QuakerQuaker

Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

The Nuts and Bolts of Primitive Christianity

Ted Peters in his book, "Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society", writes, "Identifying ourselves with the good is called self-justification. Identifying others with evil is called scapegoating. The two fit together like a nut and a bolt." Is there a difference between identifying Christ's merits as my justification and identifying myself as being justified by faith? Are not both suppositions an attempt at self-justification?

When Jesus told his followers, "...apart from me, you can do nothing(good)", the real supposition is that Jesus is with us in our helplessness; not that we are with Jesus in being justified. God forbid that Christians should ever think, let alone believe, that we, personally or collectively, are living the justification of Christ in this world; not when Jesus claimed that his kingdom is not of this world. Isn't that why we(humorously?) petition mercy for ourselves, but justice for our enemies?

Justification, as righteousness, is not for the self - unless you're nuts about same. It's enough to know that Jesus' promise to be with us is an inherent reality. If we must boast, let us boast that nothing good is ever easy/expedient; or, as William Penn wrote, "No Cross, No Crown".

Had the opportunity to watch the Disney movie entitled "Bolt" about an animated dog's fantasy that it took to be reality. Bolt's(the dog) super powers, however, were realized only on the movie set which it assumed was its real world. Perhaps this was Disney's attempt at self-justification?! Nonetheless, Bolt's true, albeit humbled, character winds up winning your heart in the end. Kind of like how we win God's mercy when we humble ourselves to follow no other script than that seen by the Light Within.

0 members like this

Comment by Forrest Curo on 1st mo. 11, 2013 at 7:25pm: "Justified" may be read more usefully, not as "vindicated" but as "squared up" -- "fixed."

That is, it isn't that we reach a point of all future conduct being automatically okay with God -- but that we can always turn to God to guide what we do and make it right. Even though we can't make what we do perfect, as 'isolated beings', we aren't isolated beings and therefore God can make what we do right so far as we're not imagining ourselves so.

That Dostoyevski story about the wicked old woman who died... Her guardian angel was in despair, urgently searching the book of her life for one redeeming thought or act. "She once gave a poor woman an onion!" he proclaimed at last. The Gatekeeper looked dubiously at the passage: "She only did it because the onion was rotten." Still, she had given away the onion. The decision was made; if she could be towed out of Hell by that onion, she could be saved.

The angel hovering over the flames, holding the onion out to her. She grasped it, and the angel began to lift her slowly, carefully upwards. Neighboring shades saw what was happening, and at the last moment, one of them seized her ankles. The onion held; and more and more ghostly figures joined the long chain, until the angel was bringing out the whole population of Hell. But then the old woman felt the weight on her ankles, and looked back. "This is my onion!" she said. It broke.

Comment by James C Schultz on 1st mo. 15, 2013 at 11:58am: I think Paul covers this pretty well in several places, including Rom 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

However James can make it a little fuzzy but I think Matthew 25 clarifies it.

Faith without works is dead, but works without faith ends, like Forest says, with a broken onion.

Comment by Clem Gerdelmann on 1st mo. 15, 2013 at 12:24pm: Friend Schultz, I agree that Mt. 25:37 does cover my point when the righteous ask the Lord, as judge, "Lord, when did we see you hungry...".

Comment

You need to be a member of QuakerQuaker to add comments!

Join QuakerQuaker

RSS

Welcome to
QuakerQuaker

Sign Up
or Sign In

Or sign in with:

Support Us

Did you know that QuakerQuaker is 100% reader supported? Our costs run to about $50/month. If you think this kind of outreach and conversation is important, please support it with a monthly subscription or one-time gift.