The Surprising God

This post continues a review of key points in Ron Highfield's book,  God, Freedom & Human Dignity: Embracing a God-Centered Identity in a Me-Centered Culture . For other posts in the series, click a number:  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , 5 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 . In this post we'll continue Highfield's exploration of how the God-centered self  contrasts with the  me-centered self, the latter being prevalent in our fallen, largely narcissistic world. If our core identity (sense of self) is going to be truly God-centered, we (by the grace of God) must begin by understanding who God is as revealed in the person and work of Jesus. According to Highfield, "Through Christ we come to know God as the eternal Trinity who lives by loving" (p. 127). By creating, sustaining and saving us in Christ and by the Spirit, this triune God   shares with us, through a relationship of love, God's own self---his freedom and personal dignity---thus giving us our true id

Here on The   Surprising God blog we've often explored the topic of harmonizing the Bible and science (you will find links to some of those posts below). This important topic is helpfully addressed by  BioLogos  in the compelling video embedded below. It tells "The Big Story" of creation and redemption in a way I feel is faithful to both Scripture and modern, evolutionary science. Watch it and see what you think, and post any comments you might have below. The presenter on the video is Leonard J. Vander Zee, editor in chief for Faith Alive Christian Resources. His articles have appeared in The Banner, Reformed Worship, Perspectives and Christianity Today. Here are links to key past Surprising God posts on the topic of the Bible and science: http://thesurprisinggodblog.gci.org/2009/04/trinitarian-theology-and-theistic.html http://thesurprisinggodblog.gci.org/2014/09/examining-origins-debate.html http://thesurprisinggodblog.gci.org/2014/09/examining-origins-d

Hold on Tight   by Liz Lemon Swindle (used with artist's permission) [Updated 1/11/2021] In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul addresses a group of terribly confused Christians who he says have been "bewitched" (Galatians 3:1). Clearly they are in a spiritually dangerous situation, having lost sight of the true basis of their identity, salvation and continuing life in Christ. And so, in love, but with apostolic fervor, Paul exhorts them to get back to the true gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). In chapter 2, he continues that exhortation by sharing his own faith story in this theologically-rich passage: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God , who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV, emphasis added) Note that the KJV has  the faith of the Son of God, where other translations have  faith in the Son of God . Which translati

This post continues a review of key points in Ron Highfield's book, God, Freedom & Human Dignity: Embracing a God-Centered Identity in a Me-Centered Culture . For other posts in the series, click a number: 1 ,  2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 . Used with permission from Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries via Wikimedia Commons So far in this series we've been looking at humanity's quest for freedom and dignity. In our world, that quest is typically guided and motivated by a me-centered identity that might, for a time, lead to the illusion of freedom and dignity, but ultimately leads to despair. That's the bad news of the human condition that dominates so much of life in our increasingly narcissistic world. But, take heart, there is good news ! Human freedom and dignity are not out of reach---they flow from a God-centered identity that has its grounding in the servant-heart of the God-man Jesus who by the Spirit is sharing with t