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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 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

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., 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 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, 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 12

I have been really blessed reading your response to the various questions on your site.

K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

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 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous