Archive for the ‘Forgiveness’ Category:
Knowledge, Wretchedness, and Jesus
Some Christians have opposed academic learning because they believe it promotes a spiritual deadness, and promotes arrogance. As I am surrounded by young men and women here on campus I can testify that this is sometimes true. However, knowledge in itself cannot be the problem. After all, knowledge is a godly thing. (Prov. 8:10)
When we simply know things about the Bible, or about God, we tend to use that knowledge to build ourselves up. One comes to analyze sermons merely academically. We begin to read the Bible so that we can have more of the “right answers” rather than reading it for spiritual nourishment. We lose any kind of humility that is talked about so much throughout the very Bible we claim to know. I have fallen into this before, and I know the utter arrogance one has in that state.
“Dear Legalism,” A Personal Letter of Hope
The following post is a journal entry I wrote late Saturday night, August 15, 2007 (with a couple edits for the sake of explanation).
The night after I was baptized on March 15, 2005, I wrote:
“I will never deserve the love you’ve shown me, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to earn it.”
The day I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with the beautiful woman who is now my wife, in November 2006, I wrote:
“As always, I will spend my entire life striving to be at least halfway worthy of all the blessings you have bestowed upon me.”
Where did this come from? How could I not see that the Lie of legalism was already planted and growing in my newfound faith? As I read this, I am totally appalled. Each of these writings came at pivotal points in my life, and in my faith especially. And now I write again, as I struggle with the shadow of fear and inadequacy. Truly, I am grateful for the love shown for me by God the Father and Christ, but why do I feel that I must still earn it after the fact?
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