Praying Mantis thoughts for Wednesday, July 25, 2007

In the Gospel & Mission Class

an attendee spoke about how they had read over this weeks section on reformed theology and how they had felt free for the first time in their life. This person had come out of a particular church that is works based and how they had never felt like they had measured up to God's standard. But seeing the word of God say over and over again that it was God who pursued us, and not us who were the ones responsible to measure up to some "spiritual standard" was liberating. This person spoke of the fredom that comes from knowing that "belief" was a gift of God that had been given to them - and that all they really needed to do was to "maybe ask for more from God." You could see a deep joy spread over this person - like there was a God that had cared enough about them to be wooing him - rather than a mysterious God who they were chasing but never quite finding in their own actions.

Time and time again I see old timey Christians who resist this thought that is so clear in scripture - so did I, when I used to have control of the wheel. But what is interesting are the newbies that aren't entrenched in the "performance church" culture and how readily they embrace God's word of liberty and freedom that comes from a knowlegde that it is by grace we are saved, not of ourselves, but a gift of God - not of works so that anyone would boast.

Last session of class, a few months ago - somebody said "nobody ever told me that you weren't saved just because you are a good person - I always thought everyone went to heaven - who knew it was about a relationship with Christ - not a set of behaviors - not about just being a "good" guy. This really changes everything.

And indeed it does.

Labels: Reformed Thinking

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo