A Counselor Reflects on Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth—only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair (p. 32).” Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
This may be one of the most “uncomfortable” posts in this series (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). But as uncomfortable as it may be, it is very true and insightful. How many lives are wrecked in the direct pursuit of comfort?
As you consider this question, reflect on the following life-dominating struggles which are by-in-large the direct pursuit of comfort in various forms: addictions of all kinds, pornography, pre-marital and extra-marital sex, codependency, isolation, denial, many outbursts of anger, coveting, daydreaming, fantasizing, laziness, lying, self-pity, etc… Brainstorm for a moment and consider what you would add to the list.
This was the message of the false prophets in the day of Jeremiah.
“They heal the wounds of my people lightly saying, ‘Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:16 and 8:11)
Ultimately, when we succumb to this temptation we become like little children chasing a rainbow to capture the pot of gold. The rainbow is a product of moisture, light, and distance so the more we chase the further it moves away. On top of the futility of our chasing the “pot of gold” it turns out to be fiction anyway.
Comfort is something that we have to be able to rest in. It must have longevity. Everything that we try to chase after for comfort is temporal. The mere fact that we are “making it” happen means that it will not protect or satisfy us. In that respect, are we really that different from our Old Testament predecessors?
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ear, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they make no sound with their throats. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” Psalm 115:4-8
We have traded their figurines of protection for our dreams of comfort, but neither is rooted in a reality that provides any real hope.
To top it off, we have wrongly construed comfort as a collection of ideal circumstances rather than a Person, so we are chasing something as fictional as the leprechaun’s pot of gold. It is as if we were sent to search for “a ruler” and we missed the man in royal robes because we were consumed with finding a wooden stick with 12 incremental markings.
Let us not forget that comfort is a Person (The Holy Spirit) who is one with Truth (Jesus Christ).
“But the Helper [Comforter in KJV], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all I have said to you .” (John 14:26; see also John 15:26, 16:7).
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 12:48 pm. Add a comment
A Counselor Reflects on Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“If your moral ideas can be truer, and those of the Nazis less true, there must be something—some Real Morality—for them to be true about (p.13).” Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Our language condemns us. But I am not referring to Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Nor am I referring to James 3:2, “For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
Our language condemns us before we speak (or think) of anything rude, inappropriate, or blasphemous. Our language is filled with words of comparison (those ending in “-er” or “-est”), beauty, power, and significance. All of these types of words assume a standard and our awe reveals that we fall short of that standard.
The saddest part of this is that in our extremely self-centered culture we see this and retreat into shame, insecurity, and defensiveness. Instead the response should be one of celebration and self-forgetfulness.
We were given eyes not so that we could enjoy mirrors, but so that we could take in the glory of God. We were given consciences not so that we could become defense attorneys, but so that we could echo “Amen!” to God’s character.
The tragedy of our day is that we view truth (or any sense of standard) as our enemy. We have forgotten John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” because we think the truth is first and foremost about us. IT’S NOT! Praise God!
Truth is the revelation of God. Because of our sinful nature we have grown to fear/resent what we were meant to fear/love. When we refuse to be humble we begin to view our only hope as our condemnation. We run from the only exit in a burning building and think we are wise (“enlightened”) for having done so.
The challenge of this post is to consider how we use our language of comparison. Do we live life constantly asking, “Do I matter? Am I good enough? Am I significant?” If we do, then truth (any sense of standard that creates awe) will be our emotional enemy.
Rather, let us strive to live with truth, beauty, power, and significance as the all-satisfying destination of our life-long journey; something we know we will only attain after reaching our point of greatest weakness and decay (death). It is only that sense of process by grace and eternity that will allow to embrace an “er” language without succumbing to shame, insecurity, and defensiveness.
Posted 1 year, 5 months ago at 1:04 pm. Add a comment
The Eyes of Your Heart (1:18)
How can two people look at the same thing or event and come away with very different conclusions? Culturally, this is explained through a system of beliefs called “relativism” which states that only perspective (as opposed to real, objective truth) exists. This belief system is summed up in the phrase, “What may be right to you may not be so to me; who am I to judge?”
Ephesians points us in a different direction for answering this question. People come away with different conclusions because of the varying conditions of their hearts. Our beliefs, values, agenda, priorities, hopes, allegiances, pet peeves, and affections shape what we see. Christians believe in more than objective truth. Christians believe that our hearts must be in tune with God’s heart in order to perceive and respond to our world correctly.
Application: When you and a friend recall a given conversation or event differently consider how the “eyes of your heart” (beliefs, values, agenda, priorities, hopes, allegiances, pet peeves, and affections) shaped the difference. Try to step out of your perspective and vested interest to ask what God’s heart for that moment was. Until we begin to ask questions about the “eyes of heart” we will not know if they are blind.
Previous Related Blog: What Would a Truth Telling Machine Do?
Hope to Which He Has Called You (1:18)
We are called to hope. That seems like a simple statement, but (to be honest) it caught me off guard. It seemed much more natural to say we have been called as God’s children (relationship), to share the Gospel (mission), or to live holy lives (character). But it seemed a bit odd to think that we have been called to hope (disposition).
While I do not believe there is one ultimate personality – as if fully sanctified people will share the same sense of humor or risk-tolerance, it does seem that we are called to express our personalities (extrovert/introvert, optimist/pessimist, random/orderly, spender/saver) displaying a disposition of hope.
Reflection: This must mean that hope can come in many different “flavors.” Do you tend to think of hope as having one mode of expression? What about other virtues of disposition (humility, faith, love, courage, patience)? What do we lose when we assign these virtues to particular personality types or modes of expression? Use you imagination to consider what each virtue (especially hope) might look like when expressed by different types of people.
Christ the Head
(BCH_Eph1B_handout for Printable PDF Handout)
Any debate over what it means for a husband to be the head of his wife in Ephesians 5:23, should not begin until a study has been done of what it means for Christ to be the head of the church in Ephesians 1:22. The relationship of husband and wife are meant to mirror the relationship of Christ and the church. To start with husband and wife questions would be like learning about the Grand Canyon from a picture when you could take a tour by donkey back.
There is no way to answer the breadth of questions this subject creates and this goal here is not to debate skeptics. What can be offered is a process of reflection for the genuinely confused or those seeking a more complete understanding. Use the following questions to help you journey from Ephesians 1 (where Paul starts) to Ephesians 5.
- How does Christ relate to the church in authority, compassion, guidance, allowing freedom/preference, sacrifice, patience, etc…?
- What are other titles/metaphors/roles by which Christ relates to the church? How are these similar to, different from, or complementary with that of “head”?
- How well does the church respond to Christ as her head?
- How does Christ respond to the church in the midst of her struggles to submit?
- What decisions do a husband and wife face where headship and submission are needed? In what situations should general obedience (actions, values, and disposition) to God’s Word make headship and submission largely irrelevant categories?
- How should a husband relate to his wife in authority, compassion, guidance, allowing freedom/preference, sacrifice, patience, etc…?
- What other titles/metaphors/roles does Scripture give for how a husband relates to his wife?
- What should happen when a husband fails to be a Christ-like head? What should happen when a wife fails to respond in church-like submission?
- What practical or theological questions remain for you about husband-wife relations?
As you continue in this study of Ephesians, pay careful attention to the relationship between Christ and the church to prepare you to accurately apply the marriage section.
Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“
Posted 1 year, 5 months ago at 12:32 pm. Add a comment
A Counselor Reflects on Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“The word gentlemen originally meant something recognizable; one who had a coat of arms and some landed property. When you called someone ‘a gentleman’ you were not paying them a compliment, but merely stating a fact (p. xiii)… A gentleman, once it has been spiritualized and refined out of its old coarse, objective sense, means hardly more than a man whom the speaker likes. As a result gentleman is now a useless word… Now if once we allow people to start spiritualizing and refining, as they might say ‘deepening’, the sense of the word Christian, it too will speedily become a useless word (p. xiv).” Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The worst thing we do with language is not cussing or cursing. At least then people know what we really mean (whether we admit to it later or not). The worst thing we do with language is to make it meaningless – perpetuating the punishment of the Tower of Babel.
In our day this decay of language takes the humble and seemingly enlightened tone of, “Who am I to say what is or is not good?” or “Who am I to judge who is and is not [particular positive attribute].” As Lewis points out, with this mindset we surrender meaning and the ability to communicate in the name of being non-offensive.
I think one thing we should learn from this is that humility is a matter of disposition not definitions. If we make humility a matter of definitions, then we get lost in the logic, “Who am I to say who is and is not or what is and is not humble?” In that case, humility begins to mean “someone who does not believe in clear definitions.”
As a disposition, humility challenges us to weigh carefully what we do with the clear definitions of Scripture. For instance, Scripture tells us clearly what a Christian is – a person who recognizes their sinful and helpless state before God and believes in the life-death-resurrection of Christ as their only hope resulting in a life-long commitment to grow in understanding of and obedience to the Bible.
The presence or absence of humility determines what we do with this definition (it does not alter the definition). Humility applies the definition to myself most stringently (Matt 7:3-5), because I know myself more completely and have more influence over myself than does anyone else. Humility recognizes the complete dependence of any person upon God to adhere to this definition.
At the same time, humility recognizes that we do not have the status or power to change or redefine what God has declared. Humility also recognizes that it is prideful to comfort others with words that are not true. Lying believes that we have the authority and power to create our own reality and then invite others to live in the world we created.
One final thought, humility is patient with those who sincerely (but wrongly) redefine words. Humility recognizes that it is not in our power to change the heart or mind of another person. Humility recognizes that all we can do is speak the truth in love using relationship as a bridge for the Gospel. When we try to do more than this we pridefully (often with the same sincerity as our “tolerant” friend) play God in a similar manner as they do when they redefine words (by trying to fulfill God’s role of bringing conviction). Let us be truly humble with the truth.
Posted 1 year, 6 months ago at 1:30 pm. Add a comment
I, Me, My, Mine to You, Your, LORD
Often because of its length and focus upon God’s Word we often lose the personal-ness of Psalm 119. This psalm is much more intimate than it is academic; relational than theological. God’s Word is not viewed as a textbook or resource, but as a life line. Psalm 119 is not a thesis; it is a prayer. As you study Psalm 119 hear the interaction between the author of the psalm and the Author of the Bible. Allow yourself to be challenged not merely by the content of Psalm 119 (i.e., “I should memorize more Bible; verse 11), but by the style of Psalm 119 (i.e., “I should talk to the Author of Scripture this way about His good gift to me.”).
APPLICATION: Read the Psalm slowly as if you are eavesdropping on a private conversation. Listen with the ears of a (redeemed) gossip wanting to discern the nature of a powerfully intimate relationship that you cannot wait to share with anyone who will listen.
The Theme of Suffering
As you read Psalm 119 do not let the obvious theme of praising God’s Word distract you from the equally strong theme of suffering and struggle. The psalmist is clinging to God’s Word to be rescued from undefined, but intense hardship. The psalmist is searching God’s Word for answers to dilemmas that overwhelm him. The psalmist is feeding on and drinking God’s Word to nourish his famished soul. Psalm 119 is not celebrating stoic, unmoved biblical reflection. Psalm 119 is the exclamation of the starving man who found “the food to eat you know not about (John 4:32).”
APPLICATION: Read Psalm 119 like a prisoner in a concentration camp who found the journal of former prisoner who carefully plotted an escape and was successful. You are hurting and have many times lost hope. Those around you are in the same boat. Hope began to feel like a fairy tale. Now you have the words of one who was in your shoes, shared your pain, but recorded the key to his freedom and peace.
“I Have Hidden Your Word in My Heart”
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)
There are few Christians who would doubt the importance of memorizing Scripture. However, most American Christians own more Bibles than they know Bible verses. Don’t look away in shame. Shame doesn’t change the human soul and is not an appropriate response to God’s grace.
Consider the following points to assist and encourage you to memorize Scripture as a part of your regular battle against sin and for God’s glory.
- Memorize from one translation to avoid confusion.
- Create a list of verses you want to memorize as you read through the Bible
- Enlist a friend to encourage you and follow up with you
- Use note cards and decorate them to increase visual memorization cues.
- Spend equal time reviewing old verses as you do learning new ones.
- If you are studying through a book of the Bible, memorize verses from that book.
- Reward yourself in the same way you would for weight loss, completing chores, or getting a promotion.
- Occasionally memorize larger portions of Scripture (i.e., a chapter, the Sermon on the Mount, or an entire book).
- Reflect on your verses while you are doing mundane activities (i.e., cleaning, yard work, driving, etc…).
- As you work to memorize a verse, read a couple of commentaries on the passage it comes from to increase your understanding of the words you are reciting.
- Do not let memorization become a chore. The message of Psalm 119 is that it is the delight in God’s Word that changes the heart. When we grudgingly recite God’s Word God becomes a distant, demanding professor; not a loving Heavenly Father.
Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“
Posted 2 years, 2 months ago at 3:14 am. Add a comment
