Thoughts on the 3 types of people
1. Those who talk about things
2. Those who talk about people
3. Those who talk about ideas
Generally this is regarded as the Materialist, the Gossiper, and the Enlightened. At least that's how we usually posit it -- and by we, interestingly enough it's the intellectual who does so.
But is this grouping as it seems? Obviously it is posited under the rubric of secularism, but let's look at it from love's reality. I submit that the order from lower to higher is things, ideas, and people as the highest. Yeah, that's right the gossiper is at the top -- but from Love's reality, this is no longer gossip. For the object of love is a person. This love is expressed through ideas. And is finally manifest in the movement, changing or transformation of things.
So love is anchored around a person -- ultimately the Person Who is Love. But what do we often see in the "Christian" religion? We see the anchor, and the focus is anything but.
There are the THING people who don't focus on Christ, but on gifts of the Spirit, or prosperity, or health. And there are also the IDEA people, who focus on theology, doctrine, rituals and rites.
Both miss the point and the Person. Both read the Scriptures through their THING or IDEA filter, rather than the Person of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately the result of missing this mark is often bondage, legalism, division and barreness. Grace and love are cast aside or given lip service because the truth of the matter is that if you are focused on, seeking, intent upon a constellation of things or ideas love and grace have no LOGICAL place.
With a thing at the center, grace makes absolutely no sense. And the same is true for love. For idols are cruel taskmasters -- how and why would a thing give love or mercy?
With an idea at the center, neither grace nor love have a place either. Where does forgiveness fit in with congruence, accuracy, logic, and soundness?
No Christianity is a Person. Sure ideas and things flow from this reality, but they are not the foundation of the reality.
We are called to be the People of God. We are a people in Christ and He is in us. He is a person. Not the gifts He gives. Not the ideas He inspires.
Do we see Christ primarily as this great helper at acquiring or controlling or changing things? Do we put His teachings above a relationship with Him the Person? We have a tendency to be either a THING person or an IDEA person. I know I myself vacillate between the two quite often -- missing the boat quite often.
2. Those who talk about people
3. Those who talk about ideas
Generally this is regarded as the Materialist, the Gossiper, and the Enlightened. At least that's how we usually posit it -- and by we, interestingly enough it's the intellectual who does so.
But is this grouping as it seems? Obviously it is posited under the rubric of secularism, but let's look at it from love's reality. I submit that the order from lower to higher is things, ideas, and people as the highest. Yeah, that's right the gossiper is at the top -- but from Love's reality, this is no longer gossip. For the object of love is a person. This love is expressed through ideas. And is finally manifest in the movement, changing or transformation of things.
So love is anchored around a person -- ultimately the Person Who is Love. But what do we often see in the "Christian" religion? We see the anchor, and the focus is anything but.
There are the THING people who don't focus on Christ, but on gifts of the Spirit, or prosperity, or health. And there are also the IDEA people, who focus on theology, doctrine, rituals and rites.
Both miss the point and the Person. Both read the Scriptures through their THING or IDEA filter, rather than the Person of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately the result of missing this mark is often bondage, legalism, division and barreness. Grace and love are cast aside or given lip service because the truth of the matter is that if you are focused on, seeking, intent upon a constellation of things or ideas love and grace have no LOGICAL place.
With a thing at the center, grace makes absolutely no sense. And the same is true for love. For idols are cruel taskmasters -- how and why would a thing give love or mercy?
With an idea at the center, neither grace nor love have a place either. Where does forgiveness fit in with congruence, accuracy, logic, and soundness?
No Christianity is a Person. Sure ideas and things flow from this reality, but they are not the foundation of the reality.
We are called to be the People of God. We are a people in Christ and He is in us. He is a person. Not the gifts He gives. Not the ideas He inspires.
Do we see Christ primarily as this great helper at acquiring or controlling or changing things? Do we put His teachings above a relationship with Him the Person? We have a tendency to be either a THING person or an IDEA person. I know I myself vacillate between the two quite often -- missing the boat quite often.
posted by GBT at
Saturday, September 03, 2005
