Jowee
July 3rd 2006, 07:02 AM
Today, Christian in America have freedom to worship without fear of persecution. Along with freedom of religion we are also given freedom of speech, freedom to life, liberty and happiness. While we as Americans enjoy our freedoms it also has left us in a state of apathy.
Our country gained it's independance from the tyranny of England by open rebellion. But that did not end the opression in the U.S. Since then we have seen slavery, racial and sexual prejudism. All of which are evils that as a nation we have strived to put a stop to. We have seen victory after victory in the name of independence. But these victories all came with a price. Brave men and women have lived and died all for the sake of freedom and justice. But have we paid an even deeper price?
In 1793, Thomas Paine wrote the first part of "The Age Of Reason". In his writings, Paine theorizes that anything and everything can be explained by rational thinking. He continues his discourse by saying that God cannot exist because His very presence goes against the principals and foundations of logic and reason. This began an era which we now call "The Age of Reason" (go figure). It was the birth of the Intellectual Revolution.
Many people since then have followed in his footsteps. Charles Darwin with his scientific study of animals in the Galapagos Islands, as documented in his book "The Origin of Species", presented to the world the theory of evolution thus hammering the nails further into God's coffin.
Before this time the only beleif in the western world was Christianity. The Protestant differed from the Catholic in that they believed in biblical authority and not papal authority but both were followers of Christ. . The "Age of Reason" or "The Enlightenment" brought a different idea to the table which lifted man's logic and reason above God's. This was an "Intellectual Revolt". Many Christans were thrown off guard and in their defence they tried to merge reasoning, logic, and evolution into Christianity, but the two thoughts were found completely incompatible. Christians were therefore forced to accept the fact that science and theism just weren't harmonius. They lived with the fact that all their beliefs were illogical. In essence they lived by faith.
Today, science is pointing to another direction. Modern scientists and Apologists are finding that through logic and reason that the universe and even logic itself cannot be explained without the very presence of God (Which i dont have enought time to expound on this at the present time. But if anybody wants to argue evolution vs creation, i am eager to do so). However , the impact that the "Enlightenment" created is felt throughout the Christian world today. The reasoning of man over the reasoning of God.
Which brings me to my first point. Secular reasoning also brought us the idea that if God didnt exist than man's happiness is the overall foundation of moral behavior. This statement is true. Without God, His moral laws would impose on others therefore infringing on their happiness. This is the very thing that organizations like NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) use to justify immoral behavior. Their argument is called "moral relativism". The problem with "moral relativism" is that it clearly contadicts istself. Groups like NAMBLA anger me almost to the point of violence therefore they infringe on my right to happiness!
I had a good conversation with a friend of mine who spent a year in a Bhuddist monestary. He had the same argument, "What ever is right for you.". So I said, "You'll be thinking that when I steal your bike!".
With the "Moral Relativism" argument he could not be angry with me for stealing his bicycle because under the premise, "whatever is right for you", stealing his bike would not be morally wrong. Clear contradiction!
Now i've made light of this but "moral relativism" has creeped it's ugly head into the American church. It is imbedded into the cultural DNA of our nation.
What most people don't really grasp is that the very act of becoming holy involves some degree of unhapiness and being a Christian involves imposing on other peoples happiness. If Jesus says, "Nobody comes to the Father except through me." He is making an absolute statement. This means that all other roads to God dont actually lead to God, discluding 67% of the worlds population. If we are to follow Jesus' commandment to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.", it is our duty to impose on others.
The definition of Legalism as documented in the Websters dictionary is as follows: strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code <the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice>
Most people leave the church because somebody in authority asked them to quit certain behaviors and thus that authority figure is deemed "legalistic". The argument is that because of Gods grace we are no longer under the "curse of the law", which is true. However, we fail to realize that the standard of living is much more strict under grace. I'll prove it!
Matthew 5:27,28 "You have heard it said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultury.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultury with her in his heart."
Under legalism the act of adultury was sin, under grace the very thought of adultury is sin! Which is more restrictive the Law or Grace?
How can a Christian hold absolute moral standards and not become "Legalistic"? Lets look at the definition of Legalism one more time: strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code <the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice>
The definition implies that the legalist "conforms" to a law or religious or a moral code. The bible tells us to become "transformed".
Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed my the renewing of the mind."
How do we renew the mind? By the meditation and implementation of God's word. By the meditation and implimentaton of God's moral law. We must put on the mind of Christ. In order for us to have the mind of Christ we need to know who Christ is.
John 1:14 " And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus is the physical embodiment of God's Word. Contained in the "logos" of Gods Word is Gods moral law. If we are to put on the mind of Christ, we are to put on the adherance to His commandments. Not because we are conformed to the "logos" of Gods Word, but because we have been "transformed" by the "rhema" of Gods Word made flesh.
In conclusion, holiness is not legalism. We are commanded to be holy just as God is holy. God's grace is not an excuse to live in perpetual sin but it is a stepping stone in which we are able to attain holiness. The process of sanctification involves the release of our personal rights and happiness to God. If we call ourselves Christian it is necessary to understand that by comming under Gods grace we are under much more scrutiny than if we lived by the law. Let us live in Grace, not only in word but in conduct as well.
Love,
Joey
Our country gained it's independance from the tyranny of England by open rebellion. But that did not end the opression in the U.S. Since then we have seen slavery, racial and sexual prejudism. All of which are evils that as a nation we have strived to put a stop to. We have seen victory after victory in the name of independence. But these victories all came with a price. Brave men and women have lived and died all for the sake of freedom and justice. But have we paid an even deeper price?
In 1793, Thomas Paine wrote the first part of "The Age Of Reason". In his writings, Paine theorizes that anything and everything can be explained by rational thinking. He continues his discourse by saying that God cannot exist because His very presence goes against the principals and foundations of logic and reason. This began an era which we now call "The Age of Reason" (go figure). It was the birth of the Intellectual Revolution.
Many people since then have followed in his footsteps. Charles Darwin with his scientific study of animals in the Galapagos Islands, as documented in his book "The Origin of Species", presented to the world the theory of evolution thus hammering the nails further into God's coffin.
Before this time the only beleif in the western world was Christianity. The Protestant differed from the Catholic in that they believed in biblical authority and not papal authority but both were followers of Christ. . The "Age of Reason" or "The Enlightenment" brought a different idea to the table which lifted man's logic and reason above God's. This was an "Intellectual Revolt". Many Christans were thrown off guard and in their defence they tried to merge reasoning, logic, and evolution into Christianity, but the two thoughts were found completely incompatible. Christians were therefore forced to accept the fact that science and theism just weren't harmonius. They lived with the fact that all their beliefs were illogical. In essence they lived by faith.
Today, science is pointing to another direction. Modern scientists and Apologists are finding that through logic and reason that the universe and even logic itself cannot be explained without the very presence of God (Which i dont have enought time to expound on this at the present time. But if anybody wants to argue evolution vs creation, i am eager to do so). However , the impact that the "Enlightenment" created is felt throughout the Christian world today. The reasoning of man over the reasoning of God.
Which brings me to my first point. Secular reasoning also brought us the idea that if God didnt exist than man's happiness is the overall foundation of moral behavior. This statement is true. Without God, His moral laws would impose on others therefore infringing on their happiness. This is the very thing that organizations like NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) use to justify immoral behavior. Their argument is called "moral relativism". The problem with "moral relativism" is that it clearly contadicts istself. Groups like NAMBLA anger me almost to the point of violence therefore they infringe on my right to happiness!
I had a good conversation with a friend of mine who spent a year in a Bhuddist monestary. He had the same argument, "What ever is right for you.". So I said, "You'll be thinking that when I steal your bike!".
With the "Moral Relativism" argument he could not be angry with me for stealing his bicycle because under the premise, "whatever is right for you", stealing his bike would not be morally wrong. Clear contradiction!
Now i've made light of this but "moral relativism" has creeped it's ugly head into the American church. It is imbedded into the cultural DNA of our nation.
What most people don't really grasp is that the very act of becoming holy involves some degree of unhapiness and being a Christian involves imposing on other peoples happiness. If Jesus says, "Nobody comes to the Father except through me." He is making an absolute statement. This means that all other roads to God dont actually lead to God, discluding 67% of the worlds population. If we are to follow Jesus' commandment to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.", it is our duty to impose on others.
The definition of Legalism as documented in the Websters dictionary is as follows: strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code <the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice>
Most people leave the church because somebody in authority asked them to quit certain behaviors and thus that authority figure is deemed "legalistic". The argument is that because of Gods grace we are no longer under the "curse of the law", which is true. However, we fail to realize that the standard of living is much more strict under grace. I'll prove it!
Matthew 5:27,28 "You have heard it said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultury.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultury with her in his heart."
Under legalism the act of adultury was sin, under grace the very thought of adultury is sin! Which is more restrictive the Law or Grace?
How can a Christian hold absolute moral standards and not become "Legalistic"? Lets look at the definition of Legalism one more time: strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code <the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice>
The definition implies that the legalist "conforms" to a law or religious or a moral code. The bible tells us to become "transformed".
Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed my the renewing of the mind."
How do we renew the mind? By the meditation and implementation of God's word. By the meditation and implimentaton of God's moral law. We must put on the mind of Christ. In order for us to have the mind of Christ we need to know who Christ is.
John 1:14 " And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus is the physical embodiment of God's Word. Contained in the "logos" of Gods Word is Gods moral law. If we are to put on the mind of Christ, we are to put on the adherance to His commandments. Not because we are conformed to the "logos" of Gods Word, but because we have been "transformed" by the "rhema" of Gods Word made flesh.
In conclusion, holiness is not legalism. We are commanded to be holy just as God is holy. God's grace is not an excuse to live in perpetual sin but it is a stepping stone in which we are able to attain holiness. The process of sanctification involves the release of our personal rights and happiness to God. If we call ourselves Christian it is necessary to understand that by comming under Gods grace we are under much more scrutiny than if we lived by the law. Let us live in Grace, not only in word but in conduct as well.
Love,
Joey