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I'm new to Christianity and I struggle to understand the nature of God and his will. I've read most of St. Paul's letters and the Gospels at least once each, but I'm slow at getting through the Old Testament. Right now, I'm working my way through Leviticus. There a lot of regulations there and God, according to Moses, is very strict about enforcing those regulations: cleanliness, blasphemy, sexual relations.
It seems harsh to a modern person, but I also think that God is thinking of the greater good of the tribe. If those practices are allowed to continue, the group suffers as a whole. It's interesting that the rules of hygiene: washing after touching a person with lesions, not touching a menstruating woman or a man with a discharge are all supported by modern medicine. They can communicate disease.
It may also be that God's punishments for willful disobediece are meant for the good of the whole world, because disobedience to God's will is a kind of moral communicable disease. We have plenty of chances to reform, look at our lives and turn them around, but once we're dead there are no more chances. We don't really know what is best for ourselves, or what our role is in the world. I believe that's why obedience to God's will is the greatest thing we can offer, because then He can act through us and allow his love to manifest, as you say in today's post. I need to allow that more often. That's my resolution and amends and I ask that that happens.
I believe that Hell is a manifested fact. I have not envisioned it, but other people have. Why? I don't really know, except that just as Satan was cast out of Heaven for pride and disobedience, people who refuse to adhere to God's will are not allowed in his presence, because they refuse to acknowledge him, worship him and do his will. Pride, disobedience and willfulness block the action or manifestation of God's will, block the love we can show, and he won't allow it. That's my take.
posted by
Blanche.
on September 16, 2004 at 1:28 PM
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Just what I was saying...
posted by
Friar__Tuck
on September 15, 2004 at 11:04 PM
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