PROEM & POEM No. 147 - Francis Schaeffer on Covetousness / Part 1
Most everyone argues, qualifies then categorizes his/her own preferences as principles while preferences of others as whims as well errors and detriments. Such perceptions are often furthered therefore compounded by lingered covetousness, incited presumption then matured arrogance so to manipulatively, coercively modify and direct preferences of others towards one’s own. The condition intellectually disoriented even psychologically disordered, exhibits one of numerous human paradoxes, yet more importantly, unquestionably thus precisely, an ethical dilemma impossible to logically resolve.
Of course, to engage in discussion, debate, dissertation or any other form of discourse for the sake of influence even persuasion should not be confused as the same. For allowing influence and persuasion to freely occur or not occur per unhindered consent versus dissent, clearly do not disrespect, disregard nor degenerate to a similar dilemma. Else, to equate the two is to risk the popular error to insist as violence any opinion or rhetoric perceived as disagreeable or offensive. However to reiterate, the seemingly paradoxical dynamic as often unrecognized or ignored is observably thus obviously covetousness. For if lingeringly entertained, presumption usually proceeds into such qualifying and categorizing of preferences of one or some versus others, followed by arrogance then violence manifested by personal, social or political actions against the dissented. So to drive deeper near the core of the rot…
The climax of the Ten Commandments is the Tenth Commandment – “Thou shat not covet” – Actually we break this last commandment, not to covet, before we break any of the others. Any time that we break one of the other commandments of God, it means that we have already broken this commandment, in coveting.
The above quote is perhaps the most profound, far-reaching Biblical commentary of the 20th century, well articulated and postulated by theologian Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) in his 1971 book True Spirituality, identifying the last of the Ten Commandments as already broken before breaking any of the previous nine. To summarize, all sins flow from the one sin; covetousness. Yet the profoundness, the described depth and implied breadth, therefore the logic and consistency by that truth are best understood by rightly expanding the summary as well the Schaefferian text. That is to say, the disrespect and disregard of others' reasoning manifested by their dissent thus unilateral actions against the same, spring always from covetousness first, soon followed by presumption then arrogance and if acted upon personally, socially or politically; violence.
Of course, to engage in discussion, debate, dissertation or any other form of discourse for the sake of influence even persuasion should not be confused as the same. For allowing influence and persuasion to freely occur or not occur per unhindered consent versus dissent, clearly do not disrespect, disregard nor degenerate to a similar dilemma. Else, to equate the two is to risk the popular error to insist as violence any opinion or rhetoric perceived as disagreeable or offensive. However to reiterate, the seemingly paradoxical dynamic as often unrecognized or ignored is observably thus obviously covetousness. For if lingeringly entertained, presumption usually proceeds into such qualifying and categorizing of preferences of one or some versus others, followed by arrogance then violence manifested by personal, social or political actions against the dissented. So to drive deeper near the core of the rot…
The climax of the Ten Commandments is the Tenth Commandment – “Thou shat not covet” – Actually we break this last commandment, not to covet, before we break any of the others. Any time that we break one of the other commandments of God, it means that we have already broken this commandment, in coveting.
The above quote is perhaps the most profound, far-reaching Biblical commentary of the 20th century, well articulated and postulated by theologian Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) in his 1971 book True Spirituality, identifying the last of the Ten Commandments as already broken before breaking any of the previous nine. To summarize, all sins flow from the one sin; covetousness. Yet the profoundness, the described depth and implied breadth, therefore the logic and consistency by that truth are best understood by rightly expanding the summary as well the Schaefferian text. That is to say, the disrespect and disregard of others' reasoning manifested by their dissent thus unilateral actions against the same, spring always from covetousness first, soon followed by presumption then arrogance and if acted upon personally, socially or politically; violence.
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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.
Study, Ponder, Labor, till last Breath.
Copyright © 2020 by D.C. Quillan Stone
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