“Christian” existentialists live lives of angst and doubt, seeking a Jesus of their own perception and definition.
They would do much better submitting to Christ as He perceives and defines them instead …
Because it’s only there that life and liberty are found.
Do circumstances define your reality …
Or does God’s reality define your circumstances?
It’s always your choice.
So-called “progressive Christians” insist on a Jesus of their own creation, defined by their own perceptions, sensibilities and ideologies …
Leading to doubt and malaise.
The authentic Jesus, however, defines Himself – along with His creation, absolute truths, redeeming grace and moral precepts – through His plenary authority of Scripture …
Leading to life and liberty.
The Law given as part of the Old Covenant is no longer in force (including the Decalogue), since the Old Covenant no longer is in force.
However, the moral precepts which undergird the laws of the Old Covenant are still relevant.
That’s because God’s overarching command to “be holy for I am holy” …
Is re-stated multiple times in both the Old and New Testament and still applies.
God’s nature does not change, and neither have His moral precepts …
Which are part of God’s own, immutable self-revelation throughout Scripture.
So be holy …
But not Old Covenant.
I have no problem with the doctrine of “total depravity.”
Apart from God’s grace, I see no evidence to the contrary …
Plus Scripture is clear that apart from His grace, we have no hope.
However, I likewise have no problem with the doctrine that we can resist His grace.
Not because we have any power to frustrate God’s sovereign will …
But because He sovereignly wills to grant us that choice.
When Scripture talks about loving God, it doesn’t use “eros.”
Just sayin’ …
Most mornings I wake up grateful.
Before the day starts, I like to sit and quietly watch the sun rise while prayerfully contemplating the many blessings God has restored in my life.
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I’m all for examining our assumptions, traditions and doctrines in light of Scripture.
But “Christians” who reject God’s plenary authority, as expressed through His written Word …
Become their own standard for what’s ultimately true, real and right.
Is it any wonder, then, why they never seem to “get” Scripture?
Making everything about my thing, even when it’s a God thing …
Denies His Lordship over all things.
It seems “grace” has become an excuse these days …
For not growing up.
Biblically committed Christians need to vote, stand for truth, support candidates who most closely embrace our God-given values for the blessings of all, and be actively engaged.
But let’s keep it in perspective:
We lose our witness when people end up judging our values by particular candidates …
Rather than judging those candidates by our values.
So in our fallen world, where we often must vote for imperfect candidates …
Let’s unabashedly hold even those who get our votes accountable to those values.
Some things just don’t make sense when you cut through the enticing, nice sounding rhetoric.
For example:
So-called “progressive Christians” calling Jesus “Lord”.
Yet at the same time, they implicitly claim the right to define Him on their own terms …
By explicitly rejecting His plenary authority and discipline of Scripture as His written Word.
At the core, they know not Christ.
Rather, they serve a God of their own perceptions, created in the image of their own sensibilities.
They may be charming. They may be inspirational. They may even occasionally say good things.
But in the end, their way leads to destruction as they lead others over an existential cliff.
Where they hold sway, you will not find viable local churches (of any stripe), the power and authority of the Gospel, cohesive functional community, God’s Kingdom conquering darkness, or the Great Commission in action.
But hey, they do write good books and blogs telling others “how to” on all the things they themselves “don’t do” because their self-centered ideologies simply don’t work.
That’s why, when you look closely, you inevitably find that they repeatedy fail to make their own ideals – which they peddle to others – work in their own lives …
When they even bothered to try.
It’s time for clear discernment.
It’s time for clear talk.
It’s time to move forward as we leave their hollow existential angst and postmodern fraud behind.
The times once again demand authentic disciples who embrace all of Christ and His Kingdom …
While boldly going forth into all spheres of life with the confidence and power of His Word.
May we once again affirm a vibrant relationship with the Living Word, in submission to the authority and discipline of His written Word.
Christ’s mission for us, and His love for a watching world, demand nothing less.
Things Jesus never said:
“Because all Scripture points to me, your own notions of me supercede Scripture.”
Don’t be deceived by so-called “progressive Christians”, who elevate a Christ of their own perception over Scripture …
To dismiss Scripture and impose their own unbiblical, existential agendas on everyone else.
Christians who dismiss some as beyond the reach of God’s redeeming grace …
Stand outside His redeeming grace.
If good never confronts evil …
What good is it?
Grace without truth …
Can be just as corrosive as truth without grace.
The Gospel’s not about escaping earth for His Kingdom …
But invading earth with His Kingdom.
Those who never pay a price for their beliefs …
Should not be upset when their beliefs are accorded all the worth they are due.
We need accomplished people who’ve mastered a vocation that allows them to minister …
Rather than unaccomplished people who seek “ministry” as their first vocation.
As I grow in my faith, I become less anxious when my plans don’t pan out as expected …
And more expectant that God has other plans.
Say a lot, but use few words.
Personally hearing from God on matters of personal relevance is great.
Beyond that, however, I reject all attempts to validate, interpret, or add to His external revelation of Scripture through claims of trans-Biblical revelation …
“Prophetic” or otherwise.
Doing so leads to the absurdity of subjugating God’s authoritative and objective written word of Scripture to our own subjective — and often flawed — perceptions.
In this age of itchy ears and ungrounded faith …
It is amazing how easily even the elect are deceived with big lies wrapped in half truths by those who presume otherwise.
Each age and culture has its own challenges.
The challenges we face in the West today demand authentic Christians of faith, intellect and resolve.
In contrast, “Christians” stuck in existentialism, relativism and other leftist ideologies have contributed to the moral decay and cultural malaise we see all around us.
They have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
It’s time, instead, for real Christians who confidently affirm God’s Word …
To once again boldly proclaim what’s truly true, really real and rightly right.
Only then can we expect to bring hope and substance to a waiting world.
Charity and ministry are good, but not when we treat those we seek to help …
As “others” rather than “brothers.”
Plumbline Faith 