Having a humble opinion of oneself

Here is the next installment from the old, old book I am reading. Feel free to guess the author any time you like. But more importantly, consider what he says. I know I need to do so.

EVERY man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.

If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds? Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which pertain to salvation and sanctification is very unwise. Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a godly life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.

The more you know and the better you understand, the more you shall be expected to do, the higher the standard to which you shall be held, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?

If you wish to learn and appreciate something worthwhile, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.

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General thoughts about living for Him by one wiser than me... post Thanksgiving thoughts

   I give you this quote from an old public domain book by a theologian of

   long ago who got a lot right and got a little bit wrong. His thoughts

   on living the Christian life are fairly solid. And while I can’t agree

   with everything he says… I do agree with this short chapter from his

   most well known book. He keys in on understanding and application. Since

   the book is in public domain, I may from time to time post excerpts.  It’s

   an old book and printing so some of the language may seem a tad archaic.

   Feel free to guess who this is and commentJ.I’ll reveal it after a while.

                       ----Keith

“…you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32)

"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

   HAPPY is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that

   fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us

   and we discern very little. (God’s word never does).

   What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our

   ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect

   of things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with

   those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly.

   We have eyes and do not see.

   What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom

   the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing (and the word of God indeed speaks to us).

   For from this Word are all things and of Him all things speak--the Beginning Who

   also speaks to us in His word. Without this Word no man understands or judges aright.

   He to whom it becomes everything, who traces all things to it and who sees

   all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God.

   O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting.

   I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is

   all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be

   silent before You; You alone speak to me.

   The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes,

   the easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of

   knowledge from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not

   distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God.

   And since he enjoys interior peace he seeks no selfish end in anything.

   What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled

   desires of the heart?

   A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not

   according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the

   dictates of right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who

   tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer

   self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.

   Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and

   no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self

   is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that

   learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in

   itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life

   ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or

   nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.

   If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as

   they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and

   scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the

   day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but

   what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have

   lived.

   Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so

   well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have

   already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of

   their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they

   are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away!

   If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study

   and reading would have been worth while.

   How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too

   little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits

   because they chose to be great rather than humble.

   He is truly great who has great compassion and love. He is truly great who is

   little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is

   truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain

   Christ. He who does God's will and renounces his own is truly very

   learned.

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Can things get any worse...

I knew when I read this entry on a blog that I might not like what I was about to see.

Money must be VERY tight at Fellowship Church. After all, the monthly payments on that private jet are VERY expensive. There's only one way that folks at Fellowship Church can save Ed Young, Jr's jet...Automatic Withdrawal.

Please act now or Ed Young, Jr. will be forced to sell the private jet, forced to sell his mansion, his condo in Miami, the fishing boat, the $15,000 espresso maker and will have no choice but to move to a bland and boring middle-class suburb and worst of all fly coach to all the conferences that he speaks at. Don't let this ministry travesty happen to Ed Young, Jr. He can't be effective for God's Kingdom unless he is rewarded with the very best and most expensive toys that this life has to offer.

At first I thought I would be disturbed by the nature of the blog. Then I realized I was disturbed by Ed Young, Jr. The video says it all. It's hard to imagine that people can check their discernment (and their Bibles) at the door and support the most disturbing kinds of antics.

 

 

<p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16359090">Ed Young Goes After Access to Bank Accounts of Church Members</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4054328">FBCJax Watchdog</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

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A Great Article on the Implications of Theistic Evolution the Debate Surrounding Biologos

I'm not sure how many of you follow the very public debate between the "Christian Scientists" at Biologos (an evolutionary apologetics group) and Dr. Albert Mohler of Southern Seminary. Here's a link to Mohler's recent response to their last "broadside (http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/11/09/no-pass-from-theological-responsibility-the-biologos-conundrum/)." Central among the claims of the Biologos people is that they question the authority and sufficiency of Scripture in all matters of faith and practice. This leads them in interesting directions they state that Paul was mistaken about the historicity of Adam and Eve (cf Romans 5:12) and the implications of the Fall in God's garden. Implicitly they question the understanding of the Lord Jesus, who in Matthew 19 refers to Adam and Eve as historical people during His discussion of marriage and divorce. 

Questioning both the inspiration of Scripture and the understanding of Jesus Christ of the historicity of Adam and Eve sooner or later brings into question all the doctrines of the Christian faith---since they are based on Scripture as well as the deity of Christ. When does such questioning and denial move us from the position of misinformed believers to the realm of unbelief? If Jesus and Paul were wrong about something as basic to the Christian faith as creation and our "first parents" what else were they wrong about? Moreover, who will judge them, the folks at Biologos? I'd hate to sit in judgment of an Apostle and the Son of God, God the Son. 

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A video you won't want to miss...

Take five minutes to watch what happened at the Macy's in Philadelphia. The Opera Company of Philadelphia doing "a random act of culture" performs the Halleluia Chorus from Handel's Messiah in the Macy's store in Philadelphia. Christ is preached! I realize they think it is simply good opera; however, I'm reminded of what Paul says in Philippians 1:15-18:

 

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice...

 

Take a few moments and take it all in!

 

#!

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Talk about a loss of perspective.

God's word tells us to be imitators of God. God says in both Old and
New Testaments, "Be holy for I am holy." The upward call is to be
godly. The other call is to remain as we are. I sure these folks meant
well. As to the state of the modern church the picture speaks for
itself.

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When you know a church has lost perspective...

Click here to download:

photo_JPG - Gmail.mht (53 KB)

God's word tells us to be holy because God is holy, "...because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:16 NAU)OLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:16)

 

We are told to be imitators of God. The Christian's goal is to become more like Christ and less like ourselves. Imagine wanting to become less godly. I'm sure they meant well---it's just that they weren't thinking biblically.

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