the distance between heart and head
I could cite thousands of examples from what I see in my own life that would demonstrate our cultures disengagement of the brain. After a bit the list would get redundant and the readers (and me the writer) would begin to shut down our brain and flip over to some nice website with bright colors and games. So I will refrain whining about the fallen world.
For myself personally its better to frame these discussion within the Christian realm. Reading in 2 Peter this morning I came across "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." 2 Peter 1:5-9
I find it interesting that we are to add to our faith goodness and knowledge. Most would not dispute at some level that a christian needs to turn from a sinful lifestyle and be "good." You ask christian friend "A" how christian friend "B" is and their response most likely would involve a struggle with goodness. But isn't there more to goodness than just the word good. Its a loaded word, and we need to know what our standard of good is. Which is why immediately following "goodness" we have the qualifier of "knowledge." We have to know how it is that we should act and behave. Why when we ask "A" how "B" is doing we usually don't get a perspective on theological issues they are wrestling over?
Asking if someone is good is like asking "hey are you on my team." Yes or no answer. But why don't we ask "do you align with the principles and values that represent our team?" Well we don't ask that because its kind of nerdy. But it has more implications than "do you represent general good?" When we find out where people are at with their definition of "good" we find out much more about them. More importantly we find out where they are headed.
Of course after knowledge we have the qualifier of "self-control." We must know, but we need to limit our view points. We can't accept just any view point. Some ideas are truth, and ideas carry significant negative consequence. (like nazism to be extreme, or a human centered understanding of the gospel)
All of these qualifiers in this section of scripture can be related to one another. I chose the first few.
It is important to have goodness and knowledge. verse 8 says: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
These are areas we need to grow in. IF we are not increasing in measure, we will slip into becoming ineffective and unproductive. As someone who is called to ministry. I take these very seriously. This is why I have become so contemplative lately, this is why I pray, read scripture. This is also why I am heading to school this fall.
Ben
For myself personally its better to frame these discussion within the Christian realm. Reading in 2 Peter this morning I came across "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." 2 Peter 1:5-9
I find it interesting that we are to add to our faith goodness and knowledge. Most would not dispute at some level that a christian needs to turn from a sinful lifestyle and be "good." You ask christian friend "A" how christian friend "B" is and their response most likely would involve a struggle with goodness. But isn't there more to goodness than just the word good. Its a loaded word, and we need to know what our standard of good is. Which is why immediately following "goodness" we have the qualifier of "knowledge." We have to know how it is that we should act and behave. Why when we ask "A" how "B" is doing we usually don't get a perspective on theological issues they are wrestling over?
Asking if someone is good is like asking "hey are you on my team." Yes or no answer. But why don't we ask "do you align with the principles and values that represent our team?" Well we don't ask that because its kind of nerdy. But it has more implications than "do you represent general good?" When we find out where people are at with their definition of "good" we find out much more about them. More importantly we find out where they are headed.
Of course after knowledge we have the qualifier of "self-control." We must know, but we need to limit our view points. We can't accept just any view point. Some ideas are truth, and ideas carry significant negative consequence. (like nazism to be extreme, or a human centered understanding of the gospel)
All of these qualifiers in this section of scripture can be related to one another. I chose the first few.
It is important to have goodness and knowledge. verse 8 says: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
These are areas we need to grow in. IF we are not increasing in measure, we will slip into becoming ineffective and unproductive. As someone who is called to ministry. I take these very seriously. This is why I have become so contemplative lately, this is why I pray, read scripture. This is also why I am heading to school this fall.
Ben
posted by Ben at 2:22 PM
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