A Letter To Dave

Dave,

Just a note thanking you for your leadership in the study Tuesday and how grateful I am that an invite has been extended me to join in. On more than one occasion I have sought to apologize to Matt for—what appeared to me was—an overextension of my “allotted” time. But another thing about me is always seeking that common ground in Christ where we come together in unity. It is as if I imagine our little group including a few from other denominational leanings and my seeking to always include them in my heart as Hebrews 2:11 spoke of our Savior: ”He is not ashamed to call [us] brethren.” [Whatever is said, I support each believer’s understanding of Truth as I always have—Romans 14:22.] Joyce and I, now in our 80’s, are reluctant to drive the interstate any distance, which means seeking Sunday morning worship locally. We found a Nazarene church with an old fashion ambience which is like stepping into our past for an hour a week when we can make it. Physical needs sometimes keep us home.

_________

For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, – Hebrews 2:11

Two of my favorite authors are N.T.Wright and William Lane Craig who interpret the phrase “The Righteousness of God” differently and seem to be irreconcilably at theological loggerheads. But I like both; so, I wrote a book called “Essays in Righteousness” in which I refer to their disagreement as “The spaghetti and the sauce,” because both ideas belong together theologically. Myer Pearlman —I am told—once wrote about the Wesleyan-Calvinist debate that “These are the two rails the train must run on.” Quick aside—in 1988 one church declared their pulpit vacant because I as pastor wouldn’t outright endorse the idea you could lose salvation’ The next church I pestered [pastored] in 1993 dismissed me in a congregational meeting because they thought I believed you could! A District official at the time recommended I seek out a church that believed as I. Instead, I went back to college and worked the next 15 years as a computer programmer.

I discovered recently that I love A. W. Tozier’s “The Pursuit of God” not realizing until later than he was A.M. & A. and that—according to some disciples —did believe it possible to lose one’s salvation. My favorite Aunt and Uncle [now with Jesus] were A.M. & A. My maternal grandma—who bore a great influence on me in my formative years—was a catholic who talked directly to Jesus bypassing the confessional. [As you know, my brother is catholic. He has theological degrees in catholicism.] And I love and respect him dearly. And I had an uncle, one of my mom’s brothers, who was a Baptist pastor—as was my cousin, his son.

Theologically I lean R.C. Sprol instead of the “TULIP” doctrine. But with a soupçon of Pentecost; I am not a cessationist. I have a number of Assembly of God and other pentecostal friends. This group includes my beloved bride of 57 years.

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing which he allows. – Romans 14:22

So, you can appreciate my desire to believe that Christians have sound reason for fellowshipping and working together for Christ without sacrificing their “personal” faith.

[I have even discovered that some of our theological differences—as believers— are deep rooted in the actual grammar or language of the New Testament. The Greek grammar you might get at Dallas theological wouldn’t exactly be the same as what they teach at—say— Canisius University in Buffalo, New York or Valley Forge University in PA.]

If any of this concerns you, freely discuss all this with Matt and I will abide by your advice in the matter going forward.

God bless,

John