Sin is a sickness in man's soul. When the bible calls us to live according to the will of God the bible calls us to live a life of spiritual and emotional health.
Often the human nature is such that we would rather be right than happy. It is easy to dismiss this as untrue.
The longer we think about it though the more often we could see how we could be or could have been happy in a situation if we were willing do give up on being seen as right in this or that.
The condition of pride eats at the soul. Sin is a disease that makes us unhappy.
We always wish to equate living as we please with happiness. But more often than not when we live as we please we are not happy.
Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Individualism
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
Individualism is not new to our time and culture. New technologies may allow for more ways to work and be entertained alone. In the past, the cultural expectations might have forced people to do things together more often, but there's no way to know if people had more of a heart to be with and care for others.
Individualism is a result of pride. Pride, which includes thinking that we can do everything on our own, is not new. The Bible talks about it. Proverbs reminds us to be willing to listen to advice and instruction.
If we see ourselves in humility, we know that there is so much to learn and enjoy from others. We should be willing to want to be with others, especially those who seem trustable and know God's word well.
When a strong emphasis is placed on the culture being individualistic, it's possible that people might miss what's in their own heart.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
Individualism is not new to our time and culture. New technologies may allow for more ways to work and be entertained alone. In the past, the cultural expectations might have forced people to do things together more often, but there's no way to know if people had more of a heart to be with and care for others.
Individualism is a result of pride. Pride, which includes thinking that we can do everything on our own, is not new. The Bible talks about it. Proverbs reminds us to be willing to listen to advice and instruction.
If we see ourselves in humility, we know that there is so much to learn and enjoy from others. We should be willing to want to be with others, especially those who seem trustable and know God's word well.
When a strong emphasis is placed on the culture being individualistic, it's possible that people might miss what's in their own heart.
Friday, July 25, 2014
God's Acceptance and Pride
It is not uncommon to find people who feel that God cannot forgive them. They feel they have done too much wrong to be forgiven.
It is an odd instance of wounded pride. You see in this moment the person has placed their sin as being at a level that Jesus' perfect obedience, death, and resurrection could not atone for.
The eternal son of God gave his life for all who will come in faith to him. You see we cannot reasonably place our sin on the level of Jesus' sacrifice.
The apostle Paul before he was converted persecuted the church to a great degree. You see we deceive ourselves if we think our sin has any comparison to the infinite degree of Jesus' work.
God calls us to draw near to him in faith. He does not wish for us to be apart from him. To all who knock the door will be opened. God offers forgiveness freely and without qualification. There are not better or worse prospects to enter the kingdom of heaven.
All of us have sinned and fall short of the perfect life and righteousness necessary to enter the kingdom of God. To all who believe the perfect life and infinite righteousness of Jesus becomes theirs.
Faith is not nearly so hard as we make it out to be. At times that is the difficulty. Mankind wishes to participate in his salvation past simply accepting the righteousness of Jesus. But you see that it is a perfect parallel to the first sin of man.
Man in the beginning would not take God at his word that God had man's best interest in mind. Now God simply asks that man who lives in rebellion against God simply take God at his word.
It is an odd instance of wounded pride. You see in this moment the person has placed their sin as being at a level that Jesus' perfect obedience, death, and resurrection could not atone for.
The eternal son of God gave his life for all who will come in faith to him. You see we cannot reasonably place our sin on the level of Jesus' sacrifice.
The apostle Paul before he was converted persecuted the church to a great degree. You see we deceive ourselves if we think our sin has any comparison to the infinite degree of Jesus' work.
God calls us to draw near to him in faith. He does not wish for us to be apart from him. To all who knock the door will be opened. God offers forgiveness freely and without qualification. There are not better or worse prospects to enter the kingdom of heaven.
All of us have sinned and fall short of the perfect life and righteousness necessary to enter the kingdom of God. To all who believe the perfect life and infinite righteousness of Jesus becomes theirs.
Faith is not nearly so hard as we make it out to be. At times that is the difficulty. Mankind wishes to participate in his salvation past simply accepting the righteousness of Jesus. But you see that it is a perfect parallel to the first sin of man.
Man in the beginning would not take God at his word that God had man's best interest in mind. Now God simply asks that man who lives in rebellion against God simply take God at his word.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
The Forgotten Cause of Perfectionism
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
When people write on perfectionism and how to improve, they forget about what drives it the most, the biggest force behind it: Pride.
It's evident that the world is not perfect. People are not perfect. Even computers or machines aren't perfect. Databases and computers have corrupted data over time simply from normal use. Machines break down.
Yet the perfectionist sees the imperfections in everyday life but still demands perfection of oneself. Why? Because of a refusal to trust in what one sees and knows, because they are so focused on proving that they are worth being loved or worth something, or deserve to keep or earn certain things. The focus is very intense on themselves and no one else in moments of perfectionism.
Our purpose isn't to prove that we are perfect or can create or do things perfectly. That's impossible, but it's also impossible to earn worth. We get that from Christ. In God's sovereignty we are often where we are because of God, too. We didn't necessarily earn our jobs or family or accomplishments. We had some big part in it, but ultimately, it's God's working in our hearts and the things around us that "earns" the place we are. He brings together people. We were in the right place at the right time.
It's time to stop focusing on ourselves, how we measure up, and just let it go. It's a difficult transition, but it's a time to rejoice, too, in God's willingness to be in the messiness of life, to reach down and let us know he loves us. A time to laugh at ourselves at times and recognize our weakness means we need God most of all and others too--people have different strengths than us.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
When people write on perfectionism and how to improve, they forget about what drives it the most, the biggest force behind it: Pride.
It's evident that the world is not perfect. People are not perfect. Even computers or machines aren't perfect. Databases and computers have corrupted data over time simply from normal use. Machines break down.
Yet the perfectionist sees the imperfections in everyday life but still demands perfection of oneself. Why? Because of a refusal to trust in what one sees and knows, because they are so focused on proving that they are worth being loved or worth something, or deserve to keep or earn certain things. The focus is very intense on themselves and no one else in moments of perfectionism.
Our purpose isn't to prove that we are perfect or can create or do things perfectly. That's impossible, but it's also impossible to earn worth. We get that from Christ. In God's sovereignty we are often where we are because of God, too. We didn't necessarily earn our jobs or family or accomplishments. We had some big part in it, but ultimately, it's God's working in our hearts and the things around us that "earns" the place we are. He brings together people. We were in the right place at the right time.
It's time to stop focusing on ourselves, how we measure up, and just let it go. It's a difficult transition, but it's a time to rejoice, too, in God's willingness to be in the messiness of life, to reach down and let us know he loves us. A time to laugh at ourselves at times and recognize our weakness means we need God most of all and others too--people have different strengths than us.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Good Theology is Lived Theology
It is not uncommon to find that an advanced degree in Theology, even at an institution which holds firm to seeking truth, has the affect of causing the person who has the degree to become a worse Theologian. Usually theological study if it is biblical is helpful but there are multiple issues.
The first is that the ability to interpret scripture is what is important, not the degree. Some young theologians with a masters fall back into Greek to defend positions in arguments. Of course you see they are struggling to explain what the Greek means off the top of their head.
You see they usually cannot understand Greek apart from their hubris that they feel they can. They simply are repeating what they think others have said.
The reality is that the piece of paper which represents the degree easily presents an opportunity for pride. The theologian with his degree is not clearly more skilled in theology than any studied person without a degree.
Of course study in the right way where truth is learned and applied in life with humility is a blessing. But theology is something which is lived. Theology which does not produce good fruit is worthless theology.
You will find many well read people in a church that know more theology than the person with a degree. One is a good theologian if one faithfully understands and applies the word of God.
The degree is only a means to an end. But it has no necessary relation between the degree and the quality of one's theology. You see someone with a degree who cannot set aside their pride or does not submit the teaching of scripture when they are wrong is a poor theologian.
We are very often in the wrong when we read the bible and need to admit to God we are wrong. Humility is the mark of a good theologian. A systematic study at a university is only a means to an end. The truth of if the study was of use will be determined by the ability of the studier to faithfully explain and live out their faith.
The first is that the ability to interpret scripture is what is important, not the degree. Some young theologians with a masters fall back into Greek to defend positions in arguments. Of course you see they are struggling to explain what the Greek means off the top of their head.
You see they usually cannot understand Greek apart from their hubris that they feel they can. They simply are repeating what they think others have said.
The reality is that the piece of paper which represents the degree easily presents an opportunity for pride. The theologian with his degree is not clearly more skilled in theology than any studied person without a degree.
Of course study in the right way where truth is learned and applied in life with humility is a blessing. But theology is something which is lived. Theology which does not produce good fruit is worthless theology.
You will find many well read people in a church that know more theology than the person with a degree. One is a good theologian if one faithfully understands and applies the word of God.
The degree is only a means to an end. But it has no necessary relation between the degree and the quality of one's theology. You see someone with a degree who cannot set aside their pride or does not submit the teaching of scripture when they are wrong is a poor theologian.
We are very often in the wrong when we read the bible and need to admit to God we are wrong. Humility is the mark of a good theologian. A systematic study at a university is only a means to an end. The truth of if the study was of use will be determined by the ability of the studier to faithfully explain and live out their faith.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Confidence
Man usually places confidence in himself and not in God. The truth is that man should place confidence in God and not himself.
When God speaks to us he is always right. Often at first the teachings of God seem wrong or not possible.
It often takes a great deal of time to see why the Bible is right on certain issues. The human heart feels that of course the Bible is wrong.
It is human pride which assumes that man knows more than God. The Bible is right even when it is wrong. We just need to learn to see the truth.
When God speaks to us he is always right. Often at first the teachings of God seem wrong or not possible.
It often takes a great deal of time to see why the Bible is right on certain issues. The human heart feels that of course the Bible is wrong.
It is human pride which assumes that man knows more than God. The Bible is right even when it is wrong. We just need to learn to see the truth.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Small Things
One issue in the Christian life is that we often want to make a difference, but we don't know how. So we do nothing.
I think the issue at times is we think too big. We are busy working or being a student or a parent or doing this or that. And we compare ourselves to people with great ability and great time.
Comparison is often not helpful. You see we don't have to do something huge to make a difference. There are thousands of small options.
Sometimes we just need to pick something and go with it. Sometimes small things lead to bigger things and sometimes they don't.
But we can be faithful in living our Christian faith by looking for small opportunities to make a difference. Small changes add up and are meaningful.
It is pride to think that being a positive influence in a small way is not meaningful. It is doing nothing which is not meaningful.
God created man to be in community. With the reality of a fallen world man in community needs to attempt to make a difference.
It is often that we simply do not make a difference because we devalue the small things we can do. Another issue is that some people simply overlook what they have done.
They make a difference but they cannot accept it. So they never see any difference made because they cannot believe they have made a difference.
This tends to inhibit their effort because they never see results even when the results exist.
Sometimes we need to be humble to see we have made a change! It can be pride which blinds us from accepting we have made a small but real difference.
Sometimes self doubt blinds us from seeing the difference we have made. Here we need to realize that God uses broken man to do his will in the world. Everyone is weak and God uses us anyway.
Many people think they are strong but ultimately the strongest person in this world is weak. Death shows that in the end we are all weak. Some people are stronger than others but we are all weak whether we accept it or not.
I think the issue at times is we think too big. We are busy working or being a student or a parent or doing this or that. And we compare ourselves to people with great ability and great time.
Comparison is often not helpful. You see we don't have to do something huge to make a difference. There are thousands of small options.
Sometimes we just need to pick something and go with it. Sometimes small things lead to bigger things and sometimes they don't.
But we can be faithful in living our Christian faith by looking for small opportunities to make a difference. Small changes add up and are meaningful.
It is pride to think that being a positive influence in a small way is not meaningful. It is doing nothing which is not meaningful.
God created man to be in community. With the reality of a fallen world man in community needs to attempt to make a difference.
It is often that we simply do not make a difference because we devalue the small things we can do. Another issue is that some people simply overlook what they have done.
They make a difference but they cannot accept it. So they never see any difference made because they cannot believe they have made a difference.
This tends to inhibit their effort because they never see results even when the results exist.
Sometimes we need to be humble to see we have made a change! It can be pride which blinds us from accepting we have made a small but real difference.
Sometimes self doubt blinds us from seeing the difference we have made. Here we need to realize that God uses broken man to do his will in the world. Everyone is weak and God uses us anyway.
Many people think they are strong but ultimately the strongest person in this world is weak. Death shows that in the end we are all weak. Some people are stronger than others but we are all weak whether we accept it or not.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Can God Accept Me
Can God accept me? I have done this or that and can God accept me?
The question takes many similar forms. The answer is always, yes.
Some people live life like they have no sin. They can do no wrong.
Some people live life and feel their sin is unforgivable and no one could love them.
It is often that extremes are wrong. The bible affirms that God knows just how sinful each person is and is willing to forgive.
You see it isn't about you. God already knows everything and sees everything. You don't need to hide your sin. You just come to God.
It is so simple in a way if feels offensive. Just admit that God is right and we are sinners and ask to be forgiven.
It is too easy right. But you see the solution relates exactly to the first sin.
Man (Adam) insisted in the beginning that God was not being honest with him. And that his ways were better than God's ways.
Now all God asks is that we admit we admit that God is being honest with us and that his ways are better than our ways.
You see the solution is an exact parallel to where the issue started. Of course man has done many other things and those things are cleansed by Jesus eternally God and Man forever.
You see Jesus fulfilled the whole law that we have not. You see an exact parallel again.
There is the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil. And there is the tree on Calvary. It is a simply choice really.
Man originally made the wrong choice and how he has two choices. To have never have had two choices would be easier but that is the past.
You see God has provided a solution that is a great replica of the issue. Man made the choice in the past to be apart from God.
How he has two choices to be apart from God and continue to not take God at his word or to come back to God and accept his word.
Some people wish to add works in to salvation. But that is still wanting to have things our way. It is not accepting God at his word that we need add nothing.
Why is this so hard for man? In Either/Or a man expresses that he if he asked for a servant to bring him water and the servant brought wine he would fire the servant, because he would rather be right than happy.
You see we are so foolish like this and would often prefer to be right rather than happy.
The question takes many similar forms. The answer is always, yes.
Some people live life like they have no sin. They can do no wrong.
Some people live life and feel their sin is unforgivable and no one could love them.
It is often that extremes are wrong. The bible affirms that God knows just how sinful each person is and is willing to forgive.
You see it isn't about you. God already knows everything and sees everything. You don't need to hide your sin. You just come to God.
It is so simple in a way if feels offensive. Just admit that God is right and we are sinners and ask to be forgiven.
It is too easy right. But you see the solution relates exactly to the first sin.
Man (Adam) insisted in the beginning that God was not being honest with him. And that his ways were better than God's ways.
Now all God asks is that we admit we admit that God is being honest with us and that his ways are better than our ways.
You see the solution is an exact parallel to where the issue started. Of course man has done many other things and those things are cleansed by Jesus eternally God and Man forever.
You see Jesus fulfilled the whole law that we have not. You see an exact parallel again.
There is the tree of the knowledge of Good and evil. And there is the tree on Calvary. It is a simply choice really.
Man originally made the wrong choice and how he has two choices. To have never have had two choices would be easier but that is the past.
You see God has provided a solution that is a great replica of the issue. Man made the choice in the past to be apart from God.
How he has two choices to be apart from God and continue to not take God at his word or to come back to God and accept his word.
Some people wish to add works in to salvation. But that is still wanting to have things our way. It is not accepting God at his word that we need add nothing.
Why is this so hard for man? In Either/Or a man expresses that he if he asked for a servant to bring him water and the servant brought wine he would fire the servant, because he would rather be right than happy.
You see we are so foolish like this and would often prefer to be right rather than happy.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Humility before God
Often when we sit before the teaching of God we need to have humility. Often we see texts which are difficult to reconcile. Is God angry and sin and grieving about the sinners in the same instance. Yes.
Is God sovereign and man free and responsible. Yes.
You see we always make the teaching of scripture more complicated that it is. God simply tells us the way the world is.
However you see we in our smallness wish to figure out how it all fits together. We try to loop the teaching of scripture into a coherent form that we can understand.
This is the error of course is that we are small and we are weak and limited and cannot understand the breath and depth of the knowledge of God.
Often we just need to be humble before scripture and trust that it makes sense even though we do not understand. You see there is a certain sort of trust in paradox that is not irrational.
Many theologians have spoken of faith seeking understanding. This is the way we should live we should have faith and say yes to all elements of scripture.
You see scripture is always right even when it seems wrong. We are just a few steps down our eternal journey of learning about God and it is not surprising that our minds cannot grasp the infinite God.
What is surprising is our great confidence that we can know God and grasp his mind. Or even more surprising that some in the church thing that they know better than God.
You see it is our sin and pride which makes us want to put the Christian religion into a box. It is all too complicated and we do not like that understanding is easy and we have not gotten and will not in this life get past faith.
Is God sovereign and man free and responsible. Yes.
You see we always make the teaching of scripture more complicated that it is. God simply tells us the way the world is.
However you see we in our smallness wish to figure out how it all fits together. We try to loop the teaching of scripture into a coherent form that we can understand.
This is the error of course is that we are small and we are weak and limited and cannot understand the breath and depth of the knowledge of God.
Often we just need to be humble before scripture and trust that it makes sense even though we do not understand. You see there is a certain sort of trust in paradox that is not irrational.
Many theologians have spoken of faith seeking understanding. This is the way we should live we should have faith and say yes to all elements of scripture.
You see scripture is always right even when it seems wrong. We are just a few steps down our eternal journey of learning about God and it is not surprising that our minds cannot grasp the infinite God.
What is surprising is our great confidence that we can know God and grasp his mind. Or even more surprising that some in the church thing that they know better than God.
You see it is our sin and pride which makes us want to put the Christian religion into a box. It is all too complicated and we do not like that understanding is easy and we have not gotten and will not in this life get past faith.
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