I think I am, it is used to question the word preceding it, it appears after the questionable word and is italicized in square brackets. If God's testing only "helps" then it is uncertain. Moreover, many an individual is tested to his detriment, and does not necessarily "help" sanctify.
Anyway, I don't know of anyone who goes through life untested by God. Have you ever lost a loved one who "died too young"? Boom, you've been tested, etc. God tests all those He loves. I don't know who you mean by those who have not been tested
Harley D recently reminded me that equality is not biblical. Not everyone is tested equally and some are hardly tested at all. Yet others just go through life tested to the max. There is no proof that testing making one a better or stronger believer and being "lucky" makes one a weak believer or a non-believer.
Depending on our disposition we deal with death in different ways, like drunks. Some who drink heavily get giddy and funny, others quiet; yet others become violent. Death is not a test; it is a fact of life which we try to rationalize into something comforting.
It's easier to face the "what's this all about" dilemma that way, because despite all the chest-thumping faith so many claim, if given the opportunity to live 200 more years in health and youth, very few would opt for an early meeting with God!
Death is never, not even among the so-called believers, something they look forward to, provided they are happy where they are. Heavenly bliss can wait.
Death reminds us of our powerlessness. There is nothing we can do when someone we love dies. The fact of nature is that all those who are born living will die. We are born and then we die. And life is something in between those two events over which we have no choice whatsoever.
Death is therefore one major subject of man's rationalizations and he approaches that fact with whatever pre-disposition he has in his mindset: some accept it meekly, thanking God for everything they were given; other ask God for more time; yet others are so angry they just want to end it all.
It was the sweeping generalization that God testing us somehow "helps" sanctify us is why I put a {sic] behind "helps." It didn't "help" Abram. Abram already believed and trusted God. He not once doubted that God wanted his son sacrificed and he was willing and ready to kill his son for God! So how did the cruelty Abram was exposed to help Abram believe more is beyond me.
Besides, considering Abram and Job, and Theotokos, what did their ordeals do to their faith and their sanctity that they already didn't have?
Kosta: I think I am, it is used to question the word preceding it, it appears after the questionable word and is italicized in square brackets. If God's testing only "helps" then it is uncertain.
On "sic" you're pretty close. Most of the online dictionaries I looked at had something like this: "This word is sometimes inserted in a quotation [sic], to call attention to the fact that some remarkable or inaccurate expression, misspelling, or the like, is literally reproduced." When quoting someone else, the basic idea is to say "don't blame me for this obvious spelling, grammatical, or usage error, I'm just quoting letter for letter". However, it is not used for a great difference of opinion.
For example, this is correct: "I two [sic], am a sinner". However, this is not: "I know [sic] I am not a sinner, but you are". So, when I said "testing helps to sanctify us", I don't think "sic" is appropriate because to my knowledge we both see sanctification as a process, but even if we didn't agree it would be a matter of opinion. My position is that testing is one thing that "helps" that process along. Prayer is another, and Bible study is still another.
Another thing to consider is whether you have special knowledge of the author's intent. So, if you were quoting me, this would be correct: "testing helps to justify [sic] us during our lives...". But from someone you don't know, it would just be a ridiculous statement that the author actually meant (as far as you know) and "sic" would not be indicated.
Moreover, many an individual is tested to his detriment, and does not necessarily "help" sanctify.
Really? When does that ever happen from God? God never tests us to our ultimate harm, He only tests us to our ultimate good. Sometimes great lessons are learned through something we perceive as bad at the time, but God ALWAYS comes through in the end. Tempting often has bad results, but not testing.
FK: "Anyway, I don't know of anyone who goes through life untested by God. Have you ever lost a loved one who "died too young"? Boom, you've been tested, etc. God tests all those He loves. I don't know who you mean by those who have not been tested."
Harley D recently reminded me that equality is not biblical. Not everyone is tested equally and some are hardly tested at all. Yet others just go through life tested to the max. There is no proof that testing making one a better or stronger believer and being "lucky" makes one a weak believer or a non-believer.
Well, I fully agree with Harley, and I also fully agree with me. :) There is nothing incompatible in what we said when put together. I said testing is ONE avenue of sanctification. There are others. One being tested "a lot" in no way means he is automatically "more sanctified" than one who is tested less. It doesn't match up like that. Everyone's individual levels of the various methods of sanctification are all over the place. Nothing wrong with that.
Death is not a test; it is a fact of life which we try to rationalize into something comforting.
Of course death CAN be a test to the living (but not always). It's a perfect example in my book. Do not many people contemplate their own faiths during these times? Do they not make choices during these times?
It's easier to face the "what's this all about" dilemma that way, because despite all the chest-thumping faith so many claim, if given the opportunity to live 200 more years in health and youth, very few would opt for an early meeting with God!
Depends on who's making the offer. :) I want to live on this earth EXACTLY as long as God wants me to, no more.
Death is never, not even among the so-called believers, something they look forward to, provided they are happy where they are. Heavenly bliss can wait.
I totally disagree. I absolutely look forward to Heavenly bliss, in God's good time, not mine. What's not to look forward to? It just isn't my decision when that's going to happen. While I'm here, God has a reason for me to be here and I happily accept that and all of His blessings upon me. When my mission is completed He will call me home and I will accept that too, (assuming I am reasonably sure it is my time).
It was the sweeping generalization that God testing us somehow "helps" sanctify us is why I put a {sic] behind "helps." It didn't "help" Abram. Abram already believed and trusted God. He not once doubted that God wanted his son sacrificed and he was willing and ready to kill his son for God! So how did the cruelty Abram was exposed to help Abram believe more is beyond me.
How can you possibly know what did or did not "help" Abraham??? IMMEDIATELY after the Lord had provided, the angel said this:
Gen 22:15-18 : 15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Are you telling me that Abraham took this as a ho-hum, matter of fact saying? Did his faith not grow even stronger after this? Do you believe humans are capable of PERFECT faith during our time on earth? I mean, Mary is out of the question, since she showed weakness in faith, regardless of whether she was sinless. No human, outside of Jesus, achieves perfect faith during earthly life. Abraham's faith WAS made stronger because of this experience.
Besides, considering Abram and Job, and Theotokos, what did their ordeals do to their faith and their sanctity that they already didn't have?
Well, as I said, Mary showed a definite weakness in faith after Jesus was teaching at the synagogue. So, we know for certain that her faith had room to grow. So does everyone else's throughout life. That is, unless you want to proffer a faith by someone whose faith was equal to Christ's. Does the Orthodox Church say that happens for the saints who reach theosis during life? They have no more room for growth in Christ?