"D. F. Siemens, Jr." wrote:
> 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 -
Certainly Jesus teaches in the gospels & we should take his
teachings seriously for the conduct of our lives. What I was objecting
to was highlighting his role as teacher rather than the example of his
entire life. While WWJD has, as we've noted, limitations as an ethical
principle, I think it's closer to the mark than AACTT.
That's partly the case because Jesus does not, as I said, give
any new teaching. Even the "new commandment" can be seen as a
restatement of Lev.19:18.
The problem here goes deeper than it might appear at first
glance. Excessive emphasis on Jesus as a teacher of the law (which
indeed he is) easily blends into the idea that the gospel is a "new
law".
But it isn't law at all.
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
"The Science-Theology Interface"
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