This one word floods my mind with memories of good conversations, of wrestling with Scriptures and questions raised by worldly philosophies, of the sweet satisfaction of my deepest desires found in Christ alone. And admittedly, a U2 song… This word is the crux of many conversations with others wrestling with metaphysical questions. It was the crux of one very delightful conversation I engaged in recently.
I have read of many in this rising generation, Gen Z–say 16-27 (though I read most places that Gen Z includes those 12-27) as well as many younger Millennials, contemplating a switch to Catholicism or Orthodoxy because of their lack of intellectual satisfaction with Protestantism. As a Titus 2 ‘Older woman’ I want to address this; as the older sister to younger siblings in the faith, having an obligation to teach what is good, to contend for the faith, to encourage and exhort and even admonish:
Though many in Evangelicalism have gone astray–yet some Protestantism is still intellectually robust, is still faithful in Biblical Orthodoxy, and is dripping with the goodness and beauty found only in the Fountainhead of all such! There are yet true local churches.
I was recently in one such conversation, which I must say is invigorating! I want to note one interesting aspect though–she was seeking to make a decision this important on the basis of podcasts alone. No searching of the Scriptures, no church history, no books. Conversations of this sort have to back up then, with a reminder of the beauty of His Word, the sufficiency of His Spirit to guide His people into the Truth He has revealed, and a view of what He says about His Church.
A bit of my own backstory
Many years ago, I was disillusioned with ‘church’ and saddened by what I saw around me. I longed for an experience of what I saw taught in Scripture, of what Bonhoeffer describes in Life Together. But instead I saw so many opposite extremes: churches that do not even open the Word, or declare Truth, or preach the Gospel; churches that only preach what they believe the Gospel boils down to, every week, never feeding or tending their sheep; churches that focus on emotional experiences and tugging at your heart strings; churches that week after week treat everyone like a visitor, a number, a check box. The pews were filled with unmotivated people who did not know that “when Jesus Christ calls a man He bids him come and die.” (Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship) Church, to many, is all about ‘self’ and self-help and being merely a ‘hospital for the broken.’
Religion and Relationship, never either/or
Enough of my own former angst! Back to the conversation at hand. Like many recently, she was ready to switch because Protestantism was lacking. Lacking in what? In its ability to clearly communicate beliefs.
She had happily left behind a denomination that a “feel good,” “be happy,” “tolerate everything” focus. She felt like the only alternative for an intellectually faithful believer would be either Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. I had heard this from some in academia, but this was the first random encounter I had had…
Her first question for me was whether I knew the difference between my Reformed beliefs, and those of Catholicism or Orthodoxy. Beloved, do you know? Trinity, Justification, and assurance that when Jesus says “no one can snatch you out of My hand” He means it. These are three major differences–though there are others.
Chatting about these led to another question: what about free will? Oh, I love these questions! These are things we ought to learn in our local church, and discuss with our fellow believers, being ready to answer gently and graciously, while contending for the faith.
Study, Remember, Grow in Knowledge
In light of this conversation, that I found refreshing and invigorating, I want to encourage you to brush up on the doctrines of the faith, to be devoted to prayerfully reading and studying the word–with a renewed desire to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:9-12); and take up your calling as His:
…chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10
As His people, we are devoted to prayer, to His Word, and to fellowship within our local churches. We recognize that His Word is alive and active, it is the sword of the Spirit, it is different than any other word or book we will encounter on this earth. It is literature, but it is also as 1 Thessalonians 2:13 states:
For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Free Will, My Desires
Our conversation ended with “what is free will” and “do we have it” and a lengthy look at our desires. Why do we want or choose anything? Do I ultimately choose according to my desire? Is God Sovereign–and does that negate my ability to choose? Does God elect some to salvation, but not all? Or does He leave it up to us to choose and can we really choose?
In our conversation she used “Calvanist” like a cuss word. Yikes. Please understand, brothers and sisters in Christ, that the Reformed view is not one created by Calvin, and many of the atrocious beliefs attributed to him are ones he would repudiate. His writings are beautiful, encouraging, and Scriptural. Ok, moving on!
The above mentioned questions are ones worth discussing, but to write out my answers completely would take at least 150 pages. So to get you thinking and studying I’ll simply get your wheels pointed in a good direction. In the Fall, Adam as the head of the whole human race was our representative. Thus, in the Fall, the consequences of Adam’s sin brought death, destruction, and disintegration into the lives of all humanity. Everyone born since is a sinner, though not necessarily in the likeness of Adam’s sin; and as sinners we are not seeking God or reconciliation with God; we are dead, straying, wayward. (Romans 3-5)
As humans created in the image of God we are capable of so much–creativity, goodness, love, kindness, courage, bravery, order and justice and truth and… Yet, we are not capable of purity in any of these. All our good works and good ideas and good thoughts and good intentions are tainted, none are pure and godly. In the midst of helping we are proud. In being helpful and comforting, we lie. While caring for others we inwardly grumble. We approve what God disapproves of, but we claim to be more enlightened. We sometimes undertake something out of jealousy or contention or strife. When we sin, we too hide rather than seek communion with the One True God.
As humans created in the image of God, but like our head Adam, we seek power and knowledge of good and evil apart from God. We are not content to be creatures, we want autonomy. We even search the Scriptures thinking that in them we might find life–but fail to come to Him who is Life (John 5:24f). We seek glory and acceptance from one another, rather than from God—who longs to bring us into His own kingdom and glory, to renew us to a true knowledge, to refresh us in sweet fellowship with Himself.
A holistic view of your “self” is necessary. You are a person, inward and outward; as Deuteronomy 6 reminds us, heart, soul and body. God knows and judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts–not just the appearance of an action. Heart, soul and body are impacted by the Fall, not just heart. Not just body. Not just soul.
So too our desires. I sin because ultimately I wanted to. But then, in Jesus’ words, whoever commits a sin is a slave of sin; we become entangled, and only the Son of God can set you free (John 8). When the Spirit brings a person to life (Ephesians 2; Titus 3), doing His work of regeneration, then our desires are set free–The Spirit applies that atoning work of Christ to us, and from that moment on we are free.
Not free from sinful desires ever being felt–but free from their dominion over us.
Free to fight, to put off, and to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. This is why Peter can urge us to “abstain from fleshly lusts [overwhelming-desires] which wage war against the soul” and why Paul can tell us to “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, godly in the present age…”
When you are born again, you are finally able to see the Kingdom of God, and its King (see John 3!). When you do see, you will know you have found your hearts true desire, the Eternal God, who gives eternal life and restores us to communion with Him as His children.
“Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it repose in Thee.” Augustine, Confessions, I.1
If you are ready to grow in your knowledge of Reformed theology, I recommend the following:
Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity; and Rejoicing in Christ
Robert Letham, The Holy Trinity (This is a “sustaining” book indeed!)
John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied
R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God; and The Holiness of God; and What Is Reformed Theology? (formerly published as Grace Unknown)
Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections; Charity and Its Fruits
If you’d like to ponder further the idea of “desire” consider reading C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory; and consider committing to memory for further meditation: Philippians 3; 2 Corinthians 4-5; Psalm 16