| Rambling and Perfection |
| This will probably prove to be an interesting entry...
For one, it's almost 1AM. Therefore, my brain is not necessarily functioning normally. Or necessarily functioning, really... For another, I really don't know what to write about, but I feel like I should write something. So, here goes. You know what bothers me? How much rambling I do. Oh, trust me, I do it a lot. I think part of what really bothers me about it is that it's all so empty... It's just used for filling space in hopes that the person I'm talking to will respond in some way... I guess I prefer rambling to awkward silences for the most part... That's probably why I do it... Of course, then there's the question of why I even bother talking to people in the first place. This is especially true when I don't really have anything to say, anyway. One of those things where I really feel like talking to people (or, more often, IMing people) even though I have absolutely (or near absolutely) nothing to talk about. So, a decent portion of the time, I end up rambling... On occassion, I'll get a response that I can follow with a question that will make the other person talk for a little while. But, for the most part, my IMs are me rambling. Of course, there are exceptions to this. For example, I normally don't ramble to mia amino. Well, on IM... I save most of my rambles with her for when we're in person. I have some other theories (that I'm not going to go into... If you really want to know, feel free to ask) as to why I bother with all of it, even though I end up not really being happy with so many of my conversations. And these explanations are a bit more psychological than economic... though I could develop some of the latter as well. Yeah, that's one topic for this entry. Let's switch to another. Well, my dad and I got into a little discussion in the car this evening about Christian perfection. See, I lean more Quaker/Wesleyan holiness in this topic. AKA: I believe that it is possible to attain a degree of perfection (a human degree, mind you) while we still live. My dad has more the Baptist view that we can't. The more specific terms we used (and I think it's proper to use) is whether it is possible to cease sinning. I say yes, he says no. Well, it culminated (as theological discussions tend to) in looking at various definition. What is sanctification/holiness? (Dad: set apart, me: that AND cleanliness/righteousness) What is sin? (Dad: missing the mark/imperfection compared to God, me: trespassing/disobedience to God) At this point, Dad suggested that I do a Bible study on sin. So, I commenced with one of the books that is most steeped in the nature of sin. (From a topical perspective, I mean.) 1 John. A great little letter. And the more I read it, the more right I think I am. Because, if we say that man MUST continue to sin, then we make a lot of things impossible that John clearly says at the end of the letter ARE in fact the CASE. (Something that IS cannot be impossible.) Therefore, it must be possible for man to NOT continue in sin. Case closed. For your benefit, and mine, I guess... I'm going to include a short list of some things that I think are impossible if man MUST continue sinning: 1. Cleansing by Christ's Blood 2. Loving your brother (because if you love your brother there is nothing in you to make you stumble 2:10) 3. Being born of God 4. Being a child of God 5. Living in Him 6. Knowing or seeing Him Feel free to read 1 John and add to the list. Now, many will say, "What about John 1:8? If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves!" I say: "Being with sin doesn't necessitate continuing to sin." Being with sin is more a state than an action, whereas continuing to sin is more an action than a state. Two very different things. Think of it this way. Being in debt is different from continuing to borrow. I think this is a very appropriate analogy. In as far as we are "being with sin", we cannot get rid of that. It is a debt we cannot pay. However, we don't need to continue sinning. In fact, John says that if we do, all the things I listed above just don't happen. So, in as far as ceasing TO sin, I say that the Bible says we ARE capable of it. And, in that sense, we can "be holy and perfect". If you have a good Scriptural answer to how we MUST continue in sin AND can STILL know God, go for it. I want to hear it. As for me, I tend to believe what John expressly says. Well, it's time for bed... So, have a great night, day, evening, morning, or whatever time of day you're reading this! |
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