I have made the decision to continue to blog after the Israel trip. But I had to get clear again on the purpose of why I would do such a thing. After all, I can point to numerous stories of people using the blog in a way where they could emotionally vent. Then you throw in some pastors who have blogged and written something to vent or even worse, heretical. I want to do neither, especially the heretical part!
Here's what I propose this blog is for. First I want to blog to share some thoughts I have about what Lovelace calls a "live faith". That is a faith that is is alive, continually being renewed and revived. If anything is true in the fast pace of life where everything and everyone clamors for our attention (Mark 1:37), how is our faith constantly renewed. By the way, if you ever want to read a great book (albeit a bit academic) on sanctification and spiritual theology, Lovelace's book is one of the best.
Second, I'm writing this not so much about catharsis but to encourage and challenge. I don't see this necessarily as a devotional. But it is something that can be used by a person to reflect and recollect in their relationship with God. If my comments seem a bit critical at times, the heart is to urge us back to God's heart. And please keep in mind that my comments are not directed toward any individual or the church I work for but rather general comments about the state of evangelicalism.
Third, my training is in theology and philosophy. So I hope that this blog serves to bridge the chasm between good thinking and good living. That seems to be the heart of integrity! As a result, I really do think that there are modern problems that have ancient solutions. In our quest for answers, we moderns must be careful that we do not buy into the notion that any good idea started with modern times. Many wonderful theologians and philosophers (pastors in the old days were considered the resident theologian/philosophers) have been neglected other than to use them in divisive ways leading people to fall in one camp or another. I certainly hope that the blog leads us to the heart and mind of God.
Fourth, in the process of being trained for ministry, I discovered the heart. From my time with people who teach at Talbot's Institute for Spiritual Formation, I have been exposed to wonderful spiritual writers throughout history. I am deeply concerned that our understanding of the gospel is less than full (I use that word not in the Pentecostal sense but in the sense that we have neglected some aspects) and a result we have end up with a stunted view of sanctification. So the attempt of this blog, at least in part, is to recapture a robust picture of the Spirit's work in our lives as He conforms us to the image of Christ.
here here!
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