The sermon this week spoke about character. What does it mean to have good character? How are we to improve our character. This got me thinking off in a different direction. Our pastor borrowed someone else's definition of character, so I'll borrow what's been borrowed.
Gary deLashmutt: Character is clearly distinct from image and reputation. It is the inner quality in which thoughts and behavior are rooted. Character determines behavior just as behavior demonstrates character.
So if character is the inner quality in which thoughts and behavior are rooted, then my character is separate from them. When we say someone is of 'good' character, we are making a judgement based on their actions. We make these same judgements of ourselves including our thoughts as well. You could also assume, therefore, that our character is separate from our feelings since we'll make similar judgements about them.
In essence, we're recognizing from our own personal experience that there is something about us that exists separately from our behavior, our thoughts and our feelings. There is something about me that can look at my thoughts and feelings and pass judgement if that's acceptable or not. If we were nothing more than the result of biological processes, if everything could be explained by the electrochemical reactions, then why would we be at odds with ourselves in this way? It only makes sense if there is something more to me than just what goes on in my brain. There is an objective entity, which we call character, that directs my thoughts, feelings and behavior.
This part, for lack of a better term, is the 'Me'. The 'I'. There is a part of my experience and existence that I recognize as me. This part is really my identity. It is who I am. If you judge my character by what I say or do, then I know you're judging me for who I am at a very basic level. My thoughts and feelings may change, along with my behavior, but through all that I am still under there, experiencing that change.
In my understanding of how God has created us as people, were made up of three very basic pieces. We are Body, Soul and Spirit. The Body is obviously our physical body. Then there is the Soul. This is the 'untouchable' parts of me. Here you'll find most of our thoughts, feelings, personality and other things that make me, me. I think this is also where you find 'Me'. Then there's the Spirit which I believe is dead due to sin until Christ breathes new life into you through trusting and following Him.
Now the body, or flesh, is full of sin and is not to be trusted at all. This includes the brain that can greatly effect our thought and feelings. But remember, that's not 'Me'. I am separate from all that. The Spirit in me is Jesus and is, therefore, sinless. That puts me in the middle of this spiritual tug-of-war. The flesh is pulling me to sin, Jesus is leading me to righteousness. Imagine a clearing in the woods at night with a fire at its center. In the clearing, the light eliminates the darkness. Deep into the woods, the light cannot penetrate, and sin prevails. But in the middle, there is some light and some dark. That's were 'I' am, in the shadows, between the battle of light and dark.
This mind picture of me being stuck between and fought over by both sin and righteousness explains so much of scripture to me. It helps me understand Paul when he says "What I want to do I do not do, but what I do not want to do, this I do." He's recognising that very real battle. He also says that when he sins "it is not I who sin, but the sin in me." He knows that there is a separation between the sin in the body and who he is, the 'Me' in him. It also helps us understand that we are to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Jesus is lighting us up from the inside, driving out the darkness, and changing the 'Me' for the better.
When that happens, my thoughts, my feelings and behavior naturally change. People see this and assume that I'm the one doing the changing, but it's not. It's not just that the 'Me' has decided that I need to change my behavior in order to look righteous. Rather I focus first on following Jesus and his direction, then 'I' am changed.
It is not about living different and trying to eliminate sin in our own lives. Never has been. First, we confess our sin and choose to follow Jesus as Lord. That fire gets lit in our spirit and changes us from the inside out. Then, we follow Him and He'll change us at the very core.
In essence, we're recognizing from our own personal experience that there is something about us that exists separately from our behavior, our thoughts and our feelings. There is something about me that can look at my thoughts and feelings and pass judgement if that's acceptable or not. If we were nothing more than the result of biological processes, if everything could be explained by the electrochemical reactions, then why would we be at odds with ourselves in this way? It only makes sense if there is something more to me than just what goes on in my brain. There is an objective entity, which we call character, that directs my thoughts, feelings and behavior.
This part, for lack of a better term, is the 'Me'. The 'I'. There is a part of my experience and existence that I recognize as me. This part is really my identity. It is who I am. If you judge my character by what I say or do, then I know you're judging me for who I am at a very basic level. My thoughts and feelings may change, along with my behavior, but through all that I am still under there, experiencing that change.
In my understanding of how God has created us as people, were made up of three very basic pieces. We are Body, Soul and Spirit. The Body is obviously our physical body. Then there is the Soul. This is the 'untouchable' parts of me. Here you'll find most of our thoughts, feelings, personality and other things that make me, me. I think this is also where you find 'Me'. Then there's the Spirit which I believe is dead due to sin until Christ breathes new life into you through trusting and following Him.
Now the body, or flesh, is full of sin and is not to be trusted at all. This includes the brain that can greatly effect our thought and feelings. But remember, that's not 'Me'. I am separate from all that. The Spirit in me is Jesus and is, therefore, sinless. That puts me in the middle of this spiritual tug-of-war. The flesh is pulling me to sin, Jesus is leading me to righteousness. Imagine a clearing in the woods at night with a fire at its center. In the clearing, the light eliminates the darkness. Deep into the woods, the light cannot penetrate, and sin prevails. But in the middle, there is some light and some dark. That's were 'I' am, in the shadows, between the battle of light and dark.
This mind picture of me being stuck between and fought over by both sin and righteousness explains so much of scripture to me. It helps me understand Paul when he says "What I want to do I do not do, but what I do not want to do, this I do." He's recognising that very real battle. He also says that when he sins "it is not I who sin, but the sin in me." He knows that there is a separation between the sin in the body and who he is, the 'Me' in him. It also helps us understand that we are to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Jesus is lighting us up from the inside, driving out the darkness, and changing the 'Me' for the better.
When that happens, my thoughts, my feelings and behavior naturally change. People see this and assume that I'm the one doing the changing, but it's not. It's not just that the 'Me' has decided that I need to change my behavior in order to look righteous. Rather I focus first on following Jesus and his direction, then 'I' am changed.
It is not about living different and trying to eliminate sin in our own lives. Never has been. First, we confess our sin and choose to follow Jesus as Lord. That fire gets lit in our spirit and changes us from the inside out. Then, we follow Him and He'll change us at the very core.
1 comments:
Well put concerning the fire analogy. That puts the subject in a perspective I can really get a good handle on.
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