Now I will admit, having been a Christian for a somewhat short time as an adult, I’ve some unfamiliarity with the ins and outs of Christian controversy. Jared points tangentially to one which has puzzled me quite a bit. So I thought I’d put the question to the chorus here.
Protestants and Catholics (apparently) frequently point to the other as being in the wrong about the whole faith vs works question. But it seems to me both sides are in complete agreement.
Protestants accuse Catholics of emphasising works, for you are saved by faith alone.
Catholics will reply, yes that’s right. You are saved by faith, and faith without works is dead ... so there had better be some works in your life and witness or when you face the Lord at the Judgement seat it will be hard for you.
Protestants, I think, will also agree with that counter.
Which leaves the disagreement where exactly? For it seems to this neophyte that on this issue there is no division.
Parenthetically, it seems to me one of the things with a blog like Evangel might accomplish is to separate the doctrine from the adiaphora in the divide between denominations.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
