September 17, 1998
Our conduct becomes governed precisely by what we desire.--Karl Barth in The Epistle to the Romans
From Karl Barth: Theologian of Freedom
edited by Clifford Green
What is it you desire? Love, money, a great job, a new car? We are driven by our desires.
Often our desires drive us to some pretty bad conduct. Who do we step on to get that great job? What other responsibilities do we neglect in that search for money. How many anonymous sexual encounters do we have in a misguided search for love? What other things or people do we forsake when we allow our selfish desires to drive us?
I've found an amazing change in my conduct when I finally only came to desire what God can teach me. I am far less stressed, I am far less angry, I am far less apt to intentionally hurt my fellow human to get ahead in my career or any other area of my life.
My desire now is to learn all I can about this entity we call God. I want to know more about what others think about God, and how they experience this amazing presence in their lives. My desire is to find out how we can practically apply the precepts and beliefs of Christianity to make the right here and the right now a much better place to be.
I desire to see the doors of the church opened to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. That desire has come to govern my conduct. I'm always looking for ways to talk about the issue, gain understanding of other perspectives on the issue, and learn the best way to help the church become more inclusive.
Think deeply about what it is you desire. Measure the worth of the your desire by the conduct it has resulted in. Is the conduct sinful? Is the conduct harmful to others or yourself? If it is, then you must rethink your desire in light of the forgiving grace of God.
Examine all desires carefully and discard the ones that lead you down a path of sin. Keep those desires that result in the fruit of the spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [Galatians 5:22-23]
Blessings,