There are different ways of pleasing self. One results in self-righteousness, satisfied with self as a result of keeping a set of laws. Another way of pleasing self comes from self-indulgence. You minimize or do away with any sort of standard in order to indulge self.

Although both please self, the outward appearance is quite different.

I need to think about the lack of desire to draw close to God and please God. Obviously there are some with low standards who at least profess a desire to know God, but it seems to me they have been captured by an antinomian view of liberty and directly disobey Gal 5.13, using liberty as an occasion for the flesh. That aspect of this deserves a little more thinking.

Hey, I didn’t realize you lived in BC. I usually assume everyone I am blogging with lives far afield, especially since there are so few fundamentalists in BC! Anyway, glad to know it. Maybe we will be more likely to meet in the flesh sometime before glory as a result!

God bless

Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

Interesting disctinction. Do you think this is why many oppose the idea of standards – ie. they are not necessarily devoted to God (not interested in drawing closer to Him, separating from all those things, etc. that would displease Him), but are only interested in pleasing man (fitting in with the crowd – whether it is an IFB crowd or an ecumenical crowd they are in)? They want to fit in and not rock the boat – they don’t want to change and be uncomfortable, or stand out from the norm – whereas the person who is totally devoted to the Lord wants to consider what is being presented to see if it is an area that they need to change in their walk with the Lord. Just some things I was thinking about.

I work at the Kelowna Gospel Mission, and spoke with a man yesterday who recently recommitted his life to the Lord (after running from Him for years). Two days ago, he read 1 Corinthians 11, and came across the command to have short hair. First he was talking about what he read – but then I was challenging him to not just read it, but apply it too. He stated it was part of his native heritage to have long hair – and at first he didn’t seem open to change, so I just challenged him to consider the source (ie. God’s Word – truth), and his traditions. Which would be pleasing to the Lord – which would be better to follow, even if it went against how he was raised or what society thinks? He came back at the end of the day and said I was right about what God said and pleasing God being more important than how he was raised (traditions, etc.). Let’s see what he does with what God has now entrusted him with. God bless.