The Battle with the Flesh

When I was eighteen I was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia for training. Every morning along with several hundred troops I would march to the parade field for physical training, which required everyone to lay on the ground for various exercises.  After running and sweating to the point of exhaustion we often welcomed an opportunity to lay in the grass, even though it was only for a moment as we prepared to do another exercise. However, there were times when laying in the grass was not a good thing. You see it was not unusual, in those early morning hours, to see someone jump up from the grass and go through what appeared to be a psychotic fit. This crazed dance was not the action of a young soldier trying to get out of the Army on a plea of insanity, it was actually the unfortunate result of someone intruding on the domain of the dreadful fire ants.

I sometimes wonder if humanity would have a chance if all the fire ants in Georgia came to the surface at the same time.  Living in Georgia means battling this fierce army year after year and I doubt Georgia will ever be rid of them.

Our battle with the flesh works much the same way. Some of us work very diligently to rid ourselves of bad habits, language problems, addictions, etc. Sometimes these negative forms of behavior disappear altogether and for awhile we harbor the illusion that we have won the battle because we no longer drink, smoke, use bad language or whatever the bad habit was we gave up.

"Our fleshly nature, as Paul refers to our sinful nature in his letters, has a way of surfacing in some other area of our lives, much in the same way that fire ant mounds reappear in a different part of the yard. Worse yet, sometimes we don't discover the most recent uprising of the sinful nature until it is firmly established. Those outward, obvious behavior patterns are often replaced by sinful attitudes and actions which are not so easily seen. We have no trouble recognizing things like sexual immorality and drunkenness. It's much harder to cope with hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition, and envy. Like fire ants, the diseases of the disposition keep returning" [Norman Bales, Pulpit Helps, Illustration Collection I © 1999 by AMG INTERNATIONAL, INC.].

In Galatians 5:16, Paul said, "Live by the Spirit…and do not gratify the desires of the flesh." (NRSV). His warning against the desires of the flesh indicates that the sinful nature is still active even in the life of the Christian. In verse 17 he indicates that our "fleshly desires are opposed to the Spirit." The Gospel of John refers to humanity being born in sin and Paul in his letters assures us that we cannot overcome this sinful nature by eliminating a few sins from our lives. The war against the flesh is a lifetime struggle.  In this Lenten Season, as we reflect on what it means to be Christian, may the work of the spirit strengthen us as we strive to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ.

[Paul uses the word flesh throughout his letters as 'human desires' that are counterproductive to the work of the Spirit.]

© Reverend Dr. Edward E. Judy [first publish: Morrow Mirror, Morrow United Methodist Church March 23, 2014]

A Quiet Spirit

 Henry Ward Beecher, once told of a childhood experience that formed his character and guided him in his pursuit for social justice. "He told of a man who came to his home boiling in rage. He had a grievance with his father. His father listened to the man with great attention and perfect quietness until he had got it all out, and then he said to him, in a soft and low tone, 'Well, I suppose you only want what is just and right?' The man said, 'Yes', but went on to state the case over again.

Very gently his father said to the man, 'If you have been misinformed, I presume you would be perfectly willing to know what the truth is?' He said he would. Then his father very quietly made a statement of the others side; and when he was through the man got up and said, 'Forgive me, Doctor. Forgive me.' His father had beaten the man by his quiet, gentle way. Beecher said he saw it, and it gave him an insight into the power of self-control. Beecher also said, 'It was a striking illustration of the passage, He that rules his spirit is better then he that takes a city' (Proverbs 16:32)." (Cyclopedia of Religious Anecdotes, Fleming H. Revell Co. 1923 / Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer and speaker; known for his support of the abolition of slavery, and his emphasis on God's love.)

1 Peter 3

In this Lenten season, as we pray and strive to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and by giving up bad habits that destroy our spiritual and personal relationship, maybe Beecher's story can help in this journey.  Beecher realized as a young man that a quiet spirit is easier on the heart and most certainly a healthier way of life. Henry Ward Beecher had other problems that he struggled with like we all do, but he was able to conquer this demon, the lack of self-control. So the next time you drive in the Atlanta traffic try gentling your spirit. You might find it spiritually transforming.                                                       

© Reverend Dr. Edward E. Judy, Morrow Mirror MFUMC 3.16.2014

 

Duty

There was once a vine that felt unappreciated. People often came and removed its grapes without a single word of gratitude.

One day a priest sat down to rest in the shade near the vine. Taking the opportunity to explain its concern, the vine said, “As you can see, I am a vine. Young men and old women come by and take my ripe grapes without ever saying thank you to me for all my efforts. How can people be so insensitive?

The priest pondered the question for a moment and then replied, “Perhaps people are insensitive, but in all probability their lack of gratitude comes from a different reason. Just as people expect the sun to shine and the wind to blow, they expect grapes from a vine. They are no doubt under the impression that providing grapes is your duty,” the priest said with a wry smile. (William White, Stories for Telling, Duty, [Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing house, 1986] p 75.)

When I read this illustration this week, I thought about my Christian

responsibilities and how the world sees me. I then wondered if those who see me know, by my actions, that I am a Christian. I imagine if we were honest with ourselves we would all have to admit that we fail, all too often, to truly be Christ’s representative in the world. Individually and as Christ’s church we fail.

In this season of Lent may each of us renew our Christians vow and make a good faith effort to grow in our relationship with Christ and to truly be Christ in the world. May those who come to know us, know we are Christian by our love for God and neighbor.

© Reverend Dr. Edward E. Judy (first published in the Morrow Mirror MFUMC 3.9.2014)