by joelbear 5 Replies latest jw friends
Another line of thought that has come up from my private conversations with a nice active witness is:
What do we have faith in?
Should we have faith in the fact that god's commandments are for our well being?
Is there an example of a commandment from god that is not for our own good?
Joel
there are a lot of commands in the Old Testament that are....weird.
Like segregating a woman who births a male child for 7 days, and a woman who births a female child for 14 days. Obviously God thinks females are twice as pollutant as males.
I acutally had a discussion about spirituality with my mother today as we were driving to see my grandfather.
We both agree that spirituality has nothing to do with structure, but is a feeling, like love.
Faith is the same way. I could have faith that my grandfather is going to a better place when he dies, but those hope are just not based in solid fact.
Faith seems to be the pursuit of hope in the face of undeniable fact. Yet faith is necessary to survive, I think, to cope.
I have faith that God's commandments are meant for our well being, but as for them actually PURPOSED for our well being..that's another thing.
A commandment not for our own good- Head coverings for women. It's just demeaning. My mother and I talked about that today, too.
ashi
Hello, dear ones... and may you all have peace!
By the spirit of my Father that is in me by means of Christ, may I respond to what is stated here? Thank you!
Joelbear... peace to you:
What do we have faith in?There is no 'what', dear one; rather, it is whom:
John 14:1
Should we have faith in the fact that god's commandments are for our well being?Indeed. Question is, though, WHICH commandments? If you are speaking of those of the Law Covenant, I am compelled by the spirit of my Father that is in me by means of Christ to remind you that the Law Covenant was 'impaled'... with Christ. He, though, instituted a NEW Covenant, which has 'new' laws:
Matthew 5:16, 43-48
Matthew 6:14, 15
Matthew 7:1-5
Luke 6:37
John 6:48-56
John 7:37, 38
John 10:27
John 13:14-17
John 15:1-7
John 15:12, 17
John 20:23
... and many others, all of which are 'summed up' at Matthew 22:37-40
Is there an example of a commandment from god that is not for our own good?Whether you are 'under' the Law Covenant (which you ARE, if you are Israel and have NOT 'received' Christ as your 'ransom' FROM such Law)... OR under the 'new' Covenant, both Laws have set down not for God's benefit, or Christ's... but for man's. The 'new' Covenant mediated by Christ, however, is a MUCH lighter 'load'... and 'refreshing'... for it grants life... unlike the one mediated by Moses, which condemned to death.
Dearest Refiners Fire... peace to you, too!
there are a lot of commands in the Old Testament that are....weird.Not necessarily. For a people who lived almost 4 milleniums ago, it had its 'purpose'. You must consider the times.
Like segregating a woman who births a male child for 7 days, and a woman who births a female child for 14 days. Obviously God thinks females are twice as pollutant as males.Nahhh, it was all really for 'show'... to show Israel that in truth, they were not 'all that'. See, Israel was only 'chosen' because of Abraham... they were his 'seed' and because of HIS loyal love, God passed on blessing to his progeny. That progeny, however, rather than respecting and welcoming such blessed 'station'... murmmured against it. As a result, they HAD to be PUT under law.
It did not start out that way, however. Had they walked in FAITH after leaving Egypt, things would have been MUCH easier for them. God would have cared for them JUST because of their faith. It was their LACK of faith that dictated they be put under Law. They didn't know how to ACT.
Also, such Law was ONLY for fleshly Israel... and those who 'went with' them. Those today who try to 'resurrect' such Law... by trying to get YOU and others to adhere to parts of it... are in error and are blind guides. That Law was... 'impaled'... hung on a pole... but to death... with Christ. And those who wish to LIVE by it... will be judged by it... and so, should take care when eating their next ham sandwich or shrimp cocktail!
Finally, dear Ashitaka... may you, too, have peace!
I acutally had a discussion about spirituality with my mother today as we were driving to see my grandfather. We both agree that spirituality has nothing to do with structure, but is a feeling, like love.May I say here that what is spiritual is in fact QUITE 'structured', in fact more so than what is physical? For it is the physical that has come OUT of the spiritual. Problem is, we tend to think of spirital that is 'abstract', when in FACT, it is the spiritual, the 'celestial' that is 'real'... and the 'terrestrial' or earthly... that is not. THIS... is temporary. But that... remains forever and ever.
Faith is the same way. I could have faith that my grandfather is going to a better place when he dies, but those hope are just not based in solid fact.Actually, forgive me for saying so, but what you are speaking of IS 'hope'... and NOT 'faith'. It is also 'belief'. But as with Christ, the demons 'believe' and shudder. Yet, do they have 'faith'? Faith, dear one, is the ASSURED expectation of the things 'hoped' for... the EVIDENT DEMONSTRATION... of REALITIES... though not.... 'beheld'. What this means is that the one who has faith KNOWS that someone or someone exists because that something or someone has been DEMONSTRATED TO THEM... but not in the physical. Not 'beheld' (which means to experience empirically, or with the physical senses).
Faith seems to be the pursuit of hope in the face of undeniable fact.Now that is a very good definition. But, it is not so much a pursuit of hope, as it is the pursuit of 'realities'.
Yet faith is necessary to survive, I think, to cope.For many, yes. For those who 'belong' to Christ... it is imperative. For you cannot 'seek', 'approach', and request of God MUST believe He exists. Not THINK. Not HOPE. Not WONDER. Not SPECULATE. Rather, such ones must... KNOW.
I have faith that God's commandments are meant for our well being, but as for them actually PURPOSED for our well being..that's another thing.Again, it depends on WHICH 'laws' you are referring to. Those 'purposed' for fleshly Israel, WERE meant for their well-being... at a certain time. Then they were fulfilled, so that they could be REPLACED... with a BETTER Law... a SPIRITUAL one, based on love, mercy and forgiveness, which granted LIFE... rather than a PHYSICAL one, based on judgment and condemnation, and which lead to death.
A commandment not for our own good- Head coverings for women. It's just demeaning. My mother and I talked about that today, too.Unfortunately, I cannot find such a 'law' from my Father, and rather think it had to do with Paul's 'apostleship' to the nations. At any rate, however, the 'law' of LOVE... on which the New Covenant is based, would compel a woman TO cover her head in prayer or prophecy, if NOT doing so would 'stumble' her brother/sister. At some time, however, such brother or sister would 'grow' in THEIR love so that if this was overlooked, they would in THEIR love... show mercy, forgive... and not keep account of it.
I hope I have been of some assistance to you all. I am,
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ
So freakin critical .......yuk !
you are from your father the #%$^&(insert word)
What do we have faith in?
