Theology of Nuance; Struggling with God and Man and Overcoming

Mt 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Is he eternally lost?

Did he die in his sins?

Many folks will tell me that this fellow is lost.
Many folks will say that Jesus has condemned all rich people.
But, I differ fundamentally with the faulty hermeneutics used to put this stake through the souls of so many people.
Look again, at the the passage about the Rich young ruler. Verse 22 says that he went away sorrowful or “sad” because he had great wealth.

Is he sad because he’s rich?
This is not the typical response to having great wealth. Is it?

‘John Doe wins the multi-million dollar lotto, so he goes away sad because he has excessive wealth.’
You just don’t hear this.
My take on this passage is that, the rich man recognizes his deep Spiritual need. In-fact this exchange is the same in all of the synoptic gospel accounts. The man asks Jesus what “he” personally, must do to have eternal life. So, the fellow has a recognition of his need.

Consider this in the context of Mt 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The young ruler meets this criterion by simply asking the question of Jesus.

Look further, Mt 5:4. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” The young ruler meets this criterion by going away “sad”. He was not sad because he was rich, but rather, because he knew that there was “one thing” that was coming between himself and God.

Jesus has good news for people who are able to recognize such a sad personal state of affairs, “They will be comforted.”

Look at Mt 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” This young man appears to be getting a lot of good news (gospel) from Christ. The rich man clearly, has a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness, because after Jesus tells him a list of things, which he had followed “religiously” the young man didn’t celebrate and hoop-it-up, but instead he recognized he was still lacking something.

This issue could be expanded further by talking about the impossibility of any rich man’s salvation…on his own merits, versus any rich man’s salvation on God’s merits. But, I am hoping you are getting the idea by now, that this young man met Jesus’ stated criteria for being blessed in Mt 5.

Okay, if you still follow me on this. And if you too have felt “sad” that you have not achieved God’s level of excellence, then I am also hoping that you might recognize that your very deep and earnest desire for perfection is the exact same thing to Christ from Mt 5. If you didn’t care, then there would be a problem. But, that’s not the case. The only thing lacking for you, is the answer to yourself of some important questions:

1. Just How Powerful is this Jesus?
2. Is he really able to forgive anything?
3. Can he heal me, personally, for any & all faults?
4. Can He create, in me, a holy and sanctified soul? Despite my failings.

God bless,
DSM

Ezekiel 36:26-27 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.”

There is irony in mankind requiring a “heart of flesh” from a spiritual God. And it speaks to the masks that are in Sacha Baron Cohen’s characters and
Thomas Merton’s “false selves”.
We hide our true self behind a “heart of stone”; a heart that feels no…

• pain, shame, compassion, love, empathy, sympathy, & mercy

But, it rather feels far too much…

• self-pride, self-righteousness, sanctimony, arrogance, hatred, rage, contempt, derision,

Do you remember that Old Testament story of Jacob receiving his “new name”?

Genesis 32:24-30 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he couldn’t win the match, he struck Jacob’s hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is dawn.” But Jacob panted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel (he, who struggles with God), because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.” “What is your name?” Jacob asked him. “Why do you ask?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named the place Peniel—“face of God”—for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”

I know, that you know what it means to struggle with God. I think also that you have been knocked “out-of-joint” as well.
This passage is, again, another nuance and paradox.
Why is this story in the bible?
Why does it say that Jacob struggled with God?
Why does it say that God couldn’t win the match against Jacob?
Why does God bless Jacob, as a reward for the wrestling match?

These are profound questions to a confusing paradox.
I will admit that for many years I have hated this passage, with painful contempt. It flies in the face of everything in my carnal being. It is simply not logical.
Jacob should not wrestle with God!
God should not wrestle with a man!
God should punish Jacob for impudence and audacity!
God should flip him over and pin his shoulders to the ground with a mere wink!
Jacob should fall flat on his stomach and worship God and beg for pardon!

Israel? Your name will be “Israel,” because “you have struggled with both God and men and have won.” Maybe he won against “man”, but there’s no way he could win against God.

Right?
How, God?

How am I supposed to cope with this story in the bible?

Please, tell me that there was a transcription error, something is wrong. Right?

Well, I have come to a point in my life, where I am beginning to accept more of the paradoxes of God. I am not a shill for a fraudulent snake oil salesman. I am simply beginning to understand that God’s grace is far greater than my jaded experience (a.k.a carnal nature) will allow.
This is what I see from the event with Jacob and God.

• 1. God does not punish us for struggling with Him
  2. God expects the struggle.
  3. God cherishes the struggle.
  4. God respects our struggle.
  5. God understands our struggle.
  6. God freely grants us the opportunity to struggle.
  7. God’s only requirement is that we not “give-up” our struggle.

I know that God can pin my ears back. But, God doesn’t want to do that. The same is true with Jacob.

This exact event occurs in my house every week. My son and daughter love to “get me down.” And we wrestle around in the floor until I am out of breath or until it’s time for a bath. (Which tends to coincide with regularity.) I struggle with my kids and enjoy the struggle, because I love them.
Yes, I am sometimes hurt by our struggles and sometimes they are hurt by our struggles.
But, so long as they are willing to come back and not give-up, our wrestling will build strength, character, love and trust.

• What happens if I pin my son or daughter on the ground with no effort and no struggle?
• Will they trust me more?
• Will they respect me more?
• Will they love me more?
• What happens if God pins Jacob to the ground?
• What happens if God pins me to the ground?
• What happens if God pins you to the ground?

I don’t think that I am taking this too far. God could beat us if that were his purpose.
But, we know what his purpose is now. Don’t we?
Through Jesus Christ, the Father’s purpose is to “seek and save” John 3:17 “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”

Jesus could have pinned our ears back. But, the goal was more in line with a 41 year-old dad wrestling with his 3 and 7 year-old on the living room floor.

Finally, the issue of the mask and the name, Jacob was the name that he was given at birth. He moved around behind it, and operated with it as a defense to protect him from the world. But, it was replaced with God’s name.
I know the purpose of the name in this context.
When one “knows” our name, it will allow them to control us. This was an important point to the people of Jacob’s day. And it even continues in the modern day as well.
It is not thought of in these terms anymore. But, less than two generations ago, children were taught that it was disrespectful to use an elder’s “Christian name.” We should instead use the proper title with their surname. Remember?

This “name issue” gives control to a person.
When Jacob told God his carnal name, he granted authority to God. God subsequently changes his name, to “Israel.”

Revelation 2:17
“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Emphasis added)

The new name was “a blessing” to Jacob, it is a blessing to all who give God authority. Israel was blessed to not have to hide behind the mask of Jacob. Jacob treated people with contempt, just as “Borat” does.

God bless,

DSM

Masks have uses, but they are rarely for good, El Zorro, Spiderman & the Lone Ranger notwithstanding.

• In my experience, when a person needs a mask to hide his identity, it means one thing and one thing only; he is up to no good.

• I know that this is common now, and these avatars are offered everywhere you turn when online. But, when I first saw this in the mid ’90’s and attempted to use it, I began to see the dangers of chatting as an alter ego or more accurately as a pseudo-ego. I could step outside of myself and be anyone & say anything in anonymity.

• I quickly left the virtual chat room; because I recognized the potential for moral harm to myself, this was the only time that I have used the online ‘chat room’ forum. When one is hidden behind a façade, anything goes. People may take on the ego of a little boy, a little girl, a hypersexual femme fatale, or a big burly & muscular man. The only limits to a person’s avatar are the programming options that these various companies offer.

• I am sure some will say ‘It’s harmless fun.’ Or ‘they are just cartoons, so, what’s the big deal.’

• When these men are back in civilian life it happens occasionally, when a threat to a family member requires them to “switch on” in order to neutralize the threat. Family members will comment about the man, that he was ‘like a different person.’

• Police officers will often have difficulty moving from peaceful home life to the high stress of daily patrol. Police see us at our worst. If I am pulled over for speeding, it’s not a good experience for me and the officer is likely to hear things that is not me being my best. So, Police will “switch on” when on duty and be a different person when at home or with family.

• Finally, there is the life and times of Sacha Baron Cohen (a.k.a. Borat). Folks around the world are debating the good or bad of Borat. I am not going to debate about the fictional character. However, I will note something that Mr. Baron Cohen said in his interview with Rolling Stone Magazine. I will paraphrase Mr. Baron Cohen’s remarks. He said that he would not be able to do and say the things that Borat does and says. He indicated that he must get into character, so that he could behave boorishly and treat people with such contempt.

• Please note that Mr. Baron Cohen must “switch on” in order to do the things that he does. Actors such as Mr. Baron Cohen call it “getting into character.”

• If I must “get into character” or change my appearance & name to Borat in order to say things that are immoral, inappropriate, embarrassing, exploitive, and vulgar; then why is this a “good” thing? Why is this a skill that should be lauded? If I must hide behind a pseudo-ego to hurt people or “reveal” peoples ugly side, am I less ugly? Are those people made more noble by my masquerade?

• A mask rightly arouses suspicion for the person’s character, who hides his identity. And a prosecutor or law enforcement officer who surreptitiously encourages me to commit illegal acts will be guilty of entrapment, even if I am shown to be a lawbreaker.

• I submit to you, that Mr. Sasha Baron Cohen is that prosecutor. Therefore, even if the rest of the world is sullied, it is so sullied because Mr. Baron Cohen encouraged it for his pleasure as Borat, and his personal gain as Sasha Baron Cohen.
• Incidentally, the above right picture is a true representation of real Kazakhs, not the debased mythical ones that exist primarily in the mind of Mr. Sasha Baron Cohen.

One of the things that has become more real to me over the past few years is the issue of God’s subtlety.

This is really what lies behind the purpose of this blog.

I have attempted to be a “perfect” example and model of Jesus in my relationships, but, this has led me to subconsciously itemize my strengths and weaknesses for the sole purpose of either underlining the problems, for needed work, or ignoring the strong points as being already accomplished.

I have tended to become, on the one hand proud and self-reliant or defeatist and downcast on the other.

Either case does not serve Jesus commission to me. Satan has both sides of this dilemma in his hands and plays me alternately with both lists.

I can display an attitude that comes across as; “I’ve got this covered, because it is a strength.” Then I forget from where my Power comes. This typically results in very awkward and embarrassing moments in front of a Bible study groups, when it happens as I prepare my lessons. When I fail to pray for help I fall flat. When I pray, Jesus is glorified. It is this simple.

My eventual recognition of the two extremes has allowed me great freedom. I now know that “yes, I am imperfect in my carnal nature”, but that I am made perfect in my Spiritual nature.

This is what the apostle Paul talked about in Romans 7.

14 The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. 15 I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16 I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.

18 I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. 19 When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20 But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.

21 It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?* 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

You will notice the emphasis that I have put on verse twenty, the reason for this emphasis, is that Paul quite clearly does not identify with the sinful nature. He hates his sin and says in verse sixteen that this revulsion of the sin and his conscience is a testimony to the goodness of the Law.

This point was, to me, like a hammer on a drum. It is good news.

Folks, if you feel bad when you do wrong then you are in tune with who God is and who Satan is.

Our guilt, if we feel it, is a very uplifting emotion. So long as I feel sorry for committing sin, then my heart is standing for the Lord. Paul is making this point, and he goes further, to say in verse twenty-five, “Thank God! The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus will extend grace to you as long as you are looking to him for your perfection. It’s not inside of your natural/carnal nature. It was not in Paul’s carnal nature. It was however, in his spirit or his heart and that prompted a gift of God, the Holy Spirit, which transformed him, as well as us, to the image of Jesus. When the Father looks at me He sees Jesus. He doesn’t see my old sinful shell.

This encourages me. I don’t have to keep lists. I don’t have to fear my sinful nature. And, I have no strengths of my own force of will. If I am not being tempted with a particular sin that used to drag me down, then praise God for my continual transformation to the perfect image of Christ. I can’t claim any credit for the growth. That is God’s territory. My heart is just the soil for the seed.

So, the next time you find yourself involved in sin, don’t give-in to despair, instead do what Paul did in Roman 7:25, praise God the Father and thank Him, as well as Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Spirit, for giving you a ‘new heart of flesh and removing from you, your old heart of stone.’ (Eze. 36:25-27)

It’s a very subtle (nuanced) difference, but it’s a big difference, nevertheless, and it culminates in the difference between hope in life and despair in death…, for me.

God bless,

DSM