NCD Discipleship Resources
Curious as to the more practical side
I am curious as to the practical side of having a rational style. For instance I am anxious to get feed back from how another rational style views sin. My hope is that we will have something in common. From this experience, I will develope confidence in learning and hopefully be able to ask intelligent questions of other that provides me some insight into their style of spirituatity. I am seeking feedback please.
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Hi there,
As a fellow rational believer, my mind goes in many directions very quickly when considering your questions. To avoid burying myself very quickly in thoughts that may not be exactly what you are thinking about, I'll offer a couple of brief comments and look forward to the possibility of continuing the dialogue somewhat via this page.
As I look over my life, I have tended to look upon sin (others and my own) in a somewhat out of body way. If I have been wronged, I have tended to analyse what a person has done (their motives, the effects, what is at the root of their action) more so than feeling terribly much the effects of their wrongdoing. When I have wronged someone else, my response has tended to be similar (much to the dismay of the person who I wronged). I have also often tended to be puzzled when others have been shocked by the depth of sin displayed by an event or in the media. Others have sometimes viewed that as a stoic, desensitised response on my part. However, for me it is about taking my knowledge of the human condition to its logical conclusion. In a sense I feel that in a fallen world, love is the exception that needs explaining, not the horrors that we see around us.
As I have sought to be a more disciplined disciple of Jesus in more recent years, I can delight in the fact that I have increasingly spontaneous tendencies to love God and my neighbour as myself. I am less guided by the logical conclusion of the fallen world and more guided by God's Kingdom ideals and empowered by God's spirit. Sin has become for me not so much something that is bad, but just plain stupid if you are (either selfishly or in the context of community) seeking the "life in all its fullness" that Jesus so extravagantly (in the Greek) promises.
I'll leave it there lest I go off into some neverland of lonely pondering ;-)
On another point, an article by Dallas Willard that has encouraged me for some time can be found using the link below. In prayer times I have frequently been met with polite laughter when I expressed my praise by saying "Jesus is a genius". So you'll understand why this article encourages me in my rational style.
Jesus the Logician
Blessings and I look forward to your thoughts.
AJ