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Originally Posted by OBW
The post-Christian. If that means that there are no more Christians, then we have a problem. But the term generally means something like the visible testimony of Christianity changes sufficiently that it no longer resembles the thing that is currently called Christianity. We may have the best doctrines (collectively) and think we are on the path. But we are going nowhere except on a journey being rapidly expelled from the mouth of God. (Not pointing fingers. I see myself going on that same journey as well.)
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Well I can't do the idea justice and perhaps I shouldn't have even tried. I certainly wasn't clear.
I am a sinner, redeemed and reborn. Jesus is and remains the "Lamb of God." This is my immutable fact as a Protestant evangelical fundamentalist, for lack of a better label. 'Christian' OK, fine.
But imagine a world beyond this in which there is no sin, death, pain, sorrow, shame, and confusion. Failure isn't known. But these words still fit! Incredible! The blessing and praise and honor and glory. The declarations "I will obey Your will" still stand as true and real. All that kind of stuff.
So I was looking at it not as a pious Jew or WL's "New Testament believer" but as if it were reality itself, come to us in the person of the Son of God. All my cultural "Christian" baggage isn't rendered moot, but rather in the brightness of His glory my religious background is rendered irrelevant. Sometimes I can just "feel" the Spirit of reality in these words. I don't know how to express it. But even my "Christianity" fades away.
That's why I got so indignant when WL dismissed them as the "fallen natural concepts" of a sinner. Unbelievable. Simply shocking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
This is where I see the highly spiritual view of the Psalms as a potential hook. Oh, everything you speak of is there. But it is not just about the kingdom to come. If it is not informing this life, then we have missed its impact. That is one of the reasons that I have tended to hold back from bible studies on Revelation. Too much speculation about the future and no desire to consider today. That is not the fault of Revelation, but those who study it in that manner.
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Well it's pretty clear by now that I'm a "lost in the clouds" type, and I can tell you my living doesn't match my vision at all. But I try to be merciful to others, and Jesus said if you show mercy to others, then God will be merciful to you. That's my best hope.
But visions and dreams have this: they call us. Beyond ourselves, our struggles, our situations and considerations. Moses still had to go back to Egypt. He had to confront Pharoah and lead the people out. But the vision on the back side of the mountain propelled him, and sustained him. In the Psalms I see Christ calling, speaking, declaring. It is a powerful attention-getter. I certainly hope that in that day, I will be found to have followed that voice, and to have obeyed.