tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569132079974556433.post5245991317344014900..comments2022-11-20T10:29:11.816+00:00Comments on The Musing Field: The Christian and the World: Staying Holy and FaithfulUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569132079974556433.post-31188522522013739892009-01-15T17:24:00.000+00:002009-01-15T17:24:00.000+00:00Yes, I believe I understand the distinction you're...Yes, I believe I understand the distinction you're making. <BR/><BR/>The primary focus should be on the "What", not the “How” (as I defined them in my first comment). That's exactly what Jesus meant when He said the most important commandment is to love the Lord your God... etc.<BR/><BR/>Without the first command, the rest is useless.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for replying, particularly on facebook. A few days after I last commented, I tried to find your blog again but couldn't. So I have a connection now. Great to hear from you again.<BR/><BR/>Marshall Jones, Jr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569132079974556433.post-83699114371849961722009-01-12T15:12:00.000+00:002009-01-12T15:12:00.000+00:00Hey Marshall...sorry for not responding sooner!Yes...Hey Marshall...sorry for not responding sooner!<BR/><BR/>Yes I agree with you that unbeleivers cannot love as God as God loves because they are without the Spirit- like you say this is what 1 John 4:7 is pointing to. <BR/><BR/>But nevertheless people don't always think in these categories. They should but they don't. When you say 'love one another' to a non-Christian they don't think 'I need the Spirit so that I can love as God loves' they would think 'I do love my family and friends'. And so when you give an answer to the question 'How are we to love and serve God?' and your answer is 'Love and serve our neighbours' many non-Christian will be decieved and assume that they love God because they see themselves as loving their neighbours. Whereas if you say something like loving God is enjoying the character of God or treasuring God's person people will realise that loving God means valuing God and they don't; non-Christians value everything but God.<BR/><BR/>Your answer is also deceptive to the Christian as most Christians will beleive that when they do good works they are loving God. The Pharisees did good works without loving God. <BR/>Many non-Christians do many good works and they hate God in their core. <BR/><BR/>Can you see my reservations about your concept?Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00865248367246387384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569132079974556433.post-82613615645531049502008-12-23T22:37:00.000+00:002008-12-23T22:37:00.000+00:00Thanks for the reply, Simon. I'm glad you enjoyed ...Thanks for the reply, Simon. I'm glad you enjoyed my blog.<BR/><BR/>About the first question I answered/discussed... about how loving others is how we love God.<BR/><BR/>I think I understand what you're saying with this. Love, as defined by popular culture, is about self-gratification. It's a feeling.<BR/><BR/>In this, I agree with you because there are people who love in this way who aren't believers. We aren't necessarily loving God if we try to love like that. <BR/><BR/>However, I was speaking with a finer distinction on love. As the Bible defines love, non-believers cannot truly love.<BR/><BR/>"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7<BR/><BR/>This kind of love for others is primarily how we love and serve God.<BR/><BR/>(Though I'd agree it's not the only way because we could surely love God even if no others “neighbors” existed... like in Adams case for example.)<BR/><BR/>Finally, you said that it seemed like I was saying serving others is "how our love for God is achieved."<BR/><BR/>I'd like to stay away from saying that our love for God is "achieved" in any way. That sounds too much like a works-based faith, which isn't biblical.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the discussion. I'm interested in reading your thoughts on this now. I'm always up for talking about Jesus.<BR/><BR/>- MarshallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569132079974556433.post-34332187869375201862008-12-23T18:22:00.000+00:002008-12-23T18:22:00.000+00:00Thanks for your comment Marshall.I'm glad that you...Thanks for your comment Marshall.<BR/>I'm glad that you found the post interesting. <BR/><BR/>In your response to the question 'In what ways can we be servants of humanity?' you seem to suggest that our love for God is achieved by loving others. <BR/><BR/>'Question: What are we to do? Answer: Love and serve God.<BR/><BR/>Question: How are we to do it? Answer: Love and serve our neighbours.'<BR/><BR/>I don't think this is right because a non-Christians can love their own neighbours well and not be loving God. They can love their own neighbour with a motive that is in rebellion towards God. <BR/><BR/>I believe that the love we have for our neighbour is an indicator of our love for God but not a means of our love for God. If love is the appropriate response to beauty then the way in which we love God is by enjoying Him. And this enjoyment of Him will flood our society with love and service towards our neighbours because He loves us so much. <BR/><BR/>What do you think?<BR/><BR/>I really like your blog and will am interested in reading your short book when it’s done. Can you keep me posted please?<BR/><BR/>Thanks and God bless you,<BR/><BR/>SimonSimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00865248367246387384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3569132079974556433.post-82909715752458922322008-12-23T02:27:00.000+00:002008-12-23T02:27:00.000+00:00I'm working on writing a short book on applying wh...I'm working on writing a short book on applying what we learn to what we live. I found your blog when I was researching what others have said on this topic. While I don't agree with everything you've written, I found some of what you've said compelling.<BR/><BR/>I particularly thought I’d comment on two of the questions you offered for discussion:<BR/><BR/>“In what ways are we to be servants of humanity?” That’s an excellent question. My blog is going to start to take a slightly different slant in the near future. It will primarily cover the answer to this question. I think the two commandments Jesus offered in the New Testament, love God and love your neighbor, can be summed up as the “What” and “How” of Christian. <BR/><BR/>Question: What are we to do? Answer: Love and serve God.<BR/><BR/>Question: How are we to do it? Answer: Love and serve our neighbors.<BR/><BR/>The general answer to your question then is the basis for what all Christians are called to do.<BR/><BR/>Another question I found interesting: “What can we do specifically to ‘win more for Christ’ in these areas: speech, clothing, tracts, social activities, friendships.<BR/><BR/>I’ve covered some of this (particularly as it relates to speech, social activities, and friendships in my “How to be interesting” Series (Check it out on my blog if you're interested). The other areas are areas I’d like to cover in the future so thank you for bringing them up.<BR/><BR/>I know I didn’t really answer much of the questions in this comment. But I wanted to let you know I appreciate what you’ve written. Keep it up.<BR/><BR/>- Marshall Jones, Jr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com