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| There are those who question their existence with the honesty and humility to listen. There are also those who feel that new or re-established questioning is unnecessary, incorrect or even wrong in some moral sense.
In either case, the goal cannot merely be to arrive at what is ultimately true, since what is true must ultimately be accepted by (call it) "faith," *meaning that we cannot "know for certain" in a way which can be fully explained or supported within our own manageable and communicable intelligence.
Therefore, the goal must include a true attitude of love and understanding toward each other, or we will have perhaps missed the goal entirely--we will have missed the attitude of the Good which we know to be God.
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Permit me to pose a question: does God limit theology, or does theology limit God?
The answer is neither.
If there is a God, God can certainly not solely exist within our theology. Theology is always our limited (and should be honest and humble) perceptions of God.
And don't tell me: "Well, my religious text says this QUITE clearly," because if you read your entire religious text (let alone all the various translations which include some very difficult-to-understand-and-translate language AND cultural contexts), you will (may) find plenty of room to question almost any person's theological take on your said text. Of course, either way, you might actually learn a thing or two about what you supposedly believe as well. I know this is an on-going journey for me as I engage.
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To date, I haven't read any of Rob Bell's books. Also to date, I've read and have heard a plethora of writings and lectures that likely disagree with Bell and would thus label him a "heretic."
And maybe he is.
But the Jesus that Bell claims to follow was called worse too.
It's food for thought enough.
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My conclusion:
If the point to our existence--or to faith--has become about absolute math within the boundaries that we have been passed down but never actually explored, we may in fact be walking out a VERY shallow equation; our life may no longer be a path to anywhere, anything (or Anyone) meaningful. And I have yet to find any person of ANY religion who has it all figured out, let alone fully agrees with himself.
So stop judging. Keep loving. We're ALL WRONG, and I think we're all in for a very big surprise someday.
Live this life how you would hope to live the next. And if that's without a passion for truth AND love (which is the Greatest Truth there is), baby... you ain't living.
God help us all. | | |
| My comments on someone else' comments on the HA site. Thought you might get a kick.
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"truth by very definition is exclusive."
Exclusive to God Alone, I would add. And it is nothing to be "had" or "owned" by us, only given to us piece by piece, or we'd blow up, man. God is Truth, and whatever He says IS True. I'm convinced that He's not defined by black and white, as most people think. I'm convinced that He DEFINES black and white - with His Word confirmed by His Spirit.
"You see the bible stories as ones of mystic realms, I see them as real as the story of Washington crossing the Delaware, Kennedy being shot by the loan gunman, and man landing on the moon."
Who said that it's wrong to see them that way? If you read my earlier post, you would have found that I already addressed (and believe in) the extreme historical soundness of the Bible, but I for one see them as both mystical AND factual. How can I not? If I cannot look at a person or friend as merely factual, how can I then expect history - which cannot ever be as experienced as it was when it happened - to be any different?
My relationship with God is both based on facts AND the non-factual... the things I CAN see and the things I CANNOT see. This is a Biblical concept, dude. Paul says we "fix our eyes on what is UNSEEN." That sounds a little "mystical" by definition, wouldn't you say?
And I never said Truth was relative. If it was, then I'd only relatively be set free, and I don't think this is the case. I'm pretty sure I'm freed and becoming MORE free day by day through Christ and through His Word.
"each person has the liberty to choose what his/her conscience or soul dictates is right."
I agree if that's meant to be "in/through Christ," but if not, I disagree. After all, we were/are (depending on your viewpoint, I suppose) SLAVES to sin, and that doesn't sound like a choice to me at all... at least, not much of one. Furthermore, our righteousness (or ability to choose good or even to understand good) is as FILTHY rags. We don't have the capability to make any right decisions even based on a more accurate understanding of truth because our hearts - the core of who and what we are - are corrupted.
If we have any life in us at all, it's not by our choosing, but by Christ who lives IN us and liberates us. We can't liberate ourselves. Even when we try our best, it's not our best that saves us, but HIS Best - His Son. I think the Bible makes this quite clear in this and many other passages.
Galatians 20:
16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Regardless of even a very good and accurate understanding of Absolute Truth, we still have no hope at all if our hope is to be found within our own "morally guided" choices. That's the thing I think we all forget, and when we remember that it's all about what Jesus did (not what we can do at all), we even feel BADLY that Jesus died for us, which further comes from an attitude of self-righteousness (that it's up to "us" somehow) and leads to condemnation and self-loathing.
God wants us to realize that, yes... we ARE the scum of the earth. BUT (and this is the biggest "but" in history), HE LOVES US ANYWAY, and HE DIED FOR US ANYWAY. Sounds like Gospel.
"and is responsible to no one but God for the decision that is made."
I know! That's the scariest part of all, isn't it!? This means we're even MORE TOAST!!!
"Sin is the problem in the world today, not lack of compassion, or lack of belief."
I lack belief that such a statement is correct (or compassionate). =)
I think if we all believed (or knew, better put) that Jesus loves us (and TRULY has unlimited and unconditional compassion on us), and that God had paid FOR our sins NOT to be held imputed to us, while we might still "struggle" with sins because we still have flesh that is weak and destined to fail, we would also trust in God (via His Love for us) and realize that the issue isn't SIN at all, but rather, our misconception that God wants us to become moral, self-righteous beings within or via ANY form of religion or self-righteousness or even "choosing."
My main question is, whether I am consciously committing "sin" or not, I AM a sinner through and through. The poem by Lewis says this best and puts the focus on Whom it should be:
"All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you.
I never had a selfless thought since I was born.
I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through:
I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn.
Peace, re-assurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek,
I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin:
I talk of love --a scholar's parrot may talk Greek--
But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin.
Only that now you have taught me (but how late) my lack.
I see the chasm. And everything you are was making
My heart into a bridge by which I might get back
From exile, and grow man. And now the bridge is breaking.
For this I bless you as the ruin falls. The pains
You give me are more precious than all other gains."
"and you could read my signature to understand a little bit more."
We can read. =)
"Its better to be divided by truth than united in error."
I don't know... I agree with that, on one hand, but truth be told, we're ALL united in error, for ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. This is what makes the death and resurrection of Christ such GOOD NEWS for EVERYONE: because Christ died for ALL and Christ LOVES ALL and served ALL. He didn't leave it up to us or our ability to perceive and obey the Law.
So let others divide us (or even divided up our body parts) as they may if/when they misunderstand us or the Gospel (or just don't know it), but our message should be that of God's: Grace. Good News. That HE can do the impossible, even though most of us (who are honest with ourselves) find ourselves to be utterly "impossible" to handle.
God can handle us. And He IS, and He Will. And He's GOOD, and it's going to be alright... no... it's going to be Great, not because we have the ability to be great on our own, but because even in our weakness, His Strength is made Perfect. He can do (and MUST do) ALL that we cannot, and through Jesus we can know that this is precisely His Will: to Glorify Himself and to SAVE US - even from ourselves - by His Great and Mighty Hand.
If we can't agree on that Gospel, then don't call me a Christian.
I used to think that it was all about me following Jesus, and to some extent, I do believe that this is true. However, now more than ever before, I'm finding that it's CLEARLY about how Jesus has been (and IS) following ME around... and is all I can say is THANK GOD He's still interested.
I'd have given up on someone like me a long time ago. Too complicated, too lacking in character, too self-righteous, too self-loathing, etc. etc. etc.
GOD (not ANYONE else, not even what I say) IS GOOD.
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Let us then be VERY HIGHLY EXTREMELY careful to observe any self-righteous thoughts that we think are "God" or "Biblical."
If you think that your salvation is dependent on ANYTHING that YOU do or don't do, that's not God's Salvation that you have in mind. Period.
And if you think, "Well, I'm not being self-righteous... I could never be... I'm just defending the Truth." Defend it all you want, and that too is good and of God, but truthfully, if you don't think you're self-righteous, that's exactly how you can know that you are. =) And if I told you this without being honest with you in saying that I am self-righteous, then I too am self-righteous. Which I am. But at least I'm being honest with you.
PLUS!!! It's great because I don't have to worry about my being self-righteous... it's just one more sin that Jesus has to cover, and one that I think we all commit rather unknowingly on a regular, day-to-day basis.
But if we realize that Christ IS our Righteousness, then and only then do we become the Righteousness of Christ, but not because of anything that WE did or will or even can do, but precisely and only because of what HE did and continues to do and work in us.
Enough said for now, and know that I've said this out of love for anyone who reads this.
My advice: QUIT living by the Law. Live by Grace, and let God - not me - tell you what that's supposed to look like. Basically... trust in God, lean not to your own understanding, and acknowledge Him at ALL times and BOAST in your weakness. Then you'll be able to see God in things far beyond your own lack of morality or wisdom or anything else.
And that's exactly what I need, but if you're better than me or have a better answer, then by all means... go for it.
I'll be sticking with Jesus out of necessity and desperation, not because I'm even smart enough to pick Him.
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"With Twitter, you can stay hyper–connected to your friends and always know what they’re doing. Or, you can stop following them any time. You can even set quiet times on Twitter so you’re not interrupted."
This is what's on Twitter's website, and this is why I will never sign up! Terms like "hyper-connected" and "quiet times" already show how deeply e-addicted and e-debased we're becoming!
Someone once said that "time spent = relationship." So if we're spending most of our time on machines that allow us to "virtually connect" with our friends, what kind of a life is that? No real-time sound of the human voice or three-dimensional smiles or tears without pixelation or physical touch with the actual souls in actual bodies that we love.
That's sad! 
Say no to twitter! *And limit your time online in general.
Brad 
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| What I have...
This is to put it very simply and totally honestly, ok?
I have nothing apart from the Grace of God. I absolutely know that in this moment, and I hope that God (by that same Grace) can and will (and must) always continue to show me this, or I will lose my way, be very confused and ineffective as a person, and miss the only real Joy and Peace that exist in this world.
What I ask of you is that you give me no less than the Grace of God and CERTAINLY nothing more that you would ever think of as more. I don't need any distractions... I really don't. And at the same time, I definitely need every shred of Grace that God sends my way. It's all about Grace now, as stupid or simple or even theologically based as this might sound. It has nothing to do with stupidity or simplicity or theology.
I'm telling you just about the only truth that I know right now... maybe even THE only truth that I can depend on.
So please understand me one more time... I have nothing but the Grace of God = I have nothing to give, and I have nothing to have unless either or both are part of His Grace in my life.
Maybe it sounds too obvious to be interesting to you, or maybe it sounds like I'm too simple or immature or non-intellectual even. If you find any of those true, I'm ok with that. I truly have nothing (not even your opinions or compliments or criticisms, even if I'd hope for them) unless they are part of the Grace of God.
Everything is about what God can provide us... HIS Love, His Time, His Energy, HIS Character and Diligence, His Mercy, His Understanding, His RIDICULOUS and OBSCENE Generosity and Acceptance, His Truth, His Hope, His Joy... and most certainly by all means and by all measures, His Love over you and me... it's all about Him being able to take care of us. It's all about Him taking care of me.
I never knew this, and I'm sure that I'll be bound to forget it. But see... it's not even about me remembering or "being faithful." I can't and won't remember all the time, and I definitely can't and won't be faithful. Looking at the true depth of my character is about the same as looking for Bigfoot: you won't find any.
EVERYTHING is by the Grace of God. It always was too... I just didn't realize it.
Do you realize this?
Do you realize how much you are Loved that God would give you ALL that you need and even desire in His Timing, but even withhold Good Things from you if was best for you at the time?
GOD KNOWS what you think about. He knows what you fear. And He knows what you secretly wish that you could hope for or dream of. And He's not going to disappoint you. He'll either change you or change the world around you or change your mind or change how you see or... well, whatever else He wants to do.
God is BIG ENOUGH (surprise, even though it shouldn't be) to handle you. God is CARING enough to CARE for you.
As good as anything good He gives could be, there's nothing better than simply being reminded of this - that GOD LOVES YOU and CAN AND WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. And even when you can't remember this or deliberately walk away from it...
...don't you realize that He's still got you? Don't you realize that He can still do whatever the heck He wants to do? Don't you realize that His Love NEVER leaves you even if you deliberately pretend or accidentally believe that It's not there?
It's ALWAYS THERE. He is ALWAYS THERE.
He NEVER leaves us. He NEVER FORSAKES us. He never even forgets about us.
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I'm not saying it's easy; I think it's "hard as hell," as the expression goes.
But I'm telling you... God's Grace WILL BE THERE. I don't know how I know it other than the fact that He must be showing me this right now. I'm more afraid right now than I've ever been my entire life, and while I could tell you some amazing things that have been going on, EVEN THOSE THINGS are not what I need: GOD is what I need. I know this now. I KNOW THIS FOR now, I should say, and even when I forget, may God by His Grace continue to remind me.
Because apart from His Grace - apart from His Tender, Tender, Tender Love and Mercy for me... I have nothing.
Listen to me one more time... listen to me and understand that God is interested in BLOWING your mind, not fitting into it:
God loves you (YOU) right (RIGHT) now (NOW). Right now. He doesn't love you of the past (although He did then too), and He's not expecting and hoping to see a "better" you in the future. You are who you will be in this lifetime, as far as He's concerned. He's not looking for anything from you but what He Himself can give you. Yes, He wants you to trust Him, but He doesn't want to force you to trust Him. *Do you understand this? He wants to PROVE HIMSELF to you, and if you don't think He has so far, then obviously (and I say this sincerely, not nonchalantly), you are in for that greater of a surprise in the end - or the beginning, whichever it is to you and Him.
So listen... and may God help us all to remember this ONE thing:
He's not only Love, and He not only Loves... He loves you. He just does.
He loves you, and He loves me, and He loves all of our hopes and our dreams and our doubts and our fears and our FAILURES and our weakness and our needs. Because in ALL THINGS, He seeks to be God: He IS God. And He will provide you EVERYTHING by and through Himself and His Love for you.
It's all because of His Love.
This is why I can (right now, anyway, because it's what He's giving me today) boldly say that I have nothing apart from the Grace of God with NO shame and NO fear. Believe me... I'm going to try and "do better," and I'm even going to try to "figure some things out."
All I can say - though obviously, I could always say more - is THANK GOD that He's beyond my ability to EVER do better or figure anything out at all. Because I need Him, not me. Not even you.
And if I get anything, oh God... my dear God and Friend and King, it's ALL because of You.
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I'm ok with that. Are you?
Thanks, Jesus. It's all because of You. Help us to be ok with that. Oh God help us to be ok with that. That's what I need to know... I need to know You.
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God bless you, my friend, whoever you are. He is blessing you, and He will. Trust me. If He is blessing me, then there is no reason why He would not bless you. After all, all I have is nothing I can earn. It is given to me freely, though I cannot even understand why at all.
Thanks for reading. No apologies from me this time... I know I've got nothing and need nothing for once. Thanks, God.
Jesus loves you. Man oh man, does Jesus love you.
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