spirit(2/2)
Words for spirit across cultures
Much of what is true has its echo in many cultures. It’s been an ageless wonder that, despite the struggles to identify the origins of various people groups, nearly every one shares a story of a devastating flood (e.g. Noah’s flood). The subject of spirit in other cultures is one which I am wholly ignorant. Thankfully, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming has helpfully connected words across a few major cultures. 💬 You should understand that this natural Qi has not only been studied by the Chinese spiritual Qigong practitioners but also by other human cultures.…
The forces of evil work from within and without
The forces of evil are able to work from within as well as without. There is much misunderstanding about this in the Church as well as in the world; it is widely believed and taught that through various spiritual practices one can gain access to an untainted center at the core of being. This is not orthodox Christian belief and it certainly is not Tolkien’s belief; hence his emphasis on the demonic element within.…
The way to practice dependence on the spirit was to need him
The instructions of Matthew 10 indicate that the key objective of this trip was to foster the missionaries' dependence upon the Holy Spirit. As Steve Addison says in What Jesus Started, “This was not a classroom approach to learning.” The only way they could practice dependence upon the Holy Spirit was to place themselves in situations where they’d need him.
How does the holy spirit change humanity
The first two-thirds of the Bible’s storyline is waiting breathlessly for the human who will finally be the true image of God, defeat the serpent and deal with the wake of destruction caused by human failure and foolishness. But after Jesus, the story’s culminating point, the wait for a new human is over. However, the new humanity inaugurated by Jesus has many mysteries. One of these mysteries is how it will be any better than its forebears.…