let us talk about sin (the inauthentic narrative), Part 2

As I mentioned below, it's time to talk about sin. I hope to explore this in a manner that is ultimatly respectful and grounded in our heavenly Father's view of sin. But, let's begin with a few words... authentic and inauthentic. These words float around the emrgent environment as if they were inflated with endless amounts of hellium. I don't like it when words become "hip" and "relevant", because when they do they seem to lose their weight a bit. Like they have left the earth and now exist on the moon and no longer are effected by gravity in a manner that is real to our own lives. They become abstract and ultimately become "useless". The reason I reasonate with postmodernism is because true postmoderns are poets at heart. Words are not cheap or to be used in a way that postitutes their intent. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of postmodern holdings, "I AM the Alpha and the Omega." Grasp this for eternity, He is proclaiming that language is about HIM, describing Him, pondering Him, praising HIM, being saturated in HIM, and on and on. Have we thought on the reality that language was and is designed to express God himself. He is saying to us, "I AM the Alpha and the Omega and everything in between. Every word is connected to Me and a day will come when an assessment of those who uttered words will be given". When we gossip we assault Him, when we talk in a useless manner, we belittle His creation, when we yell at our children we tell Jesus to remove the children from His knee. So as I venture into this dialog, know that I am not attempting to be emergent or postmodern for the sake of being emergent or postmodern, I am merely trying to frame the discussion in a manner that appreciates the power of discussion and the weight it has on eternity.

Back to authentic, inauthentic, sin and our heavenly Father. Let's begin with authentic. What I mean in this context is the authentic self. Much of this will be influenced by what Scripture has to say about this true Self. When I say the true or authentic self, I am framing out of my understanding of Ephesians 1, "He chose us before the foundations of the world." I propose that our authentic / true Self has always existed in the mind of God. Our Father has known us before the existence of time and but for a breath in eternity we find ourselves in conflict and confusion regarding the possibility of being inauthentic. Don't we all connect with this "unsettling" that something is a bit awry within us; always attempting to readjust and "re" present ourselves to others, so that we may feel more "authentic". My concern is that the emergent dialog leads us on another rabbit trail away from our true Selves. After reading "The Screwtape Letters", by C.S. Lewis, I began to appreciate the power of the false Self, and how it is a master at distracting us from living out of our true Self. Lewis does a masterful job of describing how the demons numb us into inauthenticity through the use of the mondane and the trivial. Our eternal true Self cries out from our inauthentic self-construct and says, "Listen, this is not it, don't settle, push on, be courageous." Our authentic Self is eternally aware that it is created in the very likeness of Jesus. You and I, traversing time, space and a few dimmensions carrying the spiritual D.N.A. of Jesus himself. This is the true You, the true Me, reflecting in still waters the very image of Jesus. He is the definition of authentic, and we are never more authentic (sin-free) than when we are living out the HE in us.

So what does this have to do with Sin?.... Stay tuned and / or enter your thoughts in via the comments.

let us talk about sin (the inauthentic narrative), Part 1

As Christ-followers in praxis and emergent orientation, we have taken many shots over the years from other Christians, namely evangelical conservative pastors. One of the frequent comments regarding the emergent movement is that as a movement it will not talk about sin and is often observed watering down or avoiding the issue altogether. I have to agree for the most part with their assertion. And then I beg... what are we scared of? Personally, I think we're scared to discuss and engage the issue, because when we do we are not able to escape the "old" language frame that "sin" is often couched in. When we discuss sin in the modern context, we are namely discussing a word that has been developed from the passions and patterns of persuasion presented by the revivalists of the mid to late 19th century up to the present. The method of these crusaders was to batter the listeners to a point where shame and guilt so strangled an individual, that the listener would do anything to ease the pain. If we, as Christians, want to be honest, we have to ask the question whether this initiation to the Kingdom leads to fully developed and devoted followers of Christ? The fact that I'm writing this blog is evidence to the futility of this approach. However, although previous generations were into guilt tripping, this generation should not side-step the issue... sin is sin. So let's re-engage the issue. Let us not begin with, "what do we think about sin?", but "What does our heavenly Father think about sin?" Before I develop this further, I wish to get your thoughts on sin and how it fits into the narrative of the emergent dialog. Your thoughts???

Where does grace reside?

Dutch Anabaptist reformer Menno Simons wrote in a letter:
'Wherever there is a pulverized and penitent heart, there
grace also is, and wherever there is a voluntary confession
not gained by pressure, there love covereth a multitude of
sins.'

Click here to read more about Menno Simons.

Understanding our troubles

Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter:
'The Lord himself is our Keeper. Nothing befalls us but what
is adjusted by His wisdom and love. He will, in one way or
another, sweeten every bitter cup, and ere long He will wipe
away all tears from our eyes.'

Click HERE from more info. on John Newton

Value of Journaling for Self Knowledge

"The practice of keeping a diary would promote vigilance. The lives of many are spent at a sort of hazard. They fall into certain religious habits: and are perhaps under no strong temptations. They are regular at church and sacrament, and in their families. They read the Bible and pray daily in secret. But here it ends. They know little of the progress or decline of the inner man. They are Christians therefore, of very low attainments. The workings of sin are not noticed, as they should be, and therefore grace is not sought against them: and the genial emotions of grace are not noticed, and therefore not fostered and cultivated. Now, a diary would have tendency to raise the standard to such persons by exciting vigilance."

- Josiah Pratt making comments at an 1803 meeting of the "Eclectic Society"

Great Journaling Program

Universe as Allegory

In 1956, English Christian apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter: 'In so
far as the things unseen are manifested by the things seen,
one might from one point of view call the whole material
universe an allegory.'

Taken from the daily email "This Day in Church History" on studylight.org.

True Living

Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter:
'This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call
our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and
intercession of Jesus.'

Take Joy Christian

Is 43: 17ff (The Message Translation)

The God who summons horses and chariots and armies--

they lie down and then can't get up;

they're snuffed out like so many candles:

18"Forget about what's happened;

don't keep going over old history.

19Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.

It's bursting out! Don't you see it?

There it is! I'm making a road through the desert,

rivers in the badlands.

---

Take joy Christian that your God has gotten over your past. His wrath is completely sedated by the work of Christ; great satisfaction is His! Why hold tight to failures and disappointments, for your joy today, oh yes today, is in Messiah. Revel in delight that past failures have been thrown into the wasteland of yesterdays and breathe afresh the rejuvenate breezes coming ashore from the great sea of His Grace.

Personal Calling & the Activity of God

Eph 3:7 This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. 8 When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.

- Paul, an Apostle of the Christ

Devotional Delight

I read this devotional today. Such a simple, practical devotion, and ultimately serves as a great reminder that humility of mind and heart keeps the soul refreshed.

Follow the link:

Trust

Belief or Unbelief
by Os Hillman, December 5, 2005


..."Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." - Romans 4:3

You can be a believer yet act as though there is no God. Whenever you fret over life circumstances, you immediately demonstrate unbelief. Whenever you move out of fear or anxiety, you believe a lie about God's nature.

Each day your actions affirm or convict you of your belief system. It reveals who the central focus of your life really is - you or God. It reveals who you place your ultimate trust in - you or God. It is one of the great paradoxes for believers. One day we can believe Him to move mountains. The next day we can question His very existence.

. Peter believed God and walked on water.

. A sick woman touched the hem of His garment and was healed.

. A Canaanite woman believed and freed her daughter from demon-possession.

In what circumstances do you act as an "unbeliever"? Ask God to increase your level of trust so that your actions match up with one who believes every day.

If you would like this email devotion in your email on a daily basis, then go to:

http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/pages.asp?pageid=27810

Praise Heart

Psalm 150:1-6

1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in
His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise
Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the
sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed
instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise
Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

Wisdom?

What is wisdom? "Wisdom is mastering the art of living." - Chuck May