Weekly Thought – January 27, 2015
Fred read and thought about theology, philosophy, and science. He sought to know God, not just know about Him. No one could put him in a doctrinal box because he constantly thought about the relationship, not the rules.
This excerpt from a letter to a theologian friend may be a bit controversial. And, he is not here to defend his thinking, but it is a good delineation of his theological processing.
Thank you for supporting our work. An email to us started out: “I look forward to every Tuesday… ” This is a work of love – for Fred and for our Father God.
Loving God
Oswald Chambers and St. Augustine are two men whose opinions I value highly. As you know, Chambers said we are to live our life with the expressed intent of doing God’s will, letting Him stop us if we are straying from the path. We should not spend our time searching, but rather living knowing He will direct and correct when needed.
St. Augustine said maturely and simply: “Love God and do what you will.”
God says, “Seek my face.” This means an eye to eye relationship. We are told we do all things through Christ, not through a plan. We should never substitute guidance for the Guide. We cannot prove God exists by the guidance. It is God alone in silence or in revelation.
Walking in accord with Christ’s commands and one’s own gifts for the common good is quite enough for most of us. If in addition to this we stay open to His intervention then I believe He is pleased with that relationship. Could our reaching out for more be against His will? Under Moses, the obedience to the Law meant practicing, protecting, preaching, and perpetuating it. Under Christ, obedience means discarding it. It has been kept. It is fulfilled. It is a garment to be put off, not on. Christ fulfilled the Law we couldn’t keep. Until we can fully accept grace, then we cannot accept the life of love.
We claim to be saved by grace through faith, but we live and evaluate ourselves and others by works.
Our life is lived in a relationship, not in a formula. Our life is expressed in the use of our gifts for the common cause. Maturity is through continual development without end. The glory of God is our goal.
Sometimes when I am intently searching for truth, I see a real advantage in being dead, for then I will know. Maybe Paul felt this great desire to experience knowledge in full when he said, “It is better to die.” And what a different sense about death from the “God playing” suicide of a Camus or Sartre. Christian death is the complete submission which promotes us to an assured place of perfection.
Should we fear death? Never. Rather in death we expect life for once death has closed the door on our mortality we know Christ has opened the door on immortality. The gospel is good news!
This week think about: 1) What do I think about death? 2) How eager am I to seek truth? 3) Who is currently influencing my thinking?
Words of Wisdom: “Our life is lived in a relationship, not in a formula.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Now, if you pay close attention to my commandments that I am giving you today and love the Lord your God and serve him with all your mind and being,” (Deuteronomy 11:13 NET Bible)