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Devotional from Dynamas
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for Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001
First & Second Discoveries: Head of Forerunner
Readings for the Day: Epistle: Romans 14:19-23; 16:25-27 Gospel: St. Matthew 6:1-13
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The Work of the Fast V ~ Edify Others: Romans 14:19-23;16:25-27, especially vs. 19, "Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." [RSV] At the Great Feasts of the Church we remind one another: "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). In speaking this way we are declaring that we have left behind our former, limited existence as individuals and that we have entered into life as "a member of Christ."

Metropolitan Zizioulas notes that the community of Christ into which we are incorporated "...is formed from out of ordinary existence through a radical conversion from individualism to personhood...As death and resurrection in Christ, baptism signifies the decisive passing of our existence from the 'truth' of individualized being into the truth of personal being." Our former individual existence depended on birth. Hence a "...new birth is required...so that each baptized person can himself become 'Christ,' his existence being one of communion and hence of true life."

These words are not just sentimental language concerned with "nice feelings" about others. They are the God-given means for affirming our interdependence with those other persons with whom we are fellow members of the Church. In today's lesson, the Apostle Paul speaks from this corporate, interactive reality of Church to admonish us as a community concerning our ascetic choices and practices with respect to eating, drinking, fasting and feasting.

The "peace" we are to pursue is not just an end to quarreling and strife with other people, nor is it a pleasant, individualistic quietness of mind. Rather, it is a positive work that aims at the well-being of the diverse spiritual and social relationships within the Body of Christ, those with God and those involving our fellow members. St. Paul presses us to strive consciously to build up one another, to edify the other members, and not merely to be present with them passively.

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HOWEVER...

I have a very difficult time with what is being said above in your post. The glory of God is the human race. This can EASILY be perverted to make God the quinessential humanist. It's ALL about us. If you notice my problem with omnibenevolence, as it is often conceived, this is my MAIN issue. It's seen in my statement from another post...

If we can say that God can hold his OWN wishes and desires as PRIMARY over all other concerns, though not IGNORING the wishes and desires of others, even to the extent of not operating for the MAXIMAL enjoyment and pleasure of those others...and STILL be all-good and all-wise, I affirm that God is all-good and all-wise.

I believe that this keeps God from being nothing more that humanity's benevolent, yet practically impotent benefactor/genie. God does NOT place his ULTIMATE purposes below those of his creation. Does he love and SACRIFICE for his creation? Of course. That's what Jesus is all about. However, we can't get this stuff twisted. The glory of God is NOT the human race. The human race is a REFLECTION of God's glory. We'd better recognize.

Feel me?

Soli Gloria Deo,

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I feel ya brother.

But I think what Christians should strive to attain is such a relationship with God that is marked by discernment, obedience and faithfulness that we becoming increasingly GOOD reflections collectively AT LEAST as much as individually of God's glory (since we are only collectively imaging God most adequately BTW: 2. Cor. 3:12-18 discusses us increasing in God's glory in COLLECTIVE TERMS). In this way, God is not the "quinessential humanist" but we are the quinessential theists or Christians to be more specific. At least one root problem is that God has been plenty clear about commanding justice and equity and we refuse to give. Even in the church. Why? Many feel its too hard, and that it is. Let's just work on other easier tasks which have more immediate gratification. We all know we can't really win the battle anyway 'til Christ returns, but why do we forget that that doesn't get us one inch out of the obligation laid on us at the obedience level?

Ya know what just occurred to me? If we (the church) ever actually got our priorities right, Bethlehem Baptist (Downtown MPLS w/ Piper) and Woodland Hills Church (urban St. Paul w/ Boyd) could work together IN SPITE of our theological differences and do some serious God glorifying ministry in the CITIES of MPLS/St. Paul. I guess our being Baptists pretty much dismisses that possibility out of hand. We love our fights about doctrinal correctness too much actually join hands in service to the Lord.

**Please note: this is not an indictment of Greg or even Piper per se, but rather the character of the POLITICAL climate surounding the BGC infighting locally. It really is sickening. And I think that BOTH sides will say that the BGC leadership has failed us in this situation.




ps. Sorry to pollute your post with so much of my own junk Meph. Maybe I'll be better after my vacation (I got it!). I'm trying to do some theology without abstracting myself out of my own skin. Applied theology, that is. I must not be very good at it if I feel I have to tell people what I'm doing... The thing is, I will be reading German all week and will have to be very disciplined about NOT spending my vacation on this discssion board.

"Christianly understood, truth is obviously not to know the truth but to be the truth. Despite all modern philosophy, there is an infinite difference here..." SK

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I am solidly in the "b" group.

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b) stands for way off. I'm obviously in the b category.

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So is it dudechild who's way off or the one controlling him? Think of the theological implications!

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When we can reach beyond our fears to the One who loves us with a love that was there before we were born and will be there after we die, then oppression, persecution, and even death will be unable to take our freedom.
Henri Nouwen

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So is it dudechild who's way off or the one controlling him? Think of the theological implications!

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Well, if pia’s (who I once mistakenly referred to as a “babe”—what I meant to say was “brilliant babe”) Rahner plus Whitehead equation is right, then wouldn’t the answer to your question have to be both/and? How ya like them implications?

messed up dude

p.s. Shine says hi.

Edited by - pseudo-intellectual on 08/23/2001 5:39:30 PM