control

Justin converted to Christianity early in the second century, not long after the death of the apostle John. Prior to following Jesus, he had been a philosopher, so when he became a Christian, Justin decided to adapt for the Lord’s purposes his reflective pursuits rather than abandon them. He retained the philosopher’s sash that lent credibility to his teaching.

However, he may have gone too far, for God rebuked him one day: “You are a Stoic and not a Christian.” Chastened, Justin Martyr (his loyalty to Jesus cost him his life) accepted the correction and dedicated himself afresh to the Lord.

When you come to Christ, you do so from a certain vantage point and with a particular perspective. You have a unique set of talents, skills, and interests. When the Spirit of God enters your heart, He dissolves some of those, transforms others, and fortifies still others.

Justin had a an analytical bent and he used it to share the Christian faith with as many people as he could. He took advantage of the respect the Greeks had for philosophy to share the gospel in a way that could capture and convince them.

What’s your background? Your skills and interests? How can you employ them to reveal Christ’s wisdom, goodness, mercy, or power? Don’t fear who you are and don’t discard it; allow God to redeem your makeup and use it for His aims.

Just don’t go overboard! While Jesus permitted Justin to exploit philosophy to aid his ministry, He didn’t want secular wisdom to predominate. So be careful.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” – Colossians 2:8

And consider Paul’s experience in Athens:

“A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, ‘What is this babbler trying to say?’ Others remarked, ‘He seems to be advocating foreign gods.’ They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.” – Acts 17:18

Based on the Lord’s warning to Justin Martyr and Paul’s interactions, it’s easy to conclude that you should steer clear of worldly wisdom.

Yet philosophy can teach you something beneficial about life in the Spirit.

Recently I read two online articles about Stoicism. The first, “The Only Thing You Need to Get Good At,” by David Cain, pointed out how we fare better when we attend to the few things we can control and disregard the many things we can’t. When we do this, we enjoy peace and success rather than stress and frustration.

Cain based his article on one written by Elif Batuman (“How to Be a Stoic”) in The New Yorker. Writing about her college years in Turkey, she discovered through the Stoic philosopher Epictetus a way to handle the pressures of school, long-distance relationships, isolation, and cultural misunderstanding. Prioritize personal tranquility by attending to one’s reactions to events rather than to the events themselves.

I agree with Cain and Batuman. Does that make me a Stoic? Or are these ideas compatible with God’s Word? What did God want to teach me?

I’m not in control. Of quite a lot, of most everything.

When I drive my son to orchestra rehearsal, I take I-94 going east to Milwaukee. Three lanes run east and three go west. When an accident occurs (and they happen regularly!) in one lane, all six lanes slow down. Why? Merging and rubber-necking; and I can’t control any of it.

My flight to and from Kenya for a recent mission trips was full of “out-of-my-hands” delays and discomforts. I found myself falling back on the notion of surrendering quite a bit. It gave me an immediate sense of peace but also steered my attention back to the Lord.

What can I control? What should I control?

Myself.

Three times the Bible promotes the virtue of self-control:

“As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’” – Acts 24:25

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” – 2 Peter 1:5-7

The Stoic emphasis on dealing with yourself leads you to seek God for His help in developing who you are. And when your heart is settled in Christ, you’re in the right frame of mind to affect positive change in the world around you. Like Justin, you can use the best that the world has to offer to spread the light of Jesus Christ.

Are you up for the challenge?