If you read my last post, you will know that I preached on godliness yesterday. You can also read the comments that came in…interesting comments. True to form, a couple acknowledged their way of being raised that godliness was determined by dress, music, entertainment, etc. I was glad to read they found their way out of that quagmire of a maze and have found freedom in the grace of Jesus. Trying to qualify and quantify what is godly vs. what is not ends up just being an effort in futility. HOWEVER, HOW. DO. YOU. GO. ABOUT. ANSWERING. A. STATEMENT. LIKE…
The first task of every Christ-follower is to be like Jesus?
Aaaaah Yeah…preach it brother! But, how in the world am I supposed to do that? AND what exactly does that look like? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that those who follow Jesus are on a bubble…every day. I think there are three areas of our lives that under constant scrutiny:
OUR SPEECH
OUR ATTITUDES
OUR CHARACTER
Let’s break those down for a second:
OUR SPEECH: Eph.4: 25 & 29 are pretty telling. (Rules of blogging say I should print the Scripture for you. Sorry for that, but I’d like to encourage you to look it up). Those verses are just plain blunt. No flim-flamming. No coddling. No “I understand your upbringing or your heritage or (name the excuse).” It says as plain as day that our speech, our language, needs to be cleaned up. Here is a really cool verse: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Ps.141:3 (ESV) Don’t say it can’t be done. Don’t say you can’t clean it up.
OUR ATTITUDES: Verse 31 is another verse that pulls no punches. The list in this verse would take more than this post to delineate them into understandable form. Suffice it to say that these are strong attitudes that come from within. They are not good ones. Frankly, people who manifest these attitudes are not fun to be around. They are a drain to the system. They are sins that break fellowship, destroy relationships, weaken churches, and mar the testimony it can have in the community. Paul’s solution is found in verse 32. These are the right attitudes to have.
OUR CHARACTER: Eph.5:1 uses the word “imitators.” Interesting word since it comes from the word for “mimic.” Verses 3-4 show us a pretty good picture of how the enemy has taken what God meant for good and has corrupted and counterfeited it. Everyone of these reflects the type of character we have, where our focus is. God desires that our focus not be on the negative but on the positive: “But instead let there be thanksgiving.” If we are known for anything, it ought to be for that which is good, pure and satisfying.
As you can see, being godly has nothing to do with externals. It is an internal work of the Holy Spirit. Do you agree or disagree? Has your idea of godliness been challenged or reinforced? I’d love to hear from you. BTW: (not for publication) Is there an area you should be working on?
I will be attending theSticks from Monday evening through Wednesday morning. If you are going to be there, please look me up! My buddy, Jim Foreman, will also be there. My computer time will be limited, but please feel free to comment and I will get to them when able.
I am at a conference (an Autodesk conference). I squeezed time out of my lunch time to read your post. Training will soon continue. I’ll talk to you later. Bye!
Thanks for reading Mercy. Hope your conference went well
Oh man. You get to hang with Jim? Awesome.
Oh, and I do agree. We can’t do much to be Holy. It is the eternal work of the Spirit. We can however delay or hinder the work of the Spirit.
It’s sort of that “it’s not what goes into a man that makes him unclean but what comes out of the man” type of thing.
Great comment Moe. Enjoying hanging with Jim. Your reference to Jesus’ words is important. Thanks Moe.
I agree that being godly is the internal work of the Holy Spirit. And I would agree with all three of your points. I don’t believe there is anything else to add. Good stuff. My idea of godliness has certainly been challenged over the past 3-5 years. I’ve changed a lot, for the good.
I hope you enjoy the conference. Catalyst 2012? 🙂
Be interested in how God has changed you over the last few years Joseph. Changing for the good is always, well…good. 🙂 Catalyst? Probably not. I won’t say never but…
I absolutely agree with this post. And this has reinforced my ideas of godliness. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about attitudes and character and speech and this was a good reminder for me.
Your comment (from the other day) really sparked my thoughts here Jenn. Godliness is so much more than outward. Good to hear your are more focused on internal things. HOpe Shiloh is doing better.
I’m glad my other comment made you think. I had kind of a strange childhood as far as religion. I was born into a church that is now considered a cult. (I didn’t know this until I was a young adult and my cousin told me she had to do a paper on our old church for college – she was at a Christian college.) We left when I was in maybe 2nd grade (not exactly sure but something like that) when things got really crazy, and my dad has never found another church that he agrees with.
It’s actually pretty interesting and I’ve thought about blogging about it, but I have some non-Christian readers and I don’t want to give them a bad view of Christianity. I would have to be careful about what I said and how I said it.
I really think your story needs told Jenn. Would you consider telling it here with a guest post?
Yeah, I might consider doing that if you wanted me to. It might take a little time for me to figure out exactly what to write, but I would certainly try.
I agree that being godly is internal – the external things reinforce the internal.
Regarding the areas… my attitudes need a tuning. Most of the time, I don’t say things that are on my mind, but the thoughts remain… Not a lot of people notice the change in me – only those who know me well – but it’s something that I simply don’t want to have because I *do* notice those stupid thoughts that keep pestering my brain.
Attitudes are often the one thing that needs renovated. Sometimes keeping things to ourselves is the best thing to do. Better to be pestered than spout off. Keep working on it. 🙂
Hi Bill,
I drove to Calgary again this morning, so I am commenting here on your blog at a library before driving back home again.
Verse 15 of Eph 4 says:
“Instead speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”.
I believe that a congregation in our day needs to be challenged as to whether or not they have actually recieved Christ, and whether they are truly His. Truthful, clear and unambiguous teaching and preaching needs to be forthcoming from the church (in my opinion) to clarify the act of salvation by the Holy Spirit and the resulting evidence of God’s salvation that the scriptures teach must be there or be able to be pointed out, in a person’s life after conversion.
Such as : A strong desire for the things of God, increasing obedience to the Word of God, testimony from this person’s own mouth, as you say here in your blog Bill, swearing stops, and I further add that fornication stops, stealing stops, lying stops, etc.
The person himself can point out the changes that they see in themselves after being ‘born again by the Spirit’ and other people can testify to the changes that have occured in the everyday life of this person as well.
The workplace can testify that something happened to this person and changed them, the community can testify to changes as well, that this person became ‘religious’ etc.
My thinking is that without any noticeable testimony or wittness a person will have to look at the possibility that they are not currently a part of the body of Christ. The preacher and the believers will then need to encourage this person who attends their church to become saved.
Godliness in my mind is something that occurs in the inward parts but manifests itself on the outside. Our conduct, the things we say and do are evidence of what has happened or is happening within us. Both are needed. One is a work by God and the outward fruit is the evidence and proof of the work of God in us.
I wish you and Jim a wonderful conference and fellowship time over the next two days. Blessings. Talk to you later.
You re right Linda. It is something that occurs in the inward and then manifests itself outward. It is so much more important to make sure the inner man is in line with God. Thanks for finding the time to comment.
I don’t know how to be except to be myself led by God.
I wear my heart felt thoughts openly. I speak boldly in what I believe. I edify God and his grace. I bear witness of His mercy and healing powers.
But yet,I am only a humble sinner with many faults thirsting for the living waters.
nothing wrong Larry with wearing your heart on your sleeve and speaking boldly. We are all sinners in need of living water. Thanks.
I definitely agree with what you’re saying here, Bill. Growing up in a legalistic church,so much emphasis was placed on the externals and not so much what actually matters. I’ve definitely changed (for the better)..life happens, and you learn a lot about yourself in those trying moments.
I would be interested in your story also Jon (same as I told Jenn). Would you consider a guest post in the future? In meantime, glad you are out of that legalism.
Hey Bill,
I would definitely consider it. Let me know. I’m glad I’m out of it too!
It seems that our thoughts on this are similar. Except I don’t think these thoughts while wearing spandex 🙂
Hope you have a great, uplifting time.
Thanks Matt. Think these came without spandex. 🙂 sorry we could not meet in Knoxville this time. Maybe next visit.
Hi Bill,
I am thinking now that a definition of legalism is the ‘church’ trying to muster up the evidence and proof of the work of the Holy Spirit through the making of rules and laws meant for the obedience of a person’s flesh.
This is in contrast to letting the Holy Spirit produce the outward fruit and a person’s subsequent obedience to spiritual laws (the scriptures) as a result of the ongoing work that He does within a person who is following after God in sincerity and truth.
This work by the Holy Spirit can only come about if a person has been ‘born again of the Spirit of God’. Anything done in the flesh cannot please God, including the keeping of laws and rules kept by the work of the flesh.
This is shown in scripture to be true by the Pharisees’ own work in the flesh in trying to keep their rules and laws for God that were not accepted or approved by God.
Jesus said that the Pharisees would die in their sins if they didn’t get this situation turned around and corrected by accepting Him (as who he claimed he was) and the work of the Holy Spirit.
What stood in the Pharisees’ way was their pride, stubbornness, and their disobedience and opposition to the ways of God. Their insistence on doing their own thing like Cain did (with his sacrifice of vegetables to God) resulted in their deaths. The scriptures indicate that many priests believed but the main ruling body of Israel totally rejected Jesus.
Hi Bill,
Another possible definition of legalism is ‘The production of fruit like the work of Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit is not involved’.
legalism is always based around rules and regulations. Thanks Linda.
Great discussion.
I like to think that we are striving for wholeness in a broken world. We won’t perfect it this side of heaven, in fact, without the Holy Spirit providing the power and guidance, we fail miserably in our self-striving.
James uses this word “aspilos” in 1:27. In the context it is translated ‘unstained’.
I like these definitions:
a) free from censure, irreproachable
b) free from vice, unsullied
however, if we make that our religion, we become pharisees.
Agree with you Tony. Easy to make just about anything a religion. We need to never forget the power of the Spirit in living a life of godliness. it sure is good to hear from you. thanks for coming by.