The Mystic Way

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter” (2 Thess. 2:15).

It is common to separate Scripture from Tradition. But here Paul says that Apostolic Tradition is divided by written and oral.

Now clearly, “by our letter” is referring to 1 Thessalonians, which is later was accepted as Scripture. And “by word of mouth” is taking about oral teaching.

Conduct, Prayer, and Liturgy

“For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you” (2 Thess. 3:7).

Tradition, which refers to that which is passed down, should include the way of life pf yhe Apostles. This would include their ethical conduct, prayer life, and liturgy.

Reason and Experience

Add to those, reason and personal experience, and you have a firm foundation for reforming Christianity into a vital religion of transformation and spiritual power that can help people return to God through Christ.

The Fourfold Foundation

Even though the threefold model has some value, a fourfold may speak more clearly to our current understanding. Scripture and Tradition has been separated in the minds of most.

The fourfold foundation for Progressive Christianity is the truth discerned by universal collective consensus through a careful use of Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Personal Experience.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

The word gospel means good news. So what is this good news? It is the “free gift of God” of “eternal life” through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bridge

A simple illustration of this is think of a bridge. We, by sinning and rebelling against God, have burnt the bridge between God and us. But the good news is that God, through Jesus Christ, has rebuilt the bridge. He now invites us to return to him.

This might be a very simple illustration of the good news. But it is a true illustration. By becoming selfish and self-centered. We have separated ourselves from God. But God has provided a way to overcome that self-centeredness and return to a life of God-centeredness.

Atonement

This is the basic idea of the atonement. It is, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the process of making us at-one with God. It is a story of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. It is a story of The prodigal son returning to his loving father who waits with open arms.

This is the good news. God awaits our return with open arms. The obstacle is not with God, it is with us. God has rebuilt the bridge, but it’s up to us to cross it.

“And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

We “look for the resurrection of the dead” refers to our own resurrection. What that means is not clarified, but we can safely assume it is a spiritual resurrection into a spiritual body.

We “look for… the life of the world to come.” This is probably referring to heaven. It could also be referring to an earthly existence on a new earth. None of this is defined, so interpretations are open.

I would tend to want to leave questions about the future in God’s hands. We can’t even agree about the past, I doubt we will be any clearer in the future. We really do need humility.

“I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.”

There is only “one baptism for the remission of sins.” That is the water baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).

Remission of sin is the erasing of sin, not just its forgiveness. Here it is clear that salvation and water baptism are linked. But it does not define the link. Was water baptism the altar call of the early church?

Also, not spelled out, was baptism for just adults, or for children as well. Was baptism for the church what circumcision was for Israel?