This is a snapshot as to why I chose certain themes in my allegory yesterday.
Often, our linear thought process obscures the importance of life lessons. Modern thinkers, however, sometimes forget this when studying history. While modern historians work with meticulous attention to detail in recording historical events, ancient historical writers frequently told stories that were applicable for teaching a specific lesson but ignored events from which no useful lesson could derive. The gospel writers, aware of how effective stories could be, not only in imparting historical fact but also in conveying moral truths, recorded stories to teach us lessons rather than to give us exhaustive, detailed accounts of events. This is not to say the Bible is not historical; nonetheless, the gospel writers were much more concerned with theological lessons than with minutia. Thus, when we read the scripture, we should not gloss over any event and assume that the real lesson will arrive later. We must slow ourselves down in order to savor each lesson the scripture offers.
With that in mind, I want to speak of God’s purpose in creation. Because we are so inclined toward chronology, we often begin by thinking of God as the designer who initiated human history through creating mankind. That is the first description we get of Him from the biblical account, is it not? This beginning point was very necessary for Israel. They were surrounded by a polytheistic world that thought God was in and of the physical world. The Hebrews needed to know that the world was the product of a God who is supremely other and holy. So, the question burning in my mind now is this: how do we present our God to the world today?
I know the answers and approaches are numerous. I would also say that the story of creation can be powerful in speaking to a nonbeliever. However, if our entire presentation of God to our potential brother or sister in Christ focuses solely on a far away creator, we miss the point of our need for God. In evangelism, we must reserve "design talk" for later, for if we present God primarily as a calm architect patching a damaged creation, we lose the sting of what it means to reject a loving, caring God. We need to speak of God as Christ did. He is more than an objective designer; He is our Father and our guide, who presents Himself to us as self-giving love. As with all we do, we must start with love!
it took you four years of college and some seminary to come to that conclusion, wow i must be one smart college drop out to have alredy come to that conclusion in my own travels around the massive island of st. simons. just playing love the blog though it made my heart smile. I think that there are ways to talk or show non believers that even though God could be mistaken for mean and hateful at times in the Old Testament that it was all done out of love and preservation for His future kingdom. Jesus was a perfect example of love prior to the cross, i like how it is but in philippians chapter 2 when it say that we are supposed to be like-minded with Christ and look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others, and considering others better than ourselves. Imagine if all believers treated there fellow man like that. that leads me to a question for you, what about war? God is a God of war according to the old testament but is that not the exact opposite of what Jesus was about? I mean he had conflict with others through his whole ministry and the only time anyone was hurt was but Peters sword to which Jesus quickly scolded him according to the scripture. So why is it so important that we kill and murder terrorists when they are only giving there lives for what the believe in. and that consequently leads me to my next question, what about the innocent children that are in no way related to the terrorist that are killed by bombs as they are playing in there house or having fun when a terrorist group is hiding out in there apartment building so soldiers american or otherwise have to sacrifice a few to Get the many. Bad day to have some bad luck if you are a motherless child or a childless father. Just some humble thoughts of my own though. love ya dude
ReplyDeleteThank you, my brother from St. Simons. Great insight. You are right Jesus was the perfect example of love prior to and during His time on the cross. In fact, His cruciform love is at the very essence of who God is: A Being of Self-Giving Love! As far as your questions are concerned, you raise some very important and difficult issues we cannot look over. Having said that, I would rather tell you my opinion in person. Since the topic is so fragile, I would not want to try to write an answer because I cannot dialogue with you as I do it. I would hate for anyone to misunderstand me. Anyway, I look forward to seeing you soon face-to-face. Much love.
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