KCU/04/Chupicabra

Topic 9: God is not enough, need people too?

Question: In popular belief & worship songs, it is not uncommon to find the idea that all we need is God. Cloud & Townsend, however, basically argue that God is not enough, we need people too. Do you agree with their view? Why or why not? (Be sure to do more research into the issue. If the group cannot come to a consensus, feel free to have different group members each express their own opinions.)

Balancing Relationships I. Introduce:

a. Elements/Characteristics of this world

i. Love, joy, happiness

ii. Decisions, trials, tribulations

iii. Wars, hate, sadness

b. Options of living in/dealing with this life

i. Total Independence

ii. Relations with people

iii. Relations with God

iv. Balancing relations of people and God

c. (Thesis) The Bible is how we can tell what relationships are needed and how to balance the relationships between God and man and also man and man.

II. (bi.) Total Independence:

a. Very few people are totally independent. Examples in life of total independents:

i. P.O.W.s (explain)

ii. Abused children (explain)

iii. Shipwrecked (explain)

b. Cain was forced to wander as a severe punishment

III. (bii – biii) The Extremes of Dependence:

a. Dependence on/relations with people. (bii.)

i. Since the beginning – tribes of people formed and made life easier:

1. Hunting/gathering; defense/survival; protection from weather; each person does own work to help accomplish overall tasks for simpler life.

ii. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – life is just all around easier with two or more people.

iii. Jane Elliot – third grade class project (explain)

1. Even the children understood and grouped together out of necessity

iv. Reinstate/paraphrase Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

b. Dependence on/ relations with only God. (biii.)

i. Monastic movement

1. Monks led a life of solitude to grow and stay away from the world

ii. Prophets

1. Didn’t have many relations except with God

iii. If you have nobody and with relation with God because nobody else is around:

1. John 14:18 – He won’t leave you alone. He will come.

2. Isaiah 41:10 – He will strengthen you and help you.

3. Romans 8:35-39 (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing can come between your relation with God.

4. The above support the monastic movement and the prophets

iv. Conclusion: monks realized that God was the more important of relations, for God was before we were (Genesis 1:1), not the other way around. They also applied this to other relationships…that if it wasn’t God, it wasn’t near important.

IV. (biv.) Balancing Dependence:

a. Monastic Movement:

i. The monks were having psychological problems…

ii. Pachomius grouped monks under a common rule to give them some fellowship

1. Helped when they wandered about preaching to pagans (gave social skills)

2. They soon set up monasteries

3. Aided to reforms in the church

4. All proves group work was helpful

b. Learning from the monastic movement:

i. If alone – God will come – but He will help in growth

1. That aid in growth comes from God and other people

2. Just like monks, we must:

a. Life for God, build that relationship and focus on that first and foremost of all things in our lives.

b. Then we build relations with people – leaning on each other…being dependant on other people’s love. (lyrics to “Lean on Me”)

c. The Body (Church):

i. With the relation with others – we are able to build each other up in Christ (Galatians 6:1 – build your brothers up if he falls, for [Genesis 2:18] it is not good for man to be alone). We wouldn’t be able to build each other up.

ii. I Corinthians 12: We all have differing gifts (apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, comforters, speakers of tongues)

1. The parts should depend on each other to work as the Body of Christ.

a. Creates efficient spiritual growth in every part.

2. No part is greater than the other – if one suffers, they all suffer.

a. Each part, like ancient tribes, share burdens, and tackle the greatest burden: freeing others from Satan’s lies and building up the Body more.

d. All of these groups (from monks to church groups) are formed and work because God is the first and foremost purpose; relationships with others are only there to make that living more effective (but not to replace God’s relationship)

V. Conclusion of whole paper…