Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

• Romans 7:4-6

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

• Romans 6:1-4

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

• Romans 3:21-24

“ ‘In his lapsed and sinful state, man is not capable, of and by himself, either to think or to will or to do that which is really good. But it is necessary for him to be regenerated and renewed in his intellect. affections or will and in all his powers, by God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, that he may be qualified rightly to understand, esteem, consider, will and perform whatever is truly good.’ (Declaration of Sentiments 3:The Free Will of Man). ”

• Tony Lane, A Concise History of Christian Thought

Jakob Hermandszoon, aka Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609), was a reformed minister, theologian, and professor.  He strongly disagreed with some of the tenets of Calvinism that John Calvin had postulated, especially predestination.  In debates, his opponent would be described as a stalwart of the faith while he would be described as a doubter.  Nevertheless, he started a movement that split the reformed church between the Calvinists and the Arminians.  While most people stand firm on one side of this argument or the other, few really understand what the argument is about.  Being a Calvinist, I like R. C. Sproul’s take on it.  The Arminian goes into a room to evangelize, hoping to get someone to believe in Jesus.  The Calvinist walks into the same room, knowing there is someone there who will believe.  But then, that was why the predominant Calvinists of the time described Arminius as a doubter.

But this quote is good theology.  The Apostle Paul spends much time in building his case for God’s Grace.

Many philosophers have tackled the idea that it is impossible to perform a selfless act of good will.  Scientists talk about the endorphins that are released.  You get a good feeling.  Many people do good deeds so that others will think of them as being a good person.  Some do it for the recognition and praise.  NFL players and coaches are encouraged to set up a charity.  Many have their charity in name only while others pour their free time into helping others.

And in Southwest Pennsylvania, maybe more widespread than that, high schoolers must do charitable work on a point system.  You need so many points, along with the proper grades in the proper subjects to graduate.  Doing good works for a diploma is not a selfless good work.

Then, you have the boy scout who spent an hour trying to help an old lady across the street.  Why?  She didn’t want to go.  While that is a classic old joke, a lot of the “good” being done is not wanted or needed, and often little of the money raised actually goes to helping.  I do not give to charities with $100,000+ salaried administrators.

But from the Scriptures above, they hint at how good works can indeed be done, only through the Holy Spirit working within us and guiding us.  The endorphins cannot sustain us, but God can.

I recently read a C. S. Lewis quote that said that we are more aware that we are bad when we try very hard to be good.

But with God’s guidance, we can truly do good works, glorifying God rather than self.  Why not?  Without Him within us, guiding us, we would not have the inclination nor the strength to do it.

If you like these Tuesday morning essays about philosophy and other “heavy topics,” but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Tuesday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.