In Reply to: Re@ answers to, can anyone relate? posted by Fred on April 02, 2004 at 06:56:54:
i'll give you the gist of my understanding of these issues.. for whatever it is worth.
about knowing God's will, i think it was augustine who summed it up w/ "love God, and do what you like". (thankfully, i think he had a better grip on what someone who loves God does, then our former guide!) by this i understand that most of the time, if we desire to please God, and have a decent grasp of overarching biblical principles (love God and love your neighbor sort of stuff..), our common sense, and sense of purpose will generally inform our choices. still, i do not discount occasional promptings, intuituions, dreams or prophetic insights entirely. but it seems to me in life, as in the bible, these are exceptional. (still cool when it happens tho!)
i personally don't think i've discovered anything too life altering in scripture by referring to the greek, that a careful, contextual reading , perhaps in several versions, and in balance w/ thewhole of scripture didn't already indicate pretty clearly.. at least on the majors. if we think "big picture" and try to approach it w/ an open heart, it seems we will get the general idea, altho this comes in clearer the more we prayerfully study, and try to obey.(jn.7:17.)
about sacrifice, altho there is much about God's dealings w/ man in history that goes beyond my grasp, and at times blows my western modern sensibilities, i do think this question speaks deeply into the nature of God (as both just, and loving), and the nature of reality on earth in this era (post adam, and post crucifixion/resurection ). God's nature is Holy, totally pure from sin. His creation, borne out of the relational trinitarian Godhead, has been corrupted thru sin, abhorrent to his nature. ot sacrifice was a prophetic forshadowing of the only perfect sacrifice that could ever atone for sin, and to restore the harmony of God w/ creation.sin brought death. christ's death overcomes sin. (have you ever read the narnia series? in "lion,witch and wardrobe" lewis expresses this concept powerfully w/ aslan at the altar, the satisfying of the deep magic w/ a magic "deeper stil." yes it is by grace, but that grace was costly.
the deal w/ worship, i must admit, i do know exactly what you mean. we have learned to try and get fellowship wherever we can, enjoy worship as much as we can, and to keep scanning the horizon, hoping something new in this department will turn up soon!
glad to hear how your needs are being met. one thing i think we may have learned thru our unusual path of life is gratitude. i do thank God for God. blessings on you!