Posts Tagged: discipleship

May 14, 2009

Differentiating Faith and Fanatic Faith

findingfaith

This morning, I was perusing a small, 208 page paperback titled Meditations for the Humanist: Ethics for a Secular Age by A.C. Grayling. Yes, I read everything, and so should you! Meditations for the Humanist is basically a re-worked devotional for humanists and it addresses all of the majors (e.g., Moralizing, Tolerance, Mercy, Civility, Fear, Death, Lying, Loyalty, Racism, Peace, Memory, Leadership, Family, etc.). The manner in which these things are addressed is quite remarkable and surprising for a “secular” work. It seems that this secularist has found a way to address these big issues with an authentic and fascinating devotional tone. Some zealous religious folk out there would argue that such a thing would be absolutely impossible. After all, it’s a “secular” work! For them, the idea of secularism and devotion is a contradiction in terms. Obviously, they have never stumbled upon Meditations for a Humanist. Read more…

April 3, 2009

Discipleship as Political Responsibility

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I’m fascinated and thrilled by John Howard Yoder’s position re: the relationship between Christian discipleship and the state as articulated in Discipleship as Political Responsibility. Discipleship is, of course, a major conviction – if not [T]he distinguishing characteristic – of the Anabaptist expression of faith. Christianity (and Anabaptism) is an invitation to authentic personal liberation and spiritual discipline. In other words, we are simultaneously transformed by Christ’s work (Atonement) and we are called and equipped to follow him daily. The historic influence forced upon this discipleship by the likes of Emperor Constantine and Augustine of Hippo is still obvious to this day, but many are beginning to question (once again) the historicity of these influences and pre-Constantinian and Augustinian connections – if any – to the New Testament and/or early expressions of followership by the Christian Church. It is good to question these things. The Constantinian shift did not occur without great affect. It changed much. It’s also good to hold up the New Testament as the authority (especially if one is Christian!). Christians should be asking, “What does the Bible teach?” But we should not stop there! We should go one important step further and ask, “How do we apply the teachings of Scripture in our context?” Read more…

May 6, 2008

The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God is a bona fide Christian classic. This holiness title can be found shelved in the libraries of God chasers the globe over. It is a must read for the spiritually hungry and thirsty. It is a must read for those pursuing the holy life. If you long to chase and find God, then this book will aid you as you continue the journey.

The following are a few of the most resonate excerpts offered by Tozer in The Pursuit of God. Read more…

November 11, 2007

Nurturing Gratitude in Christian Community

Brennan Manning, in an interview for Christianity Today (“The Dick Staub Interview: Brennan Manning on Ruthless Trust,” ChristianityToday.com 12-10-02), said the following:

I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, nor between Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is between the aware and the unaware.

When somebody is aware of that love – the same love that the Father has for Jesus – that person is just spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the byproduct of gratitude is joy. We’re not joyful and then become grateful – we’re grateful, and that makes us joyful.

The Christian story is a story built upon joy. We are – or we should be – a people who overflow with joy. This joy is not a common sort of joy. A number of simple but important things can make us happy: a great song, a fantastic piece of art, a new outfit that we look really, really great wearing, a great haircut, a good meal, a new – or even reliable – automobile, a new house, or a vacation from our regular work schedules. These are all very, very good things and they do make us happy. They are not, however, the things upon which our joy – our Christian joy – is founded. That’s a good thing too because that sort of joy – a joy derived from common things – doesn’t last very long, does it? It is temporary, at best. Things like these do make us happy, but that joy is not the byproduct of the deep gratitude Brennan Manning is referencing. The joy Brennan Manning is talking about is a byproduct of the deep gratitude that we all experience when we realize how much God loves us and when we accept God’s invitation to become integral characters in God’s story. Read more…

September 28, 2007

Are We Willing to Make Adjustments to Heed God’s Call?

Many of us ask God for an assignment, or look hard to see where God is at work, but then hesitate or refuse to make necessary adjustments. Jesus exemplifies willingness to make an adjustment: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Read more…

September 12, 2007

20 Testimonies of the Deeper Christian Life

The testimonies of the deeper Christian life contained in V. Raymond Edman’s They Found the Secret: 20 Transformed Lives that Reveal a Touch of Eternity are as challenging as they are inspirational. I was deeply moved by each story. There are so many, many familiar names included in this book. The familiarity of these names speaks for itself. They are familiar because the individuals to whom they point are beyond remarkable. Each of these people earned this characterization not because of something inherent to themselves, but because they actually died to self. They became less, so Christ Jesus could become more. History cannot help but to celebrate people who authentically seek, find, and live the deeper Christian life. It’s all about holiness. Read more…