Does God care about our disposition?
Is there a proper disposition for a Christian?
What part does passion play in the life of a Christian?
Does God Care About Our Disposition?
Our disposition . . . the posture of our inner person . . . directs the nature of our character.
It establishes the perspective of our will.
It is the launching pad for our behavior and speech.
We live from our disposition.
For example, if we are surly and sullen of disposition, our actions and speech proceed from a dark, angry place. If our disposition is fearful and timid, we do and speak things that attempt to keep us safe and curry favor with those who could hurt us. If our disposition leans towards a crass, bawdy tenor, we speak and do things that delight brassy people but embarrass or insult those who are more conservative and reserved.
I believe God cares very much about our disposition.
It can be a springboard for wisdom, discernment, and works of compassion . . . if is seasoned with the Truth of God’s Word and the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
It can, however, be an impetus for all manner of hurtful, damaging things . . . if it isn’t bowed in conscious submission to the Lord of All.
Is There a Proper Disposition for a Christian?
Paul, in the book of Philippians, dared to speak about the proper disposition of a Christian.
I say “dared to speak” because there is a popular notion in today’s church:
God loves everyone,
accepts everyone just like they are,
and desires that everyone feel free and comfortable in their own skin.
There is an idea that God covers any shortcomings of our dispositions (or personalities)
with His grace
or His forgiveness
or His understanding
without expecting us to make any changes at all.
Some argue that since He created us, He delights in our quirks . . . even if they don’t lean toward purity.
Therefore, following in this line of thinking, we must be dutiful children. We must restrain from any expectations or any admonitions concerning righteous living and its impact upon our disposition. The passage from Philippians dispels this popular myth of I’m okay - you’re okay - no need to fret.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Phil 2:1-16 (NIV)
God does love us just like we are, but He desires that we become something more.
Something holy.
Something that requires daily submission, daily repentance, and daily change.
He wants us to become something like His Son.
What Part Does a Passionate Disposition Play
in the Life of a Christian?
A passionate, sincere disposition is in vogue these days.
Passion is heroic.
We see passion as a noble motivation behind acts of generosity.
We think it brings depth and fire to human affection.
We believe it is necessary for athletes to win their competitions.
We look for it in our leaders because we feel that it conveys strength and conviction.
Passion is an acceptable defense . . . even in courts of law . . . to excuse menacing, hateful crimes of violence.
Passionate statements.
Passionate pursuits.
Passionate crusades.
Passionate beliefs.
In order to understand who a person is, we look to see what they are passionate about.
We believe that their passions define them.
And if someone is truly sincere in their passion, we deem them saintly.
Very passionate . . . sincerely passionate = very good.
But a love of passion can be misguided . . . or even bad.
A person can be passionately wrong.
Or passionately destructive.
Or passionately deceptive.
Or even passionately deceived.
Passion is the currency of the flesh.
And the flesh is in opposition to the Spirit . . . even if it is truly sincere.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:16-17
Paul lists the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21,). Note the heavy tones of a passion in each one of them:
immorality,
impurity,
sensuality,
idolatry,
sorcery,
enmities,
strife,
jealousy,
outbursts of anger,
disputes,
dissensions,
factions ,
envying,
drunkenness,
carousing,
and things like these,
of which I forewarn you . . .
Then he lists fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24).
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
self-control
Fruits of the spirit do not speak of passion and of noise.
They can never be manufactured in the human heart . . . or the human disposition . . . by passionate effort.
They are things that can only come from a quieted spirit.
Quieted from its loud boastings.
Quieted from its unsated desires.
Quieted from its worrying apprehensions.
Quieted from its own sense of purpose and destiny.
The fruits of the Spirit can only come from a spirit that kneels in the presence of The Holy One and says, “You, Lord . . . instead of me.”
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)
Passion may be fun and exciting and temporarily satisfying.
It may even be poignantly inspiring when it is sincere.
But it is also shallow and fickle and leaves you ultimately emptied.
Passion cannot buy God.
And it cannot buy the things of God.
And it cannot convey God’s character or His benefits or His Life to others.
Because passion is all about self.
And God is about so much more.
But what about Christianity?
What about a passionate pursuit of God?
And about being passionately pursued by Him?
Here are some quotes from Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest. I leave them to conclude this blog about disposition and passion and quietness:
Oh, the clamour of these days!
Everyone is clamouring - for what?
For the Son of God to be put to death.
There is no room here for the Son of God just now,
no room for quiet holy communion with the Father . . .
Most of us can do things if we are always at the heroic pitch
because of the natural selfishness of our hearts,
but God wants us at the drab commonplace pitch,
where we live in the valley
according to our personal relationship to Him . . .
Whether or not I hear God's call
depends upon the state of my ears;
and what I hear
depends upon my disposition . . .
The passion of Christianity is
that I deliberately sign away my own rights
and become a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.
Until I do that,
I do not begin to be a saint.
Psalms 46:10-11
Lesa K. Reid
1 comment:
lovely.
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