Comments on: The ‘Sanctification Gap’ http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/09/the-sanctification-gap/ A First Things Blog Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Paul http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/09/the-sanctification-gap/#comment-13990 Paul Fri, 17 Sep 2010 22:23:25 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=8741#comment-13990 Personally, I struggle with pretense and despair still to a pretty high degree. The pretense flows out of my heart so full of pride, a heart that doesn't want to disappoint and is full of fear. The despair flows out of the realization that after so many years of walking I still stumble so easily over this basic principle, still am so often seeking after the approval of man rather than the approval of God, still have trouble receiving grace. Personally, I struggle with pretense and despair still to a pretty high degree. The pretense flows out of my heart so full of pride, a heart that doesn’t want to disappoint and is full of fear. The despair flows out of the realization that after so many years of walking I still stumble so easily over this basic principle, still am so often seeking after the approval of man rather than the approval of God, still have trouble receiving grace.

]]> By: Albert http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/09/the-sanctification-gap/#comment-13978 Albert Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:44:19 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=8741#comment-13978 I'll add another phenomenon which I'm familiar with from my particular background: a kind of "God please flip the switch" mentality that often accompanies memories of "spiritual highs." It's a belief that if we just pray/read the Bible/have faith hard enough, God will flip a switch in our hearts and we'll suddenly be able to live more obediently. Rarely, it happens that way. But more frequently, it results in a lot of waiting in sin and even blaming God for not flipping the switch and making it easy to be obedient. I’ll add another phenomenon which I’m familiar with from my particular background: a kind of “God please flip the switch” mentality that often accompanies memories of “spiritual highs.”

It’s a belief that if we just pray/read the Bible/have faith hard enough, God will flip a switch in our hearts and we’ll suddenly be able to live more obediently. Rarely, it happens that way. But more frequently, it results in a lot of waiting in sin and even blaming God for not flipping the switch and making it easy to be obedient.

]]> By: Chris Krycho http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/09/the-sanctification-gap/#comment-13951 Chris Krycho Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:21:27 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=8741#comment-13951 My wife tackled that first point in an <a href='http://www.pillarontherock.com/2010/09/importance-of-being-honest.html' rel="nofollow">article</a> today, interestingly enough. I'll be curious to hear your future psots on this, as my own experience has been that seeking the face of God in robust community is immensely helpful—but I have a hard time helping others get there. My wife tackled that first point in an article today, interestingly enough. I’ll be curious to hear your future psots on this, as my own experience has been that seeking the face of God in robust community is immensely helpful—but I have a hard time helping others get there.

]]> By: Jack Hudson http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2010/09/the-sanctification-gap/#comment-13950 Jack Hudson Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:44:58 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=8741#comment-13950 I am especially struck by the first one - Pretense. It is amazing to me, having been a Christian for 20+ years how difficult it is even for a small group of men who know each other well to talk openly about failures when it comes to finances or sexual purity. How can we confess to one another, seek forgiveness, and bear each others burdens when we can barely utter words to describe what our real sins and weaknesses are? I am especially struck by the first one – Pretense. It is amazing to me, having been a Christian for 20+ years how difficult it is even for a small group of men who know each other well to talk openly about failures when it comes to finances or sexual purity.

How can we confess to one another, seek forgiveness, and bear each others burdens when we can barely utter words to describe what our real sins and weaknesses are?

]]>