Escapism

[Barry]

[This is a discussion in prelude to another article so your thoughts and ideas will be appreciated]


On some level, things are the way they are supposed to be.
Sure things can and could be better than they are. And IMHO eventually will be. But on some level they are the way they are supposed to be.
Anything other than this is escapism.

One of the greatest difficulties we face as we encounter the "fulfilled" view is that many of our philosophies of life touch upon ideas of escapism. There is therefore an almost inevitable time of "culture shock".

Just as one may change countries and experience many new points of reference and ways of thinking and such creating what is known as "culture shock", so to is the fulfilled view a sort of "culture shock" will many new and different points of reference.

Many of these new reference points take escapism and toss it into the sea!
One some level it seems almost necessary to accept and even embrace the fact that the way we have looked upon life's problems and heartache and struggles has been enveloped in way too much thoughts and desires of escaping it all in question.

Maybe there is a different way of looking at it all.
Any thoughts?
Barry

[Lou]

[

Many of these new reference points take escapism and toss it into the sea!
One some level it seems almost necessary to accept and even embrace the fact that the way we have looked upon life's problems and heartache and struggles has been enveloped in way too much thoughts and desires of escaping it all in question.

Maybe there is a different way of looking at it all.
Any thoughts?
Barry



The way I see problems and "trials" is like this:
If there is too much sunshine the crops burn up. If there is too much rain the crops rot.
God knows when to bring sunshine and rain. He also knows there times when burnt and rotten crops are necessary.
If you take a five pound bag of sugar and a spoon and set down and start eating the first spoons full will be sweet but when you get to the last spoon it will have lost it's sweetness.

[kevinbeck]

I can't take this line of questioning. I'm outta here.
:biglaugha:

[Paige]

If you take a five pound bag of sugar and a spoon and set down and start eating the first spoons full will be sweet but when you get to the last spoon it will have lost it's sweetness.


Great analogy, Lou! I'm with you on that one :)

Paige

[Amie]

I can't take this line of questioning. I'm outta here.
:biglaugha:

ROFL!!


Maybe there is a different way of looking at it all.

Could it have to do with humanity's concept of "evil"? Perhaps there's room for even the most 'reviled' on this planet..

?
Amie

[Barry]

I can't take this line of questioning. I'm outta here.
:biglaugha:

I missed this :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Lou, those are some good points IMHO.

Amie, IHO the subject must extend to that.
Hopefully however we will not always need the most reviled to learn something.
Barry

[Amie]

Interesting too Barry,

Is that the question "is this it" implies that "now is all that ever was". In other words, when has "this" ever been it? Change is a guarantee.

Amie

[Barry]

Yes, and how do we feel about being a part of that change?

Not that we should feel "guilty" by being frustrated at times! This too we IMO should allow ourselves and each other.
But our frustration should IMHO give way at some point to a greater embracing of our "reasonable service" of this age.

Barry

[Tam]

Wow, those questions seem so loaded...I hope I'm not in over my head on this one. I'll just say what first popped into my mind.:3: although I'm only about as enlightened as that yellow guy you're looking at:D In my experience in Christendom(just used that word cuz it makes me appear to know really big words:rolleyes: ) it seems that there was quite a bit of "oh how are we gonna fix this thing" and "how are we gonna get outta this mess" and how can "god make this situation better for us". This actually seemed to be the theme in prayer meetings and now that I think about it bible studies. Now that I look back it's almost as if we were perpectually perfecting the twisting of God's arm. "If I pray this way then maybe God will respond that way." "If I live this way then maybe God will treat me that way". "If I do that thing then maybe God will do this thing". Though I was made to believe we were acting so very different from that big bad aweful world outside those doors:eek: I now see it as really just an extention of the world. Just another part of the world. I think if we simply trust God to do the work on our hearts and lives He will with or without us. Is this how I live all the time? Heck NO!! :biglaugha: Just thot's on the topic. At least I hope I'm on topic. :conf44: Tami

[Barry]

Those are some excellent point IMO Tami.
Here is a little something I wrote that kind of touches on some things that you have said http://infinite-grace.com/speakers.htm

What you seem to have hit upon is that we often look and sound like we are not talking to a loving Father but rather a father that we can't seem to please and are always insecure trying to get his attention and win his favor.
Dysfunctional to the extreme.

And then we pray with an "us and them" mentality. The kingdom of God is bigger than the privileged elite (what some call the elect).
All in all then we seem ill equipped to deal with life as it stands before us.
There is much to be very positive about. It is however IMO going to require some re-thinking on our part.
Blessings Barry

[Paige]

What you seem to have hit upon is that we often look and sound like we are not talking to a loving Father but rather a father that we can't seem to please and are always insecure trying to get his attention and win his favor.
Dysfunctional to the extreme.

Barry and Tami,

What you're describing fits the definition of superstition. IMO, religion and superstition go hand in hand. I don't think we mean to be this way, it happens because this behavior is what has been modeled for us. I wrote an article a while back that talked about this somewhat. The Greek word translated “religious” in Acts 17:22 is the word deisidaimon. Deisidaimon is a two-part word: deisi = dread and daimon = demon. Etymologically, to be religious is to dread demons.

What is happening for me now at this point in my life is a process of seeing what part of my thinking is still ingrained with this kind of thought. Once it is revealed, it is time to learn new ways to operate. Maybe what I model for my kids will be different. I'm hoping so.

Paige

[Tam]

Barry,

Ya, I agree. And I'll look forward to checking out your article. This reminds me a bit of a discussion I was having in another group which led me to think...for the moment anyway...that being imperfect is part of the perfection of God's creation. Life would be quite boring if there were nothing to learn or no growing to do. It seems that learning and growing actually come quite naturally....like a flower soaking up the sun and taking in the rain...which means I'm from point of view that our growing is all God's doing and in God's timing. So now I'm of the thinking that if God did create Adam and Eve the way it's stated in the bible then they really didn't mess up anything, but rather did exactly what they were made to do. It's as if we were made to rebel, made to skin our knee's...otherwise how would we know the difference between the contrasts of anything at all in life. I mean, IF God made them perfect to begin with...which there's an idication that He/She felt quite good about his work...then they never would've sinned right? How could "free-will" mess up what's perfect??? Or....were we simply made to live and learn?? :107: Tami

[Barry]

Those are some interesting thoughts Tami.
You may find some of those thoughts in several articles up at infinite-grace and ones yet to come.
Humanity must have history. God of course knew this.
Paige's article is also there.
Barry

[Truthseeker]

Hi Barry,

Good thoughts.

Yes, there's a LOT to be so positive and thankful about, once our minds are made over and the realization of God's Plan of Redemption hits home. Its almost as if the pages of the bible are not only the evolution of a world, but of an individual life; being born into a creation of Futility (romans 8:20, 21) and then understanding all that was accomplished by Christ.

The

Adam/Christ
Death/Life
OC/NC
Physical/Spiritual

seems to only manifest experientially. Not that all aren't taken care of, but when we look around, most don't know it. So experientially, they are still in the Adam/Death/OC/Physical in their mind.

Once the Revelation is discovered in the heart (in the Garden of Eden) then the Tree of Life is in clear view, and Christ is seen as victorious over Death--and only then can we look around with positive eyes, because then we see we have the Glorious Freedom of the Children of God. Blessings--rhonda