More Late Night Musings

We truly are half-hearted people. C.S. Lewis is often quoted to say that the problem with humanity is not that we love too much but that we love too little. This has begun to really hit home with me. As I see it, our depravity is not expressed by over indulging in sins but through not chasing joy. Once again I find myself at this idea. Do not misunderstand, we do often overindulge in things which leads to sin. The root of the issue is not that we love sex or alcohol too much, its that we fail to find enjoyment in greater things.

It is much easier to drink away our misery on the weekends than it is to face the dissatisfaction that nearly cripples us during the work week. It is much easier to lust than to learn what true love actually looks like. Instead of reflecting on how we could best live, we attempt to numb the pain and hurt of living a dissatisfied life by turning to a quick relief.

I think this idea of chasing and fighting for joy is evident in pop culture. For example, a great number of movies out there are about romantic relationships. Guy meets girl. Guy and girl hit it off. Some crisis happens. Guy and girl must fight to keep their relationship alive. The moral of this is not that we should hold up romantic relationships as our greatest fulfillment. The moral that we should take from this is that some things are worth fighting for.

Too often in my own life I trade something that will be edifying yet difficult for a familiar comfort. It's easier for me to spend my days sleeping, watching movies, and playing guitar instead of cultivating deep relationships.

In Dante's Inferno, the first few rings of hell below Limbo are reserved for the overindulgent, for the lustful, the gluttonous, and the avaricious (greedy). I'm starting to understand why Dante arranged things in this way. The problem with these sins is not truly the sin itself but that we try to find our enjoyment in it. Sex and wine were created by God to be enjoyed. We have taken these and perverted them in an attempt to satisfy ourselves. Our longings go much deeper than that. Anyone who says different is a liar.



So the inevitable question comes. Where can I find fulfillment? What do I long for? Which of these desire must be met? What do I often turn to in order to find fulfillment? Will this satisfy in the end? What are practical steps I can take to find true fulfillment?

I cannot answer these questions for you. I struggle to answer these questions for myself; however, this is a fight worth fighting. This journey will not be easy but that's the point. Only, after revealing our deepest longings can we seek to find fulfillment for them. The greatest plea that I can make is that we will stop being half-hearted people and seek to find deep, meaningful satisfaction.




P.S. I understand this post is very humanistic. This is by deign. Those who know me will know that I believe the gospel is the only thing that truly brings satisfaction. Don't hear what I'm not saying. I desire that this post be more practical than philosophical. I desire to inspire my friends to pick up a pad and pen and begin to wade through how they should live life. This is what this post inspires in me. I hope it does the same for others.

Selfish-ly Chasing Joy

Evening ladies and gents, or should I say good morning. Screw it. I'm still up so it's night time for me. Like I said, evening ladies and gents. I've been thinking about many things as of late. I thought I'd share some of that with you. Hopefully, this post will be a bit more constructive than my latest post.

Lately I've been reading Inside Out by Dr. Larry Crabb. This book basically encourages us to truly take a look into the core of who we are, sin, disappointments, sadness, and all. Only after we face these things and realize that we can never be satisfied on our own can we truly live a redeemed life. It is only after realizing that Christ is the only source of joy that we can begin to find our joy in Christ. This seems simple enough.

The first line lays a lot of groundwork for Crabb's approach in the rest of the book, "Modern Christianity, in dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world." The point here is that although true joy is found in Christ we will not be satisfied on this side of eternity; however, we must chase joy in this life so that we will receive its culmination in eternity. We struggle to find our satisfaction in Christ on earth 1) Because Christ is the only one that grants true joy and 2) Because if we struggle to be satisfied in Christ here on earth then we will be granted complete satisfaction in eternity.

This idea is not only held by Crabb. John Piper says much the same thing in Desiring God. Piper identifies this philosophy as Christian hedonism. This has not been the first time that I have interacted with this philosophy. In fact, I claim to believe the same things as Crabb and Piper. The problem is that I often fail to live in a way that supports my belief. My actions prove me to be a liar.

I have once again come to understand that it would be insane to continue chasing things that will never satisfy me. I consciously understand that satisfaction can only be found in the finished work of Christ. It is time to once again live like this is true.

This realization cannot be a one-time occurrence. I must constantly come back to this idea. There will always be areas of my life that I will fight to keep from being redeemed. Consequently, these will be the areas that will rob me of any joy that I could possibly have.

This is not a re-commitment. This is not a salvation decision. This is me "working out my salvation with fear and trembling". Do not simply comment on this change in my life. Identify the areas of your life that are robbing you of joy. Remember you will never find satisfaction in that sin. Move on. Christ died that we might live life to its fullest. Stop trying to find satisfaction in the same crap you were unsatisfied with yesterday. Mark Driscoll would tell you to quit driving around the same cul-de-sac of stupidity. Be selfish enough to chase your own joy. You'll find you won't end up living for yourself.



P.S. This is what Inside Out looks like. You should read it.