On Wed, 17 Apr 2002 12:33:32 -0400 george murphy <gmurphy@raex.com>
writes:
> >
> > On a related topic, the WWJD slogan, Dave Siemens said:
> >
> > >I am also aware that somebody was
> > >trying to come up with a catchy motto. But they produced
> confusion
> > >between what the Lord did and the principles he gave his
> followers to
> > >live by. These may be thoughtfully applied to our ethical
> puzzles, though
> > >it may not be simple. May I suggest a more accurate acronym,
> AACTT:
> > >Always Apply Christ's Teachings Today.
> >
> > This is questionable because it seems to see Christ
> primarily as a
> > new
> > legislator. But Christ does not really give any new _teaching_
> that isn't
> > already there (at least _in nuce_) in Moses & the prophets. When
> Christ is
> > appealed to as a guide for Christian life in the epistles it is
> especially
> > his
> > passion & death, not his teachings, which are pointed out.
> (E.g.,
> > Phil.2:4-11,
> > Heb.12:2-4, I Pet.2:18-25).
> >
George,
I find this strange because our Lord referred to himself as a teacher
(Matthew 23:8; John 13:13f), and he is so addressed, whether in Greek
(some 40 times) or by the use of the Hebrew/Aramaic rabbi or raboni (some
16 times)--though I haven't sorted for overlap. I was not aware either
that a teacher had to produce novelty or that Jesus was confused when He
claimed to give the disciples entolen kainen (John 13:34).
It is, of course, obvious that there is something different to the life
of faith, which is the apostolic emphasis. This involves recognizing
Jesus as the Incarnate Word who died for our sins, and in his
resurrection empowers us. But even those who consider Jesus no more than
a great moral teacher can try to be obedient to his teachings.
Dave
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