Three Powers, Pt. 4: The Powers Ordered and Disordered

This episode explores how each power of the human spirit might be well-ordered or disordered. Michael begins by explaining the relationship of the fruit of the Spirit and the three powers, gleaning from Paul’s letters to discern the well-ordered functions of the affections (Love), will (Patience), and intellect (Faith). He then goes on to discuss how these functions relate to the three classic or cardinal temptations of Pleasure, Power, and Prestige. Assessing the disorders of our spiritual powers has an impact on both the relationship of the powers within an individual as well as the shape of one’s community. Self-abuse nearly always precedes abuse of others, and therefore, properly diagnosing disorders in the powers can help us become more whole individuals in more harmonious communities. Fruit of the Spirit Power-Mapping Visual Aid The affectional grouping in the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, and peace. The central virtuous function of affection is love. When intellect serves affection and affection submits to it, it produces joy. When will serves affection and affection submits to it, it produces peace. The volitional grouping in the fruit of the spirit is patience, kindness, and goodness. The central virtuous function of the will is patience or hope. When affection serves will and will submits to it, it produces kindness. When intellect serves will and will submits to it, it produces goodness. The intellectual grouping in the fruit of the spirit is faith, meekness, and self-control. The central virtuous function of intellect is faith(fulness). When affection serves intellect and intellect submits to it, it produces meekness. When will serves intellect and intellect submits to it, it produces self-control. LINKS Dismissing Jesus, by Douglas M. Jones Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, trans. Pevear and Volokhonsky