In Christian circles, it seems like love and grace are always contrasted with justice, holiness, and truth. I've heard on numerous occasions that those ideas must be "balanced." You can't talk too much about the love of God because then people will think he doesn't care if we sin. And you can't talk too much about truth, justice, holiness, and sin because then people feel beat up.
Do those things really work against each other? Does talking about the love of God mean you have to be soft on sin and holiness? Can you make God too loving? I personally find myself thinking differently about these things. Certain scriptures point to a different interaction between these ideas than the opposition to each other they are characterized as having.
Paul speaks of both sorrow (2 Cor. 7) and kindness (Rom. 2) leading us to repentance. There are times when its appropriate to be direct and harsh with sin, and there are times when speaking about the kindness of God, His tolerance and patience, will fight sin. Paul also talks about speaking truth in love, meaning that truth is a part of love, not opposed to it.
This all may sound rather rudimentary, but in terms of practice I have hardly ever seen this lived out the way Jesus did. I don't think He was trying to balance grace and truth, I think He was loving. His love for people absolutely manifested itself in different ways, be it showing grace to an adulterous woman or throwing tables around in rage, but love was always present.
Why does love have to be soft on sin? Actually, let me rephrase that: how can love be soft on sin? And how can truth be separated from love? Is it even possible to make God "too loving" or "too nice?" I don't think so. He still hates sin, and He always will. But He is love.
Perhaps more on this later....
Jan 24, 2009
Jan 13, 2009
On Creeds and Doctrinal Statements
Back in May I shared my comments on the Westminster Confession. It was an interesting exercise for me because while I agree with most of the points in the Confession, I'm actually not in favor of creeds and doctrinal statements, at least as they're used today. Historically they have been used as a means to maintain unity within the body, but I actually think they have worked against the unity they seek to achieve.
The main issue I have them is that they try to boil down truth to a list of statements. The fruit often is that if you agree you can hang around and if you don't you are told to go elsewhere (explicitly or implicitly). The problem is that truth isn't a list of statements or doctrines, it's a person. That person is Jesus (John 14:6). And the way that people are known is through relationship. I can tell you all about my wife, but if you don't actually spend time with her you won't really know her (and you probably wouldn't say you knew her). There has to be relationship for you to truly know her.
So if truth is fully expressed as a person, and known and understood in a relationship, a doctrinal statement falls woefully short in conveying it. Doctrinal statements and creeds aren't necessarily wrong, but usually they become the way that believers free themselves from having relationships with other folks. If someone disagrees, just ship them off to another meeting down the street. That doesn't build up the body in the way that discussion and dialogue does, and it also keeps the body from truly being the body. The reality is that our basis for fellowship with other believers isn't believing all of the same things. The basis is whether or not Jesus has received us (Rom. 15:7). If someone knows Jesus and has been received by Him, we are to received them just as He did. And in the context of the relationship that develops, we wrestle with the differences we have in how we read the scriptures, trusting Him to unify us in the process.
The main issue I have them is that they try to boil down truth to a list of statements. The fruit often is that if you agree you can hang around and if you don't you are told to go elsewhere (explicitly or implicitly). The problem is that truth isn't a list of statements or doctrines, it's a person. That person is Jesus (John 14:6). And the way that people are known is through relationship. I can tell you all about my wife, but if you don't actually spend time with her you won't really know her (and you probably wouldn't say you knew her). There has to be relationship for you to truly know her.
So if truth is fully expressed as a person, and known and understood in a relationship, a doctrinal statement falls woefully short in conveying it. Doctrinal statements and creeds aren't necessarily wrong, but usually they become the way that believers free themselves from having relationships with other folks. If someone disagrees, just ship them off to another meeting down the street. That doesn't build up the body in the way that discussion and dialogue does, and it also keeps the body from truly being the body. The reality is that our basis for fellowship with other believers isn't believing all of the same things. The basis is whether or not Jesus has received us (Rom. 15:7). If someone knows Jesus and has been received by Him, we are to received them just as He did. And in the context of the relationship that develops, we wrestle with the differences we have in how we read the scriptures, trusting Him to unify us in the process.
Jan 12, 2009
News
If it wasn't obvious, blogging has moved even farther down the list of things to do in the last six months. I have a few things I'll try to get to this week before classes start next Tuesday (when free time will disappear again), but I wanted to write about the way God has led our family in the last couple of months.
I can point to several points in my life where God has spoken very clearly to me through monetary things. Going to college, time on staff with InterVarsity, traveling to Egypt, going to grad school.....God spoke very clearly through financial means in all of these instances. So when I scheduled a saxophone audition with the Air Force Band of the West in San Antonio, TX, I took note of the ways that he took care of the expenses for the trip (they don't pay to fly you down).
First, a free plane ticket was given to us. Then, someone said they wanted to pay for a rental car, which I needed to get around while I was there. Then, a stranger offered to let me stay in his home for free while I was there (more on this in a moment). And after that someone gave me some extra money for food, gas, etc. So instead of potentially dropping $800 on getting to Texas, I was basically going for free. We were thankful.....
I arrived on Saturday night for a Monday audition and drove to Adam's home. Adam posted a comment on house churches in a random forum this summer, and Lisa found his info through an internet search. I told him a bit about myself and asked if I could stay with him, and he said ok. I was excited to have been divinely placed in the home of a brother with whom I could so quickly have real fellowship. Not only that, but Sunday morning I went with him to a meeting with a group of believers and was greatly blessed to hear their testimony of Jesus. It was indeed a joyous trip, and I hadn't even done what I originally went to do.
It almost seemed too good to be true, so I figured there was no way I would actually win the audition. Six of us were there to play, and I was chosen to play first in the morning round. I sought to walk humbly with Jesus as I went, and He heard me as I asked for peace while I played. They picked prepared pieces that I was very comfortable with, and I had played the two most difficult "sight-reading" excerpts. After playing and then sitting around for a couple of hours I found out I was one of the four selected to move on.
The second round consisted of playing lead alto with their big band (they have a concert band and a big band) and improvising. All of that went very well, and after another couple of hours they told me I was the one they wanted. Lisa and I waited until today to formally accept the position, just to allow God time to speak if He wanted. But as I look back on the experience, I think I can say that this is one of the most clear ways that God has spoken to me (us) in some time. We are thankful to have a job in a time when many are losing theirs, and to know some believers in the new city we are moving to. I'm excited to see what He has in store for us there....
....after basic training. :)
I can point to several points in my life where God has spoken very clearly to me through monetary things. Going to college, time on staff with InterVarsity, traveling to Egypt, going to grad school.....God spoke very clearly through financial means in all of these instances. So when I scheduled a saxophone audition with the Air Force Band of the West in San Antonio, TX, I took note of the ways that he took care of the expenses for the trip (they don't pay to fly you down).
First, a free plane ticket was given to us. Then, someone said they wanted to pay for a rental car, which I needed to get around while I was there. Then, a stranger offered to let me stay in his home for free while I was there (more on this in a moment). And after that someone gave me some extra money for food, gas, etc. So instead of potentially dropping $800 on getting to Texas, I was basically going for free. We were thankful.....
I arrived on Saturday night for a Monday audition and drove to Adam's home. Adam posted a comment on house churches in a random forum this summer, and Lisa found his info through an internet search. I told him a bit about myself and asked if I could stay with him, and he said ok. I was excited to have been divinely placed in the home of a brother with whom I could so quickly have real fellowship. Not only that, but Sunday morning I went with him to a meeting with a group of believers and was greatly blessed to hear their testimony of Jesus. It was indeed a joyous trip, and I hadn't even done what I originally went to do.
It almost seemed too good to be true, so I figured there was no way I would actually win the audition. Six of us were there to play, and I was chosen to play first in the morning round. I sought to walk humbly with Jesus as I went, and He heard me as I asked for peace while I played. They picked prepared pieces that I was very comfortable with, and I had played the two most difficult "sight-reading" excerpts. After playing and then sitting around for a couple of hours I found out I was one of the four selected to move on.
The second round consisted of playing lead alto with their big band (they have a concert band and a big band) and improvising. All of that went very well, and after another couple of hours they told me I was the one they wanted. Lisa and I waited until today to formally accept the position, just to allow God time to speak if He wanted. But as I look back on the experience, I think I can say that this is one of the most clear ways that God has spoken to me (us) in some time. We are thankful to have a job in a time when many are losing theirs, and to know some believers in the new city we are moving to. I'm excited to see what He has in store for us there....
....after basic training. :)
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