how to overcome a condemning heart, a guilty conscience

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

1 John 3:16-24; NRSVue

If we take moral responsibility seriously in this life, we’re going to realize there’s always something that we did wrong and something else that we should have done, and something else we may have not done good enough in our minds. There are a host of ways that we can feel guilty and condemned.

We are told that laying down our lives for the believers in our midst means helping those in material need, doing what we can, be it big or little and everything in between. It is then evident that indeed God’s love resides in our hearts. Through adherence to the simple commandment to believe in the name of Jesus and to love one another, we can indeed overcome our guilty conscience (see helpful NET footnotes in link above), and condemning heart which can often plague us.

The commandments we’re to keep are again simple: believe in Jesus’s name and love one another. As we do that and seek to do all that pleases God, not only is our heart set at rest in God’s presence, but we have boldness in prayer that God will answer our simple, humble prayers. Our hearts set free to live in the love of God in Christ, a love intended for all.

do all in love (or nothing doing)

Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14; NRSVue

There seems to be a lot of hate nowadays. It’s been built up like in a pressure cooker for decades now. Some of us were to some degree oblivious to that, but no one can be anymore. The steam is coming out full force.

The problem with this as always is that lives are at stake. I can hear something like this: “You’re darned right, and the only way to love is roll up our sleeves and do something about it.” Okay, I certainly agree that lives are at stake, though we might not be precisely on the same page. But regardless, just what should be done?

If you’re talking about violence, and too many are, then you’re not following Jesus and what comes after Jesus in the New Testament. Love never resorts to violence. I am not talking about defending one’s loved ones from harm’s way. I would do something myself, short of harming, certainly of fatally harming the perpetrator. Whatever we do we’re to do it in love. As we read earlier in this letter, it doesn’t matter how good it might seem, if it’s not done in love, it’s worthless (1 Corinthians 13).

We do need to consider more specifically what love is with a description of it. One can see it most clearly in Jesus, in his life and words, in all that follows. Add to or subtract from any part of that, and you no longer have the love described here. Which to me means it isn’t real love or at least not the purest form of love.

One last thing, each of us should love no matter what we’re going through. It is a form of faith, even true (not the phony) spiritual warfare. It will help us. Above all we love in community, beginning with community in Jesus in our church gatherings and from that out to everyone. It’s not meant to be only an individual endeavor as important as that is. We’re in this together and love is becoming complete only when that’s the case.

So let’s love, and be steadfast and active always and forever in love.

the fight we’re in (and not in)

I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!— I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. Indeed, we live as humans but do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

This is the beginning of one of my favorite parts of Scripture, 2 Corinthians 10-13. Some scholars have seen it almost as an addition or like a separate book from what precedes it. 2 Corinthians is one of my favorite books or letters of Scripture. I like what other scholars argue, that 10-13 actually goes well with the rest.

It’s really hard to transport a passage written in a different time with frankly a different ethic among Christians. Back then it would easily mean something quite different than what it seems to mean in too many quarters today. Just go to media and look at the pictures and rhetoric. Violence, violence, violence, and I’m not only referring to the destructive words, but at least symbols of action. “God and guns” are often paired together. Because of that, when we go to Paul, it’s hard to imagine that he’s much different. But in reality, he was entirely different, his gospel and teaching with the other letters of the New Testament, rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus as set forth in the four gospel accounts.

Even so, Paul’s words here do seem quite heavy handed. It was a different culture, the gospel breaking through but not yet changing a patriarchal culture, a difficult task any place and time. Just the same it was NOT cultic mind control, nor was it control of any kind. There’s a voluntariness beginning in the commitment of baptism which is basic to faith in and the following of Jesus, certainly such in community so that there’s an accountability each one to the other, the leaders having special responsibility in that.

Paul was about persuasion, clearly evident in his letters and in Acts. He used good sense (see Philemon), but he was not into psychological manipulation of others. He spoke the truth unvarnished and plainly, both in weakness and in love. It was the Spirit which made the difference through the message spoken and lived out of Christ crucified.

Instead, what we’re seeing today and for some decades now, and probably off and mostly on in history is Christians engaging in the methods and machinations of the world. Political power and control, what ends up amounting to political idolatry. What is baffling is how the Christians who talk the most about demonic possession and discerning that are the ones who are among those most caught up in what is quite the opposite of Paul. They and others follow a long line of sad examples dating back to the time of Constantine. But the church fathers who preceded that drawing from Jesus and the rest of the New Testament are quite the opposite.

Prayer. Scripture, the Word, the heart of that: the gospel. Community in Jesus, of learners, doubters, and followers together in the love of Christ which is never coercive. A grace which gives us space and enables and helps us to choose what is good, to love all others in the way of Christ. That was what Paul and those with him, the apostolic band were all about. Yes, humble participation in politics for the good of everyone especially on the local level, along with state and national, etc., surely included.

It’s necessary to say what they weren’t about. It definitely wasn’t physical coercion, following certain “super” charismatic leaders which we see Paul in confrontation with in 2 Corinthians 10-13. It’s not about some heavy handed top-down authority imposed on everyone. It’s not about thinking anyone human is so wonderful or great. All stuff Paul was encountering. No, none of that. And we could add more of what it is and isn’t.

That’s what we as Christ-followers in community and individually have to hone in on, give ourselves to. Realizing that there will be real world consequences in doing so, meaning we’ll have to walk carefully in wisdom. Our goal and passion, to be centered in Christ, to see that Christ-life growing and maturing among ourselves, and from that in good works of love often in collaboration with others in the world.

stay calm

Unjust anger cannot be justified,
    for anger tips the scale to one’s ruin.
Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment,
    and then cheerfulness comes back to them.
They hold back their words until the right moment,
    and then the lips of many tell of their good sense.

Sirach 1:22-24; NRSVue

Calmness in dictionaries refers to experience as well as one’s attitude and action. In the translation and context of this passage, calmness is not necessarily so much experienced but more an attitude and action. And it’s grounded in patience with cheerfulness the outcome. The culprit seems to be anger which can become evident when one is frustrated over life, the circumstances of life.

I find for myself that acceptance of both circumstances and even my experience again and again is key and important for me to get over the hump of the challenge and difficulty which living in this world brings. There won’t be any end of the need to be patient and in that staying calm. “Until the right moment” implies that we’ll have something to do or say, having arrived to a better understanding and sense of things.

So no matter what, we do well to patiently stay calm.

heavenly “warfare”

I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!— I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. Indeed, we live as humans but do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6; NRSVue

There is afoot today a movement which emphasizes spiritual warfare, in their case seeing demons virtually everywhere, especially in their political opponents. With that is the idea of a takeover of the US and eventually the world, all in the name of Jesus. Alongside of them are those who are more than willing to use violence, in fact seem primed and pumped for that. Preceding this for decades now has been media spewing out hateful, demeaning words against political opponents with many a Christian listening for hours most every day. The tongue can be a fire straight from the pit of hell (James 3) and we’re seeing something of the result now. Violence begets violence, even from words to actions. But is that the way of Jesus?

One of my favorite sections of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 10-13 in which Paul defends his ministry against so-called super apostles who looked down on Paul for whatever reasons. As if it was a grandiose spectacular human enterprise, even some power trip rather than of Christ. Paul in this section points out to these immature Christians that Christlikeness is always in the way of the cross, God’s power coming in and through human weakness. That Christ himself exemplified this necessary weakness in the way of the cross, and that we too are weak in him as we follow on in that way of Christ.

I often have written on this blog about spiritual warfare, because to me it is an inescapable reality as we see in Scripture and from experience. But I am becoming aware that “spiritual warfare” is one of the numerous “triggers” which seems to muddy or even all but bury the gospel, God’s good news in Jesus. Like so many things, I want to retain the language because I find it steeped in Scripture, but with needed correction hopefully through clarification.

Paul makes it clear in this letter that as an apostle in the apostolic, missional work of the gospel to which he was called, he along with others fight and are in a spiritual battle (note also Ephesians 6:10-20). And he purposefully states that it is not human weapons, but weapons from God. Human weapons imply physical violence. Weapons from God implies something going on in the spiritual, even psychological dimension to bring about change. And in Paul’s case, it is both by word and deed, by the proclamation of the gospel and living according to that gospel.

I am largely at a loss to know how Paul’s words quoted above apply to us now. I certainly would never pretend to be a part of taking captive anyone’s thinking. But I will say this. We all need help, that our thoughts and from that, our actions would be in captivity only to Christ in accordance with the good news in Christ. Often and especially at certain times, we can be all but lost in something else which might even seem good to us at the time (angry words? justifying or excusing physical violence? etc.) or sometimes anything but good in our experience.

What do we need? Always and forever the true apostolic message about Christ, and the Spirit to back that up not only in the words spoken, but the lives lived. Christ is victorious, but that victory has nothing to do with the standards of the world, what the world considers victory. Completely different. Not that easy to wrap our heads around and even harder to settle ourselves into, but an inescapable part of our calling in Christ.

you will know them by their fruits (abortion and Christian nationalism)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

Matthew 7:15-20; NRSVue

I sometimes think that Christians today need a course on the A, B, C’s of the faith and life. It seems like their religion gets in the way of just being a good human, just being human, yes- humane. For ethics, I honestly would not turn to a Christian today for instruction. It seems like all is washed up and a waste on their hill of Christian nationalism. The end seems to justify the means. “They are killing babies, so we’ll kill them.” While many Christians would not participate in that, they actually are complicit in it when they keep their mouths shut and change the subject, etc.

Yes, while abortion is not as easy a subject in my view as most Christians I know make it out to be, it’s still not any kind of ideal. When does life begin in the womb, when is it a human, these are questions which Christians and Jews and others have had and still have different answers to even among themselves. I would be among those who agree that abortion is far from ideal and that it should ordinarily be done only to save the life of the mother. But a majority of society gives it more leeway than that. Of course, there has been the so-called “pro-life movement” which for the sincerity and good there, is by and large not on the side of pulling out all stops to help bring pregnancies to birth into a viable existence in which the health of the child and mother are taken seriously. There are exceptions to that rule, but most who will vote every time for a candidate who opposes abortion, think then that they are pro-life and that government help for the living amounts to socialism and communism, “helping welfare queens,” etc., etc.

While the desire to end abortion or make it rare is commendable, there are other factors that should have been taken into consideration as well, whether one agrees or is comfortable with it or not. Such as unexpected, unplanned pregnancies. Yes, often Christians will say that she (of course she) or maybe they shouldn’t have had sex in the first place. As if the Christians were themselves a paragon of virtue. And many times, these Christians speak from a position of privilege out of which it would be not easy, but easier to deal with such in their own lives. And yet they can thumb their noses or at least look down on others who don’t hold to the same moral code they lay claim to.

In all of this, the end never justifies the means. And we might say that’s all the more so when following Jesus. If you think abortion is murder and that the fetus is a human being who deserves full status with all the living, then think through the implications of that. Women have more miscarriages than births in their lifetimes. And since Roe v Wade was overturned, there are dangers to women in states who have made a hard rule in making abortion murder. Doctors too often can’t help the woman, doing the best they can all things considered, so that not only a woman’s health is put in jeopardy, bad enough, but even their life can be at risk.

There’s more to be said on abortion, and I’m not the one to say it. I just know that abortion is the conversation stopper when it comes to trying to talk through the idolatry of Christian nationalism. So I wanted to touch on it some.

But back to the main point of this post: The end never justifies the means. In my lifetime, I’ve been more than disgusted with what began as talk radio, became big with Fox News, not really well copied by the left, certainly not done as well as the hard right. Brazen faces spewing out what really amounts to hate even if that’s disguised to some extent. And we have the full fruit of that today, a much-divided nation almost to the point of being at each other’s throats so that one is honestly afraid to say much of anything, lest their life or the lives of their families are threatened. And that is happening again and again with elected officials and those serving in civil capacities simply for doing their jobs. And Christians conveniently don’t see that and even deny it, or maybe a few even defend it.

Jesus said that we’ll know others by their fruits. Do they love in the way of Jesus or not? Do Christians believe that their good news is what is needed? Do they believe that only grace can change people’s hearts? Are they really seeking first God’s rule and righteousness in Christ? Or are they ready to take up the sword so to speak figuratively and even literally in some cases?

I myself have no confidence in Christians today who may have God’s love in their hearts but admire those whose actions again and again do not show Christ. And allowing that so that people will begin to see the anti-Christ as Christ. We in Christ can do better and we must do better.

being willing to take the hit for others

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.

Romans 9:1-3; NRSVue

This is one of those strange sayings and passages in Scripture. It’s a head scratcher on some level, but it is certainly a noble sentiment. Paul expresses willingness to be accursed and cut off from Christ so that his own Israelite family might see the light of Christ and be converted. That is close to an oxymoron. How can you be willing to be cut off so that others might be grafted in? One could say that Paul doesn’t know what he’s saying. If he was truly cut off, one wonders whether or not he could dream of this, much less express it. It seems to come from grace, God’s grace, a deep expression of concern, yes, sentiment, which is willing to go through the worst for the good of others.

I wonder how this comports with one’s mental health, not to mention just general wellbeing. I honestly can’t say. I do believe that we need to take care of ourselves, that we do have our limitations, indeed we need the care of the good Shepherd (Psalm 23). But I don’t think these two things are necessarily mutually exclusive. Yes, one could take something like all of this on themselves and have a nervous breakdown, no doubt. But why is God’s peace, the peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7) not meant to accompany such a sentiment? If it’s a matter of boasting, like Paul saying, “This is what I can do. See how great I am” then that’s not really anything to write home about. But if it is expressive of a deep commitment that comes from God’s grace alone and is tethered in that, then we can at least consider this as something viable.

How would anyone get to this point? Surely only through much struggle and sufficient revelation or understanding. We can say Paul is merely making a point, that you really can’t take him literally on this. That may be very true. People often say things that you know their lives belie, not to disparage a good aspiration. But your words mean nothing if they’re not backed up by your life. Could people hear this read or read it themselves and think it matched up with Paul’s life? That would be the test. They could have said something like, “Well, that certainly is a noble thought, but really, Paul just seems to have such a great time enjoying life, and he often really doesn’t seem to like others all that well.” This sounds like the saying, I really love the people, it’s them individually that I can’t stand. Certainly, we’re never talking about sinless perfection. Paul had his bouts with people and seemed to have a rough edge about him at least in his earlier days.

I think this kind of attitude and corresponding life comes only through great struggle and ongoing personal sacrifice, certainly steeped in commitment, and possible only in and by God’s sustaining grace. Something of the same heart and attitude of Christ. A heart willing to lay down one’s life for others.

watching our tongue and with that our heart

There is a manner of speaking comparable to death;
may it never be found in the inheritance of Jacob!
Such conduct will be far from the godly,
and they will not wallow in sins.
Do not accustom your mouth to lewd ignorance,
for it involves sinful speech.
Remember your father and mother
when you sit among the great,
or you may forget yourself in their presence,
and behave like a fool through habit;
then you will wish that you had never been born,
and you will curse the day of your birth.
Those who are accustomed to using abusive language
will never become disciplined as long as they live.

Sirach 23:12-15; NRSVue

If we trace from where trouble comes, I think oftentimes we’ll find that it began and oftentimes ended with the tongue. Or even just thoughts in our minds which take captive our hearts and with that, our lives. As Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34a).  The classic passage on the tongue, and especially on its destructiveness comes to mind found in James 3. One will do well not only to read James 3, but the entire book of James even nonstop to get a sense of the whole. Our speech, the words we say, what we think is not isolated. And God’s help for us needs to come within the fullest understanding possible. Even just making the effort will be blessed by God. None of us are really that good at doing it, or I’ll speak for myself. But we need to keep doing it, and seek to get better at it.

It is a temptation or even worse, proclivity we have to start dealing with something verbally, to talk about it. To talk through something especially with a person of wisdom is one thing, and actually something potentially good. But to talk about it to one’s self or a friend or relative can be quite another. And it can turn into language about others, ourselves and even about God which is destructive both to ourselves and others. Yes, God can take whatever we say to God, true. We see that in the psalms and elsewhere in Scripture. But no, we can’t just keep doing that. Job in some sense might have done well in God’s eyes by questioning God and challenging common conceptions of God and life which were mistaken. But in the end of the story, that was only for a season, and Job, except for the accumulated wisdom he had through that experience, was silent, certainly not speaking that way any longer. I might add that I imagine Job speaking much less than he had before the trial, and of course during it.

If we discipline ourselves to remain silent and listen, especially to the witness of Scripture, of God’s Word, finding God’s instruction in that, then we could learn not only to be disciplined, but find God’s peace even in the midst of all the storms and difficulties of life. Life itself can be unsettling and is certainly challenging. We need to beware lest our own words drown out God’s Word. Lest our own heart keeps us from experiencing the heart of God, the peace which passes all understanding no matter what, found through Jesus our Lord.

choose your words carefully, or be silent

They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
Therefore because you trample on the poor
and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
but you shall not drink their wine.
For I know how many are your transgressions
and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe
and push aside the needy in the gate.
Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time,
for it is an evil time.

Amos 5:10-13; NRSVue

In this lament over Israel’s sin (see NRSVue heading) we are told that it was an evil time and therefore dangerous to speak the truth. Much evil was being done under the guise of righteousness (see Amos 5:18-27).

We live in that time today. It is a time of not loving one’s neighbor as one’s self, so no matter what such people say, they’re not loving God. They can go to church, sing worship songs and keep doing that, but if they’re not pursuing justice for the poor, the oppressed, the refugee, the stranger, the marginalized, if they’re not trying to listen and understand, then there’s no truth in them. Truth in the way I’m referring to here is present only where there’s love. Otherwise you might say something which is technically correct, but in God’s eyes there’s no truth if that is not accompanied with love.

During such times one must measure their words, whether to speak up at all, and what to say. This should always be the case regardless. I think the current times in which we live can help us in that we’re forced to discipline our tongues, to weigh what we say. Again, that should be so during any time, but when the times are evil, one has no choice, unless they’re not prudent. It used to be in the nation I live, the United States, you could speak your opinion without fear of reprisal, even violence. Such is not the case anymore.

I know that most people from the tradition I was in for many years think that religion and politics, or they would say faith and politics don’t mix. In God’s Word, Scripture, such is not the case. You cannot separate the two. The difference is that the good news in Christ is a good news of God’s rule, yes, called a kingdom, which is political through and through, about all of life, and found today in the church.

One more word. We must be careful for another reason. None of us has all of the truth pinned down, and in a sense we don’t understand anything thoroughly. But that does not exempt us from making judgments and advocating for what is right and just, and resisting what is wrong. Sometimes we need to ask questions, and then perhaps call some things into question, and then actually call some things out. But we best beware and be aware, because these are not innocent times.

don’t go there

You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.

James 1:19-20

I don’t know how many times I’ve said or written something with some measure of anger. I’m not sure at all how to parse this, because there may be a time to answer immediately even when angry, though one would have to be even more extra careful with what words are chosen.

It’s probably best as a rule of thumb to simply do nothing until one’s anger subsides. The fact of the matter is that some things irritating to us might need to be addressed. But what good will anger be in doing that? People see through not only on our words, but the spirit with which they’re given.

If we’re angry at all, we should stop. We need to keep our mouths shut, and give it some time. Sooner or later we’ll get over it, and then, if we’re to address it at all, we can do so much better, in a way that’s possibly helpful to the other and not harmful to them or ourselves.

There are so many things I find myself wanting to respond to, that either I probably should not because I’m rather ticked off, or simply because I can’t do everything, and need to just settle into what it seems like I’m supposed to be doing. Something that I want to keep improving in.