Number 8

Virtue

The concept of virtue is one that countless generations over countless ages have understood. The classical authors wrote much on this subject. Yet it is one that few have sucessfully obtained--by living a virtuous life--undoubtedly due to the fall of mankind. Yet, it is one that all Christians should strive to obtain and, ultimately, it is one that only the power of Christ makes obtainable.

The word virtue is associated with the seven cardinal virtues that are divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). The word has also been used to describe the orders of angels in medieval angelology, being the fifth of the nine. But here are some defintions that should be considered in seeking to live a virtous life:

1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.

2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.

3. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.


Some quotes worth pondering:

"Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge." -- Dante Alighieri

"Faith is our life as it joins us to God. But it is also an act of life because it is a virtue and our duty towards God." -- William Ames

"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will." --
Saint Thomas Aquinas

"All virtue is summed up in dealing justly." -- Aristotle

"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance." -- Saint Augustine

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." -- Marcus Aurelius

"What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions." -- Aristotle

"Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue." -- Francis Bacon

"Every day confirms my opinion on the superiority of a vicious life - and if Virtue is not its own reward I don't know any other stipend annexed to it." -- Lord Byron

"There is a good ear, in some men, that draws supplies to virtue out of very indifferent nutriment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." -- George Washington


Soli Deo Gloria

Number 9

Gratitude

It is defined as "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful" and "the state of being grateful; thankfulness."

Gratitude is more than mere thankfulness. Undoubtedly, it is important to be thankful, but we ought to strive to ensure that "gratitude" is more than a mere emotional state. Rather, it should become a "state of being" or "quality." In other words, gratitude should become an aspect of one's personality. As Christians, gratitude should be one aspect of "who we are."

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratus, which literally means "thankful, pleasing." It would seem, then, that by making gratitude an aspect of one's personality, then he or she is acting in a manner that is pleasing to God.

In accords with this understanding, perhaps by making gratitude an aspect of who we are, we are in essence carrying out Paul's admonition to continually be thankful. See 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:17-20.

Some good Scriptural examples of gratitude include Colossians 3:15-17, Psalm 30:11-12, and, when time permits, read David's psalm of thanks as found in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36.

Some quotes worth pondering considering this word:

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." -- G. K. Chesterton

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts."
-- Henri Frederic Amiel

"I am most thankful to Almighty Providence for mercies received, and determined still to press the case into public notice as a token of gratitude."
-- William Banting

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude." -- Karl Barth

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." -- G. K. Chesterton

"Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect."
-- Jean Jacques Rousseau

"Christ himself wrote nothing, but furnished endless material for books and songs of gratitude and praise." -- Philip Schaff

Oh, and by the way, a cheesy dance doesn't quite capture it, but it might be worth trying:





Soli Deo Gloria

Number 10

FEAR

The word takes on a number of connotations, but there are two related definitions of this word that we ought to consider.

1. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

2. Regard with reverence and awe.

The first definition is generally what we associate with the word fear. Psalm 23 and 1 John 4 are good examples of this kind of fear. Whereas Proverbs 9 is a good example of the latter definition.

At first blush, I wanted to ignore the first definition and only explore the second. The second is relatively straight forward in terms of "fearing the Lord." Yet the first is equally important. For, after all, when we speak of God we are speaking of an Almighty Being.

This understanding of fear is often lost in translation to the American church. I have often heard God described as a big, fluffy teddy bear. While God is certainly a comforter, the comforter, He is certainly capable of wrath and anger--as is seen from the accounts of the Israelites--that ought to cause fear in anyone that takes Him seriously.

Some quotes worth pondering concerning this word:

"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law." -- Aristotle

"It is not the rich man you should properly call happy, but him who knows how to use with wisdom the blessings of the gods, to endure hard poverty, and who fears dishonor worse than death, and is not afraid to die for cherished friends or fatherland." -- Horace

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."
-- William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar

"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." -- Bertrand Russell

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139: 14


Soli Deo Gloria

The Power of Words

We often forget about the importance of words. After all, "words mean stuff." Accordingly, my next 10 posts will cover 10 words--one word per post--that we ought to consider the meaning of more carefully, model our lives more accurately after, or otherwise merit mentioning.

As we proceed, feel free to add other words that you feel are worth contemplating.

An illustration of what happens when words break down:




Soli Deo Gloria

Amazing Grace

The film Amazing Grace is being released today on DVD. It was in theatres this past spring. This film is, without the need for much speculation, the best movie I have seen in recent memory. At the risk of admitting embarrassment, I watched this movie in the theaters five or six times (all except one was at a local dollar theater). This is the only movie I have ever seen more than once on the big screen. So, this alone should stand witness to the level of esteem for which I hold this film.

It centers around William Wilberforce and his fight to help end the slave trade in England. I admire the film for a number of reasons. This movie has resurged interest in an otherwise forgotten, yet important historical Christian figure (Wilberforce). In addition, the way the director unfolds the story invites the audience to take part in Wilberforce’s struggles. There are also a number of quotes worth pondering. And perhaps the reason why I enjoy the film the most is that, although not a story about Christ per se, this film is unabashedly about a Christian man and his struggle to shape and improve the world. It is a reminder that Christians can play an important role in government.

If your budget so allows, I would recommend that you purchase this movie. It can be found at Family Christian Book Stores and Amazon, as well as many other places. If you do not purchase it, at a minimum you should find a place to rent this movie. It is being released this week at Blockbuster and Netflix is also carrying it. So, I imagine every major movie rental business will carry it.

Below are a couple of clips from the movie. You can also visit the website for the movie here.

Trailer:

Clip 1:

Clip 2:

Soli Deo Gloria

Obsessed, Obstinate, & Oblivious

The fan craze hit the Phoenix valley this past weekend. The current phenomena: Hannah Montana. The young teenager performed before a packed house this past weekend. Certain ticket areas were rumored to go in excess of $1,000 per person. Her name was splashed amongst the headlines of the local media, all awaiting the triumphant entry of this princess-esque young girl.

What did she bring? Entertainment? Escape? A portrait of how our young women should look and act?

My point is not to "bash" the young girl referred to as "Hannah Montana." Rather, it is to observe a troubling tendency amongst our culture. Namely, it astounds me that we are so willing to pay homage to a young girl and yet we are so cursory in our attitudes towards an Almighty God. This tendency, of course, transcends the current Hannah Montana fad. It can be found anywhere there is a fan base.

We flock to the secular stadium, but we flee from the spiritual sphere. Who is most worthy of our adoration? An entertainer or the eternal, everlasting Elohim? The answer is obvious, but our actions would not always suggest so. I am reminded of Romans 7: 14-25.


Soli Deo Gloria

Clive Staples Lewis

C.S. Lewis is considered by many to be one of the most influential Christian authors of the 20th century. I myself am amazed at his gift with the pen--ranging from the polar opposites of philosophical/theological to the other end of the spectrum in the form of children's stories.

I have recently been re-reading through his 1940 work, The Problem of Pain. In it, Lewis puts for a good, and largely successful effort, to reconcile the age old paradox of a loving and omnipotent God with the existence of pain in our world. Yet it is some of Lewis' presuppositions that were the most surprising to me as I was thinking through Lewis' arguments.

Lewis seems to buy into a form of the Darwinian philosophy that mankind has evolved from lower forms of life. Although I have heard such accusations from other sources, it never ceases to surprise me, given the level of admiration I hold for a man that could effectively challenge the mainstream culture in such an honest manner.

But even now, I do not write these words for the purpose of "bashing" Mr. Lewis. While I believe his presuppositions concerning Darwinism (if he in fact did hold this view) are undoubtedly incorrect, it is his tendency or capability of incorrectness that should grab our attention.

As mentioned above, Lewis is celebrated for his intellectual abilities. Yet, he still managed to miss the mark in certain areas. Lewis himself would be the first person to admit to such faults, as is evident in the prefaces of many of his theological type works. If Lewis, then, as a man who is regarded as a giant of the 20th century can hold false assumptions and incorrect views, what then does this mean for the common man such as myself?

There are a couple of things that can be gleaned from Lewis' shortcomings. First, is humbleness. It is easier to be a play-by-play analyst than be the man in the arena. So, as a reader of his works, to suggest that I am incapable of such errors is pure folly. The humbleness, then, is achieved by recognizing that I am a man of lesser talents and abilities and, hence, I am more prone to such errors in my own presuppositions about the world.

Second, and equally important, is a desire to improve. Once we are willing to recognize that we do have shortcomings, false assumptions, and error in our judgments, we understand that we need help in order to alleviate and overcome such things. This, of course, is yet another reason to seek refuge in our Savior.

So, instead of burning Lewis at the stake, we should recognize him for what he was--a man. In so doing, we should be cognizant that we are but his fellow men and women, plagued with the same inadequacies of which only Christ can heal.


Soli Deo Gloria

Motivate Me

I have been thinking as of late on the topic of motivation. The idea of understanding what motivates a person has always interested me.

If the means are equally important as the ends, then it is important to understand why we do what we do.

At the risk of over simplifying the complexities of what motivates a human being, there appears to be a chasm in realm of motivation: on the one hand, there is the motivation to serve the self; and on the other, there is the motivation to serve others (the second greatest commandment) and the motivation to serve God (the greatest commandment). See Matthew 22:35-40.

For example, why do I like to put ketchup on my french fries? What motivates me to do so? It is the taste that I so enjoy as a result of the wedding of deep-fried potato pieces with a tomato-based miracle recipe. The point being, though, that I use ketchup for me. The fact that the answer is me and not others or God is not necessarily bad. But understanding why I do a particular thing helps me better evaluate whether I should be doing such a thing.

It seems that the answer from the motivational question is really an answer from the heart, if we are indeed capable of answering it honestly. This is, perhaps, why this question is particularly insightful.

Why do I love? Why do I smile? Why do I watch a particular television show? Why am I cordial with others? Why should I seek to become educated? Why do I do...?

It seems that the eternal, and most meaningful answers, involve a desire to serve God or others. Whereas, the temporal answers involve oneself--because ketchup sure tastes good, at least until I run out of french fries.


Soli Deo Gloria