Monthly Archives: March 2020
“Gentle Reasonableness”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:4–9 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
I am trying to memorize these verses from Philippians. I am doing so in order to calm my jangling nerves. I have been told so many times here of late that I am “elderly” and “vulnerable” that I am beginning to feel that I really am those things. The only thing worse than being called elderly and vulnerable is to feel that it’s true.
I am working these days especially on rejoicing and being reasonable. “Reasonable” is not always something I’ve been, or even aspired to be.
I figured out that, if I was going to become a more reasonable person, it might be wise to figure out what the word meant. It is difficult to become something, when you don’t even know what it is you’re trying to become. I checked out the Greek word for reasonableness in Philippians 4:5 in some commentaries and reference works, and here is what I discovered.
Ralph P. Martin, in the Tyndale Commentary on Philippians has the following helpful observations on Philippians 4:5, and the idea of gentleness, or reasonableness:
“5. The appeal to gentleness, to epieikes (RSV, ‘forbearance’), is defined by the following words to all. This implies that the apostle has the church’s relations with the outside world in mind rather than the Christian fellowship in its mutual relationships. Epieikeia, which is the noun corresponding to the adjective in the text, is an ethical term used again by Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:1. The LXX of Psalm 85 (86):5 uses the adjective to translate ‘ready to forgive’; I. H. Marshall gives a full description of its meaning as ‘fairmindedness, the attitude of a man who is charitable towards men’s faults and merciful in his judgment of their failings because he takes their whole situation into his reckoning’. Perhaps ‘graciousness’ is the best English equivalent; and, in the context here, it is to be the spirit of willingness to yield under trial which will show itself in a refusal to retaliate when attacked. It may have seemed an impossible ideal to the Philippians, but the preceding verse is a reminder that such a quality ‘is the outshining of joy in the Lord’, as Michaelis puts it.
The call to a gracious disposition made possible by God’s grace is buttressed by a solemn warning of the Lord’s nearness, The Lord is near.”
Another scholar, Preisker (Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, volume II, pages 588-590), notes that words built off this root refer to God’s kindness that is shown by God to those who do not deserve it.
It would seem, then, that either the word “gentle” or “reasonable” would be good translations of the Greek word epieikes. So, what does it mean for me to be reasonable and gentle? It means being gracious to people that I think are wrong. It means cutting some slack for people who, like me, are under tremendous stress right now. Perhaps practicing gentle reasonableness might even be important for how we treat ourselves.
Neither Paul nor I are saying that this is easy. Paul and I are, however, saying this: Gentle reasonableness is something that believers are called to cultivate. There is plenty of harshness and unreason these days. There is always an over-supply of them. We all need to work on producing more gentle reasonableness. It’s the most gentle, and reasonable, thing we can do.
“Rejoicing: Just Do It!”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
We live in a sad, stressful, confusing time. That is true of some people all of the time, and not just now. Right now, I suspect that it is true of all people all the time.
So, I am trying to memorize and live out Philippians 4:4-9. Here is how this portion of Paul’s letter to the Philippians goes:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:4–9 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
Now, it is easy to say, “Well that is easy for Paul to say! He must have been having a really good day when he wrote this!”
Actually, Paul was in prison. He had no idea how his case would turn out. Then too, Paul was writing to a small group of believers in Philippi, whose lives were by no means easy. But despite Paul being in the slammer, and the Philippians having a rough time, he commands them—and yes, it is an imperative in the Greek—to rejoice.
I doubt that the Philippians were very inclined to rejoice. Whenever Paul (or anyone else in the Bible) commands someone to do something, it is almost always because they weren’t. That is, they weren’t doing what he was commanding them to do.
Paul is very emphatic about this command, and he expects rejoicing to be their regular habit. He reinforces the command in a number of ways. For one thing, the Greek verb translated “rejoice” is in the present tense, which does not simply mean “in the present” or “right now,” as it does in our language. Rather, the Greek present tense suggests a continual or repetitive action. In other words, Paul is saying that rejoicing is to be a continuous, repetitive, ongoing reality in our lives. But just in case his readers didn’t get the point, Paul adds the word “always.” And if they missed that cue, Paul very intentionally repeats himself. “I say it again: Rejoice!” Yes, Paul is being rather emphatic—if indeed you can be rather emphatic.
So, can you actually rejoice continually? Yes, I think you can. I’ve known a few people who have pulled it off. They rejoice continually, not because things are going well, but because they choose to be joyful people. They seem to rejoice in what they have and in what they do not have.
A friend of mine met with a bunch of us this morning through the magic of the Zoom teleconferencing app. He is a very active, athletic person who does not relish inactivity. I was kind of concerned about how this might affect him. I needn’t have worried. He was full of joy and enthusiasm. Seems he thinks that this coronavirus is a wonderful opportunity.
Maybe it is. Joy can be chosen on any given day. I am choosing joy today.
You?
“On Struggling to be Respectful”
“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17)
In going back over my blog posts, I notice that I write a lot about respect, a.k.a. “honor”. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, we live in a very disrespectful society these days, and I’m trying to swim up current . For another thing, I think that respect or honor is very important. But I will tell you the main reason why I write so much about respect and honor: I struggle with it—a lot.
I suppose that I struggle with it in many ways and with many people. Struggles are like icebergs: Most of them are submerged and hidden. You only see how big they are when you hit them.
However, while I’m not sure of the depth of my disrespect problem, I can tell you that there are several politicians that I know I have a really difficult time honoring. There is one other person (not a politician) whom I struggle to respect.
At this point, I can almost hear you recite, dear reader, the common maxim, “Respect is not given. It has to be earned.” However, I believe, as a would-be Christ-follower, I am called to honor/respect everyone, as 1 Peter 2:17 says. But, unfortunately, I act as if I believed the common maxim, rather than believing 1 Peter 2:17. So, what do I really believe, if I don’t act on the basis of what I think God’s will is for me?
I would love to wiggle out of the “all” in 1 Peter 2:17, but I suspect that, by using the Greek word pan (“all”), Peter really meant all. It is tempting to try to do an end run around the command to honor all men, by saying that this actually means “all kinds of people.” However, does this really take me off the hook? I don’t think so. After all, all kinds of people would, I think, include all people. Yes?
I mentioned earlier in this post that there is one other person who is not a politician whom I struggle to respect. The problem with not respecting or honoring this person is that I am very close to this person. Very close. In fact, I am that person. I never quite come up to my lofty expectations. In fact, sometimes I don’t even come close. So, self-respect is an ongoing battle.
And yet, I suspect that the word “all” even embraces me.
But I hear someone protest, “But isn’t there some validity in the idea that respect should be earned?” Perhaps, but I doubt it.
However, there is another idea that sounds roughly similar, although I think there is a huge chasm that separates the true from the false. The truth, at least as I see, it this: Those who are given respect whether they’ve earned it or not, need to live in such a way as to live worthily of the gift of respect. I also suspect that those who are given this gift are also better positioned to live a worthy life.
My wife is giving me some cooking lessons. (Please pray for her—and for me!) In many arenas of life, the order of two things doesn’t matter. I don’t know much about cooking yet, but I am learning. One of the things I’ve learned is that, in some cases, the order in which ingredients are put into a concoction matters profoundly. If I, or anyone, puts the ingredients into whatever we’re making in the wrong order, things do not go well. Either the ingredients do not mix well, or they do not cook properly.
Of course, in the case of cooking, a ruined dish isn’t the end of the world. It may, in fact, be a valuable lesson. However, if a surgeon begins cutting on his patient before she has created a sterile field, things may not end well for the patient—or for the surgeon.
In the case of respect-as-a-gift and respect-as-a-challenge-to-live-worthily, I think the order matters supremely, as it does with a surgeon. It is the people who have given me the gift of respect, who have also invited to live worthily. I may or may not respond positively to the invitation, but it is important that I have received the invitation. Furthermore, when I am given the gift of respect I often also find the motivation to live a worthwhile live. I suspect that this is generally true.
Consider yourself, myself, and all selves as having been invited to this respect party!
R.S.V.P.
“Humor During a Serious Plague”
“All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but he cheerful heart has a continual feast.” (Proverbs 15:15, New International Version)
Call it a “pandemic,” or call it by an old-fashioned name like a “plague,” or call it macaroni, if you like. This coronavirus outbreak is a serious matter. It needs to be treated as such. In fact, it is well past serious. It left serious in the rearview mirror weeks ago. It is now downright grim, and likely to become much grimmer.
However, even in times like these, humor is important. Perhaps especially in times like these, humor is essential.
So, today’s blog post—without glossing over how serious this plague-ish pandemic is—is going to risk (possibly) making you laugh.
First (and this is in the rather grim humor category), is an occurrence from a grocery store whose name shall remain anonymous. (I will give you a hint: An anagram for the name of the store is rekorg.)
I was in the coffee aisle, with my mask and latex gloves on, trying to find some flavored coffee. I usually buy whatever is cheapest at General Dollar, but I decided that, since the world was coming to an end, I would treat myself to some nicer coffee. As I was shelf-reading the coffee aisle, my eyes suddenly were jolted wide open, as if I had just had a double-shot of espresso. For there on the shelf was a coffee called—and I am not making this up—“DEATH WISH”! It even had the skull-and-crossbones on the package. Where do coffee companies come up with the names for all these specialty coffees? In view of what we are going through right now, this one should probably be retired.
Second story.
I was sitting in the rocker watching a rerun of Adam-12. Our little dog was on my lap. She jumped down. At the commercial break, I decided to look for her. I did not even have to get up. She was standing on the third step of the stairs, right beside the rocker, staring at me. “What does that look mean?” I asked. Of course, she did not answer in any language that I know.
“Come back down,” I said to the little black and white creature. She did. Then, she leapt back up in my lap, climbed up my arm onto my shoulders and neck, and began licking my bald head. I laughed and laughed. Apparently our little dog is not terribly intimidated by the coronavirus.
Third story.
I don’t know if Progressive is really good insurance or not, but they most certainly make good commercials. Take, for example, the bigfoot commercial. Before I make any comment, you need to have a look at the commercial, if you are not familiar with it. You may access it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeavqyDYQtQ.
My wife was very eager to show me this video. It may have been because she thinks I’m rather full of myself, and always want to be the center of attention. If this was her thought, she had the decency not to say so.
Or, of course, it may be because my name is Daryl. And yes, I’m afraid my feet really are pretty big. I am not writing a screen play, but I am a writer.
Go ahead and laugh! I dare you! In fact, I give you permission!
“Fairness and Praise”
“Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or declare all his praise?
Blessed are they who observe justice,
who do righteousness at all times!” (Psalm 106:2-3, English Standard Version)
Fairness and praise: Does that sound like a strange couple to you? A bit like Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley (who are now uncoupled)?
It strikes me as more than a little bizarre as well. I’ve noticed that Christians and churches that are known for their emphasis upon justice, fairness, and social issues are not generally known for their praise. And I’ve noticed that Christians and churches that are known for their praise are not usually famous for their emphasis on social issues.
Yet this psalm combines the these two. No, the psalm does not simply combine them. It welds them together with an unbreakable bond.
The Hebrew word translated “justice” in verse 3 is mishpat. Many translations bring this word into the English/American languages with our word “justice.” However, I don’t like that word. That is because our word “justice” is often synonymous with “punishment.” While the Hebrew word mishpat does contain the idea of punishment at times, that is not the only nuance of the word. The word can (and often does) suggest that God is fair in God’s dealings with us. It also has to do with fairness in our dealings with one another.
So, if I am being fair all day, every day, am I praising God? Yes! And that is the kind of praise that God especially loves. If we commit ourselves to living a life of fairness, then we might not find this pairing of praise and fairness so strange. In fact, we might decide that it’s a pretty good marriage.
“Repentance and Conforming to the Gospel”
Today’s “3-Minute Retreat” from Loyola Press (which you can access at https://www.loyolapress.com/retreats/the-consequences-of-not-repenting-start-retreat) was based on Luke 13:5:
“But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
The retreat master writes, “To perish, to be lost forever, is not a pleasant thought on which to dwell. It is better to repent, to be contrite, so that you can come to a place of starting anew. In the deepest part of ourselves we know there is no other way to change. To repent is much more than saying “I’m sorry.” It is the profound understanding that we must conform our lives to the Gospel, or be lost forever.”
To say “I’m sorry” is very difficult for me. It probably is for virtually everyone.
But to conform to the Gospel of Jesus Christ—that is on border between excruciatingly difficult and absolutely impossible. Anyone who thinks it is easy to follow Jesus has probably never read Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Or, at least, they have not taken those documents seriously.
There is a good reason for the subtitle of this website: “Musings of a Deeply Flawed Christ-Follower.” Sometimes, the flaws seem so much more real than the part about following Christ.
One of my 12-step readings from Hazelden made a very similar point about actually living a transforming life. Here it is:
“Let no one be deluded that a knowledge of the path can substitute for putting one foot in front of the other.
—M. C. Richards
Recovering men know this path is not always easy. We usually talk about the benefits of recovery and the many promises of the program. Today, in our fellowship, we talk of the challenges we must face in order to recover. Honesty may be the greatest challenge. It is frightening to be honest with ourselves about things we have never really admitted or faced before.
Sometimes we have new and confusing feelings and think something must be wrong with us. But we may be just experiencing the logical outcome of our earlier commitment to be honest. No one recovers by thinking about it. We must actively take each Step and meet the challenges presented. We are not alone with our difficulties. We are part of a large movement of men committed to recovery, and this quiet moment is one way in which we are simply putting one foot in front of the other.
Today, I pray for the courage to remain faithful when the fears and pains of my transformation are overwhelming.” (From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men ©1986, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation.)
Yes!
Conforming myself to the Gospel, being transformed by putting one foot in front of the other in the direction of a sane, sober, loving life—these are not easy. But then, neither is staying the way I am. And no one has to do any of this alone or all at once. I have good companions who both encourage and hold me accountable. And I have the strength to take this one step in this one moment.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
- “Christian Speech” October 26, 2024“Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Foulkes, in his excellent commentary on the Book of Ephesians, writes the following, which I quote at some length: “29. Now the […]
- “God is in the Details” October 11, 2024“The devil is in the details.” (A general saying, often quoted by lawyers, reporters, and negotiators.) “God is in the details.” (Me, almost certainly not original.) “Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Jesus) God does not micromanage, but God […]
- “Grandma’s Pump” October 8, 2024When I was a little critter, I would stay at my grandma’s house for a night or two sometimes. I liked this for a lot for many reasons. One thing I liked about staying with her was that Grandma’s house was much more technologically advanced than ours was. For one thing, she had indoor water—sort […]
- “Wearing the #14 Wrong-Side-Out” October 5, 2024Pete Rose, #14, is dead. Many of the old guys with whom I play softball watched him play and appreciated him greatly. I do as well. He was one of the greatest players who ever played the game. Yes, he admitted (eventually) to betting on baseball. But many of us still regard him as one […]
- “Passing Along the Love (and a Link)” October 4, 2024Several years ago, a friend of mine put me onto a daily meditation by Richard Rohr and friends. I don’t read them all the time, but I probably should. They are good! I thought that today’s writing was especially good, and I also figured that this would be a good way to post something. I […]
- “Witnessing Versus Being Witnesses” September 19, 2024“Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after […]
- “A Bathroom Prayer for Hurting Hands” September 11, 2024A week ago Sunday, my hands were hurting so badly at church that I went to the bathroom to run hot water over my hands. Arthritis perhaps, or carpal tunnel, or general orneriness—I don’t know why my hands hurt, but they do. They have for years. So, while I was running hot water over my […]
- “Waiting and Seeking” September 10, 2024“Lam. 3:19 ¶ Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam. 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. Lam. 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam. 3:22 ¶ The steadfast love of the LORD […]
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