et al.
Here's a link to something to think about from John Piper.
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sin. Show all posts
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, January 29, 2011
DMZ 2 - Confusious say, "Man who stand on toilet..."
This is a continuation of the DMZ tour that I took at the beginning of January. Previously I had chronicled the railroad station built near the DMZ in anticipation of future peaceful reunification. The last stop before leaving the station was the bathroom. I expected nothing unusual, but since it is Korean, frankly, I should have known better.
Decoratively framed above each urinal were sayings of wisdom translated into Korean and English (at least, I think so - I'm 70% sure about one of the languages, anyway). I was so impressed by the one that I had to ponder that I waited for an opportunity to photograph them all. There's a lot of truth in them (I should say, in some of them; some I'm still trying to figure out). So, I thought I would expound on what I pull from them - for what it's worth.
I thought this first one especially pertinent considering where I was standing at the point (no, not the bathroom; the DMZ). I thought about the monetary cost incurred because of the anger of the North Korean governemnt. N. Korea probably wouldn't see it that way, but I'm not them. In addition to the financial burden, there has also been an even greater cost - human lives. Sadly, this number will probably never bee known. Even at this moment, people are likely dieing a N. Korean jail or from starvation or lack of medical treatment because of the management of the communist government. The repeated news reports of violence between the North and South remind us that lives are still taken in combat here - the two nations are techincally still at war.
The emotional or spiritual anger is extremely costly, as well. I believe (my unexpert opinion based on what I see and have experienced myself) that anger leads to serious anxiety and stress. The "angry people" that I know are constantly fighting an uphill battle. The anger poisons every relationship that they are in. Additionally, the constant strain required to maintain that kind of self-righteousness is really more than we were designed to handle. Ultimately, the true cost of clinging to the luxury of anger which survives due to unforgiveness is that of the relationship itself - an extremely sad, but completely avoidable consequence.
Ultimately, I should ask what God's word has to say about it. God has much to say about anger (Ex. 20:13; Matt. 5:21-24; Eph. 4:30-32; Rom. 1:28-31; Col. 3:8; James 1:19-25; Gal. 5:19-21) and that rarely is our (human) anger ever justified (Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:26; James 1:19-25). I know of some that say it is never justified in people. Others claim a measure of "righteous anger" is acceptable. I don't have a lot of sureness on that question, but I'll say that if anger is o.k. then it's very rare.
This also leads to the deeper question, how much do we consider our vices (nice way to say pet-sins) a luxury? Something to be accepted, even cherished as our own, private possession? Have we worked so desperately to "do well" in the other areas of life that we feel authorized (or that we deserve) to justify in our own minds the acceptance or deserved toleration of other Thall-shall-nots? Do we truly know that sin is stronger than our own wills and anything we allow to live with us will, without exception, become our master? (Gal 5:6,7)
What costly luxuries are we holding to? What price are we paying even now to maintain them?
Decoratively framed above each urinal were sayings of wisdom translated into Korean and English (at least, I think so - I'm 70% sure about one of the languages, anyway). I was so impressed by the one that I had to ponder that I waited for an opportunity to photograph them all. There's a lot of truth in them (I should say, in some of them; some I'm still trying to figure out). So, I thought I would expound on what I pull from them - for what it's worth.
I thought this first one especially pertinent considering where I was standing at the point (no, not the bathroom; the DMZ). I thought about the monetary cost incurred because of the anger of the North Korean governemnt. N. Korea probably wouldn't see it that way, but I'm not them. In addition to the financial burden, there has also been an even greater cost - human lives. Sadly, this number will probably never bee known. Even at this moment, people are likely dieing a N. Korean jail or from starvation or lack of medical treatment because of the management of the communist government. The repeated news reports of violence between the North and South remind us that lives are still taken in combat here - the two nations are techincally still at war.
The emotional or spiritual anger is extremely costly, as well. I believe (my unexpert opinion based on what I see and have experienced myself) that anger leads to serious anxiety and stress. The "angry people" that I know are constantly fighting an uphill battle. The anger poisons every relationship that they are in. Additionally, the constant strain required to maintain that kind of self-righteousness is really more than we were designed to handle. Ultimately, the true cost of clinging to the luxury of anger which survives due to unforgiveness is that of the relationship itself - an extremely sad, but completely avoidable consequence.
Ultimately, I should ask what God's word has to say about it. God has much to say about anger (Ex. 20:13; Matt. 5:21-24; Eph. 4:30-32; Rom. 1:28-31; Col. 3:8; James 1:19-25; Gal. 5:19-21) and that rarely is our (human) anger ever justified (Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:26; James 1:19-25). I know of some that say it is never justified in people. Others claim a measure of "righteous anger" is acceptable. I don't have a lot of sureness on that question, but I'll say that if anger is o.k. then it's very rare.
This also leads to the deeper question, how much do we consider our vices (nice way to say pet-sins) a luxury? Something to be accepted, even cherished as our own, private possession? Have we worked so desperately to "do well" in the other areas of life that we feel authorized (or that we deserve) to justify in our own minds the acceptance or deserved toleration of other Thall-shall-nots? Do we truly know that sin is stronger than our own wills and anything we allow to live with us will, without exception, become our master? (Gal 5:6,7)
What costly luxuries are we holding to? What price are we paying even now to maintain them?
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Pruning and reviving
We (the kids and I) did a little yard work today. We have three fruit trees that hadn't been trimmed since well before we bought our house. I'm pretty sure the lemon tree wasn't going to produce much because it had all kinds of unhealthy growth. We bought one of those really long trimmers (15 ft or so) and as I grabbed the branches the kids pulled the rope to seal the branches doom. It was fun as long as the branches didn't come down on top of us; grapefruit and lemon trees have 1-2" thorns.
As we worked I reflected on how much God demonstrates spiritual truths in nature -- weeds and good trees, seeds and growth. I've seen how many plants won't grow well if they aren't pruned. Sometimes a flower will bloom, die, and be left on. The dead flower seems to be the object of all the plants energy. No other flowers will grow on it until it that dead thing is removed. The branches will continue to grow, but they won't grow healthy; they'll become calloused, skinny and frail.
It's the same with us. One dead thing can drain all the fruit-bearing ability from us. Meanwhile other sinful areas quietly pop up and grow. While we pretend the dead sin isn't there, other sins are taking hold and actually go unnoticed by us (because they look "o.k." compared to the sin we are rebelling against). We don't want to confess and allow God to prune that sin away. When we finally do, we also open ourselves to seeing the other sins. God removes them, though painful, and we feel the weight go.
But a pruned tree looks uncomfortable. With no fruit or flowers showing it looks useless. However, if we push on, drinking from the pure water of God and feeding on His Word, roses and fruit will be bursting forth when we aren't watching. Suddenly, we'll be serving our purpose and glorifying God as we were meant to do; and we'll look back and be amazed. And we understand though painful, God needs to cut the dead and evil away from us.
As we worked I reflected on how much God demonstrates spiritual truths in nature -- weeds and good trees, seeds and growth. I've seen how many plants won't grow well if they aren't pruned. Sometimes a flower will bloom, die, and be left on. The dead flower seems to be the object of all the plants energy. No other flowers will grow on it until it that dead thing is removed. The branches will continue to grow, but they won't grow healthy; they'll become calloused, skinny and frail.
It's the same with us. One dead thing can drain all the fruit-bearing ability from us. Meanwhile other sinful areas quietly pop up and grow. While we pretend the dead sin isn't there, other sins are taking hold and actually go unnoticed by us (because they look "o.k." compared to the sin we are rebelling against). We don't want to confess and allow God to prune that sin away. When we finally do, we also open ourselves to seeing the other sins. God removes them, though painful, and we feel the weight go.
But a pruned tree looks uncomfortable. With no fruit or flowers showing it looks useless. However, if we push on, drinking from the pure water of God and feeding on His Word, roses and fruit will be bursting forth when we aren't watching. Suddenly, we'll be serving our purpose and glorifying God as we were meant to do; and we'll look back and be amazed. And we understand though painful, God needs to cut the dead and evil away from us.
He is good!
I'm glad I took the time to
work in the yard today.
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