tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post2816462562455736318..comments2023-05-06T08:19:26.226-07:00Comments on Sufficiency: Theological EngineeringBob MacDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11335631079939764763noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-77586820219773851532007-07-28T15:29:00.000-07:002007-07-28T15:29:00.000-07:00i love the idea of 'energy of defiance'--great way...i love the idea of 'energy of defiance'--great way to think of things, like teenagers and feisty octagenarians. <BR/>and conversely, there's not much 'energy of compliance,' then, is there?scott grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334188123201041182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-9145401517818800512007-07-27T19:51:00.000-07:002007-07-27T19:51:00.000-07:00That helps, Bob. That explains why there is such j...That helps, Bob. That explains why there is such joy in the wrestling! I have had a glass of red wine and words fail....I will sit and savor the eternal engagement with Christ and the (new) creation process.Beyond Wordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01588539631307626802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-39665375520080504562007-07-27T18:47:00.000-07:002007-07-27T18:47:00.000-07:00With respect to the story of the garden, God would...With respect to the story of the garden, God would have no one to contend with or love without the energy of our defiance. But as we learn what is of good and evil, we also learn that in the divine wrestling, God is covering our limitation. So Adam hid, but they were found, and their nakedness was covered with the skin of a slain creature - a life for a life as it were. With Christ - and it has never been that we were without Christ regardless of time, we are reengaged as bride of the bridegroom. Gradually we realize that he made us for himself and himself is for us. So there is not a fall except it is a necessary part of the creation process. Even later Isaiah says - is there evil in the city and I the Lord have not done it? Rhetorical - but poignant. Almost demanding the same energy of love from us that we have been given to use in our rebellion. As for God and sin, Scott, that is impossible, but God and evil - the tension is between Job's wife's comment and Job's acceptance of the gift of evil from the Most High.Bob MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11335631079939764763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-35213361288737928162007-07-27T16:34:00.000-07:002007-07-27T16:34:00.000-07:00one understanding of the story is that it is an ex...one understanding of the story is that it is an explanation of why we sin.<BR/>if god had reengaged in eden, it would have been an explanation of something different.<BR/>some people think the jesus story is about god's reengaging with us.<BR/>when god chooses not to reengage, is god sinning.....scott grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334188123201041182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-807973177395252612007-07-27T15:39:00.000-07:002007-07-27T15:39:00.000-07:00This view of engagement really challenges me to tr...This view of engagement really challenges me to trust God's mercy as I live out my calling even when I overstep the bounds, instead of shrinking back and fearing judgment from others.<BR/><BR/>I had a flight of ideas earlier today, thinking about this post and sin and the fall--and I bring this up because I think we judge each other because of primal misunderstanding about God's judgment. So, please help me with this:<BR/><BR/>Where was God's mercy in the Garden? (I'm not advocating a literal reading, but digging for the truth here.) If the Curse was at stake, and all the evil and suffering of future generations would follow because of Adam and Eve's proto-sins, why wouldn't God have given them a chance to repent and come back to him? To learn from their sin and "re-engage" with a new level of faith?Beyond Wordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01588539631307626802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-23390631161294286072007-07-27T11:11:00.000-07:002007-07-27T11:11:00.000-07:00I have (marginally) oversimplified the view of sin...I have (marginally) oversimplified the view of sin - by the state of sin as disengaged, I mean what others call 'lack of faith' - but even within a committed faith, there are issues related to judgment - through which we offend against each other. These are well noted in Romans and the epistle of James. When we judge others, we stop at the door as if we were in charge. I can only say that this is somehow related to our fear - John's 'perfect love casts out fear' will allow growth past our need to judge (see allso John 5:24) - stephen at withering fig will get to that verse (4.18) soon enough. This likely bears more thinking and fewer words.Bob MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11335631079939764763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-88629946840011070272007-07-27T09:35:00.000-07:002007-07-27T09:35:00.000-07:00i think i'm in, now.i think i'm in, now.scott grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334188123201041182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121325693164358755.post-90242930344565401562007-07-27T06:22:00.000-07:002007-07-27T06:22:00.000-07:00Please, lurkers here, comment so I'm not the only ...Please, lurkers here, comment so I'm not the only one! There is much to discuss...Beyond Wordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01588539631307626802noreply@blogger.com