dream and build were met consistently with criticism and smashing down by parents or others who never learned themselves to move beyond this stage. At the other tip of the horseshoe from adolescent whining is senescent bitterness. In practice there is not much difference, the former feeling overwhelmed at the challenges life is throwing at them, and the latter despairing that they cannot do anything about it anymore.
Criticizing and accusing is about as easy as breathing. If we don’t speak it, we likely have thought it anyway. We are immersed in it. The workplace and media ooze with it. Acknowledged, it is not without benefit. Dreams without critical analysis are folly. Diving in without consultation is reckless. The very act of criticizing is part of our creative ability. But most criticism and accusation is not that. It is only tearing down what someone else is building. And it is done as a cheap attempt to make ourselves feel more important, to feel better about our own failure to do what we should be doing, or from jealousy of someone with the imagination and courage to follow through.
How can we respond to this? First, with a good dose of humility before we arrogantly presume to be the authority on someone else’s observations. It is possible to look for the constructive element contained in any criticism, and the truth communicated by any accusation. That gives us an opportunity to move on to the next step we might not otherwise have seen. When we feel the irritation of someone else just wanting to tear down, we can see that as an expression of an emptiness in them, rather than a signal for us to lash out in self defense or to despair and give it up. When a thought of criticism or accusation comes to us, which it will do by the hour, we can pause and consider our own motive before we express it. Is it from Diabolos, who comes to “steal and kill and destroy”, or from our God-given ability to build up? Then, if we do let our criticism be known, it can always come with a realistic suggestion of how things might be better. -philw
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Motivation
Considering Paul’s early experiences with the church in Damascus and Jerusalem, I was impressed at the importance of the church in our motivation to carry on. Motivation is one of the most important elements in one’s success or demise. I think of people with whom I grew up and went to school. Their success depended less on how gifted they were than on their willingness to stick to the task at hand. Much of that depended in turn on their examples at home, social supports, and view of life.
The absolutely easiest thing in the world (like exercising more, or eating less) is impossible without continuing motivation to press on. We have all started undertakings like this, pleased and satisfied at how well we do, only to get distracted before we see any lasting result. When it comes to core issues like character maturing, dealing with personal pride, mean-ness, laziness, lust, greed, we really need the Christian community to keep us motivated, with the Spirit of God to show us what is true.
As evangelicals, we emphasize that the Spirit of God lives in us and gives us the will and the power to please God. And he does. In fact, he is right there with us all the time. Yet despite that, we doubt and disobey, because at least at some level we don’t believe he is. At the other end of the spectrum is doing right and abstaining from evil only because some influence, such as family or police, or religious body, rewards and punishes in some way.
Too often, we are motivated by pride and shame. These are actually two sides of the same coin (Prov.11:2). They do produce impressive short term results. They work especially well for modifying those behaviors that others can see. But because they are all about making self look better, they are pulling us in the wrong direction where a Christian virtue is concerned. And for the same reason, when we let pride and shame be our motivation, we will find ways to do our evil, while trumpeting our good deeds for all to see.
In contrast to pride and shame, motivation by love is focused on someone other than self. The love of Christ controls us (2Cor.5:14); The love of Christ surpasses knowledge (Eph.3:19); We love because he first loved us. (1Jn.4:19). Jesus motivated by being a servant, by washing his disciples’ feet, by laying down his life, by inviting us to join him in his yoke. Love of a spouse, child, or friend can lead us to do the same. Similarly motivation within the Christian community comes from a willingness to serve, give, and come along side to share the load, rather than from laying more burdens on others.
Why do we need a Christian community? Much of the time we could do the right thing in and of ourselves, but in the end, by ourselves, we don’t. The spirit of life in Christ gives us the will and power to please God. But he has made us to joyfully do this as a part of his visible Body, encouraging and being encouraged to go ahead with what his Spirit is leading us to do. -philw
The absolutely easiest thing in the world (like exercising more, or eating less) is impossible without continuing motivation to press on. We have all started undertakings like this, pleased and satisfied at how well we do, only to get distracted before we see any lasting result. When it comes to core issues like character maturing, dealing with personal pride, mean-ness, laziness, lust, greed, we really need the Christian community to keep us motivated, with the Spirit of God to show us what is true.
As evangelicals, we emphasize that the Spirit of God lives in us and gives us the will and the power to please God. And he does. In fact, he is right there with us all the time. Yet despite that, we doubt and disobey, because at least at some level we don’t believe he is. At the other end of the spectrum is doing right and abstaining from evil only because some influence, such as family or police, or religious body, rewards and punishes in some way.
Too often, we are motivated by pride and shame. These are actually two sides of the same coin (Prov.11:2). They do produce impressive short term results. They work especially well for modifying those behaviors that others can see. But because they are all about making self look better, they are pulling us in the wrong direction where a Christian virtue is concerned. And for the same reason, when we let pride and shame be our motivation, we will find ways to do our evil, while trumpeting our good deeds for all to see.
In contrast to pride and shame, motivation by love is focused on someone other than self. The love of Christ controls us (2Cor.5:14); The love of Christ surpasses knowledge (Eph.3:19); We love because he first loved us. (1Jn.4:19). Jesus motivated by being a servant, by washing his disciples’ feet, by laying down his life, by inviting us to join him in his yoke. Love of a spouse, child, or friend can lead us to do the same. Similarly motivation within the Christian community comes from a willingness to serve, give, and come along side to share the load, rather than from laying more burdens on others.
Why do we need a Christian community? Much of the time we could do the right thing in and of ourselves, but in the end, by ourselves, we don’t. The spirit of life in Christ gives us the will and power to please God. But he has made us to joyfully do this as a part of his visible Body, encouraging and being encouraged to go ahead with what his Spirit is leading us to do. -philw
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Root of Evil
Paul’s admonition to Timothy that “the love of money is the root of all evil” was in the context of caution against greed, and to be content. This wisdom has long been recognized even in secular society driven by greed. During the last federal election campaign in Canada, it occurred to me that the underlying assumption was more like “Poverty is the root of all evil”.
While the government approach to social ills for years has been to increase funding to whatever social ill is identified, the entity of “poverty” is now more specifically labeled as the problem. This overlooks the fact that poverty is more often a symptom of the problem, which finds its roots more in the sin of mankind that leads to family breakup, violence against one another, abuse of property, dishonesty, and dreams of getting rich without labor or sacrifice. Funding an environment such as that does not bring prosperity and happiness, but only more of the same problems. Instances of sudden wealth coming to historically poor people graphically illustrate this. As someone pointed out to me, giving money to someone only helps them get where they were headed faster. Viewing poverty rather than the love of money as the root of all evil is a foolish philosophical shift which will only exacerbate the disease which brought us to it in the first place. -philw
While the government approach to social ills for years has been to increase funding to whatever social ill is identified, the entity of “poverty” is now more specifically labeled as the problem. This overlooks the fact that poverty is more often a symptom of the problem, which finds its roots more in the sin of mankind that leads to family breakup, violence against one another, abuse of property, dishonesty, and dreams of getting rich without labor or sacrifice. Funding an environment such as that does not bring prosperity and happiness, but only more of the same problems. Instances of sudden wealth coming to historically poor people graphically illustrate this. As someone pointed out to me, giving money to someone only helps them get where they were headed faster. Viewing poverty rather than the love of money as the root of all evil is a foolish philosophical shift which will only exacerbate the disease which brought us to it in the first place. -philw
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