"(d) Peril of loss of individual identity
...But this fear of the loss of individual identity is just as neurotic a feature of human existence as the bizarre attempts to escape individual existence by merger in the divine. If the individual cannot commit himself to God without fear of `losing his life` for God´s sake, how can he have faith? When St. Paul says `it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me` (Gal.2:20), is he not reporting a genuine case of the loss of individual identity only in order to recover it in a healthier and truer way in the Body of Christ? This neurosis of modern man, jealously anxious about personal security and personal survival, has been one of the most powerful creative forces in the economic life of West. But it has also made it all but impossible for him to rest in God. And there is no faith without resting, without relaxing in the love of God.
As we have already noted earlier, Christian eucharistic mysticism does not lead to the merging of the individual in the All, but to union with Christ, which means to abide in Him and to bear fruit. If we remain individuals, we neither live nor bear fruit. We die and perish. Fear of the loss of individual existence leads to death. Willingness to surrender individual existence to the God of love is a necessary condition of the rediscovery of genuine personal freedom. There is neither love nor faith without self-surrender. Not even God loves without surrendering Himself to us. It is His gift of Himself that makes Christian surrender saving and not suicidal."
[The Joy of Freedom(1967/s.22):Paul Varghese(myöhemmin: Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios)]
...But this fear of the loss of individual identity is just as neurotic a feature of human existence as the bizarre attempts to escape individual existence by merger in the divine. If the individual cannot commit himself to God without fear of `losing his life` for God´s sake, how can he have faith? When St. Paul says `it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me` (Gal.2:20), is he not reporting a genuine case of the loss of individual identity only in order to recover it in a healthier and truer way in the Body of Christ? This neurosis of modern man, jealously anxious about personal security and personal survival, has been one of the most powerful creative forces in the economic life of West. But it has also made it all but impossible for him to rest in God. And there is no faith without resting, without relaxing in the love of God.
As we have already noted earlier, Christian eucharistic mysticism does not lead to the merging of the individual in the All, but to union with Christ, which means to abide in Him and to bear fruit. If we remain individuals, we neither live nor bear fruit. We die and perish. Fear of the loss of individual existence leads to death. Willingness to surrender individual existence to the God of love is a necessary condition of the rediscovery of genuine personal freedom. There is neither love nor faith without self-surrender. Not even God loves without surrendering Himself to us. It is His gift of Himself that makes Christian surrender saving and not suicidal."
[The Joy of Freedom(1967/s.22):Paul Varghese(myöhemmin: Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios)]
Vastaukset 1
Vanhimmat
http://keskustelu.suomi24.fi/show.fcgi?category=1000000000000003&conference=1000000000000010&posting=22000000002372557