Comments for Not Our Home http://www.notourhome.com Theological explorations by Matt Heerema Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:46:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Gospel Lessons from Cinderella by Dan Benson http://www.notourhome.com/illustrations/2010/03/gospel-lessons-from-cinderella/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Dan Benson Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:46:30 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=127#comment-393 <p>Great post, Matt. And comment, Kristen. To add, John Eldredge would add that Christ saves us so we can be Cinderella (or Prince Charming), which God has always intended us to be.</p> <p>I love spiritual metaphors from the movies -- <a href="http://snortinghorses.blogspot.com/2010/06/psycho-churchianity-or-worship-at-bates.html" rel="nofollow">http://snortinghorses.blogspot.com/2010/06/psycho...</a>.</p> Great post, Matt. And comment, Kristen. To add, John Eldredge would add that Christ saves us so we can be Cinderella (or Prince Charming), which God has always intended us to be.

I love spiritual metaphors from the movies — http://snortinghorses.blogspot.com/2010/06/psycho....

]]> Comment on God desires all to be saved, yet saves only some. by ouini http://www.notourhome.com/features/2010/05/god-desires-all-to-be-saved-yet-saves-only-some/comment-page-1/#comment-391 ouini Wed, 26 May 2010 15:43:55 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=135#comment-391 <ol> <li>God has “real and profound” compassion for sinners. (God's compassion may be profound, but it is not real in the sense that it never ever supercedes his sense of justice. God may have thoughts about sparing some, but will never break his laws of justice, and so his mercy remains only an abstraction, absolutely limited by the rules of justice he set for himself.) </li> <li>God always chooses to sign or not sign the death-warrant based on his rules, always choosing his stronger desire for justice over his lesser desire for mercy. (God's mercy is not feigned, but it must always be considered slight compared to his sense of justice. The fact is that His mercy is, rationally or not, utterly, completely, and always counterpoised by a complex of judgments (His justice). . . presumeably based on wisdom and moral indignation.) </li> </ol>
  • God has “real and profound” compassion for sinners. (God's compassion may be profound, but it is not real in the sense that it never ever supercedes his sense of justice. God may have thoughts about sparing some, but will never break his laws of justice, and so his mercy remains only an abstraction, absolutely limited by the rules of justice he set for himself.)
  • God always chooses to sign or not sign the death-warrant based on his rules, always choosing his stronger desire for justice over his lesser desire for mercy. (God's mercy is not feigned, but it must always be considered slight compared to his sense of justice. The fact is that His mercy is, rationally or not, utterly, completely, and always counterpoised by a complex of judgments (His justice). . . presumeably based on wisdom and moral indignation.)
    • ]]>         Comment on God desires all to be saved, yet saves only some. by ouini http://www.notourhome.com/features/2010/05/god-desires-all-to-be-saved-yet-saves-only-some/comment-page-1/#comment-390 ouini Wed, 26 May 2010 15:43:42 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=135#comment-390 <ol> <li>God knows Everyone. God knows everyone's actions, good and bad, past, present, and future. (God's justice dictates all are sinners, worthy of death. His justice includes an escape clause for profession of faith. His thoughts of mercy take a back seat to these rules of justice.) </li> <li>God "makes friends" with sinners who acknowledge him. (God's justice deems that these sinners will receive life.) </li> <li>Sinners continue to sin. (God's justice still deems that non-friend sinners will get death. His thoughts of mercy never countermand this.) </li> </ol>
  • God knows Everyone. God knows everyone's actions, good and bad, past, present, and future. (God's justice dictates all are sinners, worthy of death. His justice includes an escape clause for profession of faith. His thoughts of mercy take a back seat to these rules of justice.)
  • God "makes friends" with sinners who acknowledge him. (God's justice deems that these sinners will receive life.)
  • Sinners continue to sin. (God's justice still deems that non-friend sinners will get death. His thoughts of mercy never countermand this.)
    • ]]>         Comment on God desires all to be saved, yet saves only some. by ouini http://www.notourhome.com/features/2010/05/god-desires-all-to-be-saved-yet-saves-only-some/comment-page-1/#comment-389 ouini Wed, 26 May 2010 15:43:18 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=135#comment-389 <ol> <li>Major André jeopardizes the safety of the young nation through “rash and unfortunate” treasonous acts. (Washington knows of Major Andre's bad actions, which his justice deems worthy of death.) </li> <li>Washington has “real and profound” compassion for André. (Washington remembers Andre's good actions as well. W's sense of mercy deems the sum of all Andre's actions worthy of sparing life.) </li> <li>Washington very well could have chosen not to sign the death warrant, but in the end, decides to proceed. (Washington is, in this case, choosing his stronger desire for justice over his lesser desire for mercy.) </li> </ol> <p>Chronologically for God:</p>
  • Major André jeopardizes the safety of the young nation through “rash and unfortunate” treasonous acts. (Washington knows of Major Andre's bad actions, which his justice deems worthy of death.)
  • Washington has “real and profound” compassion for André. (Washington remembers Andre's good actions as well. W's sense of mercy deems the sum of all Andre's actions worthy of sparing life.)
  • Washington very well could have chosen not to sign the death warrant, but in the end, decides to proceed. (Washington is, in this case, choosing his stronger desire for justice over his lesser desire for mercy.)

    • Chronologically for God:

    ]]>         Comment on God desires all to be saved, yet saves only some. by ouini http://www.notourhome.com/features/2010/05/god-desires-all-to-be-saved-yet-saves-only-some/comment-page-1/#comment-388 ouini Wed, 26 May 2010 15:42:59 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=135#comment-388 <p>This is interesting philosophy.</p> <p>Given that justice is punishing in accordance to law, and mercy is suspension of punishment in spite of law. I think the analogy isn't terribly strong. Especially if Washington's position, knowing what he knows and when he knows it, is compared fairly to God's position, knowing what he knows and when he knows it.</p> <p>Chronologically for Washington: 1. Washington does not know Major Andre or his future actions, good or bad. (Justice and Mercy are irrelevant.) 2. Washington meets and makes friends with Major André. W does not know Major Andre's future bad actions. (W knows Major Andre's good actions, which don't trigger W's sense of justice or mercy.)</p> This is interesting philosophy.

    Given that justice is punishing in accordance to law, and mercy is suspension of punishment in spite of law. I think the analogy isn't terribly strong. Especially if Washington's position, knowing what he knows and when he knows it, is compared fairly to God's position, knowing what he knows and when he knows it.

    Chronologically for Washington: 1. Washington does not know Major Andre or his future actions, good or bad. (Justice and Mercy are irrelevant.) 2. Washington meets and makes friends with Major André. W does not know Major Andre's future bad actions. (W knows Major Andre's good actions, which don't trigger W's sense of justice or mercy.)

    ]]>         Comment on God desires all to be saved, yet saves only some. by Matt Heerema http://www.notourhome.com/features/2010/05/god-desires-all-to-be-saved-yet-saves-only-some/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Matt Heerema Wed, 19 May 2010 15:44:15 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=135#comment-387 <p>As a side note, I am aware of Dabney's errant views on slavery. It would be tempting to disown all of his theology because of that, but if we applied this consistently to everyone, we would have no one left to listen to (except Jesus, but even there, he has chosen to communicate even his words on this earth to us by means of "jars of clay", broken men).</p> <p>Just thought I'd throw that in there.</p> As a side note, I am aware of Dabney's errant views on slavery. It would be tempting to disown all of his theology because of that, but if we applied this consistently to everyone, we would have no one left to listen to (except Jesus, but even there, he has chosen to communicate even his words on this earth to us by means of "jars of clay", broken men).

    Just thought I'd throw that in there.

    ]]>         Comment on Tozer on Possessiveness by Paul http://www.notourhome.com/quotations/2009/11/tozer-on-possessiveness/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Paul Wed, 19 May 2010 15:40:13 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=100#comment-386 <p>Read this chapter a couple of weeks ago and I'm still pondering it. It will be my topic at the Rock on Thursday.</p> Read this chapter a couple of weeks ago and I'm still pondering it. It will be my topic at the Rock on Thursday.

    ]]>         Comment on Gospel Lessons from Cinderella by Kristen http://www.notourhome.com/illustrations/2010/03/gospel-lessons-from-cinderella/comment-page-1/#comment-375 Kristen Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:02:11 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=127#comment-375 <p>yes, I agree. We are on the same page, just word things differently. Thanks for sharing.</p> yes, I agree. We are on the same page, just word things differently. Thanks for sharing.

    ]]>         Comment on Gospel Lessons from Cinderella by Matt Heerema http://www.notourhome.com/illustrations/2010/03/gospel-lessons-from-cinderella/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Matt Heerema Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:52:53 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=127#comment-374 <p>Kristen, I agree. I think I might refine the thought a little bit like so: we will never be Cinderella on this earth. Christ is our Cinderella example (perfection) that we strive to be like (and will become by God's working in us!) Because of Christ's work, God sees us with through the lens of Christ: Justified. We are "counted as righteous", our trespasses (which are still real and still continue, though as we grow, fade and change) are no longer COUNTED against us. We are not actually Cinderella, we are counted as Cinderella (which seems unfair of God!)</p> <p>As you said, because of this, we shouldn't continue in our wretchedness. If we really believe this, it is logically incompatible! (Romans 6) We should seek to kill sin in our life. Repent of it. Flee from it.</p> <p>I'm sure we are on the same page here, I'd just word things differently.</p> Kristen, I agree. I think I might refine the thought a little bit like so: we will never be Cinderella on this earth. Christ is our Cinderella example (perfection) that we strive to be like (and will become by God's working in us!) Because of Christ's work, God sees us with through the lens of Christ: Justified. We are "counted as righteous", our trespasses (which are still real and still continue, though as we grow, fade and change) are no longer COUNTED against us. We are not actually Cinderella, we are counted as Cinderella (which seems unfair of God!)

    As you said, because of this, we shouldn't continue in our wretchedness. If we really believe this, it is logically incompatible! (Romans 6) We should seek to kill sin in our life. Repent of it. Flee from it.

    I'm sure we are on the same page here, I'd just word things differently.

    ]]>         Comment on Gospel Lessons from Cinderella by Kristen Borseth http://www.notourhome.com/illustrations/2010/03/gospel-lessons-from-cinderella/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Kristen Borseth Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:35:16 +0000 http://www.notourhome.com/?p=127#comment-373 <p>I guess the Cinderella analogy only goes so far, because it doesn't tell how Christ makes us beautiful. Even though we still do bad things- in Him we are no longer bad. He has chosen us- not so we could continue to be lowly, wretched people, but so we could be his children- a royal priesthood, a holy nation a people belonging to God. (I Peter 2:9) I think we could think of ourselves as Cinderella as long as we realize that it is Christ who has made us that way and not ourselves. Our response then would be to tell others of the great transformation He has made in us- because we are wicked and ugly without Him.</p> <p>"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so not longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God..." II Corinthians 5:16-18</p> I guess the Cinderella analogy only goes so far, because it doesn’t tell how Christ makes us beautiful. Even though we still do bad things- in Him we are no longer bad. He has chosen us- not so we could continue to be lowly, wretched people, but so we could be his children- a royal priesthood, a holy nation a people belonging to God. (I Peter 2:9) I think we could think of ourselves as Cinderella as long as we realize that it is Christ who has made us that way and not ourselves. Our response then would be to tell others of the great transformation He has made in us- because we are wicked and ugly without Him.

    “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so not longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God…” II Corinthians 5:16-18

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