Lenten Devotional (28), Aaron Renn, and the Radical Life
These are not abstract virtues but virtues that touch our very being and humanity. We are Spirit-indwelt, which is to produce bodily fruits.
Many thanks to all who have kept up with the readings of these brief devotionals. I hope it has been beneficial to you.
When the Bible speaks of the “spiritual,” we tend to think of something not visible, ghostly, or otherworldly. But the Scriptures train us to see the word “spiritual” as the application of something formed in you by the Holy Spirit. The life that flows in the tree of human virtue is a product of the Holy Spirit who motivates and gives the power to live in these virtues.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…”
Our worldview also needs orientation when you think of “body” in the Bible. The biblical human body refers to your entire humanity, not just your flesh but your emotions, passions, desires, and decisions. The body is the battleground of good and evil. And the great battles of our Spirit-indwelt bodies are the nine great virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are not abstract virtues but virtues that touch our very being and humanity. We are Spirit-indwelt, which is to produce bodily fruits.
These virtues indwell a well-trained body. Indeed, we will always fight against the temptation to abandon them, but the act of repentance re-establish us in the trajectory of virtue. May this season of Lent shape our desire and passions towards the true and everlasting fruits of the Spirit.
Prayer: O Spirit of God, move in us, giving us new desires and renewing our love. Cause us not to grow weary in pursuing faithfulness to your call and abiding by the great biblical virtues through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Notations
John Frame notes, “The most serious epistemological mistake is, typically, to assert one’s own autonomy: to make oneself, or something other than the biblical God, the final standard of truth and right.” One of the greatest threats within Protestant thought is opposing the papacy while making ourselves into individual popes.
I gave a talk 14 years ago arguing for the Pauline authorship of Hebrews. My voice was different, but my convictions remain the same today.
I met Aaron Renn at the #natcon3 in 2022. We had a wonderful conversation then and have stayed in touch over the last few years. It was a joy to interview him for the Perspectivalist on his new book, Life in the Negative World. I recommend several substack accounts, but Aaron’s is indispensable for anyone seeking to read the times.
Sunday Shorts:
Lenten Blessings,
Uri Brito