Author	Thread: every problem an opportunity
shepherdingking View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 21 Oct, 2010 12:31 PM "his disciples asked him, �Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?� 3 Jesus answered, �It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work." One of the reasons wickedness is in this world, is so that God's power can be manifested in those who overcome the temptations of this world. "Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." The Father's Love (perfect Love) trumps the fear this world advocates. If we are driven by fear, lust or the love of money we should question what world is pushing that on us. :purpleangel: Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 21 Oct, 2010 06:50 PM I find the last half verse 4 unsettling. I am unable to find a satisfactory meaning for it. Perhaps Jesus was referring to the time between the cross and pentecost? Any thoughts? Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 21 Oct, 2010 06:58 PM @sherpherd - I was reading that section just this morning. Thanks for this. @twosparrows - I always thought Jesus was talking about his crucifixtion. Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 21 Oct, 2010 08:17 PM I like this Shepherd. It makes it very clear that evil is a necessary evil, so to speak. We wouldn't understand light or know the benefits and beauty of it if it weren't for darkness, we wouldn't appreciate sweet if it weren't for sour, and we wouldn't appreciate our salvation if we couldn't see what we were saved from. This is why I don't get too upset about what I consider common evils. They are everywhere and it is the way of the world. I don't have to accept it but it is too my advantage to work within it without becoming a partner with it. Then there is what I consider the horid evils. Those things that are so blatantly and obviously against the Holiness of God and His character, the things that are anti-Christ. These are the sins we should most resist and fight against. Therefore these are the things I choose to expose to the rest of the Church so that they too may resist them and bring them down. All in all we need evil. It is not good to us or for us but without it we can never know what righteousness is. Thunder Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 21 Oct, 2010 09:20 PM Nice post Thunder! I agree with ya about why evil exist. Got a question. Thunder said: This is why I don't get too upset about what I consider common evils.....Then there is what I consider the horid evils. What would be some examples of common evils and horid evils? Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 22 Oct, 2010 08:35 AM One rule of studying the Bible is that there is but one interpretation, but many applications. The reason for miracles in the Bible was to prove that the person was chosen by God to do his specific will, usually prophecy. The man was born blind, not because of sin, but for the simple reason so that Jesus could heal him. This way Jesus could substantiate that he was the Messiah. Just look at the controversy in the later verses. The Pharisees knew that one of the signs of the Messiah was healing, but they did not want to admit that Jesus might be the Messiah, so they tried to impugn the blind man�s testimony. I think the blind man gave the best answer, �John 9:25 (NASB) He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." � And he continued on: John 9:30-33 (NASB) 30 The man answered and said to them, "Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 32 "Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." As for verse 4, remember that it starts out with �We�. Jesus was not the only one to do miracles. After Jesus�s death and resurrection, the Apostles also performed miracles, as a sign that they were chosen by God to be prophets. Once the Apostle John finished writing Revelations, there was no further need for prophecy, and therefore no further need to authenticate prophets through miracles. Therefore the �works� have ceased. Post Reply
aceets View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 22 Oct, 2010 01:34 PM First of all I am appalled at the way you people allow yourselves to discuss evil and suffering as if they were distant philosophical categories. Secondly, the blindness/sight language of the passage and the whole chapter reminds me of similar language in Isaiah (e.g. 6.10). In Isaiah restoring the sight of a person means restoring that person to the state for which God had created him. This has connections with restoring the image of God in us which sin has marred (see Ps. 115.1-8). Finally, the work referred to in v4 is God's work in the world. If we have had our image of God restored by the death and resurrection of Jesus, then God's next step is to invite us to perform the role of his representatives, which is what was the function of an image in antiquity. Thus, God, wants us to join him in his creative work in the world. Anyways, thanks for allowing me to comment on a passage which has been pivotal in my life and in the lives of my parents. Blessings Aceets Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 22 Oct, 2010 08:33 PM Actually Aceets, evil and suffering are not distant philosophical categories. The fact is that in this case they are Theological topics and there is nothing in this discussion that makes them distant. I'm not sure what you mean by suffering being a distant topic. I don't see any discussion about suffering unless you are talking about the blind man and even then what you say doesn't make sense. What's more, Evil is an entity that exists in a form that is unseen to us but is manifested through Satan and the rest of the world. It is something we have to avoid, separate ourselves from and be cleansed of. Evil is the darkness we use the light against. It is the beast that seeks to destroy us from the inside out. I doubt that anyone in this forum would consider it distant or philosophical. It is crouching at our door waiting to devour us is it not? Thunder Post Reply
View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 22 Oct, 2010 08:55 PM Good question Mr Row. By common evils I mean the kinds of things we are exposed to and deal with every day. The kinds of things every person experiences like angry people, unkindness, rude and obnoxious people, crude and nasty language and things like that. We all hear it and see it everyday. The more abhorrent evils are things that are completely anti-Christ. The kinds of things God calls abominations and iniquities. These are things that involve abuses of power to promote an evil regime, the slaughter of millions of people. I also see it as evil gaining power through the laws passed by governments and the manner in which people are subjected to things that dehumanize them and strip them of their individuality. The world of business is becoming increasingly evil and heartless. There was a time when tenured employees were an asset. Now they are a drain on the payroll or worse, they are a threat because they will retire soon and then the company will be paying for their retirement. The love of money has replaced the love of loyalty. Many of the industries we once trusted and depended on are turning on us and destroying us. Some of these are the banking industry, the medical industry, the government itself, the food and drug companies and so many more. We live in a world where we do unto others before they do unto us. Thunder Post Reply
GraceMae View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 22 Oct, 2010 09:59 PM @ Thunder @ Cobbler... AMEN an ditto... ~GraceMae Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	every problem an opportunity Posted : 22 Oct, 2010 10:15 PM Evil didn't really exist before Adam and Eve sinned. So now that is does, God's "way" is being shown as the "best way". The sinful problems on our planet vindicate God from the accusations that Satan made. :peace::peace: Post Reply