www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Romans 5:19

"He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lake-side, He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: 'Follow thou me!' and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is." -- Albert Schweitzer, The Quest of the Historical Jesus

Hey Joe (where are you going with that gun in your hand - Henrix)

I could not resist.

I hate it when people recommend books to me, as if I had all the time in the world to read all of them, and as if they would all agree and really know what they were talking about. I would be reading for years and be more confused than when I started.

However ... I am going to recommend a book to you. It is 'Understanding The Old Testament' by Bernhard W. Anderson.

It found its way to me somehow and sat on my shelf for years simple because it is a decent looking hard cover. So it looked nice in the book case. It made me look smart.

But one day I was bored of my typical reading an picked it up and after a few hours I recognized it for a real jewel. One of the best books I ever read!

It is a history of Israel. It gives the context (I repeat) context of the history of Israel and understanding the progression (I repeat) the progression of the OT.

When you are done with the book you will understand why one can not take quotes from all over the scriptures and hope to have a consistancy between them.

Think of your own progression of understanding God. When you were a child you understood God - but as you matured - so did your understanding of God. God remained the same - but you own understanding developed. You changed - not God. He remained the same while your own understanding of him changed and developed.

God does not punish children for the sins of their fathers - and he never did. But - it seemed that way once upon a time to the Jews. Disease and such was seen as punishment for personal sins and if the lepar seemed not to have personal sins then it must be on account of the sins of his parents! Christ erased that when he came (the story about the pilgrims who were crushed by a falling tower). And so scriptures display a human development in understanding God.

In any event ... I am sure you would find the book I mentioned as, at least, an interesting read giving context to the progression of the OT.

It is useless to try and understand God in the way you are trying to understand him. A labyrinth in which many people wander around lost - while insisting holiness is just around the next bend. If it were of value than Jesus would have written something for us in his own hand ... a book of rules to follow... but he didn't. Because the only path that works is day by day and moment by moment attention to conscience. Mental rules to follow can not replace the mystery of the moment by moment dynamics of personal conscience (we would like it to - but it can not). We would like to live by our heads but God wants us to live by our hearts (conscience).

Providence is the living action of Christ which comes to us every day (hidden behind the appearance of daily events) and conscience is where the Will of God is given to us at every moment regarding these events. A child is capable of this. This is the entire meaning of the NT.

Anyways ... Peace to you and to your church my friend.
-ray

Ray, thank you for your words and your thoughts, also the book recommendation. I will probably try to get hold of it. I'm sympathetic with the point of view you just expressed. God bless.

Joe

ray--

Never heard or read of Providence being defined this way or conscience related to it in that way either. But it's profound enough to do some time meditating on it.

Thanks.

BOB