new church life : september / october 2017
way that we say we feel emotions ; and “ delights ” as described in the Heavenly Doctrines are probably not analogous to the “ emotions ” in common parlance .
He said that the use of this ongoing study is to understand our feelings better . Judging by the active engagement of those participating in the interactive presentation and discussion , understanding our feelings in the light of the Heavenly Doctrines is a useful pursuit .
Relaxation Refreshments before dinner , as well as the clergy dinner , provided welcome time to discuss any of the ideas and issues raised at the meetings or arising from ministry back home or to exchange news about family and friends . During the entertainment section , light-hearted songs were offered by the Rev . Kenneth J . Alden ( sung at his last annual meeting in Boynton Beach ), the Rev . Grant H . Odhner , and the Rev . Elmo K . Acton ( both sung in celebration of the latter ’ s graduation from theological school ), and selected humorous or inspiring video clips were shown by the Rev . Charles “ Chuck ” E . Blair .
Friday , June 23
Moral Standards Support Spiritual Development After announcements , the Rev . Christopher A . Barber opened the first session with prayer and then introduced our final speaker , the Rev . Stephen D . Cole whose paper was titled : “ Freedom and Morality : The Necessity of Moral Judgments in Society .” He laid out the propositions his paper argued as these : 1 . That , at this day , no one can be saved until a spiritual conscience has been formed . 2 . That it cannot be formed unless a moral conscience has been formed first . 3 . That the latter is formed on the basis of the love of reputation , honor and gain , and from the fear of the loss of them .
4 . That a moral conscience , therefore , cannot be formed apart from a moral climate in which transgression of moral standards does , in fact , involve the loss of reputation , honor , or gain .
First , however , he argued two other propositions having to do with freedom . The gist of these was that genuine freedom is a free agency that we have by virtue of the faculty of freewill that gives us the ability to choose between good and evil . Such freedom is manifest in spiritual freedom and grows with regeneration . On the lower , rational ( moral ) and natural ( civil ) planes , freedom is limited or determined by what we love . As we are regenerated spiritual love flows down into the civil moral planes , exercising its choice to do
406
new church life: september/october 2017
way that we say we feel emotions; and “delights” as described in the Heavenly
Doctrines are probably not analogous to the “emotions” in common parlance.
He said that the use of this ongoing study is to understand our feelings
better. Judging by the active engagement of those participating in the
interactive presentation and discussion, understanding our feelings in the
light of the Heavenly Doctrines is a useful pursuit.
Relaxation
Refreshments before dinner, as well as the clergy dinner, provided welcome
time to discuss any of the ideas and issues raised at the meetings or arising
from ministry back home or to exchange news about family and friends.
During the entertainment section, light-hearted songs were offered by the
Rev. Kenneth J. Alden (sung at his last annual meeting in Boynton Beach), the
Rev. Grant H. Odhner, and the Rev. Elmo K. Acton (both sung in celebration
of the latter’s graduation from theological school), and selected humorous or
inspiring video clips were shown by the Rev. Charles “Chuck” E. Blair.
Friday, June 23
Moral Standards Support Spiritual Development
After announcements, the Rev. Christopher A. Barber opened the first session
with prayer and then introduced our final speaker, the Rev. Stephen D. Cole
whose paper was titled: “Freedom and Morality: The Necessity of Moral
Judgments in Society.”
He laid out the propositions his paper argued as these:
1. That, at this day, no one can be saved until a spiritual conscience has
been formed.
2. That it cannot be formed unless a moral conscience has been formed
first.
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