Posted on 01/10/2005 5:15:03 AM PST by HarleyD
Something I've found interesting in regards of how people question God's actions.
The cross is such an interesting thing. The tool to kill slaves becomes the symbol of hope and salvation - it is truly for Christians a place where Heaven and earth come together in the loving self-sacrifice of Jesus. On it, our Emmanuel, God With Us, Jesus, stretches out his arms in a loving embrace to all of humanity. His own blood stains the lintel of this new Passover, and God the Father does what he did not require Abraham to go through with, the sacrifice of his son. Timeless, this one cross becomes a beacon, a sign of foolishness to the unbeliever but the very source of light and life to those who answer its call.
Like Paul, I will glory in nothing except Christ crucified.
At The Foot of Your Cross
Lord,
here I am,
once again,
at the foot of your cross.
All around me are the howling winds,
the darkness.
Like the Magdalene,
I cling to your cross,
my only anchor,
and press my cheek
against its rough
and bloodstained wood.
Here is the only shelter I know
as the hurricane blows.
Here,
I look up into your eyes,
eyes filled with such an intensity of love
that I cannot fathom it,
and all the tears of my misery
pour out,
grief and guilt and remorse and sorrow,
for what we have done to you,
what I have done to you,
and what you have chosen to do for love.
What have I to give
equal to the glory of your love?
naked as I feel
beneath the light of your love,
Yet I wish to give it all -
my aching and sorrow, my hope,
my wisdom, my voice, my everything
all for you -
such a small offering in return
for what you have given,
but like the widow's mite,
thank you for letting me offer it.
Here,
at the foot of your cross,
let me make my stand,
now, and always.
or change the music too radically, either...You want to get complaints, pick the wrong songs...
" treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Tim 3:4-5
Sadly our congregations don't seem to care in avoiding these things.
Oh, ow.
Dan
My only quibbly little gripe: always source quotations!
Dan
Biblical Christianity web site
Biblical Christianity message board
Biblical Christianity BLOG
This verse has been running in my mind a lot lately...so much shallowness in the name of Christ...
You are so right. There is much shallowness. It makes it so difficult to keep focus that nothing we do can please God. It is only what the Christ has done and we must be driven by Him.
Just because the laws of physics apply to everyone, doesn't make everyone a physicist. That is not to say that every human cannot learn how to run, walk, jump and throw.
1. God’s ways can be generally understood by human reason;
1. God’s ways are paradoxical and hidden to human reason;
What may be known about God is plain to [all men], because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
The Cross permits no speculation about God or His disposition.
I'm not sure if I want to wrestle with the author on this one.
As I hear Paul, Romans specifies two things natural revelation will tell us: God's existence, and His power. Beyond that, we're cast back on special revelation.
Dan
True but we're not talking about physics. Everyone has some sort of concept of God (even atheists) and that, by nature, makes them a theologian. Christians would be hard press to argue that they should NOT become well verse in theology when it is through theology we understand God. The issue becomes whether our theology is correct.
Of course this has been debated and discussed at great length over the centuries. Consider that great apologists -and the scriptures they employ- have shown belief in the One True God to be reasonable. I'm not convinced that reason is the villain it is sometimes portrayed to be, but rather the soul that uses/misuses it. Thus spiritual things are not nonsense (or paradox), but nonsense to the natural man. Adam's fall did not affect the transcendent God nor did it affect the laws of logic. It did hamper the ability of man to use it.
>> Everyone has some sort of concept of [physics] (even [Luddites]) and that, by nature, makes them a [physicist]. [Scientists] would be hard press to argue that they should NOT become well verse in [physics] when it is through [physics] we understand [the physical universe]. The issue becomes whether our [physics are] correct. <<
:^)
I whole-heartedly agree with the notion that all Christians should study theology, just as all scientists should study physics. My point was to emphasize the fact that just ahving some vague notion of the laws of the universe (whether physics or theology) does not make one either a physicist or a theologian.
Just like physics, there is one truth in theology. Just like physics, many essentials required for living a decent life can be readily discerned. Just like physics, this common-sense experiences can cloud larger truths. Just as a man would be a fool to listen to a sicentist who told him that the laws of nature had been changed, and he may now safely walk off ledges, a Christian must rely on his own wisdom when theologians tell him to do evil things. But just like physics, one must study with academic rigor, and become more knowledgeable than the past experts before he can teach his findings as truth.
Universal truth lies in our intellect, not in our feelings, althogh our feelings can sustain our inquiry. Yet, the various bishops and preachers of the world are like mere teachers; it is the great saints who are our engineers in the science of God. We do well to learn as we are taught, but we should not fancy ourselves all to be experts, substituting our own thoughts for the wisdom of the great saints, for they have read the same book we have, and have mastered its lessons far better.
If we fancy ourselves as experts then we commit the first "sin" of the "Theology of Glory"; "1. God’s ways can be generally understood by human reason;" . I’m sure we would agree that when we look to those who have mastered the lessons far better than us; it’s those people who walk the talk in a spirit of humility with God. Teaching doesn’t always happen in school.
***substituting our own thoughts for the wisdom of the great saints***
Then who defines who the great Saints are?
(I have a feeling I know who you will say)
Who are the great saints? Those who most resemble Christ in their living and loving. Most of them are never known, but God has let a few of them stand out as inspirations and models to the rest of us...
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