Vanilla, as you may have gathered I was somewhat cranky this morning. We also pulled off a simulpost earlier – I didn’t see your reply before I typed my countercite. I actually rather like the tale of the ten lepers because to me it shows Christ in a particularly human moment, wondering why only one person thought to thank him or appreciate him. He made all ten ritually clean, and I’ve been trying to work out the difference between ritually clean and healed with no success. Since Bible Gateway notes that the word translated as “leprosy” actually referred to a variety of skin diseases, maybe it was acne, and the other nine’s acne came back?
That’s entirely meant as a joke; this is something I’m going to have to think about some more.
John 9:1-34 tells of Jesus’ encounter with a man who was blind since birth. His disciples asked Him who had sinned, the man or his parents, because, I understand, handicaps were believed to be the result of sin. Jesus said "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. " He then heals the blind man and sends him on his way. The blind man then proceeds to get in a bit of trouble with the Pharisees, as do his parents, because they didn’t understand how a man so sinful he was blind could possibly be the recipient of a miracle. The Pharisees also conclude Jesus must be a sinner. The story concludes with the blind man saying,
I don’t see anything here which indicates the blind man was repentant, and there’s quite a bit of dispute about how sinful he was. If anything, he sounds proud he was healed.
As Christians, I believe we are required to repent of our sins as soon after we commit them as possible. I prefer formally acknowledging them to God, not because He doesn’t know about them, but because by acknowledging them to God, I also acknowledge them to myself. Otherwise, it’s too easy to fall into the trap of “Who me? I haven’t done anything wrong. At least, not recently.” Off hand, I can’t think of anything in the Gospels which states outright that someone repented after Christ healed him, but that could also be due to my particular focus. Like I said, I did remember the ten lepers and the man blind since birth, but I didn’t remember that correctly – I thought it was the Pharisees who asked Christ who sinned (thank you www.biblegateway.com!).
To me, who does or does not gain salvation is riddled with paradoxes. In the end, I hold two separate, contradictory beliefs. First, as a Christian I am assured a place in heaven. Second, every time I condemn someone to hell, even if it’s in thought alone, I come that much closer to condemning myself. Certainly, even if I can’t damn myself out of heaven, I do damage my own soul. As I’ve said many times on this Board and will probably continue to do so, it is not my place to judge. I don’t pretend to be an expert on the Bible, but I know what I believe I have been taught by God to believe. If I am foolishly stubborn at times, well, it’s the way He made me, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out God, Himself, has sighed at my persistent willfulness. Still, I will help, guide, and correct when I have to, but I will condemn no man.
I’m glad God knows what he’s doing, because I sure don’t!
CJ
