THE BIG THREE
You were probably thinking the “trinity” three. That’s the subject for another day. No, we are talking about the ubiquitous “faith/hope/LOVE” three.
Let’s examine these concepts in the light of the Prodigal Parable. What did the son have “faith” for? Once he had his epiphany, and remembered who he was and where he was headed, was faith any part of the equation? He didn’t have faith for who he was--he KNEW. He didn’t have faith for where he was going--he KNEW. Faith infers the “hope” you will receive something that you do not have. (His status with Dad and where his home lied were never in doubt.) Neither applies in the parable. Who he was and where he was going were without question.
The “possession” issue in our experience is not one of not having, but of not accepting the REALITY of what already IS. If you don’t “believe” you have it, that will be your experience. We have got the cart before the horse. Our experience of not “having” has everything to do with not “believing”--state of mind. To have faith for “receiving” something which you already have, but refuse to accept, flies in the face of the REALITY in which we were created. State-of-mind equals our experience, not the other way around.
Hope, it appears, seems to be a downgraded version of faith, where you are STILL holding out, beyond your failed faith, to receive something which you already possess--pretty fatalistic and unbelieving.
The prodigal son merely had a change-of-mind (metanoia), “remembered” the TRUTH of his situation, and did an about-face. This had nothing to do with either faith or hope.
But, it was his remembrance of LOVE/JOY/PEACE that drew him HOME again--the REAL big three.
Plus, he could smell the barbecue . . .
You were probably thinking the “trinity” three. That’s the subject for another day. No, we are talking about the ubiquitous “faith/hope/LOVE” three.
Let’s examine these concepts in the light of the Prodigal Parable. What did the son have “faith” for? Once he had his epiphany, and remembered who he was and where he was headed, was faith any part of the equation? He didn’t have faith for who he was--he KNEW. He didn’t have faith for where he was going--he KNEW. Faith infers the “hope” you will receive something that you do not have. (His status with Dad and where his home lied were never in doubt.) Neither applies in the parable. Who he was and where he was going were without question.
The “possession” issue in our experience is not one of not having, but of not accepting the REALITY of what already IS. If you don’t “believe” you have it, that will be your experience. We have got the cart before the horse. Our experience of not “having” has everything to do with not “believing”--state of mind. To have faith for “receiving” something which you already have, but refuse to accept, flies in the face of the REALITY in which we were created. State-of-mind equals our experience, not the other way around.
Hope, it appears, seems to be a downgraded version of faith, where you are STILL holding out, beyond your failed faith, to receive something which you already possess--pretty fatalistic and unbelieving.
The prodigal son merely had a change-of-mind (metanoia), “remembered” the TRUTH of his situation, and did an about-face. This had nothing to do with either faith or hope.
But, it was his remembrance of LOVE/JOY/PEACE that drew him HOME again--the REAL big three.
Plus, he could smell the barbecue . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment