Self-Control and the Distraction of Will Power

As I mention in my book (Amazon), self-control is one of “the fruit of the Spirit.”

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:19–23 ESV

The presence of “self-control” on this list can confuse readers. Fruit come from a tree without any perceivable effort. So, if these good works are flowering from a person, why does he need self-control? Far from being controlled, one would think that good works should simply “flow” from a self rather than require self-control.

Wisdom in the Plague Year

What does the Bible say about COVID-19. Nothing.

But the Bible does say a lot about thinking, deciding, and acting. There’s a few things to glean from Proverbs that may help you.

Proverbs as Antidote to “Toxic Masculinity”

In my book, Solomon Says (which can be ordered at Athanasius Press and at Amazon) I argue that Proverbs presents its ideal audience as young men.

Solomon mentions a kind of “toxic femininity” pretty early in Proverbs (2:16) but his focus is young men: “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck” (Proverbs 1:8–9 ESV). In Proverbs, the term of choice for a “toxic male” is a fool, closely followed by sluggard and simpleton.

Solomon Says is available for order!

It can be ordered at Athanasius Press and at Amazon!

Proverbs is Not Pelagian, Part One

Pelagianism denotes the idea that human nature is not affected by sin so that human beings are inescapably sinful. It states that we are capable of perfectly good deeds as well as evil deeds. As the free dictionary puts it: “It denied original sin and affirmed the ability of humans to be righteous by the exercise of free will. “

Proverbs teaches that we must pursue wisdom or face the consequences of our own folly. Some might accuse Solomon that he is teaching Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism.

The Power of Pretending

In an earlier post, I showed what I think was one area where Proverbs endorses a “fake it till you make it” strategy for becoming wise. It is a strategy that C. S. Lewis seemed to recommend in his book Mere Christianity.

After I posted, I saw an article on Breitbart.com about the recently-deceased Hollywood actor Orson Bean and how Lewis’ book was instrumental in his conversion from unbelief to Christianity. That led me to his account at the Powerline blog in which he describes how he was converted.

Beside other vices, Bean was a habitual substance abuser. Realizing that his behavior was self-destructive but not easily abandoned brought him to a 12-step program. There, he heard about a “Higher Power” and didn’t know how to connect to “it” to help him with his behavior. He ended up asking a colorful character in the group named Bobby for advice.

Proverbs Is the Bible Building a Better Man

Our culture seems pulled apart by two ideals. On the one hand there is a market for changing oneself. Crossfit famously want to help people be better versions of themselves. On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to here the message “Just be yourself.” I’ve seen an HIV drug advertisement encourage those who were diagnosed “keep doing you.”

I have no idea who is setting the expectations for when we have a right to complacency and when we have some obligation to work on change, but the “rules” don’t seem well thought out.

3 Libertarian Concepts that Help Us Understand Proverbs

Last Friday night I got a short opportunity to speak to a group of men about the essence of reading Proverbs. Guessing something about their familiarity with political ideological cultures in America, I decided to use three Libertarian concepts as gateways into Solomon’s understanding of life.

They were Anarchism, Self-Ownership, Individualism

Strategy for Change: Pretend to be Wise

Here are a couple of Proverbs that have more impact (to me anyway) when placed together:

“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent” (Proverbs 17:28 ESV).
“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:20 ESV).

So does anyone really think Solomon wanted to teach a fool how to disguise his folly? Or did he want to comfort a fool to think there was someone worse than him–an “ultra-fool” who talked too much?

The Appeal of the Past

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
Ecclesiastes 7.10

How can Solomon make such a blanket statement?

The past almost always produces in our perceptions the illusion of stability.

What if every age is an age of transition?