As a former US Marine, I gravitate easily toward God as King. Whether reading OT prophecy or a NT epistle, my eyes lock and load on the imperative commands. I want my marching orders. Whether it's my personality, wiring, exhortative gifting, or simply my sinful flesh ... that's how I read. It's probably why God has me writing for coaches. Such field generals likely find my work their kind of stuff.
Isaiah 40, however, contrasts the fragile brevity of humanity against the power and eternality of God. A summary verse in the first section reads, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (NASB). Here are some snippets of Raymond Orlund's writings, that puncture my paradigm and cause me pause:
"Isaiah is told to tell us that we are unreliable. ... Christianity is not about what we can do; it's about what God promises to do. Christianity is not fundamentally challenge; fundamentally it is assurance. It must be.
"Only God qualifes for our final trust. No human power or condition can stop Him. ... Human failure is costly, but it's not the end of our happiness. God's promise of salvation is final. He is committed to his own glory and our joy in His glory. And in that certainty, our hopes come to rest."
It's not hard to surmise that I am not the only "driven" kind of Christian. The church, heavily encumbered by American business goals of expansion, committed customer base, and glossy hip product, evidences that many goal-driven "ministers" exist. I hate that love for the law in me resembles the ambition in them. Guess we're all sinners. No news there.
According to Ortland, many of us may be missing the blessed rest in the simple assurance that God is, well ... God. And we are but dust.
Trying to take that from theological fact to life ethic,
Cory
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Cory,
Law and Gospel. So often it comes back to that doesn't it.
Jerry Bridges wrote an excellent piece a few years ago called "Gospel Driven Sanctification" that is very much in line with what you are pointing to hear. I thought you might enjoy giving it a read:
http://www.modernreformation.org/jb03gospel.htm
I'm commenting so Cory will know I'm a true friend.
You know I like passages that extol God and remind me of the peon that I am. I also love the imperative commands, but fail at following them all the time b/c I'm so weak in discipline. I need a brother to go through them with me. Some of you more talented individuals may not be the same way. I guess since I should see God's hand in everything then I should also thank Him that He shows me daily how dependent I am on Him - instead many times I gripe about how weak I am to do any good.
Anyways, good thoughts. What if a minister in church seems goal-driven, but is doing them because he wants to bring glory to God? How can we tell the difference? I have a few thoughts, but I'd be welcome to see what you think.
"Modern Reformation" magazine has a wonderful back issue (volume 14, number 6, Nov-Dec 2005) on "The Promise Driven Life" pointing to the fallacies of the Warren theology. I commend it to you.
Post a Comment