Day 7

End of the Week

So, you've been thinking about the difference between the Greek and Hebrew views
for a week now. Perhaps you're ready for a bigger exposure to how much we are
affected by these differences without being aware of it. We can picture some of
these differences with the following word pairs:
Greek vs. Hebrew

Mind - Cognitive vs. Heart - Attitude & Action

Believe correctly vs. Behave righteously

Education vs. Submission

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

Reason vs. Revelation

Material vs. Spiritual

Outer recognition vs. Harmony between inner self and outward action

Fulfilled vs. Fruitful

Body-Mind-Spirit vs. Person (in Hebrew, nephesh)

Enlightenment vs. Repentance

Destiny vs. Purpose

Of course, there are overlaps in concepts. Whenever entire cultures are reduced to a
dozen words, many of the nuances are lost. But in general, we can see the striking
differences between these two views. The differences are not just about the nature
of Man. They are different in their outlook regarding history, purpose, epistemology
(how you know what's true), ethics and religion.
How many times have we been frustrated in our spiritual growth or the application of
Christian beliefs in our everyday circumstances because we have been trying to fit a
square Hebrew peg into a round Greek hole? Look at the list again. How much of
your own belief system is really Greek? Ask yourself these questions to see if you
aren't making Greek assumptions about the world.
1. Do you place a higher value on gaining knowledge than you do on
submitting to God's wisdom?
Perhaps you will say, "Oh, no. I don't do that. I want to serve God's purposes". But
the truth is usually found in our actions, not our words. How often have you
shortened your time studying God's word so that you could get to work? Do you tell
your children that the path to success is a college degree? How much emphasis do
you and your family put on understanding God's precise purpose for your daily life or
do you "assume" it while you rush to meet the next obligation?
2. Do you think that hard work and understanding will solve your problems?

Here's another example. The last time you made a job change or took a promotion,
did you decide on the basis of your evaluation of what's best or did you consider
God's instruction about work as the priority? When you face financial difficulties, do
you put in overtime or do you spend more time on your knees? When you are in
conflict with your spouse, do you ask to pray togetherbefore you begin arguing,
debating or justifying?
3. Do you measure achievements according to the standards of your career
instead of according to God's revelation?
I have many college degrees. They are displayed on my wall. Do you think that
they make me a better person? When you meet people, do you judge them by their
accomplishments before you know if they have submitted their lives to God? If
someone asks you what you do, is God's purpose part of your answer?
4. Do you listen more to your mind than to your heart?
When you face a really stressful problem, where do you turn first, to your own
mental resources (trying to figure out how to make things work) or to God (asking
Him for His guidance)? When bad things happen to you, whom do you blame? Why
do you blame anyone at all? Do you believe that God is using these things in your
life for His purposes or are they just bad luck?
5. Are you shaped more by your outward circumstances than by your inner
reflection?
When you are under stress, are you able to see God's hand in every circumstance?
Do you know the inner tranquility that Jesus promised ("my peace I give to you") or
are you so anxious that you just can't let it all go?
6. Do you look for outward approval by men instead of inner recognition by
God?
Does your reputation count more than your quiet devotion before God? Do you look
for recognition from others? Do you keep "score"?
7. Are you struggling to find your destiny or are you striving to bring about
God's purposes?
If you wrote down the most important desires of your life, where would devotion (not
service) to God be?
8. How hard is it for you to admit your mistakes, genuinely ask for
forgiveness and make apologies?

Once you answer these questions, you may find that you are much more Greek than
you are Hebrew. That might explain why you find frustration in your spiritual life.
When Paul tells us that we must become like Christ by the renewing of our minds, he
is speaking about much more than just changing our religious beliefs. We need to
start seeing the world from God's perspective, and that perspective does not come
from the top of Mt. Olympus.
Today's cultural orientation is based on Greek thinking and assumptions. If we are
going to express Hebrew faith in this Greek world, we need to know when we
confront these fundamental differences. This does not mean that we can't be
Christian in the workplace, in civil and social settings or in education. Obviously, God
is the God of all creation and sovereign over every circumstance. So, God expects us
to behave like His Son. But we usually try to do the "right" thing without even
knowing what God's viewpoint really is. Maybe we need to take a serious look at
what we really believe by looking at how we act, not what we say.
For example, we teach our children that success in life is the result of education. We
tell them that knowledge and study is the way to happiness. This idea is thoroughly
Greek. God's way is quite different. First, life is not measured by material gain and
success. Secondly, life is not about education; it is about wisdom. Thirdly,
knowledge is valuable only if it produces a submissive attitude toward God. Degrees
on the wall, sales awards, career promotions and corporate titles mean nothing if
they are not part of God's purpose for us. This does not mean that we take an antieducational stance. It means that we evaluate our education by God's standard of
useful holiness. We do what makes sense for a much bigger, eternal picture. We are
not limited by the human horizon.
Do you see how easily our Greek perspective shows itself? Do you see how hard it is
to make sense of life when your Greek-based assumptions thwart your attempts to
be a good Hebrew-based Christian?
It's time to do battle. As Pogo said in that favorite cartoon, "We have met the
enemy and he is us."