Originally posted by Aimiel
Oh no, you have to accept it? Well, that isn't free, that's pending your acceptance. And God doesn't 'appear' to hand it to you, along with a certificate and your photo in the paper. That just isn't good enough for Zak.
Perhaps the meaning of the word "accept" needs to be
discussed.
Lets take an example of a 5.00 gold coin of some rare vintage
and mint.
I can understand that coin as a shiney object, which is nice.
I can understand it as having a face value of 5.00, which is nicer.
I can understand it as an object made of gold, which by weight
alone probably excedes a 5.00 value.
I can understand its history and rareness and trade value, which
may make it even more valuable.
If I find that even more than that, its a family heirloom of some
kind, passed down through the generations, I may in fact
find it priceless in its sentimental value, beyond its rarity of mint.
If I wake up one morning and find that coin on my doorstep,
I can ignore it, or I can accept it, take it into my possession.
My accepting the coin has no relationship to my understanding
of its worth. Over time, I may learn and grow in my appreciation
of the value of the gift, but at the time I discover that gift and
accept it, my acceptance of it is NOT contingent on my understanding
of its value.
See where I'm getting here? The gift is offerred freely, and
although some of us who are mature in our understanding
of scripture and theology recognize it as "the pearl of great
price," others may not recognize its great value at first.
I can tell you from experience that cramming life, death,
resurrection, atonement, dispensation, hell, damnation,
and eternity all into a huge wad and trying to attach that all to
the simple gift scares people away. And that's exactly what
Christ warns the Pharisees against over and over. Don't
scare away my children, don't misrepresent my intentions,
I come to save the world, not condemn it!
Start with "God loves you, unconditionally." That's the simple,
shiney object. Accept that, and then, perhaps, as maturing
occurs, the rest will follow. You guys are wrapping this
beautiful, simple gift in a huge laundry list that almost makes it
unrecognizable. Smacking someone with a bible and saying
"here, read this, and accept it" is alot different from the simple
gift that salvation is.
djm
