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In continuing to read further, The Naked Church, Wayne Jacobsen uses a word I was unfamiliar with, ‘abstraction,’ “Abstraction uses a strategy of simplification, wherein formerly concrete details are left ambiguous, vague, or undefined; thus effective communication about things in the abstract requires an intuitive or common experience between the communicator and the communication recipient.”
What comes to mind in understanding the definition of this word is what Paul said here, “The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit.”
My question; is it any wonder why ‘Christianity’ is seen as a relic, dinosaur, lifeless, fetish used by some to invoke this mystical deity to save them from having to face the realities of every day living?
I use to like the commercial that came on a while back (it’s not on anymore) for a soft drink, the motto was, “Taste is everything, and image is nothing.”
The Father has never used or operated in using the language of ‘abstraction,’ to my way of thinking the language He speaks is an inner intuitive knowing, an innate recognition, ‘This is my Father’s (thoughts) voice.’
There is so much His children are in the process of discovering. I use to hate it every time my former pastor would say, ‘be patient with us in leadership, as we are on a huge learning curve.’ Again, I mean no disrespect, but this usually meant more academia on top of already piled high spiritual abstractions.
How is it possible for us alive in this hour to become as Jesus said 2,000 years ago, “I will make you witnesses unto me” if he is no longer here with us? Or is He?
Indeed he is here in us as us, but that in my opinion has become another religious abstraction, the ‘right’ form-terminology, but no substance, because of the blindness of our inner eyes.
There is a most wonderful illustration in the Old Testament in Amos 8:10-12; "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. "People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, But they will not find it.”
I see this being the norm within the ranks of Christianity viewed through the language of abstraction. As it were an imprinting that is still resident within all flesh, yes that means even in yours and mine, brother, where we have been lied to in thinking there is no way of knowing for sure the heart and mind of the Father without consulting the ‘anointed ones’ that have special revelation and insight into this at best ambitious abstraction called, ‘The Good News.!
I join with the same spirit of the Father that has been very much alive from the very beginning when He poured out the promise of the Father, His spirit into lifeless needy flesh and blood people, and as this glorious God, King, Lord and Father began to make himself real, things such as this were launched likened to heat seeking guided missiles to the Father Himself.
Even so, Lord come!
Rich
I love how our Father is lovingly persistent in wanting to establish us, rooting us in the fullness of His love. This piece from Norman Grubb, entitled "Life's Supreme Secret" is so encouraging to me in light of the thoughts I have shared above.
What comes to mind in understanding the definition of this word is what Paul said here, “The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, "Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?" has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ's Spirit.”
My question; is it any wonder why ‘Christianity’ is seen as a relic, dinosaur, lifeless, fetish used by some to invoke this mystical deity to save them from having to face the realities of every day living?
I use to like the commercial that came on a while back (it’s not on anymore) for a soft drink, the motto was, “Taste is everything, and image is nothing.”
The Father has never used or operated in using the language of ‘abstraction,’ to my way of thinking the language He speaks is an inner intuitive knowing, an innate recognition, ‘This is my Father’s (thoughts) voice.’
There is so much His children are in the process of discovering. I use to hate it every time my former pastor would say, ‘be patient with us in leadership, as we are on a huge learning curve.’ Again, I mean no disrespect, but this usually meant more academia on top of already piled high spiritual abstractions.
How is it possible for us alive in this hour to become as Jesus said 2,000 years ago, “I will make you witnesses unto me” if he is no longer here with us? Or is He?
Indeed he is here in us as us, but that in my opinion has become another religious abstraction, the ‘right’ form-terminology, but no substance, because of the blindness of our inner eyes.
There is a most wonderful illustration in the Old Testament in Amos 8:10-12; "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. "People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, But they will not find it.”
I see this being the norm within the ranks of Christianity viewed through the language of abstraction. As it were an imprinting that is still resident within all flesh, yes that means even in yours and mine, brother, where we have been lied to in thinking there is no way of knowing for sure the heart and mind of the Father without consulting the ‘anointed ones’ that have special revelation and insight into this at best ambitious abstraction called, ‘The Good News.!
I join with the same spirit of the Father that has been very much alive from the very beginning when He poured out the promise of the Father, His spirit into lifeless needy flesh and blood people, and as this glorious God, King, Lord and Father began to make himself real, things such as this were launched likened to heat seeking guided missiles to the Father Himself.
Even so, Lord come!
Rich
I love how our Father is lovingly persistent in wanting to establish us, rooting us in the fullness of His love. This piece from Norman Grubb, entitled "Life's Supreme Secret" is so encouraging to me in light of the thoughts I have shared above.
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