Seriously?

     I never gave it a thought. In fact, I was fully in line with the thought process validating the perspective that "Free Will" was a necessary part of the equation for salvation. Not so anymore. And not because some filthy Biblically stilted Calvinist got hold of my capacity to think for myself, and tied up my brain with a rigid set of doctrinal notions that I couldn't untangle myself from. But, for the first time in years, by the help of some Calvinist teachings, they DID allow me to process some things that I've never considered before. I wish there were time and space in this blog to fully dissect this topic and take it under the microscope, but there isn't. I'll hit a few points, hopefully give a response or two and leave it at that.
     Recently I started a home fellowship group on Sunday evenings that is addressing an array of topics for the entire church to study and help get everyone on the same page. Good idea. I like that. However, I hadn't considered how much my views have changed through the years, nor how strongly people are attached to the idea that "Free Will" is so very imperative in the grand scheme of things where a relationship with God is concerned. But it is...
     If we backed everything up to the first account of human interaction with God, we'd see how the story of Adam and Eve appears to have "free will" written all over it. After all, didn't they disobey God and eat of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil of their own "FREE WILL"? Most would emphatically respond, as I used to, with a hearty "YES!" No one forced their hands in the decision, or twisted their arms. Temptation was genuinely a considerable factor in the story, but doesn't that play into everyone's life situations? We get tempted... we choose the wrong response, at least one time or another? Always with regrettable consequences.
     Many teachers will give us an explanation of Adam and Eve's pre-sin condition as "perfect." Thereby justifying that the doctrine that "free-will" to sin within the context of this "perfection" is the reason that God was justifiably angered and judged the situation as sinful, and prescribed the corresponding punishment of broken relationship and loss of right-standing before Him. Not to mention exile from the paradise called Eden. However, I'm no longer in agreement with this perspective. First of all, God never proclaimed Adam and Eve to be "perfect" after creating them. He said his creation was "good." He liked it. But that's all.
     Jesus told the people who approached him and referred to him as, "Good Rabbi..." by saying, "Only One is good, the Father in heaven." It is a part of most Christian's fundamental doctrines that only God is truly "righteous." By being TRULY righteous, it seems to me that such a position of perfection in character produces that capacity for that which Jesus is best known for. Sinlessness. We would, not for a minute, consider that Jesus was without "free will" and we use that fact as a pillar for our reasoning to base our foundational beliefs that we are the same. You know, created in God's image. Possessing a "free will" to use and choose as we so independently desire, never once thinking that our wrong choices are a sign of something more seriously grave and tell-tale about OUR nature, as opposed to God's.
     Like God, Jesus lived his life fully righteous and without sin. His righteousness gave him the power to make ALL choices and decisions based upon the freedom that comes with such unflawed divine character. Divine holiness and perfection doesn't have the capacity for error. Therefore the WILL of God is ALWAYS perfect and without blemish in the choices he makes. To be any different would make us more... like us! However, that can never be implied of humanity for a moment. Though God referred to his creation as "good", Adam and Eve lived in a place of divine provision under God's purpose and jurisdiction in Eden, yet without capacity for perfection. Had they never sinned, THAT might have come as a surprise to God, because the Bible clearly states that Jesus is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." God was already ahead of the game and aware of the "choice" that Adam would take with the "free will" given to him. It seems more like Adam was created WITHOUT the capacity to make all choices righteous, and that God was ahead of the game, making provision for Adam AND future humanity, who would suffer with the same dilemma. Being born without the ability to CHOOSE righteousness, because we are NOT inherently righteous. It seems by reading the stories of Biblical characters, that all were somewhat flawed and made poor choices at one time or another. Adam and Eve broke the ONE law that God gave. Although it didn't END their relationship with God, it only CHANGED it, the same fact has been humanity and their creator has been no different since.
     Later we see that God gave Moses ten commandments to deliver to that Hebrews, and before Moses could come down from Mt. Sinai to reveal them, Israel was already caught up in every kind of sin, idolatry and debauchery that broke each of the commandments God had given. What was Moses to do? A few years later, Moses also gave the Law of God to Israel as a means of bringing a social and religious order to the newly emerging nation. About six hundred and thirty or so... the likes of which probably no previous civilization had ever seen. The Law was used to measure and judge and order every aspect of life and worship. It demanded an adherence of PERFECTION from those it was issued to, also to which a punishment and condemnation were also firmly prescribed. People did their best to give application to the Laws demands. But NEVER, and may I reiterate, NEVER did anyone accomplish it with perfection. The Law even made it clear that when a person breaks ONE of its tenets, they were guilty of having broken ALL of it, and would bear the just consequences. Pretty stiff, I'd say.
     The New Testament makes it clear in Paul's writings that NO ONE has ever met the standard of righteousness required by the Law of God, and that it provides no ability to give righteousness to its adherents. All it is, at best, is a reflective mirror that attests to the fact that, those who look to it as a standard of uprightness, will only see their deficit. THAT should make ANYONE who takes it seriously either run for cover, or fall before God and beg for mercy. The latter is actually the reason it was given. God has gone to great lengths to make his mercy known and revealed, along with his desire to make it absolutely clear that we have no currency to afford right relationship with Him based on our best intentions and self-efforts. When I consider this, I have to ask myself... If we are given a "free will" from God, why does no one use it, except to do what comes naturally to humanity? To sin. It's not that human beings never make any admirable "choices" in their lives, but the dilemma seems to be that our nature, where "will" is concerned, is held captive by something greater than ourselves. If that's the case, how can it be truly "free."
     The Bible teaches fundamentally that ALL humanity from Adam forward are dead in trespasses and sins. Implying that we have no free will of our own to change that dilemma. Doesn't it seem plausible that, if given half a chance, if we had been given a legitimate "free will" that someone, somewhere, somehow would have made the "free choice" to do something about their predicament? But who ever did? As I mentioned earlier, because God is righteous, his will is FREE, allowing him to NOT make unrighteous choices. We don't have that luxury. Because we are unrighteous, we make unrighteous choices, we choose unrighteous deeds. We follow the path of least resistance and suffer the consequences. Romans 3 tells us this about our "will." "No one is righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless, there is no one who does good, no even one... there is no fear of God before their eyes."
No wonder verses before and after in these passages give light to the fact that we are not "free" but "slaves" to a will that is broken and incapable of responding to God, loving God, seeking God, taking God's side, or emulating Him. Adam and Eve couldn't keep ONE law. Israel broke ten, then on to break over six hundred. And so it goes for humanity in general. We are without the capacity to use this so-called "free will" for any means of self-help where God is concerned. If there had been a person born with a legitimate FREE WILL... don't you think that at some point in history they would have CHOSEN righteousness, holiness, peace, truth, mercy, grace and love? And though we know this to be true, we still insist that it's by our "FREE WILL" that we suddenly come from death to life, darkness to light, sinfulness to righteousness?
Seriously?
I just can't see it.
The kind of righteousness that it takes to make such decisions is nowhere to be found in humanity.
Not according to scriptures. No one possessed it in the Old Testament stories of our patriarchs.
If they had, Romans 3 would be a lie.
But it's not a lie. No one has the resources or currency of a "free will" that is capable of doing what is necessary to engage God in a right relationship. All were enslaved to a will of sin and disobedience.
Until Jesus.
But how does that change things from that point forward?
Maybe next time...

Drink deeply.
    

Effortless Christianity

Recently, I've been seeing articles and blogs and comments about those crazy "grace people" who believe in "effortless Christianity." It's always negative and rife with warnings about the slippery slopes we are teetering on as we place more and more of our confidence in Christ as the sole means of finishing the good work God began in us. Although I've never heard tell of "effortless" Christianity, and it is not the way things are believed among those I fellowship with,  I am WELL AWARE of denominations, groups and preachers that try and place everything written in the scriptures as "imperative" if we will be TRULY saved. This is what I lived under for so many years. Believing, or faith, itself, was never enough in such circles to accomplish anything of lasting or eternal value. Everything that was necessary to be accomplished was going to be as much by the sweat of our brow as the curse God placed on Adam after sending him out of the garden. The more recent enlightenment on grace has helped me to become free from such strangling notions, and rightfully divide that which is TRULY IMPERATIVE from what isn't.

So, I can fully understand why it may appear to some that I have declined into a more relaxed approach to the Christian faith, and why it threatens their vital need to be in control of ensuring that every step stays on target. I’m sure it seems to some I have formerly been in fellowship with that I’ve jumped off the deep end and am "doing nothing" by comparison to the way they saw my rigorous spiritual life and practice in previous days, but that's OK. I now see things through a different lens. Let's face it, the more I relinquish control and hand over to the Lord for doing and completing, the less work I have. I guess you could say, it's becoming more effortless. On the flipside, however, I see lots of fear, anxiety, instability, superstition and unbelief even in those that were regarded as "pillars" in the circles I once attended. Because I no longer subscribe to their ways and means of faith and practice, I'm the one who needs serious prayer. And so it goes...

I've changed... but that is what this life, this journey, is also about. Some people proudly lay claim that their doctrines and belief systems haven't changed in 40 years. Really? That's more frightening to me than people leaving a more legalist and works-driven approach to a more “effortless” one. At least people, like me, are ASKING QUESTIONS about what they have been taught and testing the ropes according to what's clearly written in the scriptures. If you want the truth, I have a greater admiration for people who are willing to take that risk than for those who try and live safely within the confines of trusting their traditions, unchallenged doctrines, and rigorous self-EFFORT, never even peeking to see what is thriving outside the doors of their four walls. Christianity has never been based upon our efforts for success, or maintaining grandma's "old-time religion." It is based upon faith. Faith alone in the solid foundation of Christ alone. I'll take another cup of the "effortless" Christianity, thanks! Goes down pretty smooth, and satisfies to the last drop. Yessir!

 

Drink deeply.

A Little Dab'll Do Ya... Till the Next Application. Only for Styling Gel!

God's love is not served out in increments based upon the good you have done, are doing, or will do. It is given to us UNDESERVINGLY, richly, lavishly and based solely upon the perfect good that Jesus accomplished by fulfilling God's purpose on our behalf. By simple faith ALONE in this fact, we become the recipients of every good and perfect gift, every inherited blessing and every promise for everlasting life that was given to... Jesus first. The worry is left behind, the fear is gone, and anxiety is over. Anything that unsettles us in this matter is brought to an end. God's promise of assurance to us is given (Hebrews 6) with an OATH which he makes with HIMSELF, therefore it cannot be broken because of a LACK or INSUFFICIENCY on our part to strike an everlasting deal with him. So, by giving us his PROMISE and his OATH, we can understand that it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to prove false and deceive us. He SWEARS to give us mighty indwelling strength and encouragement for the HOPE set before us. And this HOPE is a STEADFAST ANCHOR for our SOUL - IT CANNOT SLIP OR BREAKDOWN UNDER WHOEVER steps out upon it. This hope REACHES FURTHER AND ENTERS INTO THE VERY CERTAINTY OF THE PRESENCE where Jesus, himself, has entered before us... and remains our Mediator and High Priest forever. Faith in Christ ALONE makes us wholly and eternally HIS...
This IS the GOOD NEWS! You are LOVED. That simple...

Oh, Hell!

I am often saddened by Christians who are bent on preaching about "hell" as a method of bringing people into the "kingdom" or putting enough fear in their hearts and minds to "keep them there." There is NO "good news" in it. Jesus did speak of hell often, but until you thoughtfully consider the PEOPLE he was speaking to and the MOTIVE behind it... you will NEVER grasp the WHY of his references to this topic. Jesus was SENT, first and foremost, as the Messiah to the Jewish people to FULFILL the Law's requirements and free them from the condemnation of the covenant it established between them and God. While many in his day were well aware of the law and it's demands, they were also rather self-assured that their ability to KEEP the whole of the law was "do-able." Jesus made it clear that not committing the sins listed IN the law was insufficient in God's eyes for righteousness... because the HEART of mankind was what God could see and judge that we often can't see in ourselves, much less the hearts of others. The law offered only the mirror for the sins of man, and the Jews were chosen to represent that truth to the world. Jesus spoke much of "hell" to express the foolishness of believing that any man had the capacity and sufficiency to stand under the laws PROOF of our sinfulness, and therefore clearly established the fact that condemnation was the ONLY end for our USING the law as a means for righteousness. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The talk of hell was not meant as a threat, but as a way to enlighten those with eyes to see and ears to hear that our insufficiency should be glaring and DRIVE us toward the loving MERCY of God, which is the reason and purpose of his being given to the world... To maintain confidence in their own ability to uphold the law would cause them to miss the GREATEST gift of provision that God sent for their own demise according to the laws decrees. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. Our confidence is in God's love and mercy and grace... not our ability to walk uprightly in hopes that we will be eternally rewarded for our own works. Christians... hell is not our home... the Holy Spirit IN YOU is the down payment that everything God has promised AND PAID FOR by the blood of the Messiah, will be faithfully completed. Believe it!

Drink deeply.