The ABCs of Faith: How Good Theology Leads to Spiritual  Maturity through Actions, Beliefs and Connections

Why are we doing this again? Review Why are we doing this again?

A life of Growing into Christ Because It Matters! Experience A life of Growing into Christ Action/Attitude Belief

Atheism-Deism-Pantheism Christian Orthodoxy: There is an Ultimate Reality which we name God (against atheism) who is personal (against Pantheism) and interacts with creation (against Deism) but is separate from creation (against Pantheism) *Christians, Jews and Muslims would all agree on this definition of God

Which begs the question… Do Christians, Jews and Muslims worship the same God? (“Yes, with a but…”) (“No, with a maybe…”

“Only Human” – “Only God” Christian Orthodoxy: Jesus was fully human and fully divine at the same time. Thus, we worship him as our divine savior and the image of what we are called to become, while we trust him as a teacher and the image of what humanity can be. This is where Christians separate our understanding of God from Jews and Muslims

God, Jesus and the Bible Is the God of the OT the same as God in the NT? Is Jesus for everyone or just the special few?

The “Two Gods” Heresy “God in the Old Testament is violent and mean. The God revealed in Jesus is a different, higher God who frees us from the evil God of the Old Testament.”

“Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it a work of a demon, than the work of God” (Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason)

“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully” (Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion)

This is not a new idea – Meet Marcion! Born around 100 AD in Asia Minor (are of Paul’s missionary journeys, Revelation’s letters – an early center of Christian faith) His father was a bishop Marcion eventually became a leader in the church at Rome Was excommunicated in 144 AD

Marcion’s Teaching Argued for a strong break between Judaism and Christianity God of the Old Testament was an evil, lesser God God revealed in Jesus was a higher, perfect and different God Marcion edited the NT to expunge any Jewish ideas – ended up with Luke’s gospel and redacted versions of Paul’s letters

But you guys seem to get it!

Marcion’s Contribution Marcion forced Christians to ask tough questions about Scripture This led to a flourishing of Christian scholarship Some Christians interpreted the Old Testament “literally” while some utilized a more “allegorical” reading. Throughout history, the question of how to interpret the stories of the Old Testament is an open one. But the one option off the table is simply jettisoning the Old Testament as lesser or worthless.

Marcion’s Contribution Another option off the table is reading the Old Testament at face value Surface level readings lead to the critiques we read earlier Christians value and study the Old Testament – but understand our clearest revelation of God is in Jesus who is God in the flesh Jesus is not merely one image of God among many Jesus is the final and clearest image of God against which we judge all other images

Marcion was a Christian Gnostic What’s a Gnostic?

The “Secret Knowledge” Hersey “If you want to be saved, you need to pursue a secret, special knowledge which only a few people will attain.”

Gnosticism gnosis = knowledge Gnosticism taught there was a hidden knowledge accessible to only a few privileged persons Only those few who possess this hidden knowledge are ultimately saved

Gnostic Teaching There is a high God beyond our understanding Under this high God is the god (demiurge) who created the material world Solution to the problem of evil – evil is the result of a lesser god Gnostic Salvation – to be released from material realm and go to high God Jesus was messenger of this high God and gnosis frees us Gnosticism is Docetic – Jesus was not human because matter is impure and evil

The “Two Gods” Heresy Root Question – What is God like? What does it mean to be human? What does God desire of us?

*Gnostic/Marcion Story – Physical Realm is tainted and the goal is to escape This story is rooted in the Platonic Greek view of creation *Christian (Jewish) Story – God created the cosmos and it is good – the creation has been broken through sin – the goal is not to escape it but to redeem it Resurrection of Jesus affirms creation as a good to be redeemed and not an evil to escape

From the beginning, Christian theology has affirmed a continuity with the Jewish story told in the Old Testament and in this has affirmed that creation is good. The Gnostic/Marcion path is a denial of the goodness of God’s creation

Gnosticism leads to one of two places: Creation is falling apart and must be escaped – so just separate from it, let it all burn and spend all your time praying and doing “spiritual” things Bodies don’t matter, we’ll escape eventually, so let’s eat, drink and have fun till we are released from this prison! Christianity affirms creation and matter are good Creation is broken – and it is our job to join God in putting it back together Bodies do matter – our body is actually God’s temple - so we care for them.

The “Secret Knowledge” Hersey Jesus came preaching and teaching to all people This is in line with the story of God throughout scripture who always welcomed anyone based on faith, not on knowledge Example – Rahab in Joshua 2; Ruth in the book of Ruth

What Difference Does it Make? Summing Up What Difference Does it Make?

Are you a “Spiritual Escapist” Gnostic? “Jesus died on the cross so we can go to heaven when we die…” This simple statement ignores the resurrection and embraces the idea that our goal is escape from creation rather than restoration of creation.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20

Restoration Not Escape *God created a good creation, God took on flesh in Jesus, Jesus rose from the dead in a body and the final chapters of the Bible describe a new creation. Our prayer is for the kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven”. *Christian hope is not to float away into a disembodied state but to live in a renewed creation in communion with God. (See also 1 Corinthians 15; Romans 8; Revelation 21-22)

Action – Belief - Connections How would your actions and attitudes be different if you took seriously the truth that through Jesus God is redeeming the entire creation? Everything you do matters to God – what you eat, how long you sleep, your studies, your job, your friendships and relationships…

Are you a “Secret Knowledge” Gnostic? “The only people who go to heaven are those who go to the right church and believe the right things about God and Jesus.” “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Grace not Works God’s grace is not limited to people in one geographical location or people who have a better understanding. God’s grace often bursts through human boundaries in Scripture. May we beware of putting limits on God’s grace.

Action – Belief - Connections Gnostics built an entire hierarchy between humans and God – in reality, Jesus has once and for all bridged any gap and we have the freedom to approach God with confidence in Jesus (who is both God and human). What would it look like to approach your skeptical friends with love and confidence, not fear and pressure, and share with them the absolute beauty and wonder of God’s love?

Are you a “New Testament Only” Marcionite? We all affirm one God revealed throughout the entire Bible – Old and New Testaments…but does our life of faith reflect this? 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Action – Belief - Connections Why not read the Old Testament? and if you have questions, that’s kind of why I’m here!