Posted on 03/07/2007 9:10:18 AM PST by Salvation
EXCEPT THAT
I do NOT agree that our personalities are a result of or function of our fallen nature.
THE POLLUTION, INFECTION of our personalities by sin, is.
OUR PERSONALITIES were designed AS US BY DADDY.
It's not confrontational. We were not created to "feel good about ourselves." We have however become very good at it.
Did I say we were created to feel good about ourselves?
but that personality is perverted by our sinful nature.
In this world, full of temptations, as you say we must constantly clear the weeds. Such is not the life to come in God's presence. Spending eternity with God can be meaningful only if we can spend it learning ever-more and seeing ever-more of His beauty and love and never learn it all.
Nor are the Orthodox alone; the question stands how Mr. Carrino proposes to explain 2 Peter 1:2-11 as NOT referring plainly and directly to theosis.
Peter was not like John who was not like Paul, etc.
Even doubting Thomas was an apostle, too.
We Christians must agree on the central Truths of Christ and the Trinity - but it seems to me that a lot of people on this forum think that "since I know my belief on this additional detail is right then yours is therefore wrong."
When we do this we are anthropomorphizing God. Either/or is the way our minds reason, not His. Both could be right, both could be wrong - or it could be a mix.
That is why I often use the metaphor of a seven faceted diamond for the seven fold Spirit of God. Because we are looking at different facets, we may see things differently even though we are all looking at the same diamond and the same Light.
A black and white TV is actually grey, but the intensity of light can make the grey seem black to the watcher. Likewise when a poster brings out a piercing Truth, nothing else need be said. The contrast will be made in the eye of the beholder.
Okay, how about feel bad about ourselves? The operant word is ourselves. Are we to spend eternaity focused on ourselves? I doubt God created us for that purpose. Heaven is not some kind of feel-good retirement community created for our leaisure and pleasure.
The joy og being with God is greater pleasure than we can imagine. We shall leave all that is near and dear on earth when we leave it. We come to God with nothing, and if He accepts us we will need nothing, least of all our quirks and persoanlities.
Thank you both, I was not aware of most of such variations. Yet, none are as widely different as the distinctions between Catholic Rites and the disciplines regarding marriage are they?
That's my impression as well. Heaven is depicted as some permanent Florida retirement community of sorts...with God somewhere around...Mormons even believe they will 'hook up' with all thier wives...it's like western Christmas of sorts; Christ is somewhere in it, but the main thing is "what's in it for me?"
May God always bless you, beloved brother in Christ.
"It's the little known red-neck Vulgate."
From Paulist Press is it not? :)
We were not created to "feel good about ourselves."
= = =
i DISAGREE.
BTW, Angel-Gal, reading these Scriptures as a group gave me some insights I hadn't had before . . . they might be of similar impact to others who'd read them as a group.
MESSAGE VERSION:
Mark 6:12
Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.
Mark 6:11-13 (in Context) Mark 6 (Whole Chapter) MSG V
Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in."
John 15:11
"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.
John 16:21
"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions.
John 16:23
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
John 17:13
Now I'm returning to you. I'm saying these things in the world's hearing So my people can experience My joy completed in them.
Romans 8:18
That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
Romans 8:22
All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
Romans 14:17
God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
ROMANS 15:7
May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
II COR 7:2
If only you knew how proud I am of you! I am overwhelmed with joy despite all our troubles.
PHIL 1:22
So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues.
Philippians 4:1
My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.
COL 1:9
It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
I THESS 1:5
In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.
I THESS 2:17
Who do you think we're going to be proud of when our Master Jesus appears if it's not you? You're our pride and joy!
1 Thessalonians 3:9
What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy we experience before him because of you?
1 John 1:3
We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
Perhaps the reply might be made--JOY IN THE LORD VS JOY ABOUT OURSELVES.
I think it depends on what is meant.
What is JOY IN THE LORD, if it doesn't include JOY IN WHAT HE HAS DONE IN . . .
drum roll . . .
lil ol unique moi?
A black and white TV is actually grey
It's my understanding that black and white television is made up of thousands of entirely black and entirely white dots which I think goes more towards proving the truth of the absolute and singular intent of God. Life really is black and white, however much we perceive the grey tones.
Now, none of us is 100% correct, I grant you that. But certainly some are closer to the truth than others. God commands us to preach Christ risen with as much clarity and resolve as He gives to us.
but that personality is perverted by our sinful nature.
= = =
BUT will NO LONGER be so, in eternity with Christ.
God is perfect who will complete a good work in us.
Christ will present us blameless before The Father.
"Thank you both, I was not aware of most of such variations. Yet, none are as widely different as the distinctions between Catholic Rites and the disciplines regarding marriage are they?"
No, not at all. For example, I would be perfectly at home at a Slavonic Liturgy even though I understand very little Church Slavonic. I'd be even more at home in an Arab Church, though I know less Arabic. Certainly I'd be more at home at a Melkite DL than the average Latin Rite Catholic. In the area of doctrine and theologoumenna, I think its a safe bet that there is far, far less variation among the Orthodox than among those who "pass for" Catholic.
When we do this we are anthropomorphizing God. Either/or is the way our minds reason, not His. Both could be right, both could be wrong - or it could be a mix.
= = =
AGREED.
Heaven is not some kind of feel-good retirement community created for our leaisure and pleasure.
= = =
YES AND NO.
There are a number of Scriptures indicating that's at least ONE of the purposes and designs of Heaven.
JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY
HAS NOT ENTERED INTO THE HEART/MIND OF MAN WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
He accepts us we will need nothing, least of all our quirks and persoanlities.
= = =
Doesn't have anything to do with any need, per se.
Has to do with How GOD THE FATHER DESIGNED US, FOR HIS PURPOSES, FOR HIS GLORY . . . INHERENTLY DISTINCT PERSONALITIES FOR ALL ETERNITY.
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