Balance .. ALL things in moderation.

There is a tendency in religion and philosophy to take things too far or not far enough. Some people in looking at a truth or process will either draw understanding that falls short of the whole or far exceeds the truth itself. This is a common mistake in the history of Christian theology. Scripture often can be used to justify nearly any teaching by selecting a few specific verses. One can justify nearly any perspective from a wide range of extremes. So how is this prevented? Scripture itself when viewed as a whole often produces some “paradox” problems. These problems when viewed from one theological extreme or another seem to be a paradox but when viewed from the notion of balance quickly reveal a greater truth.

So what are the biblical principals that set the balanced view?

1. God is holy and just and is the source for all that is good. That is to say God is not a cruel old man in the sky but he is spiritual life and light. So all that is of the dark can not stand in the unshielded presence of God. God after the fall of man has hidden himself out of compassion for mankind so as not to destroy all mankind with his direct presence.

2. Man has capacity for good and a eternal spirit in the image of God, but that has been corrupted by the separation of that spirit from God due to sin. Though we have a great capacity to comprehend and understand the light and life of God he is veiled from us for our sake since we are corrupted and would simply be destroyed in his direct presence. God reveals himself through his creation, the scriptures, and the work of his spirit in the world. God has led many men and women in history to reveal as best they can with flawed minds, hearts, and language all of what he is and wants for mankind.

3. Theology, bible studies and all such actions are attempts by flawed people trying to understand the perfect and eternal God. All language including those the bible itself was written in is also flawed in that it can not directly and accurately convey all of the fullness of what and who God is. The bible is an inspired witness of the actions God has taken through out history in relation to mankind. One thing to keep in mind it not to make either the bible or the church equal to God. The bible was compiled by the church for the church from what God has given and neither is equal to God himself.

4. We have been given three major faculties of our person to understand what God is from what he reveals of himself in his creation and in the witness of scriptures. These three are God given and good in them selves and though they are in a fallen state remain the key faculties in understanding God. These three are heart, mind, and spirit. When we have all of the factors before us and we have a conclusion it is OK to first say “does it make sense as a whole with all of the other stuff” then “does it feel right” and finally does it seem true in our deepest spiritual core. With prayerful meditation the answer is often found.

So with that I would ask you to understand why I will be exploring the nature of “essential Christianity” first in ideas and understanding and then in practice. I expect that will this blog and some of the comments of its readers we can find that common space that unites and defines the Christian church today.

Introduction

So there it is… the title says it all.

But wait there is more; a lot more.

God indeed leads the harts of men and women. It has been my privilege to walk the path of constant seeking and searching for truth of and about God for 35 + years. This has led me from places of various extreme points of view to those of a lessor extreme. To not only study scripture and sacred writings of holy men but to “test the waters” of each with heart and spirit as well as with my mind. And that journey has left me in a place I am certain is from God. It is as much a joy to have had that journey as to now express the meaning of it all here for any readers that happen upon this little blog.

So here is the “thesis” of most of what will be posted here and though I may at times run with some odd topics here or there the core of these posting will come from the following statement.

“The one and only eternal God created this world with in this universe for his own good pleasure. He created mankind as the crowning of his creation here on earth and with the disobedience and betrayal of mankind, God did not immediately destroy man but allowed a means for earthly living though mankind was now cut off from the source of spiritual life that is in God. Instead God had a plan to return mankind to himself. He chose an appointed time and became a man himself to reconcile all to himself. At that time and by his own death God fulfilled all of his judgement against mankind and now accepts all who willingly seek him.”

Out side of that all other questions of how creation happened; how Jesus was both man and God; and the many other questions and problems that divide one Christian from another are all just divisions.

So I therefore propose that there is indeed a basic Christian faith, and that there is a set of basic Christian practices and that all else is largely added for the sake of one culture or another and has no bearing on the question of one’s faith in the eternal God.

I will be exploring that essential central basic Christianity. And from it derive the basis for the new church movement that has been rising in opposition to the mundane and profane commercialized Churches around the world today.

- Pax tecum