Comments on: Beauty at Any Cost

By: B. Resson

B. Resson — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:54:14 +0000

Here is a comment from someone who has just finished reading Stasi Eldredge’s book Intimacy. It helps me to understand what drives and motivates women more deeply.

My question is this – Stasi points to the Bible and to nature to understand more of God’s romantic heart and she has many quotes and examples, and also from popular culture eg films and songs she has watched with a message akin to hers. Is there also anything that can be found in the insights of the “romantic poets” (Keats, Wordsworth, Shelley, Coleridge) that link in with the message that is helpful to meditate on. For example I think of the quote:

“Beauty is truth and truth beauty”

which I found coming to mind as I read the book. Is there a really deep link that Keats hit upon in the light of what Stasi has to say?

By: Shepherd’s Notes » True Beauty

Shepherd’s Notes » True Beauty — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:38:24 +0000

[...] You can find the rest of the post here. [...]

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:15:56 +0000

Please post my latest comment on Character!

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:18:02 +0000

Thank you for clarifying some points.
Yes, you are right, we don’t lose national identity or gendre. But these characteristics are not relevant to any Christian life aspect, because it’s all about the Christ-likeness and Christian CHARACTER, it has nothing to do with personality traits (coleric, etc – type of persoanlity), color of hair, muscles, long dresses or pants, emotional sensibility (for woman). These characteristic do differentiate us from one another, but this is not essential in Christian life. I hope you understand what I mean.
REgarding the biblical texts, again, look in the Bible – in Isaiah is specifically called the “Bride” ISRAEL – the chosen God’s people and not the Bride as the Church. And there is displayed another aspect of the relationship God-man: the faithfulness and love of God as Groom, and the wickedeness and adultery of the woman as rebellious people. This has nothing to do with the question of authority (love and submission) from Ephes 5, where it is written Christ and the church. The comparisons of human marriage and God-Church DO NOT explain different characteristics, but show the character of God (His holiness, his faithfulness, His love, the characteristics of humans, the way they should act as imitators of God – “be holly as your Father is holly) – again, this has nothing to do with the “angle” which is relative, but to the absolute = the Christian character as Christ-likeness and the Christian conduct in human relationships.
I would try to concentrate on the Character of man and woman, as Christ-likeness, and not on particular physical, biological, emotional etc characteristics which are EVIDENT, but will be removed in the Kingdom of God. And true beauty (for a woman) or real strength (for a man) is the one of the heart, of the character, in Christ-likeness.

By: Mary Kassian

Mary Kassian — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Gender imagery (Christ as husband/Church as Bride) is interwoven throughout the whole of Scripture. Genesis, Psalm 45, Jeremiah 2:2; Ezekiel 16; Hosea 2:16, 19-20;Isaiah 62:4; Mark 2:19;2; Luke 5:34 John 3:29;2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Revelation 19:6-9; 21:2; 9-11; 22:17, etc.

Galatians 3:28 has to do with who can become a Christian and on what basis, and not with the obliteration of gender roles or nationality. With regards to salvation, there is no difference between male and female or Jew or Greek. But that doesn’t mean we become gender-neutral beings, or that we lose our national heritage.

You are correct to say that male and female do not individually display only a “part” of the gospel, if you think “part” means an incomplete part. It might help you to think of the word “angle” instead of “part.” Woman displays the gospel from a different angle than man. Neither are incomplete. But they do display it from different vantage points. A female displays it in a way a male cannot, and a male displays it in a way a female cannot.

The greek word for “Mystery” in Ephesians 5 refers to something that had previously been hidden or obscured… The mystery was revealed when Christ Jesus came as husband to redeem his Bride.

You are correct when you point out that women are also to emulate Christ. This is indeed clear in Scripture. One could also point out that men are also to emulate “Bride” because they are a part of the Church. But manhood and womanhood DOES make a difference in this regard. It is not inconsequential. By virtue of gender, woman displays the characteristics of (Church) BRIDE in a way than a man cannot, and man displays the characteristics of (Christ) HUSBAND in a way that woman cannot.

Ultimately, both are to the glory of Jesus Christ.