In our world we often the term “truth” bantered about. It is even debated as to what “truth” can actually mean, and whether there is absolute truth or if it is perhaps a “relative” term. Some say that there is a reality of TRUTH that is “out there” that stands independent of human thought or reason, it simply “is”. And others would say “truth” is determined by individuals and what they experience on their own. Whether you believe there is absolute truth or if you believe it is relative, it is hard to discount the events of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and the impact that it has had on the history of human civilization. For in this event the future of the quest for TRUTH in both camps was shaped forever.
The search for Truth guided the reformer Martin Luther as he came to believe that the Catholic Church had strayed from the Truth that he believed was contained in Holy Scripture. The church was integral to the everyday life of the vast majority of people at this time in history. There was not a need to determine whether truth was absolute or relative, the church determined truth for everyone. Martin Luther challenged this idea, and believed truth was found in scripture alone. And because of this belief, he was placed at odds with what the church was doing and teaching. Luther believed scripture taught that a person could only be saved by the grace of God, and not by his own works in any way. This is known as the gospel, or good news: you are not required to do good works in order to earn God’s favor. This was not the teaching of the church at the time: a person had to earn favor with God and ultimately be rewarded with forgiveness and salvation. And because of this split, one could argue that this opened the door to relativism and post-modern thinking even over 400 years ago. Martin Luther’s challenge of the dominant message of the church created an atmosphere of questioning authority and beliefs that you could say continues today.
The Reformation of the 1500’s led to a split within the Christian world that continues today. But the Reformation has also had an impact on the way all people view the world itself. It is hard to deny the impact on our world and culture that Martin Luther and his ideas have brought.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Element Hotel
If you ever get a chance to stay at an "Element" brand hotel, do it. You won't be sorry.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Good News!
The staff at CLC is reading a book by Phillip Cary entitled "Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don't HAVE to Do" that I want to recommend to you. I will try to give you a summary over the next few weeks.
What Cary sets out to do is combat many of the false teachings that have infiltrated Evangelical Christianity over the last decades. I have heard each of these misunderstandings from people as well. Sometimes it's good to evaluate what we are being told in Christian circles.
#1 You Don't Have to Hear God's Voice in Your Heart
It is very rare in Scripture that God spoke directly to someone's heart. God used prophets to bring his message to the people. The prophets never told the people to listen for God in their hearts. What they had was God's Word. It's the same thing we have today. He still speaks to us in His Word.
If we hear voices inside, we may think God is telling us to do something. Can God talk directly to us? Yes, he can do whatever He wants. Does God talk directly to us, inside our hearts? Maybe, but how can we be sure? The only way to be sure we are listening to the voice of God is to allow our own hearts to sound like God. And how do we do that? We read His Word! The more we are in God's Word, the more our own hearts sound like God.
When we go to God's Word, we don't have to question whether or not it's God's voice we are hearing. God has promised to always speak through His Word. He never promises to speak through our hearts. Actually, scripture says that out of our hearts come things that are quite the opposite of God and his ways. (Matthew 15:19) But as we are shaped by God's Word of revelation, He enlightens our hearts. (Eph 1:18)
More to Come...
What Cary sets out to do is combat many of the false teachings that have infiltrated Evangelical Christianity over the last decades. I have heard each of these misunderstandings from people as well. Sometimes it's good to evaluate what we are being told in Christian circles.
#1 You Don't Have to Hear God's Voice in Your Heart
It is very rare in Scripture that God spoke directly to someone's heart. God used prophets to bring his message to the people. The prophets never told the people to listen for God in their hearts. What they had was God's Word. It's the same thing we have today. He still speaks to us in His Word.
If we hear voices inside, we may think God is telling us to do something. Can God talk directly to us? Yes, he can do whatever He wants. Does God talk directly to us, inside our hearts? Maybe, but how can we be sure? The only way to be sure we are listening to the voice of God is to allow our own hearts to sound like God. And how do we do that? We read His Word! The more we are in God's Word, the more our own hearts sound like God.
When we go to God's Word, we don't have to question whether or not it's God's voice we are hearing. God has promised to always speak through His Word. He never promises to speak through our hearts. Actually, scripture says that out of our hearts come things that are quite the opposite of God and his ways. (Matthew 15:19) But as we are shaped by God's Word of revelation, He enlightens our hearts. (Eph 1:18)
More to Come...
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