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Любов и граници

Любов и граници

“Бях благословен от вашия семинар на тема „Изцеление на ума”. Предефинирането на определението за безусловна любов в светлината на закона за свободата поражда въпроси в съзнанието ми за това каква е нашата отговорност един към друг.

Каква е разликата в това да обичаме, както Бог го прави (непрекъснато отдаване, до степен да ни позволи да изберем да Го убием) и да имаме лоши граници в дисфункционални отношения, които дават възможност за деструктивно поведение?”

Д.Т.

Въпросът, който повдигате, е въпрос, с който много хора се борят. Ето защо ви благодаря, че го отправяте!

Богоподобната любов е принципът на благодеянието, ориентираността към другите, даването, саможертвата за доброто на ближния. Това означава просто, че като произтичащо от близката ни връзка с Бога, ние имаме в сърцето си най-добрия интерес на другия човек; и именно този мотив насочва нашите действия. Искаме да направим това, което ще бъде от най-голяма полза за него, от гледна точка на неговия най-добър вечен, а не само временен интерес. Това означава, че не просто даваме това, което иска другият човек, а даваме онова, което всъщност е най-доброто за него.

Какъв е “любящият” отговор от родител, чието дете иска да гледа телевизия, вместо да напише домашната си работа? Ако мислим кое е най-доброто за детето, отговорът е “не”. И това не е фокусирано само върху временните ползи от постигането на добри оценки в училище, а върху развитието на характера, помагайки на детето да развие правилно самоуправление, самодисциплина и способността да жертва непосредственото удоволствие за дългосрочното добро. Подобно решение е мотивирано в интерес на неговото вечно благополучие и е истински любящо.

Ако обаче мислим за себе си, ако се страхуваме от това как детето може да реагира, ако по някакъв начин се нуждаем то да ни одобри, да ни валидизира, ако очакваме да получим нещо от него, а не да му дадем най-доброто, тогава можем да се поддадем на молбата му. И въпреки това си казваме, че сме безкористни и даваме, и обичаме детето си; но това е лъжа! Ходът на действие, мотивиран от безкористна родителска любов, е да правим това, което е най-добро за детето, а не непременно това, което то иска, дори и да се разстрои.

Този принцип се прилага във всички човешки взаимоотношения. Ако вашият съпруг има проблеми с алкохола и ви моли да му купите бира, какъв ще е любящият отговор? Заради любовта бихте казали: “Обичам те и понеже те наистина те обичам, не желая да подпомагам твоето самоунищожение. Ще направя всичко по силите си за твоето добро, за твоето здраве и благополучие, но не мога и няма да ти помогна да се самоунищожаваш”.

Представете си тийнейджърка на първата си среща, с младеж, който още тогава се опитва да наруши нейната добродетел. Може дори да й каже: “Ако ме обичаше наистина, щеше да…”. Очевидно, всички признаваме, че правилният избор е да каже “не”. Но защо това е правилният избор? Често отговорът е: “Защото се нарушава Божията заповед”; “Защото да се отдадеш при тези обстоятелства е греховно”,”Защото това би омърсило тялото, което е храм на Светия Дух”. Макар че всички тези отговори са верни, ако приложим закона на любовта, какъв отговор бихме дали? Какво е наистина е най-доброто за младия човек? В най-добрия духовен интерес ли е за него момичето да веднага да каже “да” на желанията му? И не само че е правилно заради Бог да му каже “не”, не само че е правилно да поддържа собствената си добродетел, но и ако тя обича младежа, ако е загрижена за неговата вечна съдба, отговорът е: “Не, прекалено много ме е грижа за теб, за характера ти, за ума ти, за духовното ти развитие, за вечната ти съдба, а такъв акт би ти навредил, затова не мога да се съглася”.

Следователно, когато обичаме другите така, както Бог ги обича, ние не даваме просто това, което те искат, а използваме  дадения ни от Бога и осветен от Светия Дух разум, да изберем да използваме енергията и ресурсите си за тяхно благословение, да ги издигнем, да им помогнем да израстват, да им помогнем да преживеят пълното изцеление на сърцето, ума и характера, за да бъдат като Исус. И често това ще означава, че с обич ще трябва да казваме “не”.

 

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Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 73

I have been truly blessed by your blogs and other resources. They have helped me to see things in a much brighter light and to reason things out better. Thank you so much for your ministry. Whenever I have the opportunity I pass along your material to my friends.

R. Noseworthy, Newfoundland, Canada

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada