Posted on 03/14/2008 8:56:37 AM PDT by Gamecock
The acid test is your spirit of wonder stays there even when things go bad. You see when things go bad, when problems happen, here you can tell the difference between a moralist and a Christian. A moralist says, "what good is all my religion, what good is going to God, I have tried hard to be a Christian, I am trying hard to be obedient to God, and what good is it? God owes me." And you see you get mad. You say, "I have been trying hard and look what's going on in my love life, look what's going on in my career", and you get bitter. Why? because God owes you.
Amem
Almost everyday, I am truly amazed that He hasn’t given me what I truly deserve.
I think this is a great explanation of how we should view works.
Amen.
People always want justice from God. That’s the last thong I need. I need Grace.
I still question whether or not it’s an acid test for me though, based on my low self esteem and frequent anger and bitterness.
Amen.
And I don't want to see you in a thong, either.
“And the way you can tell the difference is that a Real Christian is somebody who sees everything that comes as a gift. In other words a real Christian sees that you are totally in debt to God, but a religious person is someone who is working hard and making an effort and trying to be good, going to Bible studies and just saying “no” everywhere, and denying themselves a lot of pleasures, and so forth, and a religious person is someone who is trying to put God in their debt. That is the difference. A religious person is someone who is trying to save themselves through their good works. A religious person is somebody who thinks they are putting God in their debt since they have tried so hard. A Christian is somebody who sees themselves as in God’s debt.”
I am not certain how to answer this erroneous conclusion. A true Christion ought by reason of imitating Jesus Himself - be doing works of mercy. We are called, after all, to be the eyes, ears, hands, and heart of Jesus on earth. That is why He established a church. That is why he left us with the Holy Spirit. So, when people do charitable works no Christian ought to criticize or judge why the Christian is being charitable. Jesus also taught the following - when each of us is called to judgement, we will be asked when we fed the poor, clothed the naked, etc.. So, it is obvious that Jesus expected that we do charitable works. He also told us to be a light to the nations, to not hide our light under a basket.
How on earth have Christians become so judgemental against other Christians who do acts of charity? I wish someone would explain this clearly to me.
“Here is the acid test: If you are a Christian you have a spirit of wonder that permeates your life.”
Yes, I am continually and totally amazed that God even saw me to save me. It’s been over 30 years, and I still feel the same way. As time passes and I look back on my life, I see His hand directly involved with me, and I just shake my head.....I look at His creation, how it was all meant to interact and work together, I look at the human body, it’s just beyond words to describe the awe and wonder....
My gratitude knows no bounds. Sometimes I think when I finally get to heaven, I’ll know all the right words and be able to express my gratitude to Him and feel satisfied that I said it all and said it right.
What a great article!
Good read.
Thanks for the post.
This is teaching not found in Scripture.
Our Lord was very clear on how the world would know his disciples, and it didn't involve going around babbling about how "unreal" or "interplanetary" it all was ... whatever that means.
" but a person who is trying to put God in their debt - there is none of that spirit of wonder at all.
Someone who is "trying to put God in their debt" has much bigger problems than that.
The article speaks of Justification, being declared not guilty before God.
Christianity is not about being perfect, but being declared perfect. Read through Romans Chapter 7 as being descriptive of the Christian life.
The answer lies in how you answer the following question:
God to gumdrop at your judgment: “Why should I let you into my kingdom?”
(Be careful that you don’t confuse your justification with your sanctification)
98% of RC teaching isn't in Scripture.
God to gumdrop at your judgment: “Why should I let you into my kingdom?”
(Be careful that you don’t confuse your justification with your sanctification)
What are you insinuating. That I have no sanctification because I believe Jesus when he says we should feed the poor, cloth the naked, etc.??
I am not going to be like Barry Obama and misquote the Sermon on the Mount and then denigrate “an obscure passage from Romans.” No, Jesus’s message was clear. Have you never hear the song, “They will know we are Christians by our Love”? True Christians demonstrate their love for Jesus by imitating him. The decision to be charitable has absolutely nothing to do with “earning our salvation.” Jesus offered himself as a Paschal Lamb once and for all two millenia ago. We cannot on ou own earn our salvation, for if Jesus had not accepted the cross - if he had left the Garden of Gethsemane and said “Shucks, I cannot bear the burden”, we would still be forever in sin and outside of God’s kingdom.
Saying “I Believe” and then continuing to live a life as if the sacrifice of Jesus means nothing and that life is a lark because God is sending us graces - neglects part of the gospel. We must cry our cross and come after Jesus. Part of that is bearing our difficulties in a holy and accepting manner, to continue in our faith regardless of trials, to praise and thank God for all our life’s blessing and His Eternal Love for us.
The above article is about justification. You are talking about sanctification.
Don't confuse the two.
Here is the acid test: If you are a Christian you have a spirit of wonder that permeates your life. You are always saying "how miraculous", "how interplanetary", "how unreal". You are always looking at yourself and saying, "me a Christian ... incredible, miraculous, unbelievable, a joke!!!
Perhaps this is not so much of test of who is a Christian, but who has been forgiven much. A passage from Luke in the story of the sinful woman comes to mind:
>>Christianity is not about being perfect, but being declared perfect. Read through Romans Chapter 7 as being descriptive of the Christian life.<<
Amen Brother. I think one of the major differences between the two groups is that one truly has an understanding of their foul sin nature - and the other thinks that they’re “basically ok, but occasionally makes mistakes.”
I love the verse from “And can it be” - one of my favorite hymns. Perfectly describes the salvation experience - our condition before, the Grace given to us, and our calling afterwards.
“Long my imprison’d spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee!
Amazing love, how can it be,
that Thou my God shouldst die for me!”
How on earth have Christians become so judgemental against other Christians who do acts of charity? I wish someone would explain this clearly to me.
Why are the works being done? Is there an expectation that your salvation hinges upon these works, or that by doing them God owes you something?
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