Random Thoughts
These are some random thoughts in response to some questions from a class I am taking.
Make a logical link between the Biblical Definition of a what a Godly Person really is (as taught in Lecture #5)
The professor made a good point about what a Godly person is not. A person who follows God’s rules is not necessarily a Godly person. Pharisees followed God’s rules, but this certainly didn’t make them Godly. However, a Godly person will follow God’s rules. Obeying God’s commands is necessary but not sufficient to make one Godly. Sometimes, I think, we base our “Godliness” on the same principles that the Pharisees based their Godliness. Anyone can be a Pharisee. Not everyone can be Godly. There is a deeper question involved. It’s not “what does this person do or fail to do?” but “what is this person?” Being Godly penetrates deeper than mere outward acts to the very essence of our soul. One must be Godly. Godliness is an ontological status not an ethical one. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1 to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…” Notice that the Christian is called, and then they are to walk in a manner that reflects that calling. Indeed, one who is called will walk in a manner worthy of that calling, but one who walks in a worthy manner is not necessarily called. Being Godly is not about what you do; it is about who you are. A Godly person is one who has been called out by God and who, as the professor pointed out, therefore willingly submits to God’s ways.
one point of content that you found intriguing, interesting, thoughtful, novel in Lecture #6
The point that I found most engaging was the professor’s interpretation of Ephesians 4:17-19 and his 6-step digression. It’s interesting to me that spiritual sickness begins with the “vanity (futility) of your minds.” I was reminded from this that ideas have consequences. Bad actions stem from bad thoughts. A philosopher that I read fairly often, Peter Kreeft, once said: If you sow a thought you will reap an act. If you sow an act you will reap a habit. If you sow a habit you will reap a character. If you sow a character you will reap a destiny. I don’t think we put enough emphasis on the power of the subtlety of ideas. Ideas do indeed have consequences. It follows, therefore, that bad ideas have bad consequences. If you sow a bad thought you will reap a bad act. If you sow a bad act your will reap a bad habit. If you sow a bad habit you will reap a bad character. If you sow a bad character you will reap a bad destiny.
one point of content that you found intriguing, interesting, thoughtful, novel in Lecture #7
The professor made a good point in regards to the story of the prodigal son. Because of his unbelief the prodigal son was denigrated and forced to eat pig food. Unbelief can have stinging consequences, as the professor pointed out. Interestingly, these consequences are not necessarily something that the unbeliever considers in his choice to not believe. When talking with an unbeliever I always like to bring up Pascal’s Wager. Blaise Pascal understood that a failure to believe in God would have damning consequences. Therefore, he argued that it is better to believe than to not believe. Although I don’t think that fear of the consequence is a sufficient condition to believe in God; nevertheless, I do think that it does add credence to a cumulative case that belief in God is more reasonable than non-belief. Just like my fear of my fathers belt was not a sufficient condition for me to obey him; nevertheless, it did add credence to the cumulative case that obeying my father was more reasonable than not obeying my father.
explain how it will/should change your future attitude toward your own need to develop spiritually
Everyone goes through trying times in their lives. The reason is simple; there is real sin in the world. The 3 R’s that the professor gave from Revelation 2:5 are a good formula to help us through these times. Remember “from where you have fallen,” Repent and Repeat “the deeds that you did at first.”
What are your thoughts?
Make a logical link between the Biblical Definition of a what a Godly Person really is (as taught in Lecture #5)
The professor made a good point about what a Godly person is not. A person who follows God’s rules is not necessarily a Godly person. Pharisees followed God’s rules, but this certainly didn’t make them Godly. However, a Godly person will follow God’s rules. Obeying God’s commands is necessary but not sufficient to make one Godly. Sometimes, I think, we base our “Godliness” on the same principles that the Pharisees based their Godliness. Anyone can be a Pharisee. Not everyone can be Godly. There is a deeper question involved. It’s not “what does this person do or fail to do?” but “what is this person?” Being Godly penetrates deeper than mere outward acts to the very essence of our soul. One must be Godly. Godliness is an ontological status not an ethical one. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1 to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…” Notice that the Christian is called, and then they are to walk in a manner that reflects that calling. Indeed, one who is called will walk in a manner worthy of that calling, but one who walks in a worthy manner is not necessarily called. Being Godly is not about what you do; it is about who you are. A Godly person is one who has been called out by God and who, as the professor pointed out, therefore willingly submits to God’s ways.
one point of content that you found intriguing, interesting, thoughtful, novel in Lecture #6
The point that I found most engaging was the professor’s interpretation of Ephesians 4:17-19 and his 6-step digression. It’s interesting to me that spiritual sickness begins with the “vanity (futility) of your minds.” I was reminded from this that ideas have consequences. Bad actions stem from bad thoughts. A philosopher that I read fairly often, Peter Kreeft, once said: If you sow a thought you will reap an act. If you sow an act you will reap a habit. If you sow a habit you will reap a character. If you sow a character you will reap a destiny. I don’t think we put enough emphasis on the power of the subtlety of ideas. Ideas do indeed have consequences. It follows, therefore, that bad ideas have bad consequences. If you sow a bad thought you will reap a bad act. If you sow a bad act your will reap a bad habit. If you sow a bad habit you will reap a bad character. If you sow a bad character you will reap a bad destiny.
one point of content that you found intriguing, interesting, thoughtful, novel in Lecture #7
The professor made a good point in regards to the story of the prodigal son. Because of his unbelief the prodigal son was denigrated and forced to eat pig food. Unbelief can have stinging consequences, as the professor pointed out. Interestingly, these consequences are not necessarily something that the unbeliever considers in his choice to not believe. When talking with an unbeliever I always like to bring up Pascal’s Wager. Blaise Pascal understood that a failure to believe in God would have damning consequences. Therefore, he argued that it is better to believe than to not believe. Although I don’t think that fear of the consequence is a sufficient condition to believe in God; nevertheless, I do think that it does add credence to a cumulative case that belief in God is more reasonable than non-belief. Just like my fear of my fathers belt was not a sufficient condition for me to obey him; nevertheless, it did add credence to the cumulative case that obeying my father was more reasonable than not obeying my father.
explain how it will/should change your future attitude toward your own need to develop spiritually
Everyone goes through trying times in their lives. The reason is simple; there is real sin in the world. The 3 R’s that the professor gave from Revelation 2:5 are a good formula to help us through these times. Remember “from where you have fallen,” Repent and Repeat “the deeds that you did at first.”
What are your thoughts?
posted by Anonymous | 10:41 AM
1 Comments:
Aaron, you said:
"Being Godly is not about what you do; it is about who you are."
I agree, but worry that people might misunderstand. Perhaps we can clarify this a bit more. As you said earlier in your post, "Obeying God's commands is necessary but not sufficient to make one Godly." Therefore, if you do not act Godly, you are not Godly.
I think this is point is made beautifully in James.
So I would change your statement to:
"Being Godly is not only about what you do without regard to who you are. Rather it is about who you are and what you do as a result."
Or perhaps my point would be more clear to say that I agree with your post 100%, plus:
Godly = Faith + works.
This is a mess. Sorry if I've just subtracted from, instead of adding to, your post.
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