new church life: march/april 2015
relationships contribute children for heaven. I think there is a tension here that
should not be resolved. I also believe that adoption is one way that families
fulfill this purpose. After all, adoption is the only mechanism by which a
marriage fulfills this purpose in heaven. (Heaven and Hell 332, Conjugial Love
51)
I know there are detail-oriented types who are probably asking: but what
about this particular case and this situation? Sorry, but you are going to have
to do your own thinking. The nitty-gritty of parenting is a lot of work. Being a
big-picture type I feel a lot of peace from getting the top priorities clarified for
me. After all, parenting to produce angels is not just a goal for when they die;
we need angels or “messengers” of the Lord in this world too.
The Rev. Derrick A.M. Lumsden is the pastor at The
Sower’s Chapel in Freeport, Pennsylvania, where he
lives with his wife, Eden (King), and their four boys.
He had previously been pastor of The New Church
Westville in Durban, South Africa. His hobbies include:
dreaming of planting a church, and reading. Contact:
[email protected]
O U R N E W C H U RC H V O C A B U L A R Y
Part of a continuing series developed by the Rev. W. Cairns Henderson, 1961-1966.
CONNATE GOOD
The word “connate” means “existing from birth”; and the term, “connate good,”
is therefore used in the Writings to describe the natural good that is born with man and
which in itself is a mere animal good, existing also with beasts and with nations of the worst
faith and life. Connate good is characterized by the fact that it is interiorly evil. By this it is
distinguished from spiritual good in the natural, which is not inborn but is acquired through
regeneration, and which is said to be real natural human good, or the good of the natural.
It is this connate good that has been mistaken for genuine good by certain
theories of psychology and education; theories which hold that man is inherently
good and will become such fully if there is no in terference with his development.
(See Arcana Coelestia 3408)
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