The Way, the Truth and The Life

One says to know Christ is to know the way and if you do not know the way you do not know the Christ. Another says to know Christ is to know the truth and if you do not know the truth you do not know the Christ, and yet another says to know Christ is to know the life and if you do not know the life then you do not know the Christ.

What I don't have

Thanksgiving is an important holiday here in the states. It’s a time when families gather together and usually share fellowship and a great meal. If everyone is of the proper spirit it’s also a time to reflect on the goodness of God and His great providence. We should always be mindful of His greatest gift and sacrifice on the cross but let’s use this time wisely to also reflect on all of God’s blessings and gifts.

It is normal for me to take stock of the blessings God gives me, both spiritual and temporal, but today I’ve also considered His great blessings to me in the things He never allowed me to have. I’m so thankful my Great Provider knows me in the way that only my Creator could. I won’t go into details but suffice it to say that through the eye of faith I can see that if all that I had asked had been granted I would be a most miserable man today.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

May God continue to bless each of you this holiday season and I count each of you one of His great blessings to me.

The “Point” of Mystery

We all have it. We all claim it. Whenever, within our own theology, we would reach the point where our reasoning leads to an obvious paradox we firmly plant ourselves and confidently proclaim, “It’s a great mystery!” Perhaps the real mystery is that we would refuse to admit the scriptural truth that we can only see darkly as through a glass. Can you really look back over your life and say that your position or your understanding has never been changed or corrected?

Given the fact that the Grace of God surpasses all understanding I can’t help but believe we must always reach a point of mystery in our theology. I also believe that it’s at that point we should be willing to accept that the reason for the mystery is not because our understanding is full, but because we lack a full understanding. Maybe then the stance that we take in our own position won’t be quite as staunch as it has been in the past.

We can stand confidently and firmly in Jesus Christ and in all He has said. I think that is certainty enough to carry us through this life and into the life to come. The great mystery in this is no paradox but rather a question. What great love is this that God would give His own Son?

We be Anomolies

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar, people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

(1st Peter 2:9,10 KJV)

For Discussion

"...what is orthodox is contained in the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. I find no other authority to establish orthodoxy beyond this. That would mean I consider that any theology cannot be considered as orthodoxy no matter how true it may be."

me ;-)

Would you think it wise?

Suppose that the President of the United States decided that the fact that all Christians do not agree on the means, method and meaning of Baptism were the primary cause for the lack of solidarity in support of his policies. Would you think it wise for him to invite all the Pastors in the world to a conference for the purpose of resolving this and a few other denominational differences? Now suppose that only 18% of all Pastors in the world attend the conference and that after much negotiation these men are able to reach a formal agreement on these differences including the means, method and meaning of baptism. Would you think it wise to consider this an action of the Church? Now suppose the President were to enact legislation that required that all Christians in the United States must teach that the means, method and meaning of baptism is as stated in this agreement and that to do otherwise would be considered an action against the state punishable by law. Would you really think that wise?

In 325 A.D. approximately 18% of all Christian Bishops in the world responded to an invitation from the Roman Emperor to assemble with the primary intent of resolving the differences in the perception of God within Christianity because the Emperor considered the controversy arising from these differences detrimental to his empire. The rest, as they say, is history.

What is sin?

I consider sin to be our determination to place more value on our own desire than on God’s desire.

Are you Judgmental?

Is it just as judgmental to condone the sin of another as it is to condemn it?

Transparency

I’ve recently heard a great deal about the need for transparency in our relationships with one another and I must admit I have more than a few reservations concerning this trend. If transparency means being open and honest then I would quickly agree this is an essential element in any successful relationship but if being transparent means we should openly express our every thought and emotion without regard for the consequence then I suggest we reconsider.

I’ve always believed that it’s best to first prayerfully consider my thoughts and desires before expressing them out loud. Many times I find my feelings are invalid and the thoughts they spawn would be nothing less than a lie if verbalized. Should we not first bring these thoughts captive to Christ and put away the thoughts of the flesh? Shouldn't there be a reasonable limit to what we share of ourselves and with whom? How can you balance being transparent with “seasoning” your speech?

A 5 Point Universalist?

What are you when you hold all 5 points of Calvinism but only limit the atonement to mankind?

How much?

If the measure of love is sacrifice then is it simply in what we are willing to do or not do or in what we actually endure?

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

James 1:19-20 (KJV)

Why do you believe...?

Missy said...

KC, maybe an interesting question would be whether one can believe what they do not have at least a basic understanding of?

Kc said...

Missy, that’s an excellent question and I think one that cuts to the very core of our faith. I would understand any question pertaining to epistemology to be easily addressed by the scripture but since my understanding, in itself, is a rationalization I have to remain open to a better understanding.

Why do you believe something you don’t understand?

Why do you believe...?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16

In the above verse Jesus referred to Simon Barjona as Peter, meaning “small stone”. He then went on to say that Peter’s confession of faith in Jesus as Christ and the Son of God was the "large stone" on which He would build His Church. If Peter's confession is the foundation on which Christ builds His Church then what more confession or creed should be required of believers in order to fellowship together. What further agreement should we make before joining together in praise, prayer and practice?

Why do you believe any further affirmation is necessary for fellowship?

Why do you believe...?

Baptism is fast becoming a topic of debate here in the blogsphere and Kris has suggested it as a topic for discussion here. I am very much looking forward to that discussion but today something else has my attention and I’d like your thought and opinion. What exactly is grace? I have defined grace as “unmerited favor”, something not earned or deserved and originating from the giver by their own virtue as in God’s grace toward us. This definition alone prevents me from accepting any act or ritual as a means of grace as that would specifically contradict the definition. If grace can be obtained through certain means then it is no longer grace. What say ye?

Why do you believe in sacraments?

Update: Bobby Grow has posted two articles that address the meaning and perception of grace from a Biblical perspective. They can be found here and here.

Update 5/1/07: Moved to top in light of recent discussions.

Why do you believe...?

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6 (KJV)

Why do you believe there is any other work necessary;

A) for everlasting life

B) to give evidence of conversion for fellowship

What would that work be?

Why do you believe...?

Israel had a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. The oracles of God were committed to them but the knowledge of the truth was withheld.

Why do you do the truth; is it because you have a desire to do it, because you have an understanding of it, or because you have knowledge (belief) of it?

Why do you believe you do the truth?

Why do you believe...?

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:10

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Romans 14:5

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11

Given the above verses it would seem to me that the single mindedness we should strive for has less to do with theological agreement than it does with our willingness to be subject to God, to one another and to the scripture.

Why do you believe Christian fellowship and assembly should be dependent on theological agreement and/or common practices?

Why do you believe...?

With the heart man believes unto righteousness (Romans 10:10) and we know that what must be believed is the word of God. Why does the scripture impose this distinction on belief for righteousness? Is it an implication on the process required to come to the belief or could it be highlighting the origin of this particular belief?

Whether you understand a belief to be formed apart from the will or not, here we have a belief originating with the word of God being implanted in the heart (Matthew 13:19) and it cannot be comprehended through either consideration of any natural experience or through deduction but only by virtue of its origin. Does that necessarily alter the process required to form the belief?

Why do you believe that belief in the heart varies from any other belief apart from its origin?

Why do you believe...?

“it just gets old some-times to always have to posit controversial topics in order to have any fruitful discussion”
Bobby Grow

We know it’s true. If you want more interaction or traffic to your site then post on a controversial issue. What’s going on here? Are we just looking for a fight or is there something more that provokes us to enter the fray?

Why do you believe we prefer to discuss controversial issues?

Why do you believe...?

During last weeks discussion on authority several good points were made and there were even some good thoughts offered on Church leadership. It seems we all agree that, "Christ is the single authority over each believer". There does, however, seem to be a valid concern regarding praxis, or how it is that Christ’ administers His authority in the Church. Most here find the Roman error quite grievous yet if we examine ourselves we might find those same tendencies thriving in most Evangelical Churches. The question we seek to answer is this, “How can Christ govern His Church if not through some person or persons here on earth?”

History offers numerous examples of how men have sought to establish themselves as Christ’ intermediary here on earth and even today there are many who claim to hold this position. For others it seems this position is not singular but rather Christ appoints rulers with authority equivalent to that of the apostles. Finally there are those who believe that the Church herself is to elect one or more individuals to govern her in Christ stead. Brethren I think we desperately need to alter our perception of us, the Church, as an institution and start to visualize ourselves as the living body of Christ. Christ Jesus alone is our head and He alone governs the movement and action of each member of His body. If we then are a body and not an institution we must ask, “ what is the remedy for the virus of sin that is constantly infecting our members?”

Time and necessity prevent me from expounding on the analogies in this but suffice it to say there is no cure in amputation. In the post below I have provided links to a series of articles detailing my understanding of Church discipline, which I believe is the only cure for any ailment that might infect the body of Christ. I hope it is clear from these articles that all of us have both the authority and the responsibility to provide aid in healing this illness as needed.
And now having fully taxed your patience I will ask, why do you believe there is a need for any form of Church government outside of Church disipline?