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| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > General Chat > Entering the Secret Place of the Heart | Forum Quick Jump
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One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 6/10/2010 6:31 PM (GMT -6) |   | | I was re-reading this quote by Thomas Merton...
At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God, which is never at our disposal, from which God disposes of our lives, which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind or the brutalities of our own will. This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty is the pure glory of God in us. It its so to speak his name written on us, as our poverty, as our indigence, and our dependence, as our sonship. It is like a pure diamond , blazing with the invisible light of heaven. It is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see these billions or points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely…The gate of heaven is everywhere.
This would be what Tom described as "indestructible grace-gift from God that doesn't derive from anything in the created order" that grounds the self. Next, I had a thought about humility. Particularly humility as it relates to poverty-of-spirit and "death to self"
Here's the thought:
If the center of our being (God Himself) disposes (as it were) our utter dependence as sonship (as the Eternal Son is utterly dependent upon the Father), then the ONLY WAY that one could enter this "secret place of the heart" is by utter SELF-DENIAL and DEATH TO ONESELF...which is exactly what Kierkegaard, Loder, Ware, Murray, and even Marcus Borg say about how Jesus demonstrates centering oneself in God's Spirit. Basically, it's only by SACRIFICIAL OFFERING of "DEATH" of oneself to God (Christ) in Christ-like humility can the COVENANT of the Uncreated Creator and the created believer be upheld...such that the Holy of Holies in the human being can be entered. No sacrificial offering of oneself to God, no entry. Not only that, but we have to be willing to die. And that's the hard part. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit, faith willing, empowers and guides this process.
If you think about it, it really does make sense.
"Every human being has a “secret place” – that within them that is most intimate – that is beyond words – that is made for God. Learning to enter this place is a very difficult thing and only comes with time and practice."
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Post Edited (One Love) : 6/10/2010 6:42:52 PM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 6/10/2010 11:28 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 6/11/2010 12:00 AM (GMT -6) | | “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. | | Back to Top | | |
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