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We actually used the book material and video again today, along with notes expanding on the material, so yay!! (it's kinda been bugging me that we haven't followed the book material more closely) ;/ For this lesson, I'll be integrating the two into one cohesive flow of info./discussion.
So the video focused on an older Asian man and wife who own a small neighborhood store. When a little boy came in with a few coins to buy candy, the man was snippy with him and told him to get out because he didn't have enough to pay. The wife reprimands him for being rude and says that he's going to run the store right out of business if he continues that way. The man replies that, "God made me this way, and I'm too old to change."
That final comment begs a question, doesn't it?? If God truly "makes us this way", then how much of our behavior is ours to change*?? What has your life shown over time?? The Bible shows all the way through how much God cares about our behavior. (it's actually the entire reason He send Jesus to die, so our sins wouldn't keep us out of Heaven)
On a scale of -100 to +100, where 0 is "neutral ground"; where do you fall right now?? How are our lives?? How do we affect others with the testimony of our daily lives?? Pray and ask God to reveal your weaknesses, if you don't already know them. The book material compares our lives to fruit trees. How much would your tree produce?? What would the quality be?? Understanding that conduct refers to our behavior, are we fruitful or unfruitful in our daily walk?? Read 1 Peter 1:14-17.
Before we can discuss what qualifies as "good" or "bad" conduct; we need to first understand that there are misconceptions people have about the idea of changing our conduct in general. And these can be applied to any area of change, not just Spiritual.
1) Changed behavior is instantaneous upon conversion. Simple logic tells us that isn't true. I didn't lose 20lbs the minute I made the decision to improve my diet and exercise habits. My daughter didn't quit smoking cigarettes overnight. People need time and sometimes medication before they heal from sickness/injury. These things take time and intention*. Some Christians use 2 Cor. 5:17 to say that a newly Saved person should "automatically behave better" because, "if anyone is in Christ, old things are passed away and all things become new."
But reality tells a different story. They are thinking along the same lines as renovating a house. Everything is rearranged; therefore, it's a "new environment". The point they're missing is that the old stuff is still there. Just because it's moved around and painted doesn't make it "brand new". The fact is, the longer we keep the old stuff, the worse condition it will get into. Even if we reinforce an old couch, for example, by putting a new board across under the cushions, the frame will eventually continue to weaken around it and you'll still have to get another one later*.
That's the secret of having the Holy Ghost enter our lives. We don't "renovate" anything, the old stuff is exactly the same; but now we have one Brand New thing that is capable of changing everything into more "brand new" things. This week's leader, Fred, had 2 coats as visual aids. An old fishing jacket in a light color, and new jacket someone gave him recently in a dark color. We need to choose the new coat. We are reminded in Gal. 3:27 and Eph. 4:22-24 (among others) to put off the "old man" and "put on Christ".
I mean just think about it, if our behavior automatically changed when we were Saved, we wouldn't need rules or guidance to live Godly lives, right?? That being said, it's far easier to change our outward behavior than it is our hearts. We can fool people into thinking we're better than we are. (trust me, I've done it) I know there are verses that speak of our behaviors stemming from our hearts*; but the fact is, our motives don't always match our actions. For true Spiritual Growth to occur, our hearts need to change. Only then will our motives be pure.
2) Conduct in the believer's life does not receive God's judgment -- Wrong again... we can read it right in Paul's First letter to the Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 28-32. There were some people in that Church taking Communion without first clearing their hearts, therefore being unworthy to partake. It says right there that, "we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the World." Make no mistakes, my friends!! While it may be God's mercy and grace that Save us as a demonstration of His love; it is not grace to do as we wish because "all is forgiven anyway". That's not what God calls us to. If you read the passage mentioned above in 1 Peter, we are called to holiness. He understands that we're not capable of perfection (we aren't born to it since The Fall*); but He still expects us to do our best at any given moment. That's why we need to maintain a healthy respect for God and not just allow the fact of our Salvation be enough. Because it's not only God who will judge us for messing up. If others see it, they'll judge us as well. This is where the concept is more widely applicable. People who know we're working toward a goal and see us do something counterproductive to that end are going to judge us for our lack of discipline. (Mike and I are both trying to lose weight and we both like sweets) But even if we do something "off kilter" at random and someone sees it; they're going to judge us. So the concept is universal in that way.
But getting back to the whole Communion scene; these people were observed eating their meal and taking Communion after not having shared any with the poor. (see Sunday's Sermon Summary for more on this)
Bottom line, when the Old Nature is in charge, we literally can't help but sin. That's all the "old man" knows how to do. (Ex. The Asian man in the video) New behavior requires a new nature, that's what the Holy Spirit does as we allow Him access.
3) Some people think it's easy to keep conduct in balance -- They think that maintaining their "normal life" and their "Christian Life" as separate entities is easy, or even possible. And this is regardless of the question of whether it should be done at all. I've heard some Denominations described as "Christian Light", as though an hour of Church on Sunday was enough "Jesus" to keep you "safe", and you could basically just live the rest of the week on your own.
This describes one of the two Pitfalls Christians may have a tendency to get caught up in --
The Pitfall of Grace (or License) that I also alluded to in point #2.
The Pitfall of Legalism which, if you've been reading for very long, you know I have a lot to say about... Those are the Churches that use guilt and shame to manipulate people into "obedience to God". All they're really doing is controlling people to make themselves feel important and powerful. They're relatable to the Older Brother in the Prodigal Son story. They don't feel that they've ever messed up; but they have no desire to know the Father's heart. Some may actually try to control your life by demanding and recording tithes/offerings and putting you on "probation" if you mess up either with that or a behavioral slip that they get word of. (think Footloose)
The life God truly wants for us is the liberty we have in Christ to follow Him as Jesus' example shows us to; and that the Epistles* draw out for us.
So now that we've covered the misconceptions of Godly Conduct in terms of change; we need to explore the proper mindsets required to make those changes. There are 5 as outlined in our material --
A. Conduct that is holy and fruitful results from Salvation. This is the only source that exists in order to guarantee not only good behavior, but pure motives. Unless we have the Holy Spirit to help empower and guide us, our behavior may be acceptable; and maybe even "good" in the eyes of the World around us, but it will not glorify God unless we are His. Read Titus 2:11-14 and Eph. 2:8-10.
B. Conduct requires putting off the Old Man and putting on the New Man as created according to God. We talked about that pretty thoroughly above. Read Eph. 4:22-24 and Col. 3:8b, and 12b-13a*.
C. Conduct present to God your members as Weapons of Righteousness. Read Romans 6: 12-13
D. Conduct can degenerate through sin into terrible bondage. (Rom. 6:16 and 19b)
In our material, Bruce Wilkinson mentions 5 stages of behavior progressions that may happen if we're not mindful of God in our daily lives.
First of all, we might stumble -- We are having problems in our marriage when we run into someone at an event that we haven't seen in ages. The thought of cheating enters our minds because the other person is now single.
Then we reach out -- We sin by taking action. We send a message on Facebook from an account they don't know, but put our own name in the message itself and share our phone number. (in case they want to get together again and catch up more)
Next, the other person has not only read that message, but called. Now they're ensnared. Both parties are involved. They get together one evening. Only then does the other person realize we're married because the wife calls, wondering when we'll be home.
As time goes on, we continue meeting when it's convenient. This becomes a stronghold that we become complacent in. We're good and stuck now, and while we are aware of our sin; we don't care enough to leave for awhile*.
If allowed to continue, we become slaves to our sin and it controls our lives*.
E. Conduct is controlled either by the natural flesh or the Supernatural Spirit. Read Gal. 5:16-17 and 22-23.
Fred ended our session with an old story about a poor little boy eying sweet rolls in front of a bakery. The man invites him in and shares a roll with him. While they're eating, he discovers the boy needs new shoes. He then proceeds to take the boy to the shoe store on the premise that, "I need some new shoes, but I could use some help picking them out. When they are done, and the boy's belly is full and his feet shod; he looks up at the man and asks, "Are you Jesus Christ??"
Do others see Jesus in us?? What can we do to change that if necessary??
-- God Bless!!
Footnotes --
1) The man's statement that, "God made me this way." and the resulting question both ignore the concept of Free Will. God gave us Free Will so that the love we show Him in return for His love for us isn't coercion. It's the only way He could guarantee our sincerity; by giving us a choice. Therefore, the question shouldn't even be necessary because 100% of our behavior is ours to change.
2) So far, I've lost 6 lbs., gained it back, and now lost another 5... the struggle is real... ;p
3) Speaking of making old things new, Jesus tells us in Matt. 9:14-17 (and other places) that you can't put old wine into new wineskins.
4) Prov. 23:7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
5) Rom. 5:12 -- "Whereby one man, sin entered the world, also death..."
6) I've stopped saying "Paul's Letters" since becoming aware that he didn't actually write all of them. (Evolution of the Word, by Marcus J. Borg is a chronological New Testament and commentary that presents the books in the order they were written)
7) In case anyone doesn't understand the (a) and (b) portion of the references, this points you to the portion of the verse necessary to the point being made.
8) The bit about "complacency" is actually from Mike. He came out with it when I was talking to him about it on our Sunday afternoon video call. The part where I talk about "not caring enough to leave" is mine.
9) This entire scenario I've outlined really happened to me about 7 yrs ago. A guy I hadn't seen in decades spoke to me at the event and sent the message. The rest, as they say, is history... Having been on all sides of the issue before, that was the final situation for me. My self-esteem is higher than ever and I'm done with it. Mike and I have a bright future ahead of us!!
Once again, I don't normally include music on here, but I feel the need here, just because I was inspired by the part about God caring enough about our behavior to send Jesus -- No rights, I promise!!
