Fundamentalist and evangelical Christians are known for drafting creeds of right beliefs and right conduct to separate themselves from the world. Some of the lists by which you may have lived your life might include abstaining from certain foods and drinks and practices that other mainstream Christians feel are harmless. Lists tend to lead to self-righteousness and the opinion that the more you abstain, the more spiritual you are. Isn’t that the way it goes? The more fastidiously you comply with rules of self-denial the greater your holiness. Well that doesn’t wash with Paul. For him, the mark of true religion is not a rigorous compliance to rules of self-denial, but rather faith in Christ and a life in his Spirit. What finally defines true Christianity is "being in Christ," where God's grace transforms people into an alternative faith community. Any definition of Christianity that substitutes regulations of self-denial for self-transformation by the grace of God is spiritually impoverished and finally useless.
No comments:
Post a Comment