People unclear on the concept III
Message on the sign in front of our local Assemblies of God church: "A test of your faith is your thankfulness in all things."
First, do these folks really believe that guilt is a viable means of engendering either thankfulness or faith?
And secondly, the implication that not only gratitude, but faith itself, are achievements rather than gifts, is about as exactly opposite the message of the Scriptures as it's possible for a concept to be.
Quite an impressive confusion of Law and Gospel for a message only eleven words long- and a good illustration of the problem, from a biblical point of view, with America's national folk religion, Methobapticostalism!
First, do these folks really believe that guilt is a viable means of engendering either thankfulness or faith?
And secondly, the implication that not only gratitude, but faith itself, are achievements rather than gifts, is about as exactly opposite the message of the Scriptures as it's possible for a concept to be.
Quite an impressive confusion of Law and Gospel for a message only eleven words long- and a good illustration of the problem, from a biblical point of view, with America's national folk religion, Methobapticostalism!
Comments
You faith should work itself out into various kinds of expressions. Whether you view those expressions as gifts of God or matters of choice you make, they evidence something about faith.
Regards,
Rich
It's really a matter of simple logic.
You're right in saying that our works are a playing out of our faith. Problem is that those works aren't necessarily visible to anybody but God. And the question remains: how is one rendered either more grateful, or stronger in works, through guilt? Christian obedience is motivated by the Gospel, not by the Law. Works done out of servile fear, or out of guilt, fail the test on that ground alone.
Faith isn't strenghtened either in its essence or in its manifestation by guilt, by the Law. It's strenghtened by the Gosple. Gratitude is engendered by being given cause to be grateful, not by being made to feel guilty that one is not.
Once again, that sign is a perfect example of the confusion over that point which lies at the heart of the Methobapticostal teaching of sanctification- which is the Holy Spirit's work within us through the Gospel, not our work through the Law!