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In a number of recent blogs, and in additional discussions I have began to struggle with the idea of genetic predisposition, the concept that genetic markers negate our ability to choose in an area of our behavior. Genetic markers have been found that indicate tendencies toward alcoholism, homosexuality, and gluttony, with additional thoughts being raised towards areas of sexual behavior that includes pedophilia, among other things. Now granted, I’ve brought out the “big ones”, those areas that bring divisiveness, but I do so only for example, there are many, many less noxious markers that are being flagged for our attention in society. Here is my real concern, are we now accepting a secular predestination as fact in our concept of human behavior? Have we thrown away the concept of free will? I am beginning to think that the concept of genetic predisposition is even more of a heretical secular concept than secular humanism ever tried to become. On one side I hate to use the concept of heresy to explain my view of G.P., but there is probably no better way to explain the thought. We have a concept that takes away our responsibility for sin, and negates Christ’s action on the cross. While I cannot explain what the markers do mean, I can tell you that free will is still in force, people who have a disposition towards an area of sin still get to chose whether to exercise that disposition. I wonder, no proof, just speculation, if the genetic disposition is the physical response to the fall, if it shows, from a scientific perspective, the actions of sin on our flesh? If that is the case then the real result of Christ’s death and resurrection is our ability to not be bound by those predispositions, and it has the result of allowing our overcoming of those bondages. Is this what Paul didn’t even know needed explaining when he talks of our overcoming the flesh. Did Paul speak prophetically about an action of overcoming that was not just thought, but was so deeply rooted into our being that nothing short of God in the flesh could break its hold on us? I keep coming back to Gregory of Nyssa, "What is not assumed, is not healed”. If Christ did not take all of what mankind is, in its sin, yet held by a sinless one, then all is not healed. If we exclude any aspect of sin, even that which is held by genetic predisposition, then we leave an aspect of the fall that is not healed. So where does that leave us in relation to sin? Whether it’s homosexuality, lust, gluttony, anger, schismaticism, or just plain laziness, we must point people back to the cross, and a Man/God, who has born our sins. We can’t leave people lost in condemnation, because there is a resurrection after the cross, but we have to point them to restoration and healing. If we do not, then we become enablers of their sin, and participants by proxy. We love, but we point towards He who heals.
Rom 8:8 So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ is in you, indeed the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised up Christ from the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive by His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God
May we be, and encourage others to be "the sons of God."
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15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
This last week I've been away at a training class in Boca Raton(yep I know it's rough work, but someones got to do it). All in all a reasonable week, but in the midst of it I learned some things I didn't want to know about myself. As I was packing up to come home I realized that I am still floundering in grief. For those who are around me each week, and probably some here on this site, I probably cover up the grief with my humor, but it's there, being kept at bay, most of the time.
Now you're probably wondering why I started with image and likeness, I am finding that even in the midst of pain, I am still being changed, I am still being revealed in that image and likeness. I still struggle, and I still find pain a companion, but I am still being changed. The laughter I use to hide the grief is actually real, it is not a mask, it is real. I seldom give in to a public display of the grief, but my heart is very soft towards God and His wonders. When I reach into His presence in worship, I see revealed the fullness of His love. I find myself knowing the depth of His desire for me, even with my grief. St. Gregory of Nazianus said it this way, "That which was not assumed is not healed; but that which is united to God is saved". Even our grief was taken up by Christ in His humanity and taken with that humanity to the cross, into the depth's of hell, into resurrection, and now, has been taken up to the very throne in the heavens. So, I do not struggle alone, this image that I've taken up gets to accompany me on this journey. Even in the "mirror" I am being changed from glory to glory, a gift to be revealed by the action of the Holy Spirit. So like my hero, Reepicheep, I go "farther up and farther in", looking for that time when all will be known without a mirror, and all tears will be dried, and He will be the light of our revelation!
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OK,
This is more of a singles blog today! You see, I have started dating again, you know, kinda testing the waters and seeing if God has someone out there for me. I know that God will lead me into the right relationship, but you know, at 50+ I carry a pretty hefty load. It's really not sin, per se, but it's just the ordinary aspect of identity. Boundless's current bloggot me started thinking about this, and I'm sure I will continue in my thinking. Just so you all who aren't single don't feel left out, the same problem applies to our "God relationship". We carry tons and tons of baggage, you know, the "I can't do this Lord, or the "it's not who I am", or the " Lord you couldn't call me to this, I've blown it so many times", or lastly the " who me!!" response. Now I will not tell you that i have the answers, I, both gently, and not so gently, led my last date down a great number of paths, just gathering data, so to speak. I know I was as obvious as she was(she also did some gathering), but like the author of the Boundless article, when we were younger we responded in an easier way, we let chemistry and potential have the ability to draw us together, then God could do the cementing. At least, we need to allow God to draw us unto Himself, and allow the Holy Spirit to do it's work of cementing us into the mold of our Father, becoming like Him.
So, how should we then live?(catchy phrase) I don't know. I do know that God is in there moving around that room of my life, rearranging the furniture, straightening up the clutter, and maybe, just maybe carrying off some of my luggage, not to negate who I am, but to reveal what's hiding behind all that clutter.
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OK,
I think this may actually make sense....hehe......
THOUGHTS FROM IRELAND REGARDING OUR ELECTION
I got an email from a friend in Ireland , who writes as follows:
'We, in Ireland , can't figure out why people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States .
On one side, you have a gal who is a lawyer, married to a lawyer, running against a lawyer who is married to a gal who is a lawyer.
On the other side, you have a war hero married to a good looking woman who owns a beer distributorship.
What are you lads thinking over there?' Ya's gotta to be kidden. Your choice is simple!!!!!!!
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| In reading tonight I ran across a concept I hadn't heard before. I saw the reference to RIC Churches. This turned out to be Reconciliation in Christ Churches, or rather turned out to be churches who were welcoming in people of alternate lifestyles, in particular gay, lesbian, and transgendered people. Anyone who's read much of my stuff knows that I have a burden for people with these backgrounds, but I also have very, very strong feelings about the sinful nature of continuing in these lifestyles. I guess what I'm wondering again has to do with how to minister to people, who are involved in sinful lifestyles, and yet give them room to both grow and fail. I myself have struggled over the years with pornography, so in many ways I include myself when I consider those who struggle with their sexuality. I also have had much contact with people in these lifestyles, so I'm not unaware of their varied personal nature. So, to use an old phrase, how do you "love the sinner, and hate the sin"? To start out the conversation, I think that when we get lazy about sin we start down a slippery slope of justifying any area of sin. We must strongly stand against all sin, but how do we stand, and yet love?
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