A couple weeks ago I wrote about Pursuing Joy and my need for repentance in this area. After a week of thinking about the best way to go about finding time to study and still be faithful to my family in other areas, I began studying Philippians this past weekend. As I read the ESV Study Bible introduction to the letter, something they said in their analysis not only stirred my affections for Christ, but also showed me how I came to the point of not pursuing Joy the way I should.
It’s easy to forget what the whole of Christian life is really about. We are so prone to make much of ourselves, and to pursue our own comfort and happiness. This fits in so well with the American Dream and western consumerism that we barely notice it when we see it. Yet, in his ninety-five theses, Martin Luther began by saying that “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ…willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”
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Posted in Theology
Tagged God, Gospel, Jesus, Re-gospelled, Regospelled, Repentance, Theology
Well, it’s the end of the week and time to share some blogs that I’ve read over the past week. It is my joy to share them with you, and I pray that God moves in you as He did in me when I first read them.
I spent part of my work day multi-tasking between working and listening to Tim Keller speak at The Gospel Coalition conference. During his message today, he mentioned that Americans have completely forgotten what it’s like to have a king. Now, when it comes to a man-to-man relationship that’s probably a good thing. When it comes to a Jesus-to-man relationship, it’s a tragedy.
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Posted in Theology
Tagged Christ, Christian, Church, homosexuality, Jesus, Love like Jesus, Theology
I was talking with a friend the other day about Theology and life and giving grace for those who differ in Theological beliefs and it struck me that I’m somewhat of a paradox. I grew up in the Charismatic denomination until I was 19, then God moved me into the Baptist world where I was introduced to Reformed Theology. At first, I railed against it, but one day God just broke through my heart and stubbornness and showed me the beauty of His sovereignty in election. So, Theologically, I line up more with Calvinism than the Charismatic roots I grew up with. Yet, when it comes to prayer, as my friend Mike says, “I’m more Pentecostal than I think.” So, I’m this weird collaboration of Pentecostal fervor in prayer and Reformed Theology in how I think about God and understand Scripture. So, I guess I’m a Reformed Pentecostal. Then I thought, though not a perfect picture, maybe that’s more how the Church really is supposed to look.
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Posted in Theology
Tagged Arminianism, Calvinism, Christianity, Church, Ephesians, Jesus, Theology
