Sunday, November 20, 2011
S02E11: "The Not-So-Great Debate"
Debating can quickly turn into disaster as it suddenly becomes a battlefield of stress, aggravation, anger... and pride.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- Joe Harrison
- I am currently 32 years of age, I love to compose music, read, write, draw, and play video games. February 14th 2012 I entered into a beautiful relationship with my best and dearest friend of four years, and I am overjoyed to say that my first girlfriend became my last as she married me June 2013.
Hey Joe,
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed listening to your podcasts. I appreciate your humility and frequent willingness to share your shortcomings and struggles in living the Christian life.
I once was where you now are, and for many, many years, and I struggled with my faith very much like you do. But once I became open to the possibility of an alternative understandings of the historical development of the Biblical Cannon, and its relevance to a helpful interpretation of all that it teaches us, my spiritual struggles have diminished greatly and I am now consistently in a state of spiritual peace.
I have reached the ripe old age of 67, and have sought with all my heart to be a follower of the teachings of Jesus and the will of God since childhood.
After much searching, study, and prayer, I have become convinced that, for those of us who struggle with perfectionism and the resulting emotional instability, a more mature understanding of the Scriptures is essential for a spiritually, and emotionally fulfilled life. My prayer is that you will someday, maybe sooner than later, come to this same conclusion.
Nevertheless, I urge you to continue to share honesty, and without hesitation, your ongoing understanding of the nature of reality, the universe, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and how that understanding impacts your life. I know how my having your current understanding impacted my life when I was where you are now. But and am blessed to have moved on to, what I consider a better, and certainly healthier understanding what is, and is not part of reality.
I realize that you will consider most, if not all, that I have written here heretical, but I plan to continue doing what I can to steer you to that "better place", that I have been blessed in reaching.
Best wishes, and keep on seeking the truth.
Lovingly, and respectfully,
Pete
Hey Joe,
ReplyDeleteI really agree with you that debating the merits of differing understandings of the One and only God does lead to frustration and often, discouragement. Therefore, I do not intend to debate with you ... but instead will offer the occasional comment to help you understand that the fundamental, evangelical understanding of the Scriptures can be very narrow, and discouraging. I encourage you to be more willing to learn about alternative understandings that may, "if you listen long enough" (to quote you) open your eyes and help. Keep up the good work, and keep your spiritual eyes and heart open.
With love,
Pete
Hey Joe,
ReplyDeleteI'm really worried about you since you have not responded to my previous two comments and have not aired an new podcast. Let me know how I can best pray for you.
Sincerely,
Pete