Wholeness: rationalizing

As I said in a previous post, we see Jesus using both the hand of discipline, as well as the hand of grace. Generally, Jesus was toughest on the religious leaders and easiest on the common folk. Church people tend to do the opposite, how do we manage to rationalize that? Even when we are tough on pastors, it's often for the sake of superficial preferences, not principle. How do we rationalize that? The Teachers of the law broke at least two commandments by conspiring against Jesus when he challenged their authority. How did they rationalize that? People often resort to impatient, unkind, rude, and ultimately unloving behavior when they rebuke. Despite that such behavior violates the very truth we profess. How do they rationalize that? Many tend to condemn, shame, and criticize the lost, even if Jesus had a very different attitude. How do we rationalize this? I'm sure the woman at the well from John chapter 4 came face to face with some of her rationalizations. While the rich young man from Matthew chapter 19 had to come up with some new rationalizations after speaking with Jesus.

The how is difficult to answer, the why is not. It all comes back to the sinful nature of the flesh, to serving self as we see fit. We really don't need religion to simply follow our human nature, yet we may use religion to rationalize it somehow. While some world religions may rationalize evil actions for the sake of a so-called greater good, Christianity does not. Anyone who says differently is twisting the truth to rationalize following their own comfort, and convenience instead of God's Holy Truth. My point being, we all rationalize something. Sometimes we will even go as far as to rationalize our rationalizations. As long as we do this, we impede our spiritual growth somehow and lead others astray. You can't find your true wholeness this way. Sooner or later you will come face to face with your rationalizations as well. You will have to do more than just say no or eliminate it, you must replace it with something good and constructive. Far too many oversimplify this part by denying the complex emotional wounds behind much of our bad behavior, this only sets you up for failure. You may want to go back to the beginning of the series for more on this. The question right now is will you respond as the woman at the well did, or the rich young man?

The Visual PARABLEist

Wholeness: Pentecost

Some people say that the God of The Old Testament and the God in The New Testament is very different and use that as an excuse to live recklessly. While others insist that God does not change, and use that as an excuse to force submission of God's commands. Which in turn has led many people to accuse the church of abuse, and brokenness instead of wholeness. However, I think both sides are not perceiving things accurately. No, God himself does not change, but our relationship with him does.

Let me explain. Take the story of Abraham before Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham is asking endless questions like an infant who has just learned to talk does. Or the Israelites as they wander the desert, they were very much acting like a bunch of whiny toddlers then. When we get to the book of Judges, they are acting like rebellious teenagers. My point being that our relationship with, and how we discipline our children changes as they mature. As children, the rules are very rigid, because they lack the comprehension to understand why. As they get older, we expect them to start to understand the why behind the what. It is no different with God and his children. Only mankind's spiritual maturation has taken place over centuries. This is where Pentecost comes in, in many ways that served as humanity's spiritual bar-mitzvah if you will. Where we officially became fully adult heirs of the kingdom of God, via this New Covenant. (Galatians 3:23-4:7)

Let me put the significance of Pentecost into a broader perspective for you, if you have no idea what it is. There was the original Passover (Exodus 12:1-30) then fifty days later Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) the foundation for Mosaic law. Centuries later there was the Passover that Christ celebrated with his disciples at what we call the last supper. (Luke 22:7-38) Then fifty days later on the Feast of Weeks, a holy day to honor the receiving of Mosaic Law, the normal festivities were overshadowed by the Holy Spirit descending upon the church. (Acts 2) An event that broke the divide between mankind and God. This is the ultimate fulfillment of the law, that Jesus mentions in Matthew 5:17-20 since the spirit is the law that is written on our hearts, as opposed to stone. (2nd Corinthians 3:3) The parallelism proves that. This day is also what is now known as Pentecost Sunday, sometimes called the birthday of the church. A day the Protestant church should treat more seriously than it does. It really deserves as much if not more recognition than Christmas or Easter. I liken the downplay of Pentecost to building a foundation, raising concrete block walls, then only throwing a tarp over the church to serve as a roof. We are leaving the job incomplete just so we can enjoy the privilege of the cross, but not have to take on the responsibility of the transformed life.

If Jesus hadn't offered himself as the ultimate Passover lamb on Good Friday, we would still have to make atonement for our sin via the sacrificial system. So Christ's actions have indeed changed our relationship with God. Now, we are asked to confess our sin. (James 5:16, 1st John 1:9) However, the original Greek word for confessing has a literal definition of, to say the same thing as. So a true new covenant confession is also an agreement with God. We are not just acknowledging that we have broken God's law, but we are recognizing that sin is harmful to our souls. So there is that implied understanding of the truth behind the commands. An understanding that only comes with maturity, that's naturally expected of fully adult heirs.

If we don't recognize this, we may feel compelled to apply a toddler-level doctrine that only recognizes one dimension of holiness. This consists only of forced submission of surface behavior, not sincerity, or understanding. This often leads to the traumatic experiences critics of the church experience.

As you can see, our misunderstanding of three-dimensional holiness can trickle down into other areas. None of its effects are positive either. It has led us exactly where we are, with that proverbial church without a proper roof. A church of fully adult heirs living as immature children, a spiritless church without the full scope of God’s power at their disposal. An incomplete church that cannot lead people to wholeness, because they have not followed that path fully themselves.

The Visual PARABLEist

Wholeness: Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 14:27

When someone thinks wholeness they may equate inner peace with it. This is obviously what Jesus is referring to when he says that he would leave and give "his" peace to us. Reiterating the notion twice to emphasize it. Then goes on to say that he does not give as the world gives. This is a strong indicator that "his" peace is not exactly what mankind would expect or assume. This also begs the question, are our potentially wrong assumptions about inner peace interfering with our pursuit of wholeness? Maybe it's time we take a closer look at the idea.

Jesus mentions the Holy Spirit prior to this verse. So it would seem that this inner peace would come via following the Spirit, which dwells in our hearts. This fits with the statement, don't let your hearts be troubled. Which is a repetition from the very beginning of this dialogue in verse 14:1. So again, there is great emphasis placed here. This Indicates that this peace comes from within, a strength of heart if you will. This is further reinforced by the revelation that this peace sheds off fear.

Yet, soon after this verse, he mentions the "prince of this world" a euphemism for satan. A source of trouble and fear in this world for sure. So obviously this peace he speaks of is not dependent upon anything external, but rather despite it.

Yet, isn't this exactly where most people look for peace instead of in Christ? In a world that revolves around their feelings, preferences, and comfort. By pushing that responsibility onto the choices of others, instead of our own attitude towards it. Hence, their futile tendency to control people. The irony of controlling people, is they are the most out-of-control individuals you will ever meet. They obviously have no real peace of mind, since the tiniest things send them into a tantrum. Controlling people are more discouraging than inspiring, so they make very poor disciples that set very poor examples of wholeness. So they can't truly be holy people.

So let me ask you this. Where do you seek your peace? By trusting in Christ, or in the manipulations of your environment?

. . . the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7

One last detail; while the gospels are written in Greek the Hebrew concept of Shalom is probably still reflected in the main verse, so you may want to check out my previous post on the peace that comes from the state of shalom as well.

The Visual PARABLEist

Wholeness: A Line in the surface

One of the biggest struggles in the church is knowing where to draw the line on issues. How do we stand up for truth without forsaking love? How do we honor justice without coming off as merciless? How do we quench the passions of the flesh without quenching the passions of the spirit as well? How do we live by grace without rationalizing sinful acts? Is this not part of the reason we have so many denominations? Someone feels that a specific truth is being neglected, so they start a new denomination to lift up that truth again, only to neglect something else. So every time we cross said lines we ending up violating the truth we profess. Which the world around us is eager to use against the church.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. -Matthew 23:23-24

With that being said, many of our errors are done in pure ignorance, we simply don't know as we should know. This idea of three-dimensional holiness and how wholeness fits into it is a prime example. Understanding the full depths of holiness, instead of looking at it in a one-dimensional way, is but one way we can clear up where some of these lines should be drawn, and how we've crossed them. As they say, a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Looking at holiness as righteousness only can lead to a purely cosmetic faith, in which there is no wholeness to be found in. So there is no inspiring the lost in that either. A mere surface faith definitely doesn't know where to draw the lines, let alone recognize them when we've crossed them. It's about maintaining appearances as they perceive them, which is an incomplete perception for sure. Which doesn't impress God in the slightest.

I’ve said this before, but I can’t possibly say it enough, the standard of holiness is a reflection of the very nature of God. I dare say he is more complex than you or I. Yet we treat him as someone of little depth if we oversimplify what Holiness really is.

In scripture, we see Jesus using both the stern hand of discipline, as well as the gentle hand of grace. In his divinity, he could look into someone's heart as easily as looking in the window. So he always knew what was needed in every situation. We don't have it as easy, but we do have resources to know where to draw the line in specific instances. (James 1:5, Luke 12:12) That does us no good if we don't utilize them, or simply follow what's comfortable and convenient for us. I recall when I was having trouble dealing with and understanding someone in particular. So I prayed about the situation, suddenly once seemingly insignificant details started to glare out at me. So everything came into sharper focus with this person. I dare say the church had done him a disservice by drawing the line in the wrong place with him. My only regret was that I didn't pray about this much sooner. Maybe he could have been a more whole person himself if we hadn't been so focused on ourselves in dealing with his seemingly rude behavior.

One command never supersedes another, so a truly holy person will not violate a principle for the sake of truth.  

The Visual PARABLEist

Wholeness: Be prepared

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, -1 Peter 3:15

I've often wondered how many people in the church can really give a reason for the hope they have in Christ when asked, at least without relying on vague emotions. I put it that way because the context of the passage is about suffering for doing good. A very relevant passage, since we live in days where the selfless are criticized, and the selfish are uplifted. The worldly will not respond to vague answers that revolve around feelings that are very different from their own. Abstract feelings are very difficult to relay than we give them credit. It can be sort of like trying to describe the Grand Canyon to someone who has never seen it first hand. No matter how good we are with words, there is just no replacing experiencing it for yourself. If we fail to recognize that when expressing our feelings, we can end up judging them unfairly when they don't comprehend. Then, the gentleness and respect Peter mentions goes out the door. I dare say the only way to get through to them is to understand where they are coming from, including their brokenness. Who can really do that but those who experienced brokenness themselves and found wholeness through Christ? They are the ones that will be able to give a tangible reason for the hope they have. Only they will be spiritually mature enough not to take these unrighteous attacks personally, and fight fire with fire. Notice also that the verse specifically says that we should answer those who ask; instead of offering these proverbial pearls unsolicited. (Matthew 7:6)

My point being, when Peter says, be prepared, I don't think he's referring to logical arguments about doctrine alone. Rather, something much deeper and personal than that. Something that only those who have found genuine three-dimensional holiness can offer. In the end, they are the most effective evangelists and missionaries. Instead of just, teaching people to be fakes like the whitewashed tombs do. (Matthew 23:27-28)

As you can see, wholeness isn't just good for self, but it benefits the entire church. Yet, if we try to bypass this critical part of holiness, there is a very negative trickle-down effect that adversely affects the body of Christ's purpose and outreach efforts. Without that, a church cannot sustain itself very well.

I think most in ministry understand the latter part, that's why there is so much emphasis put on outreach these days. However, I'm skeptical that most understood how wholeness is an important part of the foundation of a mission-based community. Otherwise, I wouldn't see so many people relying on vague emotion, and cold doctrinal answers, in place of genuinely hopeful answers.

The Visual PARABLEist

Wholeness: Sabbath

Why are you doing what you are doing? Have you ever just stopped and asked yourself that? So often we get so caught up in our routines we just get stuck in patterns and forget why they were formed in the first place. Sometimes it gets so bad that we have to push down our heart to drive ourselves. This "toil" as King Solomon called it, can really take its toll on our wholeness. Maybe this is part of the reason this attitude of entitlement is becoming more prominent. If it appears that all we are toiling for is leading to migraines, ulcers, and hypertension, we are not exactly setting a good example. Granted this is but another example of opposite extremism. The book of Genesis reveals to us, that we are not only made in the image of a creator; we are made to work. (Genesis 2:15) So to an extent, we should find fulfillment in our efforts. However, we are also meant to take time to rest from it. (Genesis 2:2-3) Jesus also revealed that the Sabbath is indeed for our benefit, not just a way to honor and revere God. (Mark 2:27)

Maybe if we didn't rob ourselves of this moment of rest; we would have time to not only unwind, but to stop, and ask ourselves why are we doing what we are doing? Is what we are doing truly good and Righteous? Are we really in God's will, or are we just going through the one size fits all motions? And even more important, it gives us a moment to listen to the small voice. So we can potentially alter our course if we are off track. Even if no change is needed, it can remind us of the why. Which can be quite valuable in maintaining a good attitude about it.

With all that being said, even when some of us are familiar with this truth. We still try to take a so-called moral high ground as we work ourselves to death. We always lose that fight when we try to act more righteous than God. (Mark 8:31-33) Regardless of our rationale, our flesh has limits, and we won't be able to accomplish anything if we burn ourselves out. Maybe that is what it takes for some of us to realize that we are only relying on ourselves by not taking the time to pause weekly. That our moral high ground isn't as high as we think. After all, a burned-out person is not a whole person, and an incomplete person is not a holy person.

Which you may be saying, easy for you to say. Admittedly it is. Still, you should ask yourself, where is all this pressure really originating from, others, or just self. People who truly love you don't want you to get burned out, and will do what they can to prevent it. One thing I have learned is, we don't find time; we make time. Otherwise, time will have its way with us. So maybe it's a good time to reevaluate what you overload your life with. Does it all really matter to your eternal life, or is it a mere distraction? Scripture talks about being good stewards of our resources, what resource is more precious than the time we have?

The Visual PARABLEist

Wholeness: love

Love is the most universally sought-after thing in the world. There is nothing else we look to more to make us whole. (Not that I'm saying we should) Yet, the irony of it all, is that this pursuit has also caused more brokenness than anything else as well. So, I dare say our idea of love has gone completely wrong. Specifically, what has gone wrong is how we define it. If you have been in the church for a time you have probably already heard that scripture defines love as an action, not as a feeling. Still, even when we intellectually know this, we still manage to follow our emotions blindly in our relationships at times. Which eventually leads to all the brokenness that I spoke. So let me put this all into perspective for you, so you can fathom just how true the Biblical definition is.

If you define love as an emotion, then it is dependent upon maintaining those feelings. Which makes love as a feeling inherently conditional. If all you are doing is maintaining feelings you are only serving your emotions, and not necessarily the other person. Which would make love as a feeling inherently selfish. If we treat love as an emotion then we feel entitled to express those feelings blindly, even when they make others uncomfortable, or do not reciprocate them at all. So it's no wonder that so many evils that we face every day are done in the name of love. The impatience, the unkindness, the rudeness, the criticism, the stalking, the abuse, the assault, all of it is often rationalized so that we can indulge our feelings and be loved the way we want. If it were really about loving whom we want, we wouldn't allow any of this to happen by our own hands. Not to mention whenever a murder investigation starts, the detectives always look at who the victim was in intimate relationships with first. Ultimately, it's often that level of passion that inspires that much resentment. 

Emotions will always run both ways; sure they may seem wonderful when they are all positive. However, they can be just as ugly when they run negative. So love has to be more than just feelings. You have probably also heard that 1st Corinthians 13 outlines what love does. But have you also heard that this chapter is but part of a broader passage about the spirit? Our habit of constantly uplifting chapter 13 outside its broader context that includes chapters 12 and 14 is a huge disservice to the truth, and part of why our definition of love has gone wrong. Let's face it, emotions can be very fickle erratic, and not always in line with righteousness, but the spirit will always be in line with holiness. It is the spirit that keeps love symbiotic, and not parasitic. It is the spirit that keeps us on the path of God's will and ultimately wholeness. Without the spirit as our guide, we will inevitably end up following the sinful nature of the flesh, which is all about self. There is just no room for selfishness in Godly love. While human love will always be prone to error, keep in mind that as disciples, how we love is vastly important to our Christian walk. It has a trickle-down effect on everything else that we do. If we fail in our love, everything else does as well. Most people's first exposure to the Love of God, is through his followers, make sure it’s reflected accurately.

Not that I'm promoting stoicism as righteousness, such people lack empathy. That doesn't fit into the Biblical definition of love either. I'm just saying our emotions need to be tempered with spirit and truth, as opposed to the opposite extreme. So let me ask you this, does the spirit master your emotions, or do your emotions master you? Are you following true love's path to wholeness, or only indulging your brokenness that only perpetuates more brokenness?

The Visual PARABLEist

In 2010 I did a series of drawings about parasitic love called emotional vampires. As awful as their behavior can be, we must remember that there is a broken person behind it.