Keep in Step with the Spirit

A book I read a couple of years ago while in the airport was  J.I. Packer’s Keep in Step with the Spirit (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005).

• He collates a biblical theology of the Holy Spirit – to mediate Christ’s presence on earth – a Christocentric focus of Spirit. 
• He emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s primary role in our sanctification.
• He critiques the Augustinian, Wesleyan, and Keswick teachings on holiness.
• He critiques and interprets the charismatic movement. 
• He exegetes Romans 5 and 7 with regard to the Holy Spirit. 

I was refreshed by  J.I. Packer connecting the biblical and historical theology with contemporary theology and everyday life in this book. This is one book that impacted my thinking a couple of years ago, so I thought I might read it again since such books are indeed rare. I’m actually surprised more people do not have it on their book lists under the Holy Spirit.  

“The essence of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, at this or any time in the Christian era, is to mediate the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Under this ministry I as a Christian writer and you as a Christian reader live already, though our thoughts about it may be lagging behind the reality [emphasis mine].” (pg. 49)

Renew My Mind

I woke up this morning really struggling with my depravity. Yesterday, Thursday, was a day filled with hopelessness and discouragement for various reasons. At the cross and through the resurrection of Christ, I found hope and joy to continue on with the daily grind of life. My bent nature very much gravitates toward nihilism and Nietzschian thought, but the God-Who-Is reaches out to me and empowers me to live another day with hope and joy and strength. The song My Lord, I Did Not Choose You was definitely my theme song for today. Anyway as I received this new grace for the new day, I started to think of all the different things I needed to do and change in my life. That’s when the Spirit gently whispered that I had made all these plans to change multiple times before and failed! The Spirit said to me, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Whoa! I’m focused on the wrong thing here … no wonder I fail every-time! I’m trying to change myself when God wants me not to change myself but to change the way I think. Jesus, how do I do that? The Spirit said to me, “You, Dan, be renewed in the attitudes and dispositions of your mind.” Okay, I’m following you … how do I renew my mind? Spirit: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Renew your mind with my Word!” Notice he did not say memorize verses. Renewing ones mind is much different than memorizing bible verses though often a by-product of renewing the mind is a memorized passage of holy Scripture but that’s not at all the focus or goal.  

Here’s the meditation I had today on  ”… and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This passage, Ephesians 4:23-24, is the Spirit’s second exhortation out of five on how the church should walk or live their lives. The first exhortation to walk is found in 4:1-17, “Walk in unity.” The second exhortation to walk is found in 4:17-32, “Walk in holiness.”  This exhortation to walk or live “not as the unsaved” (v. 17)  is the context that “renew your mind” is found. The Spirit describes the nihilistic and hedonistic state of those who don’t know Christ in verses 17b-19. Its amazing how accurate the Spirit describes the bent way I think and live. It seems that I find myself living my life in the way the Spirit describes here too often. The Spirit challenges this lifestyle in verses 20-21: “But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him.” What did I learn about Christ? ”To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.” I should live according to the reality that Christ crucified the old man knowing that the old man is fed by illusion and deceit. But I don’t stop there! The focus is not the shedding of my bent practices and desires, though it is necessary, but the renewal of my mind and the putting on of the new man that God created in me after himself at salvation that is characterized by true righteousness and holiness!

This is a lifelong process. The goal is no old man in me and all new man created in God’s image. The renewal of the mind is like the catalysis that guides and encourages the process within me. Renewing my mind means that I meditate upon the Word. I put myself in the context. I let the Spirit speak to me. This does not mean ignoring the historical context of the text but rather connecting my life in 2009 with the ancient believers’ context; the same Spirit who indwelt them and inspired the prophets and apostles he indwells me and moves in me and strengthens my emotions and mind and will; similarly he indwells all those who are part of the body of Christ today. This passage is set within the context of the covenant community not to an individual Christian or a para-church organization. I need, we need involvement together in the covenant community renewing our minds together, putting off the old man together, putting on the new man together… God, renew my mind through your Word! Jesus, I can’t change my ways but you can enable me to think differently and throw off the bent desires and ways and embody the new creation I am…. 

Here’s a practical bloglink toward renewing your mind…

(Caveat: Scripture memory does not equate a renewed mind!!)

The Root of Bitterness

I’m amazed at the penetrating power of the holy Scriptures and it’s relevance for my life today. I was recently challenged by a brother in Christ at my church to take all the knowledge I’ve learned about theology and learn to actually know God. I say this not to boast but to show my foolishness; but I’ve study theology in the classroom for six years, done my daily devotions faithfully, read multiple systematic theologies, memorized entire books of the bible, and learned to read Greek fluently and Hebrew with help. Yet these are nothing if I do not actually know God, which I can say confidently that I really don’t know God well. The last couple of years and especially in the last several months, I’ve been really struggling with bitterness in my life.

So in light of the exhortation that my brother at church gave to me, I decided to meditate upon Hebrews 12:15 this fine Sunday afternoon, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” Wow! I got more than I bargained for in this passage! When I fail to obtain or grasp the grace of God, I’ve opened myself up for a ‘root of bitterness’ to possibly come into my life. The first part of verse 15 gives the idea of carefully watching or “looking diligently” implying that this is a real danger that I need to watch out for in my everyday life. Watch out for what? That I don’t fail to grasp the grace of God. Calvin comments that this grace is not something we need to earn but rather as Christ gives us this exhortation to strive for his grace, he at the same time gives us the ability and desire to obtain the grace of God.

When I’ve fostered sin in my life, I’ve failed to grasp onto the grace God has proved. I’ve not carefully watched my life. St. Chrysostom preached about the ‘root of bitterness’: “And with good reason did he call sin ‘bitter’: for truly nothing is more bitter than sin, and they know it, who after they have committed it pine away under their conscience, who endure much bitterness. For being exceedingly bitter, it perverts the reasoning faculty itself. Such is the nature of what is bitter: it is unprofitable. And well said he, ‘root of bitterness.’ He said not, ‘bitter,’ but ‘of bitterness.’ For it is possible that a bitter root might bear sweet fruits; but it is not possible that a root and fountain and foundation of bitterness, should ever bear sweet fruit; for all is bitter, it has nothing sweet, all are bitter, all unpleasant, all full of hatred and abomination.” Whoa! That gives a lot more depth to my struggle with bitterness in the last couple of years and the last couple of months! My bitterness is a product of my sin, the root! I always thought my bitterness toward certain issues I’ve experienced was the actual main sin I was struggling with. “No”, God says. My bitterness toward whatever is not the fault of anyone or any situation that I’ve been in. It stems from my lack to grasp the grace of God and instead nurture sin in my life.

I haven’t accurately interpreted this passage because this passage was written not to individual believers but  to the covenant community composed of redeemed individuals from all walks of life and background. This adds a completely new and, frankly, exciting dimension to the truth contained in verse 15. We as a covenant community are to see that no one in the community fails to obtain the grace of God. This is what my brother in Christ did for me this last week. Why? So that sin does not infect any individual in the community resulting in a source of bitter fruit that in turn defiles others in the community. My bitterness has to my shame and grief affected others in the covenant community that I share in. It affects the way I respond to others and the way I think of others. I’ve gotten sleepy and failed to grasp the grace of God and nurtured sin,  my own ‘root of bitterness.’ But praise YHWH for the grace he gives and the forgiveness and the resurrection life I now share in with the covenant community. Wow! I can’t tell you the weight lifted off my soul! God, help me not fail to obtain your grace. Thank you for the community of grace you’ve place me in!

Why I’m an (A)theist: a very short story – Part 1

Wisps of a sweet pungent, grey smoke wafted up from the incense sticks Simon had just placed before the the shrine of Fles, the personal god and protector of Simon and his house. As long as Simon could remember, he and his family always had served Fles. Most of his surrounding neighbors had elaborate shrines dedicated to Fles except his coworker Thomas.   On his way to work, Simon pondered his friend’s strange customs. What’s the deal with Thomas? Walking into the drab gray office, He greeted his coworkers with a friendly smile as he quickly moved to dedicate his day at the office to the diamond carved god in the beautiful gold inlaid shrine – Yenom, the ruler of the gods.

The thought enraged Simon, “How dare Thomas blaspheme the gods! Doesn’t he realize that he brings the wrath of the gods upon not only himself but on us as well? Doesn’t he understand our customs? He grew up here! Maybe I’ll talk to him; I bet he just isn’t aware of the joy of the gods’ favor.”

The phone  rang loudly on Thomas’ desk as he was just filing the last blue-tape report for his boss. Thomas thought, “I sure hope this isn’t gonna be long because I’m clocking out in two minutes”

“Hello? this is Thomas… Hey Simon! How ya doin? … Ya, I’m just finishing up work here … Oh, well, I appreciate the offer but I can’t. … Yeah, lunch tomorrow at Krapp in the Box would be great! See ya then, Bye!” Thomas met Simon several months ago at Ding Dong’s Donut shop down on the first floor of his office complex. Simon then had recently moved from up north and notice Thomas reading Of Grammatology in DD’s Donuts, an unusual book for someone to read but a subject Simon found fascinating. Of course, they instantly struck up a conversation about the subject and quickly became friends. 

“But Thomas doesn’t serve the gods!” he exclaimed to Suzzi. “He doesn’t know what he’s missing out of … isn’t that right, Suzzi?” Suzzi was his favorite priestess at Munitalp Bulc the massive temple complex for the god Noitacinrof, wrongly yet often called Xes for short. “I’m gonna talk to him tomorrow about some of these things. I bet Thomas secretly serves Noitacinrof. I mean how can you not if you’re human!” 

After the increable steak dinner, Thomas hugged his wife tenderly and held her hand. “Thanks for the awesome dinner,babe! You really picked some good cuts for me to grill on our beatup red charcoal grill… Please pray to YHWH for me tomorrow.. I’m gonna have lunch with my friend Simon. Remember him? He’s my coworker that helped us out when we had that flat tire on Coal Street. I really enjoy talking with him because he’s so thoughtful and kind but I don’t think he knows YHWH.. Maybe YHWH will give me an opportunity to talk about the gods and things like that. I’m sure he’s noticed I don’t serve them… He asked me to go to Munitalp Bulc … you know the Platinum Club. I know he thinks I’m a freak for not coming… But.. well.. I think you and I have a good reason to be (a)theist….” 

 

(to be continued if i’m not too busy with school/work in the next weeks)