Graduate 152: Five Reflections for the Church, Part 5
The word of God--a mirror.
Composed: 21 June 2009.
Have you ever had the experience, after visiting a barber or beautician, of being startled when you look at yourself in a mirror? For some time, I've been in the habit of getting my hair cut only once a year. As a consequence, each time, the change in my appearance is rather dramatic, and it's surprising to me how long it takes for me to get used to it. Sometimes for a week or more after getting my hair cut, I will still be surprised when I look in the bathroom mirror in the morning. And when I encounter friends at school or church who stare at the top of my head, it often takes me a few moments to realize what it is that they're reacting to. Why am I talking about haircuts and my peculiar streak of absent-mindedness? Because there's a (biblical) analogy here that may be helpful for thinking about discipleship and the Christian life. James writes, in his epistle:
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. (1:23-25)
James compares the person, who merely hears the word and does not act on it, to a person who looks into a mirror and, after doing so, promptly forgets what he looks like. The mirror, here, serves as a symbol for the word of God. James' choice of this particular metaphor is extremely interesting, as can be seen when we consider what the function of a mirror is. Put simply the primary function of a mirror is to show us what we look like. Notice, that its primary function is not to show us what we should look like. We often focus on this aspect of God's word----the Bible. We focus on the fact that it reveals to us how we should live. And while that is one of its functions, in this passage James chooses to focus on the way that God's word simply reveals who and what we are.
If we want to know what direction we should go, we have to have some idea of where we're at right now. And if we want to have some idea of where we're at right now, then we need to be able to look past superficial appearances and external actions into our very hearts. How can we do that? God's word is the key. The author of Hebrews writes, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (4:12) The NLT paraphrases the last part of that verse: "It [i.e. the word of God] exposes us for what we really are." But if we are to gain this important insight and understanding, then we must approach God's word with the proper attitude. If a person has no desire to know the truth and no intention of being conformed to the image of Christ, then looking into the word of God will do as much good for him as looking into a mirror and promptly forgetting what he looks like. On the other hand, the person who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and actually takes seriously what he looks like, and takes steps to act on what the law reveals, and is open to being transformed by the power of the Spirit and the grace of God, "this man shall be blessed in what he does."
Unfortunately, many people don't want to face the truth about who and what they really are. One reason is that they have become convinced that the only truth that they will find is that they're really, really bad. Such a perspective not only neglects the truth about the image of God and Christ's redemptive work. It also fails to take seriously Jesus'' wonderful promise: "If you abide in my word (that is, if you put into practice what I teach), then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31) Jesus Christ has opened the way so that we can confront the truth about who we are without any fear of condemnation; and once we do that, then we can approach the throne of grace in confidence to receive all the good things that God has for us. (Romans 8:1, 29-30; Hebrews 4:16)
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
Composed: 21 June 2009.
Have you ever had the experience, after visiting a barber or beautician, of being startled when you look at yourself in a mirror? For some time, I've been in the habit of getting my hair cut only once a year. As a consequence, each time, the change in my appearance is rather dramatic, and it's surprising to me how long it takes for me to get used to it. Sometimes for a week or more after getting my hair cut, I will still be surprised when I look in the bathroom mirror in the morning. And when I encounter friends at school or church who stare at the top of my head, it often takes me a few moments to realize what it is that they're reacting to. Why am I talking about haircuts and my peculiar streak of absent-mindedness? Because there's a (biblical) analogy here that may be helpful for thinking about discipleship and the Christian life. James writes, in his epistle:
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. (1:23-25)
James compares the person, who merely hears the word and does not act on it, to a person who looks into a mirror and, after doing so, promptly forgets what he looks like. The mirror, here, serves as a symbol for the word of God. James' choice of this particular metaphor is extremely interesting, as can be seen when we consider what the function of a mirror is. Put simply the primary function of a mirror is to show us what we look like. Notice, that its primary function is not to show us what we should look like. We often focus on this aspect of God's word----the Bible. We focus on the fact that it reveals to us how we should live. And while that is one of its functions, in this passage James chooses to focus on the way that God's word simply reveals who and what we are.
If we want to know what direction we should go, we have to have some idea of where we're at right now. And if we want to have some idea of where we're at right now, then we need to be able to look past superficial appearances and external actions into our very hearts. How can we do that? God's word is the key. The author of Hebrews writes, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (4:12) The NLT paraphrases the last part of that verse: "It [i.e. the word of God] exposes us for what we really are." But if we are to gain this important insight and understanding, then we must approach God's word with the proper attitude. If a person has no desire to know the truth and no intention of being conformed to the image of Christ, then looking into the word of God will do as much good for him as looking into a mirror and promptly forgetting what he looks like. On the other hand, the person who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and actually takes seriously what he looks like, and takes steps to act on what the law reveals, and is open to being transformed by the power of the Spirit and the grace of God, "this man shall be blessed in what he does."
Unfortunately, many people don't want to face the truth about who and what they really are. One reason is that they have become convinced that the only truth that they will find is that they're really, really bad. Such a perspective not only neglects the truth about the image of God and Christ's redemptive work. It also fails to take seriously Jesus'' wonderful promise: "If you abide in my word (that is, if you put into practice what I teach), then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31) Jesus Christ has opened the way so that we can confront the truth about who we are without any fear of condemnation; and once we do that, then we can approach the throne of grace in confidence to receive all the good things that God has for us. (Romans 8:1, 29-30; Hebrews 4:16)
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 11:31 AM
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