Comments on: Of Bond-slaves and Lovers http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/ Conversations in Theology and its interaction with Culture Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:17:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jesse Black http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4506 Jesse Black Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:52:38 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4506 Hosea 2:16 "In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' Hosea 2:16
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’

]]> By: Honzo http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4503 Honzo Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:12:51 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4503 They are gravatars. Little pictures that show up next to any comment that uses a particular email address. You can either sign up at http://www.gravatar.com/ or log into the back office and upload one under "users > gravatars." Apple dude is the default picture. I thought it fit with the color scheme of the site and our preoccupation with the apple. They are gravatars. Little pictures that show up next to any comment that uses a particular email address. You can either sign up at http://www.gravatar.com/ or log into the back office and upload one under “users > gravatars.” Apple dude is the default picture. I thought it fit with the color scheme of the site and our preoccupation with the apple.

]]> By: Hank http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4502 Hank Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:08:06 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4502 Dude what's up with everyone getting the apple-face while you get some version of Optimus Prime??? Dude what's up with everyone getting the apple-face while you get some version of Optimus Prime???

]]> By: Jesse Black http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4490 Jesse Black Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:13:46 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4490 I think one of the central issues in the Bible is one of faithfulness - like the faithfulness of a bride to her groom. The language of marriage and love is used throughout the Bible - this is language of intimacy and of a lover. Is God looking for bond-servants or lovers? I think he is looking for faithfulness and intimacy. It is like the story of Hosea and Gomer. Will Gomer be faithful? Will humanity be faithful? Will I be faithful? If our understanding of obedience were more interconnected with being faithful to God, like the context of marriage and lovers, I think it would be a richer understanding. I think one of the central issues in the Bible is one of faithfulness - like the faithfulness of a bride to her groom. The language of marriage and love is used throughout the Bible - this is language of intimacy and of a lover.

Is God looking for bond-servants or lovers? I think he is looking for faithfulness and intimacy. It is like the story of Hosea and Gomer. Will Gomer be faithful? Will humanity be faithful? Will I be faithful?

If our understanding of obedience were more interconnected with being faithful to God, like the context of marriage and lovers, I think it would be a richer understanding.

]]> By: Brad Andrews http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4488 Brad Andrews Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:11:27 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4488 This is a great discussion. I like how Hank has framed it too. What, we actually agree on something? This is a great discussion. I like how Hank has framed it too.

What, we actually agree on something?

]]> By: Honzo http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4487 Honzo Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:13:58 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4487 I agree with you Hank, and would add the following. In all good love-based relationships people become as a slave to the other person. I make my self as a servant to Meredith and she makes herself a servant to me. When we break this balance our relationship becomes screwed up. God, in Jesus came not to be served, but to serve us and we in turn become as slaves to him. I agree with you Hank, and would add the following. In all good love-based relationships people become as a slave to the other person. I make my self as a servant to Meredith and she makes herself a servant to me. When we break this balance our relationship becomes screwed up. God, in Jesus came not to be served, but to serve us and we in turn become as slaves to him.

]]> By: Hank http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4482 Hank Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:33:58 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4482 If by bond-servant one means a person who has willingly sold themselves into slavery, then God wants bond-servants. If by "lovers" one means those who <em>agape</em> God, and who have tasted God and seen that he is good, and experienced what the NET says in Psalm 16:11, "You lead me in<a href="http://www.bible.org/netbible/psa16_notes.htm#1624" rel="nofollow"></a> the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence<sup>; </sup><a href="http://www.bible.org/netbible/psa16_notes.htm#1626" rel="nofollow"></a> you always give me sheer delight." And then having experienced that "sheer delight" and "absolute joy," rest their affections upon and in God through Jesus Christ, then yes God seeks "lovers." Oh and JR, since your "liberal and post-modern" you just can't object if you disagree but can only say it isn't true for you :D hehe. If by bond-servant one means a person who has willingly sold themselves into slavery, then God wants bond-servants.

If by "lovers" one means those who agape God, and who have tasted God and seen that he is good, and experienced what the NET says in Psalm 16:11, "You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight." And then having experienced that "sheer delight" and "absolute joy," rest their affections upon and in God through Jesus Christ, then yes God seeks "lovers."

Oh and JR, since your "liberal and post-modern" you just can't object if you disagree but can only say it isn't true for you :D hehe.

]]> By: jrmadill http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4480 jrmadill Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:07:48 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4480 Maybe the problem is with our Americanized understanding of Love, eh? And I'm sure glad we're punching people in the throat.  Of all of Jesus' actions, this is the one to which I most want to conform.  I LOVE to punch people in the throat!  This is truly the heart of the gospel. I'm not sure that anyone who can come to the conclusion that Love is not the central commandment Jesus gives us (Mark 12) is reading the same Bible I am. Of course, I'm liberal and post-modern, so no one has to pay attention to what I say anyway :) Maybe the problem is with our Americanized understanding of Love, eh?

And I'm sure glad we're punching people in the throat.  Of all of Jesus' actions, this is the one to which I most want to conform.  I LOVE to punch people in the throat!  This is truly the heart of the gospel.

I'm not sure that anyone who can come to the conclusion that Love is not the central commandment Jesus gives us (Mark 12) is reading the same Bible I am.

Of course, I'm liberal and post-modern, so no one has to pay attention to what I say anyway :)

]]> By: Brad Andrews http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4479 Brad Andrews Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:24:07 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/2007/09/12/of-bond-slaves-and-lovers/#comment-4479 Not to paint with a broad brush, well okay, I guess to paint with one... The folks at Christian Research Net are taking the 'fun' out fundamental. Don't get much of their takes on things... I'll lean towards B...Love the Lord your God with all your heart...but say we are to obey the Lord. That doesn't make us slaves per se, rather like sons and daughters who willfully obey out the loving security they feel from their parents through the discipline and boundaries they have used... I do struggle with alot of what the CRN call "the fruit of the church growth movement." To me, they are just hipper versions of 'Willowback' reaching primarily old X'ers [35-50], not the truly overlooked under 35 age group. Noble definitely fits into that category... Further, 'punch that due in the throat'? Eh? That is crude. Also, can't you be 'nice' and be passionate about Jesus? I didn't know it was either/or. If he means pansy by nice, that is one thing, but he doesn't deliniate. Perry, there is only one Driscoll and I struggle with some of his language from time to time... Not to paint with a broad brush, well okay, I guess to paint with one…

The folks at Christian Research Net are taking the ‘fun’ out fundamental. Don’t get much of their takes on things…

I’ll lean towards B…Love the Lord your God with all your heart…but say we are to obey the Lord. That doesn’t make us slaves per se, rather like sons and daughters who willfully obey out the loving security they feel from their parents through the discipline and boundaries they have used…

I do struggle with alot of what the CRN call “the fruit of the church growth movement.” To me, they are just hipper versions of ‘Willowback’ reaching primarily old X’ers [35-50], not the truly overlooked under 35 age group. Noble definitely fits into that category…

Further, ‘punch that due in the throat’? Eh? That is crude. Also, can’t you be ‘nice’ and be passionate about Jesus? I didn’t know it was either/or. If he means pansy by nice, that is one thing, but he doesn’t deliniate.

Perry, there is only one Driscoll and I struggle with some of his language from time to time…

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