I’ve got lots of posts written but have felt woefully lacking in tone–

In any case, I’ll share a little of what has been rolling around in my head. Hopefully I can keep my tone under control.

We seem to need a more robust (i.e., biblical) idea of sanctification. That’s safe, isn’t it? We can all grow in our understanding of sanctification.

Lately, I’ve been disturbed by this fad of addressing all our failures by lamenting the need for more gospel-centered this or that. I’m not opposed to being gospel centered! But I am opposed to making gospel centered be a required part of every conversation. (It feels like a grammarian banning pronouns. I’m not sure if this makes sense to anyone but me.) The gospel-centered people don’t want me to feel guilty when I sin. They are especially worried about legalism (a term that should be excised from our Christian vocabulary– we have better Bible words that are far more precise and useful). Remembering the gospel is almost a panacea for overcoming sin. When God’s commands are discussed, in order to be “gospel centered,” every exhortation must contain “gospel centered” language. Otherwise, it’s obviously not gospel centered. Of course. I’d like to be friends with the gospel-centered people, but I don’t think I’m on the approved list.

Peter says it this way:but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (II Peter 3:18)

Paul (ehem, the writer of Hebrews) says it this way: For everyone who partakes only of milk isunskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is,those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13)

Growing in patience or wisdom or discipline takes a lot of time. A lot of practice. Sigh. If I could master patience in a year, anger in eleven months, love (since its so basic) in a month or two, and so on, I’d be perfect by the time I was forty. What fun! I’d love to be perfect for a few decades. Seriously, I do need to serious about sin. I need to be diligent to add a whole lot of things to my faith. But I can take heart in knowing that growth (i.e., failure and success) is an expected and blessed part of life. Can God be pleased with my life when I’m full of failing? Not just seeing Christ’s righteousness, but actually pleased with me?

I think how we answer that question reveals a lot about whether we really possess the joy of the Lord.

I want to be a gospel-centered parent. I mean, being  gospel centered is good. Essential. Biblical. Colossians 1:18 says And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

If you grew up without the foundation of the gospel, without understanding that the gospel influences every part of our life (not merely our salvation), then you might feel a special kinship with those who make the connection repeatedly, and often. In recent years,  gospel-centered teaching has grown in popularity and prominence. I have appreciated the emphasis, and the reminders. At our church in San Antonio, we have communion every Sunday evening, and I have enjoyed the frequency of meditating on the gospel in this way. It has also been good for me to consider the relationship between the gospel and parenting.

Yet, I feel uneasy with the apparent assumption that all biblical teaching must make the connection between the gospel and biblical truth. I’ve not been able to articulate why I feel uneasy with the emphasis on all things gospel centered, and it seems spiritually stupid to object to the popular gospel-centered vocabulary. Nevertheless, I see some common hasty assumptions that are problematic, and it seems equally spiritually stupid to ignore them.

If a book or speaker or lesson does not refer to the gospel in a particular discussion, we should not conclude on this basis alone that the book, speaker, or lesson is not gospel-centered. (It might indeed be man centered, but not necessarily.) Not everyone uses the same vocabulary. In fact, I can be gospel centered without ever using the term. We also must keep in mind that the gospel is a foundational truth that may not always be visible in a discussion (even though a biblical conversation will always be undergirded with the gospel).  I think it’s because we all operate on certain presuppositions. I believe that God exists. It is a part of the very fabric of my own life. Likewise, I grew up with a gospel-centered home and gospel-centered parents. So when I sit down to consider the gospel in my life, I can see the connection throughout, but I also see that the gospel is so much a part of me that I don’t always articulate the connection.

Today I was encouraged to read Paul talk about leaving the discussion of the gospel to discuss something else. In doing so, he was not denigrating the gospel. Of course the gospel is the foundation of more theology, and ultimately the practical, but it is cumbersome to keep reminding my audience that everything relates back to the gospel. Suffice it to say, the gospel permeates everything. Enjoy making those connections. Meditate on it. Talk about it. But don’t be afraid of moving on to the next lesson. And don’t be critical when you don’t hear the familiar vocabulary that makes you feel at ease.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,   Hebrews 6:1

On Monday my friend Kelly showed me this passage and I’ve been thinking on it since then.

I Peter 1:17-21

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Significant in this passage is that we are told to act differently on the basis of our salvation. In other words, remembering the gospel should be a part of my behavior and thoughts. It’s also significant that Peter is writing to an audience who is suffering. Helpful context to remember.

Thinking on the gospel should affect how I interact with my children. When I remember that I was redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, I remember that I’m not here to please myself. I am reminded that good nutrition and a stimulating environment and polite, well behaved children are means to an end, but certainly not the highest priority for me. This week I’ve been challenged when my children ask for help and I’m not really keen to help them. I’ve had to stop being weary of repeating myself, because of these truths.

Thinking on the gospel gives me hope, because the same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that works in my life to make me more like Christ. Just because I don’t always see God working doesn’t mean that he’s not.

That’s all for now. I’m still thinking of this.

How is Scripture changing you this week?