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Preface
Back in my
Christian education era days, I believe it was a mentor of mine Professor
Janzen, that suggested I phone J.I. Packer for some ideas on a potential Master’s
thesis leading to a PhD thesis.
After reasonably
asking me how I found his phone number, Dr. Packer kindly spent several minutes
to provide me solid advice in regard to exemplars. He was a kind and helpful
man.
I later used
some of Dr. Packer’s written material in my PhD thesis.
Knowing God
J.I. Packer
(1973) states those that know God have great thoughts concerning him.[1] These types of thoughts require personal
experiences beyond Biblical and theological knowledge alone. The God of academic and devotional theology
needs to be personally experienced to seriously impacts lives.[2]
Packer reasons
that persons need to meditate on, think over, dwell on, and personally apply
the things of God.[3] In my view, revealed theology to be
understood reasonably well in theory and practice requires a person to pray and
reflect on this over time. God must be
contemplated.[4] Followers should reflect on Biblical,[5]
theological and other truths in order to hopefully lead to correct practical applications.
He warns of
the real danger of knowing about theology and apologetics and yet not really
knowing much about God.[6] One can know certain Biblical, theological
doctrines,[7]
but without a serious reflective, and perhaps interrogative type of evaluation
of these views, God will not necessarily be known.[8]
He further
explains that God knowing a person is initially more important than the person
knowing God.[9] Within Packer’s theology, God takes the
initiative in knowing an individual.[10]
The Holy
Spirit
J.I. Packer reasons God and Christ
sent the Holy Spirit to teach his people the truth and to save them from
error. Packer (1973: 61). He views regeneration as the new birth and an
inner re-creating of the fallen human nature through and by the grace of the
Holy Spirit. Packer (1996: 924).
I would not use the term re-create, but
instead view regeneration as a process by which God begins to transform an
individual to be Christ-like, as in ultimately being a sinless human
being. This culminates in the
resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15.
[1] Packer (1973: 24).
[2] Packer (1973: 24).
[3] Packer (1973: 18).
[4] Packer (1973: 18).
[5] Packer (1973: 18).
[6] Packer (1973: 21-22).
[7] Packer (1973: 21-22).
[8] Packer (1973: 21-22).
[9] Packer (1973: 37).
[10] Packer (1973: 37).
PACKER, J.I. (1996) ‘Regeneration’ in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.
A guy in a taxi wanted to speak to the driver so he leaned forward and tapped him on the shoulder.
ReplyDeleteThe driver screamed, jumped up in the air and yanked the wheel over.
The car mounted the curb, demolished a lamppost and came to a stop inches from a shop window.
The startled passenger said, "I didn't mean to frighten you, I just wanted to ask you something."
The Taxi driver said, "It's not your fault sir. It's my first day as a cab driver.
I've been driving a hearse for the past 25 years!
…..Doc’s Daily Chuckle (docsdailychuckle@associate.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (ChristianVoices@att.net)
Pope Francis is certainly breaking away from traditional views -ls
ReplyDelete"It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way the traditional notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money. For many nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, while some of the worst deeds were done in his name." Pope Francis.
Ephesians 1-2.
ReplyDeleteIt is not about being a good person, but is about being chosen and regenerated by God, and being saved by grace through faith that should lead to good works.
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ReplyDeleteI don’t like to be negative on blogs, and I work 60 hours a week and do not want to make hassles. But I reason I need to state this.
It is too controversial for a main post and so I will place it in comments in places.
I also humbly admit my sinfulness and finiteness.
With all the anti-Christian, post-Christian movements in Western society, the Church is hurting itself.
I find often Christians are too weak on justice or love and sometimes both.
Then there is sexual sin, with which I have always admitted as an adult is a struggle for me, in thought primarily. I claim no innocence.
Therefore, I critique it more so as a fellow sinner, saved by grace, in Christ, as opposed to a self-righteous judge. To be clear.
As my post-student self I have been dialoguing with women at work and other from the ages of 17-60+.
I have had many good talks.
Personally, by the way, in my case, I do not find age primary in relating, but rather worldview and shared interests.
I have had a long time to ponder on being single, and although I am no relationship expert, I have developed what I reason are insightful and largely true, at least, perspectives in regard to the problem of evil and relationships. Let us word it that way.
Seems to me, there are two main groups of women, that show interest in me, and I show interest in.
One, the committed Christian. I saw an example of one tonight on a social networking site. She has a very good but likely small Christian ministry. We have not dialogued but she shows as likely at least an occasional viewer of my posts/profile.
I see her personal photos and she has been in a relationship for years and is not married. Further, I look at her photos and she has photos of her and what appears a male ‘relationship partner’ and in some she is dressed beside him with her breasts being very prominent.
Let us cut the crap. I can deduce having studied human nature that 9?% they are having some kind of sexual relations, outside of marriage being together for years.
Virtually no one is being fooled. If that is the goal.
If he is a non-Christian and she is a Christian, and I state if, then we have this same old Western dilemma with Christian women dating and mating non-believers at the expense of believers.
If they are both believers, there is zero excuse, despite social reasons for not marrying or instead the relationship should be ended.
Mathew 5 and 1 Corinthians 7 and 2 Corinthians 6 bring one to the clear theology that marriage is the fix, largely, for fornication. It is very imperfect in this sinful realm, of course.
To not follow that directive when there is a viable partner is definite and definitive sin.
At any age of adulthood.
If one ignores the believer that is interested where there might be mutual interest, that is also definite and definitive sin.
Certainly some are doing this to me...even as I am talking to many women, some in Christ.
In Christians are not marrying (2 Corinthians 6) and fornicating because as I have read Christian men are wimpy, or weird or whatever, this is a female cop-out.
The Christian also discredits self and ministry by publicly claiming Christ and by fornicating.
Cont.
Hey...
ReplyDeleteAgain, virtually no one is fooled. If you are dating someone for a year or more and not on the marriage track, come on, fornication is basically likely if not certain.
If not in the flesh, in the mind (Mathew 5, 1 Corinthians 7).
Christian women, need to realize that social rules and social status can be as problematic to females as pornography is to men.
To state that one needs a boyfriend and because only the non-Christians are good, that is the only option, is non-Biblical and a cop-out.
By actions you also at times can deny access to you from Christian men that need to learn how to date better etc...
Realize that the non-Christian can be more experienced and cool, because he can just mate with you for awhile and move on. If you get pregnant, abortion on demand is an option in his worldview, most likely, for example.
Also no guarantee there will be a public and in the family Daddy if the birth occurs.
The Christian man has to be more careful.
And you negate the possibility that perhaps you can learn some spiritual truths from that ‘dork’ or ‘nerd’, you have written off or are saving for ‘maybe later’...
To trust in female intuition and/or social rules, family/friends over Scripture and to be guided by the Holy Spirit is a sinful cop-out.
Putting career above marriage is also sin, if you are fornicating in the process.
And you can fornicate in the head, even while not dating (Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 7).
Think about that...cont..
Cont...
ReplyDeleteTwo, the closet Christian that believes but is following the secular route and fornicating.
One needs to ponder.
If you stick with this person outside of Christ there is no guarantee they will come to Christ (1 Corinthians 7, 2 Corinthians 6).
You risk ageing and becoming less attractive if/when you do decide to marry ‘Christian’.
Many men do not like it when they sense have been rejected and later the woman is much older and less attractive and leaves one as a lost option.
I dislike it.
If you have children with the non-Christian, it is less likely that the children will eventually be saved.
Do you want to spend your earthly life, in this present realm with those you may very well have no everlasting future with?
Both these groups, by not dating Christian men, and/or by ignoring Christian men for a ‘better’ option, career or because of social reasons, are although not the primary cause, besides their own potential sin, are effecting single men to potentially sin because of little options with Christian women.
I am not playing Adam here and blaming the woman. Each man will be judged for his own sin, independently, but my point stands.
It is not true that most Christian men prefer porn over actual women. I know I have heard and read studies that some men prefer the cop-out of porn to a relationship, but many, many Christian men are not like that...period.
Lack of willingness to dialogue with a Christian man one likes, perhaps secretly, is a red flag.
I do not buy the ‘I don’t want to hurt him’ argument. If you have rejected the man already, he is already hurt if he likes you.
I reason this is more about the female protecting self. And why is that, exactly?
If the man as not yet sold you emotionally enough to commit to him at all, even as a friend with potential, for example, have you considered that maybe you have not given the man a significant chance to win your heart?
Remember that pre-existing conditions and social rules can have a Christian man virtually written off at the start. But is this Biblical?
I realize that intellectual arguments don’t cause (primarily) romantic feelings.
I am not completely stupid here...Winking smile
But whose rules are you following? Consider we are also influenced by demonic beings to sin.
Acts 4; heed to God and not man.
Groucho Marx (1890-1977):
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Tommy Cooper (1921-1984)
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'Great' for the liver...
ReplyDeleteWoody Allen (1 December 1935-):
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Life is largely about managing suffering...
ReplyDeleteSpike Milligan (1918-2002):
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Bob Newhart (September 5, 1929-):
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Jimmy Carr (15 September 1972):
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Ken Dodd (8 November 1927-):
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Bob Hope (1903-2003):
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Jay Leno (April 28, 1950-):
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Jerry Seinfeld (April 29, 1954-):
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Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary (1842-1913):
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