The Compleat Individual
An oxymoron (and archaic spelling). The point?
No individual is a complete person without relationships.
So, what brought that on? Reading "Total Truth" ,by Nancy Pearcy. This is a must-read, everyone. It is an insightful analysis of various worldviews from the standpoint of the Bible. Those of you who dismiss the previous statement as irrelevant or nonsensical I would especially urge to read it.
I am finding a lot of food for thought in the book. For instance, seeing the Trinity as a model for human relationships. "The Trinity" is a theological term: it does not appear in the Bible. Cubic meters of books have been written on the subject; suffice it to say that the Bible insists there is one true God, the Creator,who is known as the Father in Heaven, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. These three are individuals in a loving relationship without hindrances, but yet are one.
At this point everyone says "Make up your mind- one or three, which is it?" The answer lies somewhere in the dimensions beyond our limiting four. The significance for us is that this existence points out the deep richness of God's Creation, much of which lies beyond our current ability to comprehend, but which explains the seeming contradictions in our experiences as human beings.
It also explains why philosophers have their troubles. Trying to comprehend the whole of Creation within the limits of their earthly existance, they keep leaving things out.The individual personalities in the Trinity are distinct and significant, and find their best expression in relationship with the each other. Philosophers have tended either to emphasize the corperate body (totalitarianism) or , as is the trend now, rampant individualism . As always, the Biblical view refuses to reduce reality to stark, simplistic extremes, but teaches us to reach for the rich fullness of balance in God's intricate Creation.
Pehaps that sounds like too much bother to you. We do tend to like our philosphies stark and simple. But, that's not what we were made for.
There are a lot of people out there with agendas for you. These may seem neat and tidy, but real life is not. Don't be robbed of the full life God has in store for you.
No individual is a complete person without relationships.
So, what brought that on? Reading "Total Truth" ,by Nancy Pearcy. This is a must-read, everyone. It is an insightful analysis of various worldviews from the standpoint of the Bible. Those of you who dismiss the previous statement as irrelevant or nonsensical I would especially urge to read it.
I am finding a lot of food for thought in the book. For instance, seeing the Trinity as a model for human relationships. "The Trinity" is a theological term: it does not appear in the Bible. Cubic meters of books have been written on the subject; suffice it to say that the Bible insists there is one true God, the Creator,who is known as the Father in Heaven, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. These three are individuals in a loving relationship without hindrances, but yet are one.
At this point everyone says "Make up your mind- one or three, which is it?" The answer lies somewhere in the dimensions beyond our limiting four. The significance for us is that this existence points out the deep richness of God's Creation, much of which lies beyond our current ability to comprehend, but which explains the seeming contradictions in our experiences as human beings.
It also explains why philosophers have their troubles. Trying to comprehend the whole of Creation within the limits of their earthly existance, they keep leaving things out.The individual personalities in the Trinity are distinct and significant, and find their best expression in relationship with the each other. Philosophers have tended either to emphasize the corperate body (totalitarianism) or , as is the trend now, rampant individualism . As always, the Biblical view refuses to reduce reality to stark, simplistic extremes, but teaches us to reach for the rich fullness of balance in God's intricate Creation.
Pehaps that sounds like too much bother to you. We do tend to like our philosphies stark and simple. But, that's not what we were made for.
There are a lot of people out there with agendas for you. These may seem neat and tidy, but real life is not. Don't be robbed of the full life God has in store for you.
posted by John Elliot | 10:20 PM
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