Plantinga Chapter 4: Redemption

One thing I like about these chapters is the interesting quotes that are placed throughout the reading. This one by Barbara Brown Taylor stood out to me.

What we have lost . . . is a full sense of the power of God -- to recruit people who have made terrible choices; to invade the most hopeless lives and fill them with light; to sneak up on people who are thinking about lunch, not God, and smack them up side the head with glory. (75)

It stood out because of the way Taylor describes what we have "lost," implying that these are things that Christians do when they have the full power of God. I like the way she writes it, using words like invade, sneak up and smack them up. It's very active and direct, giving readers a sense of empowerment. However, at the same time, it also very convicting for Christians, like myself, who have been passive and indirect.

Another quote I liked is by Jonathan Edwards.

Passing affections easily produce words; and words are cheap; . . . Christian practice is a costly laborious thing. The self-denial that is required of Christians, and the narrowness of the way that leads to life don't consist in words, but in practice. Hypocrites may much more easily be brought back to talk like saints, than to act like saints.

 Edwards addresses the issue of hypocrisy in a very serious tone. I especially liked the line, "The self-denial that is required of Christians, and the narrowness of the way that leads to life don't consist in words, but in practice." It really makes one reexamine their spiritual living. If we are to really live like Christ, we must be burdened and suffering, as Christ didn't have an easy life. The life of a Christian is meant to be tough. You're doing something wrong if you have it easy. Suffering will come. Either in a physical form, emotional form. However, this is not to say that you will not find joy. In light of the idea of longing, it's the hope and joy we have in God that makes the suffering worth it. I think the most important form that suffering comes in is the spiritual form. These are the desert phases where we are challenged in our faith. While in these periods, it seems like God is nowhere to be found, its important to keep on praying.