Susan - That was a great quote...I forwarded it to a coworker who finds such writings (especially the ones I've sent him from Puritans) to be too self-loathing. He says that's the problem with the Reformers (and people like me) ... Yet, he's OK with the abject asceticism of the Romanists of old. Hmmmm...

I got a question for everyone. I hope it's not too off topic. It's an issue that my pastor has been hammering for years in our Church....mentioned it again this morn...during last week's Sunday school...and our most recent home visit as well. And it's this.

Do Spurgeon's quotes (like this one)...and many Christian 'self-help' books go about the whole idea of walking in sanctification in a somewhat backwards manner?

What I mean is...are we supposed to reflect on ourselves from a negative and lowly point of view (despite being FULLY justified by grace thru faith) and try to 'get with the program'...as though we all start from the bottom (like pond scum) and then try to scale the ladder of sanctification (with the Spirit's cooperative help of course) in order to please God? That we need to be 'brought low' before we can fully appreciate our blessed state in Christ? That there's profit in feeling like dirt by taking stock in our own shortcomings?

My wife's got shelves of these self-help books and they consistently leave her feeling defeated. Fortunately she knows Christ had completed all the work needed for life everlasting and that by faith she appropriates His righteousness. But nevertheless, these books make her feel bad about herself, at least initially. They convict and reconvict...bringing to mind sins already forgiven. Continuously reminder her of her wretched state.

Is this the Biblical model for an already redeemed person?

What do you make of my pastor's approach?

The Bible declares us as 'saint's...already seated in the heavenlies with Christ .... so we don't start as 'scum'...needing to pull ourselves by our boot straps and climb that ladder of sanctification...but instead, we START at the top of ladder ...right there next to Christ Himself.....and are encouraged to LIVE LIKE IT. We ought not become discouraged 'looking up' as though a prize awaits IF we overcome .... but are to be encouraged 'looking down' knowing the prize has already been won by Christ on our behalf.

See the difference?

We don't take the attitude of having to scale a self-help ladder in order to 'measure up'...we are already at the TOP of the ladder and are told to LIVE LIKE IT....to live like a redeemed people, showing ourselves approved. Yes, self examine...as the Bible declares...but KNOW that we are full citizens, soujorners merely passing thru another kingdom.

Our life is about pleasing God by "living the part"....not fretting about "getting the part."

Am I making any sense?

Do we BEGIN by seeing ouselves as polluted sinners (which we are in practice) struggling with sanctification in an attempt to become something we erroneously believe we're not ....or do we BEGIN with seeing ourselves for what we really ARE, (positionally sinless, seated next to Christ) and make every attempt to live what we really are...to become what we already are?

"Self-help" model says...we were given a ticket to the Ball ...but we need to work to become princes and princesses. Get with the program.

Pastor's model says...we start as princes and princesses...now go live the part (and prove it).

blessings,