pedadidact

12 January 2010, Tuesday
Logan, Utah

Tuesday through Thursday, at 8:00 AM, Eli opens shop at Oasis Christian Bookstore. Despite many hours punched in, his motivation is not for a paycheck. In fact, he does not receive one. Sitting at a plastic table in the center of the room, Eli's presence is to encourage believers in the Christian faith, and to engage curious visitors, whether LDS or agnostic, with the Protestant gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.

In the course of my first day there, I spent several hours in conversation with a variety of persons, both Christian and otherwise. For the most part these talks focused on the subject of how Christ's death relates to salvation, and the place of obedience to God's commands, both before and after faith in Jesus.


Eli discussing the faith.

Brad introduced me to an ongoing discussion he had been having with Eli, namely, that from a close reading of Galatians and other epistles, in the phrase "flesh versus the spirit", the term flesh is best understood not as impulses to violate specific laws of God, but as confidence in one's own abilities, strength, or standing outside of Christ's imputed righteousness and imparted power. In this way, a man may attempt to conform exactly to the Law, as Paul did before conversion, and yet do all "in the flesh." In this way, even willful obedience to the Law may become "fleshly".

Likewise, one who has trusted Christ for justification may yet look to his own strength of will to obey commands of God, even thinking God's favor increases or wanes based on his performance of Law, rather than looking to Christ on the cross as the end of Law-favor, and therein receiving from the Spirit power to love as Christ loves. In a word, to be fleshly is for a sinful person to anticipate God's favor, whether in justification or thereafter, to depend upon man's power to will holiness, and sees this power as originating decisively in oneself. To be spiritual, however, is to receive and rest upon Christ's pardoning death and imputed righteousness as the basis of one's unchanging acceptance with God. When tempted, to be spiritual is to meditate, not on the forbidenness of the action, but on the forgiveness wrought at the cross, whereby the Spirit infuses supernatural strength in the form of overcoming gratitude. To be fleshly is to act merely as a servant, but to be spiritual is to comprehend one's sonship.


Brad discusses the gospel with Alan.

Towards noon there entered a curious woman with blond frazzled hair, flushed cheeks, small pointed nose, and a lighthouse smile. Brad greeted her in his cordial way,

"Hello, Cheri! I'm so glad to see you. How do you do today?"

"It doesn't matter how I feel in myself, because I'm resting in Jesus, Brad. That makes me very joyful."

"You mean," he said facetiously, "you're not trusting in your own works to be justified, neither are you confident in your flesh?'

"Not at all. 'In me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing.' But through faith, God has counted to me Jesus' righteousness."

Looking to me, Brad said, "Cheri was one of the most wicked women in Cache valley. Isn't that right, Cheri?" She nodded. "But Jesus made His love known to her and ever since, she has walked with Him."

Through that day and the next, in every discussion I had with Cheri, I became more convinced that this former "off scouring of society", with mussed hair and awkward appearance, whose countenance now radiated warm affection, was amongst the most godly creatures I've ever encountered. Her simple reliance on Christ was coupled with a burning gratitude beyond what I have seen in many others.


Alan makes a point to Eli.

In the evening, Eli and I caught the bus home, which, I might add, is a free service in Utah, paid out of State taxes. Seating ourselves on a hard plastic bench, we began conversing on the many blessings of the gospel. This was carried on loudly enough for others to listen in, with key phrases inserted to draw notice. Mind you, Mormons are, as a group, exceedingly interested in the religious dissent of others, whether hoping for a chance to convert wayward souls, defend LDS beliefs, or yearning to discover something more substantial than the vacuousness of their own theological system. One could hear the hush which spread in the vehicle as they sought to know what we would say.

To our left, an elderly man, with a wiry frame and great cow eyes, was doing a poor job of hiding the fact that he was eavesdropping. On his lap was a copy of Justo Gonzales' When Christ lives in us. In such a densely Mormon environment, I had not expected to see a Protestant book by a relatively obscure author. But then, in a matter of seconds, a more astonishing scene developed.

"Sir, I notice that you're reading Justo Gonzales. I enjoy some of his work, myself." The gentleman's face lit up like a thousand-watt bulb, and upon it was all the loneliness and sudden enthusiasm of a bedraggled mut receiving scraps from a stranger on the street.

"Really?! Yes, I just began this book and am enjoying it, but -- have you heard of this -- what I really want to get my hands on is Gonzales' Story of Christianity. It comes in two paperback volumes, but I'd like to have the edition which includes both in one hardback. It is expensive, though."

Sensing the providence of the situation, I reached instantly into my pack and drew out that very book, handing it to him and saying, "Well, here it is. I was reading it, too, but you can have it." Getting beyond his amazement, the man offered a few scraggly bills from his worn leather wallet.

"No thank you, sir," I said. "The book is a gift. Receive it from God who obviously arranged this."

Carvel, as he then introduced himself, was elated. With youthful rapidity, he began to tell us about his Christian conversion and of his desire to find a sound, biblical Church to attend. We were more than happy to tell him where we planned to worship that Sunday, and he took down the address. Then, with a flash of excitement he blurted, "Would you both like some apples?"

"Sure." I wondered where he had these, since I saw no bag with him.

"Good, I'll bring them by the store tomorrow. I'll go right home and prepare the boxes; I have about 250 apples to bring you." Needless to say, we were taken back with this generous gift. The whole while, passengers on the bus had been silently observing the strange and fortuitous display of providence and Christian charity. Seizing the opportunity, Eli spake loudly,

"Carvel, do you see what just happened? You wanted that book, and thought you had to earn it through work somewhere. But Mike surprised you with it, free of charge. He wouldn't accept payment for it, but wanted you to receive it as a gift. That is how justification is - Christ freely gives us His whole righteousness, which we receive through faith in Him alone. Later, when you wanted to give us those apples, your motive was simply kindness. You didn't offer them in order to earn the book, or keep the book, but just to show us love. That is how sanctification works. Our good fruits, as it were, come from gratitude and love for having already received forgiveness and adoption in Christ. Isn't that right?"

"Yes! Yes it is," replied Carvel. At our stop we shook hands and hoped to see him again, Sunday.


Cadon plays with Daisy.

Later that night several young men met us at the Taylor's house for bible study. The time was wonderfully edifying as we moved through 1 Thessalonians, discussing the love which God has for us from eternity through His son, Jesus. I was especially appreciative of a certain man present at the study, Jacob, with whom I got on well. Our fellowship extended past midnight and finally, after they had gone, I made my way to bed, thankful again for such a soul-enriching day.