Donald Miller says in "Blue Like Jazz" that you never really question your beliefs till you have to explain them to a skeptic.
As far as my faith is concerned, the journey is to have my actions line up closer to my stated ideal, that being to be more Christ like.
I continue trying to improve while understanding that I can never achieve anything near perfection. While I can and do learn how to be more like the ideal from people of many faiths that I encounter on the journey, I know that only by measuring myself against the standard of Christ will I truly grow.
As far as my faith is concerned, the journey is to have my actions line up closer to my stated ideal, that being to be more Christ like.
I continue trying to improve while understanding that I can never achieve anything near perfection. While I can and do learn how to be more like the ideal from people of many faiths that I encounter on the journey, I know that only by measuring myself against the standard of Christ will I truly grow.
I also realize I can't achieve my ideal at all! It's impossible for me to become...good enough...to deserve God's Grace. It is impossible for anyone. All my good works can't gain me His love, or salvation. That is a free gift, available to all. What an empty life it is to chase the approval of man, judged by man...subject to man's interpretation of my worth. Better to trust His Grace.
Ephesians 2:7-9 (New International Version)
....in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 3:24
and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:21
Sin once used death to rule us, but God gave people more of his grace so that grace could rule by making people right with him. And this brings life forever through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Galations 2:21
By saying these things I am not going against God's grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ's death would be useless.
"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the unquestioned answers."
3 comments:
So true :) And the amazing thing is that we do not in any way deserve it.
As thought provoking as your thoughts and the scriptures are, I was especially struck by the final line about the Unquestioned Answers being the most dangerous. The Bible says that in the last days even the elite would be decieved....Unquestioned answers will be a major contributor to that deception. Or should I say Unquestioned Answers ARE a major contributor to the deception of the church? Dare I say such heresy?
I was wondering in anyone would catch that quote.
You hit the nail on the head.
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