A good question

Mark Dohle

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2019
1,098
1,461
75
Atlanta
Visit site
✟44,394.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
embraceofchrist.jpg


A good question


I have a new friend who asks me some pretty deep questions. I am not going to post the question because I need to respect her privacy. Because of her unique life journey she has a way of framing her thoughts and asking questions that leads me to try to think it through in a different way, or to think along different avenues. I often don’t know what I will say but would like to share what she allowed me to get in touch with. Questions are important; they can spark us to deepen our perceptions about life. They can also stump us, which is also good, for much of life is about living though mystery and rather than coming up with some sort of solution; as nice as that would be.

She wanted to know about what these faith statements meant: “Jesus died for my sins”, or another way of stating it: “Jesus is my savoir”. The statements are true for me, yet they can become mind numbing in how often they are stated and passed around. Since I know some of this woman’s unique situation, her questions was a significant one. In fact I can’t say I still have a full understanding of significance of the death of Christ Jesus, so it keeps me busy as I go deeper into my faith to seek deeper understanding but not a solution to the question.

The response I gave could be considered another overstated way to seek understanding of the life and death of Jesus Christ. For it is in no way original. Yet for me it did draw me a little closer to understanding the love of God for each of us.


Part of my response to her question:


“Christ Jesus became human, God made flesh, he lived life as we do, suffered as we do, felt alone as we do, was not understood as we are often misunderstood, was treated in an unjust manner, was arrested though innocent, was tortured, and died a horrible death......he was truly, completely human, what proved that is that he forgave all who hurt him, betrayed him, before he died. We are called to allow him to change us so deeply that we take on his true humanity. So he lives your life with you, suffers with you, is broken with you, yet he stays with you, because he loves you. He will also when the time comes die with you, and bring you into the kingdom of the Father.”


Such an answer is not a comforting one, but I believe it brings out that at the center of our faith as Christians is the immanence of Christ as well as His transcendence. I do not believe faith in God is an answer to all of life’s mysteries and questions. Yet it points to a deep truth that takes a lifetime of seeking, loving, praying and living, to find out its true depth and meaning for each of us. Not to take that journey, I feel leaves out a dimension in ones life. For our deepest desires are not fulfilled by anything in this world, they are pointers, when we stop at the pointers; we become frustrated and restless, for the heart is still empty.—Br.MD

 

Attachments

  • body of christ3.jpg
    body of christ3.jpg
    10.5 KB · Views: 1

SkyWriting

The Librarian
Supporter
Jan 10, 2010
37,279
8,499
Milwaukee
✟410,918.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others


A good question


I have a new friend who asks me some pretty deep questions. I am not going to post the question because I need to respect her privacy. Because of her unique life journey she has a way of framing her thoughts and asking questions that leads me to try to think it through in a different way, or to think along different avenues. I often don’t know what I will say but would like to share what she allowed me to get in touch with. Questions are important; they can spark us to deepen our perceptions about life. They can also stump us, which is also good, for much of life is about living though mystery and rather than coming up with some sort of solution; as nice as that would be.

She wanted to know about what these faith statements meant: “Jesus died for my sins”, or another way of stating it: “Jesus is my savoir”. The statements are true for me, yet they can become mind numbing in how often they are stated and passed around. Since I know some of this woman’s unique situation, her questions was a significant one. In fact I can’t say I still have a full understanding of significance of the death of Christ Jesus, so it keeps me busy as I go deeper into my faith to seek deeper understanding but not a solution to the question.

The response I gave could be considered another overstated way to seek understanding of the life and death of Jesus Christ. For it is in no way original. Yet for me it did draw me a little closer to understanding the love of God for each of us.


Part of my response to her question:


“Christ Jesus became human, God made flesh, he lived life as we do, suffered as we do, felt alone as we do, was not understood as we are often misunderstood, was treated in an unjust manner, was arrested though innocent, was tortured, and died a horrible death......he was truly, completely human, what proved that is that he forgave all who hurt him, betrayed him, before he died. We are called to allow him to change us so deeply that we take on his true humanity. So he lives your life with you, suffers with you, is broken with you, yet he stays with you, because he loves you. He will also when the time comes die with you, and bring you into the kingdom of the Father.”


Such an answer is not a comforting one, but I believe it brings out that at the center of our faith as Christians is the immanence of Christ as well as His transcendence. I do not believe faith in God is an answer to all of life’s mysteries and questions. Yet it points to a deep truth that takes a lifetime of seeking, loving, praying and living, to find out its true depth and meaning for each of us. Not to take that journey, I feel leaves out a dimension in ones life. For our deepest desires are not fulfilled by anything in this world, they are pointers, when we stop at the pointers; we become frustrated and restless, for the heart is still empty.—Br.MD



So you should close this account, open one that doesn't use your real name,
then not worry about privacy.
 
Upvote 0

SouthernBlessedOne

JustBoundless.com
Jul 23, 2010
62
72
Visit site
✟22,683.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The scripture that captured the moment for me personally was:
Matthew 27:51 – At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart..."

In the Old Testament, the Holy Tabernacle was where only the highest priests could enter the presence of God. There were two rooms, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was where the presence of God was and was off limits to the majority of the people. Between the two rooms was a curtain or veil separating the people from the Holy presence of God. So the average man or woman could not enter into the Holy presence of God due to their sin, so they had to have a mediator, or priest go in on their behalf. At the moment of His death, Jesus destroyed the barrier between sinful man and God the Father. He made the way for us to enter into God's presence ourselves and have a relationship with our Father.
 
Upvote 0