EvC Forum: Reaching For The Invisible God

Email This Thread

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Author

Topic: Reaching For The Invisible God

Phat

Member

Posts: 18298

From: Denver,Colorado USA

Joined: 12-30-2003

Member Rating: 1.1

Phat Posts Only

Message 1 of 3 (860931)
08-13-2019 4:55 PM

This is a very honest book. I am impressed with the integrity of the author, and want to share parts of a Chapter with everyone, if i may. This is Chapter 16, Spiritual Amnesia:

Spiritual passion erupts like a geyser in the early days following conversion, then settles into a lukewarm pool, and finally may evaporate of neglect or disillusionment. (...) All Christians pass through various stages. At times-for many it comes early in the journey-we soar in a state of spiritual ecstasy; at times we run, expressing our faith with the boundless energy of activism; at times we can barely take a step without fainting.

The point is that familiarity breeds contempt. The author basically says that the more familiar one becomes with Gods presence, the more God is taken for granted and often ignored completely. I know that in my own life this is certainly true, and I see that Faith has also confessed and admitted as much in the Hate thread. (I was proud of her honesty, however)

Yancey is an accomplished author and a known man of God. He writes:

I HAVE MENTIONED THAT distractions can push God away from the center of my life-in truth, they push God out of my field of consciousness altogether. I work alone, as every writer must, so I cannot blame my God-forgetfulness on other people. Even more embarrassing to admit, I make my living writing books about God! I read devotional or theological books, check items off my to-do list, write a chapter or an article, and collect any thoughts that might someday make their way into my writing. It amazes me how I can sail through this daily routine without giving God much thought or putting into practice what I write. I could write a beautiful paragraph about inner peace and serenity, but if some software error causes me to lose that paragraph, any inner peace and serenity will vanish faster than the electrons on my computer monitor. As John Donne confessed in a pre-technological era, "I neglect God for the noise of a fly, the rattling of a coach, the creaking of a door."16-6

Yancey, Philip. Reaching for the Invisible God (pp. 200-201). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Overall, the book is a good read. I appreciate honesty and shared experience from Christian Authors whom I read.

Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. ~RC Sproul
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith

You can "get answers" by watching the ducks. That doesn't mean the answers are coming from them.~Ringo

Subjectivism may very well undermine Christianity.
In the same way that "allowing people to choose what they want to be when they grow up" undermines communism.~Stile

Replies to this message:
	Message 2 by Stile, posted 08-14-2019 9:37 AM	Phat has seen this message but not replied
	Message 3 by Faith, posted 08-14-2019 12:21 PM	Phat has seen this message but not replied

Stile

Member

Posts: 4295

From: Ontario, Canada

Joined: 12-02-2004

Stile Posts Only

(2)

Message 2 of 3 (860944)
08-14-2019 9:37 AM

Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
08-13-2019 4:55 PM

God is Love

Thugpreacha writes:

Yancey is an accomplished author and a known man of God. He writes:

I think it's always so interesting when the word "God" can be replaced with "Love" and the meaning of the text remains exactly the same.

Try this (altered as I described) -

I HAVE MENTIONED THAT distractions can push Love away from the center of my life-in truth, they push Love out of my field of consciousness altogether. I work alone, as every writer must, so I cannot blame my Love-forgetfulness on other people. Even more embarrassing to admit, I make my living writing books about Love! I read devotional or theological books, check items off my to-do list, write a chapter or an article, and collect any thoughts that might someday make their way into my writing. It amazes me how I can sail through this daily routine without giving Love much thought or putting into practice what I write. I could write a beautiful paragraph about inner peace and serenity, but if some software error causes me to lose that paragraph, any inner peace and serenity will vanish faster than the electrons on my computer monitor. As Stile confessed in a pre-technological era, "I neglect Love for the noise of a fly, the rattling of a coach, the creaking of a door."16-6
Stile. Reaching for the Invisible Love (pp. 200-201). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Cool, huh?

This message is a reply to:
	Message 1 by Phat, posted 08-13-2019 4:55 PM		Phat has seen this message but not replied

Faith

Suspended Member (Idle past 1465 days)

Posts: 35298

From: Nevada, USA

Joined: 10-06-2001

Faith Posts Only

Message 3 of 3 (860948)
08-14-2019 12:21 PM

Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
08-13-2019 4:55 PM

Sometimes it isn't just "distractions" though of course most of the time it is that in any case, but sometimes it's out-and-out idolatry. That is, returning to worldly/earthly preoccupations in such a way as to let them become cravings and desires that replace the passion for God we had originally. And then they get a grip on you -- meaning me -- to such an extent that I can't break it. Reading the mystic poet Tersteegen was an effort to break such a grip but it's a weak weapon unless pursued with all-out dedication. Spending time at EvC is a strong pull to all the wrong things.

This message is a reply to:
	Message 1 by Phat, posted 08-13-2019 4:55 PM		Phat has seen this message but not replied

Date format: mm-dd-yyyy

Timezone: ET (US)

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Do Nothing Button

4 online now:	LamarkNewAge, Minnemooseus (Adminnemooseus), Percy (Admin), Taq
Newest Member:	ChatGPT
Post Volume:	Total: 916,409 Year: 3,666/9,624 Month: 537/974 Week: 150/276 Day: 24/23 Hour: 4/3