There is a very human tendency to avoid discomfort of any kind, but the reality of our existence is that we aren’t likely to change until we absolutely have to. Thus, it often takes adversity to bring about a significant transformation. For those who count themselves as followers of Christ, we must grapple with the knowledge that Jesus (a man of perfect faith) learned obedience from the things He suffered (Heb.5:8), and that what is pleasing to the flesh is not pleasing to the Spirit (Gal.5:17). Western culture aspires to create a pain-free existence, which fundamentally works against the process of spiritual growth. Indeed, it is in the midst of a situation we cannot hope to control that we are most likely to cry out for help; it is the circumstance that we cannot wrap our hands around that we are most apt to release to God; and it is in those moments when there is no earthy wisdom to calm our anguish that we are best positioned to receive the words of life. Despite our ardent desire to avoid anything that might challenge our perception of prosperity, it is in the midst of our weakness that His strength is made perfect (2Cor.12:9), and it is a broken and contrite heart that He honors (Psalm 51:17, Isa.66:2). Most often, it is only when our capabilities are completely overwhelmed that we can achieve a thorough and genuine level of surrender. But for those who emerge on the other side of such experiences, the reality of who God is, and of our place in Him are forever changed.
Archive for the ‘Commentaries’ Category
The Blessing of Brokenness
Posted in Commentaries, tagged adversity, broken, brokenness, changed, circumstance, discomfort, flesh, obedience, pain-free, perfect faith, spiritual growth, suffered, surrender, transformation, weakness on December 31, 2024| 1 Comment »
A Change of Heart
Posted in Commentaries, tagged chameleon, change, change of heart, change of mind, changed mind, circumstance, defile, destination, external condition, internal condition, lost, repentence on December 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »
There was a long season of my life in which I was profoundly lost. That term can mean different things to different people, but for me, it meant that I was lost as to the meaning of life, as to what my purpose was, and as to who I was meant to be. Like most people in that condition, I would not have used the word “lost” to describe myself, but clearly that was the case.
Because of this, I tended to be a chameleon, who completely changed depending on who I was with. Despite a strict religious upbringing, I found myself amazingly open to things that I’d been taught were wrong, with seemingly little impact on my conscience. I attribute this to my unconscious desperation to find a place and/or tribe where I fit in.
The longer I wandered in this state of being, the more confused I became. If you hang around a chameleon long enough, you begin to realize that you have no idea what their natural color is. And even the chameleon himself will eventually lose touch with that reality. In those days, I could look in the mirror and not recognize the face that was staring back at me.
One morning, after a long night of debauchery, I had the sudden and strong urge to change the course of my life, and I went to the local Recruiting Office to join the military. The decision to enlist in the Navy shocked everyone who knew me, and on some level, no one was more surprised than me.
If you had asked me a day earlier, that idea was nowhere on my radar. Yet, within a matter of days, my head was shaved, and I was getting screamed at by some crazed Drill Sergeant in North Chicago. Life, as I had known it, would never be the same.
At the time, I reasoned I just needed a change of scenery, and to get around some different people. And it is tempting to conclude that this was what ultimately changed my course, but with the benefit of hindsight, I realize that it wasn’t the change in circumstances that drove the change in my mindset.
The reality is that the “sudden and strong urge to change” came from a moment of clarity, in which I recognized that the life I was leading was unsustainable. After years of being whatever I needed to be so as to function within the group dynamic, I realized that I needed to pick a specific direction, and then start walking toward something. That revelation spurred a change in my thinking, and that change of mind drove the change in course.
I clearly had no idea of where I was going, or as to how I would handle this new reality, but I was utterly convinced of my need to change. If I hadn’t been, I likely would have quit at the first obstacle on my new path, and returned to the life I abandoned. But it was clear to me that there was no going back.
This is significant because of our very human tendency to focus on external factors (i.e. circumstances), most of which we cannot control, while ignoring the internal conditions of our being (i.e. mind, will, emotions), which are within our reach. Indeed, I have concluded that true, substantive change always begins with an internal shift (i.e. a changed mind, a changed heart).
Beyond the practical implications of this concept are the spiritual principles that lie beneath it. Scripture tells us that God doesn’t see us as we see each other (i.e. externally), He looks at the heart of a man (i.e. internally) – (1 Sam.16:7). It also warns us to guard our hearts above all else, because “everything you do flows from it” (Pro.4:23). Jesus went so far as to say, “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them (Mark 7:15-16).”
Though we are prone to point to external factors (e.g. people, situations…) as a way to justify the poor condition of our hearts, the scripture would suggest that these external factors are to some extent a result of the condition of our hearts. If this is true, the first step in changing our situation, is changing our own mind and/or heart. This is why “self-control” is considered a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:23).
I would submit that one of the reasons we struggle to hear God’s voice in the midst of turmoil is that we are focused on Him making a change to our external condition, and He is focused on making a change to our internal condition.
The scripture clearly points to the need for, and the power of repentance, which is ultimately a change of heart, mind, direction… John the Baptist challenged the authenticity of the Pharisees and Sadducees authority by demanding that they, “produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt.3:8).” He understood that without a genuine change of mind/heart, it didn’t matter how they dressed or who they hung out with.
We will know that our repentance is genuine when we arrive at some new destination. I can meet my neighbor half way around the block, and claim that I’m not where I was yesterday, but if I keep returning to the same address, there has been no real change
We live in society that is obsessed with outward appearances, and we often fall into the trap of believing that some type of external change (e.g. if I was rich, if I was famous, if I found the right person, if I lost 100lbs, if my candidate wins the election…) will bring about a change in our hearts, but it never really works like that. The shift must come from within, and the first step belongs to us.
Indeed, God promises that if we’ll take a step towards Him, He will take a step towards us (James 4:8).
Getting Personal
Posted in Commentaries, tagged Evangelical, I never knew you, Personal, personal relationship, personally, pursuit, relationship, sacraments, seek my face on November 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I grew up in a devoutly Catholic family, and while that upbringing definitely provided a foundation of Christian belief in my life, it also left me with the sense that God was too high and too holy to be approached directly.
In those days, I participated in the sacraments, and trusted that the “Church” knew what they were doing in regards to keeping me in right standing with God. It wasn’t until years later, when I heard some of my evangelical friends asking whether I had a personal relationship with Jesus that I even realized such a thing might exist.
When I eventually decided to read the Bible for myself, I was on the lookout for the scripture that said this “personal relationship” was something God wanted. Here is what I found.
Right off the bat, I ran into the creation story, and particularly the events that took place in the Garden of Eden. Even a Catholic boy knows that story, but for the first time I found myself considering God’s perspective.
I’d always been taught that the garden was essentially paradise, and that God was offering what amounted to an ideal existence. But I wondered what God might have gained from this arrangement, if man had not chosen to go his own way.
After reviewing the passage multiple times, the only benefit He seemed to derive was the ability to walk with them in the cool of the day (Gen.3:8), which caused me to consider that maybe that was all He really wanted.
Despite the disappointment in the garden, God takes another step toward man, as He initiates a covenant with Abraham (Gen.15). And before the end of the first book of the Bible, I came across the story of Jacob wrestling with God, and having his named changed to Israel (Gen.32:28).
Though Jacob was hardly a model character, God seemed impressed by his desire to interact with Him. These encounters seemed to be clear expressions of God’s desire for a tangible relationship with His people.
While the Exodus story was filled with spectacular miracles, I couldn’t help but notice that God seemed to want to personally guide them through the wilderness, as He appears as a cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night (Exo.13:21), and spoke directly to them from Mount Sinai (Exo.19:16-22).
Unfortunately, the Israelites recoiled from that personal communication, instead, asking Moses to act as their intermediary (Exo.20:19).
Later, when the children of Israel clamored for an earthly king (1Sam.8), the Lord lamented that He had wanted to be their king (1Sam.12:12-15).
After reading of David’s escapades with Bathsheba, and Uriah (1Sam.11), it was almost jarring to hear him referred to as a “man after God’s own heart (1Sam.13:14),” and yet, despite his serious transgressions, the Father seemed pleased by David’s relentless pursuit of Him.
It wasn’t lost on me that after Solomon received the gift of wisdom, he began having visions of intimacy (Song of Songs). And I found it interesting that amongst the Lord’s criteria for effective prayer (2Chron.7:14), He listed “seek my face.”
Though we naturally tend to seek God’s hand of protection, provision, and deliverance, seeking His face eludes to the personal nature of the relationship He desires.
A few chapters later, this is reinforced with the understanding that the Lord “goes to and fro about the earth, looking for hearts that are truly His (2Chron.16:9).”
When queried about the “greatest commandment,” Jesus doesn’t speak of obedience, or service, or building the church, He puts it squarely on loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and strength (Matt.22). And when His work on the cross was finished, the veil that separated His people from the presence of God was ripped open (Matt.27:51).
Later, the Hebrew writer would explain that the Levitical priesthood would never have led to the type of relationship the Lord desired (Heb.7-10), and in the book of Revelation God’s children are referred to as a kingdom of priests (Rev.1:6).
Paul spoke of how we could now behold Him with unveiled faces (2Cor.3:18), and of how the Lord would one day return for a spotless bride (Eph.5:27).
Over and over again, both in word and deed, the Lord expresses His strong desire to walk closely with His children, and almost as regularly, we see people who call themselves by His name choose their own path (Prov.14:12).
Perhaps the scariest scripture in the gospels occurs when Jesus tells His disciples that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven. Not because of their sin, but because of their lack of genuine connection to Him (Matt.7:23).
It is a chilling thought that one who anticipates the words, “well done good and faithful servant (Matt.25:21)” might hear, “away from me, I never knew you (Matt.7:23).”
Full Term
Posted in Commentaries, Heart of "The Father", tagged abort, birth, conception, development, endure, fruition, impregnated, intimacy, oneness, seed, unborn, unity on November 14, 2024| 4 Comments »
In the midst of a fervent time of prayer, I sensed the Lord speaking about intimacy, and the idea of “oneness”. He pointed out that it was the Father’s oneness with His Son that reconciled mankind back to Him. That it is our oneness with the Son that allows us to become His heirs. That our oneness with His Holy Spirit allows us to experience the abundant life here and now. And that our oneness with each other (as the body) is what allows Christ to be revealed on the earth. Ultimately, through these intimate connections, new life comes forth.
Then, He said that a seed had been deposited within us; that He had “impregnated us” with something new.
And while that seemed very hopeful, I quickly sensed a troubling question, “Will you carry this seed to full term?”
The Lord reminded me that we live in a time in which the unborn are easily disposed of, and He said that “the church” is just as likely to abort the things He is trying to birth in the spiritual realm, as the world is in the natural realm.
He showed me that many abortions happen as a matter of convenience, while others happen because of fear. Some aren’t willing to endure the pain, others lack commitment to the relationship which resulted in the pregnancy, and still others because they don’t want family or friends to know who they’ve been with.
I sensed the Lord say that these are the same kinds of things that cause the church to cut off the new life He’s desired to bring about within it.
While conception is a miraculous beginning, it is simply the start of a season of feeding, growth and development that precedes the actual birth. What happens within that season determines whether a healthy live birth will take place.
The question isn’t whether God desires intimacy with us; or whether that intimacy will lead to reproduction; but whether we are willing to endure the process and carry the promise to fruition.
Reverse Theology
Posted in Commentaries, tagged deceived, imagination, judging God, predetermined, reverse engineering, reverse psychology, reverse theology, transformation on October 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
After spending over four decades working in engineering related fields, I’ve come to an appreciation of the complexities that can so often exist beneath the surface of a seemingly simple veneer. Because starting from scratch is generally a long and arduous process, it can be advantageous to begin with something that has already been developed and proven to be functional. By breaking an existing assembly down into its foundational elements, one can often find keys to its success, which can then be used to build upon. This process is known as “Reverse Engineering.”
Similarly, when efforts to motivate someone in a positive direction fail to get the desired outcome, it can at times be effective to take an inverse approach, which may allow them to back over a threshold they weren’t willing to directly step across. This approach is known as “Reverse Psychology.”
Recently, during a time of prayer, I sensed the Lord use the phrase “Reverse Theology.” And as I meditated on that term, I sensed that it describes a process of seeing God through the lens of who we want Him to be (or think He ought to be), instead of seeking to know Him as He truly is. Like reverse engineering, we can begin at the end, and work our way backwards by finding verses, teachings, and ministers which will undergird our predetermined conclusions.
If we are naturally militant, we can grab ahold of scriptures like the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Matt.11:12), you’ve trained my hands for war (Psalm 144:1), and countless Old Testament stories about crushing the enemies of Israel; while ignoring New Testament verses about loving our enemies (Matt.5:44), and living in peace with our neighbors (Rom.12:18).
If we are scholarly we might gravitate toward verses which exalt the value of knowledge (Hosea 4:6, 2Peter 1:5), and ignore the admonitions about coming as a little child (Matt.18:3). If we are patriarchal we can embrace the commandment for wives to submit to their husbands (Eph.5, Col.3), while omitting the corresponding directive for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and gave His life for her (Eph.5:25).
If we are comfortable within the world system, we can console ourselves with “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16)”, and disregard His warning that friendship with the world amounts to enmity with God (James 4:4). Like a modular living room set, we can arrange the pieces in whatever way best fits our space.
Interestingly, we can stand on the authority of scripture to justify our positions, and then dismiss scriptural counterpoints with catchphrases about the Bible being a “flawed book”, “written by men”, which has been “frequently mistranslated” …
Based on scripture, the way to develop an understanding of who God is (i.e. a theology) is to seek Him, and to allow Him to reveal Himself to us (Jer.29:13, Matt.7:7). Often, the revelation of who He is will be accompanied by a revelation of who He created us to be as well (Gen.17:5, Gen.32:28, Matt.16:18). If we choose to surrender ourselves, and walk with Him, our knowledge of Him grows, and we are transformed into His image, which is ultimately our destiny (Rom.8:29, Rom.12:2, 2Cor.3:18).
The application of a “reverse theology” saves us from all that seeking, surrendering, and transformation, by offering the hope that we can be delivered directly to our desired destination and destiny, by a god that aligns with our values, priorities, and vision for the future (i.e. the way that seems right to us – Prov.14:12).
Within this paradigm, we aren’t reformed into His image, He is in fact reimagined based on our experience and understanding. We decide that “if He is good,” He will adhere to our standard for goodness; and “if He is just,” He will satisfy our sense of justice; and if “He is love,” He will act in the way that we deem to be loving. And perhaps most prevalently, if He does not adhere to these expectations, we feel perfectly justified in being angry with Him. In such moments, we are literally judging God by our standards, and finding Him to be lacking, which implies that our standards are higher than His.
I am not suggesting that anyone consciously endorses this “Reverse Theology” pattern, but it is something that we can slip into unconsciously and with little effort. If we only acknowledge the aspects of God, and the scripture that make sense to us, we can convince ourselves that we are “saved, sanctified, and going to heaven,” and never realize that we have developed a huge spiritual blind spot.
Because we cannot conceive of how justice (i.e. we get what we deserve) and grace (i.e. we don’t get what we deserve) can be perfectly embodied in the same being, we embrace the aspect that appeals to us, and ignore the elements we struggle to reconcile. Like a poster of our favorite teen idol, we can put His picture on the wall, and worship who we imagine Him to be. Though we can truthfully claim to have acted “in Jesus’ name,” He can rightfully respond that He never knew us (Matt.7:23).
Evidences that we may have fallen into this trap are abundant. The scripture tells us that they that abide in the vine (i.e. are connected to Jesus) will produce fruit (John 15:4-5). And the fruit He is speaking of is not temporal results (e.g. extravagant facilities, well attended gatherings, extensive ministry networks…), it is Christ’s character being revealed in us (Gal.5:22-23, Col.1:27). A lack of genuine transformation is the most obvious indication that this connection is not strong.
If we find ourselves frequently deceived by charismatic ministry leaders, false teachers, and illegitimate “prophetic” voices, it is an indication that we have fallen out of step with the Holy Spirit (Matt.24:24, Col.2:8). Jesus said that His sheep know His voice, they listen and they follow (John 10:27). A lack of confidence in one’s ability to discern the Lord’s voice should be seen as a critical matter.
The good news is that even if we have stumbled into this trap, the Lord stands at the ready to meet us where we are at. Like He did for Saul (a learned and respected leader, who felt sure he was doing the work of the Lord), Jesus can reintroduce Himself and change our name in the process (Acts 9). But He made it clear that anyone who wishes to be His disciple must be willing to deny himself, and to take up their cross daily (Matt.16:24). And whether we like it or not, He also said that anyone who is unwilling to take up their cross is unworthy of Him (Matt.10:38).
Thought for the Day – Two Wrongs
Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged annihilation, disrespect, justification, slander, two wrongs, wrong on October 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »
As a child I was always taught that “two wrongs don’t make a right,” but I sense that as a culture we’ve moved on from that idea. Currently, you being “wrong” is justification for all manner of disrespect, slander, and maybe even annihilation.
Old Flame
Posted in Commentaries, Free Verse / Poetry, tagged attraction, bedazzled, chaos, I'm not who I was, inheritance, James 4:4, royal on September 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I wish I could deny there was ever an attraction
But I was young and didn’t know any better
I freely abandoned my royal heritage & forfeited my inheritance
Just so I could chase you through the streets
I rummaged through dumpsters for you
And you let me think that we might one day be together
You always talked as if you knew
And for a time, I hung on your every word
My eyes were bedazzled by the flashes that came from your lure
And I willingly drank from the drainage of your gutters
I can’t really blame you for my affliction or hunger
But I so desperately needed a shower
You loved it when I’d get up and dance with you
But it made you furious that I would never sing your song
And once I caught a glimpse behind the curtain
I couldn’t go back out front and pretend like I didn’t know
Eventually, I just crawled into my own head
And dwelt in the basement of my soul
But the stillness and the quiet was more than I could bear
And I had to open a window
I really just needed some air
But I couldn’t keep the light from pouring in
The sun beams repainted everything
And the shadows had no place to go
I couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under your eyes
And the cracks in your façade
But it was never really about the way you looked
It was about the chaos that always seemed to follow you
After a while you stopped coming around
And I moved on to higher ground
Every so often, I catch of whiff of your old perfume
Or hear that song blaring from someone’s speakers
But it was such a long time ago
And I’m not who I was
(James 4:4)
Bjcorbin's Blog 
The Wisdom of Men
Posted in Commentaries, tagged abandonment, alienation, committed, condemn, depressed, evolved, friends with benefits, inclusion, intervention, jungle, medicated, medicine, mental illness, relationships, science, suicidal, tolerance, treatment, unhealthy, utopia, wisdom, wisdom of men on January 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Popular “science” claims that all of life evolved out of nothingness, and that the earth has successfully adapted itself through millions of years of history,
Yet, also aims to convince us that the planet now desperately needs mankind’s intervention in order to survive
We live in a culture that largely shuns the concept of committed relationships in favor of things like “MyFans” and “Friends with Benefits,”
Yet, where people chronically struggle with feelings of alienation and abandonment
We live in a society that touts the virtues of tolerance and inclusion,
Yet, where people routinely and openly attack and condemn anyone with a dissenting perspective
We live in a time with more medicines and treatments than ever before,
Yet, we find ourselves as unhealthy as we’ve ever been
We have a greater awareness of, and more resources for mental illness than any society before,
Yet, we are amongst the most medicated, depressed, and suicidal people on the planet
We live in a country filled with “Christian” churches, which feature more teaching than ever before,
Yet, the fruit of these efforts looks nothing like Christ (Rom.8:29)
We imagine that a world without boundaries and morality would result in Utopia,
Yet, all of human history indicates that it would be like an untamed jungle
Such is the wisdom of men (1Cor.3:19)
Always trying to gain their lives (Matt.16:25)
And following the way that seems right to them (Prov.14:12)
But narrow is the way that leads to life,
And only a few that will find it (Matt.7:14)
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