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> What Are You Asking? -January 2005
 


Tom Ehrich
Tom Ehrich

 
   

What are You asking?

Pastor, Author and Speaker Tom Ehrich responds to
your questions about God, faith and
living spiritually

Send us your questions


 

JANUARY 2007


Can you help me understand the idea behind the question: "How can I get out of my own way?"

Cartoonist Walt Kelly once showed Pogo Possum slogging through a dismal swamp. Pogo said, We have met the enemy, and he is us. That saying echoed what Jesus said long ago to his disciples, that they must “die to self.” That, in turn, reflected what Jesus learned in the wilderness, when Satan tested him by appealing to his ego and appetite. In order to proceed with his calling, Jesus had to get out of his own way, by resisting the siren of pride and appetite and by remembering who he was as a son of God.

In other words, we tend to become our own stumbling block, by denying realities about ourselves, by hurting ones we love, by misreading our needs and yearnings, or, as the country song put it, by “looking for love in all the wrong places.”

 

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Why did God create us?

Good question, and one that probably isn't in our power to answer with any certainty. Scripture has two creation stories. In the oldest, the Adam-and-Eve story in Genesis 2-3, God “formed man from the dust of the ground” as the first act of creation. Later, after determining that “it is not good that the man should be alone,” God made woman to be his “partner.”

As to the why of this, the suggestion in Genesis 2-3 is that God wanted companionship; thus, when man and woman sinned and hid from God in shame, God was in distress because of losing a companion. But that isn't stated definitively.

In the second creation story, found in Genesis 1, God created humankind in his image on the sixth day of creation, the final act of creation. “Male and female he created them.” Their purpose was to “have dominion” over the created order. Genesis doesn't explain why God wanted that purpose carried out.

In both stories, the suggestion—again, only a suggestion—is that God created humanity in order to complete something, either to complete the created order by being God's special being in its midst or charge, or perhaps even to complete God.

These stories raise more questions than they answer.

 

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What if someone rejects my attempts to forgive them "in the name of Jesus," and instead lashes out and calls me a "blasphemer"? I take spiritual matters very seriously. I understand that some early Christians can only digest " spiritual milk, " while more mature Christians can handle " the spiritual meat of the Word." Is this the case here?

As with any gift, forgiveness can only be offered; its reception cannot be controlled. Your gift isn't diminished by its being received with scorn. Some of the gifts that Jesus tried to give were received in the same way. In turning your cheek, you have no control over whether the other responds in kind. I would encourage you to be lavish in your forgiveness and leave the analysis of the other's response to God.

 

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Why do some people learn the Ten Commandments differently than how the Bible teaches them? It seems like they number them wrong, exclude some and break others into two commandments.

The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Old Testament: Exodus 20.2-17 and Deuteronomy 5.6-21. The two versions are slightly different, as often happened when a story or other material was told more than once. Remember, we are dealing here with oral tradition, which was written down much later in time.

In addition, Leviticus states most of the Ten Commandments in explaining the life of holiness (Leviticus 19.1-37). In this section, you will find the origins of what Jesus later offered as a “summary of the law,” also known as the “Great Commandment,” namely, love God and love your neighbor. (Matthew 22.34-40) This summary recognizes that the first four commandments concern love of God, and the final six concern love of neighbor.

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I have a question about attending church on a Saturday and Sunday. I agree with Genesis chapter 2:1—when God finished his work and rested, that is the day we all need to honor God.

Based on the practices of ancient Israel, Judaism observes Sabbath on Saturday, beginning at sundown on Friday and ending at sundown on Saturday. The Christian movement, as part of its effort to differentiate itself from Judaism, changed the “Lord's Day” to Sunday. That was mainly political and had little other meaning. For that reason, when the Roman Catholic Church wanted to provide an alternative hour for “Sunday worship,” they didn't hesitate to add services on Saturday evening.

In my opinion, the issue of Saturday or Sunday isn't significant. What matters is that we worship God with all our hearts, souls and minds, and that we do so on a regular basis within a community of faith. If that means Wednesday evening, rather than Sunday, so be it. The point is to accept God's invitation to gather with the faithful.

The other part of God's invitation is to put aside our work for a day. I don't think we need to get legalistic about that, but the practice seems wise. Customs like spending time with our families, devoting ourselves to study and in prayer, and remembering our identities as God's people strike me as necessary for our spiritual and moral well-being.

 

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How can I find peace of mind and give up a relationship that causes me jealousy and anxiety?

You have taken an important first step by naming the problem. A relationship that causes you pain needs serious reconsideration.

In my experience, such difficult steps are best taken with companions and a pastor. Healthy and steadfast friends can help you maintain focus, be of good courage, know that life has a future beyond this relationship, and have a place to share doubts and pain. If you have one or two such friends, I encourage you to seek their support.

Your pastor can be an important helper, too. (If you don't have a church home, this would be an ideal time to seek one.) A good pastor will listen to your problem, help you identify your needs, and provide ongoing support. I doubt that you need someone to tell you exactly what to do. Rather, you need a wise friend for a difficult journey.

If the situation spins out of control and you feel desperate, it could be a time to seek professional help from a trained counselor. Relationship issues are difficult to manage. Sometimes, a totally objective party can help you see more clearly.

 

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To learn more about Tom Ehrich’s writings, visit www.onajourney.org.
 


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