The Perfect Will of God

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 - Romans 12

A lot is made, in our times, of an emotional type of worship. We have a "feel-good" gospel. It is exciting, but has shallow roots.

In the Star Trek franchise, there is a character that has captured the imagination of the American pop culture, for almost half a century now. It is the Vulcan, Mr. Spock.

Spock's native race places a high premium on acting and behaving according to logic, and not emotions. They tame their feelings. They do not act on impulse, or instinct. If it feels good, they do not necessarily do it. And fact, if it has anything at all to do with feelings, they don't do it at all.

And this quality transfixes us as humans. There's something about controlling ourselves that appeals to us on a fundamental level. We are drawn to it, because we see it as the impossible proposition that it is.

Yet, when Spock dies in the Motion Picture, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, he is eulogized by his best friend, Captain Kirk. Kirk says, hesitatingly, almost embarrassingly, of his friend and spiritual brother: "Of my friend, I can only say this: Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most . . . human.

There is something about being human, and fully logical, that draws us. We want to be in control. We would give up so much, perhaps even our ability to laugh, if we could control our anger, our hate, and our instinctive drives.

There is something to the human will, that God expects us to tame. There is something uniquely compassionate and loving, in a person that is fully logical. Imagine really, only, saying, "yes" or "no," when that is all that is required? Imagine only talking when there is something valuable to say. Imagine avoiding saying anything that could be misinterpreted by someone else. Logic dictates that you hold your tongue, and control your emotions.

God talks about transforming our minds. Why? Because the world is passionate and hunger-driven. The world thinks only of itself. It takes an act of your will, to truly love someone else. Because real love is willful and deliberate.

Out of the taming of our own will, comes adherence to the will of God. And not just any will of God - the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.