The Doctrine of Grace and the White Horse Inn

My pastor turned me on to a radio show, available to me only by podcast I think, called the White Horse Inn about a year ago...maybe longer. In my listening to this wonderful program, which I have not been taking very seriously until recently, I have been challenged in my thinking and also in the way I believe the doctrines of Christianity.

They discuss only the basic fundamental ideas and doctrines of the Christian faith, but do so in very honest and thoughtful ways. I enjoy their program so much that in an effort to get caught up on their weekly program I have been listening on breaks at work, in free-time at home, and in my car. Some days over the past few weeks I have listened to as many as four broadcasts a day. Each broadcast is approximately forty minutes long in the podcast format, so this does take up some time, though it does not feel like it and is worth it.

I am learning to challenge my faith and doctrine more, especially in the area of grace. The think-tank at the White Horse Inn is made up Reformers from a variety of Christian denominations who agree wholly on the main points of doctrine, but may differ on the periphery. One thing they all agree on is that it is by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and that no one can, in and of themselves, do anything to help or aid their salvation process. By extension and scripture no one is righteous, not one who does good, none who are holy. These are points which I have believed, but had not necessarily followed through in thinking.

The other area to which these discussions have greatly helped me is in the function and purpose of the Church. The role of the Pastor is to preach and teach the Gospel. The role of the teacher in the church is to teach and explain to the point of understanding the gospel and it's implications on the life of a believer. The role of the learner is to continually seek out the hearing and understanding of the Gospel and it's importance to the daily life of the Christian and then to practice, to live out of faith in the message of the Gospel. The church is not a self help program, a community recreational center, or a family life center. The church is a body of believers, saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who have been justified by grace, who are being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit, who teach and train in the Gospel by grace, through faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Check out www.whitehorseinn.org.

Surrounded by Indoctrination

The more I look into the discipline of simplicity, listed by Richard Foster as one of the Christian Disciplines in Celebration of Discipline, the more I realize how much the society and media around us indoctrinate us against the ways of a disciple of Christ. Reading Foster, Claiborne, Bonhoeffer and others on the topic of Christian simplicity it is easy to see just how much it stands in contrast to what we are taught growing up in schools, by our families, and by what we see and hear from the media and Hollywood.
The ideas of getting ahead in this world, saving for the future, and even to some extent planning for the future stand in opposition to the message of Jesus and resounding biblical mandate. Read the Sermon on the Mount, the Exodus account, the story of the Rich Young Ruler, and others. They tell us not to take more than what we need for today, not to worry, be anxious, or give care to what will happen tomorrow, that those who are comfortable due to their status and societal means will find it impossible to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
How do we apply this? If we intend to take the teaching of Jesus seriously, how do we come to terms with this? More on this is sure to come. What are your insights?
If you're reading this do me a favor and post a simple comment. Thanks for reading.

Hello again.

The gaps between posts should tell you two things. One, I'm still trying to figure out why and how blogging can be beneficial. And two, deep down, where all this comes from, I'm pretty well stuck on one idea at a time, and I'm typically wading there for a while. Sara and I have been involved with a small group for some time now and all is going well. We are working through what it means to live out biblical community and are enjoying the ride. We are learning a lot. Every time we come to a realization about how fallen our world system is and how much the church and its traditions fall in line with the fallenness, while frustrating, it brings us to a new appreciation of how big God is and how overwhelming His grace is in His love for us.
Seeing more and more judgmental "Christianity" around us and in the "news" is the most frustrating part. Not only do those people not know God and His love, but they are making it that much more difficult for others to see the truth of God and His grace. It is a grotesque reminder for believers of how we can be stumbling blocks when we're out of God's will and acting outside of His love.

An Uphill Battle to Get to the Valley.

I have a narrow mindset. I focus on the task at hand and get it done, or strive to do so. When a goal is before me and I cannot reach it I will lose my mind. Case in point:

When Sara and I left Walnut Ridge, for the second time, we came to Tulsa with a very fixed purpose. That purpose was, and still is, to do as much ministry as possible with the resources we have and are yet to be granted. This is not only a high goal to be set before us but it is also a very open-ended one.

We both have hearts for the needs that so often go unfulfilled in today's "churches," though we look to minister in different areas. There are doors opening for us, and this is very exciting, but the time I find to do ministry is little and the time I spend taking care of my family by working full-time is much and sapping.

There is one option that I have not yet gained the nerve to pursue, but it could lead us away from the local body of believers we feel called to serve beside.

I wake up in the morning dreading work. I work all day dreading work the next day. I go to bed at night dreading work. It is not the attitude to live with, but I know I feel this way for a reason. My problem is that my reason is overriding my faith.

The valley is where the people who are in the most need lie. It is where I am called to be. It is where God needs all of us to go and to minister. I pray that we all find the path to the valley.

Openning blurb...

Well, hello. First off, I do not presume to think that many people will find my thoughts interesting enough to read on a consistent basis. So if you are reading this now you've made it further than most. I plan to use this more as a tool for me to track my thought process and progress than for others to keep up with my life. Even if one was to read this often I do not foresee keeping up with me as an easy task. I can't even accomplish this.
Let me take a moment to explain what will be posted here. The title I have chosen for this blog is Incoherent Ramblings for the Search Party. Those I share life with and I are the search party. This includes, of course, my wife Sara and my son Titus, but also the many brothers and sisters we have in our friends and family with whom we spend so much time and effort. We all, as Christ followers, are searching for God's Will. Not only for our own "individual" lives, but also for the world which we impact every day and the greater world at large. We have a shared love for this world and the life we are granted in it as well as those things which encompass all things other-worldly. Our main concern other-worldly is Spiritual.
Therefore, my ramblings here, though they may not voice the opinions or beliefs of the entire party, will be my best attempts at making sense of the happenings within my search which is dependent on the happenings of those around me.
Enjoy. And feel free to join our party or discuss what you read here.