Comments on: Buddhism In My Life http://yamabe.net/2006/10/03/buddhism-in-my-life/ Life Under the Cross Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:16:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Brian Yamabe http://yamabe.net/2006/10/03/buddhism-in-my-life/#comment-9567 Brian Yamabe Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:36:36 +0000 http://www.yamabe.net/2006/10/03/buddhism-in-my-life/#comment-9567 Wow, a lot has happened to me since this post. Most notably, reestablishing myself in the denomination (LCMS) that I grew up in. My current understanding of vocation would have lead me to the same understanding you have, Wixenstyx. Thank you for commenting on this post and giving me the opportunity to reflect. Wow, a lot has happened to me since this post. Most notably, reestablishing myself in the denomination (LCMS) that I grew up in. My current understanding of vocation would have lead me to the same understanding you have, Wixenstyx. Thank you for commenting on this post and giving me the opportunity to reflect.

]]> By: Wixenstyx http://yamabe.net/2006/10/03/buddhism-in-my-life/#comment-9564 Wixenstyx Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:45:36 +0000 http://www.yamabe.net/2006/10/03/buddhism-in-my-life/#comment-9564 I don't think that God intends for us to browbeat anyone -- friends or family included -- into believing. The obvious fact that that sort of behavior turns people off rather than attracts them aside, to assume this is our role assumes that someone else's salvation rests in our human hands somehow, and I don't think it does. At all. Salvation comes through the acceptance of Grace, and I know *I* can't force someone to accept it. And if I do put a gun to someone's head until they say they believe, what good does that do? The belief isn't genuine, and God certainly knows the difference. We don't hear much of the particulars about Paul's ministry; we hear his reflections upon it, but not much in the way of 'I met this one guy who didn't believe, and this is what I said." But we're definitely given to understand that Paul didn't approach his role as missionary with a Notched-Belt theology. He takes no credit at all for what his mission work accomplishes; it's all God's work, and he's just the fortunate vector through which God has chosen to work, by virtue of his abilities and history. I think we're called in much the same way. Our job isn't to figure out what to say or to thrust faith into the faces of those around us. Our job is to make ourselves available to the unbelievers around us, to be a friend, to live well as a positive example of what it means to be a Christian. We are to pray and request guidance, since God knows the hearts and minds of the people we love better than we do, and to offer ourselves up as a tool for God if he deems us to be the right person for the job when the time comes. I don’t think that God intends for us to browbeat anyone — friends or family included — into believing. The obvious fact that that sort of behavior turns people off rather than attracts them aside, to assume this is our role assumes that someone else’s salvation rests in our human hands somehow, and I don’t think it does. At all. Salvation comes through the acceptance of Grace, and I know *I* can’t force someone to accept it. And if I do put a gun to someone’s head until they say they believe, what good does that do? The belief isn’t genuine, and God certainly knows the difference.

We don’t hear much of the particulars about Paul’s ministry; we hear his reflections upon it, but not much in the way of ‘I met this one guy who didn’t believe, and this is what I said.” But we’re definitely given to understand that Paul didn’t approach his role as missionary with a Notched-Belt theology. He takes no credit at all for what his mission work accomplishes; it’s all God’s work, and he’s just the fortunate vector through which God has chosen to work, by virtue of his abilities and history.

I think we’re called in much the same way. Our job isn’t to figure out what to say or to thrust faith into the faces of those around us. Our job is to make ourselves available to the unbelievers around us, to be a friend, to live well as a positive example of what it means to be a Christian. We are to pray and request guidance, since God knows the hearts and minds of the people we love better than we do, and to offer ourselves up as a tool for God if he deems us to be the right person for the job when the time comes.

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