Tongues of Angels: Really... Angels?

So, let's just get it out clearly here so you know where I'm at with this. I don't believe that the speaking in tongues of the charismatic and pentecostal worlds is what Scripture talks about when it discusses speaking in tongues. I don't think that speaking nonsense syllables in a way that seems uncontrolled and random is something that comes from the Spirit, nor would I think that a systematic speaking of nonsense syllables is from God. I don't believe that speaking in tongues refers to the speaking of a heavenly language here on earth. I don't believe the mysterious things of the Spirit are unintelligible.

What do I believe about speaking in tongues? Well, I believe that the best translation of the Greek word, glōssa, is actually "languages." I believe that we should be talking about speaking in different languages and not in tongues. Because of all of the experiential background and what people have been taught, it's easy to see Scripture talking about "tongues" and automatically see the usage of the terminology as a validation of the widespread contemporary practice of speaking in tongues. When we look at the whole of Scripture, it makes a lot more sense to use the term "languages" instead of "tongues" to translate glōssa. The word does literally mean tongue, but it is simplistic and illogical to read passages about speaking in "unknown tongues" or "hear every man in our own tongue" while visualizing a physical tongue as what is being talked about. It is also important to note that in Scripture there is not a distinguishing between the words used to describe different languages and the words to describe the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues; both concepts are described using the word glōssa. An example of the use of this word to describe languages is found in Revelation 5:9: "… and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." The word here only makes sense when we interpret "tongue" as meaning "language." Thus I will be using "language(s)" to translate the Biblical word glōssa throughout this post. When I talk about the charismatic tongues speaking, I will use the term "tongues."

I believe that the spiritual gift of speaking in languages enables Spirit-filled believers who have the gift to speak the languages of the people around them. The believer never actually goes through the process of learning the language of the people that they are speaking to, but they speak to those people about Jesus Christ, and it comes out of their mouths in the language, even the very dialect, of the people that are listening. It's an incredible manifestation of the Spirit in the lives of the believers, with a purpose that is in line with all the gifts in the church, it is used to grow the kingdom of God.

This is what we see clearly portrayed in the very first manifestation of this gift of the Spirit. In Acts 2:3 something that looked like tongues of fire seemed to sit on each of the believers, then the believers began to speak in heterais(other, different) glossais(tongues or languages). They were obviously not speaking in unintelligible languages, but in languages that made sense. Those that heard the disciples speaking the message of Jesus, heard them in their own language and dialect even though they all had very different native tongues. If they had heard them speaking in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, that's unimpressive. If they heard them speaking in syllables that have do not have correlates in an actual language, that’s just useless. The gift of tongues as portrayed here is used to preach the message of Jesus Christ in a way that both dissolves language barriers and is a miraculous sign for those who do not yet believe (1 Cor. 14:22), leaving them "amazed and perplexed."

The initial use of the spiritual gift of languages is a precedent for evaluating the gift in other texts because it was the earliest usage setting the groundwork for the gift, the passage includes a detailed description of the gift actually in use, and the Acts 2 passage shows better than any other passage the potential power of the gift. In no other passage do we find such a fastidious description of the gift being used. Thus, Acts 2 should provide our foundational materials for framing a theology of the gift of languages. We should interpret other passages in light of the Acts 2 event, instead of interpreting Acts 2 in light of other Acts passages or 1 Corinthians 12-14. I hope to look at the other passages that mention the spiritual gift through the lens of Acts 2, but in such a way that the lens enhances the picture, without blinding me from seeing what the other passages are actually saying.

Jesus prophesies about the disciples' future ministry saying, "And these signs will accompany those that believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages" (Mk 16:17). Many use this verse as a proof text of speaking in tongues. The argument is that the word new, kainais, necessarily means that the languages spoken are those that are not yet created or those that no one has ever heard before. This is a sensible interpretation, but kainais here could very well mean that the languages are new to the speakers, that the speakers have never previously known the languages that they were speaking. Chinese is unknown to me, and if I suddenly learned it, I would certainly call it a new language in my linguistic repertoire. For something to be new, it doesn't have to be new to everyone, but new to an individual. To read this passage as talking about languages that are completely novel is reading into the text something that it might mean, but doesn't necessarily imply. The passage in question does not suffice to supplant the typical view of speaking in tongues, but neither does it evidence the theology of heavenly nonsense syllables.

This is getting really long. We'll call this part 1, and I'll deal with two other passages in Acts and 1 Corinthians 12-14 in the next post, and after that answer some questions.

Tongues of Angels: "Snao theunsth ntehuantheu aunhna!" Sorry, I Didn't Get That...

Speaking in tongues is a really interesting phenomenon that has been around in the world of Christianity (especially particular groups) for a long time. It's often found in movements within Christianity labeled "charismatic" or "pentecostal." Surely there are people who speak in tongues, and have a pentecostal-like interpretation of tongues, that don't consider themselves to be either charismatic or pentecostal. Additionally, there are likely others that would consider themselves charismatic that have a different perspective on speaking in tongues. The point isn't the denomination or movement affiliation, but the beliefs about what speaking in tongues actually means.

To many individuals, speaking in tongues means uttering words through the power of the Holy Spirit that are from a language unknown on earth. Whether these languages are actually used in heaven or not isn't something that tongues-speakers are generally worried about, the point is that they are from the Spirit of God. These languages are used for prayer in community and in private, as well as, more rarely, teaching and prophecy when there is an interpreter around. They are a signifier of the presence of the Spirit of God in the lives of those who are believers in the spiritual. When people speak in tongues they generally use syllables that flow well together off the tongue, but don't actually formulate words that make sense in English (or other languages found on earth).

In theory (according to the Scriptures) these tongues would only be spoken in public worship when there was someone there to interpret the words that were said, and "if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church." (1 Cor 14:28), because "Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air." (1 Cor 14:9). Also, there would only be "one at a time" speaking, and at the absolute most three during any worship service (1 Cor 14:27). Within the church, those that speak in tongues would not for a second think that because the Spirit of God gave them the ability to speak in tongues they were more spiritual than those that do not speak in tongues. For the Scriptures are clear, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit" and the rhetorical questions of Paul make it quite obvious that not all speak in tongues or have a particular gift of the Spirit, but all of the gifts are "given for the common good" (1 Cor 12:4, 12:29-31, 12:7).

In practice (according to the Scriptures) these tongues are widely misused and thought of wrongly. In practice, in places where tongues are spoken, they are generally spoken by more than three people over the course of a service and they are often spoken by more than one person at a time. There is very rarely someone there that actually understands what is being said by those speaking in tongues who can interpret what is said for everyone that hears what is said in tongues. These unintelligible words without an interpreter are often spoken in services despite the lack of an interpreter and so are not only useless for the community, but have destructive effects for the community, such as causing those who do not yet believe to think that Jesus followers are out of their mind (1 Cor 14:23). Many people say that speaking in tongues is something that happens when the Holy Spirit speaks to them and is beyond their control, they must speak out; however, Scripture says that "the spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace" (1 Cor 14:32-33). If the spirit of the one with the gift of prophecy is under control of the one with that gift, does it not also make sense that the spirit of the one with the gift of tongues is also under control of that person? Sure does. The precept of Scripture for a person to hold their tongue while someone else is speaking and to keep quiet under certain circumstances implies that the individual that speaks in tongues is able to control their tongue in spite of their spirit.

The biggest way that I have seen tongues misused is in the way non-tongues speakers have been hurt, judged, ostracized, and looked down upon by those that do speak in tongues. There is this really strange attitude amongst many speakers in tongues *note, certainly not all* that if a person speaks in tongues, then they are more spiritual than the person does not speak in tongues. In many congregations a spiritual elitism clandestinely festers, one that puts those that speak in tongues above those that don't. Some congregations, even denominations, have the idea that there is a second baptism of the Spirit out of which a person speaks in tongues. If a person doesn't speak in tongues, then they obviously haven't had this second spiritual baptism and so are less spiritual. These ideas lead to senses of superiority in those that do speak in tongues and hurt feelings and indignation amongst those that do not speak in tongues.

Even a cursory reading of 1 Cor 12-14 clearly demonstrates that ideas about tongues being a sign of superior spirituality or a gift of the Spirit that everyone should have are foolish ideas. They are contrabiblical ideas. They are arrogant ideas. They are lies of the evil one. Tongues is deliberately listed last in Paul's listing of gifts. Tongues are not said to be gifts we should strive for and are lesser gifts because they do not lead to the edification of the church body. If you have been a part of a church that has taught that tongues are for the more spiritual, that speaking in tongues somehow leads to a higher spirituality, or that all should speak in tongues, then you've been taught lies. Irrefutably, 1 Corinthians eliminates the possibility of tongues being a spiritual gift that allows for spiritual superiority or is a necessary sign of the presence of the Spirit of Jesus Christ in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit, that which we will know Spirit filled people by, is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. We are not to know those filled with the Spirit by their spiritual gifts, but by the way they keep in step with the Spirit in their everyday lives (Galatians 5:22-25).

So, I've said quite a bit, but not nearly as much as I want to. What I've tried to address here is some of the common problems plaguing speaking in tongues today that are hurting people and keeping people from God. What I've said so far is pretty difficult to disagree with theologically or refute the validity of my points. You can if you want, but I guarantee that your arguments don't hold much water. My words differ little from what God in Scripture has already said on the matter and don't really say anything new. In my next post, my goal is not to say something new or to be contrary, but to formulate a relatively brief theology of speaking in tongues that looks at individual passages in relationship to Scripture as a whole. As a result of this, to some I will be saying something new and to many I will be saying something that goes against their experience and what they believe to be true about the gift of speaking in tongues. My purpose is merely to present an articulated theology that I believe line up best with what the inerrant Spirit-breathed Scriptures say about speaking in tongues.

The Jesus Turning Point

I was thinking about some of the stuff I've written and one common theme that weaves in and out of my posts... God Changing Things. Here are a few paragraphs from multiple past posts that are encouraging to me (you'd think what I write would stick in my head, but it doesn't) because they remind me of just what the Messiah has done and does for my life - the way that His Presence completely shifts the reality that I'm living in.

Taken From "The Next Thing"
But my discontentment comes because I have a prurient desire for what is next. Admittedly, I am impacted by the culture around me and my mind has ludicrous credos that keep me from living the life God has called me to live. One of those is that the next thing is the thing. The next break I have will give me all the life I need. Going back to school will be where it's at. Happiness will be procured once I get A, B, or C. And I find myself a wee bit (sometimes more than a "wee") disgruntled where I'm at. The problem is not that I don't have enough, but that I'm looking to the future and miss out on what I have. And what do I have?

The unsurpassable, incomprehensible, insurmountable, inseparable, undeniable, uncontainable, uncontrollable, unstoppable, unquenchable, undeserved love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord. That's enough. More than. What is here and now is good, very, very good.

Taken From Oh the Ludicrous Cross
As humans, we have been born with an intrinsic sense of what ethical behavior is. When we sin, we sense it. We feel guilty. Because of our inherent ethic, we become guilty. In becoming guilty we acquire the weight of that guilt, and guilt, though immaterial, does not just disappear. It has to go somewhere. Although sometimes it does not stay with us emotionally and our calloused hearts may no longer sense it, the guilt remains upon us.

Back to Christ, on the cross. The perfect human. The perfect sacrifice for our sins. It is there on the cross that our guilt went somewhere. All of the sin of the past, present, and future was transferred to Christ. When His blood was shed, our sin was shed. With his death was the death of our guilt, for it was all upon Him when He died. His expiation for our sins was the ablution of our souls, freeing us from all sin and opening the door to intimacy with the God of the Universe. Powerful? Heck yeah. Foolishness? Yeah, I suppose so. But sometimes, Love is foolish.

Taken From An Anomalous Death
It separates us from the source of life (God, YHWH, Jesus - in case you're not catching on) because by living in it, by being taken by it, we are living apart from God, moving away from God, becoming more and more unlike the image of God in us. The sin doesn't go away. The effects of sin are eternal. The buildup of the barrier between us and God is unbreakable. We are fated to obtain our wage, to get what we deserve. This is our story. Our reality. There is no hope without an intervention of infinite power.

The cross of Jesus changed everything. God came to us because we could not come to Him. He took our sin from us, he took the guilt, he took the dark ugliness, he took from us what was keeping us from reaching Him… he placed it on Himself, and in a mysterious way only possible within the divine relationship, separated himself from the source of life because of the sin he took on. Then, in dying with the sin of the world on Him - taking for himself what we earned - sin died. What was required for propitiation of sin was the death of the sinner; instead, the one without sin placed it on himself and experienced its consequences of death to the body and spirit.


Taken From Understanding God's Love - Part II: While We Suck
The veracious reality is that because we suck there is nothing we can do to earn God's love. Trying to earn God's love and believing we can only leads to failure, which makes us see ourselves as failures, which leads to more failure, which leads to self-hatred and condemnation. Surprisingly, we must stop trying. When we're trying to become good enough to be loved by God, we're keeping ourselves from accepting God's love. We refuse, for whatever reason, to accept the love he offers. Getting caught up in the desire to and attempt to earn only leads us further and further away from an understanding of the love God has for us, the free love.

Right now, in the middle of my crap, in the middle of your disgusting sin, God loves you and I powerfully, infinitely, perfectly. There's nothing I can do to acquire more of God's love. There's nothing you can do to diminish God's love for you. Although by it's very nature sin is contemptible to God, and we are the purveyors of sin, God loves us. So deep does this love run that He sent His son, a part of Himself, to become the ablution, salvation, and expiation for our sins - opening up the room of God's presence to the entire world. Let go. Acknowledge your sinful heart, end your endeavor to earn God's love, and let the love that is already waiting for you come into your life. It changes everything.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Living Well 5: Sin Within to Beauty Without

Human beings are complicated little creatures for sure. We have these strange contrasts within ourselves that problematize any sort of encapsulating statements about human nature. Different sorts of philosophies say very different things about the natural tendencies of humans. A group on one extreme says that humans are essentially evil creatures that are selfish at all costs. The good done by people is only a more subtle way of pleasing and acquiring for the self. Another group believes that people are basically good. Bad behavior is the result of social problems and outside obstacles, not the evil in the person themselves. A third group thinks that humans are essentially neutral, neither inherently bad or good, just a product of their genes, learning, and environment.

None of these seem to really satisfy the intellect or the soul. The first, that humans are inherently evil, completely takes away our value. Something cannot be pure evil and have any real value at the same time. Every beautiful act of kindness or altruism would have to be seen as a product of the individual acting for their own gain. It just doesn't sit right in our guts, it doesn’t make sense with what our souls know to be true - there's something beautiful about us.

The second idea, that humans are inherently good and it is only the social problems that create bad outside circumstances that cause people to engage in bad behavior. There are a few problems with this. One, who created the bad circumstances if people are inherently good? Social and family problems might be contributors to evil behavior, but don't people make up societies and families? People are also capable of choosing their own actions and behavior and are not a mere product of their societies. Inherently good people choose good regardless of the outside influences. I also believe that as individuals, if we are to be honest with ourselves, we can feel that we are not completely good, we can sense that there is some sort of ugliness to our nature, something that makes us desire that which is evil. It'd be nice if we were purely good, but there is something nasty in our hearts.

The idea of human behavior being morally neutral and their behavior is only a product of the natural world has some similar problems. If human behavior comes from conditions outside of the realm of control of the individual, then the individual is not actually personally responsible for their actions. An individual must have true free will, the ability to make decisions in a manner that transcends conditions, for the individual to be responsible for what they do. Otherwise, the responsibility lies on the external conditions. That seemed like a tangent, but I'm just making the point that if people are morally neutral, then no one can be held responsible for what they do. Our souls don’t sit well with the idea that we don't have real control over our own lives, only an illusion of control. It's because the ability to choose what we do is real and is influenced by, but not determined by, the environment.

Scripture's picture of the nature of human nature is a little different and similar to these other views. Everyone is sinful from birth. People are born into sin and their tendencies are toward dishonoring and hurting themselves, God, and others. The individual has this part of them that is really dirty, really ugly, and really messes with their lives. This part of us makes us capable of knowingly injuring, sometimes destroying, the lives of others. No one is exempt. There is no one that is righteous, not a single one. All have done wrong and have an inborn capacity to sin that comes from inborn desires for the wrong things. We are screwed up people.

And then, there's this other story. People are beautiful beyond words. We sometimes have a hard time seeing this in ourselves because we are more likely to see our crap instead of what is wonderful about us. We can see it in others though. Everyone of us knows someone whose heart is breathtaking. Others can see it in us too. It's there. We are amazing creatures, made in the very image of God with immeasurable value. Just so it's clear, the value of the splendor God placed inside of us far exceeds the nastiness of the sin that resides in us.

Um, so, that's complicated. That's difficult. The way that works out in real life is confusing. It's true though. Awing wonder and awful horror are aspects of every human being. This is relieving and frustrating. Why were we made with these two natures? Why were we not created beautiful alone? The answer is that we were, but the world is not as it once was. What do we do now? How do we get rid of that which dirties us?

This is where Jesus comes in. For those of us who have decided that the way of the Messiah is to be the way of our lives, Jesus has offered separation from the crap inside of ourselves. For those that believe in the Messiahship, divinity, and power of the death and resurrection of Jesus, may also be free from the part of them that is sinful. Romans lays this out a little bit for us… "through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death… and so he condemned sin in sinful man" Jesus frees us from the law that works within us and, avoiding condemnation of us, condemns the ugliness inside of us. If the law of sin that works within us is condemned to death by God, then, well, it's as good as dead. Therefore, because we have been freed from that part and it is doomed to death, that part of us no longer is a real part of us. Who we are, and the sin inside of us become separate. Humanity left to their own nature is stuck with both the splendid and atrocious aspects of their nature. Through God, those who are being saved have only the splendid. They are only defined by the wonderful parts of who they are.

Still, for us who pursue God, the sinful nature is still within us. Also in Romans it says, "For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members… Now, if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I that do it, but sin living in me that does it." So, there is still sin within us that works against us, but because of the work of Christ, the sin within us is no longer a part of who we are. We are not sinful by nature, but our very nature has been changed so that we are by nature creatures of the law of the Spirit of life. We still have the option of being sinful though. We can still choose to live from our sinful nature.

This is the difficulty of the Christian life. We are by nature beautiful and pure, but have within our bodies a nature that is ugly and full of impurity. We can choose to live out of our sinful nature, but we have to remember that "we are not controlled by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in us." All who belong to Christ have this Spirit and this Spirit destroys our sinful nature but brings the righteousness to our spirit that brings life. Because of the work of the Spirit in purifying us and so remaking us into creatures of unfathomable beauty, we have both an obligation and a freedom to live from this Spirit.

We have to recognize and believe that the sin within us is no longer a part of us and no longer has any power over us. Because God has placed His Spirit within us through the death and new life of Christ, the power is now all ours. We're free from sin: its guilt, shame, condemnation, chains, power, influence, and pain. It is our choice then whether to live from sin, and so give it power, or live from the Spirit and the power the Spirit has. We have beauty inside of us beyond what we can ever comprehend. The more that we manifest this beauty through our actions of obedient love toward God and others, the stronger the power of the Spirit of life becomes, and indeed, the more alive we will be. Living well ultimately comes down to living as a child of the God of Life: pure, righteous, free, powerful, and with a beauty that comes from the God of Beauty.

Living Well 4: How Big is Your World?

Everyone tends toward selfishness. In many ways it is the natural and logical move. We are the closest person to us. We know exactly how we feel, exactly what we're thinking, and exactly how we react. Our entire life involves being around and, in a sense, interacting with, ourselves. Given the amount of time and energy we put into ourselves, it then seems like a logical progression to the idea that we should live selfishly, caring primarily about number one.

A lot of people would agree with me that selfishness is a negative thing, but a lot of people live in a world that is centered around themselves anyway. Most of our thoughts are self-centered. We may not be thinking about how we can best manipulate others to benefit ourselves or specifically how to optimize how much we can best satisfy ourselves, but our thoughts and desires often reflect a world where we are the center. We think about what we're going to eat, what we're going to wear, what we're going to say, how people will respond to us, whether our finances will be okay, who we're going to hang out with, what we're going to do, how we're going to spend our time, etc. etc. I make too many lists.

These things aren't inherently bad things to think about, but it's when we think about them in such a way that we are the focal point of everything, where we are first and foremost concerned about how things will affect us. When we are the center of our lives, we have a very small world. When I am the focus of what I think, say, and do, my world is only as big as I am. Which isn't very big. The meaning and purpose of our lives is found in how to get the most pleasure and the least pain. In this small world, everything that happens in relation to us is a big deal, creating problems that seem overwhelming Our lives then often become full of worry and our fears hinder us.

I like what Erwin McManus recently said about fear. "Whatever we fear establishes the boundaries and limitations for our life." If we're in a self-focused world, there is so much to be afraid of because there is so much around us that can have negative effects on us. If we chose to stop focusing on ourselves, the size of our world increases dramatically. If we chose to focus on people, then our world is as big as everyone around us. Our thought focus is then not on how to best look out for ourselves, but to look out for others. Our problems become a lot less small when our goal is not to acquire the maximum amount of pleasure for ourselves.

What if we chose to allow our lives to be centered around something bigger, say, God? That's a huge world that includes others, but also includes a Being that is bigger than others. If we place God at the center of our lives, we free ourselves from so many limitations. No problem is big compared to the infinite Creator God. Everything that once worried us and seemed overwhelming is now insignificant. Our lives also become loaded with purpose and meaning because the goal of our life is so much bigger and so much more important. No goal is bigger than the glorification of God. There is nothing as freeing and beautiful as living with God-centered lives in a God-sized world.

Living Well 3: Wise Thoughts and Foolish Behavior

We have an amazing ability to fool ourselves into thinking we're a lot better than we actually are. I see it all the time, not just in others, but in myself. People generally know the right thing to do. Some situations can become pretty ethically complex, and figuring out just what is right becomes pretty difficult. But in the majority of situations people know what the right thing to do is. When it comes to following God, the Scriptures provide us with so many principles and exhortations to act in particular ways that are in accordance with the will of God (and so lead to life).

The problem is typically not that we don't know, but that we don't do. Most of us want to be good, and for those that claim Christ as Lord, they want to follow Him with their lives. Desire isn't the problem either. When it comes to hypothetical situations, a good portion of people would say that they would act in a way that was honoring to God. If our Master Jesus Himself came to us and made a request of us, most of us would say "Yes" without hesitation; however, even when we have said, "yes" to God and know what we would do in a hypothetical situation, when reality hits and we are in the thick of life with a lot of conflicting wants and felt needs, we so often don't do what we said and thought that we would do.

Jesus tells us an illustrative parable remarking on something quite similar.
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. De went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
Isn't it obvious? Picture yourself as the father. Although it would be disappointing to have your son reject you and speak disobediently, all would be easily relationally remedied if the son then showed his regret of his vocal disobedience by acting in obedience. The other son's words would be welcome at first, but when it was found that the other son didn't follow through, the words would be meaningless lies because of the disconnect between what the son said he would do and what he actually did. Actions speak sometimes what words alone cannot. Words are important, but have no foundation without a life that reflects those words.

Scripture often links loving God with obeying God. This is quite sensible. You don't love someone by talking nice about them, nice to them, thanking them for what they've done, and then living a life that dishonors that person. That's not love. You don't love someone by telling them you care about them and having strong feelings for them, but then acting in ways that hurt them. That's not love. Love toward God includes words and feelings, but is primarily founded on a life that reflects those words and feelings, driven by a heart that truly wants to actively love God.

Sometimes, like those that Jesus told his parable to, we think that because we know what the right thing to do is and because we, truly, most of the time want to do that right thing, that then we are good, healthy, wise, loving, and obedient people. Words and action are not the same though. Having a deep understanding of right and wrong, good and evil, God's way and the way of sin, doesn't mean a whole lot without a life lived according to these realities. James puts it this way: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him or her show it by his/her good life; by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. He doesn't say to show it by good advice, articulate thoughts, demonstrating knowledge, or reciting Scripture. Wise living proves wisdom. Righteous living proves right beliefs. Goodness proves that one understands what good is.

Join me. Let us never be content with having knowledge, wisdom, or understanding alone. Demonstrate your comprehension of these things with your behavior. Living well necessitates thinking well, but thinking well is not adequate. Live a life of love toward God and others. Let us get rid of any disconnect between our wise thoughts and our foolish behavior. Let what we would do in a hypothetical situation be what we actually do in a real life circumstance. The more we do this, the closer we become to being who we want to be: people that live well.

A few beauts

Don't tell anyone, but this is me breaking into the house...

Buying a home in North Minneapolis

Taking a short break from my normal type of post, I just wanted to throw it out there that my little brother and I are going to be buying a house relatively soon in North Minneapolis. We're hopefully going to make an offer on one today. It's pretty exciting for a number of reasons...
1. I never thought I'd be able to afford a house.
2. The housing market situation potentially makes it possible for us to have a supplemented income with having multiple properties and renters.
3. I'm almost in Minneapolis.
4. I get to live in a brand new city near wherever FTC would be.

We'll post some pictures soon. They are all a little run down, but we'll get our lucky home looking pretty sassy before too long.

Here are some questions that I'm dealing with right now as I think about moving. Any comments and help with them would be appreciated.

How do I love well as I leave Eau Claire? How do I leave my closest friends in a manner that shows them how much they mean to me and how awesome they have been for me? How do I get connected in my new city? How do I learn about the culture of a new place? How do I express to them my love for them? How do I begin conversations about the spiritual with people, not so I can throw the three step gospel program at them, but so I can build a relationship with them and gently, constantly, show them Christ in words and speech? How often should I visit Eau Claire?

Live today well,
-jeremiah