I'm not even sure how to respond to the latest sign...
Aspire to inspire before you expire.
After looking at it from a few different angles, there seems to be no significant theological ideas or opinions upon which to comment, good or bad. So, I thought I would come up with a few of my own clever little rhymes of little to no value whatsoever. Enjoy.
Conspire to acquire before you retire
Acquire the entire attire prior to setting fire to the briar
Require the appropriate attire to sing in the choir, says the friar
Require the buyer to perspire before they acquire a sapphire
Aspire to change the tire before you perspire
Inquire with the friar so that you don't retire in the fire
Feel free to respond with a few rhymes of your own...
Admire the Friar.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
in my humble opinion...
So, here's the pickle I've gotten myself in. Last week a new saying was posted on a local church sign, and I have been mulling it over, anxious to tear into the terrible/infantile theology it contained and expressed. Thanks to my spiritual gift of procrastination, mixed with a busy week, I didn't write anything about it, opting to save it for this week. In my e-travels over the past few days, I came across the same saying that was on the sign, and apparently it is a quote from C.S. Lewis. Awesome. If I agree with the saying, it goes against the primary purpose of this blog; if I don't comment on it at all, then my integrity is lacking; and if I try to dispute it, I am arguing against one of the theological giants in recent history. I mean, who disagrees with C.S. Lewis and his giant cat?
Well, here goes...
Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less
I guess I like the simplicity of this quote and for what it is, is fairly accurate. But I don't think it really captures what humility really is. I understand the intent of this saying that humility thinks of and puts others ahead of yourself, but it seems that in order to truly be humble, you have to know yourself well which requires that you think of yourself more, not less.
I think that humility is the result of knowing exactly who you are (the good, the bad and the ugly), and then viewing your real self in light of who God is (the good, the better, the amazing). If I can catch a true glimpse of the greatness and glory of God, and then see who I truly am - sinful and broken, with my only redeeming qualities being the image of God in me, and the gifts, talents and uniqueness that God has gifted me with through his grace - it is then that I can walk in true humility as one surrendered to God.
If I don't know myself well in light of who God is, I will always go toward one of two equally bad extremes - I will either think of myself as better than I really am, which is the opposite of humility, or I will think of myself as completely worthless and without purpose, completely wrapped up in self, also the opposite of humility.
Humility is living in the reality of the gospel.
When I live in this reality, I will treat others better than myself because I have nothing to prove, I already know I am accepted, and I know I am no better than anyone else because the only thing good about me is God's grace.
Here's some Bible on the topic...
Philippians 2
How could Jesus release his equality with God if he never knew he had it? Sounds like a silly question, but Jesus had to know himself well, know who his Father is, and then willingly submit to the Father. It was in this that his humility was on display. He lived it out throughout his life as well as he didn't say or do anything without first hearing from the Father (John 12:49-50; 14:31). This is the perfect picture of humility. Jesus knew who he was, knew who his Father was, and then submitted to the Father.
Next...
Romans 12
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
It seems that Paul is saying that it is right and good to know yourself well (he actually says it twice). Think of yourself with sober judgment - know exactly who you are - the good, the bad and the ugly.
So, with all respect to Mr. Lewis, I would say that humility is not necessarily thinking of yourself less, but rather knowing yourself well, which may require thinking of yourself more and then acknowledge who you are in light of who God is.
The result will be someone who is humble, pleasant to be around and will always put others before themselves.
Well, here goes...
Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less
I guess I like the simplicity of this quote and for what it is, is fairly accurate. But I don't think it really captures what humility really is. I understand the intent of this saying that humility thinks of and puts others ahead of yourself, but it seems that in order to truly be humble, you have to know yourself well which requires that you think of yourself more, not less.
I think that humility is the result of knowing exactly who you are (the good, the bad and the ugly), and then viewing your real self in light of who God is (the good, the better, the amazing). If I can catch a true glimpse of the greatness and glory of God, and then see who I truly am - sinful and broken, with my only redeeming qualities being the image of God in me, and the gifts, talents and uniqueness that God has gifted me with through his grace - it is then that I can walk in true humility as one surrendered to God.
If I don't know myself well in light of who God is, I will always go toward one of two equally bad extremes - I will either think of myself as better than I really am, which is the opposite of humility, or I will think of myself as completely worthless and without purpose, completely wrapped up in self, also the opposite of humility.
Humility is living in the reality of the gospel.
When I live in this reality, I will treat others better than myself because I have nothing to prove, I already know I am accepted, and I know I am no better than anyone else because the only thing good about me is God's grace.
Here's some Bible on the topic...
Philippians 2
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
How could Jesus release his equality with God if he never knew he had it? Sounds like a silly question, but Jesus had to know himself well, know who his Father is, and then willingly submit to the Father. It was in this that his humility was on display. He lived it out throughout his life as well as he didn't say or do anything without first hearing from the Father (John 12:49-50; 14:31). This is the perfect picture of humility. Jesus knew who he was, knew who his Father was, and then submitted to the Father.
Next...
Romans 12
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
It seems that Paul is saying that it is right and good to know yourself well (he actually says it twice). Think of yourself with sober judgment - know exactly who you are - the good, the bad and the ugly.
So, with all respect to Mr. Lewis, I would say that humility is not necessarily thinking of yourself less, but rather knowing yourself well, which may require thinking of yourself more and then acknowledge who you are in light of who God is.
The result will be someone who is humble, pleasant to be around and will always put others before themselves.
Monday, March 14, 2011
waiting for obedience.
Saw this on a sign the other day...
"Delayed obedience is still disobedience"
Well, I guess this is true. Except that delayed obedience eventually results in obedience. So, delayed obedience is still obedience. The truth is that the disobedience is in the delay, but when the delay is over, the disobedience ends. I am reminded of the story Jesus told about the two sons from Matthew 21...
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
I have a few boys, and believe me, I get it that there is disobedience in the delay. I can tell them to clean their room, and I might as well have rang the bell signaling the start of round 1. Four hours later... a clean room, a tired dad/referee/motivational speaker/disciplinarian and a handful of grumpy children. Four hours and 15 minutes later... a messy room again. If they would have obeyed and cleaned when I told them to, it would have only taken 20 minutes to clean it, so in the end, there was approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes of disobedience followed by 20 minutes of obedience.
Ultimately there was obedience - and that's what I want to teach my boys. Everything goes better when you obey. I guess it is a good lesson for me as well.
How's this for a church sign... "Obey and don't delay."
"Delayed obedience is still disobedience"
Well, I guess this is true. Except that delayed obedience eventually results in obedience. So, delayed obedience is still obedience. The truth is that the disobedience is in the delay, but when the delay is over, the disobedience ends. I am reminded of the story Jesus told about the two sons from Matthew 21...
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
Ultimately there was obedience - and that's what I want to teach my boys. Everything goes better when you obey. I guess it is a good lesson for me as well.
How's this for a church sign... "Obey and don't delay."
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