Translating Spiritual Attitudes To Practice

Romans 12:9-15

I have enjoyed learning how “magic” tricks are performed. Some of them are very ingenious. The reality is that what actually happened is very different from what appeared to happen. It was an illusion. The very fact that the performer took the trouble to develop the illusion implies that he does not believe it can actually be done. He was knowingly settled for an illusion.

While attending a Youth Camp, a young man I know was taught how to “speak in tongues” so that “he could be filled with the Spirit like the disciples on the day of Pentecost.” To me, that sounds kind of like the Children’s Miracle Network, asking “help us make a miracle happen.” A true miracle is a when the actual laws of nature are violated, as when Jesus fed 5,000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, then collected 12 baskets of leftovers. To teach people how to speak in tongues implies one does not believe God actually gives such power, so he fakes it.

Our society often makes statements such as “Appearance is everything,” or, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” The philosophy has been widely accepted in “Christian” circles. People are taught to “act” like Christians. I was pleased to find a book, Stop Acting Like A Christian and Be One, in a bookstore. To act is to pretend. Real Christians don’t have to act like one, they just are. Being Spiritual isn’t about what you do, but about who you are. You can be real, no longer pretending, because that is how you actually think, and feel. You don’t love some one because that’s what you are supposed to do, you just love them. You hate evil because it is offensive to you, not because it violates some standard. You instinctively react that way. It is characteristic of spiritual people.

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” (Romans 12:9)

Godly love has no agenda. It is not concerned with itself. I Corinthians 13:4-7 describes the attributes of Godly love, or ‘charity‘. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” There must be no element of pretense. I Peter 1:22 commands, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” That love indicates our relationship with God is clear from I John 2:10-11. “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

Genuine love and respect for God involves actual hatred for evil according to Proverbs 8:13. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Hebrews 1:9 tells us that Jesus was exalted by God because of his hatred for evil and love of good. “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” If we have the mind of Christ, we will have the same attitudes about the same things.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Romans 12:10)

When the Holy Spirit has changed the attitude, it will change our treatment of other people. Respect and yielding to their desires should typify our behavior, rather than efforts to promote ourselves ofr trying to get our way. We are instructed, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves,” in Philippians 2:3.

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Romans 12:11)

As we think more like Christ, everything we do is done for God, rather than for ourselves. We not only do our ministry, but our secular jobs and our personal business for him. Colossians 3:23-24 describes the motivation. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Ephesians 6:6-8 describes the resultant behavior. “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12)

Because “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,” according to Romans 8:28, we can do as we are instructed in I Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We no longer have reason to complain.

“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:13)

Sharing with others, whether giving to help some one else or inviting them into our home for a meal, acknowledges what God has given us, and reminds us that we can expect him to continue to bless. Selfishness denies God’s love and blessing.

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” (Romans 12:14)

Our attitude toward others is totally different if we think like Christ. We become like the cowboy who doctors the cow who just tried to kill him, knowing she will try again, but he doesn’t want to see her suffer. Jesus described the difference between the natural attitude and the Spiritual one in Matthew 5:43-44. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.“ (Romans 12:15)

We ought to not only understand in but share in the hurts or blessings of others. While we don’t know what they are feeling, we can tell they are feeling it. Telling them they can’t or shouldn’t feel that way is ridiculous. They do. Even when the emotion is based on incorrect understanding, it is real. Proverbs 25:20 makes it clear that inappropriate behavior only makes things worse. “As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.”