Reformation change is never in opposition to God's fundamental purposes but to infuse new life, to de-institutionalize faith, to bring our witness up-to-date, to recalibrate our journey.
Tag: reformation
what if we made a habit of the First Corinthians 13 quality of love?
Our love, in the language of The Church, is a Reformation kind of love. By that I mean that falling in love not only challenged and changed us, but it continues to challenge us and change us.
new stuff, and our fear of God’s initiatives of grace…
This morning I'd like to pick up on a question that emerged during a discussion about my Monday post, "A New Lord's Prayer for Today." A lot of people read the post, and a few even listened to my song (if you didn't listen, I believe it's worth taking another look). At some point in one …
Continue reading new stuff, and our fear of God’s initiatives of grace…
the Westminster Confession, and some strong thoughts about God
Today my discipleship class at WFPC will be talking about the Westminster Documents, prepared in London between 1645 and 1649. Among the extensive writings is the following answer to the question, "who is God?" Take a moment to read it, it's just marvelous: There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in …
Continue reading the Westminster Confession, and some strong thoughts about God
that beautiful, dangerous, radical, challenging, liberating Bible…
In Thursday's post (Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?) I promised to revisit the William Tyndale story. The Bible translator - burned to death in 1536, was the victim of brute force repression (by church and state) in response to the fear that ordinary people would have access to the extraordinary resource of scripture. As a teacher, …
Continue reading that beautiful, dangerous, radical, challenging, liberating Bible…
what our (reformation) past says about our (reforming) future
Yesterday (another positive and encouraging morning at WFPC) our church officially recognized Rev. John LaMotte as "Pastor Emeritus." The title pastor emeritus is an honorific, typically given to recognize a relationship with a former minister - now retired - that still says something important about the church today. John LaMotte served as Wake Forest Presbyterian's organizing …
Continue reading what our (reformation) past says about our (reforming) future
Christianity: religion or relationship?
If you died with Christ to the way the world thinks and acts, why do you submit to rules and regulations as though you were living in the world? - Colossians 2:20 Today I'm thinking about (one of) the huge double-standards we practice all too often in Christianity. We say we are reborn as children …
Derek Maul: Words, Photographs, and Food for the Journey 