Doctrines in the Kitchen
As we were drinking another cup of coffee, I said ” I cannot explain you how much being a Reformed Christian has changed my whole life”
I grew up in a Christian environment, the type which never mentions words like, “religion, sin or hell, sacrament or Lord’s Day” However, it included many phrases like, “give and you will be blessed”, “You can do all things through Christ” – the context did not matter -, “You are more than conqueror”, “You are the child of the King” -i.e live like a princess!- Now I see behind and lower my head, and bless my Redeemer.
Yes my life has changed dramatically; doctrines reached me in the kitchen, in the dining room, in my bedroom, in my backyard. The Teachings (Doctrines) of the Word have changed my worldview.
“Sovereignty, for example, has changed me tremendously.” I kept saying to my friend, “Believing that God has chosen His own, and has called them to be His own changes more than my view of how God saves his people, it changes my attitude towards every single event that happens around me”
God is Sovereign. He is Sovereign when I do not understand why winters last so much, or when I see pretty and beauty all around me. God is Sovereign when I sit or when I walk. He is Sovereign.
Doctrines should change us, the body of teachings in the Bible must change us and make us more godly; if not we are in danger, we are only puffing up.
Grace meets me every day, and what I believe I must live.
The “T” in T.U.L.I.P changed me; Total Depravity still changes me; I am the daughter of a King, yes indeed! but I am much more than that, I am His. I am hidden in Him, I do not deserve being where I am, I need a Saviour but I also need a Sanctifier. I am lost without Him. Sin is real, my fights are real, but I am His!
The Five points of Calvinism, the Five Solas of the Reformation, words like Monergism or Theology would not avail much if they would not reach me in the kitchen, in how and why I cook for my family, in my marriage bed, in my conversation with my friends, in my daily life.
Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 12:20 AM
Wow Becky, you speak my heart. Coming to understand God’s sovereignty and our total depravity has changed the way I see and do everything.
Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Cecile, as always it is a joy to see you here, my friend!
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Becky,
Amen to everything you said! Sound doctrine absolutely affects our spiritual life in every way. To put it in a nutsell, the doctrines of grace declare one abiding truth: God is God.
I’m with you on total depravity. I believe it is foundational to all the other points. Without an understanding of this fact man is left to believe that he has enough inherent goodness to seek God on his own.
Without an understand of the doctrine of total depravity it is impossilbe to comprehend the horrible cost of our redemption, thus to appreciate in an appropriate manner the God who saved us
Thank you for another wonderful post.
Blessings sister!
Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 9:03 AM
It is my joy to learn along godly woman like you!
Blessings!
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:41 PM
I think all I can really say is “Amen”!
) It’s wonderful!
Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 9:02 AM
What else can we say Emily? Amen is great !
May God give us grace to live in grace!
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 3:40 PM
Michael is always telling me and the children that our theology – our beliefs – penetrate every area of our lives. Our response to things around us are a result of how we view God. He will quiz the children after a movie to help them think through what they thought the writer’s beliefs were that he was trying to get his audience to think. We do so with out thought if we are not careful.
Miss you my sweet sister in Christ.
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:23 PM
I love you! It was great talking with you….
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:43 AM
Oh! I’m enjoying this topic! Same here girls…the Lord allowing me to wander around for 35 years, feeding on every blasphemous thing imaginable. It amazes me new each morning how He could take this ‘wild child’ , this ‘ol burnt out hippie (a little 60′s lingo, there!) turned Charismatic! Ha!…and turn into a Reformed Doctrine lover. The stories we all can tell of His Sovereign Grace!! Wonderful post, Becky…as I go in the kitchen…to think on these things.
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Praise the Lord!
Sovereign Grace… how we did not deserve it and how it reached us.
Thank you for stopping by.
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 6:15 AM
Well, my dear sister, Becky,
We have lots of parallel experiences! I will try to edit myself. If I’m not careful my comment could be longer than your post since I have so much to say! : )
We have only come to understand scriptures in light of Reformed Theology in the last two years. Since then our lives have radically changed — for the better.
The Word of God, when rightly interpreted, is the most stabilizing thing in the world. The shifting foundation of experience contributes nothing to holy living. Right teaching means right living; wrong teaching means sloppy living.
There are times when I get upset that it took so long for us to be delivered from error into truth, but then I am comforted with the thought of His Divine Sovereignty. He determined to keep us in darkness for as long as He did and He determined to bring us out in His good pleasure for His own good purposes.
I share your love of doctrine. Many people don’t understand that all doctrine is, is teaching. Where I come from, so many think it’s just enough to “love Jesus.” Doctrine is a bad word. And while study can be hard work, nothing will build and stabilize your faith more than growing in the knowledge of Him. Studying doctrine is about loving God with your mind.
Is my comment longer than your post?
In any case, wonderful post!
With love,
Christina
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 7:22 AM
Dear Christina,
Thank you for your comment! I just love to be engaged in a conversation with you!
We too think af all the time we were not aligned with God’s Word, and at the same time, just as you said, we know God has a timing and He is Sovereign!
“Doctrine”…yes, that word was scary for me too! I remember how I used to hear from the pulpit that Doctrine and Theology did not matter, the only thing that matterd was being nice and loving…and of course having an “anointed worship”
Please be welcome to comment always, It makes me happy to hear you!
Have a most joyous day!
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 4:22 AM
You are so right when in your idea that we need not only savior, but sanctifier! This is a teaching we all need to hear again and again. It is an idea that is seldom preached, and seldom seen in popular Christian media. Thank you for these beautiful thoughts.
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 7:34 AM
Missy, thank you for taking the time to comment.
I read about Jesus being our Sanctifier as well as our Saviour in the book I am reading and commenting here, The Bruised Reed; and yes, I agree, it is not a common topic in some churches.
Sanctification is one of those doctrines that have changed me, it is one that constantly meets me in my daily life.
Blessings.