Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Universal Human Condition

This post nicely describes how God sees the universal human condition.

Actually, it describes key aspects of C. S. Lewis' ideas, on how God sees the universal human condition. But I think its what the Bible teaches too...

In summary:

1) There is a sense in which God can completely agree with and encourage the fundamental desires of ALL men everywhere. This is because He WANTS the greatest good, the deepest joy, and the eternal satisfaction of His people. Which is, fundamentally, what every single human wants and pursues - even those who self-harm or commit murder. In fact this is essential for true faith - this satisfaction can ONLY be truly realized in God, and part of faith is recognizing this and subsequently pursuing it with the heart.

2) Because God is absolutely committed to this (encouraging and pursuing our fundamental desires with us), there is a real sense in which He MUST oppose most of our own personal attempts. This is because they are usually self-destructive (for us and often for others), and certainly do not succeed in attaining our fundamental desires. Worse, they discourage any real progress towards God's goals and our goals by making light of the satisfying value of Christ.

Read the post and see what you think :)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Old debate

red apple core
"Stan the half truth teller" and I had a big debate over at my blog "Pilgrimage" about whether Adam and Eve knew it was wrong to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil since they did not yet "know" good and evil.

Originally I claimed that they obviously did have some but not full "knowledge" before they ate of the tree or else God would not expect them to understand that it was wrong to disobey Him. They still didn't have full knowledge yet which they were protected from.

I heard a preacher ages ago suggest that to "know" in the Bible was to choose to have a relationship with someone. Then it hit me. The word "knew" used in the phrase in Genesis where Adam "knew" Eve is exactly the same Hebrew word as to "know" good and evil.

Genesis 4:1
"Now
Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.”
Go figure, to "know" doesn't just mean to have knowledge it means to have a relationship with..."

Revelation... ding ding