"You are out of your mind..." (v 24)
What struck me about todays reading is how people will staunchly defend their beliefs (or lack thereof) by dismissing the beliefs of others as insanity!
What arrogance! What fear! What ignorance!
Ignorance that we, as followers of Jesus, are called to 'rectify' by enlightening those in darkness. (v 18)
Recently, someone who I love and value enormously in my life made a similar comment - "Goodness! I'm glad I am not one of your mob (christians), you are all crazy!"
Hmmmmm ..... it is all relaltive!
Have a blessed day all :)
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An eight week journey of seeking God as we read.think.pray.live our way through the gospel of John
An Invitation
Please join us during this lead up to Christmas 2009 by doing the four things listed below. Anyone can join at any time throughout this 8 week period although obviously it would be best if you can begin with us on the first of November 2009.
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
3 comments:
John 3:19 to John 3:23
"This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
Light and Truth. It is wonderful how the biblical world view focuses on the acceptance of truth as the acceptance of a person not an idea or proposition. Our Greek based western culture always focuses on the acceptance of an idea rather then acceptance of a person.
I find it interesting how Paul tackles this with the Athenians; culturally the origins of Hellenistic thinking.
Acts 17:19 "...May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?"
They want to talk ideas, teachings and philosophy. He shifts the discussion to a knowable person.
17:31: because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
It is about the person not the ideas of the person.
No wonder they think we are mad.
If you don't accept the TRUTH how could you accept the truth He brings.
Lord, help us to focus on presenting the person not the ideas He brings.
So true Richard... the one thing we each have in common but that is also unique to us as individuals is our relationship with Jesus.
This is what we can always share with others... It is irrefutable.
How we met Him.
Whats happened since. What we have learned, what he has done, where we are at.
That is what Paul shared in Chap 22 and now again in Chap 26.
As I was reading Chap 26 - I thought - Yup - what Paul is saying is the unchanging truth of what happened to him - his testimony. That is also true of the Bakers - Heidi Bakers teachings from what I have read are unchanging - they are the things Jesus has shown her and she shares them.
We can only be witnesses to the things of God that we have experienced personally.
We may land up in interesting 'debates' about all sorts of things to do with our faith - but in the end - the only thing that really speaks is our relationship with God (all three persons!). If it is not alive and well - our words and actions are empty of meaning and power.
Gemma, Richard and Rosaleen - thankyou for your words of wisdom you have shared today!
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