By: Gen. Jim — 12/1/18
Bewildered! Frustrated! Defeated!
James asks: “Where do wars and fights among you come from? (James1:1). He answers his own question: “… from your lusts that war in your body,” (James1:1). He goes on to describe the internal war, finally pin-pointing the problem: “Resist the devil!” (v.7).
Lust comes in many forms, has many nuances. When B.F.D is in full operation, we can either fight back or make a cowardly escape. But fighting (1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3, 4) may – WILL! end one up with a nasty case of fatigue and exhaustion; just as if one runs from a tornado/volcano.
This inner “warfare” is both vicious and tender, a dichotomy for sure. But our inner-self is our neighborhood. We can be the superfluous man/woman, drifting thru life or a ironist warrior for Christ’s sake. Both present themselves.
Take America for instance; the “Ugly American” vs. “American Beauty.” Both offer a kind of redemption, a milieu that fits our mood/character. We can choose to yield to the devil and go on an egotistical rant or yield to a pusillanimous spirit, timid and cowardly. Or, we can choose neither, yielding to the Holy Spirit of God that pleases God not we ourselves. Too many choose to yield to “defeat,” to live in a tableau of domestic misery, i.e. fighting with the whole household of faith… which has often turned into a brutal razzing of church penalty.
Beware: one can turn into a mesmerizing hyper-reality whereby their whole Christian walk is imagery, euphorious (pleasing to the ear: yours or others!), propulsive like a tornado or volcano. If you are a male, you exhibit your spiritual visibility as a Goliath, whipping themselves into narcissistic frenzies. The “lust” for “power” is destructive indeed.
There are whole denominations (along with The Roman Catholic Church male-leadership) that celebrate their “maleness,” a kind of epiphany, sublime but no scriptural (see our “Women in the Ministry” series).
Tornadoes/volcanoes can be considered beatific by some – giving joy to the beholder… at a great distance of course. Too close = DEATH!
The current scene of America is one of an impassioned fantasia of misery and bliss: bitter riffs; a funny aria of despair, and love-hate epiphany.
