Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace

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Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace

Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace

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Some might call it a book on spiritual warfare, but I think that description is a little misleading. When we think about “ spiritual warfare,” usually images of demon possession or witchcraft come to mind. When a person fasts, they train their body to not get what it wants. They stop giving into their desires, so they are no longer controlled by them. Of course, being deprived of food is a form of suffering, but it’s a lesson in suffering with joy. It can even be a path to freedom. These days, however, even many Christians are skeptical. People treat the devil as a myth or ancient nonsense. It took me a while to get to reading any of Comer's work (starting with The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry), for pretty lame reasons. But honestly he continues to astound me with both how well-read he is, and how capable he is of translating the wisdom of these giant thinkers in philosophy, sociology, psychology, history and -obviously- theology and spiritual formation into understandable and approachable vernacular.

This insight about “deepest vs. strongest” desires is similar to the “important vs. urgent” idea. We need to stop choosing something now at the cost of something better later. One simple way to become more like Jesus is to adopt spiritual practices, such as quiet prayer. When a Christian prays in solitude, the illusions of the self are exposed for what they really are: the devil’s lies. One aspect of this is how we have fallen prey to what is called chronological snobbery, the view that because we know some things better today than our unsophisticated non-scientific ancestors, we are automatically better in every way. We should trust our modern knowledge more than so-called outdated superstitions. This false ideology, often summed up as the myth of progress, is a demonic tactic through which truth can be twisted and redefined. Celebration of disciplineIn addition, a church should be a community of holiness, set apart from the hedonism of secular society. For example, Christians should be mindful of their sexual behavior and attitudes, and use their bodies to honor God. Humans are driven by desire. All of us are filled with primal, animalistic instincts for self-gratification. The process of becoming a good Christian is a kind of practice or exercise. Through adopting positive habits, a Christian can build the strength of their spirit – essentially their willpower muscle. The stronger a person’s willpower, the easier it is to overcome their primitive desires.

The Bible makes it clear that for Jesus, the devil was real – so Christians should be willing to keep an open mind. And if the devil’s real, that means he’s the one manipulating and deceiving people and making them miserable. Saint Peter predicted that Christians would be exiles. But living in exile doesn’t mean having a lonely existence. In today’s culture, an effective church needs to be a community of close relational ties, where people form deep, intimate relationships with each other. Christians should also commit to attending regular meetings with other followers of Jesus; at the meetings, people could confess to each other and offer love and support. These negative societal influences can be subtle, but they’re also corrosive. There’s a real risk that people will end up with a DIY faith – a mix of Christianity, consumerism, individualism, and secular ideas about sexuality. While Comer is referring to is the sexual liberation revolution of the 1960’s, his point spans beyond this example. I’ve always found it helpful to ask the question, “Does it work?” Our beliefs should not only make sense on paper; they must be tested in real life.The devil’s aim is to isolate people and make them sin. His method? Lies. He’s a master manipulator, and he knows exactly what lies to tell. For instance, a married man might believe the lie that getting a divorce and beginning a new relationship will make him happy. It’s an attractive fantasy – like most of the lies that people believe. The reality is, most of us are just too busy to live an emotionally healthy and spirituality vibrant life. Hurry is incompatible with the way of Jesus. The love, joy, and peace that form the nucleus of Jesus’ kingdom are all impossible in a life of speed. We must, as Willard went on to say, “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry.” He admits that what he is writing about is not that new, but it is a vital message then needs reinforcing again and again. According to scripture, anything that has control over a person is their master. By that definition, a huge part of Western society is enslaved – people compulsively chase after their desires, looking for freedom and happiness in the wrong places. Great book! John Mark Comer has an ability to explain old, complex theories in simple language, and apply them to our current ‘cultural moment’.

Willpower is at its best when it does what it can (direct my body into spiritual practices) so the Spirit’s power can do what willpower can’t (overcome the three enemies of the soul).” (p. 175) If we are struggling to trust him then we should consider if there is a lie behind this which we have accepted into our lives.

Self is the new God, the new spiritual authority, the new morality. But this puts a crushing weight on the self—one it was never designed to bear. It must discover itself. Become itself. Stay true to itself. Justify itself. Make itself happy. Perform and defend its fragile identity.” (p. 118) To say yes to Jesus’ invitation is to say no to a thousand other things. As the monks used to say ‘every choice is a renunciation.’ To say yes to Jesus is to say no to living by my own definition of good and evil, to spend my time and money however I want, to the hyper-individualism, anti authoritarianism, and full-tilt hedonistic pursuit of our day. It’s a thousand tiny deaths that all lead up to one massive life. It’s not a futile grasping for control, but the freedom of yielding to Love. It’s saying to Jesus, I’m yours.” There’s that feeling again. Burning conviction and deep hope. John Mark’s teaching usually leads me here, to the face of Jesus. And here I experience a soul-consuming desire to dedicate my life to the one who created me and redeemed me. Love is the desire not to take but to give. It’s the settled intention of the heart to promote good in the life of another.” Of course, it’s not always easy to distinguish lies from the truth, and it can be even harder to let go of these illusions. But, for a follower of Jesus, it’s absolutely essential to identify and reject lies. It’s the only way to live a good Christian life and be happy.



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