John! Such a great question, dear friend. If ya don't mind, I'm gonna use your question as fuel to write a bit longer post about it and will publish it tonight. Hang tight!
Jonas- I think I misread your message. You're not saying everyone gets to go to heaven. Rather, faith is a gift from God. Reject it, and we condemn ourselves. In other words, God is not punishing us, we are. I like the personal responsibility part of that interpretation. Raised Catholic, I have an ingrained sense of sin, justice, and right versus wrong. Some Christian theologians argue a feel-good version that everyone gets to go to heaven, that none of us are condemned. Which I don't agree with. I believe there are spiritual consequences for dancing with the devil. Anyway, I look forward to your learned illumination on this in future posts!
Hey John - this is so good! Okay, here's the gist... It's way worse than this - I say that we are all condemned. It's the human condition. We can't get out of it by our own volition no matter how staunchly we think we're following the law. But there's also good news... We are freed, not by our own egoic works but by God's work in us. Here's my insufficient post, friend - thanks again!! https://medium.com/higherthoughts/the-accuser-within-can-never-lead-to-freedom-99b5da8b36e2?sk=fa4d963a7f6c6b308e55878f9264275a
Okay, I see where you're coming from in the article. I particularly liked this line: "The accusing voice within ends and we are turned outward towards our neighbor in need." Our egos really do get in the way of so much. Our arrogance to think we've got it all figured out. Truly receiving the gift of faith opens the door to stop making it all about us.
Because decent people fret about not harming others. If the threat of punishment were the only thing holding humans back from utter chaos it would be a very sad world.
Yes, of course, Jon, I agree. I was thinking more about some Christian theologians who argue that we all will go to heaven, which contradicts my Catholic upbringing about sin, repentance, etc. But I think I partly misread Jonas's message. He's not saying everyone goes to heaven, but that we must accept God's gift of faith.
This is a comforting view, but does it not absolve us of personal responsibility? If none of us are condemned, then why fret about sin?
John! Such a great question, dear friend. If ya don't mind, I'm gonna use your question as fuel to write a bit longer post about it and will publish it tonight. Hang tight!
Jonas- I think I misread your message. You're not saying everyone gets to go to heaven. Rather, faith is a gift from God. Reject it, and we condemn ourselves. In other words, God is not punishing us, we are. I like the personal responsibility part of that interpretation. Raised Catholic, I have an ingrained sense of sin, justice, and right versus wrong. Some Christian theologians argue a feel-good version that everyone gets to go to heaven, that none of us are condemned. Which I don't agree with. I believe there are spiritual consequences for dancing with the devil. Anyway, I look forward to your learned illumination on this in future posts!
Hey John - this is so good! Okay, here's the gist... It's way worse than this - I say that we are all condemned. It's the human condition. We can't get out of it by our own volition no matter how staunchly we think we're following the law. But there's also good news... We are freed, not by our own egoic works but by God's work in us. Here's my insufficient post, friend - thanks again!! https://medium.com/higherthoughts/the-accuser-within-can-never-lead-to-freedom-99b5da8b36e2?sk=fa4d963a7f6c6b308e55878f9264275a
Okay, I see where you're coming from in the article. I particularly liked this line: "The accusing voice within ends and we are turned outward towards our neighbor in need." Our egos really do get in the way of so much. Our arrogance to think we've got it all figured out. Truly receiving the gift of faith opens the door to stop making it all about us.
Again, thanks for the thought-fodder, friend:)
Ha, my pleasure! All the best, Jonas.
Because decent people fret about not harming others. If the threat of punishment were the only thing holding humans back from utter chaos it would be a very sad world.
Yes, of course, Jon, I agree. I was thinking more about some Christian theologians who argue that we all will go to heaven, which contradicts my Catholic upbringing about sin, repentance, etc. But I think I partly misread Jonas's message. He's not saying everyone goes to heaven, but that we must accept God's gift of faith.