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On Virtue 3

October 14, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

Am I virtuous?

Doubt it. I’d be hard pressed to call myself even close to virtuous. Why is that? Why is being virtuous or “morally excellent” such a high compliment that I’d be afraid to claim it as my own without feeling prideful as well … and probably, I’m guessing, others would think of me the same way.

And so, if it is true that we should be pursuing excellence and virtue, why does it feel nearly impossible to claim it or attain it? I know Proverbs 31 is one of the most popular discourses on being a “virtuous woman,” but I’m not sure it really resonants for me in this discussion. I find her more practical, clever, or wise than I do virtuous. (That is, until verse 30, where she is praised for her “fear of the Lord” or her faith, I would say.)

In fact, in today’s world, “virtue” (as a term) may carry a bit of a stigma. I can hear it now. “Oh, she’s so virtuous!” wink, wink. Or, it becomes synonymous with pictures of perfection that we tend to avoid putting such a label on anyone we know well, like a friend next door or an acquaintance across the aisle or a colleague at the coffee shop. We save up that designation for the “saints” like Mother Teresa.

We should be seeking the compliment, but it’s rarely heard. We should be giving the compliment, but it’s rarely spoken. That’s a sad commentary on our day and age.

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On Virtue 2

October 14, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

More thoughts on moral excellence lead me to the inner self.

What is in your center? Every action, decision, or “doing of good” comes from within first, as a decision or idea. I believe moral excellence is a phrase that covers the “state of the heart” and manifests in doing good. Just “doing” without the right motive is “religiosity” and will eventually lead to a Martha mentality (a lot of anxiety, perfectionism, distraction, and “do-goodering”). See Wisdom Seekers on a Mary Heart.

Luke 6:43-45 says, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

Our morality or character is based on our ability to assess what is right and wrong, what is a good choice or bad choice in the moment and then act upon our assessment. For those choices to be excellent, we must be ‘pursue’ excellence. We must desire it.

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On Virtue 1

October 12, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

In the Pastor’s Blog on this topic, he speaks of virtue as that of “doing of good” or “moral excellence.” It is the “second step” from II Peter 1:3-7 for sustaining our faith.

It’s interesting to me that the Pastor’s discussion somewhat mirrors my most recent bible study posting on “Kitchen Service” (chapter 7 of “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World). We have also been looking at the importance of serving … but as an outgrowth of intimacy with Christ.

I would like to spend more time this week pondering “moral excellence” however. This definition does not speak so much to the “doing” as it does to the attitude or internal choice.

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On Faith 6

October 10, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

In my daily devotion, I am up to Luke 1:5-38, the conception stories of both John the Baptist and Jesus. In both cases, the angel Gabriel comes with the big news, first to Zechariah in the temple and then to Mary herself in Nazareth. In both cases, the human response is “How can this be?”

Things haven’t changed much in today’s world. If anything, they are worse when it comes to accepting the possibility that God could/can/will work a miracle in our lives. We are entrenched in the 3-dimensional world. We doubt the supernatural.

Belief … faith … are part of the supernatural world. To experience the fullness of faith, we must also be willing to accept the fullness of the supernatural.

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On Faith 5

October 9, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

The Word: for me, it is a key ingredient for the foundation of faith.

And so, this is probably a good time to recount why the Word has been such a key in my life. Some ask me if I believe in the “inerrant” Word and I would have to say I do… but does that mean that I claim to understand it all or is there possibility that some of what is written is based on “story.” Does that make it less true? I don’t think so.

Anyway, it is through the Word that I came to the Lord. Back in 1979, a fellow student in acting school, “tricked me” into reading the New Testament as an acting exercise. Much as we were reading play scripts at that time, he challenged me to put these words, “if this were true…” before the first word and only decide at the end of the reading what is or isn’t true. I completed that task in less than 2 weeks over that Christmas break and ultimately, despite some things that were difficult to accept or understand, I could not refute the core of the Word. I believed it was true. That was my leap of faith.

And so, my Christian walk has been based on the revelations that God gave me, a virtually unchurched young adult, the foundation of faith through His Word.

In II Peter 1:10-11, we are told that if we “do” these things (that is build on our faith), we will never fall. This is the point. This is the journey of every believer. These elements that are examining in these 50 days with Jesus are roadmarkers along the path of every Christian. Where are you on that road?

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On Faith 4

October 8, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

These 50 days with Jesus will be based on II Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason [the reason being that he has given us everything we need for life & godliness, vs 3], make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

So, faith is the foundation for the rest… the first building block. But as I contemplate faith this week, I am struck by its two aspects, belief and trust, and find trust the more dynamic. The verb, trust, can replace the word “faith” in many verses. It carries a lot of power and revelation. In the end, it is in the trust I struggle the most.

When the disciples said (Luke 18:8), “Increase our faith”… I think they really meant “increase our trust.” Try these verses on: “…if you have trust as small as a mustard seed…” [Matt 17:30] or “…I live by trust in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [Gal 2:20b]

I’m just saying, trust is an issue for me and I believe, if I could really trust the Lord with all my heart [Prov 3:5], the rest (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) would come more easily. I would be leaning on Jesus and yet never feel off balance. To trust someone is a choice, usually based on experience. And if we have experienced betrayal, loss, and disappointment (among others), trust is broken. But in the end, to build trust requires a leap of … what else? … faith! The part of faith that is belief… the part that may not have any logic or reason. But once we make the first step on the path of trust, the rest come more easily.

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On Faith 3

October 7, 2008 by Irmgarde Brown

It is much easier to build/sustain my faith because I know… this I believe:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

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