"I have been crucified with Christ. 

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 2:20

       

This verse is not only a part of one of my favorite songs written by my brother, but it's the exact principle that God has been trying to get across to me for a few years now. Here is an entry I wrote when I was struggling with faith and works as according to my Protestant background and what I was currently learning from the Catholic church. This is a very personal part of my spiritual journey, and I'm so happy to share it with you. Still learning, and this is just the beginning of the process. 

April 26th

         "It's been so long since I've opened my Bible to really read it. It's been so long that I didn't even know where to start. So, because of what Don Armando mentioned to me the other day about Paul. I thought I'd start going through Acts and Paul's letters. I started with Galatians. And what did I find?? The most controversial idea between Catholics and Protestants. Paul says we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone, that it is not by the works of the law that we are justified. Ok. I get that. That's what I've been taught my whole life. I mean he says it best, "for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." Exactly right, Paul. So why the emphasis that Catholics have on "faith through works"? 

In fact, the Holy Spirit works in us not through works of the law, but by hearing in faith. The law was "our guardian until Christ came." We are no longer slaves to the law. By grace given by God we are adopted and made sons. 

This whole "freedom from the law" concept was introduced to me a year and half ago by Dudley Hall. And I think I kinda took it in the wrong direction there for a while. I took it to the extreme. I wasn't a slave to the law anymore, so why did I need to even pay attention to it....right? 

Wrong! Doing that landed me into a whole heap of trouble. No, I wasn't trying to earn my way into God's grace, that is useless. But I certainly wasn't honoring my Father the way a son should. I think about my daddy here. As much as I want to make him proud, I should want 100x more to please my Heavenly Father! He's the one that sees everything - the things my earthly father knows nothing about. HE sees all the garbage in my heart...and he still LOVES me. 

So...at the end of the day, whether I'm Catholic or not, He will still love me. Nothing can separate me from that. However, I don't think that what God intended by giving us our free will was so we could do whatever we want. I look at the prodigal son. He basically said to his dad, 'You are dead to me. Give me my inheritance so I can go do whatever I want with it.' And his dad gave it to him! And so his son goes off and makes a complete fool of himself and spends ALL his money...but he finally comes running home. And I seriously doubt that after his father welcomed back into his house, gave him his ring, and showed him complete forgiveness that he ever did that again. I imagine he was pretty stunned by the fact His father had shown him such love and mercy...and probably got his act together. 

That is why we should do what some people "the works of the law." Paul calls it, "Walking by the Spirit." "The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit...But if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not bound by the law." He then lists all the desires of the flesh and then the fruits of the Spirit. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." 

So...I can see where the emphasis on the "works" part could be helpful in the Catholic church...but it could also make it very easy to fall from walking in the Spirit and try to justify myself by my works. The Spirit of God doesn't come upon me because of the things I do...it is by faith that I received the Holy Spirit...but with the Spirit comes the fruits of the Spirit. It's not like God just took us out of the equation when we were given the Holy Spirit. No, there has to be some sort of decision to honor the father - to go against our nature. I think that's what that is all about...and I've gotten it wrong on both ends of the spectrum...but I think that faith and works go hand in hand in serving the Lord. You can't have one without the other. 

If I stay where I am, I am going to fall vulnerable to the same apathy and comfort that dragged me into this mess. I need to be uncomfortable. Truly becoming Catholic would make me uncomfortable - setting myself apart from my family and my friends. Who knows? What does my Father have planned for me? Where does HE want me to be? I wish I knew. Guess I need to do some more research." 

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." 

Galatians 5:25