Perplexed by purity, but not despairing of death

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 (KJV)

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Corinthians 4:8 (KJV)

We try to find an easy way, but there’s a cross to bare and lesson to learn.
Steve Camp “The Cross is a Radical Thing”

That last line isn’t from the Bible. Its from a song by Steve Camp that just “happened” to be playing while I sat staring at this screen. It seems like a good segue to the article so why not use it.

And by “happened” … I’m beginning to suspect that God is more in control then I want to admit. I’m a very strong Armenian Christian in that I believe in free will and that we have an active, dynamic role to play in bringing about God’s kingdom. And yet God is acting very much like a Calvinist (everything is predestined to happen a certain way).

Anyway, back to the purpose of this article on purity. Purity is the word that God gave me this past December when I was praying about the new year (2011). I was wanting “promotion” “provision” or “proceed to producer” but at least God stayed in the “p’s.”

I watch a lot of DVDs and TV. I’ve cut out a number of programs that have no discernible value like crime dramas (which promote a culture of death), cruel and gutter comedies (I’m looking at you South Park – funny but vulgar), and with a DVR at hand I rarely channel surf.

Aside: Culture of Death. I’ll write a longer blog one of these days about the profuse and ungodly number of death dramas. I can’t stand to watch anymore of the CSI type dramas that revolve around the grotesque death of someone. I understand the appeal of the whodunit but at some point I got fed up with the “dunit” part. Besides the term “culture of death” when broken apart gives us a clue as to the inherent problem. A culture is something that reflects life, and death is the opposite of life. So in a sense “culture of death” really means the “life of death.” I believe that God is life and love, and that death was not God’s intention, but rather a consequence of our sin. So why would I want to celebrate this separation from God, the source of all life?

On this note, this is why I won’t let my kids wear clothes with skulls on them. I would say our house is 100% skull free but these skulls appear on so many clothing items nowadays I can’t say this for certain. So pardon the obvious question, but what does a skull represent? Its not life and that more abundantly.

I saw this past week one of my student with four skulls on his shirt. This student isn’t a goth or troublemaker. Actually he is one of my better students. A smart, kind kid and yet here are four flourescently colored skulls tastefully drawn emblazoned on his shirt. FYI: Skulls are one of my pet peeves. In case you couldn’t tell.

So back to the media oversaturation. I watch too much. Its hard to be spiritually minded when one is swamped with the carnal.

Romans 8:6 has been haunting me lately. I’ve been praying for life. This past fall I interceded for God to raise a man from the dead. Right now I’m asking God to give a lady in our church a new arm. I told my brother some of this and he looked at me like I was completely off my rocker. But the way I see it I’m the sane person.

The way I see it God is either true or He isn’t. If He’s a liar (or doesn’t exist) then we’re up a creek (I cut the adjective before creek because I’m trying to be more pure in my speech) without a paddle. If He’s true then this changes everything.

I believe He’s true. I believe that He wants to raise people from the dead. He wants to restore withered hands, restore sight to the blind, lift up the crippled, cause the lame to walk, and cast demonic spirits out of those who are oppressed. So I pray this way… and I expect to see it happen. What would Jesus do isn’t a rhetorical question to me. From reading the Gospels I have a pretty good understanding of what Jesus did. So that is the path I’m on.

Which brings us to the second verse “perplexed but not in despair.” But before I go there.

Honestly, it doesn’t make sense to believe only the eternal answers from God if we don’t believe the temporal. Christians believe that they will spend eternity with God in heaven because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. I believe this too. But the Bible also says that by the stripes of Jesus we are healed. And repeatedly promises us healing, miracles, signs and wonders in THIS life. If the promises concerning this life are a lie, then why should I believe the eternal promises?

I suspect that most Christians believe the eternal promises because they have no other options, while we do have our own gods who can heal us in the here and now without bothering God (or being bothered by God) over such matters.

Okay, so back to the “not despairing.” I have many questions (persistent prayer entry) and am honestly perplexed by many things. Today I was praying that God would encourage me because I am starting to despair. I asked Him to confirm that I’m on the right track. I’m excited because I know He’ll answer… somehow. I haven’t quite mastered the “not despairing” yet but I feel like the solution is to keep moving forward. In due season we are promised a harvest if we don’t quit.

So my kids had just gone to bed. I sat down to play a shooter game (yes, I know what hypocrisy means, why do you ask?) and my Wii overheated. So I watched a sitcom which revolved around superficial sex consumed relationships. When the show was over I surfed through the shows on my DVR to find something worth not watching. In the background my wife was recording a show on TBN “Drive thru History.” Following this was a show “Travel the Road” about two missionaries who travel around the world sharing the gospel in 25 countries. I had never watched it because honestly TBN scares me (for many reasons of which I will probably never write about). But this show caught my heart. I couldn’t not watch it. My mind wanted to watch something “good” but my heart was telling me this show was better and more life giving.

That’s when I was reminded about the “carnally minded” and “spiritually minded.” I wanted to say “curse you…” but I couldn’t finish the thought because it just didn’t make any sense. The Bible reveals God’s heart and truth which is the source of all life. Like trying to darken the sun by casting a giant shadow onto it. You can’t curse God’s word.

So to conclude this ramble… I need to purify my thoughts. I need to become more spiritually minded, and less carnally minded. I don’t think that I’ll ever live in a commune or separate myself physically from humanity. Though to be honest, that may be easier way then trying to live in this world and stay spiritually minded.

But the call to be in the world but not of the world – to be spiritually minded is a real one. We are called to renew our mind with the word of God, mediate on those things that are pure, honest, lovely, etc… and to keep our conversations and words pure, honest and edifying.

This may not seem like a terrible cross to bare, but it is something we are called to take up. To live life spiritually minded is a lot harder than it sounds which is why so few people choose to do it. Call it a life lesson or a lesson on how to bring life. Either works; because when it comes to knowing how life doesn’t work we don’t need anymore experts.

And yes, I positively love double negatives.