Paul wrote:
<The NT seems to set forth a boldly subjective approach. Act on and share
<what you do believe is certain, and let the Lord do the rest. I Cor 2:4, 5.
<Unbelievers have less understanding of the basic issues of life than
<Christians do; so why shouldn't we be bold?
I believe that Deitrich Bonhoeffer addressed this objective/subjective struggle with a phrase that went something like "those who believe, act and those who act, believe." He addressed that to one of his parishioners who came to him struggling with whether he believed at all. There is a sense in which we must DO what God has commanded us even while suspending our lack of faith for the moment. All the while enlarging our understanding of the Bible and the truthfulness of it. Certainly James wrote of this when confronting those who claimed true faith without works - dead faith. "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."
George M., did I get the Bonhoeffer quotation right ? Was it from "The Cost of Discipleship" or "Living Together" ?
Al McCarrick
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