Comments on: the self prison http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/ to journey Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:51:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: rick jones http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/#comment-958 rick jones Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:30:10 +0000 http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/#comment-958 You say "We must train our souls to attend to others." That's so true. And it can occur on our own. The problem is that we spend so much of our lives training to attend to ouselves it takes a real transformation to reorient our thinking with any lasting effect. Without a doubt that's where Jesus comes in. He's the only way to achieve the focus and desire to give to others, to serve others, to submit to others, and break away from self. My problem is applying this to the different areas of my life as Jesus did. Can I have the same heart for my family, my church, my community, my friends, coworkers, strangers, street people, foreigners, addicts, AIDS victims, ex-cons, the poor, the rich? Without a doubt there are groups I reach for and others I don't. Jesus wouldn't do that. That's where I need constant training. Only the power of his grace and his steady presence in my heart, mind, and soul can change me from the self-centered sinner I am to the selfless saint he wants me to be. You say “We must train our souls to attend to others.” That’s so true. And it can occur on our own. The problem is that we spend so much of our lives training to attend to ouselves it takes a real transformation to reorient our thinking with any lasting effect. Without a doubt that’s where Jesus comes in. He’s the only way to achieve the focus and desire to give to others, to serve others, to submit to others, and break away from self.
My problem is applying this to the different areas of my life as Jesus did. Can I have the same heart for my family, my church, my community, my friends, coworkers, strangers, street people, foreigners, addicts, AIDS victims, ex-cons, the poor, the rich? Without a doubt there are groups I reach for and others I don’t. Jesus wouldn’t do that. That’s where I need constant training. Only the power of his grace and his steady presence in my heart, mind, and soul can change me from the self-centered sinner I am to the selfless saint he wants me to be.

]]> By: mlnewell http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/#comment-865 mlnewell Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:04:03 +0000 http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/#comment-865 This is one of those questions that makes me feel truly human: "how do I break out of the self-prison?" I love this question because it is essentially human; it has been tackled by the great philosophers and religions throughout history. We share this pursuit. Like you Jason, the hope-filled words and actions of Jesus have deeply and fundamentally changed me, particularly in the context of this question/struggle of the "self." Being loved unconditionally enables me to love unconditionally. Being graced enables me to grace. This is one of those questions that makes me feel truly human: “how do I break out of the self-prison?” I love this question because it is essentially human; it has been tackled by the great philosophers and religions throughout history. We share this pursuit.

Like you Jason, the hope-filled words and actions of Jesus have deeply and fundamentally changed me, particularly in the context of this question/struggle of the “self.”

Being loved unconditionally enables me to love unconditionally. Being graced enables me to grace.

]]> By: Jason http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/#comment-862 Jason Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:38:55 +0000 http://www.utazni.com/2007/07/16/the-self-prison/#comment-862 I think that this is where the gospel comes in. I can't imagine getting away from a total self-focus unless I have something bigger to focus on. To me, that is what happened when I gave my life to Christ. To be sure, I still look at myself more often than I should. And I also think it is possible to break out of selfishness without the gospel. However, I think that is not a real, fundamental change. The behavior may change for a while, but in the end we need a heart change (Ezekiel 36). I think that this is where the gospel comes in. I can’t imagine getting away from a total self-focus unless I have something bigger to focus on. To me, that is what happened when I gave my life to Christ.

To be sure, I still look at myself more often than I should. And I also think it is possible to break out of selfishness without the gospel. However, I think that is not a real, fundamental change. The behavior may change for a while, but in the end we need a heart change (Ezekiel 36).

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