Sissies and Endurance
Why do too many Christians turn an obstinate ear to the law of God? Why is there such virulent reaction to the notion that keeping God's commandments is our only true means of loving God? Christians shudder at the suggestion. Their concepts of grace and love are polarized to the inhuman suggestion that the New Testament requires comprehensive adherence to God's written statutes. God has done away with such a rigid impersonal system. We are from free such a regulated religious life, aren't we?
Should it be a surprise that many of God's children oppose the idea of keeping the commandments? After all, aren't these often the same people that likewise dissent from the doctrines of grace, viz. sovereignty, predestination, etc? Are the doctrines really that horrible, or does man just oppose those theologies that most assault his autonomy? Predestination removes any human possibility of boasting in works, and law-keeping suppresses the liberal idea of "following the Spirit" -- which usually means making it up as you go along. More often than not, man opposes what opposes him. Predestination and theonomy don't comport with a man-centered version of Christianity.
In my opinion, there's one simple reason why most of us oppose God's law -- we're sissies. That's right. We are a weak, spiritually obese people that labor to facilitate comfort and work to evade difficulty. We do not have the fortitude to persistently resist sin, evil thoughts, nor change our habits because we deem it beyond our capacity. Therefore, we rewrite our doctrine to reflect our apathy, laziness, and lack of diligence. We're sissies, and we subscribe to sissy doctrines.
Ye Have Need of Endurance
Endurance means "the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way." It's a term typically identified with athletes -- those who overcome remarkable odds and grueling trials to achieve a goal or prize. The greatest contemporary example is the "Ultramarathon Man," Dean Karnazes.
This maniac is a part of small clique of super men and women that subject themselves to the most difficult forms of human endurance imaginable. They run. Not 26-mile marathons, or wind sprints. They run long distances that often equate to several marathons put together; and usually in the most difficult terrain available.
Dean Karnazes, author of the 7th biggest sports bestseller Ultramarathon Man, is in a class by himself. To give you an idea, his last major run was 350 miles without stopping or sleeping. His daily routine is to rise early -- he only lives on four hours a sleep a night -- at 4:00 am and put in a quick 20 miles and then come home and cook breakfast for his children. He regularly participates in the most fantastic endurance marathons ever conceived by man. One he did through Death Valley.
Reading his story will turn your stomach. Outside of the crucifixion, I've never heard a greater story of personal suffering. This man has often come close to imposing permanent damage -- even death -- by his chosen hobby.
In 2005, he completed the North Face Endurance 50 which consists of 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. He's run the South Pole marathon, went 148 miles in 24 hours on a treadmill, and even completed the 199 mile Providian Saturn Relay six times by himself. The relay is just that -- a relay. Karnazes was competing against full relay teams all by his lonesome.
When Karnazes ran his 350 miles it was at the Providian Relay. But that relay, as I just mentioned, is only 199 miles. How then did Karnazes run 350 miles? Simple. He backed up 151 miles and ran that distance to the start of the relay race and then joined the other teams -- again, by himself. Amazing.
When asked, Karnazes will often say that he runs to see what the body can endure. He wants to reach the limits of human capacity. He's not hit the ceiling quite yet. One thing he has done: he's left the circle of sissies a long time ago.
Jesus: The Ultraspiritual Man
In his first endurance marathon, the 100-mile Western States, Dean Karnazes learned that the first 50 miles you run with your legs, but the last 50 miles you run with your mind. Though the body is writhing in the most extreme pain, it is the mind that determines the outcome. The U.S. Navy Seal trainers will tell you that people are capable of 10 times their normal potential, and that surviving their training program is 90% mental. Big, muscular men will often fail while smaller, leaner sailors will go on to become Navy Seals. It's all in the mind.
Obeying God's law is only difficult because resisting sin is difficult; and most Christians have a high tolerance for sin. Therefore, rather than buckling down and finding the inner fortitude to live a life in compliance with God's law, they rewrite the Gospel into a recipe for "greasy grace" that fully permits and condones their half-hearted way of living.
But, Chris, what are you suggesting here? Does God want us to labor like that to achieve a more perfect obedience? I think so. I believe this is clearly what the Scriptures teach. Knowing our attitudes, the Bible addresses us like whiners -- like sissies:
God requires full compliance to His commands. There is room for debate as to which laws are applicable, but the starting point must be a diligent compliance. Maybe you'll find out that you were capable of a whole lot more. Maybe you'll discover that what you thought weighed so much, actually weighed very little:
Should it be a surprise that many of God's children oppose the idea of keeping the commandments? After all, aren't these often the same people that likewise dissent from the doctrines of grace, viz. sovereignty, predestination, etc? Are the doctrines really that horrible, or does man just oppose those theologies that most assault his autonomy? Predestination removes any human possibility of boasting in works, and law-keeping suppresses the liberal idea of "following the Spirit" -- which usually means making it up as you go along. More often than not, man opposes what opposes him. Predestination and theonomy don't comport with a man-centered version of Christianity.
In my opinion, there's one simple reason why most of us oppose God's law -- we're sissies. That's right. We are a weak, spiritually obese people that labor to facilitate comfort and work to evade difficulty. We do not have the fortitude to persistently resist sin, evil thoughts, nor change our habits because we deem it beyond our capacity. Therefore, we rewrite our doctrine to reflect our apathy, laziness, and lack of diligence. We're sissies, and we subscribe to sissy doctrines.
Ye Have Need of Endurance
Endurance means "the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way." It's a term typically identified with athletes -- those who overcome remarkable odds and grueling trials to achieve a goal or prize. The greatest contemporary example is the "Ultramarathon Man," Dean Karnazes.
This maniac is a part of small clique of super men and women that subject themselves to the most difficult forms of human endurance imaginable. They run. Not 26-mile marathons, or wind sprints. They run long distances that often equate to several marathons put together; and usually in the most difficult terrain available.
Dean Karnazes, author of the 7th biggest sports bestseller Ultramarathon Man, is in a class by himself. To give you an idea, his last major run was 350 miles without stopping or sleeping. His daily routine is to rise early -- he only lives on four hours a sleep a night -- at 4:00 am and put in a quick 20 miles and then come home and cook breakfast for his children. He regularly participates in the most fantastic endurance marathons ever conceived by man. One he did through Death Valley.
Reading his story will turn your stomach. Outside of the crucifixion, I've never heard a greater story of personal suffering. This man has often come close to imposing permanent damage -- even death -- by his chosen hobby.
In 2005, he completed the North Face Endurance 50 which consists of 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. He's run the South Pole marathon, went 148 miles in 24 hours on a treadmill, and even completed the 199 mile Providian Saturn Relay six times by himself. The relay is just that -- a relay. Karnazes was competing against full relay teams all by his lonesome.
When Karnazes ran his 350 miles it was at the Providian Relay. But that relay, as I just mentioned, is only 199 miles. How then did Karnazes run 350 miles? Simple. He backed up 151 miles and ran that distance to the start of the relay race and then joined the other teams -- again, by himself. Amazing.
When asked, Karnazes will often say that he runs to see what the body can endure. He wants to reach the limits of human capacity. He's not hit the ceiling quite yet. One thing he has done: he's left the circle of sissies a long time ago.
Jesus: The Ultraspiritual Man
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3We grow weary in our struggle against sin; and this is when we are to consider the endurance of Christ. Weariness is a plague on the people of God. It stifles progress and limits our spiritual growth. And where do we grow weary? The writer of Hebrews says we grow weary and faint "in our minds."
In his first endurance marathon, the 100-mile Western States, Dean Karnazes learned that the first 50 miles you run with your legs, but the last 50 miles you run with your mind. Though the body is writhing in the most extreme pain, it is the mind that determines the outcome. The U.S. Navy Seal trainers will tell you that people are capable of 10 times their normal potential, and that surviving their training program is 90% mental. Big, muscular men will often fail while smaller, leaner sailors will go on to become Navy Seals. It's all in the mind.
Obeying God's law is only difficult because resisting sin is difficult; and most Christians have a high tolerance for sin. Therefore, rather than buckling down and finding the inner fortitude to live a life in compliance with God's law, they rewrite the Gospel into a recipe for "greasy grace" that fully permits and condones their half-hearted way of living.
But, Chris, what are you suggesting here? Does God want us to labor like that to achieve a more perfect obedience? I think so. I believe this is clearly what the Scriptures teach. Knowing our attitudes, the Bible addresses us like whiners -- like sissies:
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:4There you have it. Are you prepared to bleed in your striving against sin? Dean Karnazes was fully prepared to bleed and more to achieve his goals in endurance running. Jesus Christ was fully prepared to endure the horrific crucifixion that was set before Him. Are we, then, the only ones to be excused from such superhuman struggles? Have we rewritten our doctrine of ethics, and created a shallow standard?
God requires full compliance to His commands. There is room for debate as to which laws are applicable, but the starting point must be a diligent compliance. Maybe you'll find out that you were capable of a whole lot more. Maybe you'll discover that what you thought weighed so much, actually weighed very little:
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. I John 5:3Learn more about endurance runner Dean Karnazes.
