Excellent! I especially like the way you emphasize that Eve already had what she was being promised by the serpent, and that Jesus already had what Satan was offering to him. Satan was acting like he owned what he was offering.
Thanks so much! It just seems like such a good parallel — and also so relevant. We are constantly trying to get something else or be something else. It’s tiring this side of heaven.
Splendid work here, Eddie. The thin film of counterfeit promises is sundered by the grace that offers something of substance, something that lasts, something that's real – namely, God himself given to us and for us in the person of his Son. Well done 👏
Great piece Eddie. Merton has this riff where he talks about how the devil appealed first to our anima, our Eve, our feminine side...and that the appeal was basically an affective one, an appeal to our feeling, our desire. Once "sold" at this affective level Adam is brought in to justify. I think anyone who has ever been addicted to anything(ahem) can relate. We want the "thing", full stop. Justification, the distortion necessary to get us the thing is a fait accompli once we are emotionally attached to the "high" desired. This is why the famous (Frank Tureck) first question of Christian evangelization is an interesting one. "If I could convince you that Christianity were true would you become a Christian?". Why would you need to ask such a thing? Because, as anyone who has ever tried to talk to a non believer(or who has been one) will start to see is that it all really boils down a question of moral sovereignty. Aldous Huxley laid this out explicitly saying that he and his intellectual buddies built their metaphysic (atheist) around the fact that they had to reject meaning because if they did not they were putting their sexually licentious lifestyles at risk. I liked how in the post you point to the fact that the goods we are seeking in the fake are ours already. This is a great reminder. Thanks
this is why it often takes a great deal of suffering(as in my case) to accept Christ. We need to "hit bottom" being our own source of moral direction. once we have hurt enough people (and ourselves) enough we become open to giving our life to God because we are satisfied that a sinner cannot be the moral center point of a human life or they will simply reason outward from personal desire. trouble is we have a conscience...this is what "gets" us in the end the "Parochial Vicar of Christ in the Heart". Usually until they have run the experiment of self will to their satisfaction a real faith is of little interest. I mean why not just "spiritual but not religious"? No moral commitments beyond personal desire. Keep up the good work!
This led me to thinking about children and "the age of accountability." In the garden Adam and Eve, without knowledge, already had access and fellowship with God. They could love and be loved. This is also the imago dei that every child is born with, long before they know anything. When we restrict salvation to acknowledging a set of doctrines instead of relationship with God, we miss the purest sign of His kingdom, exchanging it literally for the oldest counterfeit.
what are your thoughts on young children taking communion? My kiddos say they love Jesus and they want to follow Him. I think of the verse “let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them,” but my husband believes it needs to be a more informed decision. I feel strongly about not hindering the little children. Just curious what your thoughts are? My kids are 5&7.
The form and style of the sacraments are never given in the Scripture, neither are rules and restrictions. God's word just assumes that we know how which conveniently leaves room for a multitude of adaptations to fit every culture, time, and need. (I think He planned that ; ) )
Baptism and Communion then, and at what age have been hotly contested subjects down through the centuries with whole denominations and church splits as a result. So as I do not know which group you affiliate with, I hesitate to give advice that can cause problems.
But there has been research done into which style produces the most spiritually mature and godly Christians, being baptized early and raised as a Christian, or believer's baptism when they are old enough to understand (not exactly your question about communion but there are some parallels).
The conclusion was that both styles were equally likely to produce either spiritually mature and godly Christians or nominal and immature Christians. The deciding factor was not the style or timing of the sacraments but the Christian model of the parents.
I very much like this because it puts the focus back where it should be. Children are creatures of relationship, thriving when there are opportunities to love and be loved. So the relationship is always the most important thing. Fowler says that your 5 and 7 yr. olds are in the imitative and literal states of their faith. They inherit everything from you unquestioning. Later on they will question everything! But the more they absorbed from you now the better prepared they will be for those questions when they come.
Thank you for such a thorough and thoughtful reply! It has truly blessed me and helped me be at peace with whatever decision we make. I didn’t realize I was anxious about if we “don’t let them have communion,”‘then we are holding them back from loving Jesus outwardly. But we will continue teaching them and I will hold confidence that when the time is right,God will make it known!
Excellent! I especially like the way you emphasize that Eve already had what she was being promised by the serpent, and that Jesus already had what Satan was offering to him. Satan was acting like he owned what he was offering.
Thanks so much! It just seems like such a good parallel — and also so relevant. We are constantly trying to get something else or be something else. It’s tiring this side of heaven.
Splendid work here, Eddie. The thin film of counterfeit promises is sundered by the grace that offers something of substance, something that lasts, something that's real – namely, God himself given to us and for us in the person of his Son. Well done 👏
Great piece Eddie. Merton has this riff where he talks about how the devil appealed first to our anima, our Eve, our feminine side...and that the appeal was basically an affective one, an appeal to our feeling, our desire. Once "sold" at this affective level Adam is brought in to justify. I think anyone who has ever been addicted to anything(ahem) can relate. We want the "thing", full stop. Justification, the distortion necessary to get us the thing is a fait accompli once we are emotionally attached to the "high" desired. This is why the famous (Frank Tureck) first question of Christian evangelization is an interesting one. "If I could convince you that Christianity were true would you become a Christian?". Why would you need to ask such a thing? Because, as anyone who has ever tried to talk to a non believer(or who has been one) will start to see is that it all really boils down a question of moral sovereignty. Aldous Huxley laid this out explicitly saying that he and his intellectual buddies built their metaphysic (atheist) around the fact that they had to reject meaning because if they did not they were putting their sexually licentious lifestyles at risk. I liked how in the post you point to the fact that the goods we are seeking in the fake are ours already. This is a great reminder. Thanks
Just got around to reading this note in full -- very interesting observations. "they had to reject meaning..." this is exactly the key.
this is why it often takes a great deal of suffering(as in my case) to accept Christ. We need to "hit bottom" being our own source of moral direction. once we have hurt enough people (and ourselves) enough we become open to giving our life to God because we are satisfied that a sinner cannot be the moral center point of a human life or they will simply reason outward from personal desire. trouble is we have a conscience...this is what "gets" us in the end the "Parochial Vicar of Christ in the Heart". Usually until they have run the experiment of self will to their satisfaction a real faith is of little interest. I mean why not just "spiritual but not religious"? No moral commitments beyond personal desire. Keep up the good work!
So clear. I appreciate your insights!
Thank you! :)
This led me to thinking about children and "the age of accountability." In the garden Adam and Eve, without knowledge, already had access and fellowship with God. They could love and be loved. This is also the imago dei that every child is born with, long before they know anything. When we restrict salvation to acknowledging a set of doctrines instead of relationship with God, we miss the purest sign of His kingdom, exchanging it literally for the oldest counterfeit.
Hi Dr.
what are your thoughts on young children taking communion? My kiddos say they love Jesus and they want to follow Him. I think of the verse “let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them,” but my husband believes it needs to be a more informed decision. I feel strongly about not hindering the little children. Just curious what your thoughts are? My kids are 5&7.
The form and style of the sacraments are never given in the Scripture, neither are rules and restrictions. God's word just assumes that we know how which conveniently leaves room for a multitude of adaptations to fit every culture, time, and need. (I think He planned that ; ) )
Baptism and Communion then, and at what age have been hotly contested subjects down through the centuries with whole denominations and church splits as a result. So as I do not know which group you affiliate with, I hesitate to give advice that can cause problems.
But there has been research done into which style produces the most spiritually mature and godly Christians, being baptized early and raised as a Christian, or believer's baptism when they are old enough to understand (not exactly your question about communion but there are some parallels).
The conclusion was that both styles were equally likely to produce either spiritually mature and godly Christians or nominal and immature Christians. The deciding factor was not the style or timing of the sacraments but the Christian model of the parents.
I very much like this because it puts the focus back where it should be. Children are creatures of relationship, thriving when there are opportunities to love and be loved. So the relationship is always the most important thing. Fowler says that your 5 and 7 yr. olds are in the imitative and literal states of their faith. They inherit everything from you unquestioning. Later on they will question everything! But the more they absorbed from you now the better prepared they will be for those questions when they come.
Thank you for such a thorough and thoughtful reply! It has truly blessed me and helped me be at peace with whatever decision we make. I didn’t realize I was anxious about if we “don’t let them have communion,”‘then we are holding them back from loving Jesus outwardly. But we will continue teaching them and I will hold confidence that when the time is right,God will make it known!
And lots of prayer. Parenting is always not knowing what to do, what is right, what is next. But that is how God keeps us close to Him.