Slightly different perspective, same underlying idea, I think.Bootstrap wrote:I think that's half of what Sattler said in this section. The other half is the focus on love of God and neighbor at the heart of everything:silentreader wrote:In my opinion, that is what is at the heart of Christian liberty, the 'have to' becomes 'want to'.
But I wonder how that relates to Sattler's rejection of the Catholic ceremonies which most Christians accepted. He certainly was not willing to accept some of the ceremonies he believed people themselves had invented.Michael Sattler wrote:“Want to” obedience is not the opposite of “have to” obedience, as it might appear, but is better and higher. And therefore let him who is obeying because he “has to” seek for the better—the “I want to” obedience. In no way should he have an “I have to do this” attitude.
“Have to” obedience is Mosaic and produces Pharisees and scribes. “Want to” obedience is Christ-like and makes children of God. The “have to” is either occupied with the ceremonies which Moses commanded or with those which people themselves have invented. The “want to” is focused on the love of God and one’s neighbor; yet he also submits himself to the ceremonies for the sake of those who serve because they “have to,” so that he may instruct them in that which is better and lead them to “want to” obedience.
God wants our hearts and our desires, not just external obedience. And he wants our hearts and desires to be deeply rooted in the God kind of love.
2 Corinthians 3:1-6
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.