While looking for theologians to inquire about the acceptability of Christmas, I found this article.
My initial response is that this is too rigid, too hardcore. I call this zealotry. Maybe people would call me a zealot for proposing a cancellation of gift-giving during Christmas.
I want to apply truths to my actions. I cannot participate in the wrongness of Christmas, but I'm not willing to give up everything for my faith, either.
Am I straddling the fence? I believe that Christianity is too "easy". It offers salvation to the lazy and the ignorant; comfortable in their complacency and having no desire to change or improve.
If, on a basic level, salvation is meant as a way of clearing your conscience of guilt for sin - I would rather be under the old law, that of punishment and responsibility, than to be granted *poof* redemption.
I don't believe that God would reject me as His daughter after all we've been through together, simply because I do not understand or accept the New Covenant. Maybe He hasn't explained it well enough. If a student gets an 'F' in a class, after giving it her all, and studying very hard. Isn't it ultimately the teacher's fault?
Bad Poetry?
- MsAmber
- I am complex, yet simple. I am hearty and frail. I am selfish and generous. I let my emotions prevail. I want to make some sense of it. Of Life, and Love, and God. I want to bring back the simple things. I know that makes me odd. But if you'll stay and read awhile maybe you'll start to see. Then maybe I can share with you a little part of me. MsAmber
5 comments:
Hi there MsAmber. I appreciate your thoughtful response to my post.
You say that "if salvation is meant as a way of clearing your conscience of guilt for sin - I would rather be under the old law, that of punishment and responsibility." Well said! I would agree with you here.
But I myself don't think this is how Christian faith understands "salvation". Rather, I think salvation is all about being personally reconciled to God through the death of Jesus. As theologians like to say, our salvation is not "inside us", but it is "outside ourselves": it is something that God does for us in the death of Jesus. God accepts us and forgives us and reconciles us to himself.
So I don't think salvation is a matter of how I feel about myself or my own past actions. Instead, it's about who God really is, and what he has done for us in the death of Jesus.
Having said all that, I do admire what you're saying about Christmas!
Hi MsAmber! Thanks for your kind comments on my Blog site! I'm flattered.
I really like your philosophy on Christmas, etc... Frank Zappa wrote a song called "Jesus Thinks Your a Jerk" which touches on what you are saying. Keep on blogging & check back to my blog site as I'm posting some new stuff shortly.
All the Best, Bonfire Jones
Hi Amber. Thanks for commenting on my blog about Anne of Green Gables :-) Kinda neat you stumbled upon the series by accident, haha. I love it!
I got to respond to your post as well though...
"I believe that Christianity is too "easy". It offers salvation to the lazy and the ignorant; comfortable in their complacency and having no desire to change or improve."
If you think about it everyone can be lazy and ignorant. Not just Christians. A lot of Christians are like this and have no desire to change. I really believe though that the Christians who are like this aren't serious in their relationship w/ Christ. A person who says they are born again aka SAVED aka... a Christian should have the desire to change. They should strive to holiness and want to bring glory to Christ through the way they live their lives.
Those Christians who dont do this are what you'd call "Lukewarm" the bible talks all about lukewarm Christians and how it makes Christ sick. (Rev. 3:15-16 - ....."I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. I will comit you out of My mouth...")
Christians arent perfect by no means. I dont want to condemn anyone. But those Christians who are living exactly the same way they did before coming to know Christ aren't doing what God teaches us in His Word....
I know when I was saved at age 15... I had a desire to change my lifestyle... took years of learning but I did... I'm still tempted every now and then to go back to old ways... but I love God to much to turn my back on Him again.
.......
"If, on a basic level, salvation is meant as a way of clearing your conscience of guilt for sin - I would rather be under the old law, that of punishment and responsibility, than to be granted *poof* redemption."
Salvation is a way of being forgiven for our sins... but it doesnt at all remove the guilt of sin. If anything it magnifies it... I use to be able to do ANYTHING I wanted to and have really no guilt at all. It wasn't til I came to know Christ that I started realizing so many things in my life were sinful... Yes Christ forgives them.. and I am so thankful for that.. I dont have to fear any more that my sins will send me to hell.. because Christ has promised to forgive them if I confess them to him. But I still do have guilt.
...........
"I don't believe that God would reject me as His daughter after all we've been through together, simply because I do not understand or accept the New Covenant. Maybe He hasn't explained it well enough. If a student gets an 'F' in a class, after giving it her all, and studying very hard. Isn't it ultimately the teacher's fault?"
Also. No God wont reject you as his Child if you have accepted him into your life... but after some time of rejecting Christ... he does take His hand off us and we will answer to him on judgement day....
Its not Gods fault we dont understand all of what he teaches. No one can understand it all. My husband went to 8 years of college to learn doctrine and biblical thing... studied hebrew, greek, etc... yet he still doesnt understand it all. We never will. But as long as you strive to grow closer to him... and live worthy and bring hm glory... thats all that matters. You dont need all the book smarts... Although it does help ;-) I enjoy learning more about the Word... when taught by someone! because I sure cant understand half of it on my own!
Any how... PHEW THATS A LONG COMMENT!!! Sorry I took so much of your time... I just couldnt help myself. I dont say this in a judgemental way.. Just our of loving concern for a fellow Anne of Green Gables lover :-)
Take care Amber.
When I say guilt (feeling guilty) for sins. I meant feeling ashamed.
Thanks for your comments on my blog, MsAmber - I tried to fumble a response, but I'm not sure if I scratched your itch; you'll have to let me know. As for your concerns about the lack of true discipleship among professing Christians, I'd have to say that Jesus seems to shares your antipathy for materialistic, lazy, irresponsible and ignorant faith. I'd suggest Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship for some classic meditations on this, or Lee Camp's Mere Discipleship for some contemporary political reflections on the topic.
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