Eric Clapton and the Binding of Isaac?
See Eric Clapton, In the Presence of the Lord, by John Powell, Christianity Today, 4/9/2008.
In religion class, the Biblical story of The Binding of Issac, in Genesis 22, was always presented to us as a standard of obedience. This is blind obedience at its most extreme. It is hard to see how such an extremely anti-human command, which is so irrational and obviously opposed to the natural (moral) law, could possibly encourage obedience. But while I was listening to this story on CD in my car, it occurred to me that there might be a higher understanding. Abraham had such a deep sense of complete dependence on God, I wonder if the choice of obeying/disobeying God even entered his conscious mind. Perhaps the real purpose of the story is to show Abraham's sense of dependence on God. Certainly it shows the strength of Abraham's faith.
Eric Clapton struggled with alcohol and drug addiction throughout most of his adult life. After his son Conor was born and after failing at yet another attempt at rehab, Clapton surrendered his life to God and dedicated his sobriety to Conor. Tragically, four years later, Conor fell to his death from their apartment window. Clapton said, "There was a moment when I did lose faith." Still, he found the strength to present a session to his Alcoholics Anonymous meeting on "handing your will over to the care of God." Afterward, a woman confessed that he had taken away her "last excuse" for drinking, a confirmation to Clapton that "staying sober and helping others to achieve sobriety" is "the single most important proposition" in his life.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/aprilweb-only/115-32.0.html
In religion class, the Biblical story of The Binding of Issac, in Genesis 22, was always presented to us as a standard of obedience. This is blind obedience at its most extreme. It is hard to see how such an extremely anti-human command, which is so irrational and obviously opposed to the natural (moral) law, could possibly encourage obedience. But while I was listening to this story on CD in my car, it occurred to me that there might be a higher understanding. Abraham had such a deep sense of complete dependence on God, I wonder if the choice of obeying/disobeying God even entered his conscious mind. Perhaps the real purpose of the story is to show Abraham's sense of dependence on God. Certainly it shows the strength of Abraham's faith.
Eric Clapton struggled with alcohol and drug addiction throughout most of his adult life. After his son Conor was born and after failing at yet another attempt at rehab, Clapton surrendered his life to God and dedicated his sobriety to Conor. Tragically, four years later, Conor fell to his death from their apartment window. Clapton said, "There was a moment when I did lose faith." Still, he found the strength to present a session to his Alcoholics Anonymous meeting on "handing your will over to the care of God." Afterward, a woman confessed that he had taken away her "last excuse" for drinking, a confirmation to Clapton that "staying sober and helping others to achieve sobriety" is "the single most important proposition" in his life.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/aprilweb-only/115-32.0.html
posted by Stephen M. Bauer @ 8:26 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home