(7) But the things that were gained to me, the same I have counted loss for Christ. (8) Furthermore I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)
(Emphasis mine.)
If you happen to be just joining us, this is the last piece in the "Rage Series" which we've been unpacking for the last 4+ weeks.
For full context for part 6, if you're just now joining us, go here.
What St. Paul is referring to above is what I call the "Soul-Powered Life."
The ordering of the elements of our life to Truth and Love. It's where we live the Soul-Powered Life; where we lose the world to gain Christ.
The antithesis is living the Soul-Chasing Life where you lose Christ for the sake of the world. It's where we chase: happiness, meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in the finite things of the world.
You know this today as, "self-care."
In reality, self-care is a LIE; in fact it's an addiction. Because... the object of its desire is the material world. It's where the elements of the soul are ordered to pleasure and our base passions and emotions.
In the Consultations of Philosophy Boethius tells us the effects of bodily pleasure are anxiety and remorse; the remorse of conscience; in other words... we create our own personal hell.
To gain the world is to lose Christ.
To gain Christ is to lose the world.
The former is the Soul-Chasing Life.
The ladder is the Soul-Powered Life.
This is why Jesus said "if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
God is not of this world, nor is he limited to this world. Therefore, neither are we because we are made for Him.
St. Augustine tells us in his Confessions:
"You stir us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. (pg. 3)"
Results of the Soul-Powered Life
We are His possession once we’ve been reconciled to Him through Christ. Only when we seek to know Him and make Him the object of our knowledge and place Him at the "center of our wheel" can we experience the Soul-Powered Life.
We develop our mind, because we love God.
Train our body, because we love God.
Guard our emotions, because we love God.
We pursue the virtue of religion, because we love God.
And we bring value to our community, because we love God.
These are the results of truth and love being the object of our knowledge, desire, and devotion.
My friend... if you've been battling rage and feel you have no control and are powerless to its whims. Take a moment to observe what the elements of your life are ordered to. Why look there?
Because the thing(s) we worship is ultimately what we find identity in. And if that "thing" is material, when we lose it we feel we are losing control; when we lose control we open ourselves up to rage which is the loss of control itself.
Hope this series has been helpful for you.
If you'd like to share your thoughts, you're always welcome to drop a comment below. I, personally, read, and reply, to each and every comment.
hec g.