Wednesday, September 8, 2004
Commemoration of Søren Kierkegaard, Teacher and Philosopher, 1855

He may affect us directly by His Spirit, with the force of a thunderbolt, or He may choose to woo us gently by stirring up our consciences.

But, in addition, God affects us by determining that in the universe certain causes shall bring about certain effects. Cause-and-effect is, therefore, the operation of God through normal channels rather than through special channels. We have our normal way of acting when we drive a car. We can more or less put it in “automatic pilot” while we carry on a conversation, but when an emergency arises, we take conscious personal control. I have a hunch that God has something for which this automatic pilot will serve as an illustration. That is, His routine way of operating is cause-and-effect, and He is in control of it, so that when cause-and-effect affects us, then God is affecting us. That is what the Apostle Paul means in Galatians when he says, “Do not kid yourself—God is not blind. What you do, you will get paid for.” The causes which we have set in operation by our own personal choices will inevitably bring about certain results. But God is involved because God makes cause-and-effect to work. [Continued tomorrow]

... Kenneth L. Pike (1912-2001), With Heart and Mind, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962, p. 62 (see the book; see also Gal. 6:7-9; Job 13:7-9; 34:11; Ps. 62:12; Matt. 16:27; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 9:6; 1 John 3:7; more at Choices, Conscience, God, Holy Spirit, Presence of God, Providence)

 
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        Curator, Christian Quotation of the Day,
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Last updated: 01/07/17

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