IN THE ADDICTION TO OURSELVES

We live in the vice of ourselves. Of course not all; but many of us Christians, do. Even if we know the Lord Jesus, we live in the practice of sins to which we get used to. We sin not only by acts and attitudes, but also by thoughts. By imagination, we create a world where we live our mistakes and practice our sins. It is as Blaise Pascal says: "Imagination – this is the part that dominates man, this master of error and falsehood..." [1]. 

In this world internal to us, only ours, and for which we do not have the courage to invite our friends, especially Jesus, our will reigns. In it, we are like the prodigal son who, loving himself more, has moved away from his father to be himself in a distant land. In this world of imagination and fantasy we are the expression of our will that, in conflict with the divine, makes us realize how true Pascal's words are, when he says: "each one has his fantasies, contrary to his own good in his own idea of good... " [2]. 

It is difficult to talk about it: sin in the christian's life. But the New Testament is full of guidance for the Christian not to develop a life of sin. Paul, writing to the Christians of Galatia, spoke of an internal conflict to us. He said, "for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit; and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." That is, our sinful nature cries out for sin, while the Spirit, who dwells in us, for holiness. Paul continues and says: "the acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, anger... drunkenness, orgies and the like. (Galatians5.17,19). 

We cannot give ourselves for presumptuous: we need to consider this issue. Blaise Pascal, in his work Thoughts said, "There are only two species of men: the righteous who imagine themselves sinners and sinners who think themselves righteous" [4]. We need to abandon sin, for this is God's will and this attitude demonstrates our love for Him. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). But how can we overcome sin and develop a holy life in us? 

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, helps us in this sense. He said, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and power worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1,2). 

Note that Paul talks about offering ourselves to God "in living sacrifice", for this is the rational worship that we can do to Him. The worship of God, in all Scripture, always involves "sacrifice." In the Eucharist, for example, we remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Thus, according to Paul, we do not shape ourselves "to the standard of this world" is a sacrifice of life that we can make through the renewal of our mind. That is, through the achievement of a new mentality. Or, in other words, through repentance. By doing so, we can experience and live God's will.    

But that's not an easy thing to do. That is why it has a sense of sacrifice, which is the true worship we offer God in this life. Temple worship is important and constitutes our collective expression of worship to God. But worshiping the Lord goes beyond that: it is a posture of life. That is why we must abandon that inner world of sin and draw closer to God by prayer. Only in the silence of prayer, in the presence of God, do we gather strength to overcome sin. In prayer, together with the Lord, we are transformed by his presence and we attain power to overcome ourselves and live the will of God.

[1], [2], [3], [4] PASCAL, Blaise. Pensamentos. São Paulo: Abba Press, p.76, 82, 116, 122.

Antônio Maia - M. Div.

Copyright