Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Augustine

As we come to the close of this 3-phased Sermon Series I must say I am a bit saddened.  This has been such a great series for me, especially the time of study and what I have learned about the individuals that took on so much affliction on behalf of the development of the church. 

This last week we took a look at one of the early church fathers - Augustine.  There is not enough time share all of what Augustine brought to the development of the church, but we are going to try and share some.  

Augustine was a man of great intelligence with a troubled spirit. It is said, while occupied as a Professor of rhetoric, that one day as he sat under a fig tree, he cried out, “How long, Lord, how long? Will it be tomorrow and always tomorrow? Why does my uncleanliness not end this very moment?” It was about this time that he overheard a young child share "Tole lege, tole lege, tole lege."  (“Take up and read. Take up and read. Take up and read.”) It was music to the Professor’s ears. He immediately picked up a manuscript from Paul the Apostle - 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Romans 13:13-14 (NLT) 

At some time following this awakening, Augustine gave his life to Christ and eventually wrote extensively and became known as the father of orthodox theology.  One particular area he wrote about targeted the doctrine of creation.  It was Augustine that wrote about creation, ex nihilo,creation out of nothing. Augustine established a Theology of Creation that contradicts much of what we are forced to learn today within our educational systems.

· First, he emphatically states that God is the source of all there is. All that is, comes from Gods’ will, nothing in existence was created evil.

· Second, we are created dependent upon God. We are created both free and intelligent, which may be used to affirm or deny our relationship to our Creator. God equips us to understand sin and grace and He equips us to rebel or accept Him through Jesus Christ.

· Third, God creates in freedom with purpose. The act of creation was an expression of the character of God - love.


All of these are topics that have produced great debate through the centuries, but because of Augustine, were made more concrete, while still requiring the aspect of God's activity and faith.  Historically we know that Augustine's writing on creation had a profound affect.  R.C. Sproul’s life was dramatically transformed because of Augustine’s teaching on creation. "Then one day the professor started to lecture on Augustine's view of creation. He got my attention. I sat there and had an experience that was almost as powerful as my conversion, where all of a sudden my understanding of the nature of God just exploded. I went downstairs and changed my major to philosophy just so that I could have a more in-depth understanding of God."

Even then it was understood how the doctrine of creation could make a profound impact on the development of our faith.  

Love to hear from you.