33 and counting

I’m sore.  Joe was right.  

Yesterday I went to the gym and ran and lifted and hit the sauna and had a big ole time.  I also met a guy named Joe who I began talking to.  He mentioned that after you turn 30, you get more sore more often.  My saying “yeah” was a knee-jerk reaction, as if my 33-year-old knees understood.  Now they do.  

Last night, I limped to bed.  My left knee has been sore for weeks.  I hurt my right ankle running.  I hurt my left shoulder lifting.  I had to stop doing calf raises because my right leg was cramping.  I also had a couple of blisters and a sore back.  Anne brought me Advil.  

Maybe Joe is a prophet.  Regardless, I’m never talking to him again.  

Christian growth is symmetrical?

I was listening to one of Tim Keller’s free sermons called “How to Change,” and he said that Christian growth is gradual, inevitable, organic and symmetrical. The first three I got, but the last one left me befuddled.

He explained that Christians gradually grow in all aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit, not just one. It is impossible to grow in patience and not self-control, for instance. Human effort can muster growth in one area, but leave huge deficits in the others. Symmetrical growth is how the Spirit works.

Notice Galatians 5 calls them “Fruit of the Spirit” because only He can do this whole-life change. That passage contrasts fruit with what are called “Works of the Flesh” because they are results of human effort. Symmetrical growth is supernatural.

Over time, we gradually change in every area until we are transformed into His image. Sort of like when we say, “Dude, have you lost weight?” It’s gradual enough to where we’re not sure.

That is how we grow. Gradual. Symmetrical. Organic. Inevitable. Thanks Tim.

false humility

Now that I am at Cornerstone Church of Knoxville, I have learned much about humility and pride and fear of man (something I’d never even heard discussed) and such. One thing that I heard casually mentioned by our pastor and has stuck with me is false humility. What can be false about humility? Here’s the difference in my mind:

• False humility is stuff like self-deprecation so people will make much of you and say, “Oh, you’re not that bad.” Humility is sharing a struggle to make much of Christ’s grace.
• False humility is embarrassment. Humility is boasting about weakness.
• False humility is never praying for yourself. Humility is praying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (At least that’s what Jesus thought).
• False humility is not bothering people when you need something. Humility is admitting need.
• False humility is pride in a Halloween costume. Humility is taking off the mask.

Only one problem: It’s easier written than done.

why i won't pluck out my eye, besides that it's freaky

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

I have always heard that this passage is hyperbole, an exaggeration that only cult members and the priest in the Scarlet Letter would do. However, I am one of those Bible-thumpers who believes you must take a verse literally unless there is good reason to do otherwise. I have never heard a good reason. But last week one hit me.

Notice it says to pluck out an eye or cut off a hand, not to take a knife to your *uh-hmm* or wear a chastity belt and throw away the key. Why? If you pluck out one eye, will you stop gawking at hot people? If you cut off one hand will you be unable to use a mouse to surf the net for porn? Notice the two things we are told to remove we have two of (two hands and two eyes), not one of. Removing one can’t remove the problem. If he said to emasculate yourself, that would be a logical and painful solution to the problem, so that’s not what he said. Instead, he is using hyperbole to tell us to take action. Real and drastic action to keep us from sin.

In dismissing the idea that we should mutilate ourselves we cannot dismiss Christ’s important message to take drastic action. John Owen said, “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” Christ is saying, to take action before you are destroyed by lust.