tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post4273220656677009342..comments2024-01-12T12:39:47.241-08:00Comments on The Christian Monist: What it is Hard to Talk to an Evangelical : Emotional Dishonesty Cont.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-39760001856390560222009-03-14T08:03:00.000-07:002009-03-14T08:03:00.000-07:00Bryan, That's a good question. I think Lewis is ri...Bryan, That's a good question. I think Lewis is right . . . that we should behave in the laws of love when we don't "feel" like it. But I think you can (and should) do that with emotional honesty.<BR/><BR/>The law of love is about the other person, serving them, honoring them, respecting them even when we wouldn't naturally want to do it because of our selfishness.<BR/><BR/>The kind of emotional dishonesty that I'm talking about is where we deny emotions in order to either fool ourselves or others into thinking we are better than we are. I hear Lewis saying that we should behave better than we are, not to fool people into thinking we are better than we are.<BR/><BR/>The difference is, say someone calls and wants me to do them a favor when I really didn't want to (other plans for example). I can obey the law of love and go serve them even when I have desire to do it. That is fine, and the honorable thing to do.<BR/><BR/>But if I lie and tell the person, "Oh I had no other plans," or "there is nothing else I would rather do than to be here helping you" then that's being dishonest.<BR/><BR/>Also to smile and tell others about your serving others and "how happy it makes you to serve the lord" is dishonest.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240462070445948163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-84856098738959316422009-03-13T23:06:00.000-07:002009-03-13T23:06:00.000-07:00How would you respond to C.S. Lewis' argument that...How would you respond to C.S. Lewis' argument that Christians should pretend to be better than we are?<BR/><BR/>" When you are not feeling particularly friendly but know you ought to be, the best thing you can do, very often, is to put on a friendly manner and behave as if you were a nicer person than you actually are. And in a few minutes, as we have all noticed, you will be really feeling friendlier than you were. Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already."<BR/>--C.S. Lewis from <I>Mere Christianity</I> Book 4 chapter 7<BR/><BR/>Do you think there is any merit in acting in a way that could be called "emotionally dishonest" in order for it to eventually become honest? By pretending that I am patient when waiting in line, could I really become a more patient person?NOTALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023642993271445419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-15828705248463056532009-03-10T15:27:00.000-07:002009-03-10T15:27:00.000-07:00For House, the malady of the week was a case where...For House, the malady of the week was a case where a man said whatever he thought. In doing so, he was a lot like House. The episode looked at the damage done to relationships by this kind of truth telling but also explored its value in House's friendship with Wilson. I think you would have liked it.<BR/><BR/>As far as your current situation, it's certainly sad and lonely that you can't be yourself. I should probably treasure more the evangelical friends I have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-66372155125932206142009-03-10T14:07:00.000-07:002009-03-10T14:07:00.000-07:00No, I didn't see House last night. Can't remember ...No, I didn't see House last night. Can't remember what I was doing.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad Crag V that you can't relate to some of these things. <BR/><BR/>I went to a large Evangelical church in MN and there were certainly a group of men that I could talk to, where you didn't have to put up and guard. I mean, I could tell them if I were depressed or having a hard time in my marriage. Haven't found that in my present living situation.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240462070445948163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-50231889752984052372009-03-10T10:53:00.000-07:002009-03-10T10:53:00.000-07:00I was very sad to learn of Terry's death. You and ...I was very sad to learn of Terry's death. You and his family are in my prayers.<BR/><BR/>Back on topic, here are some random thoughts:<BR/><BR/>1. Did you see House last night? I thought last night's episode did a good job of exploring "honesty".<BR/><BR/>2. I, too, participated in "I Found It". My car at the time was rather old and when my sister saw the bumper sticker on my car she said, "It looks like you found it."<BR/><BR/>3. Perhaps I'm self deceived, but the evangelicals I spend time with don't embrace a lot of the things you describe. Of course, rightly or wrongly, we would also tend to look down upon Campus Crusade. In our heart of hearts, I suspect (I hope) most of us want much more than what can be dreamed up in a marketing campaign.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-84070299111795761432009-03-09T11:59:00.000-07:002009-03-09T11:59:00.000-07:00I remember "I Found It! (TM)"Just like the later "...I remember "I Found It! (TM)"<BR/><BR/>Just like the later "Baby on Board" signs, within a couple weeks of the first "I Found It!" bumper stickers, the joke parody stickers started showing up. The three I remember offhand:<BR/><BR/>"I Lost It!" (don't remember the context, but it was an obvious takeoff)<BR/><BR/>"I Never Lost It!" (with Mogem David)<BR/><BR/>"Campus Crusade for Cthulhu:<BR/>It Found Me!" (H.P.Lovecraft supernatural-horror reference)<BR/><BR/>-- Headless Unicorn GuyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com