In search of

[timothyu]

Christians link themselves to God.

Do you seek God, or the will of God ?

 

[disciple Clint]

Christians link themselves to God.

Do you seek God, or the will of God ?

yes

 

[timothyu]

yes

So both directions?

 

[Paidiske]

I don't understand why those would be framed as separate.

 

[timothyu]

Because some people only seek God but have no concept of following His will over our own.

 

[Paidiske]

They'll learn, though, as they experience more of God. It's a false dichotomy that isn't worth much angst (imho).

 

[timothyu]

Some do but many never get past the religious angle. There are very few Mother Teresa's and a lot of Joe Bidens. One is other oriented and the other self.

 

[Paidiske]

Not a claim I'd be willing to make (in either direction) about people I've never met, whom I only know about from media coverage and the like.

The fundamental point remains, I think; one cannot encounter God, and be unaffected by the will of God. The Holy Spirit's got this in hand, so our focus should be on our own faithfulness, not on fretting about others' (perceived) shortcomings.

 

[timothyu]

It's a shame though to lose the willing to the ways of mankind like in the parable of the sower due to their not understanding how 'self' is the downfall of man and creates all our woes. Or is it possible to have it both ways?

 

[Paidiske]

I think every single one of us gets it wrong at times, no matter how good our intentions. Beating up fellow-Christians because they don't think or act exactly as you think they should, is hypocritical at best.

If our touchstone here is the parable of the sower, trust the Lord who ensures the harvest.

 

[timothyu]

It is not my intention to make you defensive.
Is the focus of your sermons along the lines of these scriptures? It would be refreshing to hear.


Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

[Paidiske]

It is not my intention to make you defensive.

I would describe my reaction as protective of many good, faithful Christians doing the best they know how, who deserve better than to constantly have others treat them as not good enough, or as "not real Christians."

Is the focus of your sermons along the lines of these scriptures?

I follow the lectionary. We post recordings of many of my sermons on the parish's website. If you really want to judge me too, I can send you a link in PM and you can listen to a few.

Funnily enough, my sermon for this week is on Ephesians 5:8-14, and in particular Paul's admonition to "Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord." So I think my preaching probably relates well enough to your concern here, when it's relevant to the texts of the day.

 

[timothyu]

Please do.

 

[disciple Clint]

Yes

 

[d taylor]

-​

Linking to God is not used in the Bible.

What God offers to people is the free gift of Eternal Life. If a person does believe in Jesus for Eternal Life and becomes a born again child of God. They enter into the family of believers of God. Now they have a Father who wants the best for them, but also wants them to live a life reflective of God Himself. Putting off the things of the world and seeking a well lived life following God. That would include correctly dividing The Bible in understanding and teaching the scriptures.

 

[ozso]

Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Christians link themselves to God.

Do you seek God, or the will of God ?

It is God who links Himself through His Holy Spirit. Blessings.
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

 

[timothyu]

he will keep My word

So the will of God must be a priority

 

[timothyu]

We post recordings of many of my sermons on the parish's website.

I just had time to listen to your latest broadcast. Might I say IMO that you have the perfect voice for producing these. I also enjoyed your narrative (it takes me back to my youth and the small town old school sermon untainted by society or politics) and yes of course the non threatening way of presenting it, (here comes the but) but if we were allowed to raise our hands and ask a question at the end, I would have asked if it would be possible to get into the other end of the issue. What it is in our character that causes us to 'sin' in the first place. What is the mechanism of sin?

I say that because i believe that if we better understand how operating on the principle of 'self' (interest, justification, centeredness, serving, determination, etc.), the original sin first performed by Eve, is the cause of all our woes and oppression and greed etc, then we might better learn to hate ourselves for who we are and better appreciate who we could be. 8 billion souls at present all looking out for self. Bound to create some conflict. In other words I don't think we in general hear enough about the reason for what is wrong with us and I think it would be refreshing for people when turning on the tv to understand what they are seeing and taking sides over is evil, based on the adversarial power of 'self'. But I appreciate that you offer medicine for an illness. I also realize that most of us taking medicine have no idea about the inner workings of that illness. Jesus gave us an opportunity to address this before the tough love sets in. That is what I do but then again we all have our God given paths to follow on our way to His Kingdom. They all lead supposedly out of this world..

 

[Paidiske]

That's an interesting response, thank you.

I am not so sure that I would want to reduce all sin to one root cause. The failure to love is a complicated human phenomenon.

I think pastoral context is also important too; when you have a congregation where people have been abused by others who claimed the right to abuse because the person being abused should be willing to set self aside (that was a convoluted sentence, I hope it made sense), one has to be very careful to avoid reinforcing the messages of abuse.