The Elder of First John tells us, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
In a similar manner, Soren expands on the privilege of choice. Humans are endowed with the privilege of choice. We all desire to make good choices, but these choices are predicated on the fact that we have the capacity of choice. The most fundamental choice available for humanity is whether or not to love God. This love manifests itself in obedience. There is an unalterable call to obey the one you love. For any act of disobedience is an act that is not of love for the other, but love for the self.
"If you are not obedient in everything unconditionally, without qualification, you don’t love him, and if you don’t love him – then you hate him. If you are not obedient in everything unconditionally, then you are not bound to him, and if you are not bound to him then you despise him" (pg. 11).
What leads to our choices of hatred? Soren would tell us it is ambiguity. Being in a state of the unknown makes it difficult to trust God. In moments of uncertainty Satan finds a way to lead us into temptation. Temptation arises out of a lack of trust in God's goodness. And it is this lack of trust that lets the temptation take us over.
"When unclarity resides, there is temptation, and there it proves only too easily the stronger. Wherever there is ambiguity, wherever there is wavering, there is disobedience down at the bottom" (12).
It is all too often easy to doubt God's goodness for us. We are too easily shifted off of the solid ground of trust. It may have something to do with our independant culture, it may just be within our nature. Nonetheless, there is something quite foolish about us. We leave the security of trust to find the insecurity of doubt and temptation. Part of this may too be a choice. We may be called to choose to trust. In trusting God, we can love him. In loving God, we obey him.
To not love is to hate. We are given the responsibility, the privilege of choice. We can choose daily whether or not we are going to love God. We are then given the choice, to love or to hate. Either we will love the one and despise the other, or be devoted to the one and hate the other.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Provocative
I have hopefully begun a new and good journey. I am reading a book called, Provocations. It is a reader of Soren Kierkegaard, the great Christian Danish philosopher. Periodically I hope to shed light on what I am thinking about this book, especially as I am reading this quite slowly.
We begin the book with a discussion about decision. In discussing the lack of decision making Soren says, "There is nothing more harmful for your soul than to hold back and not get moving "(4). What true words! I am reminded of the Proverb, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (13:12). Too often the pains of our lives can be solved by the making of a decision. The starting of a path can calm the oceans of unrest and anxiety. When we as people sit in a period of limbo and waiting our souls yearn for something more, something better. There is something existentially important about making decisions.
We find that the need for decision is the archenemy of decision, cowardice. We all seem to have bits of cowardice in us. Ironically, this cowardice is one of the most disdained attributes to be found in anyone. Yet what counteracts cowardice is decision, "The thing that cowardice fears most is decision; for decision always scatters the mists, at least for a moment (5)." Decision seems to clear away the mist. Decision makes unrest restful.
Finally we see that decision is our response to the wickedness inside of us all. Decision is a choice of obedience. Decision is submission. To decide to do right is to side with God. "For God loves obedience more than good intentions or second-best offerings, which are all too often made under the guise of weakness (7)."
Dare to decide to follow the paths of righteousness. Dare to obey.
We begin the book with a discussion about decision. In discussing the lack of decision making Soren says, "There is nothing more harmful for your soul than to hold back and not get moving "(4). What true words! I am reminded of the Proverb, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (13:12). Too often the pains of our lives can be solved by the making of a decision. The starting of a path can calm the oceans of unrest and anxiety. When we as people sit in a period of limbo and waiting our souls yearn for something more, something better. There is something existentially important about making decisions.
We find that the need for decision is the archenemy of decision, cowardice. We all seem to have bits of cowardice in us. Ironically, this cowardice is one of the most disdained attributes to be found in anyone. Yet what counteracts cowardice is decision, "The thing that cowardice fears most is decision; for decision always scatters the mists, at least for a moment (5)." Decision seems to clear away the mist. Decision makes unrest restful.
Finally we see that decision is our response to the wickedness inside of us all. Decision is a choice of obedience. Decision is submission. To decide to do right is to side with God. "For God loves obedience more than good intentions or second-best offerings, which are all too often made under the guise of weakness (7)."
Dare to decide to follow the paths of righteousness. Dare to obey.
Friday, May 1, 2009
April Showers, May Flowers drown
It is raining, a lot. I love the rain, I really do. I love it when it is cold outside and there is rain falling from the sky. I love the darkness that rain clouds bring. There is something very soothing about the rain. I wish it would rain more often.
It didn't rain a lot for Elijah. I have found recently that one of the greatest joys of the Christian experience is being a part of the story. I am a character in the grand narrative of God. I have a role to play, a part to perform, and this is excellent. I have purpose. But, I am expendable. God can use many other extras and understudies to fill my role. I matter, but I don't. In this line of thinking I am reminded of the prophet Elijah. Now there is someone who knew the Scriptures and the power of God. Elijah called fire from heaven down to consume a soaked and drenched sacrifice. Elijah predicted a famine of 3 years, and no rain. Elijah helped keep a widow alive on practically nothing. Elijah knew the power of God. Yet even the great and might Elijah had times of little purpose. I recall a time where Elijah was tired and weary and felt all alone. It was at this point that God tells Elijah, "get up and do your work! I have 7,000 prophets who have not bowed the knee to Baal." In essence, God is saying that Elijah matters, but he really doesn't. It is a privilege to serve God, not a right.
So much of our individualistic culture says that we are entitled to rights. I am not sure how Biblical that type of thinking is. How much am I entitled to in the Bible? God is the only entitled one. I am God's subject, sent to do his bidding. I am entitled to obey. There is not a lot of choice in obedience. I can either chose to obey or not to. Why is obedience so difficult? What makes following orders a task and not a joy? It may have something to do with the Fall of humanity. Because we are psuedo "like God knowing good from evil" we think our plan is better. Our plan makes me happy now, my plan helps me out, my plan is better. Obedience is important, no, essential. If we do not obey the master's call, we do not follow Christ.
Obedience does not ask my opinion. Obedience is not concerned about my feelings. Obedience does not ask for me to solve all problems. Obedience is not preoccupied with me. Obedience is about God.
Obedience is a choice.
So as rain falls on the just and unjust, as the sun shines on the wicked and the holy, I am called to obey. The funny thing about obeying is that when I obey, all of my opinions and feelings seem to get taken care of in an even better manner.
It didn't rain a lot for Elijah. I have found recently that one of the greatest joys of the Christian experience is being a part of the story. I am a character in the grand narrative of God. I have a role to play, a part to perform, and this is excellent. I have purpose. But, I am expendable. God can use many other extras and understudies to fill my role. I matter, but I don't. In this line of thinking I am reminded of the prophet Elijah. Now there is someone who knew the Scriptures and the power of God. Elijah called fire from heaven down to consume a soaked and drenched sacrifice. Elijah predicted a famine of 3 years, and no rain. Elijah helped keep a widow alive on practically nothing. Elijah knew the power of God. Yet even the great and might Elijah had times of little purpose. I recall a time where Elijah was tired and weary and felt all alone. It was at this point that God tells Elijah, "get up and do your work! I have 7,000 prophets who have not bowed the knee to Baal." In essence, God is saying that Elijah matters, but he really doesn't. It is a privilege to serve God, not a right.
So much of our individualistic culture says that we are entitled to rights. I am not sure how Biblical that type of thinking is. How much am I entitled to in the Bible? God is the only entitled one. I am God's subject, sent to do his bidding. I am entitled to obey. There is not a lot of choice in obedience. I can either chose to obey or not to. Why is obedience so difficult? What makes following orders a task and not a joy? It may have something to do with the Fall of humanity. Because we are psuedo "like God knowing good from evil" we think our plan is better. Our plan makes me happy now, my plan helps me out, my plan is better. Obedience is important, no, essential. If we do not obey the master's call, we do not follow Christ.
Obedience does not ask my opinion. Obedience is not concerned about my feelings. Obedience does not ask for me to solve all problems. Obedience is not preoccupied with me. Obedience is about God.
Obedience is a choice.
So as rain falls on the just and unjust, as the sun shines on the wicked and the holy, I am called to obey. The funny thing about obeying is that when I obey, all of my opinions and feelings seem to get taken care of in an even better manner.
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