Monday, February 28, 2011
Preview of an upcoming post: BALANCING HOLINESS AND LOVE?
Here is an post I've been working on for about two weeks. Sorry for the logn lay off. Some have emailed asking about me and the blog. I DO appreciate the support. Some of it has been work, some of it has been family, but most of it has been a lack of diligence about the work I believe God has given me. Your support and interest does help.
Here's the preview:
Francis Schaeffer wrote in The Great Evangelical Disaster that both love and holiness must be "evident simultaneously". (1) Both were together, two batteries in the flashlight. Neither was to be omitted or limited. At first this may sound as if we are to balance the two, but in the context of the rest of what Schaeffer wrote, balance may not be what he had in mind. And in actual fact, Schaeffer didn't speak of a balance.
Today, on the other hand, many speak of a balance between holiness and love. Is this biblical? Is it logical?
LOGIC FIRST
Let's look at the biblical doctrines of holiness and love, apply sound logic, and see if a balanced approach makes sense. Later, we can look at Scripture, the real authority, to see if our logic is correct.
We won't take the time here to go in depth concerning the definitions of holiness and love until we first logical at Who is holy and loving and our Great Example of holiness and love. Instead we are simply going to ask two logical questions.
Is God One?
Huh? Of course God is One, but what has that to do with holiness and love? Simply put, the Scripture says three specific things pertinent here. 1. God is One. (2) 2. God is holy. (3) 3. God is love. (4)
Are both love and holiness commanded for men to live out?
(1) Schaeffer, Francis A.; The Great Evangelical Disaster ; Wheaton, IL; 1970; p 69.
Here's the preview:
Francis Schaeffer wrote in The Great Evangelical Disaster that both love and holiness must be "evident simultaneously". (1) Both were together, two batteries in the flashlight. Neither was to be omitted or limited. At first this may sound as if we are to balance the two, but in the context of the rest of what Schaeffer wrote, balance may not be what he had in mind. And in actual fact, Schaeffer didn't speak of a balance.
Today, on the other hand, many speak of a balance between holiness and love. Is this biblical? Is it logical?
LOGIC FIRST
Let's look at the biblical doctrines of holiness and love, apply sound logic, and see if a balanced approach makes sense. Later, we can look at Scripture, the real authority, to see if our logic is correct.
We won't take the time here to go in depth concerning the definitions of holiness and love until we first logical at Who is holy and loving and our Great Example of holiness and love. Instead we are simply going to ask two logical questions.
Is God One?
Huh? Of course God is One, but what has that to do with holiness and love? Simply put, the Scripture says three specific things pertinent here. 1. God is One. (2) 2. God is holy. (3) 3. God is love. (4)
Are both love and holiness commanded for men to live out?
(1) Schaeffer, Francis A.; The Great Evangelical Disaster ; Wheaton, IL; 1970; p 69.
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