Yesterday was another small revolution of thought as our Connections class worked through another week of Peace Making Women. As I shared last week, the authors are laying a theological foundation for conflict resolution in our relationships by laying down a basic Christian theology.
Basic Christian theology.
That sounds so simple, so why am I, a Christian of over 30 years, so challenged? Here's the authors' working definition of theology: "...the application of the whole of Scripture by the whole person to the whole of life."
When we begin to realize that theology isn't just a library of thick volumes in a seminary, we start to glimpse the importance of theology. In fact, everyone has a theology, because it's simply our belief system about God and how it shapes our lives. We want to strive for GOOD theology.
Our goal needs to be belief about God based on His unchanging scripture that shapes and molds us spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially in every phase of our life.
Now that's a challenge!
The authors have devoted fully half of the curriculum laying this foundation. They don't actually touch on relational principles until they've fully laid out the basic truths of who God is and how He relates to us. I love and respect this approach!
Here's my big "aha moment" from yesterday: "In Christ we are 'already but not yet'. We are NOT either/or (saint or sinner). We are both/and (saint and sinner)."
This may seem fairly obvious, but I think I live as if it's not. I see myself as "good" or "saint" when I'm doing well spiritually, but I see myself as "bad" or "sinner" when I'm not. Now I'm not saying that we aren't to recognize sin, but I am saying that we need to recognize God's work in us as both complete and in progress.
Tara and Judy gave several scriptures to underline this truth, but this is my favorite. "...by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:14
I tend toward legalism, so for me this means that I need to REST. While still being vigilant to places that need repentence, I need to rest in the work that God has done and is doing in me. I need to clutch for dear life to the truth of justification while in the process of sanctification. That rest will be a place of peace and joy for me.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Peace Making Monday
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1 comment:
Amy, I love this. This study sounds absolutely amazing!
What you've said here is so important:
"Here's my big "aha moment" from yesterday: "In Christ we are 'already but not yet'. We are NOT either/or (saint or sinner). We are both/and (saint and sinner)."
... we need to recognize God's work in us as both complete and in progress.
Tara and Judy gave several scriptures to underline this truth, but this is my favorite. "...by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:14"
You've touched on that point well. I feel similar to how you do. That's a great verse from Hebrews too!
This realization is one of what I think is the beautiful parts of life -- life is a process, a journey. As believers, it's a process of becoming more and more like Christ (and less and less focused on ourselves). This process can often be "two steps back and one step forward" (or in my case more often than not, 10 steps back and one inch forward...) but it's still a beautiful, amazing, and grace-filled process nonetheless.
Thank you, thank you for sharing what you are studying. I look forward to reading more. Those discussions sound like great ones!
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