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Published on Leave a comment on Is the fruit of the Spirit too sissy for 'real men'?

Quote:

Real manliness is defined by Christlike character, and not just the Gentle-Jesus-meek-and-mild-style character, but the full-orbed fruit of the Spirit rounded out with strength, courage, conviction, strong passions, manly love, and a stout-hearted willingness to oppose error and fight for the truth—even to the point of laying down your life for the truth if necessary.

From TeamPyro's More on the Sissification of Church

Just the other day I was going to post on the fruit of the Spirit - wondering whether 'real men' would find Paul too feminized at this point.  All that girly 'patience and gentleness' and nothing about mechanical, athletic or barbecuing ability.  

Then I read the quote above. Now I think I agree with much of what the author says.  He himself is reacting against a kind of John Eldredge 'wild man' myth.  And who could disagree that manliness is defined by Christlike character?  But to say the fruit of the Spirit requires 'rounding out' when it's applied to real men....  ?? 

Does this mean that 'faith, hope and love' are a bit 'chickified'?  Perhaps they require rounding out with 'strength, honour and belching'?  Or maybe 'be joyful, pray and give thanks' (1 Thes 5:16-18) need augmenting with 'build, fix and kill.'

Oh look, I'm all for stout-hearted fighting spirit.  I know that men are cowards.  I know what a problem this is.  After all, the silence of Adam got us into this mess in the first place.

But when true, stout-hearted, courageous manhood is expressed, you know what it will look like?  Cheek-turning, cloak-giving, rights-yielding, foot-washing, burden-bearing, shame-absorbing, sacrificial love. 

It will look like the fruit of the Spirit.  And even though these qualities may look sissy to the world - well...  Real men don't care about looking sissy.

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Other posts on men stuff:

Models of masculinity

Three thoughts on Headship

He said - She said

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Published on Leave a comment on OT law seminar

The history of redemption according to Galatians 3:

NOT...

OT law 1

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INSTEAD...

OT law 2

Dave reminded me of this talk on OT law.  These diagrams may help explain it a bit.

And here's the tabernacle:

Tabernacle

And remember:

When there is a change in the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.  (Heb 7:12)

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Published on Leave a comment on Gospel outline?

Ok, I'm off for the weekend - but that doesn't mean you can slink off.  I have work for you all.

I've just thought of a gospel outline - probably for a tract.  But I need you to fill in the details for me.

Provisional Title:  "What for?"

Six sections (of course):

For Him - Creation is for Christ, are you?

For sin - This is the problem Christ came to fix thru death & res

For free - received as a gift, faith - the essence of the Christian life

For ever - new creation hope with Christ at centre

For all - gospel to go out to nations first.  Be a part.

For you - finish on Gal 2:20.

Hope that's clear.  I want it in my comments by Monday.

 

Go to work!

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Published on Leave a comment on Nice and Christian

Those two things aren't the same you know.  But often we forget that.  Especially as we try to live in community.  I mean, think about it - what helps our Christian communities function? 

Surely we get along because we all play nice, right?  Empowered by the gospel of course.  We have to add that caveat.  But now that it's added we settle down to the real glue for any community: being nice.  When people are nice, communities flourish.  When people are not nice communities fall apart.  This is obvious.

Just look at Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Yep.  See?  Be nice.  Be nice and everyone will get along.  Cover over all that nastiness with sweetness.  Or polite reserve.  Or effusive flattery.  Whatever you do, don't be nasty.  The minute someone's nasty, it's over.

Really?

Well that would be the case if we were a part of any natural community.  What did Jesus say?  Pagans love those who love them.  (Matt 5:46-47).  You don't need the Holy Spirit to do that.  You don't need the supernatural grace of God.  You don't need a new heart of flesh to be nice. 

So what's going to mark supernatural communities?

Look at how Colossians 3 continues...

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  (Col 3:13)

Natural communities don't have this.  At the first hint of nastiness, natural community fractures.  But for Christians nastiness is an opportunity.  Here's where we truly show ourselves to be the people of Jesus.  We forgive.

Many people think nastiness ends Christian community.  The gospel says nastiness is where Christian community begins.

What about blogging?  A million blogs can be nice.  It doesn't make them Christian.  Now may Jesus deliver us from nasty Christian blogs.  Please Lord!  But niceness is not the cure.  Many may think they have a Christian blog because everyone is nice.  That doesn't make it Christian.  It's Christian if it answers nastiness with cruciform love.

We must bear with each other.  Forgive.  Show mercy towards opponents.  Die to self.  Crucify our own need to prove ourselves.  Answer harsh words with gentleness (Prov 15:1).  That's where Christian community begins. 

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Published on Leave a comment on Read the Bible in 90 days

It works out at 12 pages a day. About 16 chapters.  That's do-able right?

Week 1: Genesis 1:1 - Exodus 40:38 :

Week 2: Leviticus 1:1 - Deuteronomy 22:30 :

Week 3: Deuteronomy 23:1 - 1 Samuel 28:25 :

Week 4: 1 Samuel 29:1 - 2 Kings 25:30 :

Week 5: 1 Chronicles 1:1 - Nehemiah 13:31 :

Week 6: Esther 1:1 - Psalm 89:52 :

Week 7: Psalm 90:1 - Isaiah 13:22 :

Week 8: Isaiah 14:1 - Jeremiah 33:26 :

Week 9: Jeremiah 34:1 - Daniel 8:27 :

Week 10: Daniel 9:1 - Matthew 26:75 :

Week 11: Matthew 27:1 - Acts 6:15 :

Week 12: Acts 7:1 - Colossians 4:18 :

Week 13: 1 Thess. 1:1 - Revelation 22:21 :

Go here to subscribe to the RSS feed.  Day one begins here.

Biblegateway proposes you do it over the summer: 1 June - 29 August.  But me and a mate are starting tomorrow.  If anyone wants to join us, let me know.

It might mean my blogging volume takes a noticeable dip!!

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Published on Leave a comment on Disagreeing with brothers and sisters

Yet another conversation containing the names Goldsworthy and Blackham has collapsed under the weight of pointed comments that got out of hand. And I was the chief commenter.

[deep exhale]

And this is precisely why people hate the issue being brought up.

It aggravates old wounds.

Wrong response 1:  We should be able to discuss such things dispassionately.

No, actually.  If we're not emotionally engaged it's obviously not an issue close to the heart of the gospel.  Dispassionate disagreements are not worth having at all.  But I think this is an issue touching on the nature of faith, our doctrine of God, the supremacy of Christ.  If those things don't tug on heart strings there's something wrong.  Dispassionate engagement is not an option.  But Christian engagement is a necessity.  Dying to self.  Crucifying the flesh with its desires.  Giving our lives up for others.  Paul said he'd go veggie for life if it protected non-meat-eating brothers. (1 Cor 8:13)  That's not dispassionate engagement, it's a costly love for those with whom we disagree.  We should feel strongly and make the conscious effort to swallow pride, to abandon the need to be right, to look on people we feel are mistaken and love them (Mark 10:21).  Such disagreements among believers should be prime opportunities to give and receive grace.

Wrong response 2:  Given the aggro that attends it, it's always wrong to raise this issue.

Well - maybe on the Paul-going-veggie example, we should just go vegan!  And Paul says he'd do it for life.  There will be seasons when we just have to go veggie.  And this must not be with the thought of regrouping for our next assault.  It must be with the thought, "I will shut my mouth indefinitely on this issue if that is in their best interests."  But then of course Paul did actually side with the strong and taught accordingly.  There must be ways of raising the issue while at the same time making every effort to serve those with whom we disagree.  We have to find ways of doing that.

What we really need to do is go on mission together.  Like in the best buddy movies, we need to go into the front lines as a rag-tag bunch of awkward, mistrustful rejects.  But as the heat of the battle presses us together, as we start sticking up for each other, as we see each other's gifts serve the common good, then we'll have that common love and respect for each other that is the ground not the goal of such discussions.

But we're very sick at heart you know...

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