So, its no secret that I am exploring reformed theology. But something I find interesting is the neo-reformed culture. Lots of arguing and positioning to be “right.” With many, being right is of greater importance than helping the next person (or themselves) be closer to God and more like Christ. It seems like people genuinely enjoy making faith campers and emergent guys (and every other lowly Arminian) feel inferior because they don’t have the same kind of handle on the gospel that they do.
For me, its different. The things that I’m discovering and wrestling with are stretching me greatly but even more so taking my relationship with God deeper. I make no bones about it, I’m exploring the “reformed theology” because I want to know God better. Period. I want to be a better Jesus lover and better people lover. I don’t believe that I’m “actually” saved now because I’m discovering and desiring God in new ways. I think God saved me 13 years ago at a youth service in that field house (fancy name for a gym) at Word of Faith International Christian Center. I loved God as much as I knew then. I believe God was working through that lens to shape me, grow me, develop me, etc. Now, as I learn to see God in what appears to be a clearer way I’m GROWING in Him. I won’t smack God in the face and tell Him He wasn’t at work all those years and NOW He’s saved me and maturing me. He saved me then, whether I thought it was synergisitc or monergistic. If God was the one doing it, did it matter what I thought at the time? I gave Him the glory for it now I see it more clearly.
So, as I study the reformed theology (which if it is the clearest and best way know and love God – is it really reformed theology or just theology? That’s a discussion for a MUCH later day), I do it so that I can love God more and see Him more clearly. That’s it. I don’t do it to follow the trend. I don’t do it so that Acts 29 would accept me one day. I don’t do it to be a part of the Xian it-boy club. I do it because I want to love God more.
I probably won’t ever smoke a cigar with you. I probably won’t like your brand of music. I probably won’t read that book. I probably won’t EVERÂ like UFC (boxing > UFC -what!?!?!!). I’m not trying to get into your subculture for your acceptance.
I just want to know and love God better. So whether its TULIPs or daffodils, I pray that you discover GOD for who He is and love Him more and more.
3 Comments
Great post homie. There is definitely a sub-culture of new age reformers that might actually fit the bill as you describe. I’m thankful that God is showing you a need to know him better. Although my experience with reformed theology is much different from yours I believe it to be simply orthodox Christianity. Although there was a time when I first embraced it that I found myself unable to interact with other that didn’t believe what I did and that stemmed from the pride in my heart.
I could have damaged many relationships because of my selfish pride as if “I” somehow discovered the Doctrines of Grace! I think my experience can be summed up in 1 John 4:7-21 when I understood this passage I literally changed my life. Romans and all that def played a part but this scripture blew my mind…
Love you bro, and we don’t have to smoke cigars, or watch UFC (I don’t like it either), or read the same books sucka! Though Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller is one of the illest books I’ve read you should check it out.
Great post. One thing that I find is that when I posit that my salvation is recent most of my Arminian friends believe I am accusing them by implication of not being ‘really’ saved and some of my reformed friends seem to think I mean that I just got ‘fully’ baptized.
I suppose my thoughts on salvation have changed fairly drastically, but at the same time, so has my consideration of what salvation means to the person and to God.
Like we’ve said, the truth of Jesus is above our cultural surroundings.
On the other hand, you really need to at least smoke a pipe with me one day.
Jean, I was just telling my dude Randy that Keller’s book is on my list of things to read this year. I snagging a book recommended by my dude Leonce and then its on to Keller.
Gabe, my views on salvation are changing too. Its a wild ride. But I look at it like I look at my marriage. I thought after year 3, it couldn’t get any better and I thought that God willing the next 47 years would just be trying to keep things as good as it was then. But I’m happier now than I was then. It doesn’t mean that I wasn’t happy then, it just means that as I grow and know my wife more – our relationship grows. The clearly I see her in light of my changes, the happier our marriage gets. (Did that make ANY sense? probably not…)
I do hear you are the master pipe maker though – LOL! I would have to get my young Sherlock Holmes on and put bubbles in it and play it off. HAHAHAH! I kid, I kid.