Just how do we clean out our mind/heart/soul/spirit to
manage ‘whatsoever is true, honest, just’ when it is something at which we are
totally unskilled or even less inclined to attempt?
Heavy Order – Phil 2:5-8
5 Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made
himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being
found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross.
Ego Defined
1.The “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and
willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from
objects of its thought.
2.Psychoanalysis. the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences
and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the
primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical
environment.
Egotism Defined
1. 1a:
excessive use of the first person singular personal pronoun
2. b:
the practice of talking about oneself too much
3. 2:
an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Now this:
“Let this mind be in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus”
When looking over the definitions above, do you see any of
the definition relevant to Christ Jesus?
You may suggest that number ‘1a’ under egotism would be. I might agree, if you
read the New Testament, Jesus did use ‘I’ quite a bit. Mostly, it was to show
authority, to establish a clear line from what HE saw as HE looked at people
who were oppressed under the burden of Sin in its many manifestations to what
HE knew could be done to alleviate the burdens in their life now and later by
directing their attention to the solution for all that ailed them. Always in
authority. But did that make him egotistical?
How about ‘1b’? Some could say he made it a practice to talk
about himself too much. But, let’s look at the context. First, HE came for a
purpose. To establish the purpose there had to be an education and HE was the
teacher/Rabbi and here on earth HE was the only one privy to the purpose as it
was now unfolding. HIS purpose also included a horrific act of self-sacrifice
in order to free people from the burden of Sin. HIS purpose included a
phenomenal miracle --- HIS RESURRECTION, later, HIS ASCENSION. Lastly, to continue the
education, another [Holy Spirit] would be sent from Jesus to assist those who
would follow CHRIST then and for all time until the FINALE, HIS RETURN at some
unknown time in the future. In all of this, the common theme of AUTHORITY is
present. It is not exercised in a way to lord it over someone or to subject
them to HIS authority against their will. No! In fact, the authority paired
with education shows what any believer could have if they CHOOSE to subject
themselves freely. Finally, HIS authority provided the answers to HOW, WHEN,
WHO, WHY and WHERE to be released from the burdens of Sin.
Ø
How?
o
Initially, by teaching those HE chose to follow HIM.
Later, those who choose to follow HIM. HE taught them in words, through
miracles, by example.
Ø
WHO?
o
First for the Jews; they were anticipating
someone who would be sent to gather them and be ruler over them per King
David’s rule. So, there was expectation. Some recognized Jesus as the ONE, in
fact, HE is introduced into that role by John the Baptist [Matt 3:2; John 1:29-34]
o
Later, beyond yet inclusive of the Jews, the gentile.
Ø
WHY?
o
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,
and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29]
Ø
WHEN?
o
Initially, from the first calling of disciples
to follow HIM to this day when a person hears the calling and follows. Includes
many through all times since Jesus came, taught, died, was resurrected and then
raised back to heaven.
o
Of course, release from sin through Jesus was
done for all time and for all as defined here: “For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16]
Ø
WHERE?
o
The actual where is the who: the source of the
release, the Lamb of God.
o
The physical where: The Cross at death
o
The Spiritual where: Initially, Pentecost and
the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Down through all time since then to this day as
each person is drawn to GOD and accepts the grace of GOD and begins the trek
down a very different path away from Sin.
Back to the discussion of Ego:
As you can see, or as you may understand,
the word ‘ego’ and ‘egotism’ would be wrongly applied to Jesus especially
because of the statement in Philippians 2:7,8 “…No, but he emptied himself and
took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. More
than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient as far as death, yes, death…”
Purpose of this post?
As we read through this series of posts from Philippians 4,
on the ‘whatsoever things’, it is natural to feel impotent to accomplish the
best version of the true and honest and just self. If we are frank with
ourselves, we have spent an entire life consciously or subconsciously working
on self-image, self-worth, self-relevance or to be blunt: selfishness. We did
not naturally come by this nature to be self-oriented or self-centric. From the
beginning of life as our minds, eyes, ears, touch --- all observed and retained
information coming at us we learned habitually what appeases us through our
sensory perception and through our knowledge. But, there is a subtle message
that permeates lives here in the U.S. The subtle message also stimulates ‘self’
via alleged positive affirmation from our parents, teachers, peers, employers
and others to achieve and to recognize our worth; or, to groom our perspective
to be competitive. Even the words of the Bible can assist in the development of
our ego. For whose ego would not be expanded by words like this? “But we are
bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” [2 Thess 2:13] But
only an ego would see that as more fuel to grow. In fact, it would and should
DEFLATE even the strongest egotist if they understood the entirety of the
impact of that statement. And it is to this very point this article must make a
point.
Humility
How do we assimilate the very essence of the ‘whatever
things are’ statements we are reviewing? Try to really zero in on what is
stated in Phil 2:7-8. Christ left HIS place in heaven, HIS heavenly life, HIS
proximity to HIS FATHER, HIS entire immediate association with all the many
Angels. A life not confined to the constraints of time, physical limitation,
ravages of sin to the human body, to a single planet, and in direct touch with
the devil and the devil’s demonic followers. HE did all of this WILLINGLY. HE
literally emptied HIMself of everything to be born through the birthing process
into the human race. While HE did not suffer from sin inherently the evidence
of sin abounded in all he encountered and from a human perspective he could see
and ‘feel’ physically and emotionally the compassion needed as HE saw through
his ‘human’ eyes the many ways sin manifested itself. HE felt in HIS sinless
body the effects of other’s sin. [Remember the woman who touched the hem of HIS
cloak?] It is noted Jesus felt pity – obviously, HE was inclined to reach out
and touch or be touched to make a person well. HIS departure from heaven for a
life on earth as a human is beyond our comprehension. We do not even know what
we do not comprehend. So where does that leave us?
How do we empty ourselves? How do we see through Christ’s
human eyes what/how HE saw sin in its many manifestations? We MUST. There are
any number of ways we can begin to take ‘I’, ‘Me’ out of our being sufficiently
to see others as intensely as we see ourselves. To see how sin has ravaged
them. To recognize behaviors as learned and practiced. It requires we see
ourselves as ravaged by sin. Identify the direct and subtle ways our thoughts,
our words, our actions/reactions, our intent reflects an ego. MARK IT mentally.
Then, pray for change, study for change, work through practice to change
remembering the common goal of all believers: “…he who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus.” [Phil 1:6]
Now, as you read Part One, Two, etc., ask yourself how can I
be circumspect in exhibiting ‘whatever things are true’ or ‘whatever things are
honest’ or ‘whatever things are just’? Do so having emptied out ‘I-self’ or ‘ME-self’
and focus on hearing GOD as Holy Spirit winnows out the sin of arrogance and
pride and begins to develop and mold our humility. It may not be easy, it may
not feel good, it may not be ‘first nature’ initially. It becomes obvious the work
of untangling our past exists only because we were not ‘true, honest, just’
really at the core and in the simplicity of practice.
Case in point: Perhaps we have chosen to say something we do
not truly believe but not wishing to offend we say it. We are not being true nor
honest. We have given them a false sense of who we are all the while we
may profess to be Christian. Yet, it is well known lying is not part of an
acceptable Christian life. It may be acceptable socially but not from a
principled Christian.
How do we answer that difficult question if not by a 'little white lie'? First, is it a
question we must answer? Would it be truthful to say we have no opinion? If we
have an opinion, we believe may be offensive to another, must we share it? If
we must can we use it as a teaching moment not a judgmental moment? Jesus was
sensitive to the downtrodden, the feeble and the diseased, the sinners who were
being hunted by the wolves. He spoke kindly and lovingly to them. However, he minced no words when it came to
the leadership who exhibited an arrogant life and behaved abusively of the very
people they were responsible to care for and support.
A prayerful
consideration to your response will turn it into a teaching moment. But if we simply
MUST say something then whatever the consequences we must be truthful, honest,
just. If someone makes a statement we deem true but do not want to confirm ---
use Jesus’ example ‘You, yourself said it.’
Lastly, be sensitive to the
presence of the Holy Spirit. Remember, pray! In those times when we do not know
how to respond we are told not to worry for we will have what we must say when
it is required. This is another example of humility. Relying on someone else to
answer for us. In this situation having Holy Spirit ‘giving us our opinion’ is
altogether right!
Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you
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