More Cranach on Lost

January 31, 2006 · Filed Under theology

The debate continues in the comments over at Cranach’s Found on Lost. As Dr. Veith noted in this post, Cranach is somewhat atypical in the blogosphere in that discussions tend to be civil, very literate, and ongoing — it’s not all that common for comment threads to go on for more than a few days, and that’s what happens over at Cranach. It’s very cool…

Of particular interest to me in the discussion/comments thread was the final paragraph of a comment by Rev. Bill Cwirla (proprietor of the outstanding Rev. Cwirla’s Blogosphere):

I’ll even dare to speak personally. (Yes, Lutherans have personal testimonials too!). I was baptized when I was five weeks old, was nurtured in the Liturgy, catechized by my parents and pastor, etc. As a result, I do not have a single conscious moment in my life when I did not know and trust Jesus Christ as my Savior. That’s why I can’t relate to “Amazing Grace” when it sings “I once was lost but now I’m found.” I have to believe from the Scriptures that I once was lost, but I have no such memory or experience. I’ve always been found in Jesus.

Folks, let me tell you something — I wish I had written this paragraph, because it states quite wonderfully how I have always felt when confronted with the Methobapticostal view of “accepting” Jesus. Sure, it infuriates me theologically, but perhaps a more important/insightful is the realization that I just don’t get it because I have no frame of reference for it. And thus, I have no need to try and impose some sort of intellectually rational framework upon it (e.g., “making a decision for Christ”). Now if I could just not have to endure hearing Amazing Grace & Blessed Assurance at church any more…
-ghp