(As of 26th May: "It's been a long time since I've written a lengthy post. For the last few weeks, all my most profound revelations have come in brevity. Therefore, until further notice, I will be posting in the manner of aphorisms, perhaps with occasional commentary.")
It is a fallacy to believe that we can “want to want”. If desire is measured by action, then what you want ALWAYS prevails. You can want what you don't choose, but ultimately what you choose is what you want the most.
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Exposition
When I say, "I want to get in shape" but I stay indoors and eat an extra bag of chips, I make myself a liar. I do want to get in shape, but I want the immediate pleasure of food more.
When I say, "I want to forgive you" but my actions show otherwise, then I make myself a liar.
When you say, "I want to live for God" but you can't rock up for a weekly Bible study, then you make yourself a liar. I will take your statement at face value, but at best it's a white lie because you fail to mention that you want to live for yourself MORE than you want to desire God. Can you want to want God? It is a logical fallacy. It creates an absurd infinite regression of desire.
The phrase "want to want" is the pathetic, therapeutic, nonsensical utterance of a weak-willed human being who lacks the fortitude to overcome immediacy. You only hear someone "want to want" something when there is something he knows he should want, but he cannot bring himself to give up something he considers of lesser value. If I "want to want" being in shape, then I desire a greater desire to be in shape; one that will overcome my desire to eat delicious, unhealthy food. But it is meaningless because how can one desire desire? One who "wants to want" lives inauthentically; he cheats on that which is his greatest desire. With whom does he cheat? With the desire he thinks he should have.
If I hear someone say, "I want to seek after God, but I just don't have that desire within me", I am hearing someone who is burdened (or at the very least, discomforted) by his earthly lifestyle. Yet he does not have the tenacity to do something about it. He lives a lie.
The bottom line is, you either want or you don't want. Do not make up self-pitying statements of woe about how you wish you could desire more! Your actions betray your heart's deepest desires. In the Christian life, in the physical fitness, in staying off of facebook, pick your temptation; pick the poison that you drown in.
It is a fallacy to believe that we can “want to want”. If desire is measured by action, then what you want ALWAYS prevails. You can want what you don't choose, but ultimately what you choose is what you want the most.
_____________________
Exposition
When I say, "I want to get in shape" but I stay indoors and eat an extra bag of chips, I make myself a liar. I do want to get in shape, but I want the immediate pleasure of food more.
When I say, "I want to forgive you" but my actions show otherwise, then I make myself a liar.
When you say, "I want to live for God" but you can't rock up for a weekly Bible study, then you make yourself a liar. I will take your statement at face value, but at best it's a white lie because you fail to mention that you want to live for yourself MORE than you want to desire God. Can you want to want God? It is a logical fallacy. It creates an absurd infinite regression of desire.
The phrase "want to want" is the pathetic, therapeutic, nonsensical utterance of a weak-willed human being who lacks the fortitude to overcome immediacy. You only hear someone "want to want" something when there is something he knows he should want, but he cannot bring himself to give up something he considers of lesser value. If I "want to want" being in shape, then I desire a greater desire to be in shape; one that will overcome my desire to eat delicious, unhealthy food. But it is meaningless because how can one desire desire? One who "wants to want" lives inauthentically; he cheats on that which is his greatest desire. With whom does he cheat? With the desire he thinks he should have.
If I hear someone say, "I want to seek after God, but I just don't have that desire within me", I am hearing someone who is burdened (or at the very least, discomforted) by his earthly lifestyle. Yet he does not have the tenacity to do something about it. He lives a lie.
The bottom line is, you either want or you don't want. Do not make up self-pitying statements of woe about how you wish you could desire more! Your actions betray your heart's deepest desires. In the Christian life, in the physical fitness, in staying off of facebook, pick your temptation; pick the poison that you drown in.
cool.
ReplyDeleteIf I hear someone say, "I want to seek after God, but I just don't have that desire within me", I am hearing someone who is burdened (or at the very least, discomforted) by his earthly lifestyle. Yet he does not have the tenacity to do something about it. He lives a lie.
Your blogs are cool.