...That have been on my mind for a few months now:
Most of us don't reach perfection by the time we leave this life. At the end, most of us still have some (or many) rough spots, even if we have been saved and granted eternal life through faith in Christ. Now the whole doctrine of sin seems to be based upon the idea that the way things are right now are not the way things should be. Sin is an accident. And because of that sin, we are condemned to eternal death (we'll get into Eschatology in a bit). The Incarnation somehow (and this will probably be my presentation topic, oh Athanasius! You are very wonderful, checkity.) restores us back to a right relation with God. Now whatever else Jesus does in us and for us, I think it is safe to assume that we'll be free from sin. So this is my question(s):
Even if we are saved, we are still imperfect and sinful at the end of our lives. After death, are we automatically restored to perfection and holiness? And if we are, why the agony of this life if God could perfect us instantly? Why don't we go straight to Heaven after we accept the Gospel as true and binding to our lives?
Could this be the justification behind a purgatory? From what I know, the main objection against purgatory came when wicked men decided to play with hell fire and sell indulgences. Obviously, you can't buy salvation or purification (see the Simoniacs).
So to really, really get to the question:
If we are meant to eventually come into the presence of God which will destroy anything sinful, what happens to most of us who die saved but still ravaged/harrased by sin? How are our imperfect natures developed into being able to bear the presence of the Holy God after death?
I want to lean towards purgatory, but I'm confronted with quite a strong protestant reaction against this. Any Eschatological insights out there? Help?
Secondly, Shakespeare is amazing and Twelfth Night brings up some absolutely amazing questions:
How does love conceal and/or reveal identities?
yeah.
Another thing that's been on my mind: Is Love a sub category of Goodness or is Goodness subordinate to Love? And what about Beauty and Truth, I'm not entirely convinced that they categories of Goodness, otherwise, why not just have Goodness? Medival Numerology perhaps?
Lastly, How do we Love rightly? What is Love?
I'd be happy to talk about this...
2 comments:
Hi, how are you? I am sending you this comment, because I am serching for blogger friends, and your site is interesting to me. I have an art blog here in San Diego, and I am curious if you would become my freind? Are you up to it?
I hope to see you soon on my art blog, and take care,
Sincerely,
Jesse
You ask such deep questions at the end, and I think it's not something anyone can really answer with our finite minds. Something as deep yet simple as love is too vast to define, and it's something that everyone discovers through things you might see or hear, feel, the way you conduct yourself, the way you act, the treatment of oneself and others, and sometimes just *are*. I think a really good place to start is to look towards Jesus' example, because He is the embodiment of God's immense love for us, right? Ahh, it's a question that's plagued my mind and it's refreshing to hear more people speak about it. Hmm, will be willing to discuss with you on this. On literary material, you know much more than me, and I'd like to know what else you can bring to the table. ^_____^ Cheers~!
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