“I think one of the primary ‘things of ourselves’ that American Christians chase after is financial independence. In fact, most of the books on Christian financial principles in print assume that this is the goal of Christian finance. However, countless verses in the New Testament make it clear that this isn't a Biblical value.” Mark went on to discuss the value of mutual dependence in Christ, a well noted but mostly overlooked principle. Rusty Kelley @ Common Grounds citing Mark Upton
Years ago one of my cousins thinking out loud asked how he could ensure his children didn't get handed everything on a plate. He was concerned that he, himself had to struggle to attain success in his life and he wanted to ensure his children would be strong as well, having the will to reach for and achieve. All this reminds me I've been struggling for a few years trying to understand the empirical connection between an individual's relationship with God and their membership within a community/Body of Christ. This comes to focus again today as I worry about:- those who feel they have to go away on missions find God. Those who rely more on the prayers of their friends than on their relationship with God. Those who come to only half a worship service or those for whom attendance in a communal service Sunday's is optional.
This week I read that Christianity is a social religion to be conducted in community. That is not earth shattering as such but still a good reminder. I suspect that extroverts prefer community in services and prayer meetings and introverts prefer solitude in quiet times and meditation - and the lazy neither. I wrote about slovenliness as few days ago and the remedy is of course will-power. When we are called to love God we are called to love with all our (your) strength. της ισχυος σου tes ischuos sou. What is this strength?
I would disagree in part with what I heard today. Rather than fall into a Greek understanding of human person which has heart(spiritual), soul (emotional), mind (rational), and strength (physical) I would like draw on a stronger theological tradition one where the church realized the importance of the will or will-power - this is our source of strength. This last week my 5 year old godson and his older brother learned about will power (Yes, I was teaching!). Resisting the want to switch on the TV and watch a DVD. I invited them to consider will-power and not simply following their wants. Ironically William, the older brother was the one lacking Will-power however my godson Daniel put up a good fight and beat the want. In the Catholic tradition these wants are distinguished as passions and desires. Desires are what God has placed in our hearts. Passions are what arise out of human wants and needs. Passions are not necessarily bad but like an untamed unbridled horse very risky for rider. (Notice passions are very closely allied to feelings.)
What then of human action within passions ?
"When regulated by reason, and subjected to the control of the will, the passions may be considered good and used as means of acquiring and exercising virtue. ... The flesh and its appetites, if allowed, will throw everything into confusion and vitiate our whole nature by sin and its consequences. It is therefore man's duty to control and regulate it by reason and a strong will aided by God's grace."Thus enjoying a good cooked meal is not bad. But to overeat is bad. I may have a passion for serving God and even go to India but the desire placed in me is to be with God and bring him to those that need to meet him.
How do I know whether my passions are headed in the right direction? Discernment and communal discernment because self-deception is still very effective. Discernment is a struggle and becomes stronger in community but the community itself needs to want to discern rather than make decisions. We need to get our spirituality out in front not behind us.
