Posted on 03/01/2019 10:05:23 AM PST by Gamecock
The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde could be an allegory for the Christian life. There is a war in our members, a constant conflict between the old and the new, between vice and virtue, sin and obedience. We seem to be moral schizoids. It is a struggle between what the Bible calls the “old man” and the “new man.”
Whenever I hear an evangelist declare, “Come to Jesus and all your problems will be over,” I cringe because I am hearing false advertising. I cringe because this promise conflicts with my experience and my spiritual pilgrimage.
In one sense, my life didn’t become complicated until I became a Christian. Before my conversion, I only had one man with which to contend—the old man. My spiritual life was one-dimensional. I was Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jekyll never showed up to bother me.
Prior to my conversion, I was dead in trespasses and sins. As Paul describes the course of the unregenerate person in Ephesians 2, I “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (v. 2).
But now I am a Christian. I have been made alive to the things of God, being quickened to new life by the regenerating grace of God.
Coram Deo
Thank God that you no longer walk according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air.
Passages for Further Study
Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Four flats - eek.
‘Evangelical’ has changed over the past few years....not sure how you could define it today as it’s a mishmash I can’t identify with.
I once composed something in seven sharps. It was needful, but the accompanist who helped me with it was not happy.
I empathize. I have extremely extensive experience with the institutionalized church of most major denominations, so I understand your uncertainty.
If is both vague (blurred boundaries) and ambiguous (multiple interpretations), but here is my bottom line: It tends to be Anabaptist and Armenian in theology.
I first became aware of this at a “non-denominational” preparatory school that taught consistently and exclusively Anabaptist/Armenian doctrine.
As a Lutheran (one of only three in the student body), I was continually attacked theologically by both students and teachers throughout my six years there (7-12). “Non-Denominational” is itself a loosely defined form of de facto Anabaptist/Armenian denomination unto itself - sometimes with a Calvinist sub-text. (The common denominator there is the rejection of Baptism as anything but symbolic.)
I have served in the church as an adult. Everything I have seen tends to support my conclusion.
Sorry: I left off the punchline:
These “non-denoms” and their Anabaptist/Armenian fellows in specific denominations (e.g., Southern Baptist) characterised themselves collectively as “Evangelicals” and everyone else as not “Evangelicals”. (I was told to my face that as a Lutheran I could not be an Evangelical!)
I categorically reject that. Evangelical means of the Evangelium: of the Gospel, of the Good News.
Any practicing Christian is by definition Evangelical. The term should not be abused by restricting it to any particular sect or denomination. Unlike denominational labels, this is a Biblical term applying to all believers.
Having been extensively involved in ministry with adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, my favorite verse is 6 which is not here. I looked it up to post it here, and to my delight, found ALL of these verses!!
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and king,
The triumphs of His grace!
My gracious master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.
In Christ your head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and Heaven.
On this glad day the glorious sun
Of righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.
Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.
Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.
I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!
I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.
Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.
See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.
Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Æthiop white.
Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.
Murderers and all ye hellish crew,
Ye sons of lust and pride,
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.
With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.
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