Indagatio Veri

The promise to Abraham, the liberation of the Israelites, the writing of the Law, and the prophets were all signs that pointed towards Jesus. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until haven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:17-20)." John the Baptist was the last of these signposts; his life was devoted to proclaiming in the wilderness, 'prepare ye the way of the Lord.'  He recognized that a new era was at hand and that there was going to be a shift from the new to the old. "Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30)." John baptized with water for repentance while Jesus was to come with power, baptizing with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Something was changing with Jesus, a lifestyle that was going to be released that exceeded tha...

"Then he said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23)."  This scripture has become a cornerstone of Christian theology and practice where we are urged to die to ourselves, our lifestyles, will, thoughts, and emotions.  We understand the paradigm that 'His thoughts being higher than our thoughts', while accepting John the Baptists proclamation that 'He must increase and I must decrease.' There is truth in these passages and to these teachings, but it is just a part of the whole picture.  We often approach this idea of 'dying to ourselves' in the strangest of fashions, and it is this that I would like to correct.  We tend to emphasize the difficulty, struggle, and even despair that comes from this process, as if we have to reject the 'better' and get the 'worse' instead. That may be how we feel in the moment, but we are just as much coming alive as we are ...