I am who I am...

I am not Baptist. I am not Methodist. I am not non-denominational. I am not Pentecostal, or what is called Evangelical. I am Presbyterian and am discovering why I am Presbyterian again.

I recently read an article that stated that most of American Christians are Arminian in thier theological thinking. These words may not sound too familiar....but these words most likely do:

"God offers common grace to all people. Those people who cooperate with God are saved....if you do not cooperate with God then you will not be saved." (God loves despite my cooperation. That is what makes the good news good)

or you might have heard it this way:

"God loves you unconditionally.
When you make a decision for
God in Christ you are saved."
(sounds conditional to me)

or you might have heard it with this question:

"Are you born again?"
(my Lord if you don't answer this question the right way....
then....you guessed it....you are condemned.
I have been condemned many times by many people)

I am Presbyterian.
Why?

Because I do not
have faith
or live faith
in order to gain
salvation.

I have faith, I live faith as a response to what God has fully accomplished in Jesus Christ. I am "born again" as a result of God's action, because of what God did in Christ on the Cross and the empty tomb.

I have faith, I live faith as a means of offering thanksgiving to God for being saved. I give thanks for what God has already done. My decision does not create the possibility for salvation. God and God alone creates the possibility for salvation and fully accomplishes the work of salvation.

I don't live in fear....that if I mess up, or don't decide in the manner according to other people that I will not be saved.

Instead, I live with joy and thanksgiving that God has already done everything necessary for salvation.

So you see, having faith.....living faith is the way I enjoy God and all that God has, is and will do.

This is good news, really good news.
Good news that takes judgement out of the hands of people around me....good news that allows me to fully live....with questions, doubts, and at times weakness.

This is good news....even when I fully live....with questions, doubts and at times weakness....God does not abandon me....God instead perseveres.

This is why I am a Christian in the Presbyterian traditon.