Purpose Driven LIfe

[kayre]

Summary: God wants to be your best friend. There are 6 secrets to friendship with God: 1) Constant conversation with God; 2) Continual meditation. (3-6 tomorrow.)

My thoughts: “Only a few people in Old Testament times had the privelege of friendship with God... Fear of God was more common.” That’s based, of course, on the belief that the OT is not only genuine history, but the only history that matters; I don’t hold either of those beliefs. Why are Christians so willing to accept that God didn’t like very many people before Jesus, but that’s okay since we’re after Jesus?

Warren doesn’t support the “friendship with God” idea very thoroughly, and where he does, the NIV uses some form of “reconciliation” rather than “friendship.”

How do they get from “the Lord.. is a jealous God” to “He is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you”?? This is why I don’t like reliance on paraphrases!

I don’t think “pray without ceasing” means we have to be using words all the time. The idea that we’re supposed to have a nonstop subverbal chat with God going all the time is just.. weird. (And leaving little notes to yourself, too!) What’s wrong with just being aware of God? Guess I’ve done too much zen practice, huh?

Meditation apparently means only Bible study, no other form of meditation-- words again. Warren seems to be totally oblivious to the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as the ultimate Word of God, and the implications of that portrayal. Suddenly Eliza Doolittle is singing “words, words, words, I’m so sick of words!” in my head.