Soul & Spirit - Same or Different?

[OBW]

One more comment. I have found that not needing to have everything answered or explained — especially where it is not required for an understanding of other things — has been liberating. I am free to focus on what matters and leave the bloated lexicon to someone else.

And when I find myself with people who are stuck on adding to the lexicon for reasons other than to add to it, I tend to back away. In this context (the forum) I remain solely for the purpose of pointing out what might be unnecessary.

[Sons to Glory!]

Now I think I got it. Thanks. I guess then it's a matter of what we think is unnecessary. I do agree, that even this conversation is perhaps along those lines. And for that matter, 90% or more of the discussions on this forum could be viewed that way, right? What justifies it is in the eyes of the justifier, or what glasses a person is looking through.

And you are right about Hebrews 4:12 - this verse is showing that we can't do it, and that it must be something of God beyond us that can do that dividing, namely His word. Without Him, we can't hope to divide our soul from our spirit on our own!

[manna-man]

Amen OBW!

Astute and uncomplicates everything!

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

The Scriptures "operate" regardless of our subjective feelings or sensibilities. Trust me, the Scriptures always know "what's the difference between what's just ourselves and what's actually Christ", and as the author of Hebrews so clearly points out, the Scriptures are able to discern between our spirit and our soul.

My goodness, what have we all come to when the mere mentioning that "the Scriptures operate regardless of our subjective feelings" are considered fightin words! It seems to me that some of us care more for our lexicon than for the unvarnished truth in the Word of God. I know I'm guilty of this from time to time, but this is part of what this forum is all about - "Iron sharpens iron". We may all do well to take to heart the words of Karl Barth (today's quote) "When we speak of our virtues we are competitors. When we confess our sins we become brothers." I think that part of our "recovery from the Recovery" might be to seriously consider loosening the tight grip we hold on the "virtues" of some of the cherished terms and concepts...even the ones that are seemingly based upon the Scriptures. I guess it never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for us Christians to beat the plowshares of the living and abiding Word of God into swords of dogmatism to sway against our brothers. May God have mercy on us all!

And so it goes with this matter of the difference (or lack thereof) between the soul and the human spirit. Some of us will insist that this is an essential item of the Christian faith (a la Watchman Nee) while others hold to the notion that there is no discernible difference. Maybe most of us fall somewhere in between the two of these "extremes"? In any event, I would still ask my brothers who hold that there is a crucial difference to please give us some simple, plain and practical examples. After all, if we cannot give such practical examples that confirm the validity, if not the value, of any teaching or practice, that should be telling us that maybe, just maybe, we are making more of something than God and his Word can confirm. Just sayin...
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[Sons to Glory!]

It seems like you are asking for empirical proof here. Kinda like asking, "Can you give me a practical example of God?" I can provide various evidences, but don't know it would rise to the level of proof you seem to be seeking.

And actually, even though I started this thread, I do not really consider this as anything like an essential article of the faith. It was more a curiosity as I wondered if those who don't see any difference between soul & spirit might tend to think of those who do as somewhat mystical.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

It was more a curiosity as I wondered if those who don't see any difference between soul & spirit...

You have your curiosity, I have mine, others have theirs. It's perfectly reasonable to have interests, views, experiences, that are not identical to the great mass of humanity. It's part of what makes us who we are, and I think such idiosyncrasies are as much "ordered by our Creator" as are our circumstances.

The problem is, we're trying to have such conversations in the long shadow of one whose curiosity was deemed truth, whilst everyone else's views and/or interests were suppressed, being deemed "opinions" and of Satan. What a soul-warping and spirit-quenching system that was.

Anyway, a considerable portion of the push-back you've gotten is probably a residual from that, a kind of rebound effect, and not at you proper, or your thoughts or experiences. Please keep that in mind.

[Sons to Glory!]

Oh yeah, well aware, as that's sort of the purpose of this forum! Thanks for the kind words!