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--- jn_en_2019_06_11 [2019/06/11 07:36] – created potthast
+++ jn_en_2019_06_11 [2019/06/11 08:01] (current) – potthast
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 ====== Approval of Men ... ======
-Thursday, June 6, 2019.
+Tuesday, June 11, 2019. We live in a time where the approval of anything humans do is measured
+by likes and the money an audience is willing to spend on something. We have come to the point
+where we hold good what is popular.
+Of course, it is good to have everyone involved. Democracy means that all can express their
+opinion without fearing any negative sanctions or even violence. It also means that by choices
+of many preferences find their way into real developments. Some people will try to influence
+the masses - to stir the choices into a direction which is beneficial for them. It is an
+interesting interaction, this game of influence.
+Clearly, we are happy when we are not part of a dictatorship, where some people impose their
+choices on others. In too many countries of this world today people have to live that way: under
+the oppression of a party or particular religious group. At the same time, we need to see
+that choices are not completely arbitrary. When we search for insight and truth, for example,
+it is the facts which are our reference. Let us think more about this ... !
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 ** Goal and Purpose ... **
+The apostle Paul has experienced the living God in a series of special experiences. He met
+Jesus, the risen Lord. And he has started to talk about the gospel, about the forgiveness
+and reconciliation which can be found in him, in Christ Jesus.
+Now, Paul is talking about the foundation of his activity. Is he doing things to please
+men? What is his target? What is the reason and basis of his work? Paul writes:
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 </color>(Gal 1, 10)
+The origin of Pauls activity is his community with God in father, son and holy spirit. This
+is also his goal. He has started to live in this community. And this community is the driving
+force of all he does.
+It is not men, Paul wants to get approval from. Yes, of course he is trying to reach men. He
+is trying to tell everyone about the fantastic God, about the spirit of Jesus, about the
+resurrection, about the hope and peace which can be found in the living creator. But
+for doing so he does not need approval by anyone, since he has approval by the Lord.
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-** Community of the Spirit ... **
+** Community of the Lord ... **
+When you come to faith, you enter the community of the Lord. The bible describes the holy
+spirit to come into your life, into your body. Here you are, living in an intimate
+community with the eternal creator.
+We are invited to learn to listen to God. We can read what is written in the biblical books,
+and these books are the indispensible source and basis of our faith. God has spoken here,
+and it is written. It is not surprising that several regimes in this world try to ban the
+bible from their country.
+We are invited to listen to the Lord, and to search approval from the Lord. No one else
+should be our guide. Yes, we are asked and even commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves.
+We are told to love and to be there for him.
+But humans can never reach the purity and love of the eternal God. We are made to be with
+him, and to search him as the source and center and goal of our life. He is the one to
+approve what we do, and in Christ Jesus he has already given us his full love and commitment!
 (Roland Potthast)
 [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/topics_collection_ix|... further texts]]