There is a little schematic that I am finding useful - as far as I know it
comes from my own thinking (so carries no particular authority).
It runs like this...
• We do that which we want/choose/desire to do.
• We want/choose/desire that which we value.
• We value that which we believe has value.
In short, we do what we believe.
If we do not do it, we do not believe it!
Even if we tell ourselves and/or other that we do believe something, if we fail
to enact it, that failure to enact reveals that we do not actually believe it.
All we have been doing with our theology is effectively soothing ourselves.
Theology has effectively become a self-indulgence when it is not enacted.
David
On 16 Feb 2018, at 10:07 pm, Bj <eagl4031@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Protestants have been totally spooked by the Reformation mantra of faith, not
works. We need to study more the context of what indulgences we’re doing to
confession and spirituality in 16th century Catholicism. Luther’s obsession
with whether he was saved led him to understand faith and grace in Romans, not
by indulgences. Faith is being just before God. Works are the fruit of faith.
Jesus ministry was about works and Paul demonstrated that through his life’s
work.
Rev Brian Jago
0418785208
Sent from my iPhone
On 16 Feb 2018, at 4:57 pm, Shane Fenwick <sfenwick@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
G’day Mission Co-Conspirators,
Hope you’re all well on this beautiful sunny Friday!
Glen and I were having a great little conversation on the topic of faith and
works (and its relation to how we understand our mission) over lunch which we
thought would be helpful to share with you all – and perhaps get a bit of a
conversation going!
Just yesterday, I shared Graham Long’s latest Inner Circle note via my
various social media channels (if you haven’t yet read it, it is well worth
the read). It managed to generate a bit of conversation on Facebook, with
Graham himself chiming in at one point to share his thoughts. In particular,
a friend of mine couldn’t get his head around the following line:
“What I’d say to the religious is, we constantly pray, “Thy will be done”
because it can only be, “done”. What I say to those who wonder about such
things is, “God doesn’t care what anyone believes. Salvation comes through
the feet, not the head.”
A provocative line, right? My dear friend could not understand how this was
not advocating for “salvation through works”. I responded that I did not
think this was what Graham was saying. Rather, the point was being emphasised
that salvation is not merely about an intellectual ascent to a set of
religious propositions (i.e. believing the right things). Rather, salvation
is a whole of life thing! There should be no separation between faith and
works: our faith is made evident through our works. Our good works are faith
embodied in real, life-giving action. One does not exist without the other.
Ephesians 2:8-9 is often appealed to in conversation around the reformed
concept of Sola Fide (us being saved through “faith alone” in Christ). Yet,
if we move ahead just one line to v10, Paul ends with this point: that we
have been created in Christ for good works. Why have we been saved through
faith (God’s gracious gift)? To embody the transformative love of Jesus in
the world: to love God, our neighbour, and even those deemed our enemies. I
think this is what it looks like to participate in the mission of God in our
neighbourhoods. God has renewed and reconciled us to God’s Self in order that
we may be a people of renewal and reconciliation throughout the world (to
borrow some of the BOU language!). Anyhow, I’ll leave my Friday afternoon
preaching there.
I’d love to hear all of your thoughts. How do we understand faith, works, and
salvation? And, how do they connect with our mission as the people of God in
the world?
Peace,
Shane Fenwick
Church Engagement Leader ― Sydney Region
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