I should note right up front that I have blatently and shamelessly decided to steal an html link to a rather brilliant document and post the link here. I make no apologies for this theft but shout joyously – pecca fortiter! Of course I know I am abusing Luther’s phrase terribly and once again offer no apologies and rationalize with the statement "I’m not Lutheran or reformed anyhow so you can’t expect me to do the phrase justice…"
At any rate I really appreciate reading the sharp theological minds of AK and his wife KK on their blogs:
KK posted the following link to a great document written by Anglican Phillip Cary on the differences between Calvin and Luther’s theologies of salvation and faith (I am over simplifying here). Here’s the link. You should read it and let me know what you think. Really. Let me know.
What a read! The whole idea of faith that relys on itself rather than on God. I can honestly say that I had never though of it in those terms before. It struck me that the distinction he was making between true faith and faith in one\’s faith (that may not make sense until you read the article), is sort of the same as the distinction between God\’s joy and happy feelings. You can have joy when you are not feeling particularly happy- and in the same way you can have faith when you are not feeling particularly trusting. We sang the song in church today "Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him". But I\’m just human. I don\’t always trust Him…and so the chorus finishes "oh for faith to trust Him more".
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