Pride and Complaining

"Thankfulness only blossoms from a deep root of humility." J.C. Ryle 1816-1900

 This quote from an Anglican bishop over a century ago was shared in a recent Sunday sermon. It prompted me to consider my own attitudes, and elusive pursuit of a life characterized by humility. The thought occurred to me that if gratitude is a measure of humility, then it might follow that complaining is a measure of pride.

Not long before this, I had become so frustrated with my own readiness to complain, that I put up a reminder sign in front of my desk in the office, "Do Everything Without Complaining" (quoting from Philippians  2:14). I wasn't thinking of it in terms of pride and humility, but was surprised to soon find myself having an attitude of complaining about the sign I had put up for myself.

So why might complaining be a measure of pride? It is identifying something or someone that obstructs my agenda for what I want to be or do, and blaming it for my shortcoming. At worst, it is denigrating someone else, for my own aggrandizement. At best, it is whining about petty annoyances that are the common lot of humanity. In any case, it is asserting that the real I is better both than the circumstances and people that surround me, and even better than how I seem to be doing at the moment, hampered by those circumstances or people. 

Since sharing this simple observation with a few people, it has all too frequently already reminded me about how pervasive my pride is, and how comfortable I had become with it. But the observation that "complaining is a measure of pride" is likely true. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (2Cor.10:17)                                  -philw

Earth Hour

On March 27th, everyone in the world, ideally, was asked to shut off non-essential power for an hour. The idea was to remind us to be careful how we use limited resources, not just for the hour of course, but all year round. The province of Ontario reported a 10% decrease in electricity use during that hour. The city of Calgary reported a 0.5% decrease, which was an improvement over its 2% increase reported last year.
It’s hard to find fault with conserving limited resources. But the rhetoric about it does not seem to be reflected in action by those who claim to support it. When consumers a couple years ago actually made a serious effort to only buy things they needed, those same voices promoting Earth Hour panicked, demanding that the state borrow more money to entice people to buy just to keep the economy going. Our economy is dependent on consumers throwing away stuff that is still serviceable, buying stuff which we don’t need and won’t even make us any happier, eating and drinking far more than is healthy for us, and busily traveling to and fro in a flurry of activity. Suzuki solemnly endorses switching to compact fluorescent bulbs, but fails to comment on resources required to make them, that they will be left on longer, that they do not provide the same light, do not work well in cold temperatures, and that we would accomplish more by simply turning off lights, and heat, and cooling, and vehicles that are not serving any purpose. Witnessing a daily morning parade of idling vehicles leading up to a Tim Horton’s drive through a few years ago left an indelible shock in my memory.
It wasn’t that many years ago that most businesses closed at least one day a week. Somehow we managed to obtain our groceries, and consumer goods, spend a bit more time with friends and family, take time to acknowledge the One who created all this good stuff, and still build one of the most prosperous civilizations in the history of the world. We gave the earth a rest one day a week, as well as every night. Well, now we need to shop or work or go out for entertainment 24/7. Not quite sure how this will make us all better off, but at least there is a token hour out of the 8766 per year.
This is like going to church once a year to feel good about being a little bit religious. But it is more than that. Listening to comments on the radio about what people did during earth hour, there were ideas like just being with some friends, or having a glass of wine by candlelight. And I thought, this is a religious ceremony, a time to do our homage to Mother Earth. It does have a much more palatable flavor than the grim content of the Christian holy week. As Easter was adapted from paganism to Christianity, perhaps it has almost come full circle. –philw

Second Mile Re-Visited

Someone commented that it is hard to know how many “second miles” to go when serving people whose expectations seem insatiable.


One response here is that the “second mile” is done from a sense of freedom rather than obligation. Volunteering in the first place, for community, or church, or cross-cultural missions service, is already in the “second mile” category. No one is demanding that we do it. We see something that needs doing, and we freely step up and do it. That does not mean we should place ourselves under bondage to do whatever anyone tells us to do.

The Lord Jesus, who taught us about the second mile, also provided examples of setting boundaries. They wanted to make him a king, to do some more miracles, to go to Jerusalem at their bidding, to grant them to sit next to him in power, to answer trick questions, to be available when and where they wanted him, to come down from the cross. He seemed to have no trouble in declining. He demonstrates the ultimate submission to the will of his Father, with the ultimate sense of freedom. -philw

A Heart For God

Three general components of a Christian life would be a heart devoted to God (Father, Son, Spirit), a knowledge and personal acceptance of truth, and a life of obedience to Christ’s teachings. John’s first epistle could be summed up in these three principles, carefully tying them together. We can’t love God if we don’t know him or about him. And we can’t say we love God if we don’t love people and obey what Jesus has said.


Christian traditions have tended to emphasize one of these three above the others, yet doing so presents serious problems. A passion for our idea of God without knowledge is a dangerous thing. The Apostle Paul lamented that his own Jewish nation was characterized by a zeal for God that was not based on knowledge. We might get the same feeling about those pre-occupied with deeper spiritual experiences. A heavy emphasis on how we feel and our personal rapture readily opens the door for superstition and vain imagination, if not outright self-deceit. Various splinter sects do stress careful restrictive teaching, and often demonstrate zeal as well, but too often resting on the assertions of a single very persuasive founder. The passion is not really directed toward God, but toward one’s own sect – Christian tribalism.

Christian Fundamentalism has stressed the importance of right teaching to prevent such excess and diversion. The assumption is that if we can get our knowledge of the truth accurate and complete, then a life for God must follow. This has been carried out through preaching, and Bible studies, and books, and retreats, and seminaries. And it has produced valuable systematic theology. But a perception that one has arrived at such knowledge is an irresistible temptation for pride, for further fine tuning of our knowledge, and for excluding and demeaning those who do not share that same knowledge – in other words, a “log” in my own eye. It is crucial that I regard a truth grasped as something to which I am subject, rather than as a weapon with which I beat others down.

So other Christian denominations, while acknowledging that a heart for God and right teaching are of course essential, have recognized that the only real test of true faith is when the rubber hits the road. It’s all in the doing. The result might look more like a community service club, or conversely define ever more details about exactly what a Christian should or should not be doing. It’s not hard to see how quickly we can get off track there. Miss the mark and be crushed with shame. Get it right once and be puffed up with pride. Before we know it, we have a scale of good and bad deeds that measure how close to God one is. And then of course it is a good time to review the Apostle Paul’s warnings against legalism.

So then what? I would suggest that a revelation of the Person of God, and the desirable human response of a heart for God is the prevailing theme of both the Old and New Testaments, as well as the work of God throughout the history of the Church. I think of Bible characters who did not do so well for exhaustive doctrine or stellar conduct, but whom Scripture holds up as examples because of their hope and trust and delight in the Living God. Perhaps we shy away from such a pursuit because it is so difficult to measure, or a short step to emotionalism, or just dangerous and unpredictable. While we can devise tests for doctrine and for conduct, a love-for-God test is going to be elusive. And, as John’s epistle warns, it is easy enough to imagine that one loves God without caring about truth, obeying God, or loving others.

But despite that, we will always have a sense of our own heart’s attitude toward God, and while this might be the most slippery to define and measure, it might be the best light in which to view knowledge and practice. When I hear a “great sermon”, is it great in terms of increasing my appreciation for the wonderfulness of the Living God, or is it great because it had some good ideas, or profound exegesis, or moving challenge, or memorable illustrations? Acknowledged, it will be impossible to pass a firm judgment on it, but I can still tune in to which direction my own appreciation of the Lord took as a result of it. Similarly with pursuing a godly practice or avoiding an evil one. Does this make me feel more deserving of God’s favour and feel a step above others, or do I delight in the fact that the Spirit of God is changing me into the likeness of Christ? Or when I mess up badly, can I simply love the Lord all the more as I realize my need for him and his grace toward me are even greater than I had previously known?

It would be so good to have all of our church - and personal - experience, including corporate worship, Bible teaching, and acts of service, permeated with a heart of love for God as its beginning and end. And as we do so, we might see it comes not from some effort on our part, but because “he first loved us”. -philw

Second Mile

I appreciated some of Brian McLaren’s comments on Jesus' statement, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:41)The context was that a Roman soldier (the occupation force in Palestine) could at any time order a Jew to carry his pack up to one mile. The Jews hated being in subjugation, but Jesus' point was that "by willingly taking the pack the second mile, you walk free - transcending your oppression." (to use McLaren's words.)


Although we are not living under subjugation by occupation forces, we daily have the opportunity to apply this principle at home, in the workplace, and in the community. How many times have we felt imposed upon by someone in our own household expecting us to do some chore. Yet the same task done willingly, for example at someone else’s house, might seem like fun. What drudgery in the workplace when the goal is to just be there until quitting time. Sadly, organized labour has done harm to its constituents by even enforcing the practice of doing only the minimum required by the terms of the contract. But by doing more than is required, we have a sense of freedom, that we are doing this because we choose to, or even enjoy it. By doing only the minimum required, we always feel imposed upon and taken advantage of. When we grasp every penny, we feel we never have enough money; when we only work for self we never have enough time. By giving money away, we feel rich, by giving our time to someone else we feel that we have extra time; by doing more than is required, we become free. -philw

Parable of the Trucks

A successful trucking operator wanted to take some time away from the business. He called in three of his drivers to give them responsibility to manage things in his absence. To one, he gave five new Kenworth trucks, to the second he gave three, and to the third he gave one. Then he went on a world tour, leaving the business completely to them. The first, with the five trucks, hired five experienced drivers to carry on and expand the owner’s enterprise. He took some risk, but carefully oversaw the dispatching and maintenance of the equipment. Five years later, the trucks were well used, and he sold them, but by that time boasted a fleet of 10 new Kenworth trucks. The second driver also did well with his part, and worked up to a total of six new trucks full time on the road. The third however, seeing the instability in the economy, the price of fuel, and the unreliability of drivers, parked his one Kenworth in the shop.
After a few years the owner returned to see how his company was faring, and again called in the three drivers to see how their efforts had gone. The first driver presented the owner with his fleet of ten trucks, introduced him to the drivers, and reviewed how he had successfully expanded the business. The fleet owner was impressed, and gave him 25% interest in his company, with freedom to manage it how he would. He was also impressed with the second driver, who had done well now managing a fleet of six. He gave him a 20% interest in the company, also with freedom to manage it how he would.

The guy with the one truck was feeling a bit outclassed, but tried to defend his actions. “You don’t know what it’s like,” he said. “Energy costs were through the roof; Ministry of Transport is out to get you every time you’re on the road; the forest industry is so unpredictable; and it’s impossible to find reliable help. But here’s your Kenworth, good as new, and ready to go.” “Get out of here, you idiot,” roared the fleet owner. “At least you could have driven it yourself, and done something useful. Give it to my first man who already has ten trucks on the road. He’ll know what to do with it.”

So the one who has used well what has been given, will be given more. And the one who only hung on to what he had, will lose even that. The fearful driver lost his truck, and his job, and his reputation. He went out and read Matthew 25:14-30, understanding it for the first time.  -philw

Blessed Fruit

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