The still small voice

[cavalier]

When my grandfather writes to me, he always encloses a number of tracts from his church. Normally I don't read them, but having a bit of extra time today, I picked one up. There was a line in it that I wanted to share and ask people's opinions on.

"There are two voices in your head today, one shouting promises of pleasure and amusement and trying to drown the other, 'a still small voice,' that repeats tenderly 'Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'"

Until its overtly Christian conclusion, it was an idea that I identified and agreed with. It seems I feel this way about many Christian messages. I agree with the core idea, but feel that whenever the idea of a "personal" God or Savior is introduced the message is then taken to a point where I don't feel comfortable, and cannot fully agree.

I suppose it is my reaction, rather than the extract itself, that I would appreciate your opinions on.

Thanks

[greymare]

MY opinion is that the ME factor is off putting for me as well. I have a strong belief in our selves. By that I mean, is that we have to take responsibility for the good and bad in our lives. Only we can change it. Leaving it up to someone or something else to fix has been a major flaw I only just realised I had for my entire life. I'm not totally blaming my catholic upbringing abut it has played a big part of it. If I was in a mess, I would secretly hope that someone would come and save me. Eventually i worked out that I had to do it if it was to be done. ( I hope I am amaking sense.) Maybe I am taking the reading too literally, I dont know, but thats my opinion.

[InLove]

Hi cav

I'd say that if the core idea appeals to you, then just go with that. The rest will follow. It may be that you will not see things in exactly the same way they are described in the rest of the literature your dad sends. But I imagine he sends it because he cares about you, so if there is something there which speaks to you, perhaps it is love. Why not focus on that? Just my thoughts. (Nice to see you around.)

InPeace,
InLove

[Tariki]

cav,

I feel Inlove has expressed it truly.................go with what you can. For each of us the "Me" will always contain the echoes of all that has
been expressed by a million others, yet there is a "me" that is yours, and yours alone, the "light which lights everyone who comes into the world". This a light beyond all division............

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by greymare

MY opinion is that the ME factor is off putting for me as well. I have a strong belief in our selves. By that I mean, is that we have to take responsibility for the good and bad in our lives. Only we can change it. Leaving it up to someone or something else to fix has been a major flaw I only just realised I had for my entire life. I'm not totally blaming my catholic upbringing abut it has played a big part of it. If I was in a mess, I would secretly hope that someone would come and save me. Eventually i worked out that I had to do it if it was to be done. ( I hope I am amaking sense.) Maybe I am taking the reading too literally, I dont know, but thats my opinion.

But Christianity isn't just about leaving it up to someone else to "fix" up our lives. We still have a moral obligation to God and to do right and love our neighbor as ourselves. Salvation isn't just about a "get out of hell free card", but the whole purpose of salvation is to conform us into the image of Christ. That takes work and a willingness to submit to God's ways and rules. The difference is that the Bible teaches that we can draw upon God's Power and Love as an Unlimited Source so that we may accomplish that, and we are not left to solely our own devices, which too often fall short.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by cavalier

When my grandfather writes to me, he always encloses a number of tracts from his church. Normally I don't read them, but having a bit of extra time today, I picked one up. There was a line in it that I wanted to share and ask people's opinions on.

"There are two voices in your head today, one shouting promises of pleasure and amusement and trying to drown the other, 'a still small voice,' that repeats tenderly 'Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'"

Until its overtly Christian conclusion, it was an idea that I identified and agreed with. It seems I feel this way about many Christian messages. I agree with the core idea, but feel that whenever the idea of a "personal" God or Savior is introduced the message is then taken to a point where I don't feel comfortable, and cannot fully agree.

I suppose it is my reaction, rather than the extract itself, that I would appreciate your opinions on.

Thanks

That still small voice is the voice of God through the conscience. It is often opposed to our base nature for which we all too quickly cling to. It often runs counter to our natural tendencies, for it recognizes dangers of excess. Scripture teaches that conscience can be seared as a hot iron and thus no longer effective. But the more we rely on God, pray to God, read His Word, obey His moral law, are led by the Spirit, our conscience will strengthen. God helps us in our weakness, to help us live our lives worthily.

[flowperson]

Hi Cav...miss talking with you.

I'd go with what has been said here regarding hedonism vs. working on self responsibility via religious channels. But I also believe that this quandry reflects the age old arguments regarding succumbing to the dualistic view of existence as opposed to promoting within the self a unified vision of "being" brought about through acts of love.

flow....

[pattimax]

It has been my experience that when you train your ears to hear that "still small voice", it ceases to whisper; it can YELL!

[dauer]

Hey Cav. Good to see you around.

I think that sometimes there are ideas that come to us either from the past or from within ourselves we seem to find some value and meaning in that don't sit with us well. When that happens I don't think it means that the idea is bad but that the way it's being expressed doesn't entirely work for us. For me all that usually requires is a degree of translation, changing the wording so that it's more affirming of our values while still maintaining the same pearl.

Dauer

[Ciel]

Originally Posted by flowperson

I'd go with what has been said here regarding hedonism vs. working on self responsibility via religious channels. But I also believe that this quandry reflects the age old arguments regarding succumbing to the dualistic view of existence as opposed to promoting within the self a unified vision of "being" brought about through acts of love.

flow....

Flow,
And I love what you're saying here, there is so much beauty in being a natural human being, without seperation based on high roads and low roads. One earth made of many worlds, unified by the inner light.....giving and seeking towards the light of others.

- c -

[Ciel]

Isn't the still small voice the light it's self.

- c -

[Paladin]

Kinda reminds me of this old story:

Native Wisdom

A Grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson.
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."
"One wolf is evil and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance."
"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, true, compassion, gratitude, and deep VISION."
"This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other human as well."
The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out; "Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win?"
The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed."

[InLove]

Paladin, I am so happy that you are posting again. Wisdom is very good medicine.

cav, sorry about my error. I see that it is your grandfather who sends you the tracks, not your dad like I wrote. But grandfathers can be very wise sometimes.

InPeace,
InLove

[InLove]

Oops--tracks? Meant tracts, of course.

[cavalier]

Thank you all for your replies, there are some very interesting things in there.

As I begin my reply, the thing that immediately comes to mind is Ciel's comment/question that the still small voice is the inner light itself. This idea strikes a chord within me.

Paladin's story of the Cherokee grandfather, especially the ending. It's a strange thing, the idea that the one who wins is the one that you feed is kinda obvious, and yet it's also very revealing because it's something that I easily forget and don't think about.
I have a question about the story. I never really thought about the good side as being a wolf, I always thought of the dark side as being more powerful, or could this just be because the evil wolf will leap at and snatch any food even half-offered, while the good wolf needs more encouragement?

Flow, would you say a little more about your idea that this problem comes out of a dualistic view of things.

Dauer thanks, with my upbringing I always wonder whether the message should be changed to suit my point of view, or whether it is my point of view that should change to suit the message. Maybe I know your answer, but I'd to hear your thinking.

Dondi, I think I completely agree with what you're saying, yet I also feel sure that we have a different idea of what that God is that you write about. I wonder how you would feel about that, that I agree with your idea but not with your ideas about God.

InLove, yes I know it's love that makes him send me these tracts (interesting that this is the one, out of so many, that I would read) and it's also love that makes him fill half his letters with sermons about the love of Christ. I know he worries about my salvation and I wish there was more I could do to make him feel better.

Tariki thanks, those are encouraging words

Greymere, it's possible I didn't fully understand but I don't think I agree with you. I would have to agree with Dondi's reply to you.

Again, thanks to all for your replies. I hope I didn't miss anyone