Battle for the Mind

"Man [male-female] is obviously made for thinking.
Therein lies all his dignity and his merit; and his whole duty is to think as he ought.
Now the order of thought is to begin with ourselves, and with our author and our end". (Blaise Pascal)

There is a battle going on for our minds. I guess you knew that.
'Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you'. (Proverbs 23:6-7 NKJV)

“As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” It is important to take some control of your thinking process. Runaway thinking can end up anywhere. We very easily begin thinking in patterns of unbelief – just conforming to this world. It is dead-end thinking - since Christ is Risen! Thinking is a titanic battle. But, it is always “in grace”.

Knowing and trusting God means having a new mindset. The evil world system – “selfish self-preservation” – is actually passing away. No longer distrustful of God, no longer bitter at the world, and no longer facing a bleak future, we are to live in joyful hope, amidst all the difficulties. We are to “put to death whatever in you is earthly”, not to put on a goody moral appearance, but because there is now a new way of thinking and living, namely - “in Christ”.

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. … Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)… … You have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self…… Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness …love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
(Colossians 3:1-3, 5, 9, 14)

O Father, thank you for a new mindset – full of hope in Christ; we pray that your grace, will ever sustain us in this battle.

How to Relate to Evil

The following is a part of an article, by John Piper, 2007. I have taken his work, and made it accessible here. The work can be found at 'Desiring God' Ministries.

How then should we relate to evil?

Eight things to do with evil. Four things never to do.

1. Expect evil. “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
2. Endure evil. “Love bears all thing, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7; cf. Mark 13:13).
3. Give thanks for the refining effect of evil that comes against you. “Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 5:3-5).
4. Hate evil. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9).
5. Pray for escape from evil. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
6. Expose evil. “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).
7. Overcome evil with good. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
8. Resist evil. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

But, on the other hand:

1. Never despair that this evil world is out of God’s control. “[He] works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).
2. Never give in to the sense that because of random evil life is absurd and meaningless. “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! . . . For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever” (Romans 11:33, 36).
3. Never yield to the thought that God sins, or is ever unjust or unrighteous in the way he governs the universe. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways.” (Psalm 145:17).
4. Never doubt that God is totally for you in Christ. If you trust him with your life, you are in Christ. Never doubt that all the evil that befalls you—even if it takes your life—is God’s loving, purifying, saving, fatherly discipline. It is not an expression of his punishment in wrath. That fell on Jesus Christ our substitute. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6).
When we renounce the designs of the devil and trust the power and wisdom and goodness of God through Christ, we fulfill God’s purpose in letting Satan live. We glorify the infinitely superior worth of Jesus.

... thanks to John Piper for these points.
I trust they will encourage you also.

Hierophants Help Humanity

Some blogs from earlier times: http://hierophantshelp.blogspot.com

The Issues of Life

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

We can take up all sorts of human activity. Be people of action. And of repute.
But if our hearts are not genuine (pure), then it will not amount to anything fruitful.

Out of the heart, the mouth speaks!

Things Anzac! ... Anzac Day 2007

Once again, young Australians flocked to Gallipoli, the Kokoda Trail [or track], and to the Dawn Services across the nation.
Young people - seeking that moving moment, that special awareness of life, and death, and ... sacrifice.

"What is it with Anzac Day?" ask the talk-back hosts.
It is certainly a media feast. Much can be said. Much is said.
Emotions run high.
Solemnity finds a true place in our lives. At least for a day.

This is my third post now on similar topics:
1. Things Formal
2. Things Serious
3. Things Anzac!

But what is it about?
It is not 'glorifying war'. Somehow we need to remind ourselves of that.
It is not just the emotional workout - the catharsis.
No.

In my opinion, it is a genuine probing, a searching, about a matter, central to human life, which our culture has in many ways denied to, or hidden from, or ridiculed to - our young people. And others too.

On many of the Anzac Memorials we can find these words, written on plaques, or etched in stone:
'Greater love has no man that this, that he lay down his life for his friends'
(the women, in that old language, were considered to be included).

These are the words of Jesus.
Jesus' own life was a sacrifice.
He lay down his own life, for others, for the world of sinful humanity, (indeed, for the ultimate benefit of his enemies!)

The matter of sacrifice, rightly understood, should never be confined to 'priests, vestments, and ...religion'.
Sacrifice, rightly understood, is central to humanity. To true living.
Sacrifice - as revealed in Jesus life, is that toward which, Anzac Day is ... searching.
May the moments of next Anzac Day, and Remembrance Day, and so on, be occasions, for seeking and finding the true meaning, the full revelation of sacrifice. In this way, those hundreds of thousands of young deaths, in 1914-1918, will not be in vain. They will have pointed toward life - eternal. They will have been a Portent. A sign, of:
Things ImPortent:
1. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
2. This is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me!

Things Serious

At a wedding I recently conducted, the groom - Sam - asked me if I could use his Full Christian Name - Samuel - throughout the service. 'OK, No worres' - I readily agreed. 'Very glad to do so'. Although, a couple of times during the message, as I spoke in a personal direct manner to him, and his bride, I did use the shorter, more common name [which we usually use].

He and his wife both enjoy some of the finer pleasures in life.

But Sam is generally, not really a "stickler for formality". Indeed, he is somewhat casual, as are most Aussie country lads. But on this occasion - he was taking the whole matter seriously.

In the wedding service we say: "Marriage is a way of life which all people should honour; it is not to be entered into lightly or selfishly, but responsibly and in the love of God".

The couple also conclude their vows, saying: 'This is my solemn vow'.

So, "lightly" is out, on this occasion.
It really is great, when people take great and serious matters - seriously. This is especially so for marriage.

Strangely - and unfortunately - many people today are taking the lighter things [sport, entertainment, vacations, blogging] soooo... seriously, but they are taking the more serious matters [marriage, Christ, faith, worship] so lightly and casually.

Solemnity. Seriousness. And now, all the fun and joy of married life. Good on you Sam! All the best, Ellen.

Things Formal

Last weekend I attended a memorable 21st birthday. Mostly, it was an informal gathering, with food brought around the crowded house - inside and out; people talking, meeting, laughing, and casually sharing life together. But then, it came time for a few speeches. Not many, and not for long, but just a few. The people hushed; the father talked about his dear daughter; the mother added a few things; as did a sister, much in jest and good fun; then came the response from the delightful 21 year old daughter. In particular she thanked her parents, rather movingly, for introducing her to Jesus: the best thing they could ever have done. It was profound; sweet; genuine; moving; a lifetime wrapped up into a few sentences; a person or two called out and joked, about a few other funny matters; then, simply, the formalities concluded with the cutting of the cake; and then sharing it around; this part of the day, made the day.

Yes, the formalities, though brief, were wonderful; essential really; they made the day!

In a world, which has become increasingly casual, I for one, am glad that there are still formalities.

It is possible, even in our casual forms of Christianity, to pray and worship the Father, our God, alone, in a formal manner; with speech which is not merely chit chat, with a friend (there are many times for that). There is a time for every matter under heaven; just as i have spoken in my 'best English' to a well educated more senior doctor, or dentist, with a degree of care, and choosing words wisely, so too, I recently prayed alone, in words well chosen, and even slightly formal; it was a liberating and dignifying experience;

Some Sunday morning services, could do with a little less liturgy and formality, I shall agree. But many more, could do with a degree of - for want of a better word - formality. I may mean seriousness, or solemnity, or clarity of thought, or holiness of speech, or 'our best English'; but whatever, come what may, I am sure that to lift our sense of grandeur and wonder, and high praise the the Most High God, who has come so near to us in Jesus Christ, we would do well to speak in terms which are dignified, and perhaps at times, slightly formal. This does enrich life and worship.

I came to this revelation, regarding formality, while reading Psalm 116:14 "I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people". This is a section of Psalms (113-118) which constitute the 'Egyptian Hallel" and were used in connection with the great festivals. Praise the Lord, for rich, genuine liturgy, and formality, filled with the presence of the Living Christ, enlivened by the most Holy Spirit.