Thanks Kalled<br><br>Sorry my statement you quoted was poorly written - I tried to edit it but time had expired.<br><br>I have no problem with God using any aspect of the creation to make His will known - men included. However, fundamentally we are individually called to submit to the Lord who creates Christ within us - this is where we will find the fullness of His will - in the becoming process (IICor 3:18 is kind of my foundational life verse though many verses exclaim the same reality). I think this forum is an excellent means for us to review our thinking - I find that expressing my thoughts and examining my heart via statements and responses and listening to how others understand/react to them is very helpful. <br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]True, our own definitions of stuff has permeated much of what is commonly held to these days, but that is not always necessarily a bad thing.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>I would be very careful about letting my definitions determine anything about God or ethics (unless I clearly noted that it was a personal definition and something that was a work in process). I would be even more careful about creating an ethic or Theology that asserts itself towards others based on my definition. Again, this tends to idolatry.<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]I see no problem with holding people to a standard of holiness that goes beyond what the world considers being holy. Afterall, God does command us to be holy as He is holy.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>Agreed - the world is definitely NOT my standard (that is why I tend to abhor our government - both State and Federal (US) (the greatest manifestation of the world I know of). <br><br>What we don't want to do is to hold people to a standard that is not from above - this is Phariseism (sp?) and Jesus condemned it and called it bondage.<br><br>The best route to Holiness is to keep oneself full open to the work of the Spirit to fashion Christ in us - we will simply not have an interest in that which is unhealthy/sin and will have a positive compassion to that experience unto which we are called to. I don't have to decide to agape people - I find the reality of that in me (this is something to do with the Spirit for sure - though I have met non-Christians who have good relational skills/ethics so the matter can be a little complex).<br><br>Interesting thought: I have alcohol in the house but I have not one wit of interest in drinking it (most of it is not mine). Of course, this example may be unfair because I don't personally like the taste or the effect - so this may be my personal inclination rather than something wrought of the Spirit - certainly no righteousness there!!!!<br><br>Greg<br><br><br><br><br>
