The "have to" and the "want to"

[kj7gs]

I just came back from a study of "The Measure of a Man" at our local (Baptist) church, where I made the comment that the exhortations that we read both in the Bible and the book, start with the heart -- the "want to" -- that results in the "have to" of the head. The Jews fell into the trap of legalism, but once again, I see exhortations leading to another legalism that results in works based religion if we're not careful.

Therefore my question, are the exhortations of the New Testament, simply "new law" that can still trap Christians into behaving the way they think the world and perhaps other Christians, want to see them? As much as we should mow our lawns in order to demonstrate our faith according to Chapter 6 of the book, I see a large gap between the way the Arminian looks at faith and the way the Calvinist looks at faith. The different emphases in the "have to" (man's responsibility) and the "want to" (Spirit working within us) seem to result in reminders of the joy that should be in our hearts for the Arminians; and what I see is the more biblical exhortation of reminders of the works being the result of our hearts, for the Calvinist.

 

[heymikey80]

Well, my problem was this. When I was in the Arminian frame of mind I "attributed back" the joy that should be in my heart. That is, I didn't feel that joy while I was doing the work. I meditated on the accomplishment afterward and felt the joy of doing that accomplishment.

Ouch. To me, that's "justification by works" in its raw form.

When I came to the Calvinistic frame of mind I found that the work I was doing, I was not happy with at the time. I found I was resisting the Spirit as I was doing this work, and the work really couldn't be called "mine". I've begun the attempt to bring joy into the present, to watch expectantly for the Spirit to give me opportunities and work in me, and to see them happening right this red hot minute. But were I to count the human cost of these opportunities as I have in the past, I'd be right back at the start of my sanctification.

Neither Arminian nor Calvinistic approaches guarantees the absence or presence of works-righteousness. That's just what I experienced. Calvinists I know have experienced the works-righteousness aspect as well. Arminians have experienced excitement over witnessing the Spirit of God at work in them.

But to me, what they're both seeing is consistent with Calvinistic theology. I wouldn't be an authority anyway on how it truly fits in Arminian theology: go find an Arminian to describe the best Arminianism has to offer. But the way I experienced it I was being affirmed that I was being a good Arminian Christian when I was "backfilling" my joy. They were definitely wrong. But were they wrong because they were being Arminians, or in spite of Arminian/Wesleyan theology? I couldn't tell.

Maybe it's just our innate sinfulness that will constantly slice into any theology. Arminianism has no monopoly on works-righteousness or legalism.

 

[mlqurgw]

Well, my problem was this. When I was in the Arminian frame of mind I "attributed back" the joy that should be in my heart. That is, I didn't feel that joy while I was doing the work. I meditated on the accomplishment afterward and felt the joy of doing that accomplishment.

Ouch. To me, that's "justification by works" in its raw form.

When I came to the Calvinistic frame of mind I found that the work I was doing, I was not happy with at the time. I found I was resisting the Spirit as I was doing this work, and the work really couldn't be called "mine". I've begun the attempt to bring joy into the present, to watch expectantly for the Spirit to give me opportunities and work in me, and to see them happening right this red hot minute. But were I to count the human cost of these opportunities as I have in the past, I'd be right back at the start of my sanctification.

Neither Arminian nor Calvinistic approaches guarantees the absence or presence of works-righteousness. That's just what I experienced. Calvinists I know have experienced the works-righteousness aspect as well. Arminians have experienced excitement over witnessing the Spirit of God at work in them.

But to me, what they're both seeing is consistent with Calvinistic theology. I wouldn't be an authority anyway on how it truly fits in Arminian theology: go find an Arminian to describe the best Arminianism has to offer. But the way I experienced it I was being affirmed that I was being a good Arminian Christian when I was "backfilling" my joy. They were definitely wrong. But were they wrong because they were being Arminians, or in spite of Arminian/Wesleyan theology? I couldn't tell.

Maybe it's just our innate sinfulness that will constantly slice into any theology. Arminianism has no monopoly on works-righteousness or legalism.

I have never been an Arminian, unless you count when I was still thinking with the natural mind, but I do know that I had no real peace and joy until I truly found out what it was to rest in Christ. I preached the 5 points incessantly but had no real joy in them. Resting in Christ I now am free to work without reservation and with joy. Though I still sin daily and am not even close to what I ought to be in growth in grace, I can honestly say that I am free. I never seem to get over exhilarating joy of thinking about Christ and His work for me. The Gospel is a Gospel of peace and rest. I have learned, through many difficult and trying times, to not look at myself nor to myself but to Christ who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am not saying we shouldn't keep guard of our hearts but that we no longer need to focus on ourselves.
I think that is what separates the true believer from the religious zealot whether they be Calvinist or Arminian. Religion is always about things. Is this thing sin or not, am I doing enough, am I growing, what will my church think of this and so on.
Faith in Christ isn't about being moral and reforming your life, though it will be a radical reformation and aboutface morally, nor about the way you live, though you will live in the honest desire to honor Christ. Faith is seeing in Christ all in all. He is made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. 1Cor. 1:30 We are complete in Him, that is lacking nothing, a finished masterpiece of God that doesn't need another brush stroke. Eph. 2:10, Col. 2:10.
Joy doesn't come from the have to or the want to, it comes from resting.

 

[heymikey80]

I just came back from a study of "The Measure of a Man" at our local (Baptist) church, where I made the comment that the exhortations that we read both in the Bible and the book, start with the heart -- the "want to" -- that results in the "have to" of the head. The Jews fell into the trap of legalism, but once again, I see exhortations leading to another legalism that results in works based religion if we're not careful.

I think there's another sense in which you can take this, too. If God didn't give the Old Law to be a trap for legalism, God actually had believers at the time looking to the Law the same way believers should look to the Law at this time -- although there are definitely differences in practice.

Jesus didn't bring Israel to an immediate end. Jewish Christians were still observing Moses as Judea's law of the land. In fact a whole sect of Pharisees within the Christian church in Jerusalem was likely observing the Law quite closely.

They may've thought too highly about it, even being Jewish Christians. But likely they observed it as the law of the land. Paul himself observed its ceremonies when he went to Jerusalem.

These things were pretty perplexing to me 'til I read an old book of vignettes by F.F. Bruce -- "Peter, Stephen, James and John". I think it's out of print, but if I remember more about it from your questions I'll try to post them.