Spiritual growth does not adhere to a rigid task list; it arises organically from prayer that is intertwined with our personal experiences. The fundamental aim of writing should be to pursue a faithful and accurate interpretation of Scripture. To claim that much of biblical teaching is clouded in ambiguity, thus allowing for contradictions or selective beliefs, is to engage in a shallow discourse. The Bible clearly states that every word will be held to scrutiny; thus, our verbal expressions carry immense significance. When we compartmentalize the Christian experience, viewing it merely as a sequence of steps or avoiding difficult truths for the sake of ease, we jeopardize the clarity of our spiritual journey. Consider the psalmist once more: he does not interact with God in a uniform manner throughout his psalms, nor are his writings solely the product of transient experiences. Instead, he writes with the intention of providing profound insights. His psalms are not dictated by his circumstances; rather, they serve to convey how he faced various trials while embracing the deep mystery of salvation—an experience that surpasses human understanding. By oversimplifying salvation to a mere checklist or set of rules, or reducing it to a demonstration of free will, we risk distorting the very essence of the God we revere and worship. The primary objective of writing should be to seek an honest and accurate interpretation of Scripture. To assert that much of the Bible’s teachings are ambiguous and to use this as a rationale for contradictions or selective interpretations is to engage in shallow reasoning. Scripture is abundantly clear that every word deserves careful examination; therefore, the expressions we make carry significant weight and responsibility. Our understanding of the Christian journey becomes muddled when we view it as a simple series of steps to be followed or when we shy away from confronting challenging truths in order to achieve consensus. Let us commit ourselves to expressing the Christian journey as a cohesive path that flows from inward transformation to outward expression, rather than fragmenting it into isolated parts of salvation and sanctification. Although you are free to explore your own spiritual journey, my dedication to the integrity of Scripture remains steadfast. The purpose of sanctification is not simply a list of moral achievements to be checked off, as such a perspective lacks firm biblical foundations. Instead, there is a singular, profound reason that underlies every facet of our lives: to honor God by experiencing the joy that comes from a relationship with Him. Our lives should not be dissected by the choices we make; rather, the motivations guiding our decisions should stem from a deeper, more profound understanding of our faith. Take, for instance, the psalmist. His relationship with God is not uniform across all his writings; rather, he does not solely base his poetry on his immediate circumstances. Instead, he crafts his psalms with the intention of imparting wisdom and insight. His writing does not merely reflect his life experiences; instead, he seeks to articulate ways to navigate various trials while embracing the profound mystery of salvation—an experience that transcends human comprehension. By reducing the concept of salvation to a set of procedures, rules, or mere expressions of free will, we risk altering the very nature of the God we worship. Instead of breaking down the Christian experience into distinct sections like salvation and sanctification, let us aspire to present it as a unified journey that begins with profound inner change and culminates in outward expression. While you may choose to navigate your own unique path, I remain committed to upholding the integrity of Scripture. The aim of sanctification is not merely to check off tasks on a moral checklist, as this approach lacks consistent biblical support. Rather, there exists one fundamental purpose that unites all aspects of our lives: to glorify God by finding joy in our relationship with Him. Our lives should not be fragmented by the choices we make; instead, the motivation behind our actions should arise from a deep and nuanced understanding of our faith. True spiritual growth does not conform to a mere checklist of tasks to accomplish; instead, it naturally emerges from prayer that is deeply rooted in our lived experiences.
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