Friday, April 07, 2006
Excerpts
I like to go back and read the parts of a book that struck me enough to underscore and/or highlight. The following is taken from “Searching for God Knows What”….(but not in the same chapters).
If we stop reducing the text (of the Bible) to formulas for personal growth, we can read it as stories of imperfect humans having relations with a perfect God and come to understand the obvious message He is communicating to mankind. A person could read the Bible, not to become smart but rather to feel that they are not alone that somebody understands them and loves them enough to speak to them, on purpose-in a way that makes a person feel human. It is a striking thought to realize that, in paradise, a human is incomplete without a host of other people. We are relational indeed.
If we stop reducing the text (of the Bible) to formulas for personal growth, we can read it as stories of imperfect humans having relations with a perfect God and come to understand the obvious message He is communicating to mankind. A person could read the Bible, not to become smart but rather to feel that they are not alone that somebody understands them and loves them enough to speak to them, on purpose-in a way that makes a person feel human. It is a striking thought to realize that, in paradise, a human is incomplete without a host of other people. We are relational indeed.
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Which goes back to the text anyway it's all about God. Everytime we read we read it to get insight into the mystery of who He is. And that plays out in his creation. Nothing means more to me then days like today, people that God has placed in my life and to watch them grow in their relationship that they are willing to take chances to do His will. Funny thing I gave that book away today. I do that with books if I'm not reading them why are they on my shelves.
Just finished reading it last night. Late. Couldn't sleep afterward. So much to ponder and pray about. Gotta get to bed early tonight ... but Angi's just finished our copy of Blue Like Jazz and I haven't read it yet ....
Ah, yes. The relationship is most important! And we are relational beings made in his image because He is that way too!
I agree with Paul's reference to "beings made in his image..." Let's flesh that out a bit more. We are made in His image, the imago dei, and He, in and of Himself, is relational because he is triune. Thus, the doctrine of the Trinity is crucial to our understanding of our humanity.
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