Seeing the life hidden within the dead wood... sinking roots down so that our arms may ascend to heaven... penitence so we may have the joy of absolution. I liked all these sentences. This is the thinking at heart within protestant spirituality (at least I believe traditionally speaking). It is the core of what today in evangelicalism is called the gospel centered life, which really is a sacramental life of hearing the gospel. It is a legal scheme to be sure which can disconnect the resurrection from the cross as an optional extra, but a Christus Victor that triumphs over enemies must need also triumph over the enemy within, less it be a hollow victory unable to cleanse the conscience. The cross and the resurrection must go together indeed.
Seeing the life hidden within the dead wood... sinking roots down so that our arms may ascend to heaven... penitence so we may have the joy of absolution. I liked all these sentences. This is the thinking at heart within protestant spirituality (at least I believe traditionally speaking). It is the core of what today in evangelicalism is called the gospel centered life, which really is a sacramental life of hearing the gospel. It is a legal scheme to be sure which can disconnect the resurrection from the cross as an optional extra, but a Christus Victor that triumphs over enemies must need also triumph over the enemy within, less it be a hollow victory unable to cleanse the conscience. The cross and the resurrection must go together indeed.