Intentional Journey Towards Authentic Moral Goodness
Summary
Drifting into goodness is not a passive journey; it requires intentionality and conscious effort. The essence of becoming a morally good person cannot be achieved by accident, drift, or imposition. This is because our very nature as embodied beings necessitates intentionality in our actions and decisions. The concept of authenticity is central to this transformation, encompassing personal, attitudinal, and intentional authenticity. Personal goodness is not merely about acting as if we love our neighbor; it is about genuinely loving them and advancing the good in human life. This requires a deep alignment between our actions and our true beliefs and values.
Authenticity in our intentions is crucial. It involves a clear understanding and representation of the values we aim to embody. This is not just about having a gut feeling but about a profound comprehension of the values themselves. For instance, knowing the value of honesty or the joy of a wedding requires more than just surface-level understanding; it demands a deep, intuitive grasp of the underlying values. This depth of understanding is what fuels authentic joy and moral goodness.
The journey towards goodness is also about recognizing and responding to the hierarchy of values. Higher values, such as spiritual and moral values, require sustained attention and effort to perceive and appreciate. They are not as readily apparent as lower values, like hedonic pleasures, which are more abundantly and adequately given. Therefore, the will must be trained to focus on these higher values, which in turn shapes our actions and character.
In a world saturated with low-ranking values, it is easy to drift towards them. However, the good person actively chooses to focus on higher values, allowing their will to be guided by knowledge and insight into truth and reality. This process is not about heroic leaps but about consistently focusing on the highest values available and allowing them to shape our will and actions.
Key Takeaways:
1. Intentionality in Moral Transformation: Becoming a morally good person requires intentionality, not passive drifting. Our actions must align with our true beliefs and values, which involves a deep understanding of the values we aim to embody. This intentionality is essential for authentic moral goodness. [00:44]
2. Authenticity and Personal Goodness: Authenticity is crucial in the journey towards personal goodness. It involves being genuine in our love and actions, not merely acting as if we care. This authenticity requires a deep alignment between our actions and our true beliefs and values. [04:06]
3. Understanding Higher Values: Higher values, such as spiritual and moral values, require sustained attention and effort to perceive and appreciate. They are not as readily apparent as lower values, like hedonic pleasures, which are more abundantly and adequately given. [23:51]
4. The Role of the Will: The will must be trained to focus on higher values, allowing them to shape our actions and character. This process is not about heroic leaps but about consistently focusing on the highest values available and allowing them to shape our will and actions. [32:51]
5. Overcoming Drift through Focus: In a world saturated with low-ranking values, it is easy to drift towards them. However, the good person actively chooses to focus on higher values, allowing their will to be guided by knowledge and insight into truth and reality. [36:33]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Introduction to Drifting into Goodness
[00:31] - The Impossibility of Accidental Moral Transformation
[00:55] - Embodied Persons and Intentionality
[01:28] - The Role of Intentionality in Goodness
[03:17] - Exploring Authenticity
[04:06] - Personal and Attitudinal Authenticity
[05:19] - The Nature of Authentic Intentionality
[06:40] - Intuition and Knowledge
[09:29] - Authentic Concepts and Fulfillment
[11:36] - Personal and Intentional Authenticity
[14:14] - Value Consciousness and Joy
[16:04] - The Hierarchy of Values
[19:22] - The Role of the Will in Moral Goodness
[23:51] - The Challenge of Perceiving Higher Values
[32:51] - Overcoming Drift through Focus
[36:33] - The Dialectical Process of Willing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Drifting into Goodness
Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV) - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
2. Romans 12:2 (ESV) - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
3. Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV) - "And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, why is it impossible to drift into moral goodness? ([00:44])
2. What are the different types of authenticity mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to personal goodness? ([03:17])
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the will in focusing on higher values? ([17:02])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the abundance and adequacy of low-ranking values in our world? ([30:36])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Philippians 4:8-9 relate to the sermon’s emphasis on focusing on higher values and intentionality in moral transformation? ([36:33])
2. In what ways does Romans 12:2 support the idea of intentional transformation rather than passive drifting into goodness? ([32:51])
3. How does the command to love your neighbor in Matthew 22:37-39 align with the sermon’s discussion on authentic personal goodness? ([04:06])
4. What might the sermon imply about the challenges of perceiving and appreciating higher values in a world filled with lower-ranking values? ([23:51])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on Philippians 4:8-9. What are some specific things in your life that you can focus on to align your thoughts with what is true, honorable, and commendable? How can this focus help you in your journey towards moral goodness? ([36:33])
2. Romans 12:2 talks about the renewal of the mind. What are some practical steps you can take to renew your mind and avoid conforming to the patterns of this world? ([32:51])
3. Consider the command to love your neighbor as yourself. How can you ensure that your actions towards others are genuinely motivated by love and not just a sense of obligation? ([04:06])
4. The sermon discusses the importance of training the will to focus on higher values. What are some distractions in your life that prevent you from focusing on these values, and how can you overcome them? ([17:02])
5. In a world saturated with low-ranking values, how can you actively choose to focus on higher values in your daily life? What changes might you need to make in your routine or mindset to achieve this? ([30:36])
6. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep sense of joy or fulfillment. How did your understanding of the values involved contribute to that experience? How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of values in your current life? ([13:12])
7. The sermon suggests that personal transformation requires intentionality. What is one area of your life where you feel you need to be more intentional, and what steps can you take to start this process? ([00:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Intentionality in Moral Transformation
Becoming a morally good person requires intentionality, not passive drifting. Our actions must align with our true beliefs and values, which involves a deep understanding of the values we aim to embody. This intentionality is essential for authentic moral goodness. The journey towards moral transformation is not accidental; it demands a conscious effort to align one's actions with deeply held beliefs and values. This alignment is not superficial but requires a profound understanding of the values one seeks to embody. It is through this intentionality that authentic moral goodness is achieved, as it ensures that actions are not merely performative but are rooted in genuine conviction. [00:44]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific value you want to embody more intentionally in your life, and what steps can you take today to align your actions with this value?
Day 2: Authenticity and Personal Goodness
Authenticity is crucial in the journey towards personal goodness. It involves being genuine in our love and actions, not merely acting as if we care. This authenticity requires a deep alignment between our actions and our true beliefs and values. To truly love our neighbor, we must move beyond mere actions and cultivate a genuine love that reflects our deepest values. This authenticity is not about external appearances but about an internal alignment that ensures our actions are a true reflection of our beliefs. [04:06]
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent interaction where you acted out of obligation rather than genuine care. How can you approach similar situations with authenticity in the future?
Day 3: Understanding Higher Values
Higher values, such as spiritual and moral values, require sustained attention and effort to perceive and appreciate. They are not as readily apparent as lower values, like hedonic pleasures, which are more abundantly and adequately given. Recognizing and appreciating higher values demands a deliberate focus and effort. Unlike lower values, which are easily accessible, higher values require a deeper level of engagement and understanding. This engagement is essential for cultivating a life that prioritizes spiritual and moral growth over fleeting pleasures. [23:51]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a higher value that you often overlook in your daily life. What practical steps can you take to give it more attention and appreciation?
Day 4: The Role of the Will
The will must be trained to focus on higher values, allowing them to shape our actions and character. This process is not about heroic leaps but about consistently focusing on the highest values available and allowing them to shape our will and actions. Training the will involves a consistent and deliberate effort to prioritize higher values in our daily lives. This focus shapes our character and actions, ensuring that we are guided by values that transcend immediate gratification. [32:51]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can train your will to focus more on higher values? How can you start this process today?
Day 5: Overcoming Drift through Focus
In a world saturated with low-ranking values, it is easy to drift towards them. However, the good person actively chooses to focus on higher values, allowing their will to be guided by knowledge and insight into truth and reality. Overcoming the drift towards lower values requires a conscious decision to focus on what truly matters. This focus is not passive but involves an active engagement with values that are rooted in truth and reality. [36:33]
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision where you drifted towards a lower value. How can you refocus your attention on higher values in similar situations moving forward?
Quotes
The reason we're not going to drift into goodness isn't because we live in a corrupt culture it's not because of our fallen nature all of those might be sufficient to prevent this but I think even if we were constituted quite differently than what we were the bear fact of our being embodied persons rules out by itself is the possibility of drifting into goodness. [00:51:30]
The connection between goodness and personal authenticity is the following quite simply the good person is authentically good they don't just act as if they love their neighbor they really do love their neighbor which incidentally we're not commanded to act as if we love our neighbor they are really genuinely intent upon advancing the various Goods of human life with which they are effectively in contact so personal goodness requires authentic goodness. [03:55:00]
The authentic person does not pretend to believe what they don't believe or love or hate which you know love or hate or have commitments to projects that they're in fact ready to abandon so simply put personal authenticity requires attitudinal authenticity across the wide range of attitudes whether affective emotional cognitive or what have you a very deep topic but I think when we think of what an authentic person is it's somebody who's not faking it. [04:55:00]
Joy requires knowledge knowledge of what well if I'm joyous about somebody's wedding I should know minimally who's getting married the date maybe I know who's been invited and who hasn't but that's not the kind of knowledge that serves as a foundation for the off for authentic Joy I have to know the value properties invited there's a lot of value properties that people are having a good time. [13:12:00]
The will is and I love this phrase of his hemmed in by what our thoughts and feelings actually are at the time of willing and those thoughts and feelings which hem in the will must consist at least partially in Acts of value consciousness so while value Consciousness can take place without willing it often does what am I going to do about a beautiful sunset or a horrible thing Stalin did willing cannot occur without value Consciousness. [17:00:00]
The good person as I understand it on Willard's view wants their will and hildebrands for that matter wants their will to be hemmed in by knowledge of value and unpolluted by ignorance and this connects with what we would expect of experts in any field anyone who aims for excellence in any activity whatsoever should want their will hemmed in by knowledge and unpolluted by ignorance. [19:45:00]
Higher values are given less adequately they are more difficult to perceive so low values are given more adequately they're given more abundantly the world's saturated with them this is a specially true of course in a culture like ours with its endless array of images of an invitations to a life of Predator Power domination status as Willard himself now often notes we're besieged by hundreds of messages each day telling us what a good life looks like. [30:27:00]
The will is most moved by values which are intuitively and more adequately given like those that are clearly grasped when is the will reliably moved not when I read a book on ethics it's when I encounter an Exemplar right it's moved by an intuition evaluated by Clarity by vivacity but the ones which are given most often and most adequately tend to be the lowest. [30:04:00]
The first task of the will is to focus on the best ones available to us the good news values and properties like all properties can be intuited even when nothing actual in our environment Bears them you are not going to Intuit Vancouver or its weather right now being where we are in California but you can Intuit the dis value or the value of dishonesty or honesty respectively by hearing a vivid description of them. [34:55:00]
The good person on Willie view the one who does this reliably habitually and happily they don't grunt their way through it the life of a good person is use a word we used earlier in Dallas that's right quote deep and there's a certain obvious sense that is effortless it flows that is the things we have been describing are not things that children of light are constantly trying hard to do creating their teeth and carrying off so all right there's that. [37:21:00]
The power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon and again about 50 pages later the Will's primary exercise in the human is the power to select what we think on and how intently we focus on it so I think the process might work something like this we start as we always do within a field of given values just as we start as we do in a field of many code given empirical objects. [34:28:00]
The experiences that fulfill a concept or a proposition for Lucero are called its fulfilling sense and one thing that Willard emphasizes I think this is a deviation from hooseral and a welcome one is that we might think that authentic intentionality occurs when a thought is actually fulfilled actually what Willard writes in logic and the objectivity of knowledge is that an authentic concept can be derived only through an experience with an appropriate fulfilled intention. [10:55:00]
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