The Evangelical Universalist Forum

A transparent life

Practices Christian Living
#1

In this world that we live in, those who are truly hungry for a spiritual walk are not finding fulfillment in men’s religion with its loud voice of empty traditions, but are recognizing a need for a more uncontaminated transparent life. They are not so easily swayed by those who have an outward show of a whitened sepulcher, yet an inward working of dead men’s bones.

A spiritual way of life is far more powerful and transparent in communication and effect than any superficial lifestyle, tradition or perception. It’s a life of knowing that the God of all creation is all in all and will direct us through each day, shining on us, in us and trough us with His all consuming love that is destine to be shed abroad in the hearts of all humanity.

#2

Having just in the past year joined Weslyan congregation in a fast growing new local Church, I have come more into contact with the search for holiness as concieved by those I now worship with. It’s been refreshing in some ways but also disquitening as well. We are complex stuff and simple answers or assertions can come to grief in the way of making an practical sense. Endless rededications seem to be the lot of those who simply can’t belive that being made holy is a gift and living it everyday is a provision of ongoing and developing grace. Big steps and little ones! Chris

#3

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:16 NKJV)

Why is there no “shadow of turning” with the Father of Lights? Could the reason be that the Father is completely transparent and thus casts no shadow?
Yes, every disciple of Christ ought also to be completely transparent!

#4

Did you ever like to look at your hand in front of a very strong lamp. Like a warm x-ray! That sort of transparent? I believe one day that a light will shine that will shown up the stuff I can’t see (mercifully) and would not like if I could. And puff! it’s gone! In the mean time I don’t worry about it that much because Rom 8:1 gives me assurance. Better to relax under those gifts from the Father of lights. Thanks Mr P. Chris

#5

Hi Chris, I think I understand where you are coming from. A spiritual life is a balanced life. If it doesn’t have a practical life application, it really isn’t worth much. A transparent life isn’t something that can be worked up but more of a process of simply letting go. In Philippians 3:7-10, Paul said that he would let go of all that he attained in his life that he may know (be familiar and acquainted with) him (the Father of lights), and the power of his resurrection (in us), and the fellowship of his sufferings (beckoning’s or desires).

It is well said that there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ. All of humanity was in Christ as he hung on the cross for us, and we are continually in his loving hands. But Paul found, in Romans 7, that when he tried to good in himself, evil was present with him. This knowledge of good and evil is what got Adam & Eve all messed up to begin with. However, as you pointed out in Chapter 8, that condemnation that he felt in the previous chapter was gone. Instead of trying to work things out on his own, he chose to embrace life. The same life that God had preserved for us all in the garden. That doesn’t mean that Paul never had an issue with falling back in the same old rut of good & evil, but the more he embraced the life of Romans 8:1, the more transparent he became. In this the light of the Father can shine through. The same light that lights every man woman and child on the face of this earth. I guess you can say that this transparency is letting go of all the excess baggage of our own creation and letting our true selves be revealed for who we really are, God’s creation.

I hope that makes sense

#6

Do you really think Paul was talking about himself and his condition at the time of writing Romans 7?

It seems to me that he was using “I” in the sense of a person without Christ, who may want to do right, but does not have the power to do it. He says in verse 25:

…so then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Is he not saying that “I of myself” as tantamount to “I, through self-effort”? Such a person without the enabling grace of God can only serve God “with his mind”, that is he can only DESIRE to serve God but cannot bring it into practice. But Paul says immediately afterward (still using the first person):

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:1,2)

I have no ability at handwriting. I wrote this little explanation of my inability based on Romans 7, and the solution in Romans 8:

I hope this little analogy helps someone to see Paul’s real intent in writing Romans 7.

#7

Paidion, Yes, there is something we must do to receive the benefits of the kingdom of God here and now. Ephesians 4:22-24 gives us the answer to that. Notice I said the knowledge of good and evil. This has to do with a mindset, not a physical condition. Paul said in Philippians 2:5 to let this frame of mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. He didn’t think it robbery to be at the same level as God, but he still made himself of no reputation.

Ephesians 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

I don’t use the niv translation much, but I like the way it reads at this point:

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

So what is the old man and the new man? 1 Corinthians 15:22 puts it this way, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So here’s the kicker in Romans 8:1-2, “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” In Adam we find the law of sin and death as opposed to the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which has set me free. So what are we putting off? The old adamic mindset and embracing life.

Paul was very clear about having his struggles throughout his writings. We all have struggles. But the truth of the matter is, when we allow those struggles to control our lives, we are eating from the wrong tree. Just like you taking to the word processor to rise above your struggles with handwriting, so it is with imaginations (and we will all have imaginations come up from time to time) and struggles in the mind of man. Our efforts to find merit with God are futal, I believe that this is what Paul was talking about in Romans 7.

Have you ever been in a place where you do everything in your power to try and please a parent or someone close to you, and nothing just seems good enough? The funny thing is, many times if you just stop trying and let things go, you will find that you are love for who you are and not what you do.

Matthew 5:6 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied.

#8

By the way Paidion, I like your screen name. The price has been paid for us throughout the ages :slight_smile:

#9

Hi Steve

What you’re saying here definitely strikes a chord with me. For a very long time I’ve struggled with the ‘old man’, and with my perpetual failure to live up to God’s perfect standards. Part of the problem for me is that so much of the time, the honest truth is that I simply don’t want to live up to those standards. I just want to ‘be me’ - hopefully not such a bad person, but certainly nowhere near being a saint.

And the more I have thought about this, the more I am coming to the conclusion that the solution is - as you say - to “stop trying and let things go”. Now I interpret this not as just giving up on trying to be good at all, and embracing a life of sin. Certainly not. Rather I see it as not constantly fretting about whether we’re doing the right thing, and worrying ourselves to death, beating ourselves up, when we know we’re not.

It seems to me that one of the most profound truths about grace is that it is entirely unmerited. It is a truth many (‘traditional’ or otherwise) Christians give mental assent to, but fail to live out in their lives. They think they must always be doing good things so that God will love them. When of course there is nothing, absolutely nothing they can do either to make God love them more than he already does, or conversely love them any less than he already does. The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is the perfect illustration of this.

I think you’re absolutely bang on when you say that when we do finally ‘let go’ in this way, we will find out that we are loved for who we are, not what we do.

Thanks for triggering these reflections, Steve.

All the best

Johnny

#10

Right on Johnny, I have found that when we rest in His grace, and allow it to have it’s perfect work in us, sin doesn’t seem to be an issue. When we are constantly looking at the rights and wrongs in our lives, we find ourselves dwelling on the things that we are trying so hard to get rid of. So it ends up being kind of a catch 22. But Paul said in Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

So how do we sustain our lives and not constantly sin? Stop living under the law.

So shall we sin so that grace can abound? God Forbid! But we are still safe and secure in our loving heavenly daddy’s arms. :slight_smile:

#11

Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Hi Johnny,
Paul seems to be saying that we should give willingly and cheerfully FOR THE REASON THAT God loves a cheerful giver. But if what you say is true, it was quite unnecessary for Paul to add, “for God loves a cheerful giver”, since God loves us just as much whether we give cheerfully or reluctantly, or even if we don’t give at all.

It may be, as someone has said, that God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.

#12

Paidion;

You are right. God is especially fond of a cheerful giver, for they have discovered his heart, thus they give in the manner that He gives to us.

You paraphrased the following verse.

2 Corinthians 9:7
7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The key point here is as he purposes in his heart. One of my clients manages a law office here in town. He loves all his children. However, he is especially fond of his daughter, who has chosen to follow in his footsteps. They are able to work hand in hand on a daily basis. She shows the fruit of his workmanship, not of her own. Sure there was a time of study and passing the state bar. But Jesus joyfully passed that bar for us two thousand years ago and our study should only show God’s approval in our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:23 tells us. “…every man in his own order…” It’s not of our own workmanship lest any of us should boast in what we have done, but we are His workmanship. By all means, I am not saying that we just kick back and let everything haphazardly fall where it may. However, when we allow ourselves to focus on the pure heart of God Almighty, these outside elements of mere works really don’t mean as much. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4 that these outside elements are only temporary, but the inward working of the Fathers hand is eternal. If we just keep ourselves in that forward motion in His presence, when we do stumble or fall, and most assuredly we will in some way, we will find ourselves falling into the hands of a loving Father who is always there to pick us up, dust us off, and bind up our wounds.

The greatest change of all in an individuals life works from the inside out, not the outside in.

I hope I’m making sence. :confused:

#13

^^ What Steve said :smiley:

Hi Paidion

I think I see where you’re coming from. But sort of echoing what Steve said, I would say that what Paul means is that God loves it when we give cheerfully, rather than reluctantly, just as he loves it when we do anything ‘good’. But this does not affect his ‘underlying’ love for us. After all, Christ died for us all, “when we were still sinners”. In other words, God doesn’t wait for us to come to him in faith and repentance, he opens the door to that for all of us first. It is an entirely gracious, one-sided act on his part. And he will go on loving us until we respond to him.

That’s how I see things anyway :slight_smile: .

Cheers

Johnny

#14

Actually, I agree with you about this, Johnny. Thank you. (Thank you also, Pastor Steve, for your response)

For example, a human father continues to love his children even the one who rebelled against everything which his parents stood for, and who took active steps to make life as difficult as possible for his parents. Just what is that parental love? It’s not an emotion. At a certain point the parents of such a child no longer have “love feelings” toward the child, but they still want the best for him, and will make a great effort to help him undergo a repentance (a change of heart and mind) in order that he may overcome the problems he has brought upon himself.

However, I think the answer to my own question is that the Greek word “αγαπαω”, translated as “love” seems to have two distinct meanings according to Greek lexicons. One is to “love” in the sense of taking active steps to serve another person and to do one’s best for him. The second meaning of loving a person is to highly esteem him. I think the latter meaning is the sense in which God loves a cheerful giver. He esteems such a giver more than a reluctant one.

By the way, Pastor Steve, I wasn’t paraphrasing 2 Corinthians 9:7. I was quoting the English Standard Version (which is fairly literal):

Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Perhaps the New King James Version is a little more literal for this particular verse:

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

#15

Your right Paidion,

Going back and looking at what you wrote, I was kind of hasty in my reading and missed the top part of the reply. I do like the way the English Standard Version reads on that. I like the way the Thayer concordance defines that second meaning of ἀγαπάω (which is agapaō the singular form of Agape). It says, “to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing.” When we find our resting place in Him, He finds His resting place in us. Father God is greatly contented with that cheerful giver. I knew we had to be on the same road brother. I just had the wrong glasses on :nerd: