Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday March 11, 2008

James B. Conant former president of Harvard said something, actually he said many things, but this one caught my attention for it hits a sore with me, dealing with inner conflict. On too many occasions I have given in to the wrong part of the conflict. I think giving in to the wrong point of conflict really sounds much more civilized and educated than reverting to the old religionist way of stating it. You've heard it and may have used it once or twice. Giving in to the wrong point of conflict is just more with it, than saying, "I have sinned." That inner conflict is universal to the human condition is well attested by the bulk of literature, as a matter of fact most writing deals with inner conflict and the failure or success of effectively dealing with this often soul wrenching experience.

James B. Conant wrote:

"Whether a man lives or dies in vain can be determined only by the way he faces his own problems, by the success or failure of the inner conflict within his own soul."

Even the great Apostle Paul wrestled with this common malady of soul sickness as he admitted in Romans 7:19 "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." I have met a few people who have been totally delivered or at least that is what they say. When around such be careful. Most of Romans, 6, 7 and 8 teach how to deal with this inner conflict. Most religions deal with how to deny the truth of this conflict with even the grandest of believers. I talked with a man on Friday of the week past and he assured me that not only had he not sinned in the last 20 years, but that he hadn't even been tempted to do so in at least 15 years. I asked him which undertaker had embalmed him.

Should we overcome temptation? Of course, the example of Christ overcoming temptation is the text book for overcoming. Can we actually do this? Yes, but the truth is we do the same thing Paul admits to and choose to do the evil rather than the good and noble thing. Men know that this is one reason we have a wife because we have permission from the human father of us all, Adam, to place the blame on our wife. Most students of theology would do well to spend some time as a bartender and there learn the true conflicts in the heart of man, rather than the antiseptic pap of the seminary class. Ask any bartender and he/she will tell you the main thing wrong with men is their wife. At least this is the whine of the men. That this concept is 180 degrees from what the Bible really teaches seems to be of no importance. God teaches that we will have better women when we have better men. You do understand that my situation is different.

So, how do you deal with the inner conflict of your soul? That inner conflict that is part and parcel of the human experience is attested to by people who claim salvation in Christ or who deny any such thing. The fear of having lived in vain permeates the race. And if this inner conflict is not faced honestly and a way to at least some victory is not accepted, no amount of acclaim by the world or your profession can compensate for this terrible emptiness, this deep sense of having lived in vain.

Clarence Darrow was the most famous agnostic lawyer of his time, yet I am told his dying words were a quote from the Bible, "I have fished all night and caught nothing."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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