Comments on: The Problem With Spiritual Tips

By: underdogtheology

underdogtheology — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:57:51 +0000

The Christian will perennially be loathing oneself as he matures in Christ for he will be seeing clearly, in ever-increasing measure, his disparity with the Standard. This, in turn, spurns him on to run the race with greater perseverance, in the power of the Spirit.

http://underdogtheology.blogspot.com/2009/01/luthers-misery.html

By: Jim Swindle

Jim Swindle — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:12:50 +0000

Thanks for the clarification. I’ve found that real Christians usually agree quickly that Jesus is the way, and that we grow by relating to him. My concern is that there are some (like I used to be) who take a post like yours and do the wrong thing with it–trusting in the method–instead of the right thing, which is asking themselves whether the Lord is calling them to greater faithfulness/diligence in the method mentioned. Your post serves as a reminder to me of my own need for greater faithfulness in those areas.

Again, thank you for the clarification–and thank you for continually calling us to solid Christian faith, not just to froth.

By: teresa

teresa — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:20:52 +0000

Meditating on His promises help us to partake of His divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lusts. When we sin we confess it, to restore fellowship with Him and we can always come to His throne of grace in our time of need.

By: Megan Liz

Megan Liz — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:52:22 +0000

I needed to read this right now. Our life isn’t lists, it’s a Person! And I’ll emblazon James 4:1-2 on my mind…I could really use it.

By: Stephen Altrogge

Stephen Altrogge — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:08:59 +0000

Jim –

I totally agree that a relationship with Christ is the only solution for a godly Christian life. I was only seeking to make the point that as Christians we can be tempted to look for the next “tip” that will help us grow, when in reality only time spent with Christ in prayer and the word will lead us to spiritual maturity.

By: Jim Swindle

Jim Swindle — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:54:48 +0000

Lots of people claim to have found the secret to the successful / happy / fruitful Christian life. They have all sorts of different secrets (including Bible reading, including prayer). Any one of these may be the secret for the NEXT STEP in my Christian life, if I’ve been neglecting it, but there’s only one secret to the whole Christian life: Jesus Christ. A right relationship with him. If we have that right relationship, we’ll read his word, we’ll pray, we’ll worship, we’ll do good deeds, we’ll flee from evil, we’ll trust more and worry less, we’ll obey him day by day, we’ll participate in the ordinances, we’ll speak to others about Jesus.

By: Gary Boal

Gary Boal — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:42:35 +0000

Brilliant post Stephen, the Word & Prayer are exactly how we’ll grow in ‘09. May we use these tools of grace that Christ has given us, & not neglect them.