Augustine said, "Love God, and do what you want," with reference to how to make a decision.
It's good advice based on sound biblical principle. Jesus said, "If you love me, you WILL keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
I fear, however, that we reverse the order far too often. We do what we want and try to squeeze Jesus into it somehow. We take for granted that we love God. We genuinely think we do.
But we don't.
And when we do what we want and try to squeeze Jesus into it, we're merely doing what we want - treating ourselves as gods in the seeking after our own pleasures. And squeezing spirituality into it is just us being religious - wanting to feel better about ourselves. We want to believe we're righteous and good.
This should not be. We need to first and foremost seek Jesus. And good desires will flow from that connection - based on the strength of that connection.
The point isn't do what you want. The point is seek Jesus. Repent of your sins and your connections to this world - your desires which are based on anything but Christ's coming Kingdom. Repent, and seek Jesus. Pick up your cross and follow him. Set your entrance into his eternal glory as your first and utmost priority in mind, affections and practice.
Then, do what you want.
I like this principle.
ReplyDeleteCan you just confirm that you're sure that John 14:15 is a promise and not a stipulation? I'm not deep enough into Greek to have anything to say on it, except it doesn't sound quite right to me the way you emphasized it.
As for "do what you want," I agree with the principle, but I'm beginning to believe the concept will still always have to be submitted to discernment in this life. I see your "then" in "then, do what you want" as being an absolute only at the time of resurrection. I think it's something we need to taste, practice, enjoy now, just as we live in the tension of the "already" and the "not yet," but we can not completely rely on it as a guarantee, insofar as we cannot rely on the extent of our seeking - and finding - Christ as being objectively sufficient at any point. I'm wrestling with this issue right now, and I repeat that I agree with your principle. I figure I may begin to come up with other realizations for my own personal spiritual crawl as God molds my will and fixes my brokenness.
Other than that, Amen to "we take for granted that we love God." We are definitely in the same camp on that one.
Oh yes - that principle must always be subjugated to Jesus in this life - for exactly the reason that we don't love Jesus.
ReplyDeleteWell, the Greek doesn't really answer that question. It could be either, though it would be more 'normal' for it to be a promise.
However, the sentence is couched in instruction regarding the promise of the Holy Spirit and before Jesus telling the disciples that they'll bear fruit by remaining in him, the vine. I think then context makes it a promise, not just a description of what loving Jesus looks like.
Mmm. Here here. Actually I'm with you on John 14:15 more than I realized, especially as it relates the principle you're discussing.
ReplyDeleteThanks D
Dude, I won Deyoungs new book (its super short) off the Buzzard blog on finding God's Will. Mahaney said it was the best book on this topic he's ever read. Its getting quite the buzz, I'm excited to read it...
ReplyDeletethanks for keeping it simple, it's refreshing to my soul...
ReplyDeleteJoe - when did we ever disagree? :) I mean, on anything?
ReplyDeleteHenning -
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I'm listening to DeYoung's talk right now from the Next Conference. I'm in total agreement with him. It's about time this was taught again. And it's really great to see self-professed 'charismatics' endorsing it. It is amazing to see what the doctrine of sola Scriptura does.
JPaul - My pleasure!
Funny
ReplyDeleteYour way of communicating is sometimes provocative but worth it to that same end. You tend to put things out there for people to wrangle with.
Don't know how much we've really disagreed, in the end.
When I look around me, and then I think of you and some of our old mates when we were all marinating in the college incubator, I know from experience that usually I couldn't agree more with you, and even when we don't totally agree, it's not hard to see where the other is coming from. That's priceless, and often a critical encouragement.
Thanks for your thoughts. This is a great word for us all.
ReplyDeletenicely put. and sooo true!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny that i'm reading your post now Derek. Someone just recommended DeYoung's book to me not long ago. I should read that.
ReplyDelete-lauren