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Josh
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« on: October 07, 2004, 08:42:06 PM » |
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I'm doing a bit of informal research here.
Movies and TV constantly bombard us with the idea that the most important thing in life is to have a dream, that without dreams we are nothing.
I also hear that message quite a bit as a student at a liberal arts college.
It occurs to me, though, that I cannot think of a single Bible passage that even mentions the importance of having a dream in life.
Can anyone point me to any that I might be missing?
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Vlad!
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« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2004, 09:01:56 PM » |
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Agreed, that's interesting. In the Old Testament, the primary focus was on the redemption of the Jewish people as a whole, not really even on individual fulfilment. In the New Testament the focus turns more towards personal salvation, but I don't see a 'follow your dreams' motif like we see in modern culture.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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Josh
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« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2004, 09:04:25 PM » |
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If anything, the Bible almost seems to DISCOURAGE the whole follow-your-dreams line of thinking. After all, are we not exhorted to surrender EVERYTHING to God? And is working for the Kingdom, for God's glory, our calling, not working for our own personal ambitions?
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Vlad!
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« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2004, 09:49:41 PM » |
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Well, Phillippians 2 does mention "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit...", so if the best description for 'folowing your dreams' is 'selfish ambition' then the Bible does indeed discourage it. However, I don't think Christianity preempts having a dream for one's life, or a goal, or whatever you call what it is you are working for. An aimless life is certainly not what we are called to, and countless times in the Bible we see God giving people dreams that they follow--Gideon, Nehemiah, John the Baptist, Peter.
I don't think following one's dreams is necessarily bad. The problem is when it is apart from the Lord's will. For instance, James 4:
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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dgp11776
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« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2004, 09:18:26 AM » |
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I don't think following one's dreams is necessarily bad. The problem is when it is apart from the Lord's will. Bingo. I think the verse that displays this best is the oft-quoted Jeremiah 29:11, "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (NRSV)" God has dreams for us; we just need to follow them. |
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Josh
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« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2004, 09:04:41 PM » |
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Indeed, that verse is certainly applicable, although I would offer the caveat that, in that instance, the Lord is talking specifically to His people; that promise is not directed toward everyone.
It is, perhaps, also worth noting that when it talks about our welfare, it isn't necessarily talking about welfare in THIS life, but in the next.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2004, 09:57:56 PM » |
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It is, perhaps, also worth noting that when it talks about our welfare, it isn't necessarily talking about welfare in THIS life, but in the next. Do you have any evidence that, in that particular verse at least, it doesn't mean what it says at face value (i.e. that it is talking about this life, in these bodies)? |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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Josh
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« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2004, 10:05:26 PM » |
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Do you have any evidence that, in that particular verse at least, it doesn't mean what it says at face value (i.e. that it is talking about this life, in these bodies)? The simple fact that so many missionaries, martyrs, and even biblical heroes have very little welfare in this life. |
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enemy anemone
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« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2004, 10:57:57 PM » |
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this is kinda scattered but I'll throw it in anyway.
when I think of the emphasis tv and movies place on having and following your dream, it's basically the same thing as the emphasis on the importance of following your heart. we could excuse our selfish or even wrong actions with "hey, I'm just following my heart/dream!", which makes me think of a few verses from the Bible.
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life. (Prov 4:23)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Prov 14:12)
and oddly enough,
There is a way that seems right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov 16:25)
also note that in the Jeremiah verse, the Lord is talking about HIS plans for us, not our plans/dreams for ourselves.
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Josh
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« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2004, 11:09:31 PM » |
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Couldn't agree with you more, Schil.
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