Fellow Intern, his thoughts, and my deep theological things...

I just wanted to highlight my fellow intern and his thought processes. My friend Matt is really doing some awesome stuff this summer and God is challenging him in about 2921 ways. I've been so encouraged to have conversations with him about the world. Specifically, about 4-5 days ago we talked about unity. He highlights his thoughts and we definitely wrestle with them daily. What is unity. What is "micro-unity?" As I sit and think about the church, I wrestle with what "macro-unity" is. But what does it mean to joyfully submit to your friend, not the church itself.

I just bought a new Bible today. It is the New Living Translation. I'm excited to read it, AND it has the Apocryphal books in it. I really want to take a chance to read those.

On top of that, I've been reading up on Church History. I'm still in the second century, but it seems totally awesome that we get to read about what happened.

Last night we had the 'intern time' and Darryl Phillips from Ohio State came and talked to us about Spiritual Disciplines. Specifically the disciplines of study and meditation. I found it really helpful. He also used the idea that by practicing spiritual disciplines, we are in the best possible position for God's grace.

Check this thought out as well....

I'm wrestling with the idea that salvation is different from justification

James 2:24 says "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

Ephesians 2:8 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..."

I get the impression that we are SAVED by our faith, but we are JUSTIFIED within heaven by our actions

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 says "11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

This suggests to me that we are justified in different ways. We can just barely escape the fire, or we can have a solid foundation that doesn't burn up.



On a similar thought train, what about the faith and actions. I think our faith MUST be manifested in our actions and lifestyle for it to be valid...

Examples: Zacchaues, The woman who anointed Christ with oils, the woman who touched his cloak, Abraham, and the list goes on and on.

These people proved their faith to God and Christ through their actions. The people could've already been credited for their faith, but the fact is, God didn't do so until they acted!!!


Wow, that's a word vomit...until later