I read a book recently about the women of the reformation. The thing that really struck me was how *HARD* those women worked. Before, when they were taught to work for God's favor, they had less motivation than after when they were freed up by His love to willingly give it their all.
What if Christians were never supposed to construct distinctives? What if traditions and exclusive theologies are instruments that lead us away from the “simplicity of Christ.”
If our center of attention is on a set of principles rather than the preaching of Christ’s cross, we will lack God’s power(I Corinthians 1:18).
A human theology is just that; falling short of God.
In the New Testament, you don’t find true believers separating into cliquish denominations, but “now you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints, and the household of God.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone”. Ephesians 2:19,20
Making distinctions is unavoidable. It's like the whole "no creed but Christ!" mantra. "No creed but Christ" is itself a creed. A Christianity without distinctives is itself a distinctive form of Christianity. Our aim should be to make the right distinctions, not to avoid them.
Yes, we are more than conquerors; but that conquest comes by following the Way of the Cross.
We look like 'losers' to those who are perishing, but don't judge by the world's standards. That leads to Prosperity Gospel, not the Imitation of Christ.
To be clear, the book I’ve written contradicts what you’ve written above. We are more than conquerors, and that victory isn’t limited to the interior, private realm.
Glad to read that, Michael. Would you care for an e-copy of my book 'Pope Barnabas'? Contact me through the website https://bobbook.info and I'll email you a copy. Written from a Catholic context to simplify the plot; I'm more a 'Barthian Calvinist' than anything else.
I wholeheartedly agree that Christians should be optimistic. But Reformed Christians don't have an edge on optimism--it's for Biblical Christians of all stripes (I'm Baptist).
I read a book recently about the women of the reformation. The thing that really struck me was how *HARD* those women worked. Before, when they were taught to work for God's favor, they had less motivation than after when they were freed up by His love to willingly give it their all.
this strengthened my faith this morning. thank you brother!
You're welcome!
SOOOO TRUE!
What if Christians were never supposed to construct distinctives? What if traditions and exclusive theologies are instruments that lead us away from the “simplicity of Christ.”
If our center of attention is on a set of principles rather than the preaching of Christ’s cross, we will lack God’s power(I Corinthians 1:18).
A human theology is just that; falling short of God.
In the New Testament, you don’t find true believers separating into cliquish denominations, but “now you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints, and the household of God.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone”. Ephesians 2:19,20
Making distinctions is unavoidable. It's like the whole "no creed but Christ!" mantra. "No creed but Christ" is itself a creed. A Christianity without distinctives is itself a distinctive form of Christianity. Our aim should be to make the right distinctions, not to avoid them.
Yes, we are more than conquerors; but that conquest comes by following the Way of the Cross.
We look like 'losers' to those who are perishing, but don't judge by the world's standards. That leads to Prosperity Gospel, not the Imitation of Christ.
To be clear, the book I’ve written contradicts what you’ve written above. We are more than conquerors, and that victory isn’t limited to the interior, private realm.
This comment is exactly why I wrote my book about loser theology. You should check it out when it is available.
Glad to read that, Michael. Would you care for an e-copy of my book 'Pope Barnabas'? Contact me through the website https://bobbook.info and I'll email you a copy. Written from a Catholic context to simplify the plot; I'm more a 'Barthian Calvinist' than anything else.
Then don't read my book. Read the Gospels instead.
I wholeheartedly agree that Christians should be optimistic. But Reformed Christians don't have an edge on optimism--it's for Biblical Christians of all stripes (I'm Baptist).
I’m Baptist too