The reason for any
concept/theology/religion that is contrary to the historic Christian faith is the
presence of a change in doctrine. Working backwards within a system of belief will
eventually expose where that belief system differs from Christianity. It is
with this realization that clarity must be sought. What is the difference and how
did this difference become believed?
The next step is to analyze and understand how the error can be corrected.
Why do so many adults insist on
spending their money and energy on playing? As the apostle Paul says, “When I
was a child, I did the things of a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish
things.” While it is arguable that Paul was referring to literal childish play
in this passage, the message is a simple one. In whatever state we are in, there
is always the opportunity for and the responsibility of, growth and maturation.
It is irrelevant that someone
happens to enjoy childish things. The responsibility of the adult should be
that of growing, of maturing, of improving, and of being productive. It is when
we learn to put away childish distractions, when we learn to love God and when
we learn to love our neighbor, that we are moving in the right direction.
Life is not meant for distraction
and comfort but for preparation for an eternity in the presence of God.
We can spend our time, our energy
and our money on things that entertain us and make us feel good but ultimately
the question of how these things impact the health of our soul is the most
important question to ask. Someone may be beautiful, rich, and talented but if
they harden their soul in the process, it is all for naught. A parent, at the
same time, must ask himself if he is raising his children with a godly sense of
priorities.
This is a difficult truth to
communicate in the modern American culture, when these three things are
elevated to the top of “that which is most important”.
What is the end result of the man who only eats processed food
and junk food?
What is the end result of the man who only reads comic books
and watches “fail” and “cat” videos?
What is the end result of the man who looks only to be
comfortable?
Are we striving for excellence or are we content with what
is easy and distracting?
Don’t mistake the use of a
particular metaphor or illustration for the truth that underlies it. When saints
of the past use any particular metaphor, don’t make the mistake of understanding that
literally or thinking that the imagery is the point of the story. The saints use any particular imagery to communicate the truth of consequences
for one’s life choices. We need to understand the truth they were communicating
and modify the imagery for our own day, to reach the people of our time and
culture.
Why is it when we see someone whose
particular sin is repulsive to us, we automatically think, “That person is
messed up”, or “That person needs serious help” but when we look upon ourselves
with our own sins, we give ourselves such grace and understanding. Everyone
struggles with sins and none of them are acceptable.
Sin is one thing, but crime is
another. That which negatively impacts society at large needs to be addressed
but addressed with mercy and understanding. Condemnation and judgment have no
place when dealing with sin. Help needs to be given not hatred or violence.
When we see someone else and are tempted to judge them for their sins, we need
to instead focus on ourselves and our own sins.
It is then that we will understand
the value of mercy and forgiveness.
What does it all mean? I read the
description of the ideal life from the monastic perspective and its methodology
is radically different from the priestly/spiritual father description given to
the common layperson. Which at the same time is radically different from the
average American way of living. What is the balance between living as a
layperson while seeking after holiness and addressing the practical needs of
everyday life? Where does social interaction, needs/wants, and biochemistry fit
in?
If the state of eternal life is one
of gradation with the holy being closer to God and the unholy being further
from God, how would each of these describe their own personal state? If the
unholy person has ignored/rejected God his entire life, would not an eternity
as far away from God be that which they desire? But at the same time, if man
was created to be holy and to live in a relationship with God, the unholy
person would be miserable at the same time, for he could not bear being in the presence
of holiness. And what does proximity to holiness even mean?
And what does all of this mean for
the Protestant/evangelical/Roman believer or for anyone who has self-defined
holiness?
If the goal of the Christian life
is simply “love God and love your neighbor”, how does personal holiness fit
into that and how is personal holiness even defined?
When Jesus spoke of the law as
being summarized as “love God and love neighbor”, he was speaking to Jews who
were defined by the Old Covenant law.
Any time that the “law of God” is spoken of in the NT must be understood
not as the Mosaic law but Jesus’ summary.
