Being Awake; Being Aware

The Theopolis Institute recently posted this clip by David Field. I found it intriguing since an important aspect of the wisdom of Proverbs involves the need to stay awake.

I argue in Solomon Says (Amazon) that staying awake covers not only literal consciousness in juxtaposition to literal sleep, but paying attention to your life as opposed to “sleep walking” into disaster.

Know well the condition of your flocks,
and give attention to your herds,
for riches do not last forever;
and does a crown endure to all generations?
When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
the lambs will provide your clothing,
and the goats the price of a field.
There will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
for the food of your household
and maintenance for your girls.
Proverbs 27:23–27 ESV

Solomon Says Out Loud: Online Audio

If you’re still on the fence about buying my book, as a weapon for your bunker in the virus apocalypse or for a more conventional reason, here are some audio resources to help you make up your mind.

First, there is my interview on the Redeemer Talk podcast:

Also, a couple of months ago, I was given the privilege to be the speaker at a Bible conference at Tri-City Covenant Church. This involved 4 lectures on a Saturday:

Then, Sunday, I taught Sunday school and preached a sermon.

The sermon text was Philippians 2:14. Unhappily, I forgot to turn on my microphone at first so the file has two minutes of silence at the beginning.

Eventually, I’ll convert this post to a page and add older audio links as well as keep it updated with new stuff.

Stay tuned!

Viral Anxiety Requires Infectious Wisdom

At the time I write this, many in the United States are under some kind of “lock-down” order. But, thanks to the internet, people are still able to communicate with each other. And people have differing opinions on which medical or scientific projection about our current pandemic is most likely to prove accurate. And they write to each other about them…

We might be doing so “under the influence,” if you will, of angst: “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25 ESV).

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 Two (of two)

Proverbs is filled with warnings against sin and exhortations to keep God’s commandments. It constantly sets before the reader the two ways one can choose that result in two different destinies. Thus it is easy to get the idea that Proverbs is teaching wisdom as salvation by good works.

Part of the problem with that, which I pointed out in my earlier post, is that Proverbs understands all people to be sinners in constant need of forgiveness. The other reason is that our Lord Jesus Christ needed to grow in wisdom in his earthly life.

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.