Ex. 34:7

This is the second part of an on-going conversation between a friend and myself:

"Exodus 34:7 what do you think about genetic predisposition (I've also heard referred to as generational curses) and addiction? P.S. the fact that you referred to yourself as a part of a Christian circle reinforces my feeling of security in my exploration of my faith outside of conventional religious regimens. I know it was unintended. (I can't believe I've been attending such a fettered congregation as the church of Christ …), feeling stifled."

… “... genetic predisposition… generational curses … addiction”, I believe, from experience primarily, and the guidance of Scripture, are very real infirmities of the flesh, though not so easily defined as many religious Christians may wish to categorize them. I think the primary problem “we” Christians face is our attempts to make the Bible the “know it all” about virtually everything. It is a guide book, relating the experiences of ancient Saints as they experienced life and understood God in their particular environment, and within the limits of their own knowledge. Knowledge of the world and all it concerns has been expanded beyond that recorded in the Bible. I have found there are elements of truth in Scripture to be adopted and adapted as we (the current generation(s) of Christians) need. Not everything in the Bible is as absolute as many in Fundamentalist communities would profess. The tendency is to either deny or outright reject whatever appears to be contrary to recorded Biblical norms. I believe, and live, as understanding my relationship to “God” or whatever is “divine” is just as valid, real and perceptible, as any recorded in Scripture. “God”, as God may be, IS everything to me as he has ever been to any who have come before. He is also the same to you … and to ALL who seek him, though all are undoubtedly at different places and levels of understanding. To this I believe “religion” (Primarily Christian Evangelical Fundamentalism) has been more of a hindrance than a godsend.

I have no doubt, when it comes to contemporary understanding of the power and state of the human mind, we (as a whole) live in ignorance. I believe some have begun to tap into the resources of the mind, but few have actually come close to a full comprehension of what this means to be human. There have been sages, such as Jesus Christ, who have existed, and made strides to communicate this in their generations, but more often than not these teachings and truths become tainted and corrupted as they become the possession of disciples less able to comprehend and communicate what they are unable to grasp IE they adapt the teaching to fit into whatever categories they are able to understand. As time progressed, the state of “Christian” knowledge became less related to the actual knowledge, understanding and teachings of Christ and more in keeping and accommodation with what could be adapted and incorporated with a worldlier world view. Currently many are trying to reintroduce these concepts of reality in our own generation, but usually not in association with the “Church” as it has evolved over the past 2 millennia. A more open reading of Scripture (including the Bible and others) will draw the connections with relative ease.

It is in conjunction with these that I have come to a deeper, more spiritually based understanding of the human infirmity which includes contemporary medical and scientific knowledge. I do not wish to elevate the scientific and medical perceptions as complete, or perfect, but they are broader than originally conceived two thousand years ago. The same holds true to virtually all areas of knowledge concerning the universe.

Ex. 34:7 essentially restates the idea of “I will visit…” Here again, it is written within the context of a particular knowledge and understanding. Some of that knowledge and understanding is to be regained, but the idea of “God”, as I see it here and many other places, is defined for the purpose of communicating within a context of rampant ignorance. The word “God” as conceived and defined Biblically (and particularly religiously as varying groups of Christians do) may well be irrelevant. I am not saying that “God” is not, IE he does not exist, God is dead, etc., But the religious language as it has evolved and been used contains virtually NO meaning in a contemporary society, and the concepts promulgated by the ‘supposed’ Church have diverged from what Jesus Christ intended, and are meaningless. It may be that Christian religious concepts need to be defined better and broader. It may be that a whole new language needs to be realized. Regardless of the direction, current knowledge (scientific, medical, spiritual and whatever can be established “real”), must be incorporated. Anything less is not a true knowledge of “God”.

The human mind is an amazing entity. I am not referring to the brain (though it too is related), but “mind” …. That which is the channel of thought … where feelings are assessed and will determines function. This “thing” related physically to the brain, though existing beyond, is subject to the limitations we impose, the impediments subjected too, hereditary, environmental and as physically as associated to the brain. It is also the creator, inventor, imagination transcending the material. It is our connection relating us to a universe we seem in a perpetual state of ignorance of. Yet, through it, we strive to know, to go beyond what is now and ultimately toward a state of full knowledge of mind … “…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,  to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,…”

Here, you can probably see where I diverge from Contemporary Christianity, but I can say that there are elements within the Church which have also reached a state of dissatisfaction with the status quo and are eager for something greater to evolve, to which they can attach themselves too. The one big hindrance is the domination of a “fundamentalist” attitude, which functions as the school yard bully. This is something I take little concern for, I have no vested interest in position or the trappings of Christian ministry. I can say what I believe, and not worry about the bullies. Except if there ever was a potential avenue to ministry within the Contemporary Church, I can kiss it good bye. But, believing in “something” greater than myself, other miracles have occurred, and are not out of the question.

Hey, you may not know it, but I had been a member of the OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) for 8 years (1992-2000). It is about the most conservative Reformed Christian denomination existing. A lot can be learned there, but I did eventually have to take a stand and move on.