Fellow Christians, Can you please give me your feed back on this?
I see the deepest meaning in the story of Adam and Eve in that man became FULLY human, whether you believe in evolution or an instanteous creation, when man developed a conscience (ate from the Tree of Knoweledge of Good and Evil). From that, as described in Genesis, flowed an awareness of shame, toil, pain, suffering and death.
When you think of it that is in fact what separates us from the rest of the animals... man alone makes decisions based on moral choices or good/evil or right/wrong. A wolf does not feel shame. He does not consider the amount of running or toil he does to catch a deer. When he has pain he does not expect nor receive compassion from other pack members. He does not bemoan his fate as to why he should have pain while others of his pack do not. When he dies no one mourns his passing, but may in fact rejoice in the new meal that he has provided the pack.
Man on the other hand makes moral decisions and thus does eventually learn the concepts of compassion, empathy, and sympathy. It is only when we learn those that we can learn to love selflessly. (And it is only when we learn selfless love that we can be one with God.)
It was that perception which totally changed my opinion of the story from an "ancient story of creation" to in fact one of the most profound stories in all of literature because hidden beneath the words is a description of the entire purpose of life. But I have just had a further insight as well.
In the development of a conscience man has, like a computer, reduced ALL of his decisions to a 1 or a 0.... a yes or no or right or wrong all based on what we see as good/evil or bad. It is this fact that is responsible for ALL of out advancement. Which is better... to live in caves or to live in huts? to live in huts or in houses? to have a 1 story building or a 110 story one? to paint on the walls of the cave or not? In the decision of good and evil is at the core of all of our achievements, all of our art and architecture, our desire to improve as an individual AND our realization of the existence of God, for how could this knowledge of good or evil possibly exist it being taught to us. A wild animal does not have this capablility and therefore is incapable of advancement. A dog, who has learned from us, certainly may be capable of them on a rudimentary basis.
Just from my thinking about this I can see some areas which require deeper thought, but I would like to get your input.
Thank you.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1: 3-12, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Acknowledging Divinity? (03/30/2013); Animals Do Not Sin? (09/29/2013); GOD is Acknowledging (09/30/2013); The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012); Remembering the Holocaust? (12/14/2012); An Attack Upon Creation? (12/08/2012); The Focus of Judgment (12/09/2012); Before the Fruit? (11/10/2012); Why “Mysterious” (11/11/2012)
“Dave D”, here are a few points you may find useful to avoid spiritual confusion as you continue to grow in the things of GOD through Jesus Christ:
(1.) Your description of mankind does not sound like one that has come forth from Christ. Because we are those having new birth (reborn from divine DNA, so to speak), our understandings are being reshaped and transformed to express divine perspectives, sacred truths, and eternal purposes. Increasingly, the definitions we use should conform to pronouncements and standards that come to us by the word from GOD (we say, the holy writings, the Scriptures, the imparted, indwelling Spirit from GOD). To reveal the person of GOD, the Bible describes multiple sacred events using thousands of lives over the course of thousands of years.
(2.) The Spirit of Prophecy (we also say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth) operates upon and through awareness and self-will within created beings and living creatures. Thereby Christian believers are supplied with the same spirit content that exists as Almighty GOD. Included are inseparable aspects of divinity such as faith, forbearance, gratitude, holiness, joy, love, righteousness, truthfulness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.
(3.) While the Gospel we are called to spread speaks primarily to the appearance of GOD incarnate (i.e., in flesh as Jesus Christ through such features as birth, earthly ministry, death, resurrection, sanctification and ascension) to accomplish the permanent redemption, judgment, salvation, and sanctification of mankind, believers are also to encourage the expectation (we say, hope) that sin will be eliminated, and mortality will be ended. Mankind is to be a living companion to an eternal GOD.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) The divine intent is that mankind be made immortal and incorruptible. The tools for such a cosmic transformation must include change, death, existence, flesh, life essence (we say, spirit), personness, and utterance (we say, breath, word). Finite will is not a factor. For in the same way mankind had no part in determining and completing the divine processes of the Creation, mankind does not perform the essential processes of judgment, Salvation, and the endowment of eternal life.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Grow in grace
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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