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NUWE WYN IN OU WYNSAKKE

NUWE WYN IN OU WYNSAKKE

Onlangs het ek ‘n e-pos ontvang van ‘n vriend wat so ‘n kragtige insig gehad het oor die spesifieke onderwerp dat ek toestemming gevra het om dit as ‘n blog op ons webwerf te plaas. Ek hoop jy vind dit net so vol impak soos ek. – Dr. J


Kwessies van vroueverordening en komitees wat nakoming en toepassing opvolg laat sommige van ons dink dat donkerder kragte vandag in die kerk aan die werk is.

Ek het gevind dat sekulêre denkrigtings dikwels waardevol is wanneer hulle probeer om die onderliggende dinamika van die menslike toestand te verstaan – selfs met betrekking tot godsdienstige en teologiese kwessies. Ek sal verwys na die Spiral Dynamics-denkrigting, afkomstig van Claire Graves en toe verfyn deur Don Beck en Christopher Cowan.

In hul baanbrekers werk, Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change, beskryf Beck en Cowan die verskil tussen die omskrywing – wat denkstyl / wêreldbeskouing / bestuurstelselvoorkeur is en die inhoud – die werklike waardes / norme / missie van ‘n individu of groep.

Die Vloot (Marine Corps) en georganiseerde misdaadgroepe deel byvoorbeeld dieselfde omskrywing: Lojaliteit, bevel en beheer, duidelik gedefinieerde gedragsnorme en straf vir oortreding, goed gedefinieerde hiërargie en besluitnemingsregte, afgedwingde reëls van betrokkenheid, ensovoorts.

Kyk nou na die groot verskil in die inhoud – die missies en waardes van die twee organisasies.

Die spanning in die kerk vandag word vermoedelik gewortel in onenigheid oor die inhoud (leerstelling, norme en praktyke). Ek stel egter voor dat die wortel van die spanning baie dieper gaan en eintlik oor die omhulsel gaan.

Die Christendom se omhulsel het baie min verander sedert Konstantyn die jong teologie in ‘n slim politieke skuif gekoöpteer het. Hy het die bestuursbenadering van keiserlike Rome (wat eeue lank baie goed gewerk het) gevolg en daardie omhulsel met Christelike teologie gevul; hy het die heidense metafisika vervang met vars, nuwe Christelike teologie.

Maar die nuwe teologie is besmet deur die ou omhulsel – fundamenteel verander (vervals) – sodat dit suksesvol binne die keiserlike ingesteldheid gehou kon word. Die belofte van Christus se boodskap aan die wêreld, in die vorm van Christelike teologie, is versuur omdat dit binne ‘n menslike wêreldbeskouing gehou is.

In Spiral Dynamics-taal is die keiserlike bestuursomhulsel wat deur Konstantyn hergebruik is, in hul diagram as rooi / BLOU gekodeer: outoritêr, hiërargies, gebaseer op die oppergesag van die reg, selfdienend en selfbeskermend. Klem is gelê op gedrags reg en verkeerd, groepnorme, nakoming en straf, die menslike behoefte aan geregtigheid, en ‘n fokus op die sigbare (hand) in plaas van die onsigbare (hart).

Jesus het die metafoor om ‘n ou wynsak met nuwe wyn te vul gebruik, iets wat die mense van sy tyd duidelik geweet het om te vermy. Nuwe wyn gaan voort om te fermenteer, en ‘n nuwe wynsak sal rek om die druk wat deur die koolstofdioksied geproduseer word, te akkommodeer. Die nuwe wynsak neem ‘n spesifieke vorm aan as gevolg van die veroudering van die nuwe wyn.

Nuwe wyn, geplaas in ‘n ou wynsak wat een keer gestrek en verhard het, sal die ou sak laat bars en die wyn mors. Of die nuwe wyn sal met bakterieë besmet word en in asyn verander.

Jesus het sy toehoorders probeer kry om die onvermydelike uitkoms te begryp om waarlik nuwe lig in ‘n “ou denke” houer te plaas. En hy het ‘n goeie voorbeeld van ‘n hergebruikte wynsak tot sy beskikking gehad: die teokrasie van die Joodse regeringstelsel – grootliks selfdienend, selfbeskermend, outoritêr en hiërargies; dit wil sê ‘n regsbestuursmodel.

Die rede waarom die metafoor van die wynsakke so kragtig is, is dat ons baie moeilik die probleem raaksien: ons menslike neiging om die regeringstelsel wat ons gebruik om in hierdie gevalle wêreld te oorleef, aan God toe te skryf.

Die oppergesag van die reg is die doeltreffendste bestuurstelsel wat ooit ontwikkel is. Maar die probleem is dat hierdie aanpassing godslasterlik is. Dit werk, maar dit is ook van hierdie wêreld en ‘n direkte gevolg van ons sondige toestand en die magte van chaos wat ons in die gesig staar. Hierdie ou wynsak, gevorm deur die menslike behoefte aan outoritêre regering in reaksie op oorlewing-van-die-sterkste-dinamika, is nie deel van God se ontwerp nie, soos duidelik geïllustreer in die lewe van Christus.

Baie prys die Hervorming en prys die nuwe wyn. Martin Luther het ‘n gedeelte van die ou wyn van Katolieke teologie en norme uitgegooi, maar omdat hy voortgegaan het om die ou Rooms-Katolieke omhulsel te gebruik, het hy die nuwe wyn met die ou besmet. Protestantse teologie is vervals deur kontak met die ou wynsak.

Ons Adventiste is tevrede dat ons kerkstigters ‘n gedeelte van die ou wyn uit die hooflyn Protestantse teologie gegooi en dit met nuwe wyn vervang het. Maar die nuwe wyn, wat in die opgewondenheid van die Ontwaking uitgedruk is, is ook besmet deur die ou wynsak te gebruik, wat van heidense Rome oorgedra is.

En ons boodskap aan die wêreld is nog nie werklik nuwe wyn nie, en dit ruik na asyn. Dit alles is te danke aan die gebruik van die ou houer – om God na ons beeld te skep, te glo dat God se bestuur van die heelal menslike bestuurstelsels weerspieël wat ontstaan het as gevolg van ons sondige toestand.

Die oppergesag van die reg het vir een doel ontwikkel: groepsoorlewing. Deur konflik en chaos binne die groep te demp, word die groep versterk teen eksterne eksistensiële bedreigings. En as sodanig, wanneer intergroepkonflik toeneem, word daar van diegene wat leiersposisies gegee word, verwag om ‘n swaar hand te gebruik, “tot voordeel van die organisasie.” Klink dit bekend?

Hoe sal ‘n nuwe wynsak moet lyk om die nuwe wyn te hou waarna Jesus verwys het? Dink aan die Goeie Nuus sonder die besoedeling van die Romeinse wynsak. Dit is moeilik vir ons om voor te stel, want ‘n menslike regeringstelsel vir ‘n godsdienstige organisasie wat gevorm is deur die fermentasie van werklik nuwe lig het nog nooit bestaan nie, behalwe vir ‘n kort tydjie gedurende die lewe van Christus en moontlik die baie vroeë kerk.

In sy begrip van die werklikheid het Christus verby die wêreldse bruikbaarheid van menslike bestuurstelsels gebaseer op groepsoorlewing gesien. Hy waardeer die vordering van die individu en die waarde van die individu bo die integriteit en veiligheid van die stelsel. Hy het verstaan, as gevolg van sy goddelike perspektief, dat aardse groepsukses en oorlewing tydelik was en nie belangrik was in vergelyking met die genesing van die individuele karakter nie.

Hy was ‘n uitgesproke kritikus van die gebruik van dwang deur diegene in gesagsposisies wat gefokus is op gedrag, ooreenstemming en groepnorme. En dit was omdat hierdie reëls/norme/beleide/afdwingings ontwikkel het om die stelsel en die gemeenskap te beskerm, eerder as uit besorgdheid oor die geestelike gesondheid en welstand van die individu. Jesus was ook berug daarvoor dat hy nie die Joodse regsteokrasie nagekom het nie.

Ons het nog nie ‘n nuwe wynsak sien opduik wat die Goeie Nuus suksesvol sal hou en beskerm, terwyl fermentasie en volwassenheid voltooi word nie. Daardie omhulsel, gebaseer op die lewe van Christus, sal nie lyk soos die bekende koninkryk-van-die-mens-omhulsel, wat elke historiese teokrasie en alle suksesvolle hedendaagse denominasies aangeneem het nie. Wanneer ons na God verwys as koning, heer, regter of heerser, versterk ons ons verstandelike model van ‘n god wat na ons beeld geskep is.

Die ware koninkryk-van-God-houer (wynsak) op hierdie aarde sal vorm aanneem op grond van die gisting en invloed van werklik nuwe wyn. Daardie vorm van bestuur, wêreldbeskouing, leierskap en organisatoriese ontwerp sal na vore kom op grond van die lewende en aktiewe aard van die nuwe wyn.

Om dit te laat gebeur, moet Christus se lewe die patroon vir die regeringstelsel wees. En die ewige welsyn van die individu moet altyd swaarder weeg as die waargenome bedreigings vir die integriteit en veiligheid van die stelsel. As hierdie beginsel nie in die vorm van die omhulsel weerspieël word nie, is ons bestem om ‘n ou wynsak te gebruik om die goeie nuus na die wêreld te dra. Dit was en sal uiteindelik nutteloos wees.

Deur Mike M.

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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 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

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 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, 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 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA

 

Testimony 66

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact you’ve had on my life, and words cannot fully express my appreciation. Over the years, I have been an avid listener and follower of C&R and extend my heartfelt thanks for creating the C&R mobile app. It has allowed me to immerse myself in your lessons repeatedly, enabling me to grasp the profound significance about the Character of God, Design Law, the protocols for life, the reasons behind the current chaos, and Christ’s mission to restore everything. They have deeply touched me. Having studied with various churches, I came away with the perception that God is no different from the deities of ancient Greek or Roman mythology—demanding sacrifices and taking pleasure in bloodshed. Thanks to your transformative teachings, I have experienced a profound awakening to the true nature of God and the immense power of His love. It is truly a remarkable and liberating sensation to finally grasp the truth and embrace the empowering nature of God’s laws. My self-perception has become brighter and more infused with love. My journey of growth continues on a daily basis.

Chris P., Lake Mary, FL, USA

 

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 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana