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God is the Ultimate Victim of my Sin

Mary and I have been learning some lessons about accepting God's forgiveness. There is a common phrase, "you have to learn to forgive yourself". I've started to react negatively to that. There seems to be too much focus on me as the starting point. I think it's more accurate to say, "you have to learn to accept God's forgiveness." The idea comes up when I think about forgiveness for sin without punishment. I readily console myself by saying that sin has consequences, so sinners still get some measure of punishment. Written down in black and white, I see how ridiculous that is. I'm really saying that I don't feel worthy to be forgiven by people I have hurt with my sins and my pride wants to hang on to my guilt as a twisted form of control. If a murderer is paroled by a judge he is forgiven in a sense. We recoil at the idea that a judge, who has no skin in the game, can forgive without considering the family of the victim, so parole he...
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Temporal and Eternal Christianity

In trying to understand how faith and works are connected, I've found it useful to divide Christianity into two parts: Eternal Christianity (EC) and Temporal Christianity (TC). EC starts with an act of salvation, given freely by grace.   It is the kingdom of God begun in us.  It is the beginning of heaven.  It is the beginning of growth and eternal life. EC triumphs over this fallen world.  All the things about victorious living in the Bible are talking about Eternal Christianity.  It is a relationship with God, not a religion.  It is unique and the only way to have eternal life. At best, TC is the projection of EC into a fallen world.  It is what we see "through a glass darkly".  It is practical, helpful, comforting, and makes everything around it better.  Unlike EC it is not perfect and it's easy to see failures and cracks.  Not because of the EC that is its source, but because of the fallen world it is projected into.  Yes, ...
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An imaginary biography of Paul

We get the idea that Paul immediately became the writer of 1/2 the new testament, the vanguard of Christ to the gentiles, the man who "pressed on to win the prize ...". It's possible, but it reassures me to think it wasn't. He spent 14 years in Arabia before his memorable ministry started. Paul is an example, not a goal. We each have our own path to maturity. I have this personally relatable, extra-biblical narrative in my mind that starts with a naive, dogmatic Christian who has discovered the answer to his life-long dissatisfaction with religion. Like Apollos, he finds his Aquilla and Priscilla who help settle him. This gradual maturity leads him to help in the local church with a God-given thirst to share Christ to the world. He butts heads with some leadership that is determined to maintain the Jewish status quo. He finds himself ostracized for his views on circumcision. He searches himself, agonizing over disagreeing with people he loves and respects. ...
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Saint, not sinner

As a Christian, I have reservations about the characterization "sinner saved by grace."  Perhaps it is just a problem for me and people who think like me.  I can see all the value it might bring, but for me it is defeating.  It is quoted by very godly people that are much farther along and more mature than I am in the faith.  This has made me try to understand the underlying meaning they are trying to express.  But it still gives me pause. In particular, J.D. Walt emphasized it, today, when he was expounding on Romans 3:9-18.  He definitely falls into the category of  "farther along and more mature."  His heart, faith, and reason have taught and inspired me through the daily Wake-up Call from Seedbed.   I think when people like J.D. say it, they are expressing a godly humility that counteracts the tendency toward arrogance of those of us with Wesleyan roots.  Sometime, people who are "entirely sanctified" deny their sins because "go...
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Why a blog?

Summary  I try too hard to contribute to conversation.  Put another way, I talk too much.  I'm coming to realize it's a form of arrogance.  And yet, I can't shake the feeling that God is teaching me useful things that might help others.  So, this is an experiment.  Whenever I think I should speak up, I'll probably blog it, instead. Details I have no idea how this is going to play out.  It may become a private journal.  It may be just a way to let my family and closest friends know what's going through my head.  It may get a wider audience.  Just allowing for the possibility that there may be a wider audience is a red flag that I'm seeking acclaim.  Holy Spirit, guide me. I remember an official in my general church (Nazarene) saying that pastors have a tendency to share everything God tells them whether it was intended for their congregation or not.  "I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet" (Amos) so I don't pretend to have ...
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