Comments on: Experiencing Theology: Reflections on the Holy Spirit http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/ Conversations in Theology and its interaction with Culture Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:50:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Tom 1st http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-6497 Tom 1st Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:15:56 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/?p=768#comment-6497 Yeah, Scott, I did like the book. It was a good mixture of exegesis, theology, and pastoral sensitivity. Yeah, Scott, I did like the book. It was a good mixture of exegesis, theology, and pastoral sensitivity.

]]> By: Hank http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-6494 Hank Sat, 23 Aug 2008 05:02:38 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/?p=768#comment-6494 I hope that the Lord does give you time to further your thoughts on this subject. I really do enjoy reading them. I hope that the Lord does give you time to further your thoughts on this subject. I really do enjoy reading them.

]]> By: Tom 1st http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-6493 Tom 1st Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:00:46 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/?p=768#comment-6493 Thanks Hank. That was a thoughtful comment, to be sure. I also have a problem with this b/c I distrust myself. But I think the crux of the matter is not whether I trust or distrust myself as an individual. Rather, the force of this lies in whether or I trust or distrust the community of faith around me. The Spirit is experienced primarily in community. Thus, I think with a thoughtful, spirit-filled community surrounding us, we are able to keep a check on ourselves. That's my two-cents at least. As the footnote - I think I may write an entire post on that subject. I'm thinking of a whole series on the Holy Spirit, but that all depends on the amount of time I have. Cheers brother. Thanks Hank. That was a thoughtful comment, to be sure.

I also have a problem with this b/c I distrust myself. But I think the crux of the matter is not whether I trust or distrust myself as an individual. Rather, the force of this lies in whether or I trust or distrust the community of faith around me. The Spirit is experienced primarily in community. Thus, I think with a thoughtful, spirit-filled community surrounding us, we are able to keep a check on ourselves. That’s my two-cents at least.

As the footnote – I think I may write an entire post on that subject. I’m thinking of a whole series on the Holy Spirit, but that all depends on the amount of time I have.

Cheers brother.

]]> By: Scott http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-6486 Scott Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:13:19 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/?p=768#comment-6486 As someone who attends an AG college ministry on Tuesdays and an SBC church on Sundays, I found this post especially inspiring (no pun intended).  A friend of mine read the Gordon Fee book and seemed to like it.  Worth reading? As someone who attends an AG college ministry on Tuesdays and an SBC church on Sundays, I found this post especially inspiring (no pun intended).  A friend of mine read the Gordon Fee book and seemed to like it.  Worth reading?

]]> By: Jesus Christ http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-6485 Jesus Christ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:46:36 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/?p=768#comment-6485 In each chapter, he examines works of sacred art that illustrate the hope we celebrate in our most important Christian holy days. <a href="http://bible.postedpost.com/2008/07/16/was-jesus-god-the-current-debate/" rel="nofollow">Jesus Christ</a> In each chapter, he examines works of sacred art that illustrate the hope we celebrate in our most important Christian holy days. Jesus Christ

]]> By: Hank http://www.masstheology.com/2008/08/21/experiencing-theology-reflections-on-the-holy-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-6483 Hank Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:51:44 +0000 http://www.masstheology.com/?p=768#comment-6483 For me, my "distrust" comes from my battles with sin. The promise of the Spirit (i.e. Ezekiel 36:26-27) ensures my obedience yet I still sin. I know that I have the Spirit inside me from the Scriptures. But so much of my experience is failure piled upon failure. My failures pile up to form a mountain larger than Everest could ever dream to be. But I am comforted by what the Scriptures promise me, that faith came by the Spirit of God. I have the Spirit, He is God's down payment on me for my Blessed Hope (to borrow from Ladd). On the other hand, I am compelled to agree that Paul lays down for us in Galatians and elsewhere that a Christian must walk with the Spirit. Therefore, experience must shape, in some way, my theology. Experience cannot be relegated to the side because of its subjective nature. It is only by experience that I can know who is in the Covenant of Christ Jesus. Do I reflect a life characterized by Galatians 5:16-23? Do those around me live with those same characteristics? Only through my experience and walk with the Holy Spirit, that tangible and nitty-gritty daily living, can I know that I have the Spirit within me. I have to agree that the New Covenant community (especially of our shared SBC denomination) needs to be less afraid of the Spirit in their theology. It is an interesting post that enjoyed reading. As a fellow Southern Baptist, I was hoping that you would get into more of what you mean in footnote 5, "I suppose the pragmatic denial of the Spirit’s fundamental personhood is another reason my tradition doesn’t trust Spirit experiences." <em>En Chariti Autou</em>, Hank For me, my “distrust” comes from my battles with sin. The promise of the Spirit (i.e. Ezekiel 36:26-27) ensures my obedience yet I still sin. I know that I have the Spirit inside me from the Scriptures. But so much of my experience is failure piled upon failure. My failures pile up to form a mountain larger than Everest could ever dream to be. But I am comforted by what the Scriptures promise me, that faith came by the Spirit of God. I have the Spirit, He is God’s down payment on me for my Blessed Hope (to borrow from Ladd).

On the other hand, I am compelled to agree that Paul lays down for us in Galatians and elsewhere that a Christian must walk with the Spirit. Therefore, experience must shape, in some way, my theology. Experience cannot be relegated to the side because of its subjective nature. It is only by experience that I can know who is in the Covenant of Christ Jesus. Do I reflect a life characterized by Galatians 5:16-23? Do those around me live with those same characteristics? Only through my experience and walk with the Holy Spirit, that tangible and nitty-gritty daily living, can I know that I have the Spirit within me. I have to agree that the New Covenant community (especially of our shared SBC denomination) needs to be less afraid of the Spirit in their theology. It is an interesting post that enjoyed reading.

As a fellow Southern Baptist, I was hoping that you would get into more of what you mean in footnote 5, “I suppose the pragmatic denial of the Spirit’s fundamental personhood is another reason my tradition doesn’t trust Spirit experiences.”

En Chariti Autou,
Hank

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