honoring God in the arts ...
10-16-2007, 04:44 PM
<QUOTE author="Dave,Oct 16 2007, 03:28 PM">
I spend a lot of time playing with words and preaching and teaching about what words mean and why they're important.
"Freedom in Jesus" is one of those phrases. I know what Dave is saying here and I just want to clarify. Freedom is actually a very technical term and is NOT what we 21st Century English speakers try to make it out to be. "Free" usually means "not owned, in scriptural terms; as an object or a slave is owned". You give a slave his freedom, but that does not mean that he can do as he pleases. There are still laws and rules in the land. That's why a freed slave can enjoy LIBERTY. Big difference. Jesus brought freedom to the captives and abundant life within the LIBERTY that many of us enjoy as free men and women in our respective countries. By no means ALL of us, however.
So what I think Dave is saying really fits, actually. Yes, we are free in Jesus, but that does not give us the liberty of trampling other people's feelings, traditions, customs, etc. Sure, we could do that, but why alienate people that we're called to love unconditionally???
If we truly had "freedom" the world would live in total anarchy. Not a good or Godly thing.
Thanks, Dave. Good comments and images.
Dave,Oct 16 2007, 03:28 PM Wrote:...often people fail to understand the issues involved and believe that their freedom in Jesus means it's OK. Sorry, but it's not. If we love the Jewish people, we need to know and avoid the things that hurt them. Gentiles are grafted in - guests at the royal banquet - so showing respect and honouring the hosts are essential.The guest thing is a good way to think about it. Yes, we're grafted in, yes we are fully family, not merely invited guests, but to mis-use an old adage, "When in the New Jerusalem, do as the Jerusalemites do!"
I spend a lot of time playing with words and preaching and teaching about what words mean and why they're important.
"Freedom in Jesus" is one of those phrases. I know what Dave is saying here and I just want to clarify. Freedom is actually a very technical term and is NOT what we 21st Century English speakers try to make it out to be. "Free" usually means "not owned, in scriptural terms; as an object or a slave is owned". You give a slave his freedom, but that does not mean that he can do as he pleases. There are still laws and rules in the land. That's why a freed slave can enjoy LIBERTY. Big difference. Jesus brought freedom to the captives and abundant life within the LIBERTY that many of us enjoy as free men and women in our respective countries. By no means ALL of us, however.
So what I think Dave is saying really fits, actually. Yes, we are free in Jesus, but that does not give us the liberty of trampling other people's feelings, traditions, customs, etc. Sure, we could do that, but why alienate people that we're called to love unconditionally???
If we truly had "freedom" the world would live in total anarchy. Not a good or Godly thing.
Thanks, Dave. Good comments and images.
Blessings!
Dean
DeanZF
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
Messages In This Thread
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
Powered By MyBB - Hosted by Tierra Hosting