Comments on: Certainty in Christ: A Blessing–And A Curse http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/ Trying God's patience since 1958 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:45:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Susan http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-31783 Susan Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:49:25 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-31783 This comment. Hysterical. This comment. Hysterical.

]]> By: DR http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-31784 DR Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:53:47 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-31784 ...in bed. …in bed.

]]> By: ~Julia~ http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-21741 ~Julia~ Fri, 14 May 2010 17:08:49 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-21741 "We have the Bible. The Bible is in black and white. The mind of God is right there on the page. Read the Bible; know God’s mind. Know God’s mind; know the world. Know the world; be above the world. Be above the world; wouldn’t know God from a used car salesman." Interesting, John. I posted this on another post, but I think it goes well here, too: It seems this communication can happen is only if they have a bible present. Jesus/God/HS seems to only speak biblese, using the bible as a secret decoder ring or something, or as a diviation tool like tarot cards or runes. I mean, cannot Jesus/God/HS speak nothing else but biblese….? Awhile back on a multi-faithed site I challenged the Christians there to put down their bibles for a year and a day to see how Jesus/God/HS would communicate with them if they did not scripture to run to all the time. For one year and a day do not read or listen or quote scripture, just Jesus/God/HS directly. Should be easy since all claimed to have the Jesus/God/HS within them, yes? Having a direct line like and knowing the mind of Jesus/God/HS and all it should be a peice of cake. For one year and a day. Simple. Needless to say, they balked, (several called me names to make thier point) and not a single Christen never took up the challenge. Oddly, no one would explain to me why they wouldnt do it. Wonder why….. “We have the Bible. The Bible is in black and white. The mind of God is right there on the page.

Read the Bible; know God’s mind.

Know God’s mind; know the world.

Know the world; be above the world.

Be above the world; wouldn’t know God from a used car salesman.”

Interesting, John.

I posted this on another post, but I think it goes well here, too:

It seems this communication can happen is only if they have a bible present. Jesus/God/HS seems to only speak biblese, using the bible as a secret decoder ring or something, or as a diviation tool like tarot cards or runes.

I mean, cannot Jesus/God/HS speak nothing else but biblese….?

Awhile back on a multi-faithed site I challenged the Christians there to put down their bibles for a year and a day to see how Jesus/God/HS would communicate with them if they did not scripture to run to all the time. For one year and a day do not read or listen or quote scripture, just Jesus/God/HS directly. Should be easy since all claimed to have the Jesus/God/HS within them, yes? Having a direct line like and knowing the mind of Jesus/God/HS and all it should be a peice of cake. For one year and a day. Simple.

Needless to say, they balked, (several called me names to make thier point) and not a single Christen never took up the challenge.

Oddly, no one would explain to me why they wouldnt do it.

Wonder why…..

]]> By: Ten Ways Christians Tend to Fail at Being Christian - The World of Aklaim http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-21415 Ten Ways Christians Tend to Fail at Being Christian - The World of Aklaim Tue, 11 May 2010 12:58:03 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-21415 [...] 2) Too confident God thinks we’re all that and a leather-bound gift Bible. I’d like to humbly suggest that we spend a little more time wondering how we displease God and a little less time being confident that we do. (See my post “Certainty in Christ: A Blessing and a Curse.“) [...] [...] 2) Too confident God thinks we’re all that and a leather-bound gift Bible. I’d like to humbly suggest that we spend a little more time wondering how we displease God and a little less time being confident that we do. (See my post “Certainty in Christ: A Blessing and a Curse.“) [...]

]]> By: Kathryn Waycaster http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-21346 Kathryn Waycaster Mon, 10 May 2010 23:38:42 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-21346 Such an insightful article. As a child, I'd get into bed to say my prayers and pretend to call Jesus on the phone. I envisioned a beaufiful waist high rock fence---and I'd wait patiently for Jesus to come to the fence and talk with me. Those were amazingly warm, unfiltered, loving conversations. Then we grow older and life gets complicated. Thank you, John for bringing us back to the truth. Such an insightful article. As a child, I’d get into bed to say my prayers and pretend to call Jesus on the phone. I envisioned a beaufiful waist high rock fence—and I’d wait patiently for Jesus to come to the fence and talk with me. Those were amazingly warm, unfiltered, loving conversations. Then we grow older and life gets complicated. Thank you, John for bringing us back to the truth.

]]> By: Robert Schwab http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-21243 Robert Schwab Mon, 10 May 2010 07:26:45 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-21243 God? The Creator? Hey, I'm still having trouble with the Black Hole thingys! God? The Creator? Hey, I'm still having trouble with the Black Hole thingys!

]]> By: Marsha Conroy http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-21122 Marsha Conroy Sun, 09 May 2010 16:54:40 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-21122 I agree completely that that we don't know it all. A person commented earlier that confidence breeds arrogance, and it's true. Subtle, seductive and true. Our confidence should come from the fact that God is good and He is correct. The fact that He stooped down to offer Himself to us speaks of His greatness and mercy and kindness rather than our worthiness and intelligence. I know who I was before He called me, and that woman no longer exists; He has changed me and continues to do so. I am who I am now because of what He has done. He is amazing and so kind. So I don't have to worry about gays and thieves and murderers, etc - I still have my own issues to wrestle through. I don't have a simple solution for every situation. But I am confident of one thing: that God is good and He knows what He is doing. I hang on to that with all I have. I agree completely that that we don't know it all. A person commented earlier that confidence breeds arrogance, and it's true. Subtle, seductive and true.

Our confidence should come from the fact that God is good and He is correct. The fact that He stooped down to offer Himself to us speaks of His greatness and mercy and kindness rather than our worthiness and intelligence. I know who I was before He called me, and that woman no longer exists; He has changed me and continues to do so. I am who I am now because of what He has done. He is amazing and so kind.

So I don't have to worry about gays and thieves and murderers, etc – I still have my own issues to wrestle through. I don't have a simple solution for every situation. But I am confident of one thing: that God is good and He knows what He is doing. I hang on to that with all I have.

]]> By: Christine Conti http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-21088 Christine Conti Sun, 09 May 2010 11:03:16 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-21088 I read somewhere--can't remember, sorry--that the metaphor about the little children is not that they are ignorant but that they are the most socially powerless among us. I believe Jesus's words come directly after the apostles' squabbling about who will be the greatest among them? And that was his answer--whoever is the least powerful. I wish I could give credit to whoever came up with this very nice interpretation. I read somewhere–can't remember, sorry–that the metaphor about the little children is not that they are ignorant but that they are the most socially powerless among us. I believe Jesus's words come directly after the apostles' squabbling about who will be the greatest among them? And that was his answer–whoever is the least powerful. I wish I could give credit to whoever came up with this very nice interpretation.

]]> By: Peter http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-10680 Peter Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:30:51 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-10680 John, here's my two cents. You've got to go through the whole intellectual thing; trying to conceptually understand God/Jesus through the mind. But it always comes up short, so you keep on building with the assumption that you'll get it just right one day. Some day you'll have the ANSWER and when you speak it out people will slap themselves on the forehead and say, of course! But then, one fine day, you realize that you don't know squat about anything, let alone God. And you can allow the true Mystery of his Presence to simply be; to hold you in silent prayer. Awesome, huge, amazing. So far beyond the mind's capacity to conceptualize. Your intellect becomes like Elmer Fud before that Majesty. John, here’s my two cents. You’ve got to go through the whole intellectual thing; trying to conceptually understand God/Jesus through the mind. But it always comes up short, so you keep on building with the assumption that you’ll get it just right one day. Some day you’ll have the ANSWER and when you speak it out people will slap themselves on the forehead and say, of course! But then, one fine day, you realize that you don’t know squat about anything, let alone God. And you can allow the true Mystery of his Presence to simply be; to hold you in silent prayer. Awesome, huge, amazing. So far beyond the mind’s capacity to conceptualize. Your intellect becomes like Elmer Fud before that Majesty.

]]> By: Mike (FVThinker) Burns http://johnshore.com/2008/05/31/certainty-in-christ-a-blessing-and-a-curse/comment-page-1/#comment-6869 Mike (FVThinker) Burns Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:36:52 +0000 http://johnshore.wordpress.com/?p=368#comment-6869 Certainty is an interesting emotion (neurologists classify it as an primary emotion and can be evoked through targeted electrical brain stimulation). There is a sensation or feeling of knowing of when we are faced with something. Later in any given day, you may think back and know, confidently, that you had scrambled eggs for breakfast. There is a definite sensation...that "feeling of knowing". More apparent to most of us is when we are are presented with information that is in conflict with that "feeling of knowing". It has always been fascinating for me to observe professions of knowledge...absolute certainty even...where, seemingly, none can be had. It was this interest that had me snatch up this book: "On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not" by Robert Burton M.D. ( http://tinyurl.com/5luo3y ) In it, we see stunning examples of how certainty is easily and often associated with ANYTHING regardless of it accuracy or truth. Keep in mind that certainty and the "feeling of knowing" are not necessarily reliable guideposts. As Mark Twain said: "It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so" You can also read my full review of the book at http://fvthinker.blogspot.com/2008/03/book-review-on-being-certain-believing.html Certainty is an interesting emotion (neurologists classify it as an primary emotion and can be evoked through targeted electrical brain stimulation). There is a sensation or feeling of knowing of when we are faced with something. Later in any given day, you may think back and know, confidently, that you had scrambled eggs for breakfast. There is a definite sensation…that “feeling of knowing”. More apparent to most of us is when we are are presented with information that is in conflict with that “feeling of knowing”.

It has always been fascinating for me to observe professions of knowledge…absolute certainty even…where, seemingly, none can be had. It was this interest that had me snatch up this book: “On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You’re Not” by Robert Burton M.D. ( http://tinyurl.com/5luo3y ) In it, we see stunning examples of how certainty is easily and often associated with ANYTHING regardless of it accuracy or truth.

Keep in mind that certainty and the “feeling of knowing” are not necessarily reliable guideposts. As Mark Twain said: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you in trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”

You can also read my full review of the book at http://fvthinker.blogspot.com/2008/03/book-review-on-being-certain-believing.html

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