Re: Service as a Route to Intimacy
Submitted by Forgiven on April 23 2000 04:52:12
In reply to Service as a Route to Intimacy submitted by Ford Prefect on April 21 2000 22:35:47
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"Serving God then becomes a route to a more intimate relationship with him......and we needn't worry, as we sometimes do with people, about our offering being rejected." Where did the idea that God doesn't reject offerings come from? The bible is full of examples - from Cain onward. The Mosaic law makes it clear that the offering of a defective animal is an insult to God. But the point about it being a sharing of oneself is well made. This of course puts a spotlight on a lot of the 'worthy' service that Christians so often indulge in such as 'feeding the homeless'. Such service is easily liable to degenerate into self service - making oneself feel good because you've done something good, rather than true love of the person being served or of God. (Looking back on a period when I was involved in that sort of activity, I see it in myself) Which goes a little further - there is an understanding which perceives the sexualisation of a relationship with a boy as a exercise in 'serving' ourselves, rather than the boy. 'I loved him in my way' as one convicted offender is quoted as saying. Yet the reality is that we have the potential for offering more to boys than many because, when we try, we can be more sensitive to them than 'ordinary' adults; I remember a time on summer camp when I spotted an issue with a kid that the other counsellors hadn't picked up on. Life's a mess - but then you die Christ is risen HE IS RISEN INDEED HALLELUJAH!! |
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