Many who actually take the time to read my writings may feel that I am too narrow in only talking about grace and the wonderful works of God. It seems to them that missing is the element of man's part in our relationship with our Creator.
Fair enough the assessment. And it is an important consideration as a Christian (or anyone interested in the topic of God) to ponder how man's role (responsibility) fits into the plan of a sovereign being whose will is preeminent. But if God is sovereign, but also demands full responsibility from man, how then to assign such a command in practical terms to the understanding of man?
It's called an "antinomy," where two distinct truths stand side by side as one singular expression, defined fully by one another yet irreconcilable with each other. In the discussion of man's responsibility in relation to and with God's sovereignty, where does one end and the other begin? The antinomical questions in this case are: Can God's sovereignty still allow man's exercise of responsibility (expectation of the gift of free will) to impact even to the smallest degree His will? And if allowed, to what extent the expected responsibility of man begins to erode the sovereignty of God?
I offer a third question: Is it possible for both to work in equal and full measure within the relationship without compromising the integrity of either? Is it a balance we seek or integration?
To the theologians and other thinkers, such seems an unsolvable dilemma. It is in their unnecessarily complex reasoning from a philosophical perspective that makes this a difficult concept to grasp. But I believe if we clarify how God defines "responsibility" it will shed light on the matter. And every intellectual exercises to explain it become so much earnest but wasted sophistry . All walks of Christianity understand much more clearly the full definition of God's sovereignty, but greatest of our disagreements stem from how we view man's responsibility in role and scope.
Many define "responsibility" in a way that interjects a critical element to the sustainability of the task and goal of what we are responsible for. For instance, if two people agree to lift a heavy rock where for only one it is impossible, then both have the responsibility to hold each end to sustain the integrity of their agreement. If one decides to drop his part the entire task and goal falls through. Theirs may be of unequal measure in strength, but both parts are indispensable. Worse still is a "responsibility" of payment for favor given, or a continuous servitude to amend for one's inadequacy (sin) and to justify favor (grace).
This is how a great number of sincere Christians view their spiritual responsibility towards God's salvation -- that they must do all things of God's command in order to assure or at least justify salvation. Such is their proper "response" to the call of God to obey and submit to His will. They see the grace as God's end of the agreement, but they must uphold their own end lifting up the rock no matter how difficult (actually impossible) a burden as the rightful completion of a pleasing relationship to God. While doing so they forfeit free grace in the diverting of an overflowing heart to the dead sea call of demand.
In all sincerity and integrity believers of this concept naturally take up that "responsibility" seriously and focusing on what they must learn and do in order to accomplish the task assigned, thinking this is what the Lord wants and expects of them. This is their sense of Christian accountability, and anyone disagreeing or failing such standard falls short of their duty. What we have here is at best a partnership, and more likely a master/slave relationship of that demand where the ministers of teaching are God's Egyptian taskmasters.
In the Old Testament Covenant this may be true and required if the demand of law continues unabated until the day of judgment; and so it is the practicing realm of the Jews, but not of a reborn Christian. For something happened two thousand years ago on the dark hills of Calvary. A lonely figure hung on a cross, Jesus Christ. The God who became man not only changed history, but He also changed how we are to face our Creator -- and now our Savior. But then it wasn't a change at all but God's plan all along. And more so it was an exchange quietly taking place on the cross that no man shall anymore bear the wage of his sin, and not even the cost of his salvation. For it is grace who paid for it all that to believe in Him we must forgo the past.
Then what is this new responsibility to this grace expected from our Heavenly Father? Is He not able to lift a rock or ten thousand all by Himself? Does He truly need our work of any kind to keep His grand plan from crumbling to the ground? The word "responsibility" is from two words: "response" and "ability." Our ability to respond to His call, to His love and to His grace is all that is needed. It is called faith. And in our response we are given the ability to carry out His commandments. The ability to respond means we are alive to Him, and to repent (become dead) from ourselves and our dead works. It is then He who works in us and through us that holds up the rock even as we pretend it is our own strength.
On the cross it is no more an antinomy but a divine union where no more we wrestle with how much God how much man, but all God and all man. Sovereignty of our responsibility in the responsibility of the Sovereign.
Any earthly father will recall with fondness and tenderness how when he brought home a gift for his child, maybe a bicycle, and putting it together. What he most wanted was not for the kid to pull out the toolbox and start assembling the parts together but just to see his little face light up with joy and appreciation! And while the father puts the bike into shape the child inevitably wants to help thinking he is contributing so much, but daddy doesn't mind and just smiles. Finally when it is all done both are completely satisfied, one riding the bike and the other watching and helping. This is the deep desire of God in restoring our rightful place next to Him, a joyful and complete relationship of Father and son.
What can we offer Him but our whole heart? And in the gift of a heart is contained all that is expected from our Father who gave up so much more. Amen
James
Fair enough the assessment. And it is an important consideration as a Christian (or anyone interested in the topic of God) to ponder how man's role (responsibility) fits into the plan of a sovereign being whose will is preeminent. But if God is sovereign, but also demands full responsibility from man, how then to assign such a command in practical terms to the understanding of man?
It's called an "antinomy," where two distinct truths stand side by side as one singular expression, defined fully by one another yet irreconcilable with each other. In the discussion of man's responsibility in relation to and with God's sovereignty, where does one end and the other begin? The antinomical questions in this case are: Can God's sovereignty still allow man's exercise of responsibility (expectation of the gift of free will) to impact even to the smallest degree His will? And if allowed, to what extent the expected responsibility of man begins to erode the sovereignty of God?
I offer a third question: Is it possible for both to work in equal and full measure within the relationship without compromising the integrity of either? Is it a balance we seek or integration?
To the theologians and other thinkers, such seems an unsolvable dilemma. It is in their unnecessarily complex reasoning from a philosophical perspective that makes this a difficult concept to grasp. But I believe if we clarify how God defines "responsibility" it will shed light on the matter. And every intellectual exercises to explain it become so much earnest but wasted sophistry . All walks of Christianity understand much more clearly the full definition of God's sovereignty, but greatest of our disagreements stem from how we view man's responsibility in role and scope.
Many define "responsibility" in a way that interjects a critical element to the sustainability of the task and goal of what we are responsible for. For instance, if two people agree to lift a heavy rock where for only one it is impossible, then both have the responsibility to hold each end to sustain the integrity of their agreement. If one decides to drop his part the entire task and goal falls through. Theirs may be of unequal measure in strength, but both parts are indispensable. Worse still is a "responsibility" of payment for favor given, or a continuous servitude to amend for one's inadequacy (sin) and to justify favor (grace).
This is how a great number of sincere Christians view their spiritual responsibility towards God's salvation -- that they must do all things of God's command in order to assure or at least justify salvation. Such is their proper "response" to the call of God to obey and submit to His will. They see the grace as God's end of the agreement, but they must uphold their own end lifting up the rock no matter how difficult (actually impossible) a burden as the rightful completion of a pleasing relationship to God. While doing so they forfeit free grace in the diverting of an overflowing heart to the dead sea call of demand.
In all sincerity and integrity believers of this concept naturally take up that "responsibility" seriously and focusing on what they must learn and do in order to accomplish the task assigned, thinking this is what the Lord wants and expects of them. This is their sense of Christian accountability, and anyone disagreeing or failing such standard falls short of their duty. What we have here is at best a partnership, and more likely a master/slave relationship of that demand where the ministers of teaching are God's Egyptian taskmasters.
In the Old Testament Covenant this may be true and required if the demand of law continues unabated until the day of judgment; and so it is the practicing realm of the Jews, but not of a reborn Christian. For something happened two thousand years ago on the dark hills of Calvary. A lonely figure hung on a cross, Jesus Christ. The God who became man not only changed history, but He also changed how we are to face our Creator -- and now our Savior. But then it wasn't a change at all but God's plan all along. And more so it was an exchange quietly taking place on the cross that no man shall anymore bear the wage of his sin, and not even the cost of his salvation. For it is grace who paid for it all that to believe in Him we must forgo the past.
Then what is this new responsibility to this grace expected from our Heavenly Father? Is He not able to lift a rock or ten thousand all by Himself? Does He truly need our work of any kind to keep His grand plan from crumbling to the ground? The word "responsibility" is from two words: "response" and "ability." Our ability to respond to His call, to His love and to His grace is all that is needed. It is called faith. And in our response we are given the ability to carry out His commandments. The ability to respond means we are alive to Him, and to repent (become dead) from ourselves and our dead works. It is then He who works in us and through us that holds up the rock even as we pretend it is our own strength.
On the cross it is no more an antinomy but a divine union where no more we wrestle with how much God how much man, but all God and all man. Sovereignty of our responsibility in the responsibility of the Sovereign.
Any earthly father will recall with fondness and tenderness how when he brought home a gift for his child, maybe a bicycle, and putting it together. What he most wanted was not for the kid to pull out the toolbox and start assembling the parts together but just to see his little face light up with joy and appreciation! And while the father puts the bike into shape the child inevitably wants to help thinking he is contributing so much, but daddy doesn't mind and just smiles. Finally when it is all done both are completely satisfied, one riding the bike and the other watching and helping. This is the deep desire of God in restoring our rightful place next to Him, a joyful and complete relationship of Father and son.
What can we offer Him but our whole heart? And in the gift of a heart is contained all that is expected from our Father who gave up so much more. Amen
James
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