Last night at the Prayer, Meditation, and Fasting seminar Piper mention a distinction that has been particularly helpful to me. It is the seperation of the natural and spiritual emotions, especially as regards nature. Piper, talking about retreating for a day to pray and think mentioned going to a park. Yet, he inserted the command that we must take our Bibles with us. We will not get anything from the trees. I think the distinction can be helpful. Nature has a proper enriching quality to our theology, but it is not naturally spiritual--it is natural. When we think this way and go to our Bibles we are free to return to nature with realistic expectations, and oftentimes will be rewarded. Here is part of what Lewis says:
Say your prayers in a garden early, ignoring steadfastly the dew, the birds, and the floweres, and you will come away overwhelmed by its freshness and joy; go there in order to be overwhelmed and, after a certain age, nine times out of ten nothing will happen to you.
C. S. Lewis, Four Loves, p. 39
I totally agree with this, Ryan. While nature is a genuine reflection of God's creative glory, it is, at best, a dim reflection of His overall glory and the Word gives me God on a totally different (higher/deeper) level. Guess it's linked to the whole "General revelation" and "Specific revelation" thing, huh?
ReplyDeleteNever thought of Piper as a pea, though...
good thought. definately makes sence. nature can only say so much. FOr specially revelation one must look to the power of God's Word.
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