I’ve tried several times to respond to your blog post about godliness, but the words never seem to come, never seem to be quite what I wanted to say. So instead of filling up your blog with my opinions I’m posting my thoughts here, knowing you read my blog and knowing I can say whatever I want here.
You say I opened a can of worms Sunday night at our Bible study because I wanted to know what this “eclectic group of young adults” thought about godliness. I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention. My intentions were to just get people thinking about godliness and how it should impact our lives. And you are right, everyone seem to be looking for a definition that was measurable. But that is understandable – everything we do in life seems to have some measurable quality to it, why not in the spiritual realm? But I think we get off on the measure because we use others as our standard, and we measure others by our standards. But the true measure should be Jesus Christ. How do I stack up against Him? Well of course, I stink. But He is still my standard. Our measure should be: “How am I improving compared to how I was yesterday, or even an hour ago?” When I start comparing myself to other believers I can quickly become defeated and frustrated. It’s like running. When I compare my 15 minute mile to those who can run a 5 or 6 minute mile I could get really frustrated with running. But when I realize what I can do now (based on my weight and level of fitness) I’m ok with my 15 minute mile. But how excited I am when I run a 14 ½ minute mile; and then a 14 minute mile. I probably will never run a 5 or 6 minute mile, but I’m ok with that. I know what I’m capable of at the moment and I’m at peace with that. Not satisfied, so I push myself a little harder, but at peace with where I am at the moment.
You also said that you thought our sinful nature makes being godly “unattainable.” I must disagree with you. I think our sin nature keeps us from being perfect, but it doesn’t keep us from being godly. I think we are godly people just because our hope is in the Living God, who is alive in us because of what Jesus did. I think we often make perfection and godliness synonymous, and that is a mistake. Godliness is an attitude, a frame of mind, a way of looking at God, the world, and those we come into contact with. Godliness is our way of representing God to the world, and I think godly people don’t even know they are godly. Some days we are godlier than other days. But we should be seeking and striving to be, as Paul said in the scripture we looked at, an “example of godliness in our speech, conduct, faith, love and purity.” Most days I fail in at least one of those areas if not all of them. But I keeping pressing on, knowing “God has given me everything I need for life and godliness.” I’m not sure I could handle perfection, but I know I can handle godliness. I like your question: “Are Godly people just normal folks who occasionally screw up as they search for truth?” Yes. I see godliness in a lot of people, mostly doing small things they think aren’t all that godly. I see the spark of godliness in all of us, whether we recognize it or not. I see godliness in you T, even in the midst of your “rebellion and cynicism.” Don’t quit trying T; the payoff will be worth it.
B~
Addendum: Becky sent me this quote in an email. It’s Oswald Chambers for Sept. 19th.
The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but God likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in your life, not good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God.
Bit of Smoke 
September 19, 2006 at 8:12 pm
To me what we need to know is the difference between God and godly. Only one can be God the rest of us can only be like him in a godly way. Since we are not God we have to keep trying.
September 19, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Bruce, this was sooooooooo good. You did an excellent job of describing godliness. I agree with 100%.
September 20, 2006 at 2:59 am
Bruce, I know I don’t understand everything there is to know about being godly, nor do I pretend to be godly, but I would like to be one day. You did a great job helping out our dear friend understand what we talked about Sunday night. For what its worth, yes part of me was frustrated with the whole “godliness” discussion but that was because I am coming at it from a different angle then most at this point in my spriritual life. I guess I came away with the fact that it gave me cause to think that godliness would be something to strive toward once everything starts to make a little more sense. Thanks!
September 20, 2006 at 10:45 am
Bruce, I know this post was addressed to “Dearest T” and so please forgive me for “listening in”. If I could just add a thought to the notion of godliness and perfection, I’m reminded that Jesus said, “be ye perfect…”. That’s a tall order, until my mind goes back years ago to when I would tuck my little boys to bed. That day or any given day, they might have messed their diapers, threw a tantrum, lost a shoe, etc….but when the day was over (knowing full well that tomorrow would likely be no different than today) I would give them a kiss and think, “Ah…my perfect child”. They were perfect, not because of what they did or didn’t do, but because of dad’s love (and mom’s too!) for them.
September 20, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Thanks everyone for your comments. Brian, I really appreciate your input and insight. Thanks. Even thoguh this post was addressed to T, a very dear friend, I know Smitty (another very dear friend) and myself are dealing with this issue of perfection and our feelings of inadequacy, of not measuring up. So this post is the start of a thought process, an exploration of sorts.
B~
September 20, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Isn’t it amazing where FRUSTRATION takes a bunch of people who want to know HIM……thanks for letting us in on the discussion and keep it coming….please….
September 20, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Ah yes… I used to live at the corner of Inadequacy and Not Measuring Up. But now, I’ve moved and now I live at the corner of Identity in Christ and I am Enough. It was a long journey, that move was, and sometimes I still like to go back and visit my old house, but for the most part I have settled in quite nicely here. It’s a much brighter, much more open, and much warmer house. It’s a home actually, and not just a house.
I used to always compare myself to other people but then it hit me that I was designed by God, created in his very image. Because of that, I am perfectly flawed. I have flaws, little things that God is working on in me, but I am perfect. He made me the way he wanted me, the way he knew he would get the most use of, the way he could impact people the most through me. And when we compare ourselves to other people we miss the point. We deny our “created-in-the-image-of-Godness.” When we do that we are saying essentially that God’s plan wasn’t good enough, that we have to be better. But see, the truth is, NOTHING can be better than God’s plan and design for us. I hope that makes sense.
Also, when we look at where others are and compare ourselves to them we are “shoulding” on ourselves: I should be there; I should be like them; I should be better; I should have done this, etc… It’s a dangerous game. Instead of looking at where we think we should be or how far we have left to go, we need to just look at where we are and how far we have come and rejoice in that. God will guide our next steps.
There’s plenty of room where I live now. And the rent is free, all you gotta do is just accept the offer. I will be praying for you Bruce, Smitty, and your friend T too.
And to answer your question about what I am studying in school… I am currently going to Alaska Christian College – a small unaccredited Bible college. I have completed a one-year certificate program in Biblical studies and am working on a 2-year certificate program in Biblical and General studies. From here, I would like to transfer to a 4-year Christian school (one that will accept all of ACC’s credits) and design my own major in Christian Leadership. I have several different possibilities (jobs, schools, internships, etc…)on my table for next year and right now I am just keeping my options open and waiting on the Lord. I know they are all within his will because they all would further his kingdom; I just don’t know yet which one would be the best for me. I have some time yet to figure that out.
I pray shalom over you.
September 21, 2006 at 2:49 am
Laura and I are at Mountain Mudd discussing the turn of events on Sunday night. I didn’t realize you had written a response blog until she brought it to my attention. I really appreciate all the thought you put into this article. I want you to know how grateful I am to have such a Godly example in my life. Perfection and Godliness are not synonymous, although distinguishing them can be challenging at times. I’m hangin’ in there, and we’ll figure this thing out together. The payoff will be worth it!
September 21, 2006 at 3:38 pm
You did do a very nice job of articulating godliness….and the Chamber quote is perfect.
It seems to me that there is really only one Christian, One who is Godly…He lives in us…and as much as we learn to allow Him to live out His life in us…this is our level of godliness…
September 22, 2006 at 1:50 pm
This is a touching and wonderful post, Bruce. Thank you for sharing your insight. I agree with your “description” of godliness; I know many godly people…you’re one of them, especially since you would deny that…. Keep walkin’ and talkin’ it…
September 23, 2006 at 4:53 pm
This is why I read your blog. Great thoughts, I would have enjoyed being in on yalls conversation. I actually just took part in a very similar discusion just this past Thursday.
It Jesus who said… Why do you call me Lord, Lord but dont do the things I say. That would mean to me, we have a capacity to do the things he said… right? Heck just look at the beatitudes… they give a pretty good picture of Godliness and well… thats the stuff he was telling us to do, right?