Powerless

Blasphemy of the spirit or the unforgivable sin as it is also known; is a subject that isn't talked about much. Maybe that is why so many are getting dangerously close to crossing that line these days. I think the best way to understand what Jesus meant by this is to simply read all three gospel references in context. (Matthew 12:22-37, Mark 3:20-34, Luke 12:1-12) I say that because I have read many commentaries on these passages, and many get rather absurd. Trying to interject conditions and time frames into the applicability of the passage, despite that Jesus' words are rather straightforward, and there's nothing in them to support any such variables. But, if I were to summarize it in simple terms, blasphemy of the Spirit is simply accusing the Holy Spirit of being evil. Why is this important? If one were to experience something that cannot be explained by conventional means, it would be very easy to react in fear and dub the unfamiliar as wicked. Where we should be more deliberate and cautious about the event from both ends. (1st John 4:1-3) Not just reject all spirits to avoid what may be evil, because rejecting the Holy Spirit is the greater sin.

Granted, when we read the gospels or Acts it may seem like something supernatural happens every day. In reality, these books take place over multiple years, and we are just getting the highlights. I'm sure those who say things like that don't happen anymore are not taking that into account. Then again, there may be some arrogance behind it too. Such people often think that if miracles were to happen today, they would be entitled to them. Since it hasn't happened to them, it must not happen anymore. However, it's more likely their lack of humility that keeps the Spirit from working in their life.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.-2nd Timothy 3:1-5

This passage hits the nail on the head, all the way down to denying Godly power. Many today are turning the Trinity into the Father, the Son, and the Bible. Their main argument for doing this is that if it aligns with the scripture, then what the Spirit says is redundant. My main problem with this is that the ancient Hebrews had scripture, yet Jesus had to correct their misapplication of it at times. (Matt. 5:33-48 & 23:23-24) I have no doubt that if Jesus came back today the first thing that he would do is correct the church. This is probably why many deny the Spirit, they don't want anyone disrupting their presuppositions, humbling them in their pride, questioning their traditions, or asking them to be more gracious to people they despise. Besides, sometimes we just need someone to jog our memory at the right time; the spirit is good at this.

Not that the Spirit is only about relaying information, he offers strength as well. What good is it to go to so much trouble to define a moral standard, only to deny us the very strength we need to overcome the sinful nature of the flesh that stands in the way of living up to that standard? Otherwise, you are resisting the flesh by the power of the flesh. Naturally, you shouldn't be surprised if your own strength pulls some punches in that battle.

Let me offer one last observation, in most passages where the Holy Spirit shows up, apart from prayer, it tends to be rather unexpected. Nobody is invoking him like magic or bending him to fulfill their will. He just shows up to empower us when we need more than our own strength to fulfill God's will. This may be another aversion many have to the spirit. We want a say in which way that wind blows, so he won't take us to uncomfortable waters. That is more about faith in self than God. So it's no wonder the church universal has become so powerless; we don't really know the advocate. (John 14:15-20) With the state of the church being what it is, it will take more than man-made programs to revive us. But that won't happen if we offend our helper.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” -John 3:8

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, -1st Thessalonians 5:19-21

Between Anger and Sadness

In my Mystery of the Heart video, I pointed out how the Bible never uses the word emotions or comments on them in general. Yet, it does mention specific emotions.

With the art for suicide prevention show coming up I find myself thinking about specific feelings. I say that because the theme is always hope, which I approach very cautiously. Speaking from experience pressuring people to put on a happy face for the sake of the comfort of others can be very detrimental for the one being pressured. There is plenty of research to back up this statement as well. So the last thing I want to do is become a source of pressure for the depressed by just telling people to have hope and not showing them the way there.

Unfortunately, we live in a culture that believes that examining sadness magnifies sorrow, yet indulging anger releases it. Yet, all the research on the subject says just the opposite. We see this faulty perception perpetuated in the recycled tv plot where somebody is trying to control their temper, only to blow up at the end. Then express great relief after 3 seconds. In reality, this explosion would only open a floodgate of multiple destructive waves. As well as the recurring scene where someone is trying to hit a baseball or get a strike in bowling is told to imagine the target as someone you hate. This actually blunts your edge, not sharpen it. Anger management classes wouldn't need to be a thing if the Hollywood reality were actually true.

Not to mention society routinely criticizes the melancholic. Granted there will always be those people that only want to constantly illicit sympathy, and never move forward. However, this person may actually be a narcissist who is manipulating you into treating them the way they feel entitled to. Such people actually have a high opinion of themselves and are not genuinely sorrowful at all. Some narcissists really do give the depressed a bad name. The truth is, the most effective way to overcome sadness is to face it, not deny or detour around it.

I bring this up because the Bible was way ahead of the curve when it comes to these psychological findings. Even if the church is slow to live by said truths.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. -James 1:19-20

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, -Ephesians 4:26

We are warmed to not indulge our anger blindly, or even bottle it up. Rather deal with it deliberately. This requires self-examination, instead of just blaming everyone else.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. -Psalm 126:5-6

See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. -2nd Corinthians 7:11

We are instructed to keep moving forward in our sadness, instead of coming to a standstill as the depressed tend to. As well as take direction from examining our sorrow, instead of ignoring it. Plus, so many of David’s Psalms are such honest expressions of sorrow. So why in the world are we encouraging such utter dishonesty when it comes to sadness? Why do we think we have failed as Christians when we feel sad? If anything scripture paints it as a big part of our growth as people, and ultimately disciples. So why shun a potentially transformative process?

“Boys are taught, sometimes with the best of intentions, to mutate their emotional suffering into anger.” -Andrew Reiner, Towson University

The final years before my brother had taken his own life were earmarked by much anger. Only in hindsight can we see all the sorrow behind all that anger. This worldly advice of shun your sadness, but not your anger did not serve him well at all, if anything it contributed to his death. So I would discourage you from doing the same. Yet more important, don't encourage others to take this faulty path either, no matter how uncomfortable it may make you. Believe me when I say the potential ramifications are far worse.

I myself try to live by the mantra, feelings are not necessarily true nor are they inherently false. So many go to either extreme and for those that do, they always find out the hard way when they get a particular issue backward. Easy to say, but not always easy to live out, especially when the Achilles heel of your spirit is being tripped. Yet it's important to know where they are; it reveals so much about us. It's an important part of self-examination and awareness. Speaking as an artist, it truly is the exciting part of the journey.

Social psychologists have found that the expectation to be happy can cause great pressure (A pressure we often put on ourselves) Great enough that it can cause unhappiness Ironically enough.