seventeen dayz of phrase, chicago, il

seventeen dayz of phrase, chicago, IL
january twenty, two-thousand and ten

i'm reading some things that are happening. for a long time i have struggled for insight on why the Christianity that i see in myself and on the pavement of America seems different than the exercised beliefs in the apostles.

partly, i've been waiting to come upon it, like an awakening, or the cresting of a hill to view a higher veranda behind it. i think something's coming.

we are a part of the most powerful life altering force ever concieved of - actualized faith, yet so much goes on as it has and does, without change. Why? Why must our faith have the borders we give it? Why does it stutter - thinking, "oh God must not be interested in this or can't change that," while we sit and watch the earth spin like an audience to a film. when do we become the film? What would we look like if we simply fleshed our beliefs as if we believed them?

"Proceed in your career of cruelty, but do not suppose that you will thus accomplish your purpose of extinguishing the hated sect (the Christians). We are like the grass, which grows the more luxuriantly the oftener it is mown. The blood of Christians is the seed of Christianity. Your philosophers taught men to despise pain and death by words; but how few their converts compared of those of the Christians, who teach by example! The very obstinacy for which you upbraid us is the great propagator of our doctrines. For who can behold it, and not inquire into the nature of that faith, and not embrace it, and not desire himself to undergo the same sufferings in order that he may thus secure a participation in the fulness of divine favor?"
- Tertullian 160 AD

"all men of the modern world exist in a continual and flagrant antagonism between their consciences and their way of life."
- Leo Tolstoy

here's a conversation between Thomas Aquinas and a friend while walking amongst the splendors of Rome,
"We Christians certainly no longer have to say to the world, 'Silver and gold we have none" - the friend
"But neither can we say to the lame man, "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk." - St. Thomas Aquinas

"O' this faith is a living, busy, active, powerful thing! It is impossible that it should not be ceaselessly doing that which is good. It does not even ask whether good works should be done, but before the question can be asked, it has done them and is constantly engaged in doing them. But he who does not do such works, is a man without faith. He gropes and casts about him to find faith and good works, not knowing what either of them is, and yet prattles and idly multiplies his words about faith and good works.

Faith is a living well founded confidence in the grace of God, so perfectly certain that it would die a thousand times rather than surrender its conviction. Such confidence and personal knowledge of diving grace makes its possessor joyful, bold and full of warm affection toward God and all created things - all of which the Holy Spirit works in faith. Hence, such a man becomes without constraint willing and eager to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer all manner of ills, in order to please and glorify God, who has shown toward him such grace."
- Martin Luther