Re: Descendants and Thomas Trap
George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Fri, 20 Nov 1998 16:33:49 -0500
John W Burgeson wrote:
>
> Glenn wrote:
>
> "Exactly what evidence do you present to prove to me that Jesus is the
> one
> in whom all things hold together?"
>
> I'm going to take a crack at this, Glenn.
>
> It is NOT --- "see this! Now believe!"
>
> But it is -- "Believe! Than you will see this!"
>
> I am not saying this is how I would have done things
> were I God. Last time I checked, I was not.
>
> But it is the way it is (IMHO).
>
> The unbeliever may say to the God he does not think is real, "OK, whoever
> you are. I am WILLING to listen, and believe, and to commit to that
> belief."
>
> When he does this, God, who IS real, will do the rest.
> Different for different people.
>
> If the unbeliever says, "OK, whoever you are. I am WILLING to listen, and
> maybe then I'll believe, and maybe then I'll commit to that belief," I
> think nothing particular will happen.
I think this last is a bit of an overstatement. "Faith in search of
understanding" is indeed the correct order, but faith itself grows, & often begins
with a willingness to be in a situation in which faith becomes possible. Jesus' use of
parables has, among other functions, that of separating those willing to stick around
and listen further even if they don't yet get it & those who aren't.
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/