4 Nov 2011
Guard my heart
I’m just doing a couple of short reflections on the armor in Ephesians six.
The second piece of armor is the “breastplate of righteousness”.
In biblical idiom, the heart was the center of decision making and righteousness was making the choice to live right. The kind of battle that Paul is talking about is the battle of how we live our lives. This is not some esoteric angels vs demons, this is about the choices I am making right now.
I came across a useful quote from Eric Fromm:
Our capacity to choose changes constantly with our practice of life. The longer we continue to make the wrong decisions, the more our heart hardens; the more often we make the right decision, the more our heart softens – or better perhaps, comes alive.” … Most people fail not because they are inherently bad or so without will they cannot lead a better life; they fail because they do not wake up and see when they stand at a fork in the road and have to decide. They are not aware when life asks them a question, and when they still have alternative answers. Then, with each step along the wrong road it becomes increasingly difficult for them to admit that they must go back to the first wrong turn, and must accept that they have wasted energy and time.”
Sometimes I wonder if some kinds of theology are a bit of a cop out. A version of Christianity that blames Satan or demons for all the bad things in my life means that I don’t have to face my decisions.
I’m challenged to look again at the choices that are producing my life.. how about you?