Re: Re: [asa] Random and design

On 11/24/06, Pim van Meurs <pimvanmeurs@yahoo.com> wrote:
> If I understand you correctly this depravity applies to all, and in
> fact one
> may very well argue that anyone has failed to comprehend the depths
> of one's
> own depravity, at least under your 'logic'. But this was about
> abusing
> Christ's teachings to evangelize a position of expecting the worst
> from each
> other and from social institutions and movements. When in fact, it
> now seems
> clear that good and evil are expressed with respect to what is done
> for the
> Glory of God makes the discussion one of equivocation.
>

You don't understand her correctly. When we "expect" the worst we are
not surprised by it and are prepared to forgive any future
transgressions, particularly personal ones. It is also a means of
great optimism because when social institutions and movements (and
churches and individual Christians for that matter) fail, we are not
depressed nor dismayed as that is not where our confidence lies. We
wait for -- as J.R.R. Tolkien coined -- the eucatastrophy as best
exmplified by the Cross.

> Given the extent of altruism and reciprocal altruism found not only
> amongst
> men but also on other levels of His Creation, I do not see a
> logical link
> between the two, in fact I see 'love thy neighbor' as an essential
> teaching,
> showing that we should not distrust them. That's the message of
> love I find
> in the Scriptures.

You show precisely the misunderstanding of the lawyer that caused
Jesus to follow up the Golden Rule by the parable of the Good
Samaritan. When Jesus said "love thy neighbor" it was immediately
replied with the question who is my neighbor? The reason for the
response is the implied assumption that our "neighbor" deserves our
love. [N.B. The Calvinistic Westminster Larger Catechism exegetes the
command to not bear false witness as preserving our neighbor's good
name. Thus, slandering our non-Christian neighbor violates not only
Christianity in general but also Reformed Christianity in particular.]
Rather as the parable teaches, all our neighbor provides is the need
of our love. Whether our neighbor is "good" or "evil" is totaly
irrelevant to what Christ expects of us. In fact, Calvinism makes
Jesus' admonition even more powerful. On a relative basis, the
difference between our "good" and our neighbor's "evil" pales in
comparison to both our need for a Savior. We are to forgive because we
have been forgiven and love because we have been loved.This frees our
good works from moralistic superiority and political grandstanding and
thus ultimately glorifies God.

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Received on Sun Nov 26 10:39:22 2006