Keep this in mind....
"The starting point of philosophy is our consciousness of our weakness and our incapacity with regard to necessary things."
-from the Discourses of Epictetus
If people accepted this principle substituting the word "philosophy" for "theology", half of the so-called "Christian" blogs and chatrooms would shut down tommorrow.
"With regard to those who are different from him [by principles of their life], [the philosopher, or we can substitute would-be-theologian] will be patient, gentle, delicate, and forgiving, as he would toward someone in a state of ignorance, who missed the mark when it came to the most important things. He will not be harsh to anyone, for he will have perfectly understood Plato's words: 'Every soul is deprived of the truth against its will.'"
-also from Epictetus
God give me the grace to behave in this manner!
posted by Arturo Vasquez @ 10:16 AM
2 Comments:
'Every soul is deprived of the truth against its will.' (Plato)
I don't think that this squares with the information that we find in the Scriptures. Both Peter and Paul asserted that there are people who are willingly ignorant of the truth. I think that they are consistent with much of what we find in the Prophets.
2Pt 3:2-7
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=2%20Peter%203:2-7;&version=9;&interface=print
Romans 1:18-32
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=romans%201:18-32;&version=9;&interface=print
Am I missing your point?
I do agree with the need to show humility and patience, recognizing that we all have been God's enemies at one time or another.
I do not agree that everyone is simply a misguided seeker after the truth. Again, John tells us that people love darkness and hate the light (John 3:19-20).
If I have misread you, or you have an alternate way to look at these Scriptures, please fire away.
Blessings,
Jason kranzusch
Jason,
I think we can never assume that the person in front of us is not seeking the truth, just as we can never assume "in via" that anyone is going to Hell, no matter how evil their life may seem to us.
I am not one to think that no one is in Hell or an enemy of God, but if I encounter them, I must assume that they are seeking God, and I must do my best to lead them to Him.
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