Saturday, April 5, 2008
Motivation
There is a difference between admitting that God is the only giver of satisfaction, and living the Christian life for that satisfaction. This difference is discussed in Jeremiah 2:12-13. Piper practically builds His theology on this difference. Is the latter sinful? That is the question that must be answered when discussing Piper. Does Hebrews 12:1-2 relate to this? What was the joy that was set before Christ? What was so valuable to Him that he endured the suffering at Calvary? The answers to these questions hold the key to the gospel. What was the motivation behind the cross? What is the motive behind my life? Your comments would be appreciated...
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3 comments:
Piper certainly does build his theology upon the difference, and in my opinion , he takes it a bit too far when slapping the label " Christian Hedonism" upon it. Mixing Christianity with such a filthy philosophy is a rather crude way of getting his point across, and I think there could be better.
However, discussing titles isn't the point of your post. :)
I appreciate the consideration that Piper's approach could at the least, possibly be incorrect.
Well, at first glance, my first opinion would be that if Piper is indeed basing his entire philosophy of life off of two verse s in Jeremiah, he should reconsider. Scripture proves Scripture, and I would present ( perhaps not dogmatically state) the idea that teachings about the meaning of life in the Bible would be composed of more than two or three verses. Also, the meaning of "fountains of living water" is at the least, debatable, and difficult to base one's entire belief system upon.
I think Piper's ideas would be great, if we had a God who couldn't see our hearts. However God does look at the heart. I think that God isn't glorified, nor should we expect blessings in living for satisfaction we can receive though the Christian life. To live for the satisfaction is almost the "prosperity gospel". As far as Christ motivation I would say that it was out of love not satisfaction He would get out of it. (I will be the first one to admit that this could be an incorrect view.) I really don't see what satisfaction Jesus got out of dying on the cross.
I don't have pipers message so, I don't think I have a good idea how everything in your post came to bother you but I see three sections therein. First of the meaning of Jeremiah 2:12-13 (which I intend to completely comment on at this time). Second of Hebrews 12:1-2 (which I'd like to get to). And third, a psycho-Analiese of Christ (which is less likely to be expressed in this post) and then dribbles of questions that are implied to continue in rapid succession which may be why Andrew was up and 12:09 in the morning.
First,Jeremiah 2:12-13 which isn't as much a discussion as a message in God's words charging the estranged people of God.
12 and 13 are an articulation on Israels idolatry expressed in verse eight. "The Priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
For my people have committed two evils[indicating that two sins will be listed]: [1]They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and [2]hewed them out of cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
The two evils is: one, the people did not go to God and two, they went to other things but only other things but empty things.
The Lord is symbolized with a fountain. Fountain are fresh free-flowing water. And Idolatry (though it is not directly identified in this verse, Idolatry is the topic of the book and particularly verse eight which I think verse 13 articulates) is symbolized with a cistern. Cisterns are still water that is collected from rain and run-off. A think, chunky milkshake of stale water and floaties. But then the verse seems to stop itself and take a closer look at the cisterns to describe them as broken and incapable of holding water. So the illustration is that of a fountain and a chunky dry sponge with plenty of stale. I neglected the word hewed, without the help of a cometary could either mean that the cisterns are dug or sculpted the point being that the people made it themselves.
So after a bit of studying I'd sum up the verse as the connection of forsaking God and his way for living after whatever way which won't work b.t.w.
Now, I don't have pipers work to directly criticize but Jeremiah 2:12-13 does not discuss difference in finding satisfaction in God and living for satisfaction but rather describes the futility in not serving God. It seems to me that living a christian life or faking one may be an application but a pretty removed application at that. Lets race on.
Second, Hebrews 12:1-2
Could relate but I don't think it relates the way I think you think it relates. Chapter 12 is about how God's discipline proves his love for us, key verse 6 "for whom the Lord Loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he recieveth."
The principle relates. God loved the Hebrew people and when they went a astray he chastised them with the hope of correction. Jeremiah is tragic because he preaches for several generations of kings who ignore him (with the acceptation of one) until Israel is conquered.
Lastly (3) Christs death.
Jesus is used as an example of how we are to run the race and the goal. This is a likely place where the word Christian could have been coined.
But andrew wants to know why or what joy Christ was striving for. To answer that I would ignore my a.d.d. tendencies and continue reading to the end of the verse to "and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Before I go on I'd like to keep in perspective that Hebrews twelve is about work in the Christian life keying in on correction so it is not meant as a reveal for some hidden aspect of Christs death but more likely a familiar reference for the audience, us. Why did God save man? "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."
God's motivation from Genesis is Companionship with the ones he loves. But Companionship implies choice so God drew the line between his way and the tree of knowledge. The Choice still existed in Jeremiah's years as the Jews were confronted with there Idolatry with empty religion and fallowing the Lord.
and the same when Christ gave his life so that filth sinners, who are incapable of making a jar to catch rainwater to save their lives, can repent and one day worship him in all his glory on the right hand of the Father.
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