What does the world say?
“Love me while I am wicked, with no intention to do what is pure and good!”
What is the response of the Christian?
“Get your hands off my throat so we can talk.”
Tag Archives: good
Eating the Tree
What is the stature of a holy man in Christ? He does not gain one inch in breadth, width, length or depth. It might even be said, in fact, that such a man shrinks physically. For such a man’s physical stature is bent in service to others. As pride is vanquished, he walks and works with eyes cast down.
The world perceives such a man through twisted pupils. Darkened eyes perceive with extremely restricted perception. They see a work or two, those works which cannot be hidden, and those works which were accomplished by error before men. They refer to a holy man as a Saint. But we cannot rely on their nomenclature. What does the World know of what is holy?
If holy feeds them, they acknowledge a “good”. If it causes sustaining of man’s desires, accolades are handed out. And if holy produces financial gain, the World heralds the godly man as “profitable”.
But what is holy remains far beyond the perception of men. It appears within a man, absent of physical form. What men see, is much like the fruit of any productive tree at the time of harvest. Men do not take home the leaves, bark, or limbs; they take the fruit. And they do not call the fruit a tree.
Now consider something curious. Men differentiate between the fruit they can eat and the tree from which it comes. Yet they make no distinction between the work of God and the “work” of a man. Instead, they refer to the man as holy, giving no credit to the work of God within the man. Even in this, their hypocrisy abounds!
Wicked to the Core
I believed, long before I started writing, that man is wicked to the core. This hope of a man-made utopia is a pipe dream that will never come true. And those who put their trust in men to design it, and bring it to be, will find themselves disappointed.
I write this because it just occurred to me that over the years, my writings have given proof for my belief.
Before I begin to write, I was often in debate over this issue. In my heart I knew it, but I lacked the longevity of proof. Since I could not substantiate, with examples, what I proposed to be, they simply referred to me as cynical. I was relegated to a room in the hotel called “Pessimism”.
Before this, I relied on my own perception; the proof that man supplied by driving me to a dark corner of society. But it is impossible for me to stand alone as a witness with my own perception.
What good is it if I point the finger at them? It is simply my finger; the weakend finger of an unhappy camper. And so the proclamation required many examples. Let them point their fingers at themselves.
But there is proof in the volume of this place. And isn’t that the very reason why this is not an amazingly popular blog?
I used to think it was the name of Christ that drove people away. And I was perplexed, for millions attend church every Sunday. Where were my brothers who believe the same as I? Why was I shunned by those who profess the name of Christ?
But there is one item in these writings that sides with Christ very strongly; all of our righteous deeds are as filthy rags. For this the masses have been driven away. (no pun intended)
By His Grace
Likewise
You can not sin against God without consequences.
Likewise:
You cannot love God without consequences.
One destroys, the other brings life.
You cannot remain apart from him without experiencing death in many fashions.
Likewise:
You cannot be included in his love without experiencing life in many fashions.
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PSALM 34
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
By His Grace
Man is Good at Heart?
The words we use mean everything. Isn’t that their intent? No one asks someone to turn the light by saying “I think the price of gas is too high”. I know that is ridiculous, but it’s proof that the words we use matter.
There are far more subtle variations of these ridiculous statements. And in these subtleties, “ridiculous” is no longer a usable word. For if I point that word at the things of subtle variation, the pride of man will flare up. So in striving to right the wrong of our vocabulary, I am forced to capitulate for the sake of understanding.
With that said, let me proceed to the meat of this post.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?.” (Jeremiah 17:9)
Can it be said, with absolute clarity, that man is really good at heart? Doesn’t it matter, the words we use? Doesn’t it matter what we believe?
I don’t need to define the word “deceitful”. And I can’t do better than to say the phrase, “beyond cure”. And I realize I have no ability to form words that express the true meaning of “Good”. For if I could do that, I could describe the very essence of the Most High God.
So when people tell me that man is really good at heart, my soul recoils in aversion.
But I will let mercy reign in me. I will understand the intent of their meaning. they mean to be kind and compassionate. They mean to have hope in a chaotic and desperately deadly world. But saying “Kumbayah” does not stop the lion from devouring our body.
May God have mercy, that I may relate the things that are true.
If society prospers, men can live in a relative peace. But let society suffer a great loss, and we begin to see the deceitfulness of men’s hearts. Greed will take hold of the most refined among men. Mothers have even eating their babies during times of extreme famine. And unspeakable wicked things have been done, when society has not been embraced by peace.
So those who believe that people are good at heart, believe what they do because their society is at present and relative peace.
I myself would rather believe the Most High God. Not only because he has spoken that man is wicked to the core. But also because I have seen his word play out. Not only in the lives of utterly wicked men, but also in my own heart as he began to reveal His Holy ways to me.
With saying people are actually good at heart, a great urgency is removed. Those who hear such things think to themselves, “I do wrong, but I am innocent of trespass. For under the right circumstances I would choose what is pure and good.” Therefore they blame others, for surely they are not at fault.
God says this is a lie. No one is good and pure but God alone. And as it is written, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” And if man is truly good, then why was Jesus sent to die as a sacrifice for our sinful nature?
I have spoken with my best. But there are two limits placed on my testimony here. One is vocabulary. The other is the truth revealed from God to my soul.
I have spoken the things of God, as one man to another. Therefore I ask the mercy of God, that understanding may come to those who read.
Unchained Desire
Today we will encounter
What is vastly marked with “Good”.
What we will do, accordingly,
Is rarely what we should.
To become the man intended,
Let desire rage and burn.
The good to be accomplished
Is given to those who yearn.
Is it wrong; is there a limit
To the promise of God for me?
“Good” demands a doing,
Its retreat will never be.
Aspiration closes in;
Refines my very name.
Let then rage within me:
Desire to Holy flame!
Words From There 