Welcome back!
OK welcome back and - when truly experiencing the precence of God shouldn't the response be great awe, fear and trembling. Couldn't a case be made that even though the initial reaction to salvation by many is one of joy, at some point we need to truly realize that we are sinners in the precence of a Holy God. The question then becomes how do we walk in grace so that we can experience that "truly happy and heavenly quality of life" that we desire? Is it knowledge of the word and Christ's work that gets us there or is it the working of the Holy Spirit? or both?
Let me follow up. It's not a philosophical question for me. I minister to all kinds of folks. I can get them into church, or a small group, I can even get them into a life transformation group with intense bible study and accountability. But most just don't seem to be able to get to that next level where they are able to walk in real power and freedom and make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families - let alone make any difference in the community. My relationship with God seems vital, crucial, electric, but for the most part I can't seem to get others as excited. Maybe one in ten or 15. Is that the norm? Is it Americans in general - are they too distracted and self-reliant. If only it were as simple as telling them that the kingdom was within their reach.
jeff,
There are usually two issues:
1. The kingdom offers an entirely new sense of well being, but does the person have enough poverty of spirit and mourning etc to think they need it. There is a huge trade off. A person needs to have the faith that the spiritual life is worth the trade off. This is the kingdom as a trasure in a field problem where the person sells everything to get the kingdom. The driver of this great trade off is wanting a different quality of life.
2. On the positive side, does the person see the spiritual communion with God as so valuable. People usually do not see the value of a spiritual life, that is life in the kingdom.
So it is two sides to the same coin...We need to be relatively miserable compared to the promise of the kingdom.
brad
I've been reading the Acts of the apostles this spring and am struck that the announcement only came about with the Resurrection and first to the apostles. Matthew and Luke also make a point of making the resurrection the moment of potency, and the story of the Acts begins with the charge to the apostles and Mary to preach and baptize. Then the Acts makes a big, hairy deal about Paul and Peter correcting the baptism of Apollos and others with a real chrismation into the Holy Spirit. They seem to assume that a spirit-filled life is what the anointment of the Messiah and the announcement of the kingship of that Messiah is about. The apostles'question, "Will you restore Israel?", seems to set up the life of the last days, where Jesus' followers will live in exile under his kingship in the face of terrible odds. Is it enough to understand these NT events in simply pre-exilic terms? Don't we also have to look at Judaism in its Hasmonean expectations too?
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