Sunday night we had a really good discussion. (I think anyway.) There were a few topics at hand, but the main point revolved around Romans 7 and the "exchanged life". As we were talking about living under grace instead of law, the following story came to mind: (This was not discussed in great detail... these are all thoughts that have been going on in my head since that time.)
1 Samuel 8:4-7
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations. " But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them."
1 Samuel 8:22
The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and appoint them a king." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."
In between verses 7 and 22, the people refused to listen to Samuel and continued to demand a king. I can only imagine how many days this must have gone on. The question is why did they continue to beg for a king? Were they not able to find sufficency in the Lord? They must have felt an overwhelming need to have one leader. One decision maker who could say what they could or could not do. One law that told them what was right and what was wrong. They turned their ears away from God and towards a human being. They may have called upon His name but their dependency rested more on the law than on the Lord.
** Side note, at that time, they did not have the Holy Spirit. Some time of external control besides the 10 commandments may have been needed.
I believe that we have created our own "kings".
We have:
King Baptist
King United Methodist
King Nazarene
King Catholic
King Non-denominational
etc.
We have created for ourselves little communities. I know that there are not specific people in charge of each denomination. There is no one person sitting on some thrown giving commands. Instead, we have made the denominations the kings. We've written pages upon pages of things to do or not to do, things we believe in or do not believe in. We've even signed and dated them... having taken votes to make it all official. The doctrine has taken place of the law, most of the time incorporating parts of it to fit the needs/desires for that community.
**Side note in relation to above side note: WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
One question here: When and/or Where did the need or desire start to change or further define the Word of God?
Each community has a common goal: to reside with God in Heaven... But each seeks that goal in a different way. Are the differences bad? right? wrong? biblical? unbiblical? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
...Just some thoughts for now. I may have more later.
Things to smile about today:
:) accomplishing many things for the school fundraising dinner
:) watching the confidence grow in children as they complete an activity successfully
:) knowing that my new digital camera will be delivered tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 Samuel 8:4-7
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations. " But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them."
1 Samuel 8:22
The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and appoint them a king." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."
In between verses 7 and 22, the people refused to listen to Samuel and continued to demand a king. I can only imagine how many days this must have gone on. The question is why did they continue to beg for a king? Were they not able to find sufficency in the Lord? They must have felt an overwhelming need to have one leader. One decision maker who could say what they could or could not do. One law that told them what was right and what was wrong. They turned their ears away from God and towards a human being. They may have called upon His name but their dependency rested more on the law than on the Lord.
** Side note, at that time, they did not have the Holy Spirit. Some time of external control besides the 10 commandments may have been needed.
I believe that we have created our own "kings".
We have:
King Baptist
King United Methodist
King Nazarene
King Catholic
King Non-denominational
etc.
We have created for ourselves little communities. I know that there are not specific people in charge of each denomination. There is no one person sitting on some thrown giving commands. Instead, we have made the denominations the kings. We've written pages upon pages of things to do or not to do, things we believe in or do not believe in. We've even signed and dated them... having taken votes to make it all official. The doctrine has taken place of the law, most of the time incorporating parts of it to fit the needs/desires for that community.
**Side note in relation to above side note: WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
One question here: When and/or Where did the need or desire start to change or further define the Word of God?
Each community has a common goal: to reside with God in Heaven... But each seeks that goal in a different way. Are the differences bad? right? wrong? biblical? unbiblical? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
...Just some thoughts for now. I may have more later.
Things to smile about today:
:) accomplishing many things for the school fundraising dinner
:) watching the confidence grow in children as they complete an activity successfully
:) knowing that my new digital camera will be delivered tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Erica at 8:59 PM
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