Active Faith v. Passive Acceptance
My wife and I were discussing the upcoming surgery my youngest son will have to endure. The thing we have to guard against is passive acceptance instead of active faith. The temptation is to bury our head in the sand and accept whatever happens. Externally this can look like faith; however, the heart is not given nor is it changed by the experience. Out of self-preservation I can accept my circumstances like a smaller boy accepts bullying by a bigger boy. I’ve learned if I just go willingly the pain won’t last as long. In the case of a life lived by faith, this sabotages Christ-like growth and prevents the breaking of my flesh.
Watchman Nee calls this self-love which prevents the breaking of the “outer man”.
Let us remember that the one reason for all misunderstandings, all fretfulness, all disappointments, is that we secretly love ourselves. Many times problems arise due to our seeking a way of escape – an escape from the working of the cross.
He who has ascended the cross and refuses to drink the vinegar mingled with gall is the one who knows the Lord. Many go up to the cross rather reluctantly, still thinking of drinking vinegar mingled with gall to alleviate their pain. (The Release of the Spirit, p. 19)
My problem in not going “reluctantly” to the cross but willingly all the while thinking of “the vinegar mingled with gall”. I rationalize that my Father wouldn’t want me to suffer and even expects for me to live above suffering. But in reality He has designed the suffering to produce a greater treasure, the breaking of the alabaster vial to release the aroma of His presence through me.
So active faith is recognizing the cup He has for me and willingly drinking it in heart submission to Him with the full anticipation of His working in and through me. Not avoiding, but receiving the full measure of His intent in the circumstances.
Watchman Nee calls this self-love which prevents the breaking of the “outer man”.
Let us remember that the one reason for all misunderstandings, all fretfulness, all disappointments, is that we secretly love ourselves. Many times problems arise due to our seeking a way of escape – an escape from the working of the cross.
He who has ascended the cross and refuses to drink the vinegar mingled with gall is the one who knows the Lord. Many go up to the cross rather reluctantly, still thinking of drinking vinegar mingled with gall to alleviate their pain. (The Release of the Spirit, p. 19)
My problem in not going “reluctantly” to the cross but willingly all the while thinking of “the vinegar mingled with gall”. I rationalize that my Father wouldn’t want me to suffer and even expects for me to live above suffering. But in reality He has designed the suffering to produce a greater treasure, the breaking of the alabaster vial to release the aroma of His presence through me.
So active faith is recognizing the cup He has for me and willingly drinking it in heart submission to Him with the full anticipation of His working in and through me. Not avoiding, but receiving the full measure of His intent in the circumstances.
posted by brent at 11:58 AM
1 Comments:
Just a suggestion. You give pseudo-examples of what one's pseudo-faith attitudes look like -- "bury our head ... accept whatever happens ... seeking a way of escape." How about some real life examples of what one (you) did wrong and right in the various circumstances of life -- the hand dealt you by a loving Father. Do not give only attitudinal examples but also give some practical actions (right or wrong) produced by such attitudes. The church has had it up to here with theoretical sprituality and hungers to the point of dispair for the genuine sharing of life. While what you always say in this blog is RIGHT ON THE MONEY, it is paradoxically tainted with sterility. You can do better. How about using this opportunity to consistently demonstrate the depth of God's working in you. You may think that is what you are already doing, but -- believe me -- it is not. Or, for heaven's sake, let us hope that it is not. God has put a new heart in you, and your readers long to see it more than you could imagine. Just a suggestion.
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