Posted: Jun 10, 2018 3:11 pm
I find it interesting to compare religions, Skinny. Not so much now as when I was younger because after a while one sees the same patterns emerge.
But, your story reminds me of how even a nuanced difference can be fairly profound. Like you, I went to church 3 times a week. Wed. and twice on Sunday. Matt 18:20 is one of the passages that I NEVER forgot and even believe (more or less) to this day. I've often experienced, interacting with another person on some shared goal, creative projects are particular obvious, a "third person" with us. There's a synergy I guess, or a dynamic where shared ideas and goals are exchanged and invariably something will come out of the meeting that neither person feels comfortable claiming credit for. Taken as a metaphor, I completely believe in Matt 18:20, for what is worship if not a dynamic sharing of ideas and shared goals between two or more people?
Unlike your experience, we were encouraged to "study to shew ourselves approved..." 2 Timothy 2:15. I had asked questions like yours. While I was never presented with an answer beyond "god works in mysterious ways" or something just as deflecting, I was never treated like you were! I would say that's pretty close to shunning. I asked where Cain got his wife. LOL.
But, your story reminds me of how even a nuanced difference can be fairly profound. Like you, I went to church 3 times a week. Wed. and twice on Sunday. Matt 18:20 is one of the passages that I NEVER forgot and even believe (more or less) to this day. I've often experienced, interacting with another person on some shared goal, creative projects are particular obvious, a "third person" with us. There's a synergy I guess, or a dynamic where shared ideas and goals are exchanged and invariably something will come out of the meeting that neither person feels comfortable claiming credit for. Taken as a metaphor, I completely believe in Matt 18:20, for what is worship if not a dynamic sharing of ideas and shared goals between two or more people?
Unlike your experience, we were encouraged to "study to shew ourselves approved..." 2 Timothy 2:15. I had asked questions like yours. While I was never presented with an answer beyond "god works in mysterious ways" or something just as deflecting, I was never treated like you were! I would say that's pretty close to shunning. I asked where Cain got his wife. LOL.