I have a lot to learn

I think I am "becoming." That is an odd word to use in a blog primarily focused on Christianity, it is a word used a lot by philosophers. The philosophical sense is that we are ever changing or "becoming." It's a good theological thought as well: We are not what we will be, to paraphrase John Newton.

In reality, however, it is what Christians are supposed to do. We are supposed to "become" more like Him. The implication is that we learn "as little children" throughout our Christian life. (Matt 18:3)

Let me explain. I am an independent Baptist. I think I have been that my whole life. I was raised in a weird setting in that my Mother was a Pentecostal and my Father had (I'll say) issues with booze. I inherited his issues and had to deal with them in my own life. God took care of those particular demons, so I haven't had to deal with them for over 20 years.

That explains some of who I am. To explain why I'm Baptist and not Pentecostal would take a book, so I'll just say my military dog tags identified me as Baptist. So for most of my life I have identified myself that way.

Over the past several years through study, prayer, thought, and I hope God's enlightenment of what His word says, I am becoming a Reformed Baptist. By that I mean I have come to learn the "independent" part of my identity is slowly disappearing. Scripture is teaching me that, yes I had to come to Christ and as a human I thought I was doing that on my own - independently. I am learning, however, that my salvation never was "independent."

Scripture says Christ is building His Church. (Matt 16:8) Church in this sense is Jesus' body until He returns and He is making me a part of that body - I am not and never was "independent." I am becoming, little by little what He wants.

I didn't independently decide one day to get saved, I was saved over time through the preaching and hearing of the Word, and eventually by God as He opened my understanding of His word. Hundreds if not thousands of people have been involved in my getting to where I am today. All those people are the body of Christ, His Church. I am coming to understand that whatever I have done over the years of my journey never was "me" - in the independent sense -doing anything. Everything I am, is a result of Christ through His Holy Spirit acting upon me.

God in His infinite mercy has been taking me on a journey. God is Sovereign and whatever I am is a result entirely of His activity and none of mine. The only part the former "independent me" has played in this is that at some point I quit "kicking against the pricks" (Acts 9:5) and yeilded to Him. I serve "His Church," not my church. I do the things I do because Christ ordained that is what Mason will do. (Eph 2:10)

My salvation is not something I can point to as occurring on such and such a day, or at such and such a time. In my life, I know it has been a process, an ongoing event, something that will only once for all be achieved when I am "face to face," (1Cor 13:12) and "know Him as I am known."(1Cor 13:12) I know I am moving through life from "faith to faith,"(Rom 1:17) which theologically is sanctification.(Jude 1:1) One of the blogs (Puritanism Today) I read posted this today about Christ's Church:

Now learn even from the simple title ‘mother’ how useful, indeed how necessary, it is that we should know her. For there is no other way to enter into life unless this mother conceive us in her womb, give us birth, nourish us at her breast, and lastly, unless she keep us under her care and guidance until putting off mortal flesh, we become like angels ... Our weakness does not allow us to be dismissed from her school until we have been pupils all our lives. Away from her bosom one cannot hope for any forgiveness of sins or any salvation.”

The quote is from Calvin's Institutes as he explains how Christ uses His body the Church to feed us and grow us as Christians. Calvin says, "...our weakness does not allow us to be dismissed from her school until we have been pupils all our lives." I think I have always believed that and it is because of this knowledge I have such a hard time with the man-made jargon such as; "write the day, date, and time, when you accepted Christ in the front of your Bible. Then you will always have assurance of your salvation." The Bible doesn't say that. The Bible says my assurance comes from what I do now that I believe. (1John 2:29)

So as I continue in my "lessons" in the Church's school of life, I try not to be bothered by some of the things I see and hear that are strictly man-made policies and procedures. But, there are some other things that really bother me, so I guess I better go back to school. I have a lot to learn.