Publius Maximus wrote: >>> >> I cannot concieve that someone who loves ME (that is a personal ME, not >> a generic Me) will be willing to have me as his slave. If I have to have >> a massah then I'd rather be one that doesn't say he "loves" me. > > I hear ya. It's a hard one, especially for rich people. Understand > "rich" in this sense to mean anyone blessed in any way above > average---with money, intellect, physical acumen, etc. People who have > much "of themselves" to lay down to make the relationship work have > the hardest time with the concept. > > God's love for us easier to understand if you have kids. As I have 3 I > can tell you, nothing hurts more than when your kids make a bad > decision, or stop listening to you, and start doing things behind your > back, against your will. You love them, want the best for them, have > some idea of what life is about and want to share it with them---but > they rebel, and they can't help it, it's hardwired in them to rebel. > Some however manage to overcome rebelliousness better than > others---usually, the ones who understand that you love them. > > But even if you don't: Imagine a dad who says "Even though I made you, > you are free to choose whatever daddy you like, all I ask is that IF > you choose me as you're dad, you'll obey everything I say, trusting > that I won't lead you astray and have you're ultimate good at heart. > You'll be tested, but you can't ever give up! Once you're mature, > we'll have a kind of relationship for all eternity that will be way > better than anything you can contrive, or anyone else can promise. > However, there's a cutoff time, after which, you cannot claim me as > your daddy. Until then, nothing would make me happier than to have you > as my child! I did make you, after all. I'll wait to the last second > of the last minute of the last hour of the last day to receive you > back... but no longer. Alas it is your choice, not mine." > > That's the kind of dad God is. Compared to God, I suck as a parent. We all do. > > The "slave" concept is slightly overstated... you'll only view > yourself as a slave if you have rebellion against God's love in your > heart. Once you accept his love, obedience feels more like > reciprocation of love. > > People love Jesus' famous saying "The truth shall set you free!" > Except when they see the quote in full context: > > "If you are my disciple, you'll obey my commands. Then you'll know the > truth, and the truth will set you free." > > Absent that disciple relationship and obedience (slave?), there is no > truth, let alone any truth that can set you free. Not really; > everything else is bondage. > > It's easy to see it as a contradiction. It's more correct to > understand it as a paradox.
Hi Bob, That is 5 star philosophy/theology, thanks for that. -- Regards, Pete http://pete-theisen.com/ http://elect-pete-theisen.com/ _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[email protected] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
