Isaiah describes those who reach a state of maturity pleasing to God as “oaks of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:3)
This word picture congers up the image of a massive oak tree with a trunk about a yard in diameter. When I lived on a mountain top in Arkansas, we had one of those right next to our house. The strongest wind could not make that trunk budge one centimeter. That portrays the character of the person Isaiah has in mind.
Temptations of all kind cannot make this person even flinch. Infidelity never enters his mind, nor does lying or unfaithfulness to his employer or cheating on his income tax. When the e-mail spam message offers seductive pictures, he deletes it without hesitation. You get the idea.
Not only is he unshakable in resistance to the negatives, but he is also stalwart in his commitment to duty in the positive areas. He is responsible, as good as his word, uses his capacities for God’s purposes, and is faithful in meeting domestic duties.
We see a person of moral might. A person who will not just tell a person what he wants to hear, but who will tell the truth, even when it may be offensive, like Joseph in the interpretation of the baker’s dream or Daniel in giving the meaning of the handwriting on the wall.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus promised that the person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness will be filled. In other words, if a person genuinely wants to be an oak of righteousness, Jesus will enable him to reach that goal.
The Sermon on the Mount is the ultimate success seminar. It is difficult to think of a more meaningful mark of success, a better aspiration in life, than this one.
The evangelical community conveys a different set of values. When the preacher shares how he lost his temper with the kids on the way to church (i.e. how he is a pussy willow of righteousness), the typical response is, “Oh pastor, it made me feel so good to hear you say that. Now we know that you are a real human being just like we are.”
That, of course, is hogwash. No church member ever doubted the humanity of his pastor. Church gossip makes that abundantly clear. What they really are saying is, “Pastor, thanks for lowering the standard. Now I can feel more comfortable about being a pussy willow of righteousness, too.”
Instead of striving to become oaks of righteousness, we prefer to sink to the lowest common denominator, with our “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” bumper stickers. Raising the bar rather than lowering it, making our aim to become oaks of righteousness, might start an evangelical reformation.
The beginning of Isaiah 61 is a description of the Messiah’s grace. The poor, the captives, the broken-hearted, the mourners all receive, completely apart from themselves, gifts of grace. This is the context for the “oaks of righteousness”. It doesn’t say that they had “reached a state of maturity”. They are a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. As the chapter continues, it’s because of this grace that they rebuild, renew, have authority, and are blessed. The chapter ends with the author delighting in the Lord. Verse 11 indicates that it is the Sovereign Lord who makes righteousness spring up.
As we become more mature in our faith, we see more of our depravity. We love much, because we know we are forgiven much. We join the company of “the worst of sinners”. When do we get to call ourselves oaks of righteousness? That sounds like a recipe for failure to me. Perhaps the “pussy-willow” pastor should have ended his confession with a public apology to his kids and by thanking God for His patience and grace. Then the congregation would not have seen him as “lowering the standard”, but glorifying God in his weakness, motivating them to a holier life. If he had put on his “oak” face, the discouraged congregation would just keep trying harder and his kids, seeing his lack of integrity, would have hardened their hearts.
Scott,
Thanks for your comment. Your point is well-taken that the pastor would have done well to have repented of his sin. However, a better option is for him not to have sinned in the first place. At least part of my point is that contemporary American evangelicals don’t seem to put a premium on not sinning–righteous living. We tend to celebrate more the person who sinned and confessed than the person who did not sin in the first place.
Though we will not achieve perfection this side of heaven, we can achieve a pattern of righteous living. We need more emphasis on that and less on the concept that it is okay to sin because we all do it. 2Co 7:1 says: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” That message seems to be lacking today.
Regarding the relationship between experiential righteousness and grace, two factors indicate that experiential righteousness (becoming an oak of righteousness) is in part our responsibility. First, we find many passages in Scripture such as the one above that call us to righteousness. Therefore, righteous living is apparently our responsibility at some level. Second, some believers do not live righteous lives. If righteousness was entirely depentent on the grace of God, we would all be perfectly righteous. Therefore, though we become righteous through the power of God, it is up to the individual to appropriate and apply that power.
I agree that because righteousness is only possible through the power of God, it should lead to humility and not pride.
Again, thanks for taking time to give your input.
Paul