 |
Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > (No Subject)
| Forum Quick Jump
|
| 
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 3/1/2005 1:10 PM (GMT -6) |   | Thinking about theosis:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Goal of Creation
St. John wrote that there is more to come. "My dear people, we are already the children of God, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is." (I John 3:2) So what it means is something we don't know. Something that hasn't been revealed. Something presently beyond us, in spite of the fact that we are already children of God, already his bride, already his body, and already his light. The one thing we do know, whatever it means, it means becoming like God.
St. Paul seems to have had a similar revelation, and he declares this final event is nothing less than the climax of all creation itself. "The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons... From the beginning until now, the entire creation has been groaning in one great act of giving birth." (Rom.8:19,22)
Where does it end? Where does it lead? What does "becoming God" actually mean in its consummation? Paul wrote that all the enemies of God will become subject to God, and then Christ will subject himself to the Father, and when everything is subject to God, God will become "all in all." (I Cor. 15:28). All in all. Perfect union.
Theosis and the Church
...
Theosis is far less well-known in most Protestant circles, although some, for instance, Quakers, have kept an traditional emphasis on Christ as the "Inner Light," and Pentecostals and Charismatics are particularly aware of the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Anglican C. S. Lewis believed strongly in deification in the traditional sense, and John Wesley was strongly influenced by theotic thought from the Church Fathers.
Some points of clarification: deification does not mean that we will only have a divine nature, but that like Christ, we will be one, with God, both human and divine. It is not "future evolution," it is the consummation of present grace. It also does not mean that we become part of the essence of God, but rather our human nature, and our identities, are transformed and united with "the energies of God."
Thomas Aquinas described it like a poker being held in a fire. The poker becomes a fire, in that it takes every attribute of the fire. It burns, radiates heat and light, emits energy as it is transformed by the fire's energy. And yet, it though it has "become fire," it is unquestionably iron as well.
What does this union with God look like? It can be as singular as Jesus enduring the Cross to pronounce forgiveness on all. It can be as inspiring as the transformation of Francis of Assisi into a person of such mercy and love that he has been called "alter Christus" (another Christ). However, more often it is the process at work in people yielding themselves to God so humbly that you would not think that there is anything unusual about them at all. Yet they have yielded their selves to the point where God fills them completely, and they are always aware of being "one with God," the Ground of Being.
One who has united with God in this life can only continue to go deeper after death. Mary has received graces from God to preach around the world for almost twenty centuries, pouring out her love and prayers for this world, as Christ pours out his. And soon after her death, the hyperactive St. Terése of Lisieux began making the first of hundreds of reported appearances to minister to others. Perhaps this is part of becoming "gods with God by the grace of God!"
The Christian understanding of theosis is not trivial or pat. It's not a casual, New-Agey "Sure, I'm a god" idea that avoids the realities of profound humility and commitment. This transformation comes by choosing to be so empty that God can fill us totally. The ego gets lost, just as a wax form is lost when a jeweler pours molten gold to make a ring. It is a process which demands self-emptying, which most of us resist, and resistance makes the emptying too painful. In many of the references to theosis in the Bible, suffering and death are also mentioned. Christ died to demonstrate the complete selflessness of perfect love, and our union with him also involves death—the death of the ego and eventually the death of the body. Uniting ourselves to Christ changes us through love and humility. A willingness to "share his sufferings so as to share his glory" (Rom. 8:17) leads to a truly great glory, living in divine Presence. This is a gift beyond any and all possible merit, a gift of the most unspeakable grace. Whenever I think about the divinization that God is calling us to, calling me to, I am filled with deep awe, amazement, and immense gratitude. I don't think anyone who can speak blithely about this understands it. I myself do not. All I know is that our God is good.
But far and away the most wonderful part of theosis is that it begins here! It starts today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone gave me that snippet from this link: http://www.frimmin.com/faith/theosis.html
I'll have to read more.
Any thoughts?
Just pulling together thoughts about living (moment by moment) in the Kingdom Now, our true identity in Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, Faith as confident trust, and...still wondering about the possibility of universal reconciliation...
More later! Gotta Run! in between classes...
peace and
love,
selah
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
psalm 108:4Post Edited (Selah) : 3/1/2005 6:26:06 PM (GMT-6) | | Back to Top | | |
 |
Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 3/1/2005 6:25 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
|
bryan mccarthy
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2005
Total Posts : 179
| Posted 3/5/2005 6:52 PM (GMT -6) | | Hey, Selah, did you read any of the other stuff on that chruch of the east website? what do you think of their views on reincarnation?
bryan | | Back to Top | | |
|
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 3/5/2005 8:18 PM (GMT -6) | | Bryan McCarthy said...
Hey, Selah, did you read any of the other stuff on that chruch of the east website? what do you think of their views on reincarnation?
bryan
Hi Bryan,
Nope. I didn't make it to that site before I posted. From what I just read though (and considering where I'm at theologically) I'd say what the heck - why NOT believe in that form of reincarnation? Sounds like any other "common sense" to me.
"Reincarnation is proof of the Love of God. Any doctrine teaching that God gives people only one unequal chance, and if they don't make it they will suffer for eternity--is an evil doctrine about an evil being--and is not a doctrine about God, our loving Father and Mother of Yesu our Saviour.
Common sense tells us that every 60 years at least three thousand million people in Asia never has a fair chance to become Christians, and that millions of Muslim children cannot be Christians, and we know that two hundred and fifty thousand children are infected with HIV every month, and that every minute five children die of starvation--when do these beings find time and fair opportunity to 'please God' so that they be spared eternal suffering torture?
Reincarnation is sweet sensible proof of the Love of God."
Singing HU,
Off to my Eck meeting,
love
selah
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
psalm 108:4 | | Back to Top | | |
|
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 3/8/2005 2:13 PM (GMT -6) | | Ok...
Skip the wacky stuff. The more I read, the more i find that theosis puts words to much of what I believe! Doesn't anyone know about this?
concepts:
through time,
character solidification,
synergistic,
transformation,
cooperating with God for change,
distorted image into divine likeness,
recognizes spiritual warfare motif
guarding the heart with all diligence (staying awake!),
freewill,
acquiring virtue,
faith and love...
perfect theology!
what's not to like?
 selah
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.Post Edited (Selah) : 3/8/2005 6:50:32 PM (GMT-6) | | Back to Top | | |
|
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 5/5/2007 12:18 PM (GMT -6) | | It would seem that we've been talking about theosis for quite some time around here...
2005?
EARLY 2005???
I didn't even remember this thread.
So VERY interesting!
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be One, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be One as we are One— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete Unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
| | Back to Top | | |
|
selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 5/6/2007 7:34 AM (GMT -6) | | |
"Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know me, D?"
haha
just kidding 
The answer is yes and no. Yes, I have been wondering about theosis since 2005, but no, I haven't been intentionally praying about it. Maybe I have here and there, but I'm basically in a holding pattern til I graduate. Maybe I'll start a new denomination someday. I'll call it: "Royal Christianity"
In order to join/be a covenant partner everyone must affirm Christ, the bible (you know me ;)), theosis, and the importance of love and beauty (oh, and SK and the Lotus flower!  ). We will live in darfur, sudan and serve the "least of these".... and we will pursue learning the secret of resting transparently... How about it?
Ok, maybe not.
blessings 2 u!!!
love,
T
PS. NOW, do a search on John 17:20-26 and see how long we been on that!!!! 
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
| | Back to Top | | |
|
One Love
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 12/16/2008 2:31 AM (GMT -6) | | | Thanks again, Selah.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
"I love, therefore I am in I Am." Post Edited (One Love) : 12/16/2008 1:35:04 AM (GMT-6) | | Back to Top | | |
|
PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 12/16/2008 10:10 PM (GMT -6) | | Yo.
Tom said...bert, it's your time to show up! ;o)
(o) | | Back to Top | | |
|
PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 12/16/2008 10:13 PM (GMT -6) | | I bought that two years ago when my eldest son was taking a church history class, and reading Shelley.
- bert (I think...)
selah said...http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0226653722/qid=1110310146/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7525575-1694425?v=glance&s=books The Spirit of Eastern Christendom (The Christian Tradition : a History of the Development of Doctrine, Vol 2) by Jaroslav Jan Pelikan It's supposed to be reeeaaaalllly goood. I'm about to commit "one click ordering!" Somebody help me =)
(o) | | Back to Top | | |
|
PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 12/16/2008 10:17 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 3:08 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP3
dotNetBB © 2000-2026 |
|
|