There are a lot of things that are true which Scripture makes Plain to us about human relationships. Things like the sinfulness of man- which means that we by nature do thing that are contrary to the revealed will of God, and the depravity of man - which means that our propensity to sin extends to all areas of our lives. These irrevocably play out in human relationships, when people do that which is contrary to the revealed will of God, and do so in all areas of their lives especially in the context of relationships.
Our eating is contaminated by the propensity to be gluttons. Our Work is contaminated with out propensity to laziness or greed, and our relationships are impacted by those problems and our tendency to want to control and use other people for our own ends, instead of treating others as we wish we were treated, and honoring others as fellow image bearers.
I recently have come upon something which I realized is an implication of those realities, I suppose you could call it the second law of human dynamics, but it simply states that a life in crisis will continue in crisis until acted upon by an outside force. People who sin habitually have regular problems. These problems are predictable (1 Cor 10:13). But without outside intervention, they will normally spiral downward in a self destructive pattern.
Take an individual who regularly falls to the temptation to not submit to human authorities, this being a part of God's revealed will it is a sin. It will inevitably pop up at home, at work, while driving, and in relation to the landlord, because depravity extends the influence of sin to all parts of a person's life. Combine this with a lust for pleasure, or a desire for comfort and you have the makings of a really powerful feedback cycle, which begins to blame authorities for one's own lack of comfort that has been perpetuated by one's own difficulty submitting to human authorities.
As a simple example:
If I don't get along with the boss, my job, and pay will be at risk, if they are at risk so is my comfort, which means that it is really easy to blame the boss for my electrical bill not getting paid.
And that is where people call the church, and I get to listen to them talk about how badly they have been treated ( which is likely since if you sin against the boss, he will likely sin in return ). The problem is, most of the time, people do not want the Biblical solution to their sin, they want the church to cover for it, to sympathize and provide money to bail them out of their problem.
The answer is actually very simple, we need to encounter God's Grace, a force so powerful it can work repentance in even the most hardened of hearts. But to share God's grace is often a slow and painful process. And that is where I am tempted, to not take on another hurting heart, or to give handouts instead of the Gospel. My temptation's are also common to man, and show up in many areas of my life.
Which is why I need your prayers, that the Grace of God would continually impact my life, and work God's mercy and compassion and wisdom through my life, that it may pour in abundance on the hurting lives I encounter every day.
Showing posts with label Sanctification. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sanctification. Show all posts
11 August 2014
26 January 2014
Snow,
We are having a record setting year so far. Some say that it is the hardest winter in 20 years. All I know for sure is that the boys have enjoyed the plentiful snow.
It is often like that in life it seems. The things that are good for us, like abundant water for the crops, come with a lot of extra work, like shoveling. God rarely misses an opportunity to care for our development and maturing even in the midst of his grate at blessings. Children bring sleep deprivation, and snuggles in the same package, and often at the same time. And friends bring help and laughter, and tears and sorrow. All of these come from the hand of A God who knows us better than we know ourselves. Who pushes us and prods us to maturity, mixing joy and sorrow in every cup, so that we may learn to trust him. He is good, after all, he did make snow men possible!
01 August 2012
No Undisputed Molecule in the Worship Wars
I went to a conference this past two days focusing on the need to plant churches. On the whole it was a very good conference with good speakers, experienced breakout leaders and helpful tips. While there is nothing new under the sun, we all tend to have very short memories and reminders of some simple realities of our spiritual condition are of great value.
We reveled in the profound impact of the gospel on every area of life, and how it should transform our attitudes toward every aspect of life and ministry.
But I did have one thought that caught in my craw. In the context of giving encouragement to young (or not so young) church planters, to help them be able to finish well, one of the speakers, a richly experienced and well respected pastor made a statement that has made me think.
Specifically he told us that Music is just sound waves traveling in the air. There is no moral connotation to an instrument, or a style, and we need to get over our prejudices about music, and get back to praising God.
What occurred to me however, is that by that Logic alone there is nothing wrong with ink or pigment on a page, nothing wrong with electromagnetic waves traveling through the air to receivers, and nothing wrong with any particular arrangement of letters or words. But if you follow that premise to it's logical conclusion there is nothing wrong with pornography, nothing wrong with violent or demeaning television, movies, or writings. I can't accept that conclusion so I think there is something wrong with the premise.
The inversion of this argument is also worth considering. I think it was aptly encapsulated by a bumper sticker I saw once: "If guns are responsible for killing people, then my pencil is responsible for my bad spelling." Obviously the misuse of God's creation be it photons, sound waves, or ballistics, is the responsibility of human beings.
The problem of course is that the human heart is deceitful and wicked at it's core. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory, and every piece of creation that is touched by the human hand has the potential to be used for good or for evil. Properly stated I suppose that there are no immoral notes, but that notes can be used by immoral people.
And that of course is the problem, when it comes to the worship of God, it is fundamentally about the human heart. We must worship, as Jesus made clear, in spirit and in truth. It isn't about external forms, it is about the heart. So from that foundation we can say that the style of music is secondary, but I think there are dozens of biblical principles that apply to our choices of music. These are deep theological and moral issues that we must explore if we are to have integrity in our choice of music.
Does it cause a brother to stumble?
More than once I have seen music become the expression of a deep distain for the mature members of a church, and of harsh and ungracious judgements of the young. This is a reflection of the attitudes of the heart, and the music itself is irrelevant. When the young are rebellious and the old are arrogant this is sin- pure and simple. To re-phrase Paul's dictum: While I am free to chose any music, If it causes my brother to stumble I will not sing or play any instrument or style ever again.
Does it cause a brother physical harm?
I once heard a preacher boast of the fact that the little old ladies in his church would hold their hands over their ears during the worship service. He was proud of the fact that they didn't let the new style drive them away even though it was too loud for them. That is a disrespectful arrogance that must grieve the heart of God. If my "worship" is so loud that it is physically painful to a member of the body of Christ. I don't care what the style may be it is wrong.
While the audiologists are not agreed as to the harm that excessive volume will produce, we often allow volumes in the name of worship that are illegal to subject people to in the work place. I have witnessed more than once young people leave a concert physically deafened by the "worship" that took place. And the physical side effects of drum beats are well known to cause a re-alignment of cardiac rhythms which can induce moods, and physical conditions that are manipulative.
We need to consider the practical realities of the physical impact we are having on the individuals under our influence, and the sound waves themselves are the objective issue in question.
Does it spur others on to love and good deeds, or toward idolatry?
Perhaps the best definition of an idol I have heard is this: "Anything for which you will sin if you get it, sin to get it, or sin if you don't get it." Music that tempts people to idolize the style of music, the performer, or the experience is a serious issue. Again the music is not objectively at fault here, but it serves as the light revealing the bitterness, and anger in our hearts, because our personal idols are being messed with. We ignore idolatry in worship at our own peril- it has always been the primary problem with human worship.
Does it carry with it the appearance of evil?
Ethics is not situational, but the application of ethics always occurs in a context. Modesty being a clear example. various cultures have widely divergent standards of dress that would be considered modest or immodest, in regard to whether the person is likely to cause sexual temptation, or is engaging in exhibitionism. Music is no different, for those who grew up in a pagan musical context that music carries cultural baggage. While we can and should attempt to redeem the culture, we must be careful to remain in but not of the culture. Musical styles indistinguishable from their millue run a great risk of falling into moralistic relativism, Where so long as the words are "christian" anything goes.
We must speak the heart language of our target audience in evangelism, and in that context and for that purpose I think almost any genre can be adapted, but in the corporate worship of the body of Christ we need to wrestle with the implications of the music we choose.
Does it speak truth, not just in it's words but in the emotional and physical consequences it produces?
Music stirs the emotions. Hence it's powerful application in a worship setting is so critical. To stir the emotions touches the human heart right at our point of greatest need. Out hearts are the seat of desire and our music can spur our desires, driving the integrity of our worship. Music that is cogent with a clear and Biblically content is essential. Sensuality is a great danger to the human heart, we are warned that those who pursue sensuality are not fit for the kingdom of God. Music that stirs the emotions, produces pleasure and possibly the lowering of inhibitions (all known and explicitly desired effects of many poly-rythms, chord structures and progressions) is an area where we are subjecting ourselves to the potential for great temptation to sensuality.
The reality of the sensual orgy that music can produce is well known. Any movie that makes the big time has a sound track that supports encourages and drives the emotional content of the film. Music is often the difference between laughing and crying in any given moment. All of that being accomplished very frequently without any words. Music heightens emotion, allowing for manipulation of the emotions.
Through that emotional power our music can contradict our message, spurring self-indulgence, and sensuality, and often doing so in opposition to the words of the song. If people choose your church based on the emotional impact of your music, and not the gospel, we are guilty of worshiping the created thing and not the Creator. If yours is the greatest show on earth, be ware.
Does it lead people to glorify God or man?
Following in the same vein far too often music is a cult of personality. We become followers of the band and not followers of God. Our hearts are drawn to the human figures, with a form of godliness, but that in the end denies it's power. Musicians are often the ones who are most likely to break into homes and gain control over weak willed young women. In the secular world every generation has a heart throb, or boy band and they have all the groupies they want. In the spiritual arena the idolatry, and adultery of the heart is far too common.
While we want our worship to God to be a thing that reflects his glory, his beauty and his majesty. We must be careful that it doesn't instead usurp those things for the glory of man.
Does it function as manipulation such that the same effect could have been achieved by a completely secular drama, musical score?
I confess to having been moved, to pity, to anger and compassion in films and stories that were entirely devoid of a Biblical moral framework. What makes the arts any different in church? Are we settling for the cheep tricks that Paul so expressly avoided in his dialogue with the Corinthians? The philosophers and disputers of our age use the arts as one of their primary mediums. We are to rely not on cleverly constructed musicals, or heart warming solos, but the power of God in the Gospel. In the end, if we have the best music, and the greatest worship sets, but we have not love . . .
And fundamentally of course, does it spring from a heart responding rightly to God?
In many ways we need to be more critical of our musicians than our preachers. The theology of the preacher will be retained for a few hours, the theology of our musicians will be retained for a life-time. We most often remember music not sermons. And thus the heart of the musicians in our churches, and the hearts of our worshipers are more important than we give them credit for.
Who are you to judge? How can you say that about a person's heart? You don't even know the artist or his or here intentions. No, but we must in fact judge people by their fruits. We can't know a person's heart, but we are to examine the fruit of their way of life. We need to hold our musicians to the highest of biblical standards. We need to examine their family life, their moral life, their ethical behavior, and the way they deal with conflict. We need to judge the music we hold dear by the character and life of the messenger. Because God will not share his honor, and he will not bless any worship that is not grounded in a dependent walk of grace.
In conclusion, we are not concerned about sound waves and pigment molecules per-say. But those sound waves have Theological implications that are profound. And we must not simply accept anything that comes our way. We must be discerning, we must be wise, for the days are evil.
We reveled in the profound impact of the gospel on every area of life, and how it should transform our attitudes toward every aspect of life and ministry.
But I did have one thought that caught in my craw. In the context of giving encouragement to young (or not so young) church planters, to help them be able to finish well, one of the speakers, a richly experienced and well respected pastor made a statement that has made me think.
Specifically he told us that Music is just sound waves traveling in the air. There is no moral connotation to an instrument, or a style, and we need to get over our prejudices about music, and get back to praising God.
What occurred to me however, is that by that Logic alone there is nothing wrong with ink or pigment on a page, nothing wrong with electromagnetic waves traveling through the air to receivers, and nothing wrong with any particular arrangement of letters or words. But if you follow that premise to it's logical conclusion there is nothing wrong with pornography, nothing wrong with violent or demeaning television, movies, or writings. I can't accept that conclusion so I think there is something wrong with the premise.
The inversion of this argument is also worth considering. I think it was aptly encapsulated by a bumper sticker I saw once: "If guns are responsible for killing people, then my pencil is responsible for my bad spelling." Obviously the misuse of God's creation be it photons, sound waves, or ballistics, is the responsibility of human beings.
The problem of course is that the human heart is deceitful and wicked at it's core. It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory, and every piece of creation that is touched by the human hand has the potential to be used for good or for evil. Properly stated I suppose that there are no immoral notes, but that notes can be used by immoral people.
And that of course is the problem, when it comes to the worship of God, it is fundamentally about the human heart. We must worship, as Jesus made clear, in spirit and in truth. It isn't about external forms, it is about the heart. So from that foundation we can say that the style of music is secondary, but I think there are dozens of biblical principles that apply to our choices of music. These are deep theological and moral issues that we must explore if we are to have integrity in our choice of music.
Does it cause a brother to stumble?
More than once I have seen music become the expression of a deep distain for the mature members of a church, and of harsh and ungracious judgements of the young. This is a reflection of the attitudes of the heart, and the music itself is irrelevant. When the young are rebellious and the old are arrogant this is sin- pure and simple. To re-phrase Paul's dictum: While I am free to chose any music, If it causes my brother to stumble I will not sing or play any instrument or style ever again.
Does it cause a brother physical harm?
I once heard a preacher boast of the fact that the little old ladies in his church would hold their hands over their ears during the worship service. He was proud of the fact that they didn't let the new style drive them away even though it was too loud for them. That is a disrespectful arrogance that must grieve the heart of God. If my "worship" is so loud that it is physically painful to a member of the body of Christ. I don't care what the style may be it is wrong.
While the audiologists are not agreed as to the harm that excessive volume will produce, we often allow volumes in the name of worship that are illegal to subject people to in the work place. I have witnessed more than once young people leave a concert physically deafened by the "worship" that took place. And the physical side effects of drum beats are well known to cause a re-alignment of cardiac rhythms which can induce moods, and physical conditions that are manipulative.
We need to consider the practical realities of the physical impact we are having on the individuals under our influence, and the sound waves themselves are the objective issue in question.
Does it spur others on to love and good deeds, or toward idolatry?
Perhaps the best definition of an idol I have heard is this: "Anything for which you will sin if you get it, sin to get it, or sin if you don't get it." Music that tempts people to idolize the style of music, the performer, or the experience is a serious issue. Again the music is not objectively at fault here, but it serves as the light revealing the bitterness, and anger in our hearts, because our personal idols are being messed with. We ignore idolatry in worship at our own peril- it has always been the primary problem with human worship.
Does it carry with it the appearance of evil?
Ethics is not situational, but the application of ethics always occurs in a context. Modesty being a clear example. various cultures have widely divergent standards of dress that would be considered modest or immodest, in regard to whether the person is likely to cause sexual temptation, or is engaging in exhibitionism. Music is no different, for those who grew up in a pagan musical context that music carries cultural baggage. While we can and should attempt to redeem the culture, we must be careful to remain in but not of the culture. Musical styles indistinguishable from their millue run a great risk of falling into moralistic relativism, Where so long as the words are "christian" anything goes.
We must speak the heart language of our target audience in evangelism, and in that context and for that purpose I think almost any genre can be adapted, but in the corporate worship of the body of Christ we need to wrestle with the implications of the music we choose.
Does it speak truth, not just in it's words but in the emotional and physical consequences it produces?
Music stirs the emotions. Hence it's powerful application in a worship setting is so critical. To stir the emotions touches the human heart right at our point of greatest need. Out hearts are the seat of desire and our music can spur our desires, driving the integrity of our worship. Music that is cogent with a clear and Biblically content is essential. Sensuality is a great danger to the human heart, we are warned that those who pursue sensuality are not fit for the kingdom of God. Music that stirs the emotions, produces pleasure and possibly the lowering of inhibitions (all known and explicitly desired effects of many poly-rythms, chord structures and progressions) is an area where we are subjecting ourselves to the potential for great temptation to sensuality.
The reality of the sensual orgy that music can produce is well known. Any movie that makes the big time has a sound track that supports encourages and drives the emotional content of the film. Music is often the difference between laughing and crying in any given moment. All of that being accomplished very frequently without any words. Music heightens emotion, allowing for manipulation of the emotions.
Through that emotional power our music can contradict our message, spurring self-indulgence, and sensuality, and often doing so in opposition to the words of the song. If people choose your church based on the emotional impact of your music, and not the gospel, we are guilty of worshiping the created thing and not the Creator. If yours is the greatest show on earth, be ware.
Does it lead people to glorify God or man?
Following in the same vein far too often music is a cult of personality. We become followers of the band and not followers of God. Our hearts are drawn to the human figures, with a form of godliness, but that in the end denies it's power. Musicians are often the ones who are most likely to break into homes and gain control over weak willed young women. In the secular world every generation has a heart throb, or boy band and they have all the groupies they want. In the spiritual arena the idolatry, and adultery of the heart is far too common.
While we want our worship to God to be a thing that reflects his glory, his beauty and his majesty. We must be careful that it doesn't instead usurp those things for the glory of man.
Does it function as manipulation such that the same effect could have been achieved by a completely secular drama, musical score?
I confess to having been moved, to pity, to anger and compassion in films and stories that were entirely devoid of a Biblical moral framework. What makes the arts any different in church? Are we settling for the cheep tricks that Paul so expressly avoided in his dialogue with the Corinthians? The philosophers and disputers of our age use the arts as one of their primary mediums. We are to rely not on cleverly constructed musicals, or heart warming solos, but the power of God in the Gospel. In the end, if we have the best music, and the greatest worship sets, but we have not love . . .
And fundamentally of course, does it spring from a heart responding rightly to God?
In many ways we need to be more critical of our musicians than our preachers. The theology of the preacher will be retained for a few hours, the theology of our musicians will be retained for a life-time. We most often remember music not sermons. And thus the heart of the musicians in our churches, and the hearts of our worshipers are more important than we give them credit for.
Who are you to judge? How can you say that about a person's heart? You don't even know the artist or his or here intentions. No, but we must in fact judge people by their fruits. We can't know a person's heart, but we are to examine the fruit of their way of life. We need to hold our musicians to the highest of biblical standards. We need to examine their family life, their moral life, their ethical behavior, and the way they deal with conflict. We need to judge the music we hold dear by the character and life of the messenger. Because God will not share his honor, and he will not bless any worship that is not grounded in a dependent walk of grace.
In conclusion, we are not concerned about sound waves and pigment molecules per-say. But those sound waves have Theological implications that are profound. And we must not simply accept anything that comes our way. We must be discerning, we must be wise, for the days are evil.
04 July 2012
Deja-Review
Deja-Review: the sensation that: "I have heard this all before . . . taught it in fact, and yet here we go again."
I had that odd sensation this past Monday sitting in the dentist's office. The dentist was explaining the best way to start a new habit (i.e. regular flossing). I am an irregular flosser. I do it cheerfully, when I remember to do so.
So the dentist gave me some good advice:
Find a regular quiet time in your schedule, do it every day at the same time, create a place where all your stuff is ready to go.
I use that same outline to tell my guitar students, and in my personal devotion classes, and about how to develop a prayer time. And I struggle with them all.
And hence I am hearing the lesson again.
I think the problem is that I for one complicate my life way too much. I have no "regular" schedule. Every day is different, every year is different, with an infinite degree of variety.
I spend several weeks this past month working on my roof, a project I hope to not need to repeat at this house in my time here. -Very irregular.
I went to camp this past month as a speaker- first time at this camp in that capacity- very irregular
I have just started the in-processing challenge for a new job- very irregular
I finished seminary and am trying to start a church plant- very irregular
And thus it may be that that kind of advice which we so eagerly preach about our favorite topics, be it dentistry, musical proficiency or Spiritual exercises may not be a helpful refrain. Perhaps it boils down to knowing what we love in the midst of irregular lives filled with upheaval. And that we do the things we must as they come our way, because we love to do what is right.
In the end neither my dentist, nor God are going to kick me out because I am an irregular person in a less than monotonous life. They will continue to gently remind me that I need to take care of some simple things every day if possible, and they will help me clean up the mess, and deal with the pain when I loose sight of the small things that really matter, or when despite a good effort, life in a fallen world takes it's toll.
I had that odd sensation this past Monday sitting in the dentist's office. The dentist was explaining the best way to start a new habit (i.e. regular flossing). I am an irregular flosser. I do it cheerfully, when I remember to do so.
So the dentist gave me some good advice:
Find a regular quiet time in your schedule, do it every day at the same time, create a place where all your stuff is ready to go.
I use that same outline to tell my guitar students, and in my personal devotion classes, and about how to develop a prayer time. And I struggle with them all.
And hence I am hearing the lesson again.
I think the problem is that I for one complicate my life way too much. I have no "regular" schedule. Every day is different, every year is different, with an infinite degree of variety.
I spend several weeks this past month working on my roof, a project I hope to not need to repeat at this house in my time here. -Very irregular.
I went to camp this past month as a speaker- first time at this camp in that capacity- very irregular
I have just started the in-processing challenge for a new job- very irregular
I finished seminary and am trying to start a church plant- very irregular
And thus it may be that that kind of advice which we so eagerly preach about our favorite topics, be it dentistry, musical proficiency or Spiritual exercises may not be a helpful refrain. Perhaps it boils down to knowing what we love in the midst of irregular lives filled with upheaval. And that we do the things we must as they come our way, because we love to do what is right.
In the end neither my dentist, nor God are going to kick me out because I am an irregular person in a less than monotonous life. They will continue to gently remind me that I need to take care of some simple things every day if possible, and they will help me clean up the mess, and deal with the pain when I loose sight of the small things that really matter, or when despite a good effort, life in a fallen world takes it's toll.
02 April 2011
Thoughts from this side of Sanctification
The goofy reality is that even with 2000 years of history behind us Christians don't agree about a lot of things. Not a surprise. With human nature what it is and with the continuous tendency to stray from the simple truth, it is to be expected, but it is still goofy.
So here I sit a seminary student trying to figure out sanctification, the various schools of thought don't really seem to help much when it comes to actually counseling people, and trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. People are much more complex than a simple description can cover, and sin is more insidious than a simple response will address.
The beautiful thing is that God is still very clear about two things. He does the saving. We are justified by his grace apart from any works of (un)righteousness that we may produce (Gal 2:21). and having been saved by grace we cannot then proceed to sanctification by works either (Gal3:3). But there is a profound change that takes place once we have entered into union with Christ (Gal 3:27) and we are now heirs together with Abraham of God's GRACE (Gal 3:29). And the key issue in sanctification seems to be one of relationship (sometimes referred to as identity). We are sons of God (Gal 4:6), and that change of relationship means we do not have to go back to relating to God from a position of debtor, or even of beggar (Gal 4:9). Our relationship with God is one aimed at freedom (Gal5:1) and that is a powerful concept, if you are free act like it!! Once we are in Christ - the only thing that matters is faith working itself out in love (Gal 5:6). We are no longer trying to keep a set of rules designed to keep us from sinful behavior that cannot change our hearts, and we are not tied to external symbols of God's grace, we have Christ in us!
We are indeed free, and the only caveat is that our freedom is not designed to take us back to doing the things the Law was designed to protect us from. We are free to relate to God as his children, that doesn't mean we should then immediately begin to act like enemies! We should live out our high position and rank as children of God by imitating God (Eph 5:1-2), that means that we should put his love in action in our lives.
That then leads to a profoundly important command - one which I'm not sure I have wrapped my mind around yet- we should live by the Spirit, in the same way that we are made alive by the Spirit (Gal 5:25). What does it mean to live by the Spirit? Well, Paul compares it directly to being saved by the Spirit. Which happens in the blessed confluence of God's sovereign gift of faith and my dependent act of faith. Confess and believe and you are saved (Rom 10:9-10). I think - and again this is what I am trying to wrap my mind around here- that our sanctification functions in much the same way. I confess that I am right with God, and a child of God - and I believe it. As one of my high school students said the other day, "my head and my heart, they have to agree." What happens next is that my new nature or identity, or pattern of life, begins to reflect what I know I am -by faith. in other words, if I am living by the Spirit, in the same way I am made alive by the Spirit, what I know, and what I belive combine to change the way I act.
In Salvation, when what I believe and what I know combine, I cease striving against God, and I cease striving towards God. I simply rely on His grace - made effective in the Cross. In Sanctification it works backward from the same place. When what I believe and what I know combine, I begin to depend on my new relationship with God in increasingly pervasive levels in my life. I rely on his grace, made effective in the cross- and the same power that raised Christ from the dead which is now at work in me to make real in my life what God says is true of me. I start eschewing lustful, violent and idolatrous activities (5:19-21), and begin to see the likeness of God realized in me (Gal 5:22-23), because my head and my heat agree that I have crucified the flesh.
This could of course be interpreted to mean that it is possible to reach the magic tipping point where the Christian life is all down hill, where sin no longer has any interest (we know it has no dominion) and where everything I do is a perfect reflection of God's character. But that idea stands in stark contrast to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles on the continued reality of sin in this world. The sanctifying work of trusting God, must be a habitual and continuous daily action. When we don't get it right it proves not that God has failed, nor that we are not saved (because it didn't depend on our actions anyway) but that we were sinners in the first place (Gal 2:17-18).
One of the things that we believe about salvation is that God uses means in a typical context. God's grace saved us by means of the penal substitutiary atonement provided by the Cross of Christ. God's grace makes us alive by means of the same power that brought Christ up from the dead. The context in which God's grace makes us alive is that of hearing someone preach the word of Christ (Rom 10:14-17). We are no more saved by preachers than cured by doctors, they are merely the normal context in which God's grace applies the means of healing. We belive similarly about sanctification that it has a means, and a normal context. God's grace sanctifies us by means of the righteousness that was provided in the Cross. the Grace of God sanctifies us by the same power that raised Christ from the dead. The contexts in which the righteousness and the power of the death and resurrection of Christ is typically applied to our lives are the Word of God, God's people and suffering. Let me be clear, we are not sanctified by the Bible, we are not sanctified by going to church and we are not sanctified by going through pain. We are sanctified by God's grace, applying the merit of the Cross to our lives, which tends to use those things as the context in which to apply the righteousness and power of the Cross of Christ to our lives.
Our only part in the sanctification process is to proceed by a rich, well informed, ever strengthening faith. Faith acts. That is important. Faith is not passive. Faith is demonstrated in obedience. This is true of salvation- when we cease striving, and start trusting, our faith is demonstrated by our repentance, our confession, our prayers, our baptism, and by our forgiveness of others. Our Sanctification is equally by faith, and is demonstrated by our repentance, our obedience and submission to Scripture, our imitation of God, and our love for one another. Part of that obedience is to place ourselves in the typical contexts of Grace - because we are told to by the one we trust. but our obedience does not sanctify, and our obedience does not make us holy - it demonstrates it.
So here I sit a seminary student trying to figure out sanctification, the various schools of thought don't really seem to help much when it comes to actually counseling people, and trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. People are much more complex than a simple description can cover, and sin is more insidious than a simple response will address.
The beautiful thing is that God is still very clear about two things. He does the saving. We are justified by his grace apart from any works of (un)righteousness that we may produce (Gal 2:21). and having been saved by grace we cannot then proceed to sanctification by works either (Gal3:3). But there is a profound change that takes place once we have entered into union with Christ (Gal 3:27) and we are now heirs together with Abraham of God's GRACE (Gal 3:29). And the key issue in sanctification seems to be one of relationship (sometimes referred to as identity). We are sons of God (Gal 4:6), and that change of relationship means we do not have to go back to relating to God from a position of debtor, or even of beggar (Gal 4:9). Our relationship with God is one aimed at freedom (Gal5:1) and that is a powerful concept, if you are free act like it!! Once we are in Christ - the only thing that matters is faith working itself out in love (Gal 5:6). We are no longer trying to keep a set of rules designed to keep us from sinful behavior that cannot change our hearts, and we are not tied to external symbols of God's grace, we have Christ in us!
We are indeed free, and the only caveat is that our freedom is not designed to take us back to doing the things the Law was designed to protect us from. We are free to relate to God as his children, that doesn't mean we should then immediately begin to act like enemies! We should live out our high position and rank as children of God by imitating God (Eph 5:1-2), that means that we should put his love in action in our lives.
That then leads to a profoundly important command - one which I'm not sure I have wrapped my mind around yet- we should live by the Spirit, in the same way that we are made alive by the Spirit (Gal 5:25). What does it mean to live by the Spirit? Well, Paul compares it directly to being saved by the Spirit. Which happens in the blessed confluence of God's sovereign gift of faith and my dependent act of faith. Confess and believe and you are saved (Rom 10:9-10). I think - and again this is what I am trying to wrap my mind around here- that our sanctification functions in much the same way. I confess that I am right with God, and a child of God - and I believe it. As one of my high school students said the other day, "my head and my heart, they have to agree." What happens next is that my new nature or identity, or pattern of life, begins to reflect what I know I am -by faith. in other words, if I am living by the Spirit, in the same way I am made alive by the Spirit, what I know, and what I belive combine to change the way I act.
In Salvation, when what I believe and what I know combine, I cease striving against God, and I cease striving towards God. I simply rely on His grace - made effective in the Cross. In Sanctification it works backward from the same place. When what I believe and what I know combine, I begin to depend on my new relationship with God in increasingly pervasive levels in my life. I rely on his grace, made effective in the cross- and the same power that raised Christ from the dead which is now at work in me to make real in my life what God says is true of me. I start eschewing lustful, violent and idolatrous activities (5:19-21), and begin to see the likeness of God realized in me (Gal 5:22-23), because my head and my heat agree that I have crucified the flesh.
This could of course be interpreted to mean that it is possible to reach the magic tipping point where the Christian life is all down hill, where sin no longer has any interest (we know it has no dominion) and where everything I do is a perfect reflection of God's character. But that idea stands in stark contrast to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles on the continued reality of sin in this world. The sanctifying work of trusting God, must be a habitual and continuous daily action. When we don't get it right it proves not that God has failed, nor that we are not saved (because it didn't depend on our actions anyway) but that we were sinners in the first place (Gal 2:17-18).
One of the things that we believe about salvation is that God uses means in a typical context. God's grace saved us by means of the penal substitutiary atonement provided by the Cross of Christ. God's grace makes us alive by means of the same power that brought Christ up from the dead. The context in which God's grace makes us alive is that of hearing someone preach the word of Christ (Rom 10:14-17). We are no more saved by preachers than cured by doctors, they are merely the normal context in which God's grace applies the means of healing. We belive similarly about sanctification that it has a means, and a normal context. God's grace sanctifies us by means of the righteousness that was provided in the Cross. the Grace of God sanctifies us by the same power that raised Christ from the dead. The contexts in which the righteousness and the power of the death and resurrection of Christ is typically applied to our lives are the Word of God, God's people and suffering. Let me be clear, we are not sanctified by the Bible, we are not sanctified by going to church and we are not sanctified by going through pain. We are sanctified by God's grace, applying the merit of the Cross to our lives, which tends to use those things as the context in which to apply the righteousness and power of the Cross of Christ to our lives.
Our only part in the sanctification process is to proceed by a rich, well informed, ever strengthening faith. Faith acts. That is important. Faith is not passive. Faith is demonstrated in obedience. This is true of salvation- when we cease striving, and start trusting, our faith is demonstrated by our repentance, our confession, our prayers, our baptism, and by our forgiveness of others. Our Sanctification is equally by faith, and is demonstrated by our repentance, our obedience and submission to Scripture, our imitation of God, and our love for one another. Part of that obedience is to place ourselves in the typical contexts of Grace - because we are told to by the one we trust. but our obedience does not sanctify, and our obedience does not make us holy - it demonstrates it.
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