{"id":3215,"date":"2007-04-13T12:46:00","date_gmt":"2007-04-13T12:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/2007\/04\/resurrection-perspective\/"},"modified":"2007-04-13T12:46:00","modified_gmt":"2007-04-13T12:46:00","slug":"resurrection-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/2007\/04\/resurrection-perspective.html","title":{"rendered":"Resurrection Perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What gives your life focus and direction? Death. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Without faith, everything the natural man thinks, says and does is conditioned by the fact of death. In the face of our ultimate death we are, by default, either Epicureans or Stoics. The first face death and determine to gather from this life what little morsels of comfort and pleasure that can be had. In the face of death the second type of person creates whatever meaning for his little life he can muster, and does whatever noble acts he can manage before the lights go out. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Of course your ordinary Joe and Jane don\u2019t consciously decide that they are either an Epicurean or a Stoic, but whether they wear the badge or not, these are the only two choices. You see it played out in their lives. Are they living for pleasure and comfort (even if they do so in a tasteful and \u2018nice\u2019 way)? Then they are Epicureans. Are they quietly pessimistic, cynical or complacent and seemingly \u2018content with their lot\u2019? They are Stoics.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Christians, on the other hand, have been captivated by the resurrection. This historical fact changes everything. It means their lodestar is not death, but life. Life everlasting becomes a possibility, so life here on earth takes on a totally new dimension of meaning. The truly Christian soul lives every moment with a different perspective. The new life charges everything with a new inner dynamism. For the Epicurean and Stoic nothing in this world really matters because it will all pass away when they breathe their last. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

For the Christian everything matters because through the resurrection \u2018the world is charged with the glory of God.\u2019 Because everything lives, everything matters. Most of all, because every soul is eternal every person matters. <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

If I believe this is true, the only question that remains is, \u201cWhat am I going to do about it?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What gives your life focus and direction? Death. Without faith, everything the natural man thinks, says and does is conditioned by the fact of death. In the face of our ultimate death we are, by default, either Epicureans or Stoics. The first face death and determine to gather from this life what little morsels of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":557,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nResurrection Perspective<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What gives your life focus and direction? Death. Without faith, everything the natural man thinks, says and does is conditioned by the fact of death. 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