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Humility

In the previous blog, I wrote about how we arrived in this mess, because let’s get real, life is messy. People are messy. Apart from Christ, mankind is separated from God and our current reality is good and evil, aka messy.

However, the Bible gives us hope that through Christ we can experience heaven on earth regardless of circumstance, and this possibility hinges on our knowledge of him. Let’s delve into an attribute of God and His Kingdom that brings us closer to that reality-humility.

But before we delve into humility, I want to address why I chose to write about humility before love. In 1 Corinthians, Paul says the greatest virtue of all is love. Love is the #1-way God relates to us. His righteousness and justice, often understood as rules and consequences, stem from His love and care for us. This is why Jesus used the word Father to broaden our understanding of God’s character. From cover to cover the Bible message is clear, “I love you, love me in return.” Yet, despite this, it’s a struggle for humanity to reciprocate God’s love.

Humility Towards God is the Foundation of All Virtue

So why prioritize humility over love? Because, since the fall, we perceive life as it is, current state, and not as God created it. Therefore, our understanding of what is good is marred and requires us to let God redefine it according to his definition.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Humility serves as the foundation upon which all virtues, including love, are built within us. To grow in love, we must first acknowledge God’s sovereignty and our own limitations-God is God, and we are not. Sustaining a life of moral integrity and virtue necessitates humble submission to God.

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

After we acknowledge the existence of God, it follows that what He says and wants is of highest importance. Recognizing this is to embody humility towards God and it postures us in a position of learning, which is essential to growing in His likeness.

The great apologist and theologian C. S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

Simply thinking of God as the highest authority is an act of humility-humility toward God.

Absolute Humility is Within Our Reach

During the past few months reflecting on the word humility, I prayerfully considered what to write. It’s no wonder there are entire books written on this single word. I could delve into the antithesis of humility: pride, emphasizing that true humility is devoid of ego. To protect our hearts from serving others in pride we acknowledge God as the source of good and live within the bounds of our limitations by serving through our strengths. I could address the notion of false humility, which mistakenly equates all confidence with arrogance. This misconception often results in diminished self-worth, self-deprecating behaviors, and an unproductive attitude that benefits no one, not even oneself. False humility presents as timidity and causes an individual to ignore their strengths. However, a truly humble person acknowledges their strengths and weaknesses and uses them to the glory of God and the benefit of others. Lastly, I could explore how humility represents our inherent nature in Heaven and how, through Christ, we can attain a genuine manifestation of humility here on earth.

In the Kingdom of Heaven, we are fully surrendered to God and all our needs are met granting us the freedom to prioritize others. This is depicted in Genesis when God’s provision through creation allowed mankind to thrive. In chapter two, after Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, she offered it to Adam not out of malice but because her instinct was to consider and care for others. Unfortunately, Eve was deceived.

Throughout the Bible, we witness God consistently embody humility as He meticulously orchestrates the restoration of humanity through the lineage of Israel, culminating in the birth of the Messiah. God is constantly focused on restoring mankind in the least damaging way. This isn’t because humanity is the focal point, but solely because of His inherent goodness and boundless love for us. From the opening verse of Genesis to the Gospel accounts portraying Christ’s triumph on the cross, and even in the prophetic visions of Revelation, the divine care for humanity is evident. Despite being the sole entity worthy of self-centered praise, God transcends selfishness, epitomizing pure goodness devoid of any trace of evil within Him. Through the narrative He gives us a glimpse of himself and the essence of who he always desired for us to be, made in his image.

Jesus, conceived by God through the Holy Spirit, embodies and achieves victory because pure goodness—the essence of God—exists. Which means it’s possible to always focus on God and others. Absolute humility is within our reach.

Greatest commandment is a call to humility

The definition of humility per google is, “you have no special importance that makes you better than others.” However, my definition of humility is, “an attitude formed by the belief that all people derive their worth from a Holy God.” This belief leads people to put others’ needs above their own.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

The two greatest commandments are a blueprint of how to embody every virtue and a call to greater, humility. After we know and love God and believe our worth comes from him, naturally we begin to think less often of ourselves and more often and higher of others.

“In humility regard others as higher than yourself.”

Have you ever done something new alone? I have, often, and I tend to observe. It’s particularly intriguing within a church environment. How many individuals extended a warm greeting? How many offered their assistance? How many sought to learn your name? It’s disheartening when those in positions of “leadership” show little regard for others. While they anticipate recognition, the Kingdom of Heaven operates differently—leaders lead through genuine love for people. Their actions stem not from selfish motives but from a deep understanding of God, themselves, and consequently, a profound appreciation for those around them. Humility is a rare commodity, even within the church. Yet, rather than passing judgment, we can grieve this reality, recognizing that most people’s interactions with others are indicative of their own self-perception. The proper response in this situation is to grieve. Grieve that the reality of God’s Kingdom has not yet fully come to us, and then be the solution by leading in humility and consider other’s needs. The saint will constantly choose to treat others higher, out of an awareness of who God created everyone to be.

Treating individuals higher than ourselves doesn’t diminish our own worth, just as treating them with less regard doesn’t diminish it. Our value isn’t contingent upon how we treat others; thus, we’re free to elevate others above ourselves. Jesus, the King above every king, exemplified this by treating his disciples with the utmost honor and respect on the night before he was crucified. Jesus lived as though He was already in the Kingdom. I would argue that this act of humility wasn’t humility at all but was in fact magnanimity. It was the continued pursuit of excellence in humility towards God and His disciples, over the course of Jesus’s 33 years, that resulted in him being exalted to the right hand of God and all of humanity being saved through his willful submission.
Have you ever chosen to respond with kindness to someone who was rude to you, because you chose to believe the best in them? It’s akin to experiencing a peace that defies explanation, isn’t it? This kind of divine love, rooted in humility, has the power to transform the world, and every instance of encountering it is nothing short of a miracle, brought about by the collaborative work of God and a faithful believer.

Developing Humility

The process of developing humility is like all virtue. The seeds of humility are planted as we accept Christ and begin to understand God. They take root when we understand who we are in relation to him, and they’re in bloom when our confidence is firmly rooted in him and as a result our focus becomes others. Developing consistent humility is a daily process of:

Acknowledging God
Knowing God through His Word
Being assured of our God given-identity (and therefore everyone else’s)
Experiencing freedom from self to focus on others
Being assured is being aware of who we are in Christ and how God has uniquely designed and gifted us as an individual to fulfill the plans and purpose he has for us.  1

Absolute humility requires the intentional pursuit of God’s thoughts throughout every moment of the day and firmly believing we are who he created us to be.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
  1. ↩︎
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The foundation of all virtue

In the previous blog, I wrote about how we arrived in this mess, because let’s get real, life is messy. People are messy. Apart from Christ, mankind is separated from God and our current reality is good and evil, aka messy.

However, the Bible gives us hope that through Christ we can experience heaven on earth regardless of circumstance, and this possibility hinges on our knowledge of him. Let’s explore an attribute of God and his Kingdom that brings us closer to that reality-humility.

But before we delve into humility, I want to address why I chose to write about humility before love. In 1 Corinthians, Paul says the greatest virtue of all is love. Love is the #1 way God relates to us. His righteousness and justice, often understood as rules and consequences, are a byproduct of his love for us. This is why Jesus used the word Father to broaden our understanding of God’s character. From cover to cover the Bible message is clear, “I love you, love me.” Yet, despite this, it’s a struggle for humanity to reciprocate God’s love.

Humble before God

So why prioritize humility over love? Because, since the fall, we perceive life as it is, current state, and not as God created it. Therefore, our understanding of love is marred and requires us to let God redefine it according to his definition.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. Romans 1:26-27 MSG

Humility is the foundation upon which all virtues, including love, are built within us, because to grow in love, we must first acknowledge God is God, and we are not. Sustaining a life of moral integrity and virtue necessitates humble submission to God.

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

After we are humbled before God, humility towards others naturally follows. If the God of the Bible exists, which he does, then what he says and wants is of the highest importance. Recognizing this positions us to learn about God, which is essential to growing.

The great apologist and theologian C. S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

Simply thinking of God as the highest authority is an act of humility.

Absolute humility is within reach

During the past few months reflecting on the word humility, I prayerfully considered what to write. It’s no wonder there are entire books written on this single word.

I could write about the antithesis of humility: pride, emphasizing that true humility is devoid of ego. To protect our hearts from serving others in pride we acknowledge God as the source of good and live within the bounds of our physical limitations.

I could address false humility, which mistakenly equates all confidence with arrogance. This misconception often results in diminished self-worth, self-deprecating behaviors, and an unproductive attitude that benefits no one, not even oneself. False humility presents as timidity and causes an individual to ignore their strengths. However, a truly humble person acknowledges their strengths and weaknesses and uses them for the glory of God and the benefit of others.

Lastly, I could explore how humility represents our inherent nature in Heaven and how we can attain a genuine manifestation of humility here too.

Humility has a great depth of meaning with profound spiritual implications, which means it’s important that we not only read about it, but that we do our best to understand, embody, and recognize it in others.

In Heaven, all our needs are met granting us the freedom to prioritize others. This is portrayed in Genesis when God created the environment that allowed mankind to thrive. In chapter two, after Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, she offered it to Adam not out of malice but because it was her first nature to consider others. Unfortunately, Eve was deceived.

Throughout the Bible, we witness God consistently embody humility towards us as he meticulously orchestrates the restoration of humanity through the lineage of Israel, culminating in the birth of the Messiah. God is constantly focused on restoring mankind in the least damaging way. This isn’t because humanity is the focal point, but solely because of his inherent goodness, humble nature, and boundless love for us. From the opening verse of Genesis to the Gospel accounts portraying Christ’s triumph on the cross, and even in the prophetic visions of Revelation, the divine care for humanity is evident. Despite being the sole entity worthy of self-centered praise, God transcends selfishness, epitomizing pure goodness devoid of any trace of evil within him. Through the narrative, he gives us a glimpse of himself and the essence of who he always desired us to be.

Jesus, conceived by God through the Holy Spirit, embodies and achieves moral victory because pure goodness—the essence of God—exists. Which means it’s possible to always focus on God and others. Absolute humility is within our reach.

Greatest commandments: a call to humility

The definition of humility per Google is, “You have no special importance that makes you better than others.” However, my definition of humility is, “an attitude formed by the belief that all people derive their worth from God.” This belief leads people to consider others.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

The two greatest commandments are a blueprint of how to embody every virtue and a call to greater, humility. After we know and love God and believe our worth comes from him, naturally, we begin to think less often of ourselves and more often and higher of others.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

Humility isn’t a call to neglect self-care; Instead through humility, self-care regains its purpose. We pursue self-care to be the best we can enabling ourselves to care for others. Also, humility isn’t a call to neglect all ambition, but to align our ambition with our purpose of loving God and others. When we die to ourselves and live for God and others, we step into our identity and become more of ourselves, not less.

Have you ever done something new alone? I have, often, and I tend to observe. It’s particularly intriguing within a church environment. How many individuals extended a warm greeting? How many offered their assistance? It’s disheartening when those in leadership show little regard for others. While they anticipate recognition, the Kingdom of Heaven operates differently—leaders lead through genuine love for people. Humility is a rare commodity, even within the church. Yet, rather than passing judgment, we can grieve this reality, recognizing that most people’s interactions with others are indicative of their own self-perception. The proper response in this situation is to grieve. Grieve that the reality of God’s Kingdom has not yet fully come to us, and then be the solution by leading in humility and being considerate of the people around us. The saint will constantly choose to treat others higher, out of an awareness of who God created everyone to be.

Treating individuals higher than ourselves doesn’t diminish our worth, just as treating them with less regard doesn’t diminish it. Our value isn’t contingent upon how we treat others; thus, we’re free to elevate others above ourselves. Jesus exemplified this by treating his disciples with the utmost honor and respect the night before he was crucified for their sins. Jesus lived as though He was already in the Kingdom. I would argue that this act of humility wasn’t humility but magnanimity. It was the continued pursuit of excellence in humility towards God and His disciples, over Jesus’s 33 years, that resulted in him being exalted to the right hand of God and all of humanity being saved through his willful submission.

Have you ever responded with kindness to someone rude to you, because you chose to believe the best in them? Maybe someone has responded with kindness to you after being rude? This kind of divine love, rooted in humility, has the power to transform the world, and every instance of encountering it is nothing short of a miracle, brought about by the collaborative work of God and a faithful believer.

Developing humility and sustaining humility

The process of developing humility is like all virtue. The seeds of humility are planted as we accept Jesus and begin to understand him. They take root when we understand who we are to him, and they’re in bloom when our confidence is firmly rooted in him, and as a result, our focus becomes others. Developing consistent humility is a daily process of:

  1. Acknowledging God
  2. Knowing God intimately through the Bible and prayer
  3. Being assured of our God-given identity and purpose (and therefore everyone else’s)
  4. Walking in freedom, transcending self, to focus on others

The humble person behaves in faith, executing with certainty, who they are in Christ. They have self-awareness and are confident of how God has uniquely designed and gifted them as individuals to fulfill his plan and purpose for their lives which is bent toward others. Through humility, we transcend the current reality of self to step into our heavenly identity.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Faith

Add to your faith virtue

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In my last blog, God led me on a journey to explain His good and perfect reign where mourning, death, and pain are nonexistent as described in Revelations 21:4. God is absolute virtue, and in His Kingdom, He exists apart from an embodied person and governs life. 

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good… Genesis 1: 3-4

We also discussed how Paul persevered through hardship. He was driven by his fervent love of God to think about God’s good nature while navigating a world replete with evil. Nevertheless, even the most resilient Christians occasionally grapple with this challenge. As we grow in our knowledge of who God is, navigating hardship becomes easy, because His burden is light.

Let’s continue to explore God’s goodness the essence of His light.

The standard definition of virtue in the English language is the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. Virtues are things like love, joy, and peace. To be virtuous is to embody a virtue or several virtues, but to be Holy is to possess all virtues, executing them with wisdom, irrespective of time (forever). 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22

Biblically, God is absolute virtue and in heaven His goodness is unregulated. It just is, like oxygen, hence God’s name “I am.” In the Kingdom of Heaven, where God reigns, no wrong goes unnoticed because God is perfectly just. If anyone thinks they are “good,” try that! I’m sure my kids get away with things I never see. If we are honest with ourselves, God’s just nature should both frighten us and make us glad! His virtuous reign (light) creates a sense of security and safety that is joyful and peaceful; both here, and effortlessly in Heaven.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

God is perfectly just. He is also the fruit of the Spirit, and every other virtue known to man. It’s truly remarkable and worthy of respect and praise. Before the fall, God reigned with His creation; we knew Him, and we were one with Him, so what happened?

The Bible tells us after God created the heavens and the earth, He described His creation as good. After all, He’s only willing to do good. Then, in Genesis chapter 2, God causes two trees to spring up from the ground: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Notice the second tree is named the knowledge of “good” and evil. Evil is good perverted. Perversion in this context means having been corrupted or distorted from its original purpose or state. God calls it the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because evil cannot exist apart from good in the same way a lie cannot exist without a truth.

God gave mankind a choice between the two trees because He loves and respects us. King David wrote to God in Psalm 139:14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Godly fear is understood in the Bible as respect or reverence for the things of God. It’s often used to describe a way of relating to God, but King David is saying that, as image bearers, God also relates to us in this way.

With purposeful intent, God fashioned mankind with intellect to know Him, granted us free will to choose Him, and then showed mankind that bearing His image means we are bestowed dignity. The dignity to choose what we think is “right” for ourselves.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

If God had not given Adam and Eve a choice to be with Him, He would have been forcing mankind to be under His good and perfect authority and this would have compromised His character. Instead, out of His respect for us, God gives mankind a choice. In doing so, He proves Himself worthy of respect, because He is respect.

We see in the story of Adam and Eve that Satan stole what God meant for good and perverted it, and it completely changed the state of creation. The Bible says that after the fall and the knowledge of evil (vice) entered mankind perverse thoughts, corrupt behavior, and spiritual death spread like wildfire. Among the consequences of Adam and Eve’s choice was physical death.

Mankind, in error, chose to disobey God one time, and a spiritual and physical, chemical reaction occurred that fundamentally altered the state of creation. Mankind apart from God’s perfect reign (light) turned inward to selfishness (darkness). Since the fall of mankind in the garden, the knowledge of both good and evil reigns, separating us from the presence of God.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1: 3-4

God’s goodness is so pure evil cannot coexist with Him. While His light (virtue) illuminates’ life, the absence of light (darkness) conceals (hides) His goodness.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Although mankind is well-suited for good, our natural tendencies, often beginning in our thoughts (knowledge), if left unchecked are persuaded towards evil. Therefore, we must intentionally pursue an understanding and knowledge of virtue, God’s goodness, and light. We must do as Peter instructed in 2 Peter 1:5 “add to your faith virtue.”

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3

Join me for my next blog as we explore the primary way mankind interacts with God, humility.

Faith

Virtue Himself Reigns

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In Philippians chapter 4, Paul instructs us to think about all things that are good:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Paul wrote this letter to the people in Philippi while he was in prison, and he mentioned that he was “in perfect peace,” a peace beyond natural understanding.

Despite facing dire circumstances and potential death, Paul fearlessly sang with his innermost being, declaring, “It is well with my soul.” He encouraged the church at Philippi to follow the example of Christ by trusting God’s sovereignty in all things and focusing on anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. Paul’s instruction was to intentionally occupy your mind with good.

Paul wasn’t merely suggesting to think about good things for the sake of remaining happy; he was aware of his dire circumstances. He emphasized the importance of thinking about good things, because he understood who God is and what governs His Kingdom. Paul urged believers to embrace the state of mind before the fall when all things were good, and the knowledge of good in relation to evil had not yet entered creation.

In his vulnerable position, the Holy Spirit fueled Paul’s thoughts, strengthening his knowledge of who God is and the eternal glory that awaited him by contemplating all things true, noble, right, and pure. God embodies many virtues; He is absolute virtue.

The difference between Jesus and the Holy Spirit can be compared to the difference between righteousness and uprightness. Righteousness emphasizes the moral person, while uprightness emphasizes morality (virtue) apart from the person. Paul knew God and Christ.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

In the Kingdom of Heaven, love, justice, mercy, and righteousness exist apart from the actions of an embodied person and govern life. They are not merely words. We live willfully subjected to them and they animate all of life. While Jesus was on earth, He was the perfect embodiment of virtue, providing a glimpse of “I am.” Apart from Christ and the Holy Spirit, we can only create a cheap imitation of virtue on earth, but in heaven, absolute virtue reigns, proceeding from God and Jesus, sustaining all of life. What we strive to attain and perfect here will be fulfilled there.

Paul had a holy discontentment to press forward for the purpose of hearing “well done, my good and faithful servant,” and so that others might see through his suffering the freedom that awaits—a life without pain, mourning, or tears. Like Jesus, Paul gives others hope through temporal sufferings for the glorious future where virtue Himself reigns.

This is the call of every believer: to know and love God and Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We know them when we understand and think about their goodness until the knowledge of who they are completely consumes us, causing us to press forward in holy discontentment to obtain Heaven on earth (peace regardless of circumstance).

“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-13

Faith, Reflective Reading

God is holy

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“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
    The whole earth is filled with his glory!” -Isaiah 6:1-3

In my last blog, God is who He is, I finished with the question, “Who is God to you?” I explained our character and choices will reflect who we believe God is. If you believe God answers prayers, you will wait expectantly for God to answer your prayers.  If you believe God is a Father who provides for your basic needs, you will express thanksgiving when they’re met. If you believe God will catch you or teach you when you take leaps of faith, you will take leaps of faith. No psychologist, self-help guru, or pastor disagree: Our beliefs are powerful.

If you believe God is Holy, you will have reverence for Him. 

Let’s consider what it means to say, God is holy. In Habakkuk 1:13, God is said to be so pure he does not tolerate evil. Holiness means “to separate” or “to cut off” anything that is sinful, impure, or evil. Holiness is an inability to be corrupted and a state of being perfectly good. Because God is perfectly good, our sin separates us from Him. This explains why we can’t stroll down the street and sit in His office like Adam and Eve had the pleasure of doing. Although we are created in His image, none of us fully live up to the standard He sets. God alone is perfectly good, and He is far above and beyond us.

It sounds terrible to believe we are separated from God. His perfection might even evoke fear in your heart. It does mine at times. An unbeliever might think, “How inadequate Christian’s must feel,” but how much worse would it be if God were fallible like us?

It’s exciting to know that we can count on God to do the right thing.

“You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.” -Psalm 5:4

Now, that I’ve explained holiness is an absence of anything evil, we can understand that everything associated with God is holy. God described the earth and His creation including Adam and Even as “very good.” It wasn’t until after the fall the world became filled with evil. When Christ died, His mission was to bring us back into a relationship with God. Through Christ Christians claim association to God. Christ didn’t die to only save us from eternal condemnation. He died to save us from our sin. He died so that we would become holy. What is the key to living a holy life?

Through faith in Christ we can draw closer to God and become less associated with sin.

Jesus’s death did not grant us the permission to sin. It was the solution to free believers from sin. Striving to grow in holiness is essential to the Christian life.

In John 8, it is evident that Jesus does not condemn us, but he said, “Go and sin no more.” In Hebrews Paul said, “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Jesus’s death and resurrection laid the foundation for us to attain His command.

My prayer is that as we learn what it means to be virtuous, we grow in deeper reverence for God and allow Him to strengthen our beliefs, re-define our values, and bring clarity to what it means to be holy.

“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” -1 Thessalonians 4:7

What does holiness look like to you?

Faith, Reflective Reading

God is who He is

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I will never forget the Sunday morning a Pastor got down on his knee and in a tear filled plea said, “Church, God is not who you want Him to be, God is who He is.”

I’ve realized that a lot of Christians, including myself, have the tendency to believe God is a fragmented version of their best self.

Often times we think we are good and wise people, so we voice indignation at the wrong doing and crime of others. This is good. It’s evidence of protecting virtues, but rarely do we work to understand and acquire virtue itself. Donald Demarco said, “Trying to become virtuous merely by excluding vice is as unrealistic as trying to cultivate roses solely by eliminating weeds.” So many of us know who God is not, but few of us take the time to understand who God is and to develop an understanding of His character. Demarco goes on to explain that we have to work towards understanding, acquiring, and developing virtue in order to be the person God created us to be, a reflection of Himself.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Throughout history people have used virtues to justify horrific and even simply wrong acts. An example of this is Hitler, the nationalist who believed that exterminating “inferior races” was doing right by his country. Compared to Hitler we are all angels so we must be doing pretty well, huh? No. In less volume and also tragic cases, the lack of understanding and acquiring virtue can ruin relationships with family and friends. It can ruin marriages and a child’s worldview.

On a positive note, virtue is what binds us together. It’s having faith that God lives in people and trusting each other to do right by one another. Its loyalty to God first and people second. Its charity, courage, compassion, wisdom, modesty, patience. It’s understanding love in relation to God’s perfect character and applying it accordingly.

If we don’t take the time to learn His character and understand what it is to be virtuous we will live a life reducing God in our minds and hearts. We will define Him and our values through our own limited understanding. We will be living a lie, and a life short of the abundance He promised.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

God desires for us to know Him, His character, His mission, and to reflect His image in the world. This is the design He imagined when He created us in His image. Its the design Jesus came to restore, and the design He’s coming back to perfect. Its flawless and beautiful just like the Creator.

Our lives will always be a reflection of who we believe God is.

Who is God to you?

Reflective Reading, Uncategorized

Misguided Compassion

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Love and compassion are inseparable, and the two combined have become the contemporary world’s most popular principles. Today we are constantly told we must have compassion for others, and if we do not, it is by popular opinion, morally reprehensible. There are many people who truly believe compassion must be applied to the furthest extent in all situations regardless of circumstance. This is compassion as a principle.

For example, have you ever known a parent that loved their child so much they supported them no matter what? I’ve watched a parent be supportive of their child all throughout grade school and for every sport they were involved, but this parent continued support while the child constantly misbehaved and made terrible choices. It continued into the child’s adult years and all the way to prison. This is an extreme example, but a result of consistent loyalty and unwavering compassion nonetheless. This mother loved her son dearly, and stood by his side regardless of their disagreements, which were many. Tough love was not an option, discipline was rare and ineffective without consistency. She justified this loyalty through a firm belief in unconditional love and acceptance, and still to this day will tell you she supports her children no matter what they do. She will always find it in her heart to be compassionate.

Loving you’re children unconditionally is one thing, but loving them enough to lighten their burden and the consequences of their actions 100% of time, is harmful. Love is the highest of all virtuous, but when it’s defined appropriately and applied it does not result in harm. I’ll talk about this in a future blog.

Today compassion is generally aimed at reducing the misery that currently afflicts the world. It has become nothing more than a word that means expediency, but compassion was never meant to be applied this way. It was also never meant to dictate our response to the sufferings of others-in which case many other factors come into play. This is compassion misunderstood and inflated to the extent that it drowns out common sense and is no longer virtuous.

Compassion as a virtue is like compassion the principle in that it enables us to recognize and identify with the sufferings of others. However, the difference is, when we apply compassion as a principle it will 100% of the time dictate our response in the name of acceptance. Compassion the principle will cause us to be accepting of even the most heinous behaviors like abortion, murder, etc. 

When compassion is applied as a virtue we can couple it with love, generosity, patience, and/or courage. We can also, take into consideration all other factors, including our own spiritual, physical, financial, and emotional resources, and respond wisely.

Compassion is a beautiful virtue, shining a light on the good of mankind. When we choose to respond to compassion we’re often given the opportunity to lighten a burden and lessen the pain and in turn allow love to rest in the hearts of those suffering. Compassion is a beautiful gift from our Creator, but when we inflate it above other virtues we undermine it’s power and remove what makes it virtuous.

The dew of compassion is a tear, but the do of compassion is “unclear.” – Lord Byron

Faith, Reflective Reading

No Justice, No Peace

I very recently came to understand and have a new appreciation for justice, but let’s rewind 5 years before I explain.

There was a time in my life I felt victimized by local and state laws. I sat in jail. A straight-A student in college and single mother, but also a very irresponsible driver. I could not afford to pay tickets, and so I sat there. It was terrible at the time. I learned from experience that most people in jail are mentally ill, suffering from addiction, and suffering from the sociological boundaries they allow to hold them captive. Having been in child protective services,  experienced the pain of drug addiction within my own family, and-well-even the fact that I was sitting in jail, there was enough to find common ground with the other ladies. In these moments spent separated from my son, I hated justice.

Fast forward to now, I’m glad to say I’m a much better driver. I have a husband that can hardly believe I ever sat my pretty little butt in jail. The consequences of me not sitting out my tickets would have stifled my career and life and also my sons. This is how legal or general justice is carried out in society. When someone has broken a law they are subject to consequences. Whether they agree with the law or not, they must submit to the consequences or they risk steeper punishment. This is justice. She carries out her duty to relinquish the wrongdoer of their debt to the community. A debt that is incurred from an action that is lawfully wrong. Justice is a fundamental virtue, and part of a system of virtues, that work to hold civilized societies together. Due to justice, we have peace in our communities.

Legal justice is a subset of an internal form of justice. Internally, justice is different. When we commit a wrongful act to another, a debt is incurred. This debt couriers itself as guilt, insuppressible guilt. Our heart betrays our minds ability to reason it away, and demands punishment in order to receive freedom. Justice is written on our hearts, and she serves as relief to our conscience when we have wronged another. Before justice is served the perpetrator wrestles their guilt, and zeal for life is lost. However, justice brings life. She is beautiful in the sense that when she is carried out she sets us free from our indebtedness; our debts to one another as well as our debts to society. Due to justice, we are able to have peace in our hearts.

“They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.” -Romans 2:15

This reflects the widespread belief held by Christians that Jesus came and justice was served at the cross. Justice that no longer has to be served by us, for eternal life with God. Other religions claim that if one chooses to live a moral life they are welcome to heaven. Christianity is different in that it says, people are born sinful and must accept Jesus, as willfully having accepted the consequences of their sinful behavior for them, in order for a Holy God to re-commune with them, despite their imperfections. Jesus’s recorded life teaches us how to live, and He extended the invitation to each of us to accept Him as serving the ultimate sentence, to set our souls and hearts eternally free. All justice was served at the cross, and through Jesus one can live a life of freedom. Due to the life baring fruit of justice, our souls have peace.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28

The cycle of sin and redemption is: We make a mistake. In that moment the consequences are incurred. Before justice is served the wrongdoer is held captive by fear and guilt. While justice is being served we experience shame and inadequacy. Afterwards life is born, and freedom is reached. Our hearts long for the freedom born through justice, regardless of how we reason.

In every direction I look, whether backwards or forwards, I can praise God for justice.


“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” -Hebrews 12:11
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”

-Revelation 3:19

Reflective Reading

Stress

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A six letter word we can all agree we don’t like, stress. This past week, I’ve been working toward wrapping up classes. I have three projects, 2 major projects, I’m juggling at work, and before any of that I am a wife and a mom. Stress is an understatement, if I don’t focus on managing it.

I believe to manage stress well we must understand the root causes of it, so for myself and my reader here is a tid-bit of information on stress that can help us manage.

Dr Karl Albrecht defined 4 common types of stress in his book “Stress and the Manager” and how to manage them. The 4 types of stress are:

Time stress is experienced when you worry about time or the lack of it.

Time stress can be significantly reduced when a person has good time management skills. Prioritizing a workload and creating to-do lists are essential to juggling any load, whether at work or at home. Another way time stress can be reduced is by using time wisely throughout the day and maximizing its potential. Being organized and maintaining a schedule  to ensure top priority work is being completed during your peak hours, which will vary based on whether you are predominately a morning or night person, will reduce the amount of stress induced by time constraints. Lastly, get enough sleep and don’t over commit yourself. Learning how to say “no” respectfully will help you reduce time stress.

When are you most productive?

Anticipatory stress is experienced when someone is concerned for the future.

Anticipatory stress can be reduced through visualizing the event positively. Anticipatory stress sometimes is a result of the fear of failure. To overcome this fear you can analyze all possible outcomes and plan for the possibility of all. This preparation will give you a greater sense of control over the situation. Another way to overcome anticipatory stress is through meditating on the here and now instead of the future. Also, accept that you are limited in what you can control.

Situational stress is when you are in a situation you have no control over.

Situational stress can be reduced by being self-aware. Being able to identify when you are in a situation that is causing tension or pressure by the signals your body, mind, and emotions are sending you, can help you understand that you need to react. How you react will depend mostly on the situation. Whether you choose to withdraw and remove yourself completely or manage a conflict, you’ll need to be quick on your feet to deal with this stress appropriately.

Encounter stress is when you worry about interacting with certain people.

Empathy is a great characteristic that can assist you in dealing with this type of stress, because it allows you to see the situation for the others persons point of view. Also , relaxation techniques that help slow down your heart rate like breathing exercises, mediation, practicing visualization, and exercising regularly can also help reduce encounter stress.

And don’t forget throughout every stressful situation always, always, keep your sense of humor.

 

Discovering Virtue