|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
A Balanced Life? - 8/19/2008 7:04:32 PM
|
|
|
atruefaith
Posts: 289
Joined: 6/18/2005
Status: offline
|
Moved from another thread as I intended to post it as a stand alone all along.....I need more sleep. Anyway...
Is the so-called "balanced life" possible for the Christian, particularly in light of the following verses:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? - Matthew 16:24-26
Is the modern definition of balance possible in the context of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
How do you forsake everything for Jesus' sake and yet reconcile the life your living now?
What does balance look like in the context of holy living as the Scriptures describe?
How do you forsake everything for Jesus and yet reconcile the life your living now?
How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
_____________________________
A blog about authentic faith...
www.atruefaith.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/19/2008 11:13:45 PM
|
|
|
Paymeister
Posts: 27
Joined: 10/13/2007
Status: offline
|
I think each of these questions deserves a thread of their own, Conquered.  I'll try to pick one tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 12:33:26 AM
|
|
|
atruefaith
Posts: 289
Joined: 6/18/2005
Status: offline
|
Pay,
You know I thought about starting several threads, but then realized I'd just be littering the board with different shades of essentially the same topic. So yes, please just take one and run with it.
_____________________________
A blog about authentic faith...
www.atruefaith.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 7:59:13 AM
|
|
|
SonInMe1
Posts: 3425
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: offline
|
I don't believe there are specific answers to your questions.
We all come from different perspectives and our walks are not the same, so the answers to these questions, other than broad generalizations, may not have concrete answers that would fit every christians need.
I don't believe there are easy answers. I don't believe there should be. The answers, as often as not, are found in the struggle to answer questions, not so much in the answer itself.
Generally speaking...dieing to self so Chrisrt may live in you is just another way of saying that we have made Jesus the "boss" of our lives...and maybe a better word is...slave master. When Jesus says jump..we say how high.
There is your balance. The Master. The slave. You are not equal to God. His ways are always better than our ways. He is in control.
We are "out of balnace" when we....think we are in control....do not recognise God as King in our lives...walk away from the will of God.
The specifics...are just sumptin ya hafta find out fer yerself.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 8:52:53 AM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1440
Status: offline
|
These particular verses in Matthew 16 have often been misappropriated with becoming ‘Christian martyrs’ for the cause of Christianity. Many still believe this particular passage of Scripture suggests that every Christian should give up their employment, sell our homes and go on a Jesus Crusade as foreign missionaries and anything less than this suggests we are perhaps not really Christians.
Even back in the days when these words were first spoken by Jesus, not every Christian had the particular calling (which I have aforementioned) but some very definitely did and this is still the testimony of many Christians today.
The fact that not all are called to ‘Christian martyrdom’ or foreign missionary work is proven by the Epistles in the Bible which provide Godly teaching to those who were not out working on the foreign mission field but stayed at home in professions (as well as mothers bringing up their children). We don’t have to give up our jobs to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” – we can preach the gospel in our workplace, homes, the corner shop, etc., either in word or deed and this too is going into all the world because the world is everywhere (including on our very own doorstep). Also, if everyone gave up their work, there would not be so much financial help about as there is in the church; and if every Christian sold their homes - where would we all live?
We are advised not to live self-centred lives because we could miss out on a much richer spiritual life and soul experience by doing so! All Christians are called to put Jesus first in our lives. We are encouraged to hold onto our money and possessions lightly as well as using them wisely (whether to help others with or otherwise, i.e. we are to be good stewards who will one day be called to give an account of what we have been given, e.g. to him whom much has been given, much will be required). A good example of this is Barnabas in the New Testament. He was a man who so loved people, was so interested in the welfare of people, that Acts 4 tells us he sold a piece of his property and didn't give a tithe of that sale to needy Christians in the church--he gave the whole thing. Now you can't do that unless you're wealthy and Barnabas was definately wealthy when it came to money and possessions.
We are are also pre-warned that if we follow Christ, we must not expect that the Christian life will be a ‘bed of roses’ just because we are children of the King of Kings. In fact, Jesus advises us that we can expect to face particular persecutions and temptations just because of our relationship with Him!
To sum up - a balanced Christian life is one which is lived in obedience to Christ. Living in obedience to Him keeps our lives stable in our ever-changing and fast-moving world. Jesus said that He is come that we might have life and have it in all it's fullness. Learning to live with the mind of Christ and in obedience to Him is far more fulfilling than living in disobedience and this very definately gives life real purpose, meaning and joy (which I'm sure we can all agree). JOY comes in the following order:
J- esus first
O- thers second
Y- ourself last
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 8/20/2008 2:22:07 PM >
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 2:31:10 PM
|
|
|
rcjames
Posts: 5583
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Conquered
Is the modern definition of balance possible in the context of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
Since you do not give a definition of a "Balanced Life" this may be really difficult to answer.
quote:
How do you forsake everything for Jesus' sake and yet reconcile the life your living now?
I do not think that most folks (even those who call themselves Christians) can reconcile the life they are living with the life we are called to live in the New Testament.
quote:
What does balance look like in the context of holy living as the Scriptures describe?
Can't answer that without a definition of what a balanced life is>
quote:
How do you forsake everything for Jesus and yet reconcile the life your living now?
The New Testament is very plain in describing the life Believers are to live;
(Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This is a good place to start for how we are to live our lives. Now I do not see a lot of wiggle room or "Balance" here.
quote:
]How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
Let's not worry about perieved asceticism (legalism); let's just be obedient to God's word. This is of paramount imortance for Christ Himself said;
(Luk 6:46) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
So the ole legalism excuse to permit sin just will not fly in the face of simple Scripture.
Christ also said;
(Mat 7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(Mat 7:22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(Mat 7:23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
So even if one commits iniquity (sin) by truing to not be legalistic (the favorite excuse for sinners) they will be rejected at the Gates of Heaven by Christ.
And where will the "Balance" be then?
It is all so very simple; every breath we take, every step we make, every thought we have shold be Christlike;
(2Co 10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
That is the life we are called to live.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 4:53:53 PM
|
|
|
atruefaith
Posts: 289
Joined: 6/18/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
To sum up - a balanced Christian life is one which is lived in obedience to Christ. Living in obedience to Him keeps our lives stable in our ever-changing and fast-moving world. Jesus said that He is come that we might have life and have it in all it's fullness. Learning to live with the mind of Christ and in obedience to Him is far more fulfilling than living in disobedience and this very definately gives life real purpose, meaning and joy (which I'm sure we can all agree). JOY comes in the following order:
J- esus first
O- thers second
Y- ourself last
Wouldn't such a joy prepare one for martyrdom - not that we do looking to be killed but that we live in such joy that we die happily for the sake of Christ.
_____________________________
A blog about authentic faith...
www.atruefaith.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 4:59:55 PM
|
|
|
atruefaith
Posts: 289
Joined: 6/18/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
Since you do not give a definition of a "Balanced Life" this may be really difficult to answer.
Why would my definition matter? Shouldn't the Word inform you of a proper definition? ...assuming one exists, of course.
From what I see in the rest of your response, you don't seem to believe that one can exist - at least as "balanced life" is defined not only by the secular realm but by the American church.
< Message edited by Conquered -- 8/20/2008 5:08:20 PM >
_____________________________
A blog about authentic faith...
www.atruefaith.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 5:56:31 PM
|
|
|
rcjames
Posts: 5583
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Conquered
quote:
Since you do not give a definition of a "Balanced Life" this may be really difficult to answer.
Why would my definition matter? Shouldn't the Word inform you of a proper definition? ...assuming one exists, of course.
From what I see in the rest of your response, you don't seem to believe that one can exist - at least as "balanced life" is defined not only by the secular realm but by the American church.
I don't have a clue as to what you mean by "A balanced life".
I believe We are to be didicatied to serving God with all our hearts, mind, body, and soul. To me that is balanced.
Please tell us what you mean by balanced, are you saying to live with one foot in Christiandom and one foot in the world or what, straddling the fense or what?
Thsnks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 7:14:07 PM
|
|
|
Liveloved
Posts: 1817
Status: offline
|
quote:
Is the so-called "balanced life" possible for the Christian, particularly in light of the following verses:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? - Matthew 16:24-26
Is the modern definition of balance possible in the context of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
How do you forsake everything for Jesus' sake and yet reconcile the life your living now?
What does balance look like in the context of holy living as the Scriptures describe?
How do you forsake everything for Jesus and yet reconcile the life your living now?
How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
No. Is that a fair answer???
No, there is no such thing as balance. We are either His or not. We've either died or not. We're either alive or not.
Forsaking everything does not have to be in the physical realm. IOW, Jesus does not want fathers to forsake children, mothers to forsake children, husbands to forsake wives, workers to forsake jobs, etc. He wants us to forsake US, the me, my wants, my needs, my desires, and give ALL to Him. Then He does the choosing. And if I am married, He chooses that I remain married and be the best wife I can be. If I have children, I am to be a good and godly mother. Etc.
It's called walking by the Spirit. That's the only way to not walk in the flesh. It's not balance. It's giving Him all and letting His life be lived in me.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/20/2008 7:49:40 PM
|
|
|
TrustingGod
Posts: 148
Joined: 6/19/2008
Status: offline
|
When I give up my life to follow Jesus, I'm giving up my rights in this life. I'm striving to bring every area of my life - as mother, wife, employee, supervisor, church-worker - under His control. Bowing each area to His plan. That doesn't mean I walk away and spend my life studying and doing "church" or missionary work. It means that everything I do is in line with HIS plan.
Am I there yet - no way. Even today I realize how far I am away from being what He wants me to be. I heard a song - empty me of me so I can be filled with You. Somethng like that. I've got a lot of emptying to do.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/21/2008 6:32:47 AM
|
|
|
RJR_fan
Posts: 707
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
|
quote:
How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
First, a G K Chesterton quote. from Orthodoxy:
quote:
I know this feeling fills our epoch, and I think it freezes
our epoch. For our Titanic purposes of faith and revolution,
what we need is not the cold acceptance of the world as a compromise,
but some way in which we can heartily hate and heartily love it.
We do not want joy and anger to neutralize each other and produce a
surly contentment; we want a fiercer delight and a fiercer discontent.
We have to feel the universe at once as an ogre's castle,
to be stormed, and yet as our own cottage, to which we can return
at evening.
No one doubts that an ordinary man can get on with this world:
but we demand not strength enough to get on with it, but strength
enough to get it on. Can he hate it enough to change it,
and yet love it enough to think it worth changing? Can he look
up at its colossal good without once feeling acquiescence?
Can he look up at its colossal evil without once feeling despair?
Can he, in short, be at once not only a pessimist and an optimist,
but a fanatical pessimist and a fanatical optimist? Is he enough of a
pagan to die for the world, and enough of a Christian to die to it?
In this combination, I maintain, it is the rational optimist who fails,
the irrational optimist who succeeds.
And, another GKC quote:
quote:
Of all conceivable forms of enlightenment
the worst is what these people call the Inner Light. Of all horrible
religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within.
Any one who knows any body knows how it would work; any one who knows
any one from the Higher Thought Centre knows how it does work.
That Jones shall worship the god within him turns out ultimately
to mean that Jones shall worship Jones. Let Jones worship the sun
or moon, anything rather than the Inner Light; let Jones worship
cats or crocodiles, if he can find any in his street, but not
the god within. Christianity came into the world firstly in order
to assert with violence that a man had not only to look inwards,
but to look outwards, to behold with astonishment and enthusiasm
a divine company and a divine captain. The only fun of being
a Christian was that a man was not left alone with the Inner Light,
but definitely recognized an outer light, fair as the sun, clear as
the moon, terrible as an army with banners.
In short, there is stuff worthy doing, a God worth serving, and prizes worth winning. We have real dragons to slaughter, not just ephemeral internal foes. William Gurnell wrote about "the Christian in his complete armour," more than 1,000 pages of self-absorbed self-obsession with self and its spiritual condition -- but completely ignored the major real-world challenges of his day.
A victorious Christian life is lived with zest, passion, exuberant joy, for a God and a cause that is bigger than oneself. A victorious Christian grabs the most convenient five small stones, and considers himself more than a match for a God-reviling giant.
Finally, although I am not allowed to say in this forum why, a victorious Christian life is lived within the framework of an overall expectation of God's grace to see expansive victories now, in this present age.
And the means are as near at hand as our own children. Note my tagline below.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/21/2008 2:58:11 PM
|
|
|
mariadreamer
Posts: 261
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: va
Status: offline
|
I've actually been struggling with this issue as well. In my head, I know that we are supposed to deny ourselves and give our life as a sacrifice to God. But in recent situations, I've been very unsure if certain actions would be denying myself or giving in to my ego. For example, while sincerely trying to set aside my needs and doing a lot for others and for church ministries, I developed a very unexpected medical problem which is said to come from stress and lack of rest. I was so sick I couldn't properly eat, sleep or even take care of my kids for 3 weeks. Now everyone says "you should have been taking care of yourself!"
I am looking for answers right now too. One verse that spoke to me recently as I am recovering from this is that place in the gospel where Jesus says Martha, you are worried over many things but only one thing in necessary. I think we need to focus on the relationship with God and all actions should stem from that. But that can be tough sometimes to tell if we are in fact doing the will of God or serving our ego. Another thing I found helpful is speaking with my spiritual father because we can become deceived in our own desires from time and time and having another person, who knows your walk with Christ, look at it can help straighten things out.
_____________________________
Christ is risen from the dead,
by death He has trampled down death,
and on those in the tombs bestowing life!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/21/2008 6:57:34 PM
|
|
|
RJR_fan
Posts: 707
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
|
quote:
But that can be tough sometimes to tell if we are in fact doing the will of God or serving our ego.
Billy Sunday had a million notches on his Bible. He was a failure as a Christian. He lost all four of his neglected children -- the oldest to a childhood illness, while he and his wife were doing their ministry thing on the road. The next to suicide. The remaining two to booze, broads, and boodle.
Living up to the expectations of those outside the family is tempting -- but our first obligation under God is to the children He has entrusted to our care.
And yes, home schooling is a part of that picture. When our church endorsed the testimony of a lady who "found" the money to meet her building fund pledge by putting her kids in public school, I cut my pledge in half.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/21/2008 7:18:20 PM
|
|
|
deliveredarling
Posts: 1932
Joined: 8/30/2007
Status: offline
|
I copied this from the other thread:
quote:
ORIGINAL: deliveredarling
quote:
Is the modern definition of balance possible in the context of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
I believe that it is.
quote:
How do you forsake everything for Jesus' sake and yet reconcile the life your living now?
Because I can't do it from myself. It's through prayer and trust of the Lord that makes it possible. We aren't looking at perfection (as in no mistakes), we are doing it from the stand point that "all things are possible...".
quote:
What does balance look like in the context of holy living as the Scriptures describe?
Jesus Christ is the example. There was no radicalism with Him. His message was radical, His behavior was not.
quote:
How do you forsake everything for Jesus and yet reconcile the life your living now?
Trust not in myself but in His guidance. I'm awfully tempted at times to (and sometimes do) give into reacting. I'm getting better, but I'm still not 100% there.
I don't try to reconcile my life. I can't be like Jesus in all ways. He is one of a kind 
quote:
How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
It doesn't matter. No matter what some people do, there will always be another who says "that's legalism". I look at scripture, follow it and don't worry about what others think. If I am led by the HS, that's what either counts for me or against me, should I choose not to listen.
Should I stumble, (which, I do) as soon as I figure it out, I repent, because surely, we can't sin and not learn a lesson from the consequence. I haven't continued in a sin yet, that the consequences didn't get more severe until I surrender. Only then, did I find the Grace and Mercy He offers.
_____________________________
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
http://www.myspace.com/egaip
Come visit
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/22/2008 9:58:16 AM
|
|
|
URForgiven
Posts: 1057
Joined: 3/22/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: mariadreamer
I've actually been struggling with this issue as well. In my head, I know that we are supposed to deny ourselves and give our life as a sacrifice to God. But in recent situations, I've been very unsure if certain actions would be denying myself or giving in to my ego. For example, while sincerely trying to set aside my needs and doing a lot for others and for church ministries, I developed a very unexpected medical problem which is said to come from stress and lack of rest. I was so sick I couldn't properly eat, sleep or even take care of my kids for 3 weeks. Now everyone says "you should have been taking care of yourself!"
I am looking for answers right now too. One verse that spoke to me recently as I am recovering from this is that place in the gospel where Jesus says Martha, you are worried over many things but only one thing in necessary. I think we need to focus on the relationship with God and all actions should stem from that. But that can be tough sometimes to tell if we are in fact doing the will of God or serving our ego. Another thing I found helpful is speaking with my spiritual father because we can become deceived in our own desires from time and time and having another person, who knows your walk with Christ, look at it can help straighten things out.
I believe your answer is not to focus on your relationship with God, but to focus on the person of Jesus Christ. Then the relationship will take care of itself.
The world is full of Christians who are busy and barren. Their zeal is admirable, but misplaced. It is not about us and what we are doing or not doing, it is about Jesus Christ and what He is doing, and what He wants to do in and through you.
When you are depending upon Christ, He will lead you through His indwelling Spirit...this is the will of God. You do not need to wonder whether you are in His will, when you are living in the sufficiency of Christ, you are in His will.
The world tells us we need to work hard to get ahead, and in the world that is true. But Gods way is contrary to the worlds way...
Hebrews 4:10-11
For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.
Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].
Our true struggle, our true act of obedience, is to enter into His rest. And when we are resting in Him, we are in His will, and everything we do is in His will. We go, and as we go, He works in and through us. In Christ we are freed from trying to achieve Gods acceptance and approval through our performance. Because, in Christ, we are already totally accepted and approved of.
Peace
_____________________________
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/22/2008 5:22:34 PM
|
|
|
atruefaith
Posts: 289
Joined: 6/18/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
Our true struggle, our true act of obedience, is to enter into His rest. And when we are resting in Him, we are in His will, and everything we do is in His will. We go, and as we go, He works in and through us. In Christ we are freed from trying to achieve Gods acceptance and approval through our performance. Because, in Christ, we are already totally accepted and approved of.
This is all true, but you didn't answer mariadreamer's questions/concerns directly. Sure, absolutely, we must enter the rest provided by the cross, through Jesus Christ. But you need to resolve the obvious paradox of rest of and what Jesus meant by self-denial in the context of true faith in order to get there.
Time contraints. I'll post more on this later.
_____________________________
A blog about authentic faith...
www.atruefaith.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/22/2008 5:52:25 PM
|
|
|
URForgiven
Posts: 1057
Joined: 3/22/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Conquered
quote:
Our true struggle, our true act of obedience, is to enter into His rest. And when we are resting in Him, we are in His will, and everything we do is in His will. We go, and as we go, He works in and through us. In Christ we are freed from trying to achieve Gods acceptance and approval through our performance. Because, in Christ, we are already totally accepted and approved of.
This is all true, but you didn't answer mariadreamer's questions/concerns directly. Sure, absolutely, we must enter the rest provided by the cross, through Jesus Christ. But you need to resolve the obvious paradox of rest of and what Jesus meant by self-denial in the context of true faith in order to get there.
Time contraints. I'll post more on this later.
I believe I did answer her concerns. I suppose it will be up to her to say how helpful or direct it was. As to your paradox, I have already addressed that in the other thread from which this post originated.
Peace
_____________________________
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/22/2008 7:38:21 PM
|
|
|
Walker311
Posts: 1463
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
There can be no balance since Christ said that if you love me, then the world will hate you.
Balance speaks of allowance on one side in order to have something on the other.
In a world where belief and acceptance of Christ will divide families, there is no balance or equality.
However, to appease the OP, a picture of Holy balance is a man from a weathly family, in the middle of Africa, with his sleeves rolled up, on his knees, his hands on the head of a child, tears streaming from his eyes, praying for the soul of that child, and this person has no plans to ever leave.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/22/2008 8:53:18 PM
|
|
|
atruefaith
Posts: 289
Joined: 6/18/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
I believe I did answer her concerns. I suppose it will be up to her to say how helpful or direct it was. As to your paradox, I have already addressed that in the other thread from which this post originated.
Here's what you said on the other thread...
quote:
We need to remember that the cross is an instrument of death. Jesus is not talking about carrying a burden, He is talking about dying to ourselves. We follow Him to where He went, and where He went was to Golgotha. And there we die with Him, and then we are raised to life with Him, so that, in Him, He can now lead us.
and also...
quote:
A balanced Christian life is one lived in total dependence upon Jesus. It is not us doing our thing and balancing that with Him doing His thing. It is us allowing Him to do His thing in and through us as we depend upon Him. Balance is achieved through living in Gods will, and His will is that we live in total dependence upon Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Since only the first quote comes even close to answering the question, I'll assume that this is what you meant. But this is a terribly shallow and uninformed response. There is no burden to carry in faith? Of course, there is a burden, but it is light burden retrospectively and a hard burden in the moment of trail and testing. Here is yet another paradox. The Way of Salvation is narrow and hard, but his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Dying to self is a burden. It is a hardship. It is terribly painful. The Christian life is filled with trials many of which are tied directly to fighting off lusts through faith. The firey darts of the wicked one are to be caught with the Shield of Faith, and at times that shield is so very hard to raise. Only Christ will raise it, but still it must be raised. Yet on the other side of the hardship is joy, a better joy than sin. But don't think for a moment there is no burden to carry and that trials are nonexistent.
UR, you seem to think that one line defeaters are all there is to say and know about the paradoxes of the Gospel. You often respond as if they don't exist. But the Gospel is to be lived from Christ alone, through Christ alone, it does not subsist between the lines of pat answers.
_____________________________
A blog about authentic faith...
www.atruefaith.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/22/2008 9:24:40 PM
|
|
|
makarizo
Posts: 2974
Joined: 4/13/2005
Status: offline
|
for a Christian, I believe that a balanced life is directly proportional to the sharing of one's faith.
after all, without faith it is impossible to please God.
I think the book of James is a great place to find the meaning of a balanced Christian life.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/23/2008 12:01:08 AM
|
|
|
URForgiven
Posts: 1057
Joined: 3/22/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Conquered
UR, you seem to think that one line defeaters are all there is to say and know about the paradoxes of the Gospel. You often respond as if they don't exist. But the Gospel is to be lived from Christ alone, through Christ alone, it does not subsist between the lines of pat answers.
The Christian life is Christ, and only He can live it. One line, nothing to read between.
Peace
_____________________________
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
|
|
| | |
Forum Tools
Printable Version
) but I have faced a cancer scare in the past few years in this joy I speak about and presently face loosing an important regular income, home, etc, and yet I have the joy of the Lord as my strength in my personal situation. So yes - I do believe such joy is a Christian's strength when faced with trials, uncertainties and even death itself. If it can be experienced in what I have aforementioned, I have no reason to doubt that it would not strengthen and prepare a person for death or martyrdom likewise.
