christ - Discipleship.Network - The Reimagine Network2024-03-29T11:53:27Zhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/feed/tag/christA Prayer for Every Day of All Seasons, Especially Lent and Passiontidehttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/a-prayer-for-every-day-of-all-seasons-especially-lent-and-passion2024-02-10T21:00:26.000Z2024-02-10T21:00:26.000ZSalvatore Anthony Luisohttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/SalvatoreAnthonyLuiso<div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>A Prayer for Every Day of All Seasons, Especially Lent and Passiontide<br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Richard of Chichester served the Lord as a priest and bishop in England in the 13th Century. He was a contemporary of both Francis of Assisi and Thomas Aquinas.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The Wikipedia article about him says that although he was born into a high social class (the gentry), and could have continued to remain in it, he chose an ascetic life "of study and the Church". As a bishop, he was a clerical reformer, who, the article says:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>[. . .] showed much eagerness to reform the manners and morals of his clergy, and also to introduce greater order and reverence into the services of the Church.[5][11]</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion regard him as a saint.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Nowadays he is best known as the author of a short prayer which is attributed to him. He is said to have uttered the original version of it on his deathbed. In it, Richard first thanks the Lord Jesus Christ, and then asks Him to have mercy upon him, and commends his spirit to Him. It was recorded in Latin.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The Wikipedia article contains a few versions of it in English. The versions which are best known are so different from the original that the only resemblance they have to it is that they are addressed to the Lord Jesus.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Following is the version which was published in <em>The Churchman's Prayer Manual</em> (1913), compiled by G.R. Bullock-Webster, M.A.:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> For all the benefits Thou hast given me,</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me.</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> May I know Thee more clearly,</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> Love Thee more dearly,</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> Follow Thee more nearly.</strong></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The first part of this version is close to the first part of the original one; the second part is unlike anything in the original. Ironically, the petitions of the second part have become famous, and thereby spread Richard's name, while the first part has not.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The phrase "Day by day" has been added to those three petitions to create a song that was published in the hymnal <em>Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition</em>, from which was derived the song "Day by Day" of the musical play <em>Godspell</em>. In these two songs, "know Thee more clearly" has been changed to "see thee more clearly".</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Both the petition to know the Lord more clearly and the petition to see Him more clearly are according to His will. So are the petitions to love Him more dearly and to follow Him more nearly. Therefore, we who petition the Lord with them should confidently believe that He hears us and grants us that for which we ask, as His perspicacious, loving, and faithful follower and friend John teaches:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.<br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>—I John 5:14–15</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> With or without the phrase "day by day", all three of these petitions are fitting for prayer every day of every season.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The portion of Richard's prayer in which He gives thanks to the Lord is also so fitting, but it is especially fitting for the liturgical seasons in which special attention is given to the sufferings our Lord endured during His earthly ministry: namely, Lent and Passiontide.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Just as the original version of Richard's prayer was used to make the derivative version presented in this article, so we can use this version to make other derivative prayers.</span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> One way we could do this is by making the petitions more specific in accord with the liturgical season in which we are praying. For example, one could pray the first petition as follows as follows:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Advent</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy coming more clearly</span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Christmastide</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy nativity more clearly</span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Epiphanytide</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy manifestations more clearly</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Lent</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy temptations more clearly</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Passiontide</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy suffering and death more clearly</span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Eastertide</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy resurrection more clearly</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Ascensiontide</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in Thy ascension more clearly</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Pentecost</span></div><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">May I know/see Thee in relation to the Holy Spirit more clearly</span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Two other changes we might want to make are restoring Richard's two petitions. That is:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. As Richard pleaded for the Lord to have mercy on him, we plea likewise, as we all need the His mercy every day, whether it be our last one or not.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. As Richard commended his spirit to the Lord, we commend likewise, as He can care and preserve them better than we can—perfectly, in fact—not only at the point of death in this world, but at all times and in all places. (See Psalm 31:5, Luke 23:46, and Acts 7:59 for other examples of a man commending his spirit in prayer.)</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> None of this is to say that Richard's version, or any of the other versions attributed to him, are in some way lacking, and cannot or should not be prayed as they are.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Whether or not one observes Lent, Passiontide, or any other liturgical season, I recommend praying the version of Richard's prayer in this article, with confidence in the Lord Jesus that He hears us and grants us its petitions.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> May the Lord Himself be greatly blessed, honored, and glorified with all of the versions of the prayer attributed to Richard of Chichester. Amen.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><u>Questions for consideration<br /> </u></strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. What do you think about the version of the prayer attributed to Richard of Chichester which is present in this article?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. Would you like to pray this prayer? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. Would you like to pray this prayer every day of a liturgical season, such as Lent and Passiontide? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">4. Would you like to make a new version of this prayer that is a derivation of it? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">5. If you would like to make such a new version, what would you like to say in it?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">6. Does I John 5:14–15 affect the way you pray? If so, how and why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">7. Would you like I John 5:14–15 to affect the way you pray? If so, how and why? If not, why not?</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">This article was written based upon the Wikipedia article about Richard of Chichester. These are some of its bibliographic details:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Page name: Richard of Chichester</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Author: Wikipedia contributors</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Publisher: <em>Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.</em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Date of last revision: 7 February 2024 09:06 UTC</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Date retrieved: 10 February 2024 09:09 UTC</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Permanent link: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_of_Chichester&oldid=1204544124">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_of_Chichester&oldid=1204544124</a></span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">Page name: Richard of Chichester</span></div></div></div></div></div>Athanasius and the Cost of Faithfulness to Jesushttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/athanasius-and-the-cost-of-faithfulness-to-jesus2023-05-02T17:00:23.000Z2023-05-02T17:00:23.000ZSalvatore Anthony Luisohttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/SalvatoreAnthonyLuiso<div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Today, May 2nd, is the feast day of Athanasius of Alexandria on Western liturgical calendars.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Athanasius served the Lord as bishop of Alexandria during the Fourth Century. He also served the church, and, through his writings, continues to serve the church, as a theologian. He is a Church Father, and Catholics regard him as a Doctor of the Church.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Athanasius was and is renowned and admired for his steadfast adherence to, promotion of, and defense of orthodox Christian doctrine: especially the doctrine of the divinity of Christ—that Jesus is not merely like God, but <em>is</em> God—and other doctrines of the Trinity.</span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Wikipedia article about him says:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>All major Christian denominations which officially recognize saints venerate Athanasius.</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">It also relates:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Patriarch Athanasius spent over 17 years in five exiles ordered by four different Roman Emperors, not counting approximately six more incidents in which Athanasius fled Alexandria to escape people seeking to take his life.[17]</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Such can be the cost of faithfulness to Jesus!</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What price are we willing to be to be faithful to Him?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>—II Timothy 3:12 (AV/KJV)</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort <em>you</em> that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.<br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>—Jude 1:3 (AV/KJV)</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Consider also <strong>Luke 14:25–33</strong>.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Here is a link to the Wikipedia article about this holy, faithful, steadfast, long-suffering, and godly servant and soldier of the Lord, which I have quoted as it appeared on May 2nd, 2023: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria</a></span></div></div></div>The Temptation of Christ and Lenthttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/the-temptation-of-christ-and-lent2023-02-19T01:00:30.000Z2023-02-19T01:00:30.000ZSalvatore Anthony Luisohttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/SalvatoreAnthonyLuiso<div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>The Temptation of Christ and Lent</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Since the days of the Early Church, Lent has been associated with the Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness: the period of forty days at the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus in which he fasted alone in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> In my experience, and in my opinion, even though this key part of the Lord's life in this world is commemorated in Lent, and Lenten fasting is connected with His fasting of the Temptation, it receives too little attention outside of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent).</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The Temptation of Christ is recorded in three passages of the Gospels:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Matthew 4:1–11</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Mark 1:12–13</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Luke 4:1–13</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The following spiritual disciplines are fitting for observing Lent:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Reading one, two, or all three of the accounts of the Temptation of Christ</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. Memorizing one or more verses of the accounts of the Temptation of Christ</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. Memorizing one or more of the verses of the Scriptures which the Lord quoted during the Temptation</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">4. Studying the Temptation of Christ</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;">5. Meditating on the Temptation of Christ</span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">6. Singing one or more songs (such as hymns) which tell about the Temptation of Christ</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">7. Thanking and praising the Lord Jesus for what He did in the Temptation, e.g. His fasting, His being alone in the wilderness, His suffering temptation by Satan, and His overcoming of that temptation</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Ten years ago I observed Lent by reading one account of the Temptation of Christ every day: the first day Matthew, the second day Mark, the third day Luke, and then back to Matthew. I recommend this practice.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> When I did it, I read the same translation of the Scriptures every day. Another way to do it is by reading the accounts in a cycle of more than one translation. For example, reading three translations in a nine-day cycle, with the first translation the first three days, the second translation with the next three days, the third translation with the next three days, and then returning to the first translation.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> This is easy to do if one has access to the Internet, where dozens of translations in English, and translations in many other languages, are accessible for free.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> As I read the accounts of the Temptation, I thought about them, and made notes of things I noticed and learned about them. I recommend this practice, too. One may well be surprised at what one may notice for the first time, even if one has read and heard these accounts many times before—especially if one asks God to bless one's reading.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> I also recommend that if one does this, that one share with other one or more other Christians what one notices and learns about the Temptation of Christ. That could be edifying for both oneself and with whomever one shares.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> I have also observed Lent by memorizing the verses of the Scriptures which the Lord quoted when He was tempted by Satan. These are:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Deuteronomy 6:13 and/or 10:20 (the two verses are similar)</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Deuteronomy 6:16</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Deuteronomy 8:3</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> As one would expect, through the ages much has been said about the Temptation of Christ. One can read some of it in study Bibles, Bible commentaries, poems, songs, and other works of literature. Some of it can be read, and some of it can be heard, on the Internet. (If one would like learn of hymns which tell about it, I suggest one look in the Lent section of a hymnal, and search the Internet with the search terms "Lent" or "Lenten" and "hymns".)</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> I further recommend that one observe Lent by thinking about the Temptation of Christ every single day—even better, multiple times a day every day. I recommend that if one fasts during Lent, that whenever one has a desire to break the fast, one think of the Temptation. For example, if one fasts by abstaining from snacks, then whenever one feels a desire to eat a snack, one responds by thinking about the Temptation.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Whenever and however you think about the Temptation of Christ, always bear in mind who He is.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> It was no mere man who fasted for forty days in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> No: it was He who, to be sure, is the Son of man, but who is also the Son of God. He is the Word made flesh, who in the beginning was with God, and was God (John 1:1).</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> As the Apostles' Creed says: He is the one who, after His Temptation, and after His Passion and Resurrection, ascended into heaven, and who now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, "from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead".</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The more we know about who Christ is, the more we will know the truth about what he has He done for us: not only during His Temptation, but before and after—and also about what He is doing for us now, and will do for us in the future.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> And the more we know that truth, the more appreciative we will be of it, the more grateful we will be for it, the more joyful we will be about it, and the more awed we will be by it.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> And the more appreciative we will be of, the more grateful we will be for, the more joyful we will be about, and the more awed we will be by: <strong>HIM</strong>.</span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> In conclusion: Whether or not one observes Lent, I recommend one read about and meditate on the Temptation of Christ.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><u>Questions for consideration</u></strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Do you think you give enough attention to the Temptation of Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. Would you like to observe Lent by giving special and sustained attention on the Temptation of Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. Would you like to observe Lent by practicing spiritual disciplines involving the Temptation of Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">4. Would you like to learn more about the Temptation of Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">5. What are some other spiritual disciples one could perform that involve the Temptation of Christ?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">6. Would you like to pray for knowledge and wisdom with respect to the Temptation of Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">7. Would you like to thank and praise the Lord Jesus for what He did in His Temptation? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div></div></div></div></div>Can We Comprehend Biblical Truth if We Don’t Know What Constitutes a Lie?https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/can-we-comprehend-biblical-truth-if-we-don-t-know-what-constitute2022-03-01T20:04:38.000Z2022-03-01T20:04:38.000ZPhilip Hilliardhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PhilipHilliard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/01/14/1073215412/christian-nationalism-donald-trump" target="_blank">National Public Radio (NPR), recently broadcasted a segment on Christian Nationalism</a></strong>, and a highlighted church was Patriot Church in Lenoir City, Tennessee, which NPR declared, “… what makes this church different, and others like it across the nation, is its embrace of the secular agenda of the far right.” So what factors characterize Christian nationalism?” Among other things, Christian Nationalists:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Believe America is a Christian nation;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Disbelieve mainstream media;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Believe Trump is the legitimate president;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Believe the Biden administration is evil and illegitimate;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Oppose masks and vaccinations;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Believe participants in the January 6 insurrection are proud patriots;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Disbelieve the 1619 Project’s findings; and</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Categorically denigrate and discredit the reporting of sins that expose America’s prejudicial, demonic, and racist past, and broadly categorizes these sins as Critical Race Theory.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The bottom-line is this group embraces “the big lie” spread by Trump’s effective misinformation campaign to overturn a fair and just election (and the plethora of lies told by him throughout his presidency). The result is Evangelical churches are losing members. Peter Wehner recently wrote an article for The Atlantic entitled, “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/evangelical-trump-christians-politics/620469/" target="_blank">THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH IS BREAKING APART Christians must reclaim Jesus from his church</a><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/evangelical-trump-christians-politics/620469/">.</a>” In it he describes the following as a root cause:</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">"The way our sensibilities are shaped determines who we are, including the order of our loves. For many Christians, their politics has become more of an identity marker than their faith. They might insist that they are interpreting their politics through the prism of scripture, with the former subordinate to the latter, but in fact scripture and biblical ethics are often distorted to fit their politics."</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">This post begins a 3-part series that addresses the question: What is Truth Biblically? And this post is based upon <strong>II Thessalonians 2:9-12</strong>, and specifically explores the question: Can we comprehend Biblical Truth if we don’t know what constitutes a lie? Therefore, let’s address a fundamental question: What constitutes a lie Biblically?</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Bible states “satan is the father of all lies (see <strong>John 8:44</strong>),” and <strong>II Thessalonians 2:9</strong> amplifies that truth: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” The Greek word used for “lying” is “pseudos,” which translates also into “a lie.” Two applicable pseudos definitions are 1) Conscious and intentional falsehood; and 2) Perverse, impious, or deceitful precepts that are not what they seem to be. My father, the late Rev. Clarence Hilliard, warned his congregations of this eventuality by teaching, “Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see!”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Jesus called satan “the prince of this world (see <strong>John 14:30</strong>),” so he has an army of minions to do his bidding. Some serve voluntarily because they sell him their souls. While others serve unwittingly because he is a deceiver, and many who are deceived actually believe they serve God (e.g., the religious leaders who initiated Christ’s crucifixion). Paul warned his readers to expect (if not already here), the “lawless one.” Who, in my opinion, is a person or persons who mesmerizes, among others, gullible “Christians” with lies and deceptions. It must be understood that lies are not spread accidentally! They are carefully planted, watered, and cultivated for maximum growth, and those who propagate them are liars. The deceptive seeds for challenging the validity of the 2020 election were planted long before Election Day. So who are liars Biblically?</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Two translated Greek words for liar are referenced in this post and the first is pseustes which means “one who breaks faith; or a false and faithless person.” Therefore, the consequences for lying (or associating with liars), are dire. The truth is liars break faith with God, so <strong>Romans 14:23b</strong> denounces their lies, “… for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Let’s couple the Romans verse above with the second Greek word for liar which is pseudes, and John uses it in <strong>Revelations 21:8b</strong> when he writes, “… all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” The bottom-line is all liars scoff at truth so they are destined to spend eternity in hell, which should be proof-positive that Christians <strong>must</strong> <strong>not</strong> submit to their lies, because they actually further satan’s agenda. The next question is, “What Biblical Truth is not taught in Evangelical circles today?”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The answer, very simply, is the Law of Love, which is also known as the Great Commandment. In Luke’s account of the Law of Love, a lawyer asked Jesus, “…what shall I do to inherit eternal life (see <strong>Luke 10:25-28</strong>)?” When Jesus prodded the lawyer to answer his own question, he gave the following: “'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.” The lawyer’s answer was approved by Jesus who told him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” The problem today is this two-prong message of love is not taught universally in Evangelical circles today! Instead, converts are taught to love God (maintain a vertical relationship), but the mandatory horizontal relationship “to love my neighbor,” is conspicuously absent. The Four Spiritual Laws, as outlined below, is a prime example:</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">God loves you and created you to know Him personally.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Man is sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Many “Christians” have been falsely proselytized by this evangelistic tool. False because it makes no mention of the essential love Christians must have for one’s neighbor – even among those who are sociologically different! Therefore, this weapon of mass deception used by satan produces vitriol and divisiveness, because it promotes animosity instead of brotherhood both within and without the Evangelical community! Peter Wehner, referenced earlier, documented this problem:</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">“'When Trump was able to add open hatred and resentments to the political-religious stance of "true believers," it crossed a line,' Marsden said. 'Tribal instincts seem to have become overwhelming.' The dominance of political religion over professed religion is seen in how, for many, the loyalty to Trump became a blind allegiance. The result is that many Christian followers of Trump 'have come to a gospel of hatreds, resentments, vilifications, put-downs, and insults as expressions of their Christianity, for which they too should be willing to fight.'”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Since The Bible warns “Christians” to love both God and neighbor to live, the question must be asked: How did many, who claim to be Christians, err so badly? The answer is found in <strong>II Thessalonians 2:</strong><strong>10</strong> which reads, “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” Hilliard, my father, also taught his congregations, “Whenever a half-truth is given to represent the whole truth, then it is an untruth (he used this quote also in His</span><span style="font-size:12pt;"> <strong><a href="https://sojo.net/magazine/november-1974/dissent-covenant-issued-international-congress-world-evangelization" target="_blank">A DISSENT TO THE COVENANT ISSUED AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON WORLD EVANGELIZATION</a></strong>).” The only logical conclusion to draw from this omission is The Four Spiritual Laws are an, “unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive <strong>the love of the truth</strong>, that they might be saved [<em>emphasis added by author</em>].” John, in <strong>Revelations 22:18-19</strong>, recorded the words of The Holy Spirit who sternly warned us to not add anything to God’s Word, or take anything from it, so this omission is a grave violation of that warning!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">A fundamental problem with deceptions are they hinder believers from objectively facing reality, so let’s look at a few examples:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The reality is the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion as an inalienable right to all Americans so the deception is America is a Christian nation;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The reality is the mainstream media does a relatively good job of presenting reliable fact-based journalism (and even prints retractions when necessary), while the deception is to believe in conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated stories from dubious and biased sources;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The reality is Trump lost the election fairly and squarely by over 7 million votes, but the deception is to believe that the plethora of failed court cases, audits, recounts, and certifications do not negate their belief that the election process was rigged;</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The reality is Biden’s administration is devoid of blatant partisan bias and is equally beneficial to all Americans, while the deception is Biden is evil, illegitimate, and incompetent; and</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The reality is wearing masks and vaccinating against COVID has proven highly effective in preventing COVID spread, hospitalizations, and deaths, while the deception is the very presence of mandates infringes upon the personal freedoms of those who are deceived.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">As a Black Pastor, I believe the primary reason we are unable to solve the race problem in America, even within a Christian context, is those who are in power deceptively romanticize or are unwilling to address reality as experienced by the powerless! Recently I was told by a Christian White brother that racism is no longer a problem in America. Also, several years ago Mark Johnson (a White Pastor) and I attended a City Reaching Conference and a delegation from Mississippi talked about how Black and White ministers meet every week to bridge the racial divide, but when they laid out their ground rules, their first rule was, “We do not address any tough issues!” Until the Law of Love is universally taught and practiced among Christians, satan will blind The Church of Jesus Christ from reconciling:</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">The atrocities experienced by Blacks and other peoples of color here in America; and</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Its own culpability in prolonging America’s race problem by refusing to address the injustice and treatment of racial differences openly and honestly.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Paul sums up the effects of not living by the Law of Love nicely in <strong>II Corinthians 4:3-4</strong>, when he writes, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age [satan] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The last major question addressed in this post is: What are the ramifications for not living by the Law of Love? Paul also addresses this question very nicely in <strong>II Thessalonians 2:11-12</strong>: “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” The first of two ramifications for not living by the Law of Love is their thinking becomes delusional; and the second is they will face God’s condemnation. Let’s consider the delusional thinking ramification.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>II Thessalonians 2:10</strong> talks about the deception a lie causes, and <strong>verse 11</strong> talks about the delusion created by that lie, so how are they different? The difference is the deception causes a person to believe a lie, while the delusion justifies the actions the liar (or a believer of that lie), takes to combat the perceived danger created by the lie, and both the liar and the deceived are deluded. A case in point is Putin’s delusional full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin used his platform to deceive gullible Russians (and others including Trump and other American politicians), into believing that Ukraine was ready to invade Russia or Russian-held territory within Ukraine’s borders. Therefore, Putin's delusional mind justified his unprovoked attack upon Ukraine, a sovereign nation!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">A Few points need to be made based upon <strong>II Thessalonians 2:11-12</strong>. The first is satan promotes lies so when deception is chosen over truth, the deceived is pit at enmity with God. The second identifies God as the one who sends a powerful delusion upon those who are deceived. The third is delusions are instrumental in reinforcing and justifying lies. Finally, the delusion causes the deluded to act recklessly, irrationally, or irresponsibly (had pleasure in unrighteousness). Let’s look at a few examples to clarify this point.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The first is a coup d’état was attempted on our nation when rioters stormed the Capitol Building on January 6<sup>th</sup>. However, several who were arrested acknowledged that they were deceived and described their own actions as delusive and irrational! Nevertheless, deluded Evangelicals still call those traitorous rioters “proud patriots.” Another case in point is the plethora of delusionally-inspired election laws passed by conservative state houses since Trump’s sound defeat during the 2020 election. The deception is the election was crooked while the delusion has led many state houses to pass irrational laws that make it harder for non-Whites to cast ballots in future elections.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The final example has to do with the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory. The deception is that White Americans should not be burdened by accurate accounts of America’s history of racism, segregation, redlining, lynching, dehumanization, genocide, discrimination, or a host of other sins; because it might hurt their feelings. The delusion is calling upon state house to enact laws that make it illegal to teach truthful accounts of U.S. history, but the problem is historically, U.S. History has been written and taught from a White perspective which intentionally masks historical truths, and thus makes such curricula more akin to propaganda than truth! The following article excerpt is from <em>The Guardian</em> entitled, “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/25/critical-race-theory-us-history-1619-project" target="_blank">The fight to whitewash US history: ‘A drop of poison is all you need</a>:’”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">"The laborious project of establishing truth in the face of official lies is one that Americans embraced during the racial reckoning of the summer of 2020, whether it was individuals speaking out about their experiences of racism at work, or institutions acknowledging their own complicity in racial injustice. For a time, it seemed that America was finally ready to tell a more honest, nuanced story of itself, one that acknowledged the blood at the root.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">But alongside this reassessment, another American tradition re-emerged: a reactionary movement bent on reasserting a whitewashed American myth. These reactionary forces have taken aim at efforts to tell an honest version of American history and speak openly about racism by proposing laws in statehouses across the country that would ban the teaching of 'critical race theory', the New York Times’s 1619 Project, and, euphemistically, 'divisive concepts.'"</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The second of two ramifications for not living by the Law of Love is those who are deceived will receive God’s condemnation in Judgment! While maturing in an Evangelical Church and attending Christian summer camps during my teen years, I learned the lyrics to the song, <em>“They’ll Know We Are Christians,”</em> and wanted very much to believe that the lyrics of that song echoed with a ring of truth here in America:</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">“We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord… And we pray that all unity may one day be restored: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">But as I have aged and become a serious student of The Bible, I see that the Law of Love, the missing Biblical Truth, was never universally embedded in the Christian Church here in America. It was not present during the dehumanization and peonage of America’s enslaved African population. It was not present when America’s Native population was decimated, their land and resources stolen, and many were (and still are) forced to live in squalor conditions. It was not present post-emancipation when many state legislatures passed (and some continue to pass), Black (and other egregious) Laws to control, cripple, dehumanize, disenfranchise, and illegitimatize Blacks and other peoples of color. It should be clear from this study that resentment towards others who are different racially, politically, ethnically, sociologically, geographically, culturally, or by any other differentiating indicator is not what Jesus had in mind when He told the lawyer in <strong>Luke 10:28</strong> to “… do this and you will live.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Nevertheless, the lawyer needed clarification according to <strong>Luke 10:29</strong>: “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?” Jesus was talking to a Jewish lawyer, so He shared the parable of the Good Samaritan (see <strong>Luke 10:30-37</strong>), in which a man was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Nevertheless, members of two of the most respected groups in Israel, a Jewish Priest and Levite saw the wounded man but did not minister to him because (in today’s vernacular), they did not want to be called “Socialists.” Nevertheless a Samaritan – Someone who is ethnically, sociologically, geographically, and culturally different than the Jewish lawyer, attended to the needs of this wounded man and paid his room, board, medical expenses, and promised to cover additional expenses, if warranted, upon his return. Therefore, when Jesus asked the lawyer, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves (<strong>Luke 10:36</strong>)? The lawyer responded in <strong>verse 37</strong>, “He who showed mercy on him.” Finally, I leave you with what Jesus said to the lawyer, “Go and do likewise!”</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p></div>Seeing Ever More of Christ Evermorehttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/seeing-ever-more-of-christ-evermore2022-02-05T09:00:38.000Z2022-02-05T09:00:38.000ZSalvatore Anthony Luisohttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/SalvatoreAnthonyLuiso<div><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> While searching in Google Books for a certain remark of the ancient Church Father <strong>Gregory of Nyssa</strong>, I came across the following words of Hans Boersma on page 77 of his book <em>Seeing God: The Beatific Vision in Christian Tradition</em> (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018):<br /> </span></div><div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>I will argue that, for Saint Gregory, human souls find their telos when in union with Christ they become ever purer, in an ever-increasing growth in the beatific vision. Gregory was a theologian always in search of Christ, and though he was convinced that he had indeed found him, his desire to see Christ impelled him still further. For Gregory this theological longing was grounded in his understanding of the beatific vision: the eschatological future of perpetual progress (<em>epektasis</em>) within the life of Christ means that already in this life Gregory set his desire on seeking the face of God in Jesus Christ.</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Some readers may find re-reading this excerpt with the following definitions to be helpful:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">telos: "an ultimate object or aim" (Oxford Languages)<br /> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">beatific vision: "the direct experience of God by those in heaven" (Oxford Reference)<br /> </span></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">eschatological: "relating to death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind" (Oxford Languages)</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Attend especially to this sentence:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Gregory was a theologian always in search of Christ, and though he was convinced that he had indeed found him, his desire to see Christ impelled him still further.</strong><br /> </span></div></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Of course, the sense in which Gregory sought to "find" and "see" Christ in this world was not physically, but mentally and spiritually. Through knowledge and understanding, he sought to have a greater and greater perception of the Son of God. (During His earthly ministry, thousands of people saw the Lord physically, but relatively few saw Him spiritually: that is to say, relatively few who saw that He is the son of a woman also saw that He is the Son of God (Matthew 11:25–27 and 16:13–20; John 9:39–41 and 12:37–41; I Corinthians 2:6–16).)</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Note that Gregory believed that all Christians—those who have found Christ and are in union with Him—should do the same: not just theologians, such as himself.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> Gregory knew that purity is related to the ability to see God because the Lord Jesus taught that in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed <em>are</em> the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). He desired to seek "the face of God in Jesus Christ" because the Lord Jesus taught that to see Him is to see God (John 12:44–45 and 14:7–11): a vital truth which he also knew from passages of the Epistles, such as II Corinthians 4:3–6, Colossians 1:15 and 2:9, and Hebrews 1:3.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> These other passages of the Scriptures are also related to such seeking, seeing, knowing, understanding, and perceiving:<br /> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Psalm 27:4 and 8<br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Psalm 63<br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Psalm 105:4</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Jeremiah 9:23–24</strong></span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Jeremiah 31:34 (quoted in Hebrews 8:11)</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Hosea 6:1–3</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>John 17:3</strong></span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Philippians 3:7–11<br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> How can we seek and see Christ now?</span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> The following ways are fundamental:</span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Listening to, reading, studying, and meditating upon the Scriptures (John 5:39)</span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. Listening to, reading, studying, and meditating upon scripturally-sound texts (e,g, books, articles, sermons, lectures, poems, hymns, and prayers) about Christ</span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. Prayer</span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">4. Living with Christ as one of His disciples, which entails following Him, listening to Him, learning from Him, trusting Him, and obeying Him</span></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"> </div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><u>Questions for consideration</u><br /> </strong></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1. Do you desire to seek Christ to see Him more and more? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">2. If you do desire to seek Christ to see Him more and more, how do you desire to do this?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">3. Do you seek Christ to see Him more and more? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">4. If you do seek Christ to see Him more and more, how do you do this?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">5. Do you agree that "Blessed <em>are</em> the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8)? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">6. Do you desire to become purer in union with Christ? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">7. Would you like to ask God to purify you? If so, why? If not, why not?</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">8. Do you desire the beatific vision? If so, why? If not, why not?<br /> </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Note:</strong> One good book about Christ is <em>Christ Is All!</em>, by David Bryant. You can learn about it from the article "Free book offer: Christ Is All!", which is accessible here: <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs/free-book-offer-christ-is-all" target="_blank">https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs/free-book-offer-christ-is-all</a></span></div></div></div>Gregory of Nyssa and Christhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/gregory-of-nyssa-and-christ2022-01-10T10:00:19.000Z2022-01-10T10:00:19.000ZSalvatore Anthony Luisohttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/SalvatoreAnthonyLuiso<div><div class="bi6gxh9e"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="font-size:12pt;">Hans Boersma says the following about the ancient theologian and Church Father <strong>Gregory of Nyssa</strong> (c. 335 – c. 395) on page 77 of his book <em>Seeing God: The Beatific Vision in Christian Tradition</em> (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018):</span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>I will argue that, for Saint Gregory, human souls find their telos when in union with Christ they become ever purer, in an ever-increasing growth in the beatific vision. Gregory was a theologian always in search of Christ, and though he was convinced that he had indeed found him, his desire to see Christ impelled him still further. For Gregory this theological longing was grounded in his understanding of the beatific vision: the eschatological future of perpetual progress (<em>epektasis</em>) within the life of Christ means that already in this life Gregory set his desire on seeking the face of God in Jesus Christ.</strong></span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e"> </div><div class="bi6gxh9e"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" style="font-size:12pt;">Sounds good, no?</span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e"> </div></div>