Wednesday, April 25, 2007
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Loved
Clay
Sheep
Servant
Friend
BrideFunny how those line up.
The Church of the Open Door, where I regularly attend, brought some things to light again for me during last weeks sermon. It is good to be loved and cared for.
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Comments (4)
I think I can play referee here between you and Laurel. I think Laurel has it right: there are clear commandments from God (the 10, plus the great 2 which sum them up), and if we stay focussed on them, then the 'judgment calls' of life are nothing to fear. They won't bring about judgment from God if we go wrong, just the regular judgments of life--just consequences of good or bad decisions. You are right, too, there are other moral instructions in the bible beyond the 10 and the 2 that do not seem to be universal for all times and places, and some of which are different for different people at different times. We cannot get hung up on these as if they are universal and apply to everyone. We have to use our judgment and practical good sense.
Some examples of these judgment calls would be lifestyle decisions based on gender roles (since we have to admit that gender roles change with changing societies), or how we keep the sabbath (because work in an agricultural society is quite different from work in an information society), or even questions of divorce (since marriage contracts are as much about property distribution and inheritance of land and assets and extended family relationships as they are about personal bonds between two people, and these things change with different cultures and economies.)
Does this make sense?
Yes, Mrs. D. It makes sense. But the problem comes when person A tells person B to just obey. 'B' tries to obey, but 'A' tells him his/her obedience isn't correct, or even quite up to snuff as it were. 'B' can try harder or realize that at this point, that is where he/she is at. 'A' could try to be understanding. But when 'A' is in authority and tends to misuse it (intentionally or not), 'B' is kind of stuck. (at least when it comes to 'A')
I understand the laws. And the following of them should not be done just because we need to obey. The obedience of those laws should stem from something else. Love. I love the laws. They keep me. But to obey with out understanding is tougher. Not impossible, just tougher. It's like a comparison of a servant to a friend. Somebody said something about that once.... ;)
I don't mean to be difficult. Some of my responses are because of what I've been through. My wife even gets tired of my desire to be 'free' all the time.
If Christ has set you free, you are free indeed. Now, what to do with that freedom sometimes takes time to figure out. And whatever means you use to show your love to our Saviour, is fine. I just like to make sure it stems from the 'deeper magic', if you know what I mean. You can obey without it, but it is so much better with it. I think Paculina has that, but some don't. And getting them to understand it if they are being mistreated is very, very difficult if they are just obeying because they are supposed to.
Did that make sense?
Roland, this makes a great deal of sense. Innocent phrases like the one Paculina used (and I still stand by her--I think she said nothing wrong), become 'triggers' to folks like you and me, who have had otherwise good ideas like that misused and thrown at us like bricks. You wouldn't believe how many good and decent words have been misused with me, and they now trigger extremely negative feelings with me. You may enjoy reading one of my older posts on this topic, from before you first visited here, called "Christianese and Manipulation". I think we should add to this list of abused phrases "obedience."
Mr. Darcy thinks I ought to write another post on this topic--about using the word 'just'--like "Why don't you just do this, or why don't you just do that?--Why don't you just obey the Holy Spirit?" That stuff is dynamite.
Your wife may not have been affected by your experiences the same way you have, so may not understand your need to work it through thoroughly. You can't be free until you're free, and that takes work.
By the way, we got a new comment on this conversation that I think you will appreciate.
Roland you came to my site and asked me some questions about my post on prayer.
1. Humbling ourselves before God is that we realize without him we are nothing and that he made us. We come to him in attitude of worship. WHich is proskeno in the greek.
2. Glorifies God. The things that glorify God is simple whatever you say, do, go would Jesus go with you. If Jesus would not partake neither should we.
3. Jesus changes things you are correct however the way he changes things is through our prayer life.
I hope this better helps
Bro Tim