Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Or does your IQ surpass genius’ of the past? The brother of Jesus breaks down wisdom into 2 categories, from above and below, James 3:13-18.
The first type sows seeds of humility, as wisdom is displayed without fanfare. If you are full of knowledge, you don’t have to fake it by trying to impress others. Rather, understanding is demonstrated by a life filled with love, joy and peace.
On the other side of the spectrum, lies a mindset fueled by harboring bitterness. In the process, selfish ambition leads individuals to develop a blind spot referred to as diabolical pride by C.S. Lewis. When this cancer goes undetected, hearts change while minds swell to the size of melons. If neglected, souls will begin to follow the wisdom of the Devil.
For some, the cause is lost, similar to addicts who are unable to grasp the severity of their situation. Yet, there is hope for those who hit rock bottom, coming to their senses like prodigal children of the past. When the timing is right, embrace the words of James 3:17-18 so that the wisdom of heaven will purge traces of darkness from your soul. Flee from disorder in life by clinging to the fruits of the spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, displaying wisdom to a foolish world.
Countries tend to import articles, goods or services when there is an increase in demand or no entity from within who can provide this in a timely manner. However, spiritual elements are imported daily, often going unnoticed by citizens. These subtle deities contain hidden powers, fueled by demonic strongholds that exist throughout the world. If not rejected and deported, hearts, minds and worldviews will be transformed, shifting the beliefs of a nation.
According to C.S. Lewis, apologetics involves finding common areas and beliefs that you share with other world religions. His logic is based upon one simple principle, “no one want’s to hear that you are right and everyone else is wrong,” Mere Christian, Book 2, chapter 1. When it comes to importing deities, no one is as resolute as Islam. Meanwhile, several Christian denominations have begun practicing Syncretism, blending practices not found in the Bible, Deuteronomy 4:2, with the Christian faith.
As Israel approached the promised land, a similar temptation arose to import gods from Egypt. Leviticus 17:7 suggests that some had already carried foreign traditions with Israel into the desert. Laying down the law, through the words of Moses passed down from generation to generation, this command still applies, importing foreign deities is prohibited. Going forward, make sure you practice 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, testing everything you hear or read with the truths of Scripture. By doing this, you will protect your mind from further harm, 2 Corinthians 10:5.
I’m not one to wear bling, yet there is something invisible beyond the gold chains adorned by celebrities and stars. Beneath the surface, a powerful spirit has risen up, taking hold of human hearts. Although disguised by many characters and personalities, the necklace called pride is real.
According to an eyewitness known as Asaph, the arrogant proudly display this attribute, Psalm 73:6. Pride is like a confidence that gets out of control, leading to cockiness, conceit and diarrhea of the mouth. This necklace is contagious, spreading to the heart, mind and soul. If left on, side affects could lead to diabolical pride according to C.S. Lewis, permanent blinding one’s perspective of truth.
As the gang culture increases, energized by rap music, the decay of families and morality on the decline, pride is the new source of power. Just as Naturalism replaced Theism during the Renaissance, pride has surpassed faith in modern circles. Attitude, behavior and words are being swayed daily from necks full of pride. May the words of Proverbs 15:31-33 unlock the chains of pride holding individuals back from God. In time, may the promise of Proverbs 11:2 use disgrace as a vehicle for change.
Upon rolling out of bed, many Americans turn to the weather channel to help answer the question, “what should I wear today?” After a relaxing bath or shower, breakfast is on your mind before you hustle out the door. Perhaps, you’ll have a few minutes to reply to emails, catch up on Facebook or text a friend. Nonetheless, a morning without God often leads to days, weeks or months alone and on your own.
C.S. Lewis illustrates this truth in Mere Christianity through a chapter entitled “We Have Cause to Be Uneasy.” Essentially, the longer you go off course, Matthew 7:13-14, without making the Lord a priority, the harder it is to return. Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Less Traveled,” symbolizes the fork in the road of life. While those living without God chose instant gratification, pleasure and sinful delights; those who take the other path are ridiculed, scrutinized and rejected by social media. Despite the initial pain, a guiding light leads the way, Galatians 5:25, greater than the Force in Star Wars.
Today, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize living without God has become a societal trend. If you listen to the words of an average conversations, absorb the lyrics of blaring music passing by or see the lack of joy in people’s faces, God is no where to be found. Its no wonder that desperate souls keep looking for love in all the wrong places, void of progress and peace. I’m not sure what people are waiting for, yet God has his perfect timing, Ecclesiastes 3. In these last days, may prodigal sons and daughters come home soon before its too late to return to the living God.
Whether you want to admit it or not, everyone has 3 things in common with Humpty Dumpty. First, at some point in time, you’ll find yourself living on the edge, trying to hang on or stay in control. Second, you will experience a great fall, either physically, spiritually or both. Finally, you’ll discover what it means to be helpless, needing someone else to put you back together.
In Psalm 31:12, King David compares himself to a piece of broken pottery, shattered into pieces. The apostle Paul found himself in a similar predicament, using a jar of clay to illustrate the emotions he endured, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. C.S. Lewis referred to life as a car in Mere Christianity, trying to run on something other than petroleum, eventually breaking down since individuals didn’t follow the directions left behind by God. Before you get well, you must acknowledge that you can’t do it on your own, in need of a Savior to stitch you back together, John 3:16-17.
Behind childhood fairy tales like Humpty Dumpty lie painful truths. Solomon highlights this in Ecclesiastes 4:10 as friends are designed to pick us up when we fall. Without somebody to turn to, pity reigns on these poor souls. Therefore, if you’re hanging by a thread, lying in pain and waiting to be helped up, cry out to Jesus and He will put you back together, Luke 23:42-43.
Depending upon the compound or matter, melting points vary reaching 2500 degrees Fahrenheit for steel, 113 for wax and a mere 32 for ice to begin to melt. However, if you referring to the melting point of individual’s, this fluctuates daily as each day provides various fuels to ignite or cool someone off before tempers flare. Essentially, there is only so much a person can take before they snap, as the emotions inside boil over at, into and toward another soul who just happened to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.
From a spiritual perspective, the melting point can also refer to depression, when someone has suffered so much heart ache that their desire for caring melts away like a candle without any more wax or wick. Thus, a callous heart is formed, afraid to love or let love in, unwilling to be burned again. King David eludes to this in Psalm 22:14, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax, it has melted away within me.” When you feel that God has forgotten about you or passed you over in favor of someone else, you may reach a similar melting point.
This same factor can also be applied to spiritual fire, mentioned by a teenager pastor in 2 Timothy 1:6, a byproduct of putting into practice the gifts God has given you. Beside anger and depression, applying your talents daily can provide purpose for individuals looking to grasp one of life’s certainties. Despite what goes on around you, when you are in sync with God, the other things that use to bother you seem to fade. Therefore, as long you know your part in the concert of life, Romans 12:6-8, you’ll be able to distinguish what note to play and when to play it according to C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. Until you discover this balance, you just might reach your melting point.
When you stop for a moment and take a look at what’s really going on in the world around us, its head scratching. Students killing or sleeping with teachers? The glorification of abortion, giving woman who are pregnant the legal right to destroy human life? Lying as a religious practice to deceive curious minds about to realize the truth? Copy cat school shootings, seeking 15 minutes of fame? Nudity on public television and in prime time?
The only logical explanation for these bizarre acts is a growing phenomena, known as situational ethics. Instead of maintaining a set of moral absolutes, where there is a clear distinction between right and wrong, situations are now giving individuals other rational choices. Thus, in the heat of the moment or deep within the context of your trial, good excuses for sin can be made. Dictionary’s refer to situational ethics as a system that evaluates acts in the context of their circumstances rather than by a set of moral standards.
This concept is nothing new as Jesus indirectly mentions it during a famous sermon found in Matthew 5:21-26. Referencing the 6th commandment, the Lord chooses the word murder, not kill. Thus, in war, killing is acceptable since the situation dictates a kill or be killed mentality. When war breaks out between nations, right and wrong is turned upside down. How then can someone know what is right or what can individuals rely on for a moral compass?
In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis devotes an entire chapter entitled Some Objections. Lewis talks about the Law of Human Nature which states “human beings have a curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain manner guided by their conscience, but despite these inclinations to do the right thing, they do not follow this law, breaking it through deviating behavior. Beside war, the herd instinct, self-preservation and motherly love steers people to take drastic measures based upon the extant of the storm or situation.
Today, these factors have blinded innocent hearts, naive minds and desperate souls from looking beyond the here and now. With tomorrow hard to reach for many, ethics don’t seem that important as surviving today is the goal. In John 18:33-38, a governor called Pilate called for a private meeting with Jesus. In his heart, Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. In fact, his own wife had a dream telling her to warn her husband about Jesus. Although the clear response was in view, the situation urged Pilate’s own sinful nature to do the wrong thing.
Life is like years of trial and error. I’ve spent 44 years getting it wrong day after day. Yeah, the easy thing to do is blame the situation or the hand you’ve been dealt by God. However, the temple within you expects more, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. May the God above your situation take you to a better place this Christmas season. Reach out to the One who can so you the way, John 14:6.
Inside of book 3 within Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote a chapter entitled Sexual Morality. Lewis takes an unusual angle, comparing food to sex, using this to explain why an adult may venture into a strip club. This appetite is called the Beast of Lust by the group Tribe of Dan, a powerful force which persuades people to wander further than they ever expected or thought to go beyond God’s boundaries defined by the Bible. Lewis is likely referencing 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, where the apostle Paul warns believers against giving into their sexual desires outside of marriage. Paul introduces the concept of soul ties, where sleeping with another person binds a part of your soul together with this individual. These ties are strong, often ruining marriages due to previous encounters, one night stands or prior relationships.
One of my favorite classes I taught for 10 years changed its name several times, yet the textbook remained the same, Mere Christianity. Upon reaching C.S. Lewis’ chapter on sex, I usually spent a day introducing students to Leviticus 18, a guide for what is and what isn’t lawful sexually. Although many of the things mentioned are common sense, if you have ever read the book of Genesis, you might be surprised by what you missed, overlooked or like me, shake your head, feeling like you need a shower. Incest, homosexuality and one night stands are a common theme within the first 37 chapters of Genesis. Chapter 38 even eludes to masterbation in verses 9-10 and contains an act of prostitution before ending in the birth of twins. Yes, there are definitely shocking words from inside the Bible, yet why do they exist?
First, sex is the first and last act of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:19 lists sexual immorality as the most natural feeling, inclination or tendency that human beings face. When someone feeds this hunger without limits, it can give birth to orgies, the last act of the flesh in Galatians 5:21 when sin is full blown. Second, God doesn’t beat around the bush; He is honest, telling the world what to expect when you indulge into worldly pleasures, Romans 8:5-9. Free will gives everyone options, to do as they please while on earth. Finally, Jesus is real, speaking on your level, even if it meant speaking to drunk guests at weddings, John 2:1-11. While many churches are afraid of speaking about sex in sermons, the Bible is full of shocking words to get your attention so that one day, you might make reservations for a future life in heaven, John 3:16-17. Jesus is just a prayer away, Romans 10:9-10!
The phrase pertaining to the devil was developed in the early 1500’s to define diabolical. Forty years later in 1540, befitting the devil was added to complete modern definitions of this term. In the 1667 classic Paradise Lost, author John Milton linked diabolical with Satan. The Greek word diabolos is used by Jews and Christians today to describe the Devil or Satan.
In the 1940’s, C.S. Lewis began to air a sermon series on the radio, known as his Broadcast Talks. By 1944, this content was published into 3 separate books, eventually forming Mere Christianity. The second book, Christian Behaviour, completed in 1943, contains one of the most intriguing chapters on pride ever written. Entitled The Great Sin, chapter 7 addresses the dangers of pride mentioned by Solomon in Proverbs 6:16-19.
While pride refers to arrogance, conceit and haughtiness, diabolical pride has a darker meaning. According to Lewis, this type of pride can spiritually blind individuals to the point “you look down on others so much that you do not care what others think.” Similar to the owner on last week’s episode of Bar Rescue, this man never heard a word that Jon Taffer said. Despite being a world renown expert in saving bars, night clubs and restaurants from going out of business, this owner of Metal & Lace in Austin, Texas was oblivious to Jon’s constructive criticism.
Escaping the grips of diabolical pride isn’t easy. The proud have trained themselves to discount any idea, suggestion or thought that doesn’t come within, causing heart felt advice to fall upon deaf ears. Meanwhile, prideful heads are stuck so high in the sky that unless someone from their inner circle questions them, no change is likely. Thus, humility through defeat, failure or rejection is the only pathway toward transformation. Yet, narcissism often lingers like an addiction, deceiving minds from the truth. Love, time and prayer may be the only factors to rescue an arrogant soul from the chains of diabolical pride.
Yesterday, January 28th, 2013, Lesean McCoy, star NFL running back for the Philadelphia Eagles was burned by the world of Twitter. Initially, claiming someone hacked into his account, (I’ve heard that one before) he publicly apologized for airing his dirty laundry. In an exchange with his ex-girl friend, Lesean acknowledged that he lost control of his temper and should have been more mature, dealing with this matter face to face like a man during an interview on CSN, the Comcast Sports Network.
Unfortunately, Lesean was not aware of Solomon’s words in Proverbs 21:23. “He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself from calamity.” A womanizer in his own right, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, 1 Kings 11:3, before he settled down. Solomon recognized that woman often bring out the worst in a man as detailed by his words in Proverbs 21:19. “Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.” In case you forget, Solomon repeats these warnings throughout Proverbs like the version in Proverbs 21:9.
According to C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, anyone can acquire prudence and temperance, within his chapter on the Cardinal Virtues. Lewis defines prudence as practical common sense, thinking about what you are about to do or say and the likely outcome of it. Temperance on the other hand is learning to go or take something to the right distance, but no further. You don’t have to be religious to apply these basic principles. Rather, one must have an inner desire to better themselves, to maintain a good reputation and leave a legacy that is honorable. Therefore, the next time you think about tweeting when you are angry, reflect before making your words public! Then, you might make this world a better place.
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