“11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Cor 5:11-15 ESV)

Accumulated decisions, the clear-headed aim of life, of consequential decision-making, of “this is what it was all about”: sometimes we lay in bliss at the fasts kept, the passionate hope that such mannerisms and abstinences, seen in the little things, will translate to the big ones.

Other times we have nothing but despair: how unworthy am I! See me here ostensibly on nothing more trying than a trip with friends and family, and see me sluggish, habitual, bored, automatic in action. If I failed, then let us recall, in so many things there are also sluggard’s sins, what hope is there for any and all higher callings I might graciously find myself plugged in to?

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! What Christianity rightly taught teaches, is that we can turn not just habitual good works into positivity, but yawning bad ones as well. It teaches some “food” for the habitual masses, the folks in the audience who ask questions just to make their own point, or who—let’s face it—are fast asleep. The mass: the fright factor that Nothing said in this context will do any more than to ape the sleepwalkers, to get their momentary assent but their soon-to-be unconscious enmity. We rightly fear at times to testify.

The soldier’s decision-making and clear-headedness, then, is buttressed by the firm promise that God has shown us the pathway through both good deeds and bad deeds, whichever convict or inspire us. Whichever seem to be the mountains falling on us, the hills weeping over us, the cities too hot for us, the towns too solemn for us. We will, on the advent of contretemps, of war, we will have to act without thinking. We will have to make split-second decisions. We will… we will be all things for the sake of Him who Himself got it right: we will rightly run not on the habit of goodness but on the habit of Adoptedness, a Father who laughs over our sins and votes for us anew each day. This Parent in Heaven, He is aiming after a state of Blessed for us, one that is not rote puppetry, but to invest something still too subtle or loving even for we ourselves to understand. God is a gardener who shapes and fashions us in His likeness. He uses the strange trials to keep us asking so little, our motorbike and little city apartment, or our dutiful family ranch and humble fasted daily routines. We have learned in all things to count ourselves Blessed. Top of the Game. Steadfastly Good, and calmly disinterested around Evil.

The peaceful oasis, then, is that ecstasy that—hearing Pastor speak—after all, I am in good climes and great stead: I have proven myself worthy via His intervention into my life, His vote of confidence, the stoic way I have—yes—been making solemn but certainly good Decisions in a few things, at least. Rather, the ecstasy is simply God’s vote for us, the unbridled Goodness of life in Church community. Because we well knew the self-loathing or fright factor around deeds past. In this we dwell, somehow stronger for that avenue which never would we have ourselves planned or chosen, but He chose for Himself and therein for we ourselves.

Then to that elder who seems so holy… this convicts us that, yes, some of us are indeed rapaciously ill in deed and manner, horribly sinful, a flawed being, one who inherited unholy genes and was just always over the years a bit selfish and conceited around his or her own outlay. Yes, the elder does convict, and yes, we learn: somehow God still uses broken vessels for the sake of their Testimony. That is, some mathematicaly certainty… it is never too late to Repent and to let be heard, calmly, only for those who need hear this, that God is for us and we are New Being in His Name. Beings who think of others selflessly. Beings who tell the right story for the kids or hug the parents in the right hour. Beings who laugh over the fright-factor sins of others. Beings who are Joyous and Alive in God’s Spirit. And maybe, just maybe, we as Elders ourselves will do likewise for our people.