tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post8361210780493635595..comments2024-03-25T14:27:40.121-05:00Comments on Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength: Through a glass darkly: the problem of precision in theologyWeekend Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-38186683989813891872009-09-21T22:21:31.715-05:002009-09-21T22:21:31.715-05:00What frustration. Everybody always has such an eas...What frustration. Everybody always has such an easy time seeing everyone else's wrong. And it's so easy to get hurt. <br /><br />Take care & God bless<br />Anne / WFWeekend Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-2026125951981137562009-09-21T08:20:01.829-05:002009-09-21T08:20:01.829-05:00You mention that we need to recognize our limitati...You mention that we need to recognize our limitations. In other words: be humble. That's where I get off the bus driven by some people, theologically speaking. The Bible is the Word of God, but interpretation and translation was, is, and will always be subject to human limitations and bias, and is NOT inspired. <br /><br />The hair splitting can easily come across as I AM RIGHT! Which then implies what? YOU ARE WRONG. Fine, maybe I am wrong. But I am a saved child of God. And if the "I am right" comes across as unloving, then it isn't pointing anybody to God and saving grace. <br /><br />On one site, I had posted some comments and questions. I also said that I thought that the Bible taught us not to be judgmental. I was very surprised to receive a comment back telling me that it was a Christian duty to judge and point error, citing a specific verse. <br /><br />Of course we might say that killing somebody is a sin, but the discussion had to do with some specific things about how a church service is conducted and communion is served, and which day of the week to have services. <br /><br />Sheesh. I know, I know, I know that it is wrong of me to judge this branch of the Church by the several instances I've run into on the web, yet I do because I've felt put down. And then it was pastors of this group that served the nursing home where my mom was previously, and they, the three I heard, did the perfect liturgy, but had no warmth nor connection with the residents. I took comfort in the fact that the Communion was real, no matter who served it. I guess I'm way off your topic and I should pray to let this go.LoieJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977264499770654307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-85505942468419626012009-09-20T23:50:15.291-05:002009-09-20T23:50:15.291-05:00Hi all
Ah, you know, the blogs in this neighborho...Hi all<br /><br />Ah, you know, the blogs in this neighborhood of the blogosphere may not be the most active, but I definitely enjoy the conversations! And Scott, I should've figured you'd know about the other miaphysites. ;) <br /><br />I'm glad but a little surprised that nobody was offended over my directing a pointed comment towards the Chalcedonian schism in this context. Could I hope that breach may be healed soon? I can always hope.<br /><br />My attitude towards theological hair-splitting ranges from joining in (like a good game of cards) to polite amusement to exasperation to anger, depending on how it's being used. I just don't think there's nearly enough respect for the fact that we don't have all the knowledge, and we understand in part. <br /><br />Take care & God bless,<br />Anne / WFWeekend Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-12825352370100677642009-09-20T16:56:04.638-05:002009-09-20T16:56:04.638-05:00And we should realize that all this thinking and h...And we should realize that all this thinking and hair-splitting is due to the curiosity that is God-given, but getting certain answers is not necessary for salvation.<br /><br />I have a real nervous reaction to the blog writing of certain pastors of a different branch of the type of church I attend who go on and on about following proper confessional topics, doing the communion in a specific way because the other ways are wrong, and conducting the church services in certain specific ways. Even though these pastors would say that they are saved by grace, I get big vibes of WORKS.LoieJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977264499770654307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-55330174726838667532009-09-19T12:45:05.139-05:002009-09-19T12:45:05.139-05:00The Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian (which reall...The Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian (which really can't be reduced to Coptic) is an interesting example. What's missing from the modern equation is the heresy that both ultimately rejected, the monophysite heresy. That heresy held basically that Jesus was half God and half man in a single nature. The monophysites rejected the idea that Jesus was fully human and that would have had profound implications for the faith. After all, one of the most profound statements I've found in Christianity is, "What has not been assumed has not been healed."<br /><br />The modern non-Chalcedonian ancient churches (including Coptic, Armenian, and Ethiopian) don't believe that. Rather they believe that Christ's nature was miaphysite, which is a united nature -- as in fully human and fully God in one united nature. Now that we are centuries removed from the politics of the era, it's my understanding that theologians from both groups generally agree that the Chalcedonian two natures and the miaphysite united nature are simply two ways of saying the same thing, that Christ was fully human and fully God in a single person.<br /><br />It's a path that stands between Nestorianism (two persons, one human and one divine -- which is a lot more like "avatar") and monophysitism (half-God and half-man). I do think that path marks a critical distinction. If Jesus of Nazareth was not fully human and fully God united in a single person (whether expressed the chalcedonian or miaphysite way) then we're really not talking about the same faith anymore.<br /><br />If I want avatars, I can take my Hinduism undiluted. And I can't think of anything that would attract me at all in ancient monophysitism. That's not a God to whom I know how to relate or with whom I really want to relate.<br /><br />I don't disagree with your point. There are things we always see as through a glass darkly. Anything we can ever say about God is necessarily incomplete so that when we say God is something, we have to say that God is also not like that which we said in any way we have experienced it or understood it elsewhere, and that God transcends anything we understand about the way we have described him. We have to say that even when we say that God is love.<br /><br />At the same time there are things we do have to say and ideas that lead to a very understanding of God. And the monophysitism that both Chalcedon and the non-Chalcedonian miaphysites eventually rejected is, I think, one of those things.Scott Morizothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17825458003284098965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-59882221941154073802009-09-19T08:20:35.767-05:002009-09-19T08:20:35.767-05:00(Amended)
Realizing our limitations...
absolutely...(Amended)<br /><br />Realizing our limitations...<br />absolutely spot on, and it's something, I hope, that becomes more apparent as we grow (older, and hopefully, wiser) and begin to recognize the realities of our present, pretty limited frame of reference.<br /><br />I was also interested to note that you touched on some of the really deep mysteries here. I suspect that's the reason we'll need eternal life - it will take such an existence as the norm to grant Our Creator and Redeemer the framework in which to truly begin to express and reveal the magnitude of His nature and to share a measure of that life with us - astounding.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13707181627588121525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-31876167778372172792009-09-19T08:18:04.838-05:002009-09-19T08:18:04.838-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13707181627588121525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-20425186145699072132009-09-19T02:57:36.917-05:002009-09-19T02:57:36.917-05:00I found and read your blog. Since you accept logic...I found and read your blog. Since you accept logic I reccommend you to read the website of www.netzarim.co.il ..<br />It contains a logical proof of the purpose of the Creator.<br /><br />It also contains research about Ribi Yehoshua from Nazareth (the Messiah).. Research using logic..<br /><br />Anders BranderudAnders Branderudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15696376904417632753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-18029689491537968512009-09-18T07:02:23.850-05:002009-09-18T07:02:23.850-05:00This is an excellent analogy, which I will be usin...This is an excellent analogy, which I will be using in class at my soonest opportunity. :-)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06680367700762008875noreply@blogger.com