tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post3465082140774859594..comments2024-01-11T10:58:30.769-05:00Comments on Jesus community: acquired tasteTed M. Gossardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-84896008642333813972008-06-29T20:27:00.000-04:002008-06-29T20:27:00.000-04:00Andrew,Very good thoughts.Could practices and tast...Andrew,<BR/>Very good thoughts.<BR/><BR/><EM>Could practices and tastes requiring great discipline and persistence bring us greater pleasure simply because God himself has designed us to live with this very way of patience and Godward persistence woven into the fabric of our beings?</EM><BR/><BR/>Good question. And I think it surely works both ways: the way that to be more like God himself we need this patience and God-ward persistence. And to unlearn the old of which we are not- we're the new in Jesus, yet paradoxically in that newness we must unlearn the old. Which like you say involves instant gratification in our society, which in the end leaves people utterly empty and unsatisfied (cf., Ecclesiastes).Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-89107998985405273272008-06-29T19:21:00.000-04:002008-06-29T19:21:00.000-04:00My friend and former housemate Jason, when mentori...My friend and former housemate Jason, when mentoring a young believer in his new life of faith, once described devotion to Christ much like an "acquired taste." Jason asked the guy, "Do you love your girlfriend?" <BR/>"Yeah."<BR/>"Would you do anything for her?"<BR/>"Sure, of course. I think about her all the time and want her to be happy."<BR/>"Well, was it like this when you first met her and began dating?"<BR/>"No, but as I got to know her, my affections for her grew."<BR/>"Well, think of it the same way with Jesus. You may think that making some sacrifices and changes in your life now are a pain you can't understand, but in time you'll desire Christ so much that you'll gladly do them."<BR/><BR/>I thought this was pretty insightful and has stuck with me since then.<BR/><BR/>I think the instant-enjoyment principle rules our lives, rather than a delay-and-discipline principle, which ultimately brings greater enjoyment--letting the fruit ripen to its full sweetness, if you will. Could practices and tastes requiring great discipline and persistence bring us greater pleasure simply because God himself has designed us to live with this very way of patience and Godward persistence woven into the fabric of our beings?Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215174193221101678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-37566637546523265992008-06-26T22:20:00.000-04:002008-06-26T22:20:00.000-04:00Nancy,Good point. That reminds me of some of the o...Nancy,<BR/>Good point. That reminds me of some of the old music I listened to before Christ. I like it and listen to it a bit. But then I have to get back to the more substantial stuff, the stuff that will last, like from Michael Card and others.<BR/><BR/>It is ongoing if we're to keep growing.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-70204171099041686472008-06-26T22:18:00.000-04:002008-06-26T22:18:00.000-04:00Amen, Kinney. I'm acclimated more to vegan like fo...Amen, Kinney. I'm acclimated more to vegan like food, because Deb is into that. An acquired taste, but it's alright! But we need it in our lives, in our faith, to be sure.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-15062701524392340362008-06-26T20:09:00.000-04:002008-06-26T20:09:00.000-04:00i am thinking that the Spirit working in us develo...i am thinking that the Spirit working in us develops a hunger for God.<BR/><BR/>sometimes we feed our hunger with healthy food that fills us in order to allow us to grow in good health and strength. <BR/>sometimes we get distracted by the world and feed our hunger with junk food, which fills us for a short time, but, does not allow us to grow or stay strong.<BR/><BR/>i think that, over time, we continue to learn that we stay healty with the food of God, and we grow weak and sick with a diet made up of anything else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-80449645644259264722008-06-26T15:25:00.000-04:002008-06-26T15:25:00.000-04:00I believe as we grow in Christ and we strive to kn...I believe as we grow in Christ and we strive to know him more we have a hunger and thirst for His righteousness. I agree that we all need to move on and eat the meet. If my son wasn't growing I would take him to the Dr to see what was wrong and take care of it. The same goes with us and our relationship with Christ and his word. If we aren't growing then something is wrong that we need to change. Once you acquire the taste for the meat you don't want anything else. It satisfies.preachermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922837614859997243noreply@blogger.com