Ok, be honest...when you saw the topic of this post, you thought I was going to write about alcohol, didn't you? Haha, well, in the Bible, to be sober means simply to be serious in what you do and think, to be of sound mind, to be in one's right mind, to exercise self control, to put a moderate estimate upon one's self, think of one's self soberly, and to curb one's passions. Also to be circumspect, or to understand what is going on around you.
So, let's take a quick survey. How do you think of yourself. Do you think of yourself as being better than some, or maybe most? How's your self control? Do you go on binges; drinking, shopping sprees, movie marathons (uh oh, haha). OK, now for the tough questions. Where's your mind when it comes to sexual thoughts? Do you fall to temptation easily? Do you undress others in your mind? Do you sneak that magazine or video in when no one is watching?
Do you visit shops, park in the back so passer-bys might not recognize your car? Do you peruse those "free" websites that you know your spouse would object to? Here's another thought. Do you chat or say things on Facebook simply because you think you can without any recourse? Do you use language there because you believe no one really "knows" who or how you are? Would you say those things to your spouse or your mother? Do you have an issue with road rage? Do you get so angry sometimes that you experience "tunnel vision" or unable to notice anything but the target of your anger?
Do you visit shops, park in the back so passer-bys might not recognize your car? Do you peruse those "free" websites that you know your spouse would object to? Here's another thought. Do you chat or say things on Facebook simply because you think you can without any recourse? Do you use language there because you believe no one really "knows" who or how you are? Would you say those things to your spouse or your mother? Do you have an issue with road rage? Do you get so angry sometimes that you experience "tunnel vision" or unable to notice anything but the target of your anger?
The Importance of Sobriety
These questions are for your own use, and not to place any judgement on anyone here. But they are to emphasize the meaning of self control and curbing one's passions. By the way, your passions may not just be sexual, and a passion may not be all bad; but if it draws you from God, well, that is where a line must be drawn.
As Paul wrote:
'Ye are all the children of light, and the children
of the day: we are not of the
night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but
let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and
they that be drunken are drunken in
the night. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord
Jesus Christ' 1 Thessalonians 5:5-9
We need to recognize here that Paul isn't speaking of physical night and darkness. He is speaking of being ignorant, to not understand. We are "children of light" because we have Christ within us and we are beginning to understand how God works, what the truth is and how to apply those truths to our lives.
He advises us to not "sleep" and to "watch and be sober". Again, this is not speaking of physical sleep or abstaining from alcohol as much as he means to be attentive to your spiritual surroundings. Be level headed, think circumspectly, and don't "lay down" spiritually. When I was going through Basic Training many years ago, the buzz phrase was "Stay alert, stay alive". That is somewhat apropos here because if we stay spiritually alert, we won't easily waste spiritual life, but may be able to protect others as well by not letting evil thoughts work out of us, or taking in those thoughts from others.
That is the key to sobriety, to catch the thought before it becomes a sin. Remember, sin begins with a though as James wrote: "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:14-15
Jesus taught; But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:28
He wasn't just talking about adultery as much as he was using it as an example. Remember the lesson on the Sermon on the Mount? It was all based on what is going on in the mind of the believer. Sobriety is exactly the same issue. To be clear and of the right mind, to think circumspectly, to think of self in moderation...
The Practical Application of Sobriety:
Each week I try to break it down in the same way. I give an intro, then the importance of the topic, and finish with a practical application. I know how hard it is to apply the things I am suggesting. This is why I suggest we try to apply a couple of things together for one week. The goal, of course, is to raise awareness as to how the Holy Spirit works and how it can be used to fight evil spirits. Sobriety is one of those characteristics that is easy to understand, but really hard to apply. As an example, I know how hard it is to "curb" a sexual thought, or to do anything in moderation. Just ask any of my Kingdom of Camelot gamer friends how hard it is to not be on that game a lot. It is a major time destroyer. But, we are called to be sober in our daily walk. To do things, to think things in moderation. So, here's my suggestion for this week:
Pick that one thing that just eats your time away that has no spiritual value whatsoever.. Maybe it's the internet, Facebook, a game like Kingdom of Camelot or Farmville (I know, I'm being boo'd right now, haha), and cut some of the time down. In its place, spend more time reading something that will grow you in a positive way. Study a topic in the Bible. Spend more time with your family, kids, spouse, etc. Maybe you've been wasting away doing a brain-dead function instead of finishing a project at home, like power washing the house or going to church. Pick something meaningful, hopefully something of a spiritual nature, and practice a bit of self actualization.
I was chatting with my Pastor a few days ago, and I asked him if the practical application was clear enough on these posts. He said they were, but as always the hardest thing was to apply it. This week, let's practice this important characteristic of the Holy Spirit by being intentional in our walk with Christ. In the next 2 weeks, we will go into another compilation study and consider the anatomy of a Spiritual Warrior. I hope you will join me on this important topic, as this is why God has called us all into service. As Paul explains:
Let's begin fighting this week using sobriety to seek out what would destroy our peace, faith, and hope.
Here's a few scriptures to consider for your personal quiet time on sobriety:
2 Corintheans 5:13 1 Timothy 3:11
Titus 2:4-6 1 Peter 1:13
1 Peter 5:8 Mark 5:15
Romans 12:3
My good friend, I was focusing on G4993 (sōphroneō) and the many other like words, G4995, G4998 and so on to discuss a different angle. If you look these words up you will find the definitions I copied and pasted into the lesson. I wasn't getting into the question of drinking alcohol, but we could. I do have a bit of a different view on that than you do. But that doesn't make your comments any less important, haha. If you sign up as a follower, you could comment here. I couldn't figure out how to answer you in private, and couldn't email you do to being anonymous. Thanks for your message though.
ReplyDeleteAh, figured it out. Anonymous posted under Faith, but meant to post here. As we continue to go through these lessons, I encourage all to comment on them. We are all learning, or at least I am. Anon was pointing out that he thought I was meaning to be Sober or abstain from drink. This lesson was more focused on the characteristic of the Holy Spirit being Sobriety, as is defined below.
ReplyDeleteG4993 sōphroneō
1) to be of sound mind
a) to be in one's right mind
b) to exercise self control
1) to put a moderate estimate upon one's self, think of one's self soberly
2) to curb one's passions
as well as the derivatives of that word, being several like meanings. Since we are trying to focus on the Holy Spirit aspects, I have not really touched on the different specific sins, but merely how the Holy Spirit can help battle these activities before we act out the thoughts to which the sin originates.
I find the first definition you listed in your comments very interesting and that is to “be of sound mind.” Because, even though my comments have to do with alcoholism, Dr. Peck’s message is about “mental illness” which covers a whole host of challenges. This week I’m going to attempt to comment on Grace as well as Sobriety, as I’ve found there is a connection.
DeleteHow many of you believe that alcoholism is a disease? OK, how many of you believe that there is an alcoholic gene that we inherit from our parents? Now let’s put it together, how many believe that alcoholics inherit their illness from their parent’s genes? If that were the case then alcoholics wouldn’t have to take any responsibility for their alcoholism, would they? Hmm.
Let’s assume that the first assumption that alcoholism is a disease is correct then the symptoms could be DUIs, loss of a job, broken marriages, loss of spirit, and ultimately loss of life. Dr. Peck of the “Road less traveled” believes that pattern holds true for most mental illness. “The symptoms and the illness are not the same thing. The illness exists long before the symptoms. Rather than being the illness the symptoms are the beginning of its cure. The fact that they are unwanted makes them all the more a phenomenon of grace-a gift of God, a message from the unconscious, if you will to initiate self- examination and repair. As is common with grace, most reject this gift and do not heed the message. ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ (Matthew 22:14 see also Matthew 20:16).”
(Let me interrupt here and illuminate a point in case you missed it above. The second or third DUI may be a “blessing” if that’s what it takes to wake someone up!)
“They do this in a variety of ways, all of which represent an attempt to avoid responsibility for their illness…. They attempt to rid themselves of the symptoms by anesthetizing themselves with alcohol and other drugs. Even if they do accept the fact that they have symptoms, they will usually, in many subtle ways, blame the world outside them—uncaring relatives, false friends, greedy corporations, a sick society—and even fate for their condition. Only those few who accept responsibilities for their symptoms, who realize that their symptoms are a manifestation of a disorder in their own soul, heed the message of their unconscious and accept its grace. They accept their own inadequacy and the pain of the work necessary to heal them-selves. Those that have faced their mental illness, accepted total responsibility for it, and made the necessary changes within themselves to overcome it, find themselves not only cured and free from the curses from their childhood and ancestry but also find themselves living in a new and different world…. Even if they emerge from therapy without a belief in God, such successful patients still generally do so with a very real sense that they have been touched by grace. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ (Matthew 5:3). ”
If the above is torturously convoluted and incongruent it is totally my fault, and I accept total responsibility for trying to make Dr. Pecks’ words fit a paradigm to support my argument.
Note: You may have noticed that Dr. Peck refers to the unconscious as synonymous to God. These and other references he uses in speech, such as,” manifesting” are common to many other “New Thought” proponents that blossomed near the 19th century, and continue today with authors like Dr. Wayne Dyer.
On a further note, I was going to make a comment about posting comments. I saw some folks asking questions about the blogs on face-book and noted that if they were to comment “in” the blog, then others who may have the same question would be able to participate. “I’m just saying.”
First, I would agree with you that it is my wish others would join in these conversations, as they are always an interest to me personally. I encourage all to comment here as well.
DeleteNow, to your comments. It appears you've put a lot of thought into your post here. As far as alcoholism being a disease, there have been many studies through the years, and to my ignorance, I cannot speak to the them, haha. I have heard of this thought before though. Coming from a place where I have seen alcohol destroy lives, it would not be a large leap for me to accept this premise.
Having said that, here's what I do know. God is my refuge and strength, my ever present help in time of need. He is my refuge in times of affliction (Jeremiah 16:19) To that end, I believe He is able to assist me in my endeavors to withstand all afflictions that deal with the mind. Now, there are things that occur, due to a number of unknown quantities, such as Alzheimer's, that God has not given any inspiration to man on how to heal yet. But, on situations that deal with self affliction, such as drug and alcohol use, I believe that it can be overcome as any action that requires a decision making process on our part.
The beautiful thing about Grace is God understands our frailties, and has given us an out through Jesus Christ. You mentioned those who do not heed the call of God, essentially don't want to do the work to heal themselves. Growing spiritually is a work, no doubt. Let's not confuse this with the salvation experience as that is a gift, not of works. But to continue to grow takes effort on our part. We choose to read the scriptures. We choose to pray, to act according to what we know to be spiritually, mentally and physically healthy to our soul, mind and bodies. That is why those things we "choose" to do is such a big deal. Our choices will determine an outcome. If I drink, will it lead to being NOT of sound mind? Will I be able to maintain self control? Is this where I believe my true passion falls?
Yes, Seeker, I see a connection between the choice of self affliction and grace too. This is where the rubber meets the road, really. This is where miracles happen. But, although the demons of the drink afflict many people, lets not forget it's just one front on this asymmetric battlefield we as spiritual warriors are concerned with. There are so many issues that we simply cannot battle without God's loving Grace.
Thanks for posting this Bob. I really needed this.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Cass. And welcome to our blog community. I hope you feel the freedom to voice questions or comments in the future.
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