THE STRUGGLE TO LOVE

CHRISTIANITY TODAY ^ | 18 MAR 2003 | DAVID P GUSHEE

[Quix]

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED ARTICLE

THE STRUGGLE TO LOVE

If the Holy Spirit is in us, why can't we love one another?

by David P. Gushee

There are two ways to approach this question. One would be to focus on the issue of love. The other would be to ask why it takes so much effort to live out any Christian moral obligation, whether love, or sexual fidelity, or economic generosity, or racial justice.

Let's place the question within a broader issue--historic Christian thinking about sanctification.

The most pessimistic stance, attributed to some strains of Lutheranism, is that the New Testament promises simply that God declares believers righteous on account of Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-26). In this view, our sinful condition is so profound that little if any actual moral progress can be expected in this life--indeed, the effort to make such progress actually draws us away from a trusting faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice on our behalf.

This view is untenable, however, because it fails to account for the hundreds of moral commands that the Bible does lay upon us, and the apparent expectation that we will at least attempt to obey them.

At the other end of the spectrum lies the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification. According to this view, a total cleansing of sin from the heart through the Holy Spirit is available to believers (1 Thess. 5:23). As sin is purged from the heart, and the heart is instead filled with the Holy Spirit and love for God, dramatic moral change and real holiness become possible.

Thus some Christians have believed that the change could and should be so far-reaching that it is even possible to speak of moral perfection for the sanctified Christian. I find any use of the word perfection to describe Christian moral potential also untenable.

If in moral terms some Christians have expected too little of believers, and others have expected too much, what should Christians expect of themselves and of other believers?

Read the rest of this article from Christianity Today http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/003/34.76.html

[Quix]

A FAVORITE TOPIC of mine.

Seems to be a favorite one of God's, too.

It's a good thing He helps us. Couldn't do it at all on my own. Certainly couldn't get better at it without Him.

[LiteKeeper]

John 15 "...apart from Me you can do nothing..." including love one another.

[Quix]

FOR SURE!

Thanks for your kind response.

[Ff--150]

Jude 20, 21a
20. But ye, beloved, building yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
21. Keep yourselves in the love of God.

How does Jesus half-brother explain to keep ourselves in God's love and to build our faith?
By praying in the Holy Ghost.--And to proclaim this to today's Christians makes you demon-possessed and a heretic...?

[Quix]

EXCELLENT POINT.

THANKS FOR AN ENCOURAGING POST.

LOVE IT.

[Ff--150]

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Quix, if you don't mind praying for me, I have become guardian for my mother, and her finances are a mess, and I need the Mind of Christ to work through this, lol. Thanks, N.

[Quix]

ABSOLUTELY.

Coming home to care for my Alzheimer's mother has been a lot easier with 80 Step-dad still quite functional.

But I could imagine otherwise. . . . wheeeee!

Will pray.

We all need such wisdom these days anyway!

[Quix]

I'm no expert.

But you might consider either a journal summary in a bound private journal of yours--or a summary photocopying of key things AT THE STAGE THEY WERE IN WHEN YOU TOOK THEM OVER.

Might help discourage sibling noise or other official noise.

I think I might also talk to the folks at her bank and find the one bank person who knew her and was kindly toward her. Could save a lot of arguing and persuading.

I might also early on get a statement from her DR about her mental status the last few months.

AND, I'D KEEP A JOURNAL DAILY OF EVENTS RELATED TO HER FINANCES ETC. even if it was a brief summary of key actions attempted, taken etc.

Blessings,

[Ff--150]

Mercy, Q., wife and I will include those two in ours. Mine is in a home and though the docs haven't given me her report, IMO she has the same--as does my 84-year-old father-in-law. God bless them all, and again thanks...N.

[Ff--150]

Great advice on post 8. God is looking out for her with a Christian Nigerian who personally looks after her, though she is not saved. Have a journal. Distance is a factor, as she is in a nursing home now in another state.

[Quix]

MUCH APPRECIATED.

Praise God for good help!

You are certainly easy to Love. Thanks for the chance to do so.

Hmmmm distant nursing home in a different state . . . Not so convenient!

I don't know if your mom has more visual input capacity left than auditory like mine, or not. If so, you might clear it with a specific staff or 3 at the home for you to send her scanned in personal messages weekly or whatever. Of course, if she's so far along that she doesn't recall who you are, not much sense to bother except to pray and touch her however you can occasionally to insure good care. IMHO.

My mother had a flash this week for the fist time of a few minutes of not knowing my step-dad whom she's lived with for 51+ years on this property. Thankfully, a few minutes later she did. She's been demanding to "go home" for months. As near as we can tell, it's her teenage home in Texas--which, of course, is no more.

Anyway--interesting times to be alive--if not personally then globally! And, no doubt personally for all of us in due course.

Blessings,

[Ff--150]

We live in the Dallas, TX area BTW

Things are happening here for the better, as i got an unexpected email which might be a tremendous help. Wrote to let cha know.

I hate that disease!!! My mom is nearly blind and too large. I have a pet theory that most of our maladies are related to too much consuming of sugars and other simple carbohydrates. A theory.

The Lord suffers with your mom and someday--maybe soon--she will be gloriously healed N.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

This view is untenable, however, because it fails to account for the hundreds of moral commands that the Bible does lay upon us, and the apparent expectation that we will at least attempt to obey them.

With all due respect, the author is confusing sanctification with justification. One is in fact, a declaration of righteousness, the other (sanctification) is a life-long process that is only fully realised when we are before the Lord.

i find that the hair on the back of my neck stands up when i read that "ought implies can". In point of fact, the purpose of the Law was to demonstrate our entire hopelessness before a Holy God, and drive us to seek the mercy provided for by the sacrifice of Christ.

[Quix]

I could probably argue both sides of it.

I prefer to take any edifying meat or inferences or whatever from both sides,

and go on down the road

Loving God wholly as best I can via His enablement

and

Loving my neighbor as myself as best I can via His Spirit's enablement

and

Doing unto others . . . as best I can via His Spirit's enablement

and growing in trusting

THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I'VE COMMITTED TO HIM . . . against THAT DAY . . . which looks closer all the time.

[Quix]

I think I'd agree that justification is the legal pardon granted by our acceptance of Christ's Blood as covering, clearing of our sins on the record.

And, that sanctification is a seemingly life-long process of Christ working His perfection into us--evidently not finished in this time-space dimension.

I don't find Biblical support for Calvinism.

Love requres a real choice with real consequences and the real freedom to make such a choice.

Otherwise we'd be puppets, robots. God could have made puppets and robots. It seems clear to me, He chose not to. He said He wanted fellowship with critters made in His image. . . . Friendship--joint heirs and more--Friends.

I'm not about to argue with Him on that score. Too great a deal.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Obviously i would disagree with you on Calvinism, but i find it interesting that you use the phrase "free choice" instead of "free will". We Calvinists reject free will (at least if we are consistent), and affirm free choice. We hold that since we inherit Adam's sin and nature (which has been sinful since the fall), that our will is inclined only towards sin and evil, and absent the intervention of God, we will never freely choose Him, and always choose sin and evil.

We also believe that the God who justifies is the God who sanctifies. Whether one is Calvinist or not, the bible CLEARLY teaches that man does nothing to "cooperate" with God, God does the entire work. If He did not do so, then indeed, we would have something to boast about.

[Quix]

I have been familiar with the basics of Calvinism for some 35-40 years or so.

But you certainly stated the case briefly and well.

I just don't find it Biblical or logical.

But it SORT OF makes a SORT OF TIDY little religious system for people with affinities for such.

I find RELATIONSHIP much more real to The Bible and to my experience of God and life.

[pseudogratix]

Wonderful topic. Love the comments so far.

My natural man is as cold as they come. Selfish, self-centered, thoughtless of others feelings, et al. I can't let my guard done for a second. My experience as been that I need to be extremely humble, thankful and, above all, extremely prayerful (pray continually) to even maintain an inkling of unfeigned love towards others. According to Moroni 7:48:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I don't think I have yet to pray with all the energy of my heart yet. I hope one day to do so

pseudogratix @ ...He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do... (John 14:12)

[pseudogratix]

I can't let my guard done for a second.

errata: I can't let my guard down for a second.

pseudogratix @ ...He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do... (John 14:12)

[Quix]

Thanks for your kind reply.

I think I'll leave it at that rather than get into your documents vs mine.

Love is certainly an exceedingly high priority--particularly whole heartedly.