Chapter 9: Rationalization of Mankind

Page 27

What I am really trying to say here is that we can be honest with God

and honest with ourselves if we have His wisdom. Only then can we reason with integrity. That is what our aim should be in our spiritual lives. Our goal is to always be honest by using our reason correctly. And to not allow emotions to cloud our righteous judgment.

As they approached, Jesus said, “Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel.” John 1:47

Being honest with yourself and others means that you seek the truth of all matters and that you reject rationalization. Being honest means to seek to adhere to God’s laws. It means that you do not gloss over, condone or hide sin. You don’t make excuses for sin. In fact, you confront sin. If you walk with God, you seek to deal with sin in a way that true repentance is rendered.

This is a real solution to bad or sinful behavior. If you hide sin, you are engaging in rationalization and Jesus may say to you, “I never knew you.”

Let us go back to 4 Maccabees 2-3, for a moment to fully understand

the nature of reason controlling our emotions. Starting at 4 Maccabees 2:1 in the NRSV we read.

[1] “And why is it amazing that the desires of the mind for the

enjoyment of beauty are rendered powerless?

[2] It is for this reason, certainly, that the temperate Joseph is praised, because by mental effort he overcame sexual desire. [3] For when he was

young and in his prime for intercourse, by his reason he nullified the frenzy of the passions.

[4] Not only is reason proved to rule over the frenzied urge of sexual

desire, but also over every desire.

[5] Thus the law says, “You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or anything that is your neighbor’s.”