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----- Original Message -----
From: Debbie Sawczak
To: 'Lance Muir'
Sent: February 03, 2006 15:58
Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] 'i DON'T UNDERSTAND' -David
Miller' Wow. This was great. Amen and amen.
D From: Lance Muir [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 8:38 AM To: Debbie Sawczak Subject: Fw: [TruthTalk] 'i DON'T UNDERSTAND' -David Miller' ----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: February 03, 2006 08:36
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] 'i DON'T UNDERSTAND' -David
Miller' In physics, duality is present when two different
models actually turn out to be equivalent.
The term dualism can refer to a variety of doctrines, mainly
in theology
and philosophy, each involving
the purported existence of two substances ( often opposites) of some kind. These
opposites can be, among other things, opposing forces, or opposing ontological
or epistemic categories.
Bill has been the one who has said the most concerning dualism ,
to my memory. And I have come to accept much of what has been
written. In counseling, the habit of sin (activity) is
chemically enhanced in the brain. Your long term preformance becomes
blueprinted, if you will , into your psyche. That is why an action or
activity can become addictive -- actually it is
why patteren activity WILL become "addictive."
I was quite the dualist before TT and Bill Taylor. I am not one
now. the "old man" of the bible is, to me, those thing I do or
think that are harmful to me (the bible being an excellent guide in this regard,
if not the final word.) But my life is not defined by these falings.
The same principles of the pysche work in regard to repeated "good"
activity. What we call "addiction" (IMO) is the attachment of
whatever repeated activity to my personhood via this chemical
process. It is the oneness of my person that speaks (for me) against
the idea of dualism.
The old man is alway there - he is that character we do not
wish to be - for whatever reason. Paul tells us in
Romans 6:11 to CONSIDER yourselves to be dead to sin but
alive in Christ. If the old man were actually dead --
as in dead and gone -- I would not have to consider anything.
I would be alive in Christ with no choices to make. Although I look
forward to the freedom of not having to make choices anymore, such is not
the case now. Eph 4 :20-24 reminds us of the continuing presence of
the old man along with the new. I am what I have done coupled with
what God sees me to be in Christ. The result is my person. And not
every influence in my life is either "good" or "bad" in a moral sense. In
addition to these, there is my level of intelligence, the intensity of my
passions, my ability to overcome fear ---------- and so I say
"what dualism?!!"&n bsp; I am not just good and bad. When it
comes to matters of personhood, I am not a dualist. I am not the
combination of only two natures. The probelm of sin is huge and
complicated. And so it is that God contributes much more than His
Spirit. Heroin addicts have a terrible history of recovery
(less than 3%) Is the addict going to hell because his pysche is
locked into that which cannot be overcome (at least for the time
being)? Well, when we cannot access the Spirit's influence,
grace abounds and the blessing of the cross reveals itself -- saving
man when he does not deserve to be saved. In Hebrews we are told that
judgment day will include a consideration of the "intentions of the
heart." And what is the greater struggle? To be clean and
sober, free from addiction and a child of God or to be addicted beyond control,
facing the Devil's work as he tries to persuade you to give up --
using your failur es to convince you that you are lost and without hope?
Which is the greater battle? And who deserve the "credit" for
trying? He who is victor or he who will not let go of the hope within
in spite of his failings -- believing that God is bigger than all
that tries to bring him down. Both are noteworthy, of course, but the man
of problems is not to be denied. Chrsit came not for the righteous but to
seek and save the lost.
It is before his master that he stands or falls and he
will be
made to stand !!!
jd
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- Fw: [TruthTalk] 'i DON'T UNDERSTAND' -David Miller' Lance Muir
