Pastoring Is Easy as is the Christian Life Together, getting to know our Father in heaven
Thoughts for Meditation from Pastor Tom
The original sin: self direction
Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the “knowledge of good and evil”, many define the original sin as disobedience, making God a dictator. God is love, relationship is the issue. Adam and Eve had the choice to lean on their newly found knowledge, or to turn to the Father for direction. They failed to defer to the Father. Without the revelation of the Father's love or having experienced the need for it, Particularly in the area of forgiveness, they acquired the knowledge of good and evil which came with the ability to be judgmental and insecure, fearful. They hid themselves.
Recognizing the original sin as self direction will cause many thoughts of sin and its effects to be cleared up. It will also reveal the Father's dealings with men in greater light. This also simplifies the following of God making Christianity much easier than it has been presented. Honest consideration will show all “sins” are self directed.
Who’s idea was this ?Remember, God planted the tree with the full knowledge of the future. He planned for man to have the opportunity to experience his love and choose between self direction or following. His destiny for man was sonship, the result of experiencing his love in many facets, thus leading a man to a confident Oneness with the Father God. The opportunity being provided, man could now experience God and his love in ways unavailable before the tree.
Relationship being the catalyst not the requirement.
The nature of the original sin is self-direction, living in the realm of reason with the knowledge of good and evil, always demanding judgment, a place of insecurity, of endless questions and isolation resulting from different opinions. There is no rest for the soul available in the realm of reason.
Remember the tree Throughout this writing your tendency will be to judge these things by your own assessment. Your branch in the “tree”. Your fullest life is found in knowing his love and therefore being enabled to yield to the mind of Christ. Choosing to live by conversation not by information is essential to discipleship.
We are told “to lean not on your own understanding”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Pr 3:5-6 KJV
Truth is setting you free.
Recognizing the original sin as self direction will cause many thoughts of sin and its effects to be cleared up. It will also reveal the Father's dealings with men in greater light. This also simplifies the following of God making Christianity much easier than it has been presented. Honest consideration will show all “sins” are self directed.
Who’s idea was this ?Remember, God planted the tree with the full knowledge of the future. He planned for man to have the opportunity to experience his love and choose between self direction or following. His destiny for man was sonship, the result of experiencing his love in many facets, thus leading a man to a confident Oneness with the Father God. The opportunity being provided, man could now experience God and his love in ways unavailable before the tree.
Relationship being the catalyst not the requirement.
The nature of the original sin is self-direction, living in the realm of reason with the knowledge of good and evil, always demanding judgment, a place of insecurity, of endless questions and isolation resulting from different opinions. There is no rest for the soul available in the realm of reason.
Remember the tree Throughout this writing your tendency will be to judge these things by your own assessment. Your branch in the “tree”. Your fullest life is found in knowing his love and therefore being enabled to yield to the mind of Christ. Choosing to live by conversation not by information is essential to discipleship.
We are told “to lean not on your own understanding”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Pr 3:5-6 KJV
Truth is setting you free.