Repentance and love
Submitted by Jules on February 04 2000 at 18:32:03
In reply to OT and NT - and my YF Submitted by Forgiven on February 04 2000 at 13:28:32
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Hi Forgiven, I think I agree with most of your concern about the church today not presenting the gospel with any urgency. But I think the reason for it isn't simply in teaching God's love, which is valid in itself, after all. It's more to do with the question, What is it that God is calling us to? Because we place so much emphasis on "being saved" being about getting into the next life, we neglect the broader sweep of God's purpose throughout history and our present lives, which leads up to that next life. And we neglect the importance of going God's way in this life for its own sake, quite apart from the next life. If following God now is only by way of preparation for eternity, then of course it doesn't matter if people leave their commitment until late in life... The challenge of the gospel shouldn't be, "Where are you going when you die?" It should be more, "Are you lined up with God's purpose?" Putting it that way, a delay in commitment in this life matters, not simply because of the risk of "missing the chance" through unexpected death, but because it is bringing less glory to God here and now, and quite simply because they are not living life as it's meant to be lived! The gospel is about the whole process of God creating a people who reflect his glory - in this life and in the next. But I think knowing this purpose of God comes before any demands he makes. So to people in your sort of church (and mine for that matter), I'd want to say: "See how loving God is, that he's made a way for people to come back in line with his creation purpose. Now here's the challenge: Will you respond to that love by being re-aligned with that purpose yourself?" So in this sense, I'd still say that God's love comes before his call to repentance. But both are equally important. What do you think? What did you think about the idea that love does come before law even in the Old Testament? (my original post)? Love, Jules |