I’ve always had issue with pop psychology that attempts to fix behavioral problems with only addressing “beliefs” and not “behavior”…this does a nice job of correcting the imbalance.
Excellent insights as always! I love how you implicitly picked up on the idea of a mirror as representing identity. This implies that identity is not a separate thing internal to myself, it is actually something that exists between us (i.e. It is others who look at us, and not ourselves). It seems to me that embracing a view of identity that is internal to myself, will inevitably lead to the hell described in Lewis' Great Divorce.
I am glad that you are adding to a much needed topic in the evangelical space IMHO.
Reading this today, really brings to light an idea I heard a few weeks ago. Apparently, Paul has something of this framing of identity being influenced by external influences/actions.
“we know that beliefs drive actions, but what if it is also true that actions drive beliefs?”
In 1 Corinthians 15:32-34, Paul basically responds to the bogus claims about the resurrection of the dead, by saying “stop sinning! Stop hanging out with bad company”. As if to say the people they hung out with influenced them even till the point of their knowledge of God.
Victor, this is EXACTLY how I see it. Well said. Read any of Paul's letters and you will find, over and over again, that he rarely lays out a theological truth without a corresponding exhortation to *act* that truth out. Stop sinning (whole list of things). Instead put on Christ and do (whole list of things). It's one of the most common patterns in his letters. And yes, it relates directly to what I'm talking about here. Well said.
Oh beautiful. I remember having a series of discussion with my friend about this pattern in the Apostles, Paul and Peter (although what I noticed was more a “this is the gospel, now this is the implication for your life” thread), and we had this back and forth where he felt like this framing seemed like “works righteousness”.
Yes the “works righteousness” concern has been the central claim for many of my friends and peers. That’s also the way I was taught it growing up. But I just don’t see it that way anymore. If Peter or Paul or especially Jesus were centrally concerned with that, they wouldn’t have made their holiness commands so central to their messages. We enter the kingdom of God through faith, without money, without merit. But if we do not enter like a child, obey his commands because we trust him, we do not enter at all. As Lewis put it, “How can you claim to trust someone if you will not take his advice?”
I love your real world examples and the conviction you give to act on my faith. I just happened to be studying Romans 7 this week and your explanation further clarifies this passage and the conflicts we all have.
The “late for dates” analogy is really calling me out about establishing habits of prayer… of course Jesus loves me and knows I love Him, but it’s also true that I have settled for lesser loves and thus love Him less than I believe. As always, I find your writing relevant and edifying!
I’ve always had issue with pop psychology that attempts to fix behavioral problems with only addressing “beliefs” and not “behavior”…this does a nice job of correcting the imbalance.
Thanks Hunter. Thanks for reading. Yeah, the causation surely goes both ways, but I think the deeds --> creeds pipeline is way under-appreciated.
Excellent insights as always! I love how you implicitly picked up on the idea of a mirror as representing identity. This implies that identity is not a separate thing internal to myself, it is actually something that exists between us (i.e. It is others who look at us, and not ourselves). It seems to me that embracing a view of identity that is internal to myself, will inevitably lead to the hell described in Lewis' Great Divorce.
I am glad that you are adding to a much needed topic in the evangelical space IMHO.
Thanks so much, Sid! Great point about the mirror and identity. Agreed completely!
Reading this today, really brings to light an idea I heard a few weeks ago. Apparently, Paul has something of this framing of identity being influenced by external influences/actions.
“we know that beliefs drive actions, but what if it is also true that actions drive beliefs?”
In 1 Corinthians 15:32-34, Paul basically responds to the bogus claims about the resurrection of the dead, by saying “stop sinning! Stop hanging out with bad company”. As if to say the people they hung out with influenced them even till the point of their knowledge of God.
I wonder how this lands with you
Victor, this is EXACTLY how I see it. Well said. Read any of Paul's letters and you will find, over and over again, that he rarely lays out a theological truth without a corresponding exhortation to *act* that truth out. Stop sinning (whole list of things). Instead put on Christ and do (whole list of things). It's one of the most common patterns in his letters. And yes, it relates directly to what I'm talking about here. Well said.
Oh beautiful. I remember having a series of discussion with my friend about this pattern in the Apostles, Paul and Peter (although what I noticed was more a “this is the gospel, now this is the implication for your life” thread), and we had this back and forth where he felt like this framing seemed like “works righteousness”.
I wonder how you’d perceive that
Yes the “works righteousness” concern has been the central claim for many of my friends and peers. That’s also the way I was taught it growing up. But I just don’t see it that way anymore. If Peter or Paul or especially Jesus were centrally concerned with that, they wouldn’t have made their holiness commands so central to their messages. We enter the kingdom of God through faith, without money, without merit. But if we do not enter like a child, obey his commands because we trust him, we do not enter at all. As Lewis put it, “How can you claim to trust someone if you will not take his advice?”
Right, that’s a helpful axiom.
2 Peter 1 just drops right into the center of this. It’s still a tussle for me in some ways, trying to toe the line carefully.
Framing it as obedience to his commands sure makes it easier to grasp. That’s helpful
This was very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for reading!
I love your real world examples and the conviction you give to act on my faith. I just happened to be studying Romans 7 this week and your explanation further clarifies this passage and the conflicts we all have.
Thank you, John! Romans 7 is great place to see this stuff in action.
The “late for dates” analogy is really calling me out about establishing habits of prayer… of course Jesus loves me and knows I love Him, but it’s also true that I have settled for lesser loves and thus love Him less than I believe. As always, I find your writing relevant and edifying!
Alas, it is true of me as well. But let us press on in his grace! Thanks for this lovely response.
Thanks for this! You write very well and clearly and we appreciate the unflinching truth in your words.
Thanks so much. This is very encouraging.