markdohle Posted December 22, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted December 22, 2016 . To let others know that our lives are important and that God pursues us for a reason “How many times do we hear: 'Come on, you Christians, be a little bit more normal, like other people, and be reasonable!' This is real snake charmer's talk: 'Come on, just be like this, okay? A little bit more normal, don't be so rigid ...' But behind it is this: 'Don't come here with your stories, that God became man!' The Incarnation of the Word, that is the scandal behind all of this! We can do all the social work we want, and they will say: 'How great the Church is, it does such good social work." But if we say that we are doing it because those people are the flesh of Christ, then comes the scandal. And that is the truth, that is the revelation of Jesus: that presence of Jesus incarnate.” ― Pope Francis, Encountering Truth: Meeting God in the Everyday The Word become flesh is a belief that is truly a scandal to many. It is so ‘unspiritual’, unenlightened and yes even mundane when looking in from the outside. Yet we are called to see Christ Jesus is all we meet, especially in those who challenge us, make us stretch and deal with our ingrown prejudices. To truly see the other as a child of God is to ‘heal’, for labels drop away and the worth and the depth of the so called ‘least among us’ is truly seen. The true scandal I believe is that the world is the way it is because we Christians (myself included) have yet to understand the reality of ‘Christ with us’ in all of its intimacy and love. Though there is no doubt many exceptions to this; I sad to say am not one of them. We are told not to judge but to love. To speak the truth in gentleness but to get to the heart of the matter without seeking to dominate, or control, is how we are called to share with others. To show the world that sin is a reality and the true pain of our souls, as well as its prison masquerading as freedom. To let others know that our lives are important and that God pursues us for a reason, for if we do not respond to God’s grace, we shall only have ourselves for eternity, a state of alienation from all others and hatred of God. Many do not want to face this reality, the deep significance of their lives and their everyday choices in how they love or do not love others. In the end we are called to let go of judgments of others, a truly heavy burden that also does harm to the soul; for as Christ says in judging others we are in reality judging our own reflection. Only Christ can judge and his judgments are true, based on love and true justice, our judgments are often based on prejudices and an attempt to not look at ourselves. True humility leads us to love and have compassion on our fellow human beings who Christ Jesus gave his life blood for. In prayer we touch all, in that we truly live out our vocation as a priestly people---BrMD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne222 Posted December 23, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 32 Topic Count: 476 Topics Per Day: 0.17 Content Count: 6,559 Content Per Day: 2.28 Reputation: 7,638 Days Won: 9 Joined: 06/12/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted December 23, 2016 well said brother Mark. And to see christ in the least is a scandal. I mean how many times have i overlooked a person in there need. Can i see christ in anyone ? We should. like you said we are to let go of judgments of others. We are free of ourselfs to pour out Gods love instead. Christ set us free to give love. Nothing should block us from loving someone in there great need. Jesus became flesh to dwell with us as a fully man so he could visible act out Gods great love. No one has ever tasted life as a man as he did feeling the sorrows and pain more fully then the son.He shows us the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willa Posted December 23, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 68 Topic Count: 186 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 14,242 Content Per Day: 3.33 Reputation: 16,658 Days Won: 30 Joined: 08/14/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted December 23, 2016 I am not sure that Christ lives in everyone. He did say when you have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me. And we are to demonstrate His love to all. But that does not mean that all are as yet born again. We are all born sinners, slaves to sin, and lost. Until we consciously receive Him we do not have the authority to be born of the Father or to be His child. Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. We are to allow Christ in us to love them because His love for them is so great that He died for their sins as well as ours. We are to share the gospel with them. They will never respond to the gospel unless they can see the love of God demonstrated though us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Willa said: I am not sure that Christ lives in everyone. He did say when you have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me. And we are to demonstrate His love to all. But that does not mean that all are as yet born again. We are all born sinners, slaves to sin, and lost. Until we consciously receive Him we do not have the authority to be born of the Father or to be His child. Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. We are to allow Christ in us to love them because His love for them is so great that He died for their sins as well as ours. We are to share the gospel with them. They will never respond to the gospel unless they can see the love of God demonstrated though us. Well said! The OP seemed off to me as well had a conversation about this the other day. GOd created us but all are not his children plenty of verses say so here are a few more he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, .for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. Edited December 23, 2016 by Guest Add Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn C Posted December 23, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 30 Topic Count: 267 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 13,205 Content Per Day: 3.49 Reputation: 8,497 Days Won: 12 Joined: 12/21/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/06/1947 Share Posted December 23, 2016 7 hours ago, markdohle said: . To let others know that our lives are important and that God pursues us for a reason Hi mark, Some good comments there bro. `To speak the truth in gentleness but to get to the heart of the matter without seeking to dominate, or control, is how we are called to share with others. To show the world that sin is a reality and the true pain of our souls, as well as its prison masquerading as freedom. To let others know that our lives are important and that God pursues us for a reason, for if we do not respond to God’s grace, we shall only have ourselves for eternity, a state of alienation from all others and hatred of God. Many do not want to face this reality, the deep significance of their lives and their everyday choices in how they love or do not love others. ` Wonderful words of truth. Really uplifting to ponder upon them & to realise that it is only Christ the Head, by His precious Holy Spirit that can do that work in us as we respond to Him. Oh the pain of the `flesh` & the unbroken spirit. And yet, of the joy of dying to self & seeing Christ being formed within & then when others see, & remark, how humbling is that. Blessings, Marilyn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted December 23, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 10 hours ago, Wayne222 said: well said brother Mark. And to see christ in the least is a scandal. I mean how many times have i overlooked a person in there need. Can i see christ in anyone ? We should. like you said we are to let go of judgments of others. We are free of ourselfs to pour out Gods love instead. Christ set us free to give love. Nothing should block us from loving someone in there great need. Jesus became flesh to dwell with us as a fully man so he could visible act out Gods great love. No one has ever tasted life as a man as he did feeling the sorrows and pain more fully then the son.He shows us the way. Yes, my friend. The more the life of Jesus is pondered and how he treated all, even non-Jews can help us to understand how we are to treat others. The Good Samaritan is a great story, a man, an outcast despised by the Jews, helping a Jew who was injured. Not sure the any Jew of that time would want it, yet help was given. For me it is a lifetime of learning, failure, confessing and starting once again with an ever deeper trust in God's love not only for me but for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted December 23, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 10 hours ago, Willa said: I am not sure that Christ lives in everyone. He did say when you have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me. And we are to demonstrate His love to all. But that does not mean that all are as yet born again. We are all born sinners, slaves to sin, and lost. Until we consciously receive Him we do not have the authority to be born of the Father or to be His child. Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. We are to allow Christ in us to love them because His love for them is so great that He died for their sins as well as ours. We are to share the gospel with them. They will never respond to the gospel unless they can see the love of God demonstrated though us. Since Christ Jesus is the 'Word' the creator of the Universe, in whom we live and move and have our being, I think it is obvious that, yes, he does live in everyone, the tragedy is that many do not respond to his grace when offered and as far as their relationship is concerned they remain strangers, but to the Lord, there are no strangers, all are seen known and loved. For God wills the salvation of all and that they come to the truth. I suppose when the people passed by the Samaritan they told themselves the same thing, this man is not one of us, God does not live in him........yet I was hungry and you fed me, in prison and you visited me etc. For many, the only way they can experience God's love in Christ Jesus in through us. We are God's grace incarnated when we put on Jesus Christ. Peace Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted December 23, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 7 hours ago, Marilyn C said: Hi mark, Some good comments there bro. `To speak the truth in gentleness but to get to the heart of the matter without seeking to dominate, or control, is how we are called to share with others. To show the world that sin is a reality and the true pain of our souls, as well as its prison masquerading as freedom. To let others know that our lives are important and that God pursues us for a reason, for if we do not respond to God’s grace, we shall only have ourselves for eternity, a state of alienation from all others and hatred of God. Many do not want to face this reality, the deep significance of their lives and their everyday choices in how they love or do not love others. ` Wonderful words of truth. Really uplifting to ponder upon them & to realise that it is only Christ the Head, by His precious Holy Spirit that can do that work in us as we respond to Him. Oh the pain of the `flesh` & the unbroken spirit. And yet, of the joy of dying to self & seeing Christ being formed within & then when others see, & remark, how humbling is that. Blessings, Marilyn. All I can say is amen sister! Peace Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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