Whatever

Imagine a stage. A set of aluminum rods hold up several thick black curtains. The lights go out, and out of the darkness, from behind the curtains, arise these neon, bright, glowing puppets. And from their mouths, they sing heartily:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

I'll admit, puppets are not my favorite art form, but I can't diss what people do with them. It's hard work, and it's worship, and I find no fault with that. This past weekend my church hosted a Creative Ministry conference. Over a hundred people, along with their puppets and props came together to learn, and to share their experiences and worship in and through this ministry. When the puppets performed their act based off of Philippians 4:8, it got me thinking really hard about some important things in my life. That's the beauty of ministry forms like puppets, like them or not, you can really remember something when it's presented to you in song, with black light and neon puppets. 

I thought about all the times I had complained about someone in my head, or had wished I could utter some foul words. It's pretty sad. All the times I had carried a bad attitude to the table, whatever the situation had been, came to mind. In not one of those occasions, nor now in my current days, could I say my thoughts have been true, noble, right, pure, lovey, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. 

For someone who claims to live life according to the Spirit of God, I feel like I haven't been doing so in this area of my life. One explanation I have is because I live my thought-life rather thoughtlessly. Christ says it is an exercise, surrender is an active process we must train in every area of our being. 

"5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Thinking cannot be done thoughtlessly. For every thought, it must be tested and tried. Our minds have undergone a process of renewal, but our thoughts also must be trained, being brought under the lordship of Christ.

 "45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)

Jesus is basically saying that you are what you eat (or whatever you take in). I am responsible for what I fill my heart with, for the thoughts that I think, and the words and actions that emerge as a result. 

I pick up on the belief that people do not think they have control over what they think, or they never consider that the way they live their lives is heavily dependent on their thought patterns and practices. We cannot excuse nor can we justify complaints, whining, bad thoughts about anyone or anything if we are to measure ourselves to the standard of God. I know this is a must for me to practice in my own life. I've justified bad thoughts all too often.

So why not work to train our thoughts, not only to be more positive, but why not start to set them on someone who fulfills the adjectives in Philippians 4:8 so tangibly, Christ. Then strive for righteousness, to think on whatever..whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.