I have heard Christian men testify to their struggle with pornography. They have had to set firm boundaries on themselves by putting “filters” in their computers that block pornographic materials, by using their computers in the open rather than in private spaces, and so on. Knowing that their eternal salvation is at stake, these men take heroic measures to stay out of sin. We can call this “bottom line” obedience.
I know others who have dedicated free time to working in building houses for the poor, feeding the hungry, or providing clothing for the needy. God gave them a generous heart to do works of mercy even though such are not strictly required of them. We can call this “top line” obedience. In such obedience we join our wills with that of God’s in doing his work on earth.
The Christian life calls us to both forms of obedience. There are times in which we have to take a strict stand against sin; there are other times when we actively use the gifts God has given us to serve others.
Today the Church reads to us excerpts from Psalm 119(1,27, 30, 34,35,44).
“Make me understand the way of your precepts…”
“The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me.”
“Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.”
We pray that God will “make” us understand the way he thinks and value his perspective on our life situations. We try to choose truth in preference to the compromising thinking of the world. And we ask the gift of discernment so that knowing his will we can put all of our hearts into keeping it.
This all seems rather simple until we recognize the reality of “the opposition.” Christian spirituality reminds us that there are three “opponents” we deal with—the world, the flesh, and the devil. These have a way of clouding our discernment. The world tells us to go along with the popular thinking of the culture—“Don’t be so strict, everyone is doing this.” The flesh is that inner pull to sin, as experienced, for example by those struggling with pornography. Our flesh always wants us to take the path of least resistance—to “go with the flow.” Someone noted that the only fish that go with the flow are dead ones. Then of course the devil offers us out-and-out lies, just as he did with Adam and Eve. He tries to mix his poison in with the truth, and, little by little lead us off the path God has set before us. This is why we ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of fortitude to go along with the gift of discernment.
The Psalmist continues:
“Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight.”
To me this talks about “top line” obedience. We ask to be able to take a walk with God—to accompany him on his daily hike through the world. This means that we join him in his project of bringing his grace to a fallen world. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to do the works that Jesus did and thus help infuse his kingdom into the lives of others. This work is exciting and fulfilling. The Psalmist says he “delights” in walking on God’s path.
Jesus kept obedience to the Father as his top priority. Let us do the same using discernment and fortitude.
“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:28).
