Most modern, educated people accept that all history is an interpretation of events by itse tellers, writers and translators. How is it that we can't admit this about the bible accounts without quaking in our boots? (St.) Augustine believed that the story of Genesis was allegorical; how could he believe otherwise when Genesis 1 and 2 give two different descriptions of the creation of Eve?
If we all understood the exact same thing from reading any historical account, we'd still believe that it's acceptable to own other human beings.If we all understood the exact same thing from reading any historical account, we wouldn't need bible studies and preachers, or professors in different disciplines to help us interpret long-ago events in order to apply them to our modern world.
The old model of education was based on rote repetition of an accepted body of "facts." In a global nuclear-powered world, we realize that we must be open to new information coming in at an incredible rate in order to stay alive, physically and mentally. The new information is based on the old, but seen through many complex facets. If we don't honor the old, we continue to walk in the same circles back to past failures, but we cannot continue to be afraid of the new input.
Living history is history that is looked at from many angles, by many people, in different world circumstances. As we become more enlightened, we can see different facets of the same sentences. Our language is a living, evolving thing. There are always new words based on new discoveries and insights.
We now know that not all plants or animals are limited only to being "he" or "she." There are many variations in the amounts of gender-producing hormones in individual creatures. While we were taught "rules" about what makes an animal a mammal, we were also taught that there are exceptions in those rules. One of my granddaughters (then eleven years old) and I once had a spirited discussion on where plants and animals cross the lines of absolute classification into one or the other.
My manifestations of The Almighty allow for many exceptions to the "rule" of God always appearing only as a male. What does The Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Holiness, The Spirit of Wholeness) look like to you?
If we all understood the exact same thing from reading any historical account, we'd still believe that it's acceptable to own other human beings.If we all understood the exact same thing from reading any historical account, we wouldn't need bible studies and preachers, or professors in different disciplines to help us interpret long-ago events in order to apply them to our modern world.
The old model of education was based on rote repetition of an accepted body of "facts." In a global nuclear-powered world, we realize that we must be open to new information coming in at an incredible rate in order to stay alive, physically and mentally. The new information is based on the old, but seen through many complex facets. If we don't honor the old, we continue to walk in the same circles back to past failures, but we cannot continue to be afraid of the new input.
Living history is history that is looked at from many angles, by many people, in different world circumstances. As we become more enlightened, we can see different facets of the same sentences. Our language is a living, evolving thing. There are always new words based on new discoveries and insights.
We now know that not all plants or animals are limited only to being "he" or "she." There are many variations in the amounts of gender-producing hormones in individual creatures. While we were taught "rules" about what makes an animal a mammal, we were also taught that there are exceptions in those rules. One of my granddaughters (then eleven years old) and I once had a spirited discussion on where plants and animals cross the lines of absolute classification into one or the other.
My manifestations of The Almighty allow for many exceptions to the "rule" of God always appearing only as a male. What does The Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Holiness, The Spirit of Wholeness) look like to you?
The Holy Spirit is God. Just as Jesus is God. And God (the Father) is God. Now...The spirit of the holy is the spirit that we have within us that was given to us from God. Thus, man, who is a fallen creature and in his fallen state is aware that there is something amiss when one sins. It is sometimes referred to as man's conscience. (When I say "man's concience" I mean the conscience of mankind which includes women.) Thru this conscience we are convicted that we are sinners because we have lied or cheated or stolen or committed murder. The Holy Spirit is God's agent to bring conviction to our heart though our conscience. "For all have sinned..." (Romans 3:23) We know we have sinned and that is bad news because "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) In this state of conviction we often try to defend ourselves by arguing with God. We may say that we do not accept His Word as the final authority in this matter because it makes us feel and look guilty. We resist this. We may offer every conceivable device of rhetoric and skillful play on words in our defence, but the fact remains that we are guilty and as such we deserve to die. We are under the sentence of death.
ReplyDeleteBut this is not the end of the matter. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) How do I claim His offer? "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) Then, Romans 10:9 and 10 teaches us, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Didn't mean to be in preaching mode - but to conclude this brief sharing of my heart, "Therefore - being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Romans 5:1)
I don't know? I know I got in trouble asking how big a spirit was once!
ReplyDeleteBut in the beginning and for infinity, God is God. Neither Male or Female. Just God. Amazing that we cannot even begin to think like God, that is our (man kind's) problem. All we can do, is the best we can with our limited knowledge.
Lots of stuff I don't know, maybe I wish I did. How big is a spirit? HOw Big is GOD? If he wants to, can he fit us all on the head of a pin?
My answer is Dogged iffen I know!