Thank-you. But it was this particular forum and the honesty of the non-believers frequenting it that inspired me to join.
...Then thank you for choosing my "honesty" to respond to first.
I wasn't aiming for mercy or grace.
Precisely, and yet that standard is expected from all other posters/me.
My understanding of the Psalms is correct.
If there was only one correct interpretation of the book of psalms I sure you would have it. But know the book of Psalms is one of 66. Some of which delve into the topic at hand not consistent with a correct or complete understanding of that book. In other words not all instances of heart ache and mercy are found in that book. So to limit your ministry to that book takes a measure of foolishness and pride.. Do not let your pride twist my words. I did not say the book is foolish or proud I said limiting your ministry to that book when there are other instances of mercy and grace given throughout the bible is foolish and proud.
I am married to a theologian who is fluent in Biblical Hebrew so I'm not sure this will be a fair argument.
If I was married to a doctor would that qualify me to write prescriptions? Does that even make me a nurse? and yet your a theologian. Those who are lacking in wisdom seek accommodation to hide their deficits. (not talking about your husband.)
There is tension in Psalms whether you would like to acknowledge that or not. Tension between mere finite human beings and an infinite almighty God. The psalmists are struggling and hurting and wailing and moaning yet they still acknowledge who God is in all their suffering. Would you tell them they are having a pity party and they should grin and bear it? Should we just cut out that part of the Bible? I haven't carved anything out of the Book of Psalms and that includes some strange god. I've studied.
Your pride in the knowledge your husband has, has blinded you to my message. I am not ignoring or casting out what is written in the book of psalms or the messages of those who have paralleled their teachings with what is written in psalms. I even identified these teachings as good. I am just providing the rest of the picture. As I have said not everyone takes comfort in endless comfort. Some of us look for purpose. If this is a person who looks for purpose rather than your brand of comfort would you deny them the type of comfort they seek, just because it does not match with your understanding of the book of psalms?
You are not God. You do not get the opportunity to provide the purpose for someones trials or struggles.
Obviously I am not, but I am one of his servants that He has seen to give a seemingly semi-unique perspective. What would you or your husband suggest I do with this gift? As you rebuke reads, it sounds as if your telling me to bury it in the sand so your gifts can be better appreciated. What teaching of Jesus is this consistent with?
You are practicing experientialism and it is NOT a test for truth. It is subjective to you and there are too many variables to count. You can find God in your trials, and we all have, but you cannot extrapolate the reality of who God is based on your trials alone.
Your pride runs deeper than I had originally assessed. now your saying,
"I don't even need to ask you for scripture that you think that backs your interpretations, because "we" know the bible so well this explanation can be the only explanation. God has set aside the book of Psalms and there can be no other interpretation in the quest for solace and mercy than what is written here."
May God show you mercy where you do not know mercy to be found.
Our theology of God is based in Scripture NOT our experience. You are not the interpreter of God's work in this person's life.
My proud sister neither are you and yet you continue to post and rebuke..
My experiences have opened my eyes to scripture that i all but ignored before. (at least in the way of offering mercy and solace.)
How do you know they are not one of these people?
I do not nor have i ever claim to. It is because I don't know who this person is I felt it necessary that both sides of comfort are represented here. Even if this person is not one who seek purpose in a trial over comfort, there maybe other who do. Or They may be others who need to be introduced to the concept of finding purpose in pain rather than simply smothering all who seek mercy, with the book of Psalms as their spouse understands it.
If Gods mercy is endless why should I then not be an imitator of Christ?
Are you saying that Your interpretation of Christ is the only one?
Please point me to the Scriptural reference where we may arbitrarily decide to withhold mercy and exact judgment on someone who is suffering.
Before we get into scripture, I need to see you write that you do understand and accept that "mercy" comes in different forms, and that finding purpose for some is indeed a form of mercy.
I ask that you do this because most legalists or people who tend to have a singular or locked view of scripture can be rather obstinate when it comes to an interpretation that does not sync up with how they have been told to think about scripture. If you can not admit to a simple principle like this one, then trying to change a harden view or singular view of the bible is not worth the effort.
I could have rebuked you privately but since you chastised this fragile seeker in a forum frequented by non-believers and other seekers I felt someone needed to challenge your position.
So rather than taking a chance on what the bible tells you to do, you thought it better to ensure my cooperation by openly rebuking me, and calling into question all that i believe. So that means it is OK to go outside of what is written when you deem it necessary, but not for anyone else..
Does this not ring of hypocrisy to you?
This had nothing to do with my understanding of God which you could not possibly have known anything about since I had revealed nothing about my belief system to you.
But you did. As your "fruit" have just pointed out. Your are a do as I say and not as I do type of Christian.
However, I can assure you, we all have a testimony. But many of us are not wielding it over others as an excuse to create our own theology while possibly pushing others further in the wrong direction just to bolster our own ego.
Just because my efforts are different than your does not automatically make them any less valid. We need people like you for those like you. Those who need to be patted on the head and told everything will always be OK, no matter what happens.. But what of everyone else? Have You ever wonder if you are indeed speaking the complete word of God, why it is you can not connect with everyone seeking a connection? Or why you only are able to connect with others of a similar view of God?
It's because even if you had a complete understanding of what is written in the bible. You do not have a complete view of God and how He relates to every signal personality type and culture on this planet. No one does. That is why your job (like mine) is to take God's word and apply it to our lives. in this case it includes how we deal with grief and pain. For me it means looking beyond the book of psalms, because for whatever reason God did not make the comfort and mercy recorded in that book real to me. If you should do much ministering outside of a church atmosphere you will find the meanings of that book have little impact.. I have done some grief counseling in my time, and have found that those not raise on that book do not find comfort in it. They often times want to know why. It is impossible to know why, but it is not impossible to teach those who are struggling to find contentment. Nor is it impossible to teach them to find purpose.. And because this is section is dedicated as a way for non-christians to deal with struggles, it though a non-psalmist approach should also be represented for the OP as well.
Just in case he or she was not raise on this book, or sought something more that the expected "christian" answers.
Again I have not discounted anything anyone else is saying. i am simply offering an opportunity to seek out possible purpose for the pain. rather than more reassurances.
ABBA'S FOOL,
