I Surrender All

The ideas of the philosopher Plato (c. 428–347 B.C.) that came to be known as dualism impacted early Greek culture and marked a historic shift in Western thought. Dualism characterized the idea of two worlds: one the metaphysical, invisible world of form and reality, the other the material, visible world of appearance. In the allegory of the cave as contained in Republic, Plato speculates that the things seen in the physical world are not real, but are presented as mere shadows that mimic reality. This paradigm changed perceptions of truth in the west from his day forth. Men came to consider that life in mere physical form was a veil that could serve to conceal reality.

By the time of Jesus, this philosophy had so permeated the Greek and Roman culture that a number of its assumptions influenced ideas in education, religion, politics- even the theater which itself was born in the Greek culture. In fact, the term "persona" so often used today to represent the external facade of a person (pretense) comes from the large masks that early Greek actors would use to portray their characters. From Plato’s dualism came ideas that form is separated from function; the internal world is alienated from the external, and that self is compartmentalized into portions rather than seen as a whole. 

Many of these core assumptions endured through succeeding generations and even saturate our own American culture today. In fact, they greatly characterize the way Americans generally think. People in the west tend to errantly believe that character (who one is) is completely separate from conduct (what one does), that private life has no relevance to public life, and that outer behavior says little about who a person is on the inside.

Perhaps the most well known example in recent history is President Bill Clinton. President Clinton seemed able to relegate his conduct with Monica Lewinsky into a category of its own. In his mind, his behavior and the lies associated with it had no bearing upon his ability to lead publically. Moreover, he was repugnant toward those who might suggest that his private actions would lead to public distrust. He compartmentalized his relationship with Lewinsky convincing himself that his relations with her were neither sexual nor related to his performance as president. Political leaders defended the president stating that personal and private conduct had nothing to do with public leadership. Disturbing polls at the time seemed to indicate that a majority of people believed the same.

The ancient Hebrew faith of the Bible does not embrace such duplicity. While certainly the Jews understood the distinction between body and spirit (or "heart"), they believed each was inextricably connected to the other. To them, actions flow from character, character is shaped by actions, and “who you are” is a matter of both.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  Proverbs 4:23

In Hebrew thought, unity and oneness comprised existence and a person’s conduct was not separate and distinct from self, but was his or her truest reflection. Deeds were the external, congruent expression of an internal reality. Behavior was connected to belief; conduct connected to character, and what was practiced on the outside defined in a rather basic sense the very nature of who one is. For the Hebrew, the whole is contained in each part, and each part contains the whole.

For example, the plurality and oneness of the godhead was so assumed by the Jews that it is not even well explained in Scripture. As westerners, we struggle with the idea of the Trinity and come up with all kinds of metaphors to help us reason it. However, that three exist as one in the Hebrew mind was not a logical problem at all. This is evidenced by the plural “elohim” used as a name for God in the Old Testament.

This holistic mindset is also seen in the idea of sin. To the Greek sin is separated into a supposed compartment of the individual’s existence that has to do with his moral acts. To the Hebrew and Christian, sinfulness pervades the whole being of man (as Paul sought to explain in the book of Romans). Sin is not a particular act, deed or event (as the Greeks might believe), but involves the very nature of the person. It’s the difference between committing a sin (as we might think), and being a sinner (as we actually are). Christ as we learn, didn’t die for sin, but for sinners.

There may be no greater example of the pervasiveness of dualism in Roman thought than that startling moment when Pilate washed his hands after condemning Jesus to death. He innately believed that he could assign accountability to others for what he did and separate his decision from his responsibility. Is this not a mindset we see in leaders today?

Jesus himself combated this compartmentalized way of thinking that characterized the priestly order and leaders of his day. He directly connected inner character to external conduct:

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:16-18

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:17-19

Jesus fused the fruit to the tree, and the words of a man’s mouth to his heart. In essence he stated that a person is wholly defined by the sum of the parts of his or her life- and moreover, that one incongruent part can corrupt the whole. While in the short term an individual may be able to prop up some measure of incongruence between character (form) and conduct (function), in time the truth about who they are is exposed in their actions (or as Jesus would say, “By their fruit you will recognize them.”).

So remember this week that how you define and measure yourself cannot be fractured into separate parts. An area of decay in one portion of your life indeed affects the others. Giving God only part of our lives and not the whole results in an individual who is divided and lacking integrity. In fact, Jesus would declare that a person like this really hasn't given himself or herself to Him at all. You see if Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. Which also means this-- to withhold something from Jesus means in reality to withhold everything. As hard as that is to grasp, this is the teaching of the Bible. It's not only illogical to give part of who we are to Christ- it's impossible.

Jesus wants it all- not part; not portions; not segments; not the easy parts. Everything. Your time, money, marriage, kids, career, attitudes, devotions, etc.-- all as a bundle laid at the feet of Jesus in full surrender. This is the truest form of authenticity for the Christian. And herein lies the power of Christian living-- surrendering all we are, all we have, and all we practice to the Lord Jesus. What are you holding back and hiding from God? Can you say to Him today, "I surrender all"?