Comments on: How to Fix the American Christian – Unifying Faith and Praxis http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/how-to-fix-the-american-christian-unifying-faith-and-praxis.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 22 May 2012 03:53:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paul Waltonhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/how-to-fix-the-american-christian-unifying-faith-and-praxis.html#comment-46215 Paul Walton Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:17:29 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1926#comment-46215 We all worship something or someone. Repentance is a change in what we worship, not a change of behavior. As our heart changes from worshipping the things of this world, to worshipping Christ, our behavior will reflect that change. This is known as the fruits of the Spirit, exhorting behavior modification is not trusting the gospel in and by itself to edify. Jesus did not say come to me all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will teach you how to behave a set of rules. No, He said I will give you rest, He wants to give us- peace of mind, a peace that surpasses all understanding. Whenever we preach the true gospel, folks will argue that we are not concerned about sanctification. That if we don't unify our faith with praxis, that we appear to be condoning sinful behavior. Paul was accused of this misunderstanding often, he preached about God's amazing grace, and the legal eagles of his day presumed he was giving the sinful lifestyle a green light. Romans 6: 1-2 1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Most folks won't admit to it, but we want some good old ground rules, it soothes our conscience. Like how far can I go with something before it's sin. Guys will justify looking at women in bikinis on line, or in a magazine, and tell themselves, well it's not porn after all. Read Romans chapters 5, 6 &7 and then measure your motives in light of your desires. Romans 6: 5-7 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Exhorting behavior modification is another way of preaching the law only, sans grace, because as Paul writes, it's through knowing the law that we become conscious of sin. Romans 7: 5 5For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. Following Jesus is not about "doing more" or "trying harder" or "acting dignified" it's about relationship. As Paul exhorts, it's about being joined to Him in His death and resurrection. Repentance is a change in what we worship, not a change of behavior. We all worship something or someone. Repentance is a change in what we worship, not a change of behavior. As our heart changes from worshipping the things of this world, to worshipping Christ, our behavior will reflect that change. This is known as the fruits of the Spirit, exhorting behavior modification is not trusting the gospel in and by itself to edify.

Jesus did not say come to me all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will teach you how to behave a set of rules. No, He said I will give you rest, He wants to give us- peace of mind, a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Whenever we preach the true gospel, folks will argue that we are not concerned about sanctification. That if we don’t unify our faith with praxis, that we appear to be condoning sinful behavior. Paul was accused of this misunderstanding often, he preached about God’s amazing grace, and the legal eagles of his day presumed he was giving the sinful lifestyle a green light.

Romans 6: 1-2
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Most folks won’t admit to it, but we want some good old ground rules, it soothes our conscience. Like how far can I go with something before it’s sin. Guys will justify looking at women in bikinis on line, or in a magazine, and tell themselves, well it’s not porn after all. Read Romans chapters 5, 6 &7 and then measure your motives in light of your desires.

Romans 6: 5-7
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Exhorting behavior modification is another way of preaching the law only, sans grace, because as Paul writes, it’s through knowing the law that we become conscious of sin.
Romans 7: 5
5For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.

Following Jesus is not about “doing more” or “trying harder” or “acting dignified” it’s about relationship. As Paul exhorts, it’s about being joined to Him in His death and resurrection. Repentance is a change in what we worship, not a change of behavior.

]]> By: Patrick Lynchhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/how-to-fix-the-american-christian-unifying-faith-and-praxis.html#comment-46212 Patrick Lynch Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:28:19 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1926#comment-46212 Your illustration reminds me of old Chinese parable called 'The Useless Tree', which I hope stands to rebut it somewhat. Check it out: http://books.google.com/books?id=dwAGNJuQjA0C&pg=PA34&lpg=PA34&dq=useless+tree&source=bl&ots=T6DXhIMybL&sig=hxN8zz-73__CCMP4BGaQcFfZngs&hl=en&ei=QTQkS4PHKNTklQfruL2MCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CBkQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=useless%20tree&f=false Your illustration reminds me of old Chinese parable called ‘The Useless Tree’, which I hope stands to rebut it somewhat. Check it out:

http://books.google.com/books?.....38;f=false

]]> By: Paul Waltonhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/how-to-fix-the-american-christian-unifying-faith-and-praxis.html#comment-46211 Paul Walton Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:14:06 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1926#comment-46211 I have appreciated Tim Keller's warnings on how it's also we Christians who are wired to just "try harder" and "do more" instead of having all our obedience flow from trust in Jesus and His glorious promises. I have appreciated Tim Keller’s warnings on how it’s also we Christians
who are wired to just “try harder” and “do more” instead of having all
our obedience flow from trust in Jesus and His glorious promises.

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