« around LA | Main | an odd dream »
March 29, 2004
Character and Circumstance
I think one of the misconceptions about Christianity and a relationship with God is a difference of circumstance and character. People can sometimes believe that Christianity promises to change their circumstances. That if they accept Christ, their life will change, and that change will come through a change of circumstance. If they follow God, He will give them something better. Like a transaction. If I sacrifice something to God, then He is indebted to me, and will make things better.
Romans 5:3-5
3...because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
The problem with this thinking is that it has good chunks of truth woven throughout it. God does promise a change when we follow after Him. But the promised change is a change of character, not necessarily circumstance. God longs to change us inside. In the past, I have dealt with sin by instinctively trying to run away from it (sometimes distance is certainly needed). I tried to change my circumstance. In my early days at MIT, when I saw how lazy I truly was, I longed for a change. To get away from MIT. So I spent time away from what I thought was the problem, and really enjoyed myself. The problem is that the problem was still there. Because the problem, in actuality, was a problem with my character, not my circumstance. I was (still am, largely) lazy, and MIT only showed it clearly. And as long as I was away from MIT and removed the circumstance, I never really saw my true character. It was beneficial for a while, but I did not change. MIT was and is my Nineveh (I even named my computer after the city Jonah was called to visit :) ). I am back in Nineveh right now, and am finally seeing a small piece of the hope that is promised in these verses from Romans.
And as a matter of fact, God often (always?) uses difficult circumstances to change our character. Suffering or conflict show us what we really are at times when it is difficult to look away from reality. When we can see who we really are, we see how we really need to change. We see that God is the only way to become as we were created to be, because He was the only one that knows what it is to be perfect! All other understandings of perfection are inherently lacking. We can hope to be more than we are right now, because God tells us that we can change. As we see the emptiness of what is here on earth, we can begin to long for Him, and not just a change in circumstance. Praise God for this! It means we are in the process of change.
I think this relationship between character and circumstance affects how we pray, as well. When we see that God wants to change our character, that is what we begin to want, too. We pray, not for our circumstances to change, but for us to change in spite of them. To honestly rejoice regardless of the outcome. To desire most a change in our hearts to become more like Christ's.
You know, romantic relationships can quickly bring to the surface who we really are. When we are that close to a person, they can act as a mirror into ourselves. This gives us opportunity to change on the inside! Just an observation into a little of how God designed us to be along with maybe a bit of why. He wants us in close relationship with Him, and close relationship with others.
As a sidenote, my time in LA was really cool. But it was different than ever before. Each time I have gone back in the past, I had a strong desire to return as soon as possible. And while my trip was great, I had this sense afterwards that I no longer need to return for the long term -- not that the desire was not still there in a lot of ways, but it is now somehow different than it was.
Also, more photos to follow as soon as I have time. I am pretty busy this week with school, and my computer is sick at home, so I am not sure when I will get to them.
Entry posted by byscuits on March 29, 2004 01:11 PM
Comments
Funny how clear the past looks through these eyes (AKA wisdom). Rejoice in the sight. There is no reproach for having once been blind.
Comment posted by gb at March 29, 2004 03:31 PM
Funny how clear the past looks through these eyes (AKA wisdom). Rejoice in the sight. There is no reproach for having once been blind.
Comment posted by gb at March 29, 2004 03:31 PM
I hope this "difference" does not keep you away indefinitely. Good message.
Comment posted by GsK at March 29, 2004 03:45 PM
I agree that relationships are like mirrors: they reflect light, but don't generate it. And for that reason, I don't think we should seek romance for its revelatory power any more than one would thus seek a life of suffering. Let intimacy with God inform both (hopefully distinct :)) circumstances--realizing it's the fomrer and not the latter that limits growth.
Comment posted by Jill at March 29, 2004 04:20 PM
In my experience, romance IS suffering - and therefore cannot limit growth.
Comment posted by JW at March 31, 2004 03:29 AM
"The former" is intimacy with God and "the latter" is circumstance. But woah, I hear ya on that romantic suffering ;)
Comment posted by Jill at March 31, 2004 07:42 PM
