A clarification of a fun discussion

There's been a big bunch of discussion on all things sin and depraved going on lately between Simon (here and here + comments) and Nathan (here and here + comments) and myself.

My thoughts (here and here + comments) aren't actually centred on quite the same focus as Simone and Nathan's, from what I can tell. My point is merely to give an anthropology which gives an acceptable approximation of the Scripture's testimony about us. In so doing, I've dealt with the area of sin as a matter of necessity.

My point, though, hasn't been to create a method for dealing with temptation. No how-to guides here.

And so, in this way, I say a hearty 'amen' to many of the points made by both Nathan and Simone. Particularly, to many of the things that Nathan said from Romans 6 in his post on righteousness.

I'll try to engage with their thinking on temptation (which, to me, seems ultimately to be the context for Simone's thinking) and the 'stance' of the Christian life in general (which seems to be the context for Nathan's thinking) in the next couple of days.

More gear from Jo-Cal

"But let believers accustom themselves to a contempt of the present life that engenders no hatred of it or ingratitude against God."

What a strange man. The first half seemingly so ascetic, and the second counteracts it. But I wonder how much? I shall read on...

Update: Having read on, he seems to be saying that even though, in the perspective of the next life, this life is lacking, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be thankful for what it does contain.