Making Old Things New

This is an earlier thread that I just realized had been posted. I didn’t want it to ‘fall through the cracks’, as the saying goes, so I am reposting it and reopening the dialogue for any who would like to engage in the discussion.

Henry wrote:

I believe Jesus is a part of a Supreme Being that enters all sentient societies in a manner/person that is consistent with each society's comprehension. I think it would be extremely presumptive of us to think that he has favored mankind only in the last 2000 years and then only the Caucasian peoples, omitting eastern societies.

I view the Bible as a book that was written by inspired people who also included ideas and concepts important to themselves. I take the accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and factual.

I don't have any meaningful views of life after death.

Response:

The first sentence (about entering sentient societies) is one I might say about the Holy Spirit. The main idea seems to be that God (the Supreme Being) presents to people in ways they can comprehend. You call this ‘Jesus’… I call it the ‘Spirit of God’. But hey, we’re Trinitarians, so in a way, they are the same… though I do believe there is great value in distinguishing the Divine Persons also. I would, however, probably say sentient beings rather than societies and I would limit that involvement to post-Pentecost time (when the Holy Spirit- God’s Presence- was given as a gift to mankind because Jesus’ sacrifice fulfilled the law).

The idea of the next two sentences seems to be that ‘Jesus-Supreme Being’ MUST present to all peoples during all historical times. I do not hold this assumption. Rather, based on the Biblical record, I adhere to the concept of progressive revelation. That is, I believe since the fall of humanity the Godhead has been progressively, incrementally and in stages revealing and manifesting Its Divine Nature to redeem and restore mankind. As for omitting Eastern societies; remember it was Middle Easterners who were given extraordinary revelation. The Israelites lived in the most populous area of the world and their territory was a central trading route. They were called out to be witnesses- demonstrating to those around them Who God was according to the special revelation they were given at Mt. Sinai. The Easterners were not disregarded. Further, I believe it was only in the man Jesus that the Godhead manifested to this whole world as an individual person like us... and He wasn’t Caucasian! That is why I believe the life and testimony of Jesus is special and unique and deserves exceptional consideration and emphasis.

I believe every word of the original text of the written record we call the Bible was inspired directly by the Spirit of God. I agree that God spoke through people in particular times and situations and used the categories and culture and concepts that were then present in the vessels of His Revelation. I agree that the people who wrote had conscious experiences and may even have thought they were thinking on their own at times… but I believe God was sovereign even over their thoughts. I take the Bible as literally as possible allowing for metaphor, perspective, situational/cultural nuances and so forth. I consider my belief in the inspiration of Scripture to be an article of faith.

Too much to say about life after death… maybe another time…