A question about Christian practice

Monksailor · Jan 4, 2021

The Non-Christian or Natural Man

Why are many Christians not filled with the Holy Spirit?

In the following diagram, this circle represents the life of the person who has never received Christ as Savior and Lord. Christ stands outside the door of the life, seeking entrance. (Revelation 3:20)

What adjective do you think best describes the man who does not understand the things of the Spirit of God? (I Corinthians 2:14)
What terms describe self in the following verses? (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:16-17)
List at least three characteristics of the man without Christ, as described in Ephesians 2:1-3.
What is the condition of the heart of the natural man? (Jeremiah 17:9)
List the thirteen sins that Jesus said come from the heart of man. (Mark 7:20-23)
Summarize the relationship between God and the non-Christian. (John 3:36)
How, then, does one become a Christian? (John 1:12, Revelation 3:20)

The Spiritual or Christ-Controlled Christian
This circle represents the life of the person who has invited Jesus Christ to come into his life and who is allowing Him to control and empower his life. Christ is occupying His rightful place on the throne of the life. Self has been dethroned.

What are some other characteristics of a life controlled by God's Spirit? (Romans 6:6)
In what sense could the Spirit-controlled life be called the exchanged life? (Galatians 2:20 )
Where does the Christian receive the power to live this otherwise impossible life? (Philippians 4:13 )
What does the spiritual Christian have that will enable him to understand the things of God? (I Corinthians 2:14-16) {The above is just an excerpt from: Step 1: The Christian Adventure | Cru

Hazelelponi · Jan 4, 2021

~Cassia~ said:
It’s a dance metaphor that in the dance the male (which is Christ) highlights the woman (which is the church) while the woman doesn’t as much highlight the male but rather express the partnership between the two as one, step by step.
What you described was being in the pocket of the dance. Being in the pocket synchronizes the relationship of the dance.

Ah... I know nothing of dancing but I'm sure someone will come along and they will benefit from the analogy..

God bless.

zippy2006 · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
I was thinking and wondering about centering or maybe balance. Is there such a thing as balance or finding one's center in Christianity? I know in some religions there are those things and I got to wonder if Christianity has something similar or if Christianity is different all together

The Trappist monk Thomas Keating literally developed a practice called, "Centering Prayer," though some find it suspect. Keating draws from different sources, but many of them are Christian. I think you can definitely find this sort of thing in Christianity, but it may be helpful to say more about what you mean.

Taodeching · Jan 4, 2021

Pavel Mosko said:
If you use Eastern terms to describe that (because you come from Asia) one could say that Peter "lost his center" or his Shalom if you want to use something more true to the Hebrew etc. The things that you pay attention to become your reality... as far as your Faith and emotional state goes etc.

Yes, kind of like in Karate Kid and Cobra Kai when Daniel gets angry and loses his center

Carl Emerson · Jan 4, 2021

Pavel Mosko said:
I don't think that is what he is getting at. He is talking more about the focus, or mental state of things.
Kind of like in the Gospel passage relating to the disciples freaking out with the storm on the sea, and Peter walking on the water initially, but sinking when his attention left Jesus and focused on the waves, winds etc. If you use Eastern terms to describe that (because you come from Asia) one could say that Peter "lost his center" or his Shalom if you want to use something more true to the Hebrew etc. The things that you pay attention to become your reality... as far as your Faith and emotional state goes etc.

Anyway the Orthodox term for that is phronema "mindset" which can also describe things like paradigms etc. Their are proper Christian mindsets as far as our attitudes etc. goes, as well as Wordly dysfunctional ones etc.

Yes... but the Yin Yang permeates eastern thought and leads to "Maya" = illusion, amorality, relativism, balance in which there is no connection to one's external environment, no past or present, the end of which is extinction...

This is in no way an equivalent to the peace that passes all understanding.

Scripture is very clear that we should not seek the 'peace' of other faiths.

Pavel Mosko · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
Yes, kind of like in Karate Kid and Cobra Kai when Daniel gets angry and loses his center

Just finished 3rd Season two days ago, I binged watched it this weekend.

Taodeching · Jan 4, 2021

Pavel Mosko said:
Just finished 3rd Season two days ago, I binged watched it this weekend.

Me too.

Tone · Jan 4, 2021

Carl Emerson said:
Yes... but the Yin Yang permeates eastern thought and leads to "Maya" = illusion, amorality, relativism, balance in which there is no connection to one's external environment, no past or present, the end of which is extinction...

Isn't this what Peter was sinking into?

I've also heard it likened to the collective unconscious.

*And isn't Christ the Rock?

Tone · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
Me too.

Karate Kid was my favorite movie when I was a kid!

The new ones are good?

zippy2006 · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
Yes, kind of like in Karate Kid and Cobra Kai when Daniel gets angry and loses his center

There's an interesting book by Scott Steinkerchner called, Beyond Agreement: Interreligious Dialogue amid Persistent Differences. In that book he uses the concept of wu wei to analyze depictions of Jesus in the Gospel of John. It's an interesting study, but the book is spendy. Maybe check some libraries.

Pavel Mosko · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
Me too.

If you haven't' read it you may enjoy this book. I haven't read it, but I had a friend read it while in Orthodox seminary I think he might have done a thesis on it or something like that.

https://www.scribd.com/document/377241636/Christ-the-Eternal-Tao-pdf

Taodeching · Jan 4, 2021

Tone said:
Karate Kid was my favorite movie when I was a kid!

The new ones are good?

Definitely, it takes off from the movies many years later. They even have all the ones in the movies come back like Ali Mills, Kresse, and Daniel goes to the same places

Hazelelponi · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
Thank you. Seems that this type of thing is forbidden in Protestantism or just not understood very well

It may not be explained in a manner you might best understand it, but it exists in protestant Christianity as well... I may not use the same wordings, but it's essentially the same explanations I believe..

(although when people speak I don't always understand various references the way others do, which is why I always attempt to be very clear in my wording.)

Taodeching · Jan 4, 2021

Pavel Mosko said:
If you haven't' read it you may enjoy this book. I haven't read it, but I had a friend read it while in Orthodox seminary I think he might have done a thesis on it or something like that.

https://www.scribd.com/document/377241636/Christ-the-Eternal-Tao-pdf

I was thinking about reading that book. Have you ever heard of the Tao of Pooh book, I read it years ago and it pretty good

Pavel Mosko · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
I was thinking about reading that book. Have you ever heard of the Tao of Pooh book, I read it years ago and it pretty good

lol a bit in a Barnes and Noble bookstore in the 90s

Tone · Jan 4, 2021

Taodeching said:
Definitely, it takes off from the movies many years later. They even have all the ones in the movies come back like Ali Mills, Kresse, and Daniel goes to the same places

So awesome, I'll have to check them out...someday.

I'm waaay behind on these things.

*Ali...my first crush...

:love2:

Carl Emerson · Jan 4, 2021

Tone said:
Isn't this what Peter was sinking into?

I've also heard it likened to the collective unconscious.

*And isn't Christ the Rock?

Peter was sinking into unbelief - that is quite different than a pagan 'peace'

Pavel Mosko · Jan 4, 2021

Tone said:
So awesome, I'll have to check them out...someday.

I'm waaay behind on these things.

*Ali...my first crush...

3 seasons down of 10 episodes each season, with one last season to start filming probably in a few weeks.

Citizen of the Kingdom · Jan 4, 2021

Carl Emerson said:
Yes... but the Yin Yang permeates eastern thought and leads to "Maya" = illusion, amorality, relativism, balance in which there is no connection to one's external environment, no past or present, the end of which is extinction...

This is in no way an equivalent to the peace that passes all understanding.

Scripture is very clear that we should not seek the 'peace' of other faiths.

I guess that besides abiding being the centre itself would need balancing with temple relics. Altho that also would be better equated outside of Protestantism, but in the contrast it is seen as a central issue. No idea if that made sense

The relics would be in the words transformed to concepts of God’s habitation.

Ok I better go watch a movie or something :sleep:

Tone · Jan 4, 2021

~Cassia~ said:
I guess that besides abiding being the centre itself would need balancing with temple relics. Altho that also would be better equated outside of Protestantism, but in the contrast it is seen as a central issue. No idea if that made sense

I believe I caught a glimpse into what you said.

A question about Christian practice

Adopted child of God.

:sighing:

Dragonsworn

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Arch-Dude of the Apostolic

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"Whenever Thou humblest me, Thou makest me great."

"Whenever Thou humblest me, Thou makest me great."

Dragonsworn

Arch-Dude of the Apostolic

Well-Known Member

:sighing:

Well-Known Member

Arch-Dude of the Apostolic

"Whenever Thou humblest me, Thou makest me great."

Well-Known Member

Arch-Dude of the Apostolic

Well-Known Member

"Whenever Thou humblest me, Thou makest me great."

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