My Own Worst Enemy - Just Saying

I was talking to a friend of mine recently and we were talking about some of the crazy, silly and annoying things people say. Apparently there was this report put together by the boffins at Oxford to discover some of the worst things people say. It came across a phrase that I love to take the mick out of and it’s one that another friend of mine and I use to describe some approaches to spirituality and that’s ‘it’s not rocket science’. Having conducted the minimal of research I find out that there genuinely is such a thing and it is worthy of its name but not its abuse. Do not be surprised, however, if you see me coming up with a quote from a rocket scientist proving once and for all that any enterprise engaged by your man cd is indeed not rocket science. I believe that level of authentication should set at ease all those concerned by the areas I’ll explore.

Another phrase grossly over-used and placed in the most absurd locations is that rejoinder that a particular scenario is not a ‘bed of roses’. Now I don’t know which genius came up with that reference but I don’t find exactly a bed of comfort and ease to have a lot of rose-pricks making their unsubtle indentations into my rather comfortable pyjamas.

Then I was thinking about a phrase I come across every now and then, that I also consider every now and then and that is the reference to some adversary or a despised foe as our own worst enemy. Think that through with me, someone’s worst enemy by definition is not an enemy worth considering at all. I mean there they are bungling around trying to make matters difficult for you and they are failing abysmally because of all they can do they are the worst at being your enemy. So when we think about what we wouldn’t do to our worst enemy, what we’re really talking about is how we appreciate the ineptitude of the one who ;proposes to be opposed to us. Fascinating really the words that we use and what they mean and how they should be used right.

Anyway, I mention the worst enemy bit in the context of bad sayings on reflection about who our worst enemy happens to be, especially from a biblical perspective. Now what must be really galling for the devil is knowing that although he is indeed our adversary and is completely opposed to any steps we choose to make in enjoying life, the reality is, he is not our worst/best enemy. I am. Sure the roaring lion goes about seeking whom he may devour and as the prince of the power of the air he surely is a formidable foe. However what gets me in trouble is me. If I could not be tempted, his influence would be as powerless as he now really is following the victory of Christ on the cross.

So in seeking God and reconnecting to Him by faith, if I co-operate with Him, I can have brief glimpses of the pre-Fall state where in actuality I had the ability to enjoy God’s creation and because of my relationship with Him there was no temptation whatsoever to sin. Temptation only has the power that I give it. So there’s no point tempting me with particular foods, because I despise them, Thus the more I get back to God’s original blueprint for how I am to live, the more I will despise the things that get me into so much trouble. Then I’ll be my own worst enemy not sleeping in a bed of roses. That’s rather straightforward to me after all, it’s not rocket science.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

Jesus Knows What We're Like

Thanks for your prayers. It was a pressurised five days from Thursday to Monday but through it all with the love of Jesus and a good supportive family around me as well as a gracious church leader I managed to pull through. One of the writing assignments is scheduled to be published later today and I hope to be able to give the link. Another one is due to be published on Monday and there maybe a link to that as well. The third one may never see the light of day, but that’s all good as it fitted the purpose for which it was set out.

Now onto today’s blog. I have wanted to blog for two days at least, but felt time invested in the family would be better especially in the light of the sacrifices they’ve made for me. Here I am though and unusually I’m blogging in the morning, although what follows after this paragraph with an edit here and there was written last night. I just wanted to share what was on my heart on this particular issue. I think I’m of the mind that the fasting series will continue as of next month and use the remaining days of this month to just release some loose thoughts.

Here’s something you don’t read that often on this blog – a quote from scripture, KJV style!

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. – (John 2:23-25 KJV)

This came from a conversation I had with Authrine on Tuesday morning where I crossed on the nature of man being to not necessarily do as well for the common good as he should. So for example, I am convinced that there are people who know enough about technology to be able to have better energy efficient resources utilising natural resources like wind, sun, water, etc. That they do not invest in this is because of how it would upset the capitalist and fundamentally humanist (in the selfish sense) status quo.

The same thing is applicable with the reason for wars, maintenance of heavily flawed systems of government and finances and other related issues. The remedy isn’t far from reach but the effect to how things run would be too scary. As well as that although we like a quick solution and the signs and wonders, when the tide turns we’re quick to blame that which was meant to be our saviour into that which makes us a sucker. At heart despite our desperate desire to love and be loved there is something fundamentally self-serving about our natures that actually negatively impacts our other relationships.

This human nature issue led me to recall this very brief episode in the Bible and so I thought it was worth exploring it further. It’s quite an incredible statement to make in a world where people are so wanting to have their faith reciprocated by others to hear Jesus the one who apparently loves all actually not trusting Himself to people. Not committing Himself. Not getting caught up in the acclaim. Not loving the attention and setting up the Jesus of Nazareth fanpage on Facebook.

Not being specious or facetious but I don’t reckon Jesus would have a Facebook profile if He were around today. I don’t think He’d necessarily have a Twitter account either. I can barely see Him with an email account let alone blogging.

Don’t get me wrong, I reckon Paul would have had a laptop and a regular podcast on iTunes and Luke would have had a blog, Twitter account and a Facebook account. I dare say Timothy would even venture to have a MySpace and Bebo account. I just don’t think Jesus would have the time for these means of distant communication.

I think His energy would have been focussed on personal work in the flesh and time away to consult with His Father as to the way to go. In line with the scripture He would actually commit His life to those who were assigned to Him as His responsibility, i.e. His disciples. Even here as we’ve noted in scripture, this is only to a few, not to many. It’s one thing to serve others, but committing your life to others is something that you only do when specifically led by God.

As for a reality TV show, you can bet your bottom dollar He wouldn’t be seen anywhere near those things, let alone having a documentary team following Him as He walked the streets. He may not have allowed one to follow Him, but one would definitely follow just to get footage of the signs and wonders. I imagine Channel 4 doing one of their usual stitch up jobs in imperiously declaring this travelling talker as a charlatan and a harmless freak at best.

I only say that in considering what things are important to life today. Nothing wrong with social networking applications anymore than there’s something wrong with the TV, radio, mobile phone, regular telephone, computer, pen, paper, tablets of stone, smoke signals and the like. Just to say that when it comes down to it in as advantageous access to thousands of others around the world appears, there is nothing that beats one to one contact with no frills and spills. That way we can get to know people and hopefully know to whom we are to commit ourselves as. We can also be the beacon of compassion to see broken people made whole, bound people released, imprisoned and addicted people set free and those who are poor embrace the good news of God’s imminent Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

This is not a critique of social networking developments or of modern communications. It is just to say that for all my love of writing and making the most of the modern technology to explore it more, I desire everyday to have those encounters with people. I desire everyday to have those holy moments that bring people closer to recognising God for who He is by His grace and mercy. Those sacred times of the realisation not only that there’s more to life than this, but that this something more is all there is to life and is worth so much that life should be forsaken in exchange for this life. Those reverential experiences when the mundane, trivial and mediocre fade into nothingness in the light of the love, holiness, wisdom and majesty of the Creator of the universe made flesh.

In the meantime I reflect further on a man who knew what was in the heart of man – knows what we’re like and still calls us unto Himself.

For His Name's Sake

Shalom

dmcd

What Are We Like?

I had a good conversation with a dear friend today. Among other things she touched on the subject of our nature as people. I’m using that as a springboard for a couple of thoughts that have been jogging up and down my head for the last three years at least.

What we think of ourselves heavily influences our approach to issues of life – both on a personal and a corporate level. For Christians in particular it can sway the way we read the Bible and think about God which as you can appreciate just puts a whole set of challenges in itself. At the moment as a church we’re going through the basic doctrines we hold to establish the foundation on which a lot of other things can grow.

My journey of faith up to this point has seen varied approaches to the issue. Without it being explicitly stated, there was a thought, as I grew up that unless you’re a Christian, you’re actually doomed because in fact you’re nothing but a low down dirty sinner headed in the wrong direction with no redeeming features. Joining the YMCA in 2006 bought me into a company of people who held a radically different view. Here the thinking was that every human is precious and made in the image of God and that in itself means that people cannot be seen as being basically bad, but at worst misguided and it’s just to re-direct them through faith and good works to what they are capable of. Into the mix thinkers and theologians throw in the argument about free will and how God won’t interfere with the decisions we make and merely woos us back to him and we are capable of responding to the wooing of our own accord and freely choose to come to Him.

One of the things about studying the Bible and in essence growing in knowing God is to never be too certain about certain things. There have to be some basics worth holding onto, but for everything else it’s best to take a lead by what the whole account of the Bible would highlight as reflected in the works of those who have dedicated themselves to pursuing God. The comments that follow do not constitute a closed creed on the issue but does indicate where I am at the moment on the topic.

From the beginning the life of man depended on the breath of God. Literally in Him we live, move and have our being. All that we’re capable of is down to Him basically but that connection to God by His breath has been severed by sin which leaves us in a precarious position. Still made in the image of God, our act of rebellion, however, leaves us at the whims of our ungodly (not-god-like) desires. We have not chosen to go the way of God and indeed we’re not inclined to go His way despite His expressed signs of grace. The whole concept of salvation doesn’t make sense without allowing for that – as far as I know anyway, especially based on what I’ve read in the Bible. Sin isn’t just an act it’s an entire default setting. It doesn’t mean we’re incapable of good acts it does mean we are incapable of being good. Even Jesus said so Himself.

So for all the good acts, it’s never been the acts alone that has been pleasing to the Father it has been the heart also. Sadly scripture indicates that the state of the human heart isn’t that commendable in God’s eyes at all. Hence the need for salvation, hence the need for Jesus and hence the need for a new life based on living by reconnection to God by His very Spirit living inside of us. How that happens is all down to God. He speaks and makes us alive again to respond in faith and from there the process of sanctification brings us to the place of at least acknowledging the new heart in us that desires to please God and not ourselves.

There are some quaint terms used in this conversation that are fascinating, like total depravity – that’s a beauty. At present I’m convinced by what they have to say again without saying that means people are just rubbish and do no good at all – that blatantly is not the case. What is the case is that for all of our best efforts, sincere sentiments and good intentions it never measures up to the standards of God which are the only standards worth living to. We know there lurks within us such dark and vile thoughts, such annoying and hurtful attitudes and a history of words and actions that have caused misery, grief and pain that we cannot hide from the fact that we’re in desperate need for help in the deepest part of our being. Thus it’s in our best interests to hear again the message of the gospel that says though our sins be as scarlet they can be made white as snow by accepting and trusting the saving work of Jesus Christ. Nothing else will do.

So that’s why the song ‘Sinner Saved By Grace’ means so much to me. (By the way there are three other decent versions available online worth checking featuring the Cathedrals you can check an old one here excusing the bad dub, the newer one here and the Gaither Gathering version here.) It reflects a reality to me as I understand it at this moment. Yes I am a child of the King, yes I am a joint heir with Jesus and indeed I am the righteousness of God. This does not negate from the fact though I am a sinner saved by grace. My life is lived out of gratitude for what has been done for me by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Any claims to accolades of any sort for any good done goes to the credit of the love of a Father who gave His very best so that I could be reconnected to Him and fulfil that for which I was created.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd