Irrevocable Call

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Showing posts from January, 2015

Part 2: The Rise of Christian Mysticism in the Church

January 17, 2015

About a year ago I was talking with a couple who I look up to and respect. The conversation turned to church and a movement that I had heard about, but really never understood or paid attention to it. The conversation got my attention when my friends mentioned a very popular devotional book, entitled, “Jesus Calling” by Sara Young and began to point out the signs of mysticism throughout her book. Why it got my attention? My daughters had received this book a few months earlier as a gift and I remember seeing my daughters read through it. Upon my study my eyes were opened and my ears became sensitive to key words such as, “ancient disciplines”, “experiencing God is of importance”, “I heard the voice of God say to me…”, “disciplines of our church Fathers, Lecto Divino and contemplative prayer. In reading articles concerning the movement, key names such as Henri Nouwen, Thomas Keating and Richard Foster stood out to me. Why? In recent books I have read, t

Part 1: The Rise of Christian Mysticism in the Church

January 03, 2015

About a year ago I was talking with a couple who I look up to and respect. The conversation turned to church and a movement that I had heard about, but really never understood or paid attention to it. The conversation got my attention when my friends mentioned a very popular devotional book, entitled, “Jesus Calling” by Sara Young and began to point out the signs of mysticism throughout her book. Why it got my attention? My daughters had received this book a few months earlier as a gift and I remember seeing my daughters read through it. This led to research and the study of this movement. Upon my study my eyes were opened and my ears became sensitive to key words such as, “ancient disciplines”, “experiencing God is of importance”, “I heard the voice of God say to me…”, “disciplines of our church Fathers, Lecto Divino and contemplative prayer. In reading articles concerning the movement, key names such as Henri Nouwen, Thomas Keating and Richard Foster stood out to me.

Irrevocable Statement of Faith

We are called to focus on Scripture, accept salvation by grace through faith, magnify Christ, and live for God's glory.

The Five Solas....

Sola Scriptura: "Scripture alone” The Bible alone is the source of authority for the followers of Christ. The Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160 & 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)

Sola Fide: "Faith alone” Salvation is a free gift to all who accept it by faith (John 3:16). Salvation is not based on human effort or good deeds (Ephesians 2:9). Every follower of Christ has eternal life and complete assurance in the finished work of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross for our sins, and arose from the dead. (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:24; 6:23; 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:18-19, 22-25; I John 5:11-13)

Sola Gratia: "Grace alone" Grace is the reason for our salvation, which is not based on what we do, but what God has done. Man willingly fell to sin, ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world. (Genesis 3) Through grace we can enter into a relationship with God through Christ who brought salvation through his death and resurrection.

Sola Christo: "Through Christ alone" Jesus is the one who intercedes, as the "high priest" on our behalf before the Father. Through Christ we are offered access to God. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, born of a virgin, sinless, crucified for our sins, resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven, and coming back again to establish His Kingdom on earth. (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1, 14, 29; 3:16; I Corinthians 15:3, 4, 12-19; Hebrews 4:15; I John 2:1-2; Acts 1:9-11)

Soli Deo Gloria: "Glory of God alone" The goal for every follower of Christ is to bring glory to God in everything we do in life. "So, whether you eat, drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1Corinthians 10:31).

The Four Basic Questions (4Bq's)

Everyone has a worldview. Our worldview is our foundation which shapes our values. Our values shape our behavior. The "behavior" is the result of our worldview. How one answers the Four Basic Questions helps us understand one’s worldview foundation. Irrevocable answers the 4Bq’s as followed:

4Bq 1: How do you see the world created? God is the creator of all living matter. Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” In verse 31, God saw all that he made, and it was very good. Though creation and evolution are theories, it is the belief of Irrevocable that the idea of creation is highly supported through evidence of science.

4Bq 2: How do you see human beings? We are created in His image," In Genesis 1:26 and again in 5:1 it reads that we were created in “His image” or “likeness”. What does that mean? When we study the word "likeness," we find the definition to be ..."the same form or a copy, portrait". The word "image" is defined ..."as a representation of a person or thing". In verse 3 of chapter 5 we see something similar, but this time it is between Adam and his son. "When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image:". Because of sin, Adam created and passed the sinful nature to his creation, his children. Adam passed on to them his imperfection - the ability to sin, experience pain and death. Does that mean then we are not created in God's image? No, we are created in his image, but God may not dwell where sin abounds. Thus the need for a Savior, Jesus Christ. It is believed humanity is not the product of evolution or animal ancestry; (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; 3:1-24).

4Bq 3: How do you see life after death? It is believed we have eternal separation from God or eternal life with God through Christ alone. Life after death is decided by that which we accept to be true. That truth in a Christian worldview is founded on Jesus Christ!

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:22-24)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whomsoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)

4Bq 4: How do you determine right from wrong? It is believed the Scriptures are the foundation to help humanity determine what is right or wrong towards God and humanity. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). Paul's ethical teachings (some examples are 1 Cor. 6:12-20; 10:1-13; Eph. 5:22; Col 3) and The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) are three examples how the Scriptures give insight to ethics and morality.