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| Versailles+trekearth |
I am very busy with both homecaring and external work and so therefore this post shall be brief and by no means exhaustive.
Recently, from two sources, one, a local megachurch and two, 'In Touch Ministries', the concept of choosing the good over the right, or the good versus the right has been discussed.
In Touch Ministries March 2016
I am not always in agreement with Dr. Stanley, although I consider him a useful online preacher and teacher for me. At times I find the content not robust enough theologically, but in context it should be considered that he is presenting a sermon and not an academic thesis.
From the link
Cited
'How do you know what to do when faced with those huge decisions like finances, education, or relationships? Many things in life seem good, but are not what God wants for you. Spiritual Discernment is the key to knowing God's will for your life, and it's available to all who ask. Get prepared to make hard decisions with this message, 'Why We Need Spiritual Discernment.'"
I am in basic agreement with the paragraph.
The good
Browning explains that a modern concept from empirical philosophers that what is good is entirely subjective or an expression of approval, is not a Biblical view. Browning (1997: 154).
Instead, God is goodness and what is good is defined by God. (154).
He cites Mark 10:18
Mark 10:18
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Blackburn provides a more secular philosophical definition (and definitions)
'More objectively, 'the good' is used to denote the supposed final end at which an action must aim; an intrinsically valuable state....' Blackburn (1996: 160).
He then connects this more objective concept with happiness, virtue, free from care and success. (160).
The right
Blackburn writes that 'right action' is finding the right thing to do and terminates moral ethical discussions of what to do. (331).
In other words, independently practically considering non-moral factors. (331).
Based on the three definitions and my Biblical, theological and philosophical understanding, I can be in basic agreement with Browning's scriptural concept of the good.
A reasonable explanation and understanding, although by no means exhaustive could be defined as the following:
Philosophically, a right action would be a good action that is moral, ethical and practical.
Theologically, a right action would be a good action that is moral, ethical, practical and is by human attempt, in Jesus Christ (the mediator between God and humanity, Hebrews), as close to God's perfect will for that situation as possible.
Practical
The megachurch I am attending, I attended briefly previously.
In the 1990s, (Wednesday nights young adults service), 2000s (Sunday evening service), 2010s (Sunday morning service), but instead of continuing to attend and fellowship there even though I preferred the church over others I attended in many ways, I followed friends to other smaller churches and on two occasions became a member.
At each church I became depressed and frustrated by the lack of social opportunities, (as it is a very secular metropolitan area and province) and the lack of teaching opportunities.
I had reasonably hoped familiarity would significantly assist me socially and teaching wise in churches.
It did not.
A philosophy I live by is that I attempt to only be critical of others where I will be equally critical of myself.
I have been justly critical on my sites of those in the church, following social status and social rules to such an extent it risks eliminating other more socially uncomfortable possibilities.
Therefore, the risk is that God's permissible will takes place over God's perfect will.
I may have put too much social emphasis on attending church with friends in a hope they would assist me socially and with teaching opportunities.
In reality, I should have been more willing to risk, become somewhat more extroverted, as I have anyway over time, and meet more people in a larger church context.
In both my case and others I am critical of it can be asked:
How can we discern God's permissible will from God's perfect will when we rule out possibilities that may be socially uncomfortable or unacceptable?
I have heard the statement:
Do not put God in a box.
I have recently realized I had been performing the good and not the right in regard to church involvement.
I needed to be attending this megachurch where there are some reasonable possibilities of social and teaching advancement.
Theologically, perhaps an example of God's permissible will, as opposed to God's perfect will, taking place over time, even as I prayed over that time for the good and right to occur.
I have stated previously, persons in this realm are finite and sinful.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
