What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say. — Ralph Waldo Emerson
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. — Paul of Tarsus
divinelogos 
Yes, Emerson is always fun to quote. But he was first always a poet, and of course led his Transcendentalist ideas and movement. A naturalist, he was also a Unitarian, as was his minister father. But certainly a great mind and intellect! Note his friendship with the great Henry David Thoreau, as too Nathaniel Hawthorne. Great men all! (Sorry, I just love this time in American history!)
Great men, but not necessarily biblical Christian men, certainly! But perhaps morally Christian, but is this really regeneration?
Not regeneration, but then we tend to whitewash deeds and cry it’s the heart, heart, heart. But really, where do those deeds come from if not the heart? I’ll not be their judge.
Lance indeed, but Christian “works”, acceptable before God, can only come from “GOD”, thus regeneration. It is a theological point from me! 😉 And I am sure God will show mercy to many of our so-called great men, in both America and Great Britain, even those who had poor doctrine. There really was a great general influence of the Judeo-Christian ethic and moral in the 19th century. And yes, we must always leave judgment with God, but doctrinal and creedal purity are something of an other issue. No doubt many can say amen to such purity mentally, and still not have the regenerative effect on the heart. Indeed the human heart is fully depraved! And yet, I maintain we need doctrinal & creedal purity, at least its desire! For in some sense Christ is the great “doctrine” of God!
The works that come from God, yes. But do those works require the regeneration of the man doing them? We play at a dangerous game, I think, when we try to separate the acts from the actors.
Lance: From a biblical and theological point of just what regeneration is, I would say yes! We as Christians are to guard and test our hearts! Indeed how do I know that I am a real Christian? Unless I am ready to obey God, in repentance and faith! And certainly this is much more than intellectual alone, but the mind must certainly be involved at the deepest level in true Christian faith & regeneration! This is our Lord’s whole point to preaching! It is GOD alone that will change the heart! (John 3: 21)
Lance,
Just this year I gained a new goal: to let God speak louder through my actions than what my mouth does through my words. This would be the positive antithesis to the quote. I want people to know I am a Christian without ever opening my mouth. Then when I do open my mouth, the words that come out will reinforce what others already see in me.
Great post Lance.
My wife like’s the phrase “an outward expression of inner faith.” I think her phrase captures the essence of what we are talking about. Thanks, Todd.
I absolutely LOVE Ralph Waldo Emerson! I see no reason to quote Christians only when it comes to our journey in life. The important thing is the actual journey and where we are going.
Lance, I am not sure if you remember me but this is Robert from Xanga. I am in the process of leaving Xanga and transferring all my posts to WordPress. I have a link to your site on my home page at my blog on Word Press.
You should start seeing more of me now. I was getting so tired of all the atheists that would attck and all the drama on Xanga.
God Bless,
Brother RobertLeeRE