Coming Clean

Revelation in Progess

Understanding and Living

The two are not opposed to each other, in fact, they are suppose to compliment each other, but it seems for me anyways a very easy thing to divide. I understand my theology, but it’s hard to live it. …except, I don’t think that it’s not easy to live… just that I haven’t given myself wholly over to it yet. I’m not certain how, when, and where to do that. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the what and why. I suppose that’s a start of sorts.

Right now I feel a lot like the rich young man, but I want to give up all my possessions. They are His after all. No doubt about that in my mind. Everything I have today, even this computer, are by His providence. But I’ve got a wife and children – I can’t just sell everything and go on a spiritual journey. I have to provide for them. I can’t just abandon them – God did give them to me after all. So, perhaps I’m sitting like Abraham did before God told Him to pack up and leave his family – well to do but with better things to come. I think it’s coming. I hope so anyways. I just hope I truly am prepared to answer: “Here I am, Lord.” and “May it be done according to your word.” It may not be to new lands… it could be as simple as a new job.

But I want to be more than what I am. I want to follow after Jesus – to serve as He said to serve. Or at least to be able to understand how I’m contributing and/or should be contributing. ‘Cause right now, I feel like I’m only serving myself… and even in that, I’m doing it poorly. I can be better. Lord, show me the way and give me the strength and perseverance to follow.

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Looking Back on the Road So Far

Looking back, there’s one thing left I should mention. I’ve alluded to it once before, and that is the exegetical Bible studies I did in college.

The one on Galatians was a Reformed study. I found that I just did not believe in Christianity the way it presented it. There was something so fatally wrong with faith alone – like it was trying to have things both ways. Faith alone justifies you, but your faith will move you to obedience. …well, which is it? Do I merely need faith or must I also be obedient? Where in the Bible is it clear and simple that faith alone justifies and clears all objections that could be raised by all other Scripture? It isn’t there. All the arguments for faith alone are on the side of convoluted.

Then I did a study on Romans with my roommate Jason – the would-be Roman Catholic Priest. This study blew me away. It is a taped study entitled Romanism in Romans by Scott Hahn. And so, instead of talking about all that stuff myself, I’m going to link to Scott’s own conversion story from being an old-school Presbyterian minister to perhaps one of the most articulate Roman Catholics I’ve ever heard.

This is Scott’s conversion story.

And here, too, are two links that debate some issues dealt with in Romanism in Romans. It tackles the two topics that are central to Protestantism existing: sola scriptura and sola fide.
This is Scott’s debate with Robert Knudson on the authority of faith.
This is Scott’s debate with Robert Knudson on justification.

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Justification and Sanctification

Yeah, so… after all these years, I finally put it together at last…

Faith alone vs Faith and works OR
Justification and Sanctification as distinct vs Justification and Sanctification as together

When worded in the latter sense, it makes me that much more certain of which side of the debate I’m on as well as better defines the issues at hand. The former sense makes it seem like we’re talking about works that are done out of a sense of personal obligation / works righteousness – not out of a desire to become obedient and conformed to our Father. It’s why I’ve always been so careful to talk of works as obedience or works of obedience. Otherwise, you are stuck with a very disjointed idea about works from the Scriptures – especially when trying to equivalate some things that Paul says vs. what James says.

That’s it. Nothing more interesting to say today. I just have a better context when discussions turn this way: lets not talk of faith and works: lets talk of Justification and Sanctification and see if they can be and/or are distinct realities.

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Farewell, Good and Faithful Servant

From http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/04/02/1112302290763.html?oneclick=true

“I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you.”

These words, believed to have been directed to the many thousands of young people who have filled St Peter’s Square in recent days, were spoken by Pope John Paul yesterday.

Though I was not in that square, my thoughts and prayers have been there for him. Among the miracles of this man is that I genuinely felt Christ’s love through him for me without ever having known him. And these his words here have moved me to tears.

How I wish I knew how to live my faith like I should. How I wish I knew how to love and be charitable as this man.

God bless him, welcome him home, and bring him to the everlasting joy and peace that is only in the company of our Lord, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

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