What to do with 1 John?

So our reading for Wednesday is one of the greatest, and at times most perplexing, readings we've had.  On one hand, we have a beautiful picture of encouragement to love one another and experience the love of God in the context of community with one another.  God is love...so love one another.  In this way we "cast out fear" (4:18).

On the other hand, there seems to be a problem.  The book begins telling us that "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1:8).  Then, not two chapters later, we're told that "no one who sins has either seen him or known him", and that "those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's seed abides in them" (3:6, 9).  These seem to be glaring contradictions.  There are a couple of explanations for this.  The easy one some scholars go for is that 1 John is a collection of writings that included more than one author, so we're hearing from two different voices, one who is more "strict" than the other.  However, even if this were the case, you would think the editor would have seen the contradiction there.  It's still there, so we have to wrestle with it.

Different theologians have seen this in different ways.  One idea is that this section is showing the difference between those who are the "antichrists" mentioned earlier and those who love God.  Sinning here is not individual sins, but choosing a lifestyle of sin that is in contrast to God.  Those who have been filled with God strive for the ways of God, and can no longer "abide" in sin, because they are choosing to abide in God (3:6).  The rest of scripture (not just this book) indicate that those who are filled with the Spirit do, indeed, sin.  We live in a broken world, and the world does still effect us.  However, Christ has forgiven sin, and we no longer live in sin.  We are no longer defined by our bad actions, but we are defined by our Savior, the one who had no sin, and we seek to live in love, guided by the Spirit, living in forgiveness.

To me, this is an encouragement.  Those who love God have been forgiven, so live as if you are forgiven.  You have been shown love, so live in the love that has been shown, and show that love to others.  We continue to live in God's love until the day "when he is revealed" and "we will be like him, for we will see him as he is" (3:2)  So, we "purify ourselves, just as he is pure," (3:3) seeking to show the world what a life lived in grace and love looks like, so that they might experience that as well.

Thoughts?  What was your favorite/least favorite/most challenging part of the readings this week?

Invitation to the New Testament 10/5

So I really liked last week's reading better :).  Very quickly this week we move from the lofty, beautiful (if not difficult) picture of what life looks like lived in the Kingdom, to the reality of what life is like in the here and now.  After getting everyone excited about life lived with God, Jesus quickly reminds us that it is only possible if we devote our entire selves to Him and are willing to forsake all other things (familial obligations, social obligations) and suffer for His sake.

Some use passages such as what we read in Matthew 8-12 to say that you are only a true Christian if people hate you, you are lonely, and your family has turned against you.  I find that to be very contrary to the message of Christ.  We have to remember that Jesus is speaking in a time when those who followed Him would be persecuted, and He knew that would only get worse in the time after the resurrection.  He knew the decision of family or Christ, social standing or Christ, or life or Christ would be coming to many of them in the future.  Jesus desires here to lay out the cost of following, so that they are aware of what may come.

This is much more difficult for us today, as for many of us the decision to follow Christ, while many times met with solid resistance, often does not demand of us our life.  However, begin to think about what ways discipleship (following and becoming like Christ) should change your life.  Are there things you hold onto or behaviors you won't get rid of that are keeping you from being who Christ is calling you to be?  Begin to pray that God would give you the strength to follow no matter the cost, knowing that a life lived with Christ is ultimately better that one lived without!

In the comments, post thoughts you have about what it means to follow Christ today and what things were/are difficult for you to change in order to follow Christ.  Also, feel free to post any questions that come to mind and respond to other comments as well.

Peace!