 |
Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Questions about Christianity > (No Subject)
| Forum Quick Jump
|
| 
Tom
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 10353
| Posted 4/19/2002 4:51 AM (GMT -6) |   | I recently preached a sermon on what it means to be a son/daughter of God, i.e., (pardon the anthropocentrism) on “sonship” to God. I identified four basic truths/components, i.e., what the Bible means when it calls us God’s sons/daughters.
I Relationship
II Intimacy
III Inheritance
IV Likeness
Never mind for now how I approached each of these, I’m really interested for now in “intimacy.” What is it? What does it mean to be “intimate” with another person? With God?
I suggest that it at least means a) two persons facing/accepting the truth about themselves in the presence of one another, and also b) mutual participation of each in the other’s life (e.g., thoughts, feelings, and desires).
Any suggestions?
Tom
| | Back to Top | | |
 |
dust
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 16
| Posted 4/19/2002 8:12 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
What does it mean to be “intimate” with another person? With God?
I suggest that it at least means a) two persons facing/accepting the truth about themselves in the presence of one another, and also b) mutual participation of each in the other’s life (e.g., thoughts, feelings, and desires).
Any suggestions?
I think perhaps the key to your definition is where you begin. Intimacy definately includes, as aspects what you have as a) and b) BUT I would sujest that a person cannot begin with a) because intimacy would then be about the individual not the other, whom he faces. Intimacy is then about myself as I look at myself int eh presence of another. True intimacy requires first that I face the father and in facing Christ as Christ faces the Father, I see the Chirst and the Father and I see myself (in their eyes) as I truely am. This is the primary intimate relationship for it grounds us in who we truely are. THEN and only then can we "face" (be in intimacy) each other and in the same sort of facing we do with Christ, we do with others in the body of Christ. As a result, we see who we truely are reflected back to us in the eyes of another believer and we reflect who they are back to them. This is mutual participation in each other's lives.
I think the MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT here is to be oriented toward the other. Otherwise if I am oriented toward myself and work really hard at revealing who I am in the presence of another and the act becomes forced and alienating.
Anyway those are som initial thoughts...which sound strangely like a recent lecture...oh no!
dust
Psalm 103:13,14
Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.
| | Back to Top | | |
|
Starkman
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1747
| Posted 4/19/2002 11:47 AM (GMT -6) | | TGB,
Will have to think on this, but here's something to consider in your search:
Sex between husband and wife is for them what the Communion is between Christ and the Church. That's....heavy!
As Christ presented the courting cup and bread before He died, I believe it was carried to it's full consumation upon Pentecost (the birth of the Church into this marriage). When we take communion, I'm convinced it is as intimate between God and us as sex is between a married couple.
Something to think about, isn't it.
For the consumation of intimacy,
Starkman
| | Back to Top | | |
|
Springs
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 636
| Posted 4/22/2002 6:31 PM (GMT -6) | | The Doc preached a sermon on intimacy once.
He said the word make him think this...
"In to me see."
Tom, your thoughts on intimacy are right on. Can you share a bit more of your sermon with us?
Springs
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Ps. 19:1 | | Back to Top | | |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 1:25 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 |
|
|