RETHINKING GODLINESS

One might expect that a former pastor and teacher now past his apportioned three score and ten years of life, would not only possess a superior understanding of godliness, but also would be living within a state of godliness. I concur with the expectation but I question that it can be assumed that a pastor or any Christian is living life that way because so much can be feigned, pretended. A senior often moves slowly, speaks infrequently, smiles tranquilly and perhaps conceals a world of hurt and trauma and fear and perhaps anger.

I admire writers but I am also weary of writers who multiply titles with trite formulaic approaches to subjects as profound as godliness. 10 disciplines of a godly man.  10 characteristics of a godly man. 10 steps to a godly life. I reject or strongly react against this methodic, mechanical spirituality. I refuse a suggestion that having accomplished the ten steps one receives a virtual graduation certificate. I prefer to understand the pursuit of godliness as a constant way of living in relationship with God.

I want to be a godly man. That is at least the starting point. If I am going to be godly, godlike, then I appreciate that I need to be with Him. I need to know him and let him know me in the sense of talking my life to him. Of course I understand that knowing God requires learning what he has told me about himself in scripture, and yes I know talking to him with regularity is prayer. I want to disassociate rules and guilt from my definition of godliness. That would seem to me an advancement, a superior understanding of godliness. I desire a steady and developing confident daily life of conscious interaction with God’s Spirit so that I know I am in step with him, and from that righteous centre-point I trust, think, act, talk, read, write and help others. I can then even try new things, step out in faith, surprise myself and be surprised by God. In the course of this everyday holiness, God’s attributes become evident in me and God is reflected in me and He is pleased.