Justify by Reason of Insanity



According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, the word ‘justify’ can mean, “to show an adequate reason for something done.”  I then looked up the word ‘adequate’.  The definition resonated in my mind:  “barely satisfactory; acceptable but not remarkable.”

Do I want to live an average; run of the mill; second rate; middle-of-the-road; ordinary; mediocre existence for God, or one of honor; respect; reverence; having ethical and moral values?  These thoughts bring us to the following considerations.

I am acquainted with people that live their life on the edge of insanity; walking the borderline between right and wrong decisions, while justifying choices they make when wanting something that may not be in their best interest to obtain.  Some people call it, “The Gray Area.”

When people use justification as a means to acquire things that fall in the category of “Should I or shouldn’t I,” and they find themselves in the gray column of “do or don’t,” in my opinion, I believe they are on the brink of insanity if they pursue anything that can jeopardize their camaraderie with God.  I’m talking about walking in victory and knowing that all is right with one’s Maker.

When we do things that are a bit questionable, or downright wrong with respect to honesty, we fail in our duty as Christians to demonstrate and maintain a Christ like testimony to those around us that are watching our every move and listening to the comments we make. 

We cheapen our stand for God by allowing desires and compromise to taint better judgment.  Total and complete truthfulness is a must when dealing with people and situations of life.

When we justify our actions with reason, we are treading on thin ice.  Sensible thinking tells us to take a closer look at what we are doing and ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” 

It is easy to justify things in our own eyes, and be justified in the eyes of others to do certain things, but the question is this:  “Am I justified in the eyes of God?”  This will always give the right answer; perhaps not the answer we want, but it will be the correct one.  That is most important.

Justification takes the place of good decision making.  The ones justifying their actions are tiptoeing in the area of ‘compromise’ rather than running with honor in a place called ‘integrity’.  Adam and Eve became caught up in reason and deception; look what happened to them.  They were cast out of the Garden of Eden.

Though God instructed them not to eat, nor touch the fruit of the tree which was in the midst of the garden, they justified their actions and ate its fruit anyway.  The serpent had deceived Eve in believing that her eyes would be opened, and she would be like God, knowing good and evil if she ate of it.  He told her that she wouldn’t die as God had declared that she would.  (Genesis 3:1-24)   

After sinning, Adam and Eve hid from God, because they knew they had done wrong.  Their relationship with Him was compromised, because of disobedience and momentary insanity.  They lost everything in exchange for a moment of self-indulgence. 

This is what can happen when people justify their actions through the process of reason, even though the thing they want is not conducive or advantageous to their walk with the Lord.  

The fruit was enticing to body senses.  It looked good; smelled good; and the touch of it felt good.  The conclusion to Eve’s curiosity; she tasted that it was good.  She then offered it to Adam and he too ate of the forbidden fruit.  They justified their actions of disobedience, because of their desire to partake rather than refrain and obey God.

Though the senses played a big part in their sin, I surmise that the notion of being told they couldn’t do something sparked the “I want to do it anyway” feeling in them.  Does this sound familiar?

Raising three children I knew the frustration that accompanied wrong choices.  When they disobeyed my instructions, the pain of correction followed. 

I remember the words of my father:  “This hurts me more than it does you.”  As a child, I too made wrong choices and disobeyed my parents from time to time, only to suffer the consequences of my transgressions and rebellious actions.

It was easy to justify in my mind reasons why I should not listen to what my mother and father had told me not to do, which failed to hold water when the truth of my actions caught up with me.

(Numbers 32:23), “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

The trait of justifying one’s actions follows children into adulthood.  Why is it that people concoct and fabricate a platform of reasons to obtain something they know in their heart is wrong?  This “sin nature” is inherent in every person, of all ages and generations, from Adam and Eve to the present.

(Romans 3:23), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

When someone steps into the arena of justification, and those standing by are aware of their plight to obtain something that is in the gray column of “do or don’t,” I believe the bystanders may be as guilty as the one stepping out of cadence with God. 

If the onlookers allow another person to pursue their course of action without saying something to them in opposition, and then follow their lead and the choices they made, despair is knocking at the door for all parties involved.  As I stated earlier, they are on the brink of insanity to do so.  I call this action of looking the other way, “Guilty by association.”  

Another form of justification is when observers reason in their mind that it is not they themselves doing wrong, but rather the other person.  In everyone’s life there comes a time when the complexities of reason must cease and the integrity of pure, unadulterated honesty should be required of oneself to come to the forefront. 

Wrong is wrong no matter how a person paints it to appear otherwise.  They justify, by reason, their actions to seize what they want.  I believe we must stand for righteousness rather than lowering ourselves to another person’s level.  As someone said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

A high, moral standard of living is needed as much today as when Jesus walked the earth.  Rather than to excuse oneself and say, “It’s the other person doing it,” we must abstain from Satan’s enticement to ‘justify by reason of insanity’.  We should conduct ourselves as Jesus would do, given the same circumstances.  A disciplined attitude and positive mindset on the things of God are expected of us by our Father in heaven.

It is wise to step away from negative, unhealthy influences lest we ourselves are considered as co-conspirators of wrong doing by God, because of going along with someone else’s agenda to justify their actions.  It develops into a negative connotation to those that choose to remain rather than severing the relationship.  They become a reflection of the one walking away from God’s best for their life.  Remember, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Should Christians condone gray areas of justification, or should they run from it?  I choose the latter.  At times it may appear that Christians come out on the short end of things, but God has the final say.  He promotes those that stand for righteousness; prospering them in many ways that are void of heartache and stress.

When a person refuses to compromise their faith, for any reason, and rejects the temptation to go along with someone else’s misdirected brainstorm, God’s Word prevails.  It offers solace and direction to those abiding in truth.

(Psalm 37:23), “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”

(Jeremiah 29:11), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Vexation of Spirit

For the most part, people have certain goals and aspirations, whether subconscious or otherwise.  Their desire is to see them materialize sometime in their life.  I believe it is dependent upon their measure of faith and other underlying reasons that determine whether or not they achieve such thoughts or visions.

Many books and seminars on the power of positive thinking have come to the forefront through the years.  In part, they are instructional in nature on the art of achieving fame and fortune in the face of opposition; or how to overcome laziness, which is a poignant matter unto itself. 

Emphasis is placed on the concept of personal inhibitions or lack of ability vs. the pride of ownership.  The “how” behind the drive, or lack of it, is the question behind the facade of well-doing in the status quote of living and the attempts to make ends meet, while achieving success.

Get-rich-quick schemes are as numerous as there are people with a diminished wherewithal to achieve success within themselves.  People that take the initiative to zero in on those that lack drive, self-confidence, and enthusiasm are the ones getting rich by selling their ideas and techniques regarding positive thinking. 

There is nothing wrong with attaining money.  It is called, entrepreneurship.  It is alive and well in some people’s areas of expertise.  Hard work and perseverance are two of the initiatives surrounding a focused endeavor of free enterprise.  It pays off; monetarily in some cases, accompanied with satisfaction of mind; depending upon the person and circumstances that surround individual ventures.  You know what they say, “Nothing ventured; nothing gained.”

The power of positive thinking is on a parallel course with the power of positive faith.  It is simple in nature, with concepts straightforward, but perpendicular regarding ‘recognition of source’. 

The power of positive thinking is coupled with self and the ability within a person to ignite a personal drive to accomplish goals, whereas, the power of positive faith centers around God and His ability to bring things to pass through our efforts; coupled with the notion, “God helps those who help themselves.”

There are leaders and there are followers, depending upon personalities and the nature of individuals, which are greatly affected by circumstances surrounding their trek through life.  Situations, status, environment, acquaintances, health, and luck have a direct influence in the development of personalities and success.  They are all factors, but where God is concerned, is it luck or His providence that gives direction? 

(Psalm 37:23-24), “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”  vs.24 “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

There is nothing wrong with reading books on the subject matter of how to better oneself, but until a person puts into practice what they read, it accomplishes little in areas of self-worth and confidence.  It’s like reading the Bible and not abiding by what it says in order to find abundant living and inner fulfillment.

It takes ‘doing’, whether in the power of self or the power of God to accomplish things in life.  Both bring success into view when people arise and get to work through the process of doing.  Success is just a stone’s throw away, a relatively short distance, when people set in their minds to accomplish something, whether in self or with God’s help.  This is the parallel that I was referring to earlier.

We need only to look around at the success of godless individuals in Hollywood and non-Christian business tycoons that have millions of dollars to buy anything they want in life, but one thing remains sure and unchangeable.  There is one word that is missing in their vocabulary that money cannot buy.  This word is ‘peace’.  Though they may attain things and the recognition of others, without peace, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Yes, anyone can be motivated to aspire to greater heights in self-worth, and to go forth and conquer fear and the roadblocks that cause stagnation in one’s life, but the bottom-line to the ‘equation for success’ is about eighteen inches long.  It is the distance from the brain to the heart.

If we accept, as truth, the promise in the Bible, (Philippians 4:13), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and believe in our heart that it is for us today, we can move mountains, as it were, while giving God the glory when goals are achieved; rather than becoming puffed up in self-accomplishment and saying, “Look what I did.”

The mantle of peace is stimulated and attained when self is removed from the throne of well doing.  When the gratitude of one’s ‘heart of flesh’ is directed properly in God’s direction (as it should be), and He is recognized as being the sole reason for success, rather than the ‘brain of stone’, known as self-will, being praised; we tap into God’s resources of living water that will never run dry, thus, living in peace; having an abundant life in Christ.

When anyone leans upon their own abilities and understanding, these delicate areas can be influenced by freewill, which create a feeling of, “Who needs God?”  The more the Prince of Peace is ignored and snubbed, the deeper in despair a person falls prey; causing vexation of spirit.

(Proverbs 3:5-8), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” vs.6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  vs.7 “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”  vs.8 “It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

When we place God in His rightful place on the throne of our heart, He gives us the desires thereof without the aggravation that accompanies pig-headedness and self-will living.

Written by,

Papa Boyd



The Clamor of Worldly Chatter



When I think about communication and the importance of its delivery and reception, it is dependent upon how a person receives what is being said that determines the interpretation of its content.  The perception is most important in how the message comes across; though presentation goes hand-in-hand with insight.

When I was a youngster growing up in the hippie movement, much emphasis was placed on the ‘communication gap’, because of the challenges facing families at that time.  It was the topic of Christian circles everywhere.  The inability of children and parents; husbands and wives; clergy and church laity to understand one another was the core, fundamental reason for seminars, sermons, and professional counseling sessions.

It seemed like everyone had an answer in their little, black bag to the quandary of better communication and how it should be accomplished.  Communication, or the lack thereof, has not improved through the years.  It has only gotten worse, now decades later.   

In my opinion, the problems facing families when I was a teenager do not compare with the troubles confronting communication skills today.  With the advanced innovation of personal computers and the ability to text on telephones (that most everyone carries), and many other electronic devices that are flooding the market today, it is no wonder that the clamor of worldly chatter is becoming a conglomeration of noise; the chitchat of misunderstandings and miscommunication, because of the vernacular and lingo being used.

True communication skills are a lost art with most children, because of video games, far-reaching types of music being played through ear buds, and the hundreds of text messages exchanged each day with family and friends, to name a few—an endless barrage of mind numbing chatter.  I call it, ‘white noise’.  “A sound containing a blend of all the audible frequencies distributed equally over the range of the frequency band,” according to Webster’s New World Dictionary.

No longer is it necessary to use words or complete sentences.  Abbreviations and codes are used to communicate, which encapsulate the realm and subject matter of white noise.

Communication at home is becoming a thing of the past, because of electronic devices.  Surfing the net, for example, steals hours of precious time from family members.  I thought communication was difficult in my day, but it is swiftly disappearing in today’s society as people submerge themselves in a self-imposed environment of recluse living.

Everywhere I look I hear the clamor of worldly chatter that misses the mark of closeness; so desperately needed, yet missing.  I see men and women ignoring their children and each other at restaurants as they search the web on their phones; text messages going and coming; or talking to someone other than those nearest to them.

The word ‘rude’ does not compute with self-centered people with tunnel vision.  It has gotten so bad; their idea of having fun is a text luncheon with friends on the phone rather than spending quality time with family members at the dinner table. 

Building confidence and making one’s spouse and offspring feel important, like they are the most significant people in the world, is not happening.  The lack of it creates unsettled emotions of doubt and misgivings that Satan uses against the family.  He tempts husband and wife to find other interests, while children resist obeying as they ought. 

I see children disobeying their parents like never before.  I believe, in part, it is a direct reflection of the lack of communication in homes between parent and child.  Parental voices become unfamiliar; void of essence and real meaning, because of worldly chatter that takes up most of the parent’s free time.  It is shameful. 

Lack of communication causes calamity to knock at the door of families.  Satan is in the business of destroying relationships.  Time is short.  Taking advantage of the time we have with loved ones; communicating and enjoying what God has blessed us with; wards off Satan’s attempts to divide and conquer.

White noise is invading the workplace.  Giving eight hours work for eight hours pay is becoming a thing of the past, because of the upswing of talking on phones and sending text messages on company time.  Instead of working, employees are playing. 

What happened to dedication, integrity, and faithful employees that were once committed to honorable behavior; having dependable character?  Failure to train children in the home about self-worth as being viable and important is perhaps the reason.  It is essential, yet lacking and ignored.  The clamor of worldly chatter is to blame in part, because noble attributes are lost in the wake of non-reactive; non-responsive listening.

Clamor is also filtering into neighborhood churches.  When the pastor is trying to deliver his message, inevitably, phones sound out without fail throughout the congregation.

My goodness, people are becoming more and more disrespectful and rude every day; having little regard for the feelings of others, even in church.  No wonder communication lacks substance.  It has become white noise—sounding brass or a clanging cymbal; having little value with no-one really hearing what is being said.  The person talking is usually the one listening to their own rhetoric.

Everywhere you look, young people are going off the deep end; turning to drugs and alcohol to numb the longing to belong; created by an unfruitful existence.  Some are killing themselves, because they lack hope.  No-one is listening to their cry for help.  They need someone to hear and care about the inner struggles they are having, but everyone is too busy talking and not listening.

The clamor of worldly chatter is taking its toll in the lives of our youth.  In all walks of life, from the poorest of families to the affluent; optimism is fading.  We cannot place a thermometer, as it were, on those of less fortune and expect it to read higher than those of the prosperous.  All classes of young people are burning up with the fever of hopelessness.  They feel alone and helpless. 

Loneliness knows no degree of material comfort when the intensity of a hurting soul goes unheard.  No matter what a person’s status in life may be, when the devil stirs the pot of unhappiness, the scale of things missing in their life is only intensified and the void more pronounced.

Christians must stop and listen, lest they miss opportunities to share the Lord with those that are looking for peace and someone to care.  Souls are desperate for anyone to hear their cry for help.  It is our duty to present Jesus to the weary hearted that have lost their way; destitute and afraid.  They need to know that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He alone makes the difference. 

We must assure those that are lonely, without hope, that there is One who cares and hears their cry.  Christians have an obligation to tell them that God listens and then manifests His Spirit according to their degree of need, because Jesus died on the cross to afford them the freedom of son ship.  They need not suffer the pangs that unbelief and sin bring.  Christ is the answer to all of their requests—He hears the heartbeat of their suffering.  For this reason, God gave His Son for all mankind.

(Matthew 7:7-8), “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  vs.8  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

(Colossians 4:6), “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

(Ephesians 4:29), “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

 

Written by,

Papa Boyd