Paulson Post

 Christianity is not just another religion with different beliefs and rituals. It is a way of life as disciples of Jesus Christ. This is the powerful message that Dallas Willard has for us in his book DIVINE CONSPIRACY. Though written in 1998, its message is even more relevant now as the Christian faith struggles to stand up to alternative truth claims.   Dallas Willard was a renowned philosopher, theologian, and author whose work significantly impacted Christian thought and spiritual formation. Born in 1935, he served as a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California for nearly four decades. Willard was best known for his writings on discipleship and the nature of the Kingdom of God, offering profound insights into Christian living. Willard’s work often bridged the gap between academic theology and practical spirituality, making his ideas accessible to scholars and laypeople. He argued that Christian life should be marked by transformation, not merely...

Our identity in Christ matters most. We need to know and affirm it. That is what Saint Paul does in Romans 1:7. The letter was written to the Romans, 'to those in Rome.' We have come to know it as the letter to the Romans. However, it is not meant for all the citizens of Rome. Paul further qualifies the word ‘Romans’ by the phrase, ‘who are loved by God and called to be saints.’ That is the followers of Christ in Rome. It is notable that Paul describes the followers of Christ not in terms of what they have done but what God has done in their lives. God has loved them and has called them. To be loved by God is a privilege. All that we need to do is to accept that love. However, being called elevates us to a new level of existence, 'saints.' All the citizens of Rome haven’t risen to that level, only a few among them. They are the community of Christ-followers by accepting God's love through Christ and being called to live as saints of God. You and me als...