The purpose of life is to reduce the "Kramer"--Paul Zahl ("PZ"). Kramer is PZ's parlance for generational sin. I think it's a take on "karma." In any event, for someone who is completely opposed (and rightfully so) to ever telling us to do anything, PZ actually says to do something in this life. That thing is to act courageously in those instances where generational sin may be broken or reduced.
PZ goes further and acknowledges that generational sin can't be reduced without the intervention of God. PZ says that God is graciously constructing a path for us which, even though it has many seemingly unrelated twists and turn, can eventually bring about changes in generational sin. He then goes to the point of view that we all experience at death--has there been any meaning to my life? Yes, if there has been a break or reduction in generational sin.
If God is loving, then the curse of generational sin is loving. This is where I probably go one step beyond Zahl. It is the generational sin which brings us to a point of impasse such that we cry out to God: "Uncle. I give up." This has happened profoundly in my relationship with Debbie.
I've written before that God's curses in the Garden were loving. God cursed work so that men wouldn't make it their god. God cursed childbirth so that women wouldn't make children their god. It wasn't until this morning that I finally understood God's curse of women's desire and man's control or leadership. This arose out of Debbie's comments about this verse.
"Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Gen. 3:16.
Women often have unrealistic desires and expectations towards their husbands. In our present age, this leads to divorce.
Men attempt to control or rule over their wives. When they can't, in our present age, this leads to divorce.
As I've written before, if you don't experience a profound change in your marriage, it won't last. According to PZ, it's only through the work of God that this profound change can happen.
If, when a woman learns that her husband will never meet her expectations for provision and intimacy, she says: "I give up--over to you God," then the marriage may be saved.
If, when a husband realizes that he can never rule his wife, he says: "I give up--over to you God," then the marriage can be saved.
It's only through surrender to something outside us (as per Alcoholics Anonymous) that we have hope for change.
But, we're only open to change when we have exhausted every last ounce of energy, strength, and conviction in trying to obtain from our spouse what we need from God--unconditional love.
As a wife releases her husband from her expectation of intimacy, he will become more intimate.
As a husband releases his wife from his efforts at control, she will seek his guidance.
That's the way that God works. He brings us to the end of ourselves, through curses which are passed down from generation to generation, only to then provide a way out.
Ellis, this is great. Thanks for writing this. This was pure gold:
ReplyDelete"...But, we're only open to change when we have exhausted every last ounce of energy, strength, and conviction in trying to obtain from our spouse what we need from God--unconditional love.
As a wife releases her husband from her expectation of intimacy, he will become more intimate.
As a husband releases his wife from his efforts at control, she will seek his guidance.
That's the way that God works. He brings us to the end of ourselves, through curses which are passed down from generation to generation, only to then provide a way out."