Shakespear

"This above all-to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be fast to any man."
~Hamlet, act1, scene3, lines 78-80

I think I mentioned I've been reading "After You Believe" by N.T. Wright. I have to give a devotional message about character with information from this book for class, Tuesday November 30. So, I'm doing homework the day after Thanksgiving. Eat your hearts out you Black Friday Shoppers!

Wright asserts there is a powerful message within Western Culture which actually follows this line of thought from Shakespear. Many people take being true to themselves to mean they can, and should dow whatever the like. This is a concept I struggle against. I aggree with the idea being true to self often means do what you want in our culture. I struggle to not follow the idea. I've been trying to work out exactly when I fell off the train and bought into my culture entirely. I think it happened after I earned the rank of Eagle as a Boy Scout. I remember thinking I can't wait until I earn Eagle, because they I can do what I want. I had held leadership roles in my Boy Scout Troop and as a leader I had to lead by example. Once I earned the rank of Eagle I would no longer be bound by those rules and could even quit the Boy Scouts if I wanted. It wasn't until much later I realized living a life of honor with a strong sense of character while striving for something greater than myself were the first steps to finding a lasting joy in my life. I have never been joyful only living for what makes me happy. Are you simply living for what makes you happy, or are you striving for that something greater which offers lasting joy?

Scratching My Noodle

I'm reading a book for class by Bishop N.T. Wright called "After You Believe." I'm into chapter two, and some things from chapter one are still swishing around in my brain. Wright makes a point about people in Western cultures being stuck between two extremes. On the one hand there are those who want to know what the rules are so they can follow them and get their heavenly reward. On the other hand there are those who only want to follow their own heart, and trust that God is in their hearts guiding their actions. Both directions are incorrect, and both Paul and James speak directly to these points in the New Testament. The better way to think of it is like a long distance runner. Have you ever watched the long distance runners in the Olympics? They have to have tremendous mental strength. When Christians talk about that kind of toughness we don't call it strength. We call it character. It's that kind of character which enables a paramedic to use exactly the right treatment when the heat is on. Character is what gets the marine through tough combat situations when bullets are flying past their heads. On the cross it was the strength of Jesus' character and His love for the Father which got Him through the crucifixion. The point of character is to show our love for God through our character in life. When Abraham had this belief God accounted it to him as righteousness. I would like to be righteous. How about you?

Honor

"On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God, 

and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; 

to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."

The Boy Scout Oath

   Today honor is treated like just another nostalgic idea like chivalry, helping an old lady across the street or paying your taxes. Honor is seen as an obligation, and because we, human beings, tend to be lazy by nature, we put off being honorable if we attempt to be so at all. However, a sense of Honor is a part of what has historically kept this nation together. The freedoms we enjoy, which are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, only work so long as the people are honorable enough not to abuse those freedoms. This is not just true of the people of the United States of America, but also of God's people. It has never been enough for God's people to just follow the rules of the Law. God has always wanted more. Too many people get hung up in Paul's teaching about faith being the key to righteousness instead of works while the apostle James teaches "faith without works is dead." What Paul and James are talking about is character. Each of them is talking to people taking their obligation to Christian faith in different extremes. Some wanted to earn their way to heaven. Others wanted to be Christian without having to do any work at all. Paul has teaching about how we are to tread this fine line.

1Thessalonians 4:1-12 is a call for Christians to be people of character, and to live a life of honor. Too often we think rules are to keep us from enjoying life. This is a mistake. Scripture is the guide to a better life, not just for me, or for you, but for us all. It is time for people of faith to consider what it means to live lives of character for God; for our country; and for ourselves.