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Archive - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
"Let's have balance"Hi again gang,
Would you believe that many times I have received replies urging for "balance!" once I've pointed out that "nonreligious Christianity" is impossible as long as the message, "God gets rid of failures" thrives in the belief structure?
Yep. There are folks that believe that we must somehow achieve a "balance" between resting securely in God's grace and fearing that He may get rid of us if we don't rest in it enough--or else, for resting in it TOO MUCH.
Gosh, how is this "balance" achieved? Let's see now...
We must find the balance between:
* Knowing that God will ALWAYS prove reliable toward us even if we prove unreliable toward Him--while also knowing--that this means that He will always prove reliable--every time EXCEPT for "the last time" we prove unreliable. (Yep. He'll always help you--except for the time when we are the most screwed up and need him the most.)
*Loving and delighting in God--wholeheartedly--while bearing the aforementioned in mind, and while remembering that you are saved by chance and by luck combined with your diligent self-effort while you are ALSO saved by "God's grace alone."
*Realizing that Christ's words are true "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you"--while at the same time realizing--that He is now saving you NOW because YOU made a wise and timely decision to choose HIM before it was "too late." And He will continue to save you as long as you continue to make that wise and timely choice, as is made evident by your ACTS OF OBEDIENT FAITH.You must achieve also the balance between--
*"Loving your neighbor as yourself"--and becoming mentally and emotionally prepared to cast many of your neighbors (and perhaps FAMILY members!) into "hell forever" when the saints shall judge the world. "Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?"
*Celebrating nonlegalistic/nonreligious Christianity and realizing that if you don't celebrate it ENOUGH, you may perish in "hell forever." (or be annihilated)
*ALSO celebrating and seeking diligently to achieve OBEDIENCE IN ALL THINGS, for we must also maintain the balance of understanding that "faith without works is dead", and those with dead faith are in "grave" danger of experiencing "a christless eternity." (Pun intended)
*Trusting God with our tomorrows and those of our friends and loved ones--while also knowing--that unless we and/or they make wise and timely choices NOW, tomorrow will be "hell for eternity".
*NOT worrying about tomorrow--while at the same time--making every effort to make our "calling and election (from ENDLESS HELL FIRE)--sure!"
*Resting in the assurance that once we are saved we are always saved--while at the same time--bearing in mind that those who die in a backslidden state or some hideous sin COULD WELL BE DEMONSTRATING that they were never "truly" saved and therefore will perish in "hell forever." For we must bear also in mind the Scripture that says, "They went out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not of us." ("And NEVER WILL be of us!", according to traditional religiosity's take on those words. And we mustn't forget Matt. 7:21-23, as understood in the light of an endless hell or annihilation. )
*Eshewing legalistic, frantic, nitpicking and detailed PERFORMANCE--while also bearing in mind that ET (or perhaps annihilation) is reserved for those who "were unfaithful in little, and THEREFORE were unfaithful in MUCH."
Well, as you can see the list could go on and on. In fact, I'd be most refreshed and delighted if some others here would add to the list of "truths" we must keep "in balance" in order to maintain the gospel of double-speak that keeps hyping "nonreligiosity" while also promoting the message--"God gets rid of losers!"
Any more ideas gang?
Ah yes... We've GOT to stay in BALANCE!!!
Love to all!
CharlieSpirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff