Some years ago I set out to write a book to be entitled: The 7 Deadly Virtues. (Perhaps I will still write it.)
We've all heard of the 7 deadly sins: pride, lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, wrath and envy. These sins, broadly stated, are at the core of most of our human experiences, desires and difficulties.
However, our virtues can be just as troublesome. I think there are at least 7 deadly virtues--and often, in our greatest strengths we encounter our greatest vulnerabilities.
Take righteousness, for example. On the one hand we are called to seek righteousness (God's), but must also be on guard against self-righteousness--which is a more common malady for Christian folks and one of the sins that Jesus encountered big time. It is so easy for God's righteousness to become our self-righteousness.
Or take holiness. There have been entire Christian traditions built upon the desire for, and work toword, a holiness of life and thought. Our own Methodist traditions are, in fact, replete with a holiness approach. But the trouble is, as much as we might seek God's holiness, we cannot obtain it--for the scriptures attest in many places that only God is holy. What we usually end up with are people who are "holier-than-thou", or whose attitudes toward others is more of the Pharisaic variety than of the Jesus variety. Instead of holiness, we just get grumpy, but believe that we are better than others who haven't discovered the truth (and this makes us even more grumpy).
Or take family. What a virtue. We all want to take care of our families (and we should!). But Jesus warned that family could also be a stumbling block, and that our desire to take care of our families could draw us away from taking care of the things of God. Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom." And so, once again, we may place so much of an emphasis on our individual families that we ignore the family of God, which is the church, the living body of Christ.
Man . . . what a quandary.
The fact is, our virtues are never enough. Our morality, our strengths, our gifts, our abilities . . . none of these are gospel. The gospel is: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
In spite of our virtues, we are ultimately left with the amazing grace of God. This is not our work, lest any should boast.
Instead of looking to our virtues this Lenten season, let's look to God's grace. There's enough grace for everyone!
We've all heard of the 7 deadly sins: pride, lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, wrath and envy. These sins, broadly stated, are at the core of most of our human experiences, desires and difficulties.
However, our virtues can be just as troublesome. I think there are at least 7 deadly virtues--and often, in our greatest strengths we encounter our greatest vulnerabilities.
Take righteousness, for example. On the one hand we are called to seek righteousness (God's), but must also be on guard against self-righteousness--which is a more common malady for Christian folks and one of the sins that Jesus encountered big time. It is so easy for God's righteousness to become our self-righteousness.
Or take holiness. There have been entire Christian traditions built upon the desire for, and work toword, a holiness of life and thought. Our own Methodist traditions are, in fact, replete with a holiness approach. But the trouble is, as much as we might seek God's holiness, we cannot obtain it--for the scriptures attest in many places that only God is holy. What we usually end up with are people who are "holier-than-thou", or whose attitudes toward others is more of the Pharisaic variety than of the Jesus variety. Instead of holiness, we just get grumpy, but believe that we are better than others who haven't discovered the truth (and this makes us even more grumpy).
Or take family. What a virtue. We all want to take care of our families (and we should!). But Jesus warned that family could also be a stumbling block, and that our desire to take care of our families could draw us away from taking care of the things of God. Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom." And so, once again, we may place so much of an emphasis on our individual families that we ignore the family of God, which is the church, the living body of Christ.
Man . . . what a quandary.
The fact is, our virtues are never enough. Our morality, our strengths, our gifts, our abilities . . . none of these are gospel. The gospel is: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
In spite of our virtues, we are ultimately left with the amazing grace of God. This is not our work, lest any should boast.
Instead of looking to our virtues this Lenten season, let's look to God's grace. There's enough grace for everyone!
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