I read this quote and thought it was quite interesting. Read it and let me know what you think.
"Consider a man who is struggling with inappropriate sexual thoughts about one of his female coworkers. What does holiness look like in this case? Very often Christians have a truncated view of sanctification, which stops far too short of true righteousness. Although it would be a good thing for this man to get to the point that he no longer looks at this woman as an object of lust, that is not all that is hoped for in sanctification. Rather, in the power of the Spirit the goal is to move to a life-affirming position. Thus, the objective is not the absence of thoughts about this woman but the presence of a godly appreciation for her. Under normal circumstances this man should not simply try to deny her existence by avoiding her, but rather begin treating her with dignity, offering words that build her up instead of dehumanizing her with his thoughts. Ultimately lust will be replaced with genuine and appropriate respect and love. Similarly, the goal of dealing with gossip is not merely the absence of slander (which is the good work of mortification), but eventually the creating of an environment of encouragement, peace, and trust (further fruits of the Spirit's enlivening presence and work)...sanctification involves both putting sin to death and becoming free to love and obey."
(Kapic worte this in his introduction of John Owen's three works of "Overcoming Sin and Temptation" ISBN: 1-58134-649-2)
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This quote has challenged my thinking for the past several days. I am more-and-more convinced that we 'truncate' so many things in our response to the Lord and His Word...
I guess I find myself concentrating so much on what I know to be a righteous thing that I don't look past that thing and say, 'Alright, what's the next step? What's the extra mile.' And then again, this quote brings to the forefront that the "extra" mile isn't extra at all...it's THE mile we are called to walk. Truncated.
I really like this quote, and it makes me see that so much of my thought is not expansive enough. What a word of wisdom to highlight that an equal part of sanctification comes not only in the putting-off of the old, but also the putting-on of the new. I need to look for ways to practice this. Thanks for the good word, brothahhhh!!
I also just went and bought the John Owen book, and read the various intros, forwards, and prefaces...or...prefaci...prefacacesesess... regardless...I just got it kicked off, and occasionally I will be hitting you up for your insights. And don't even think about stopping me. It is futile to try.
--John W. S.
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