4.16.2007

still thinking

Wow thanks for the responses to my question about character.

I have some more to think about. I still haven't been able to fully process my thoughts, or at least enough to put anything coherent here on this blog. But I have been reading a book called The Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll. He makes this statement that intrigues me a little.

First, to change a culture, we must change the people within that culture. The question that arises is whether people do what they are, or if they are what they do.

The answer is imperative, because if we are what we do, then all we need to do is train people to act differently, and they will change themselves. But if we do what we are, then we do bad because we are bad, and we cannot do good until we become good, the very thing which bad people cannot do, no matter how many dollars are spent and organizations are founded to help them.



I think he has a strong point relating not only to the way we see the people around us, but also the way that I evaluate myself.


Like I said, I'm still thinking about all of this. But Jasie...I smiled when you played the "both/and" card...smiles of formal meal memories.


I'll post again soon.

2 comments:

Jasie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jasie said...

Reading this, the first thing that comes to my mind is the verse about being a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). Personally, I'm growing to believe more and more that Paul was serious about this. We are no longer slaves to sin - we're new people under the headship of Christ. Not just playacting a different role. So maybe it has something to with justification as well as sanctification. Just for your amusement, another l'abrism - something akin to the the 'already not yet'. It's a question of identity - in a sense we're growing into who we truly are. Paul seems to thrive on the tension (hee!) - he also says things like 'God saved you - now, get out there and work out your salvation.' Just some thoughts...