Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
As I look over the "God's Full Salvation" pamphlet it strikes me how theoretical it is. Yes, it's lofty. Yes it's all satisfying in its tidy seeming completeness. But, really, all the talk about "life" transforming us and needing "the cross" strike me as abstract substitutes for the real thing.
All Christians know God wants to change us to be like Him. All know that the Holy Spirit does this, and that God uses our obedience to Him in our circumstances to practically bring this about. I am so thankful that I'm in a church that keeps it real. We don't use the terms "transformation" or "the cross," but I guarantee you people are being changed into His likeness. They are doing it by having a relationship with God and being obedient, not by talking about "life" and "transformation" and "the cross" as if they are shibboleths of the kingdom.
The LC still thinks it is on to some special revelation that nobody else has. Really what they have is a set of terms that few use. But I'm afraid transformation (aka change) and the cross (aka obedience) are a lot more widespread than they know. Lofty catchwords are not required. Getting real is.
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Great points. How much we need this today.
We have been reading thru the gospels hanging out at the local Panera's. People stop by all the time and say odd things like, "
who's the pastor here? where do you go to church? what version do you read?" But last night one unassuming brother stopped by and said "hi, I saw the Bibles out, what are you reading?" I try to mix it up saying something off the wall, "
there's some crazy stories in this book, like this one about some lad afflicted with a dumb spirit, and then Jesus came along."
He knew the story, he knew the point, and what he said was real. "
Jesus said, if you can." That's right, "
if you can." It was like the Lord had spoken this to us too.
Later on, after that brief exchange, my sluggish memory came to life. "
I know who that guy was." I couldn't remember his name, but I remembered praying for him and why he moved to town. Then it all slowly came to me ... but it's not necessary to discuss that information here ... just an unassuming brother at the coffeeshop who has experienced the reality of faith.
Igzy's point is well taken. It's so easy for God's children to masquerade behind special verbiage, spouting (
or shouting)
shibboleths to impress others. Jesus, however, used simple words with eternal significance. "
If you can." What's real is faith, and what's needed the most today is faith, not long-winded spiritual-sounding words designed only to impress others.