The son was talking to me about confounding variables and assumptions, for he had a lecture on this yesterday. Now, many think that this conversation was held between Christ and the Jews.
Not true. Christ was talking to Jews, yes. But the Jews who believed in him. He is talking about things that end up with long and technical words in theology: justification, sanctification, predestination.
And he calls those very people who want to follow him sons of the Devil, sons of the opposition, in love with the world.
They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
(John 8:33-47 ESV)
One of the great differences between reformed theology and Thomist theology (which does exist within the Protestant churches) is that the Reformers saw that there was nothing they could do to be saved. They could not even hear the words of God, and understand them, without the Spirit of God illumining them.
The reformers therefore discounted heritage and tradition, not because they were good, for they are good. It is good to be free. It is excellent to be bought in a family of faith, an intact family, where your parents pray for your salvation and model the practice of faith to you.
The reason that the Reformers discounted these things is that they did not suffice. The Jews who heard Jesus’ message were hungering for righteousness, were of the tradition of faith, and were free men. All good things. But Christ says that only in obeying him can they be free of the consequences of sin. Only those of the Father, chosen from the formation of this world, can hear and believe.
You need to consider your heritage, not as a source of pride, but a talent to be used.
We all have gifts and handicaps. We may be fortunate to live in a Christian society: some of us live in postchristian societies where being of Christ is stigmatized. You may be free; more and more are becoming not merely wage slaves, but slaves in the ancient sense in the Islamic world. You may be beautiful, strong, intelligent and healthy.
All these are good things, but they do not qualify you. The most strong prayer warriors I know are retired folk, who are often physically frail. I’m fairly intelligent, but I am as blind as a bat without my contact lenses… my glasses give me vision just good enough to allow me to drive (but not good enough to spot typos).
And your youth, your beauty, and your strength will fade. There are things you can do about this (and should do about it) around diet and exercise, but they allow us to serve longer.
Choose today, this day, to obey the words of Christ. Love God, and your neighbour. Serve each other. And expect the world to not understand, and revert to hatred. For what they did to Christ they will do to us, if we follow his words.
