Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday September 27, 2011

To say that we are living in times that try the souls of men is more than paying homage to Thomas Pain. It is one way of saying not much of substance has changed since pre-revolutionary and revolutionary times. The same destructive problems our forefathers faced are still the same ones, though they often masquerade in different costume.

William R. Bradford stated: "Of all influences that cause men to choose wrong, selfishness is undoubtedly the strongest. Where it is, the Spirit is not." The practice of centering our life around self is condemned not only in the Old and New Testaments, by Moses and Jesus, but by the ancient philosophers as well. Our times has posited, A man all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package. And yet the statement from William R. Bradford made when he was the leader of the Pilgrim settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts is as up to date as the next book from Dr. Phil.

The assertion of self into prominence hinders true personal growth. It also haunts genuine Christian growth with the specter of self and public deception, the pretense that we are something we are not. Why do we imply that somehow we are farther along the path to Christlikeness, knowing in our heart that the impression made is false?

Charlatans have made fortunes playing on the tune of self-deception with all sorts of books, tapes articles and the like that "If we state anything about our self as true it will be." The idea being that as God-like creations we have the power to "speak our reality into existence." And in a way this becomes true for the person selling the wares as their bank account tends to grow exponentially.

When a person becomes satisfied with themselves all growth stops at that point unless a wakeup call comes from on high. The prophet Nathan pointing the famous boney finger at King David is a case in point. Even giant killers who become kings need regular growth. David needed a fresh lesson that neither might nor office makes evil right. David accepted the painful lesson concerning fulfilling the wild needs of self and thus was able to grow to the stature needed to be the leader of God's people.

C.S. Lewis took this truth about the craving for self-fulfillment to a humorous though exact level when he wrote a paraphrase of the statement of Jesus on the true nature of adultery with this: "He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart." David committed murder to cover the adultery and we wear a vest or sweater to cover the ham and eggs. It really is all about self and we must learn and relearn that Christ did not redeem us so that we may live to and for ourselves.

Pay attention the solution given by Jesus in Luke 9:23 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Emphasis mine).

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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