Let's take the questions one at a time. The first question relates to the heart connection between us and God. When and how does this happen? A related question is why is there not a connection between a person and God?
To answer these questions, it may help to keep the larger context in mind. To simplify, God created man in his image (interesting question, in what way are we created in his image? for another post). Man was naked and ignorant, but walking and talking in full communion with God. Man did not want to be ignorant, so he went his own way (ate the apple). This, called "the fall", started the separation. Since that time, God has been in the process of redeeming or rescuing man back to the original state that man had in the garden. The plan started with an agreement with Abraham. The Abrahamic covenant was fulfilled when the time was right, with Jesus walking into the temple in Jerusalem (check it out in Luke 19). That started the process of restoration of man. Since that time, we (his church) have been in the process of restoring the kingdom and bringing his will on earth as it is in heaven. That is the good news, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Something like that, with lots of details left out.
So, how does a separted person open up the channel between him and God? I like this quote from Thomas Keating:
God is present to everything like the eye of a camera that sees everything just as it is. Yet we, in our turn, may not be present to God. Like the subjects of a casual photograph, we may not perceive that someone sees a marvelous value and beauty in us and is taking our picture. We are summoned into the presence of God by the fact of our birth, but we become present to God only by our consent.
It starts with our consent. Just like the great commission, where making disciples starts with baptism. Baptism represents our initial consent to follow him. That opens up the channel. It is at that point that we become present to God, to use Keatings language.
Keating goes on to say that each new depth of presence requires our consent.
That's all for now. Comments? Questions?
3 comments:
nope...im with ya so far...i agree with the consent thing...though i sometimes wonder why God waits around until we decide we want to have a relationship with him...
I think it has to do with free will. He created us as free beings to participate in his love. Love is an act of the will. For us to really love him, it has to be an act of our will.
Along side of this idea is the idea that God chose us, the "elect." Both ideas are supported in the bible. Don't try to fully understand this. It just is. Kind of like quantum mechanics. Is it a particle or a wave? It appears to be both (don't worry if you don't understand this either). If you try and figure it out, it will be kind of like driving round in circles in a culdesac.
that makes sense.
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