March 8, 2007

  • I had a thot that I wrote somewhere else that I think I want to think about some more.  God loves us too much to leave us as we are, and sends trials to help us change.  His purpose in the change is to mold us into the image of Jesus Christ, who did indeed say that He is God when he told the Pharisees, "Before Abraham was, I AM."  (John 8.58)The Pharisees understood very well what Jesus was saying, because they picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy.  God's purpose is to mold us into the image of Christ who is God...  mold us into the image of Christ...  God.... the image of God... where have I heard this before?  Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image..."  God is making us into what He intended for us to be all along!  May we be given the grace to stop struggling against God's purposes, and be thankful for all things as God works them together for our good.

    Another thought - In Genesis 1:26 it says that God's plan included man ruling over creation.  What an honor!  But first man needed practice in learning what is meant to choose good, to choose to rule well, to choose to be worthy of that honor.  He needed to learn about good by experiencing it.  But, man decided that rather than to take part in the honor that God wanted to give him, that he would devise an alternate honor for himself.  As CS Lewis says, man decided to take his hand out of the hand of God and walk alone.  Man chose to gain a knowledge of evil by experiencing it.  Man chose evil and the result was the loss of the choice to do good and death.  What if man had chosen good.  The result would have been the forfeiting of the choice to do evil and life.  We can only try to feebly imagine what this would have been like.

    Another thought - (my brains are leaking out)  We are tempted by what we have experienced.  I have never smoked, and feel no urge to smoke.  I have never experienced it, so it holds no temptation to me whatsoever.  If I see someone smoking, I have no urge to join them.  I can know about smoking through reading about the effects of nicotine on the body:  the relaxation, the pleasure, the cancer...  I don't have knowledge naturally, so I go to some higher authority to get accurate information on which to base my choice to smoke or not to smoke.  So I can know about smoking without doing it.  I am still free to choose not to smoke.  I can choose to have clear lungs and a longer life.  I have knowledge but no experience.  If I actually decide to experience smoking, then I make a choice whose results are very difficult to undo because of the addictive nature of nicotine.  I find out that the pleasure is only gained when I answer the addiction by lighting up, and that it is not actual pleasure, but only relief from withdrawal symptoms.  I no longer have a choice.  The addiction demands that I smoke.  With much effort I may be able to quit, but the temptation to return to smoking may still be there.  Had I chosen never to experience smoking, I would have been free of both the damaging addiction and the lingering temptation.

    I am not sure what my final point is.  What if man had indeed chosen to be taught by God about the nature of evil and its damning effects rather than man choosing to learn about evil (and its damning effects) himself through experience?

Comments (4)

  • Hey congratulations on graduating! How exciting!

    RYC: Yes it does seem that you and ded are having an interesting discussion indeed. So far it seems as if it has been peaceful and neutral, which is good, because in such an environment one can stand to benefit much more than a more heated debate. I find also that in participating in such discussions it is often safer if one enters such a discussion with the understanding that it will most likely not result in the changing of the mind of the other person, but rather the giving of a clearer understanding of each others standing.

    I must agree that God does not desire for us to stay where we are, but to be continuously growing into the image of Christ, which as you stated is the image of God. There are far to many churches today who preach (however indirect the approach may be) a gospel that is weak and diluted that is geared to leave a person right where they are. So many of today痴 churches incorporate things of the secular world in order to attract new people, claiming to "meet them where they are" but then never lead them away from those worldly things, but on the contrary encourage them. Just because something has "Christian" in the title does not make it Christian. But that is an entirely different discussion altogether.

    In regards to Seventh-day Adventistim. No, we are in no way associated with the Mormons. We are often confused with them in people痴 minds. Perhaps it's because of the longer name? I am uncertain. No we do not use the book of Mormon or the pearl of great price, nor do we believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet...

    I preached in a country called Angola which is in southwest Africa. The quote from Ed 57.3 is a quote of a book called Education, page 57 and paragraph 3. It is a book written by a woman named Ellen White. She has written many wonderful books and every one I have read has lead me closer in my relationship with the Lord. There are some who will refuse to even listen to anything about our church because we read her writings. Maybe more so that we consider her to be an inspired writer. We do not hold her writings above the Bible (as some may tell you) but rather test them by the Bible. She herself stated on many occasions that if anything she has ever written is contrary to the Bible, then stick with the Bible. And that is what we do. I do not normally talk about her or her writings as it tends to be a stumbling block to many who lack understanding or a desire to understand. You strike me as the type who would be willing to learn and understand someone without first being judgmental, so take courage in knowing I trust I can discuss such topics with you, and we have just met.

    in regards to my faith, I would much rather discuss things of the Bible, for the Bible is the guide to all man. (Sister White's writings are regarded differently, but I can explain that at a later time if you are interested). I would much rather discuss points of my faith that differ from other Christian denominations such as the fact that we take a historicist view on prophecy, and we keep the Biblical Seventh-day Sabbath (which is Saturday, or more specifically sunset Friday to sunset Saturday). There are other differences, but I would rather wait to discuss them with you should you show interest first. There is no sense in me rambling on about my faith if you do not care to know more. :)

    Thank you for noticing my post about reverence in the sanctuary. Yes, it seems that today people are becoming more lax and tend to be loose tongued. We should show our Lord more respect than we (as a whole) currently do. I must agree with your statement, that no matter where we are, our conversations should be acceptable to the Lord.

    So you live in Japan? Are you from America? You speak English very well if you are not. If you are not native to Japan, what brings you there?

    Thank you for your time. I enjoy conversing with someone who is open and non-judgmental such as you. Take care and God bless!

  • Oh, you are so right about God working on us through tests and trials. I have to be honest though, I wish the tests and trials were fewer and further apart.

    Heather

  • I actuallt got to see Mason Williams once. He is the main reason I play guitar. I got a new phonograph for father's day a few years ago. I have tried to figure out how to get my album music onto my computer, but have not had much luck with that yet. Have to teach the old hat another new trick or two. Hope the beeeeeg party was a beeeeg success.

    Old Hat

  • just dropped by to say thanks for helping witht he map thing. i figured it out.

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