Chapter Six: The Work of the Kingdom (II)
"A lifestyle centered on security, pleasure, and power precludes the possibility of establishing any coherent sense of self for the simple reason that these desires peremptorily exclude God."
"An ego grasping for security, pleasure, and power freely barters self-awareness for something that will enhance the mirage of fulfillment that these desires bring. Our addictive patterns--our expectations, desires, attachments, demands, and mental models--dominate our perception of self, others, and the world. This grasping, manipulative focus keeps us on that roller-coaster ride of pleasure and disappointment that makes continuity of character and fidelity to vision impossible."
"Paul calls this desire-driven life sarx--life in the flesh. Here our mental and emotional programming inclines us to be controlled by the need to get enough from the world to feel secure, propels us to find happiness through more and better pleasurable experiences, and directs our attention to dominating people and situations, thereby increasing our prestige and power."
"The crisis of American spirituality, put bluntly, is Spirit versus flesh. The failure or flat refusal to abide in the mind of Christ creates duality and separation within us. We do not choose decisively between God and Mammon, and our procrastination constitutes a decision itself. We carefully distribute ourselves between flesh and Spirit with a watchful eye on both."
"The lifestyle of schizoid Christians is erratic because at different moments we deliberately separate ourselves from our real selves. We hug certain events, experiences, and relationships to ourselves and exclude the presence of the indwelling Spirit. It may be a movie, a conversation, an illicit love affair, or a business transaction. Later, we re-enter the self that calls itself Christian and take part in events where God is celebrated in speech and song."
"Heightened by what someone has called 'the agnosticism of inattention'--the lack of personal discipline to overcome media bombardment, sterile conversation, and utilitarian relationships--our self-awareness grows dim, the presence of a loving God fades into the distance and the possibility of trust and intimacy seems less plausible... A verdant heart becomes a devastated vineyard. It is impossible to consider God with heart and head filled with earthly business."
"Bothered by this dichotomy, we plunge into spiritual activities and get involved in church-related organizations and events in an effort to fill the empty space we know needs filling. Disinclined to renounce managerial control of our lives and unwilling to run the risk of living in union of Yahweh, we seek personal security and reassurance in rituals, devotions, liturgies, and prayer meetings. These structures provide a modicum of peace and promise that the comfortable piety and material possessions that constitute the sense of self will not be disturbed."
"The glory shining on the face of Christ Jesus does not shine in many of us. Unlike Jesus, we have not given our deepest inner assent to who we are meant to be. We have not surrendered to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within. We stand close enough to the fire to stay warm, but we never plunge in; nor do we come out burned and incandescently transformed. We might be nicer than most other people or have better morals, but we do not live as brand-new creations. Instead, our opaque personalities reveal our divided hearts."
"An ego grasping for security, pleasure, and power freely barters self-awareness for something that will enhance the mirage of fulfillment that these desires bring. Our addictive patterns--our expectations, desires, attachments, demands, and mental models--dominate our perception of self, others, and the world. This grasping, manipulative focus keeps us on that roller-coaster ride of pleasure and disappointment that makes continuity of character and fidelity to vision impossible."
"Paul calls this desire-driven life sarx--life in the flesh. Here our mental and emotional programming inclines us to be controlled by the need to get enough from the world to feel secure, propels us to find happiness through more and better pleasurable experiences, and directs our attention to dominating people and situations, thereby increasing our prestige and power."
"The crisis of American spirituality, put bluntly, is Spirit versus flesh. The failure or flat refusal to abide in the mind of Christ creates duality and separation within us. We do not choose decisively between God and Mammon, and our procrastination constitutes a decision itself. We carefully distribute ourselves between flesh and Spirit with a watchful eye on both."
"The lifestyle of schizoid Christians is erratic because at different moments we deliberately separate ourselves from our real selves. We hug certain events, experiences, and relationships to ourselves and exclude the presence of the indwelling Spirit. It may be a movie, a conversation, an illicit love affair, or a business transaction. Later, we re-enter the self that calls itself Christian and take part in events where God is celebrated in speech and song."
"Heightened by what someone has called 'the agnosticism of inattention'--the lack of personal discipline to overcome media bombardment, sterile conversation, and utilitarian relationships--our self-awareness grows dim, the presence of a loving God fades into the distance and the possibility of trust and intimacy seems less plausible... A verdant heart becomes a devastated vineyard. It is impossible to consider God with heart and head filled with earthly business."
"Bothered by this dichotomy, we plunge into spiritual activities and get involved in church-related organizations and events in an effort to fill the empty space we know needs filling. Disinclined to renounce managerial control of our lives and unwilling to run the risk of living in union of Yahweh, we seek personal security and reassurance in rituals, devotions, liturgies, and prayer meetings. These structures provide a modicum of peace and promise that the comfortable piety and material possessions that constitute the sense of self will not be disturbed."
"The glory shining on the face of Christ Jesus does not shine in many of us. Unlike Jesus, we have not given our deepest inner assent to who we are meant to be. We have not surrendered to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within. We stand close enough to the fire to stay warm, but we never plunge in; nor do we come out burned and incandescently transformed. We might be nicer than most other people or have better morals, but we do not live as brand-new creations. Instead, our opaque personalities reveal our divided hearts."
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