the problem with those 10 reasons in the underlying assumption, which is salvation is a rational decision made by individuals that analyze the evidence. Sure, we all have a responsibility to respond to the gospel…but there’s really only one reason anyone is a Christian…and that’s because God chose him/her. On the justified side of faith, those 10 reasons may make sense…but I can guarantee they are complete nonsense and foolishness to the world.

Yes - I agree. A postmodern mindset requires a different approach. But for myself, an an engineer and analytical thinker, this pretty well sums up the rationale for me.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum

Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)

Thanks for pointing to the Father’s sovereignty, “Soli Deo gloria.” While I completely agree with the statement, “there’s really only one reason anyone is a Christian…and that’s because God chose him/her,” God does not work outside of His design. He chose that His plan would include the relational construct of non-disciples with disciples and the proclamation/preaching of the gospel.

This is exemplified in 1 Peter 3 where we are instructed, “5But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” NIV

It is definitely NOT man’s choice of God. It is God’s choice of man coupled with God’s design of relational wrestling.

–
David Thew
Sojourn Founding Pastor

David Thew
Sojourn Pastor
Thewblog

Postmodern-shmostmodern….I’m just trying to figure how to answer my 4 year olds “Mommy, is God in charge of everybody” question.

Seriously though - I love this. I have so many friends and relatives that would eat this dialog up so much much more than fire and brimstone preaching. Yes, I think that God chooses us (can I just think and not be sure on this issue?) but I also know plenty of people who need to see the rationale behind Jesus.

Very cool stuff as usual.

Dear Sojourners. We miss you. Strange to worship in a new place yet long for the “body” you grew to love in Hunstville.

A strange and bizarre week. Too many events to begin to process. I feel nearly ripped in half with excitement and trauma, in this pursuit of God’s CALL. The threat of my fathers life in the hands of a young surgeon from South Korea, the two car wrecks of my beloved twin sister, the influenza and strep that swept over all of my family that had huddled together to comfort Dad before surgery. My self-imposed quarantine, sending the words “ I love you, so glad you are ok…” through the telephone out of fear that contact could make him sick as he recovers. The bent car hauler that impeded our departure for DC until midnight, and the ensuing 12 hour journey through a night of pouring rain. The unloading, unhitching, jacking. The exhaustion. No sleep until Sunday morning. And as it were, the sleep brought strange nightmares of different outcomes of Dad’s surgery.

Finally there was worship. Unable to remember a time I needed it more. Here in DC there is a church that rents a building in China Town which meets at 5. Communion every week. Two driven and loving pastors. We woke up in time to attend. Friends of ours call this church their “home”.

Outside the church in China Town a Starbucks with its logo in Mandarin, a punk kid with piercings and a really cool Mohawk selling a tshirt inscribed with the words, “stop bi*&%, start a revolution”, all the while talking on his cell phone. He stepped out too far in the street and got honked at by a car with a bumper sticker that read, “Women belong in the house…and the senate,” and “Bush sucks.”

I walked past these scenes straight up the church steps wondering how it would tackle the task of staying relevant to the causes for which this culture fights so fiercely.

I gripped a 4 ounce communion cup of a cold red wine and broke off some bread as I passed through a line. I sat silently on the pew as the heat from the alcohol faded away. Something in my heart begged for God’s presence. Crazy as the last couple weeks have been, He had preserved us. He had preserved Dad. He had preserved my sisters. He had preserved my mom. But, how strange. I nearly forgot to thank Him. I felt a strange emotion taking hold of me as a harrowing sense of God’s blessings swept me over. I felt His Love sweeping overhead.

But all this “preserving” begs the question…preserved for what reason? Especially in this new place, new environment, how do I take this strange blessing of life and be useful with it? Is it a matter of which church, which version of a save-africa program is the best one? A job more relevant to my passions and calling? A heart posture of worship and faith? Or does it look more like contentment?
It is a question that pervaded my mind as I acknowledged, with newfound insight, our lives that are in fact so fragile. Life is a blessing, and death a bigger one. But I want to discover what God calls a life lived well.

Anybody who can answer this one???

Hey Amanda - so good to hear from you, and awesome as usual to hear your thoughts on life. Events constantly make me think about this question lately… saved to what? It’s so easy to become discontent in our daily lives, the sometimes tedium that we all endure, and that frequently makes me want to look for satisfaction in some event, activity or service, losing my focus on the Creator of it all. Forgetting to thank Him, forgetting to look up at all. Then He is gracious in sending reminders that draw our hearts and minds back to Him. (sometimes for me, those reminders come in the form of suffering or near-misses - I witnessed a bad accident right in front of me on the way out of town today!) So does this make me want to go back and get involved in the “right” activity - man, this would just make me really busy, but not direct my heart to Him. For me, it’s backing up and worshipping Him in the way He directs. This weekend, this worship will look like a half-ironman triathlon. God wrestled this race out of my hands this past week, using a stomach virus to do it. I (sort of grudgingly) gave the race back to Him, so mad and frustrated after training for 4 months for this, and then to get sick with something that’s been really difficult to shake less than 2 weeks before the event. (Yes, I am feeling better everyone - thanks so much for your prayers on Sunday.) And now, because I’ve given it back to Him, now it’s set to be worship to Him to be able to even compete. Man, what a turn-around! I’m excited about the race now, but for a different reason - because it’s going to be an expression of worship to be able to even compete. Isn’t that what every day should be?? This is what i think God calls a life lived well - giving Him the glory in all that we do.

Love you Amanda,
Cindy