Quote:
Originally Posted by tbpew
I can not stay with your line of thought and I think it is far more supportive of a "design apart from one's self" viewpoint, even though your position is that these life preferences do not pertain to genetics.
We make choices all along our lives concerning what we will consider, study, inquire about , explore, experiment in, advance or reject.
Take your basketball example; I lived the first 37 years of life with almost a complete repulsion to watching NBA players run up and down a court and shoot into a metal ring. Then a friend of mine, who was well-versed in the coaches, strategies, back-stories, and player skills shared much of this with me and I was OPENED up to a place where I could enjoy watching the sport be played. I would tend to believe that there was some worthwhile or valid experiences, or maybe a good surrounding or a needed escape, that led you to appreciate fishing.
If we look to the childhood experience (often preceeding readily available memories), and consider that some development got derailed because of trauma, neglect, rejection, embrassement, etc we find a need to acknowledge a series of subsequent actions (choices) that have subsequently been solidified and reaffirmed by a lifestyle.
Events that were very real, leaving in their wake, distortions of one's personal self. If the giftings within God's body ministry are not functioning in this area, then there is no remedy apart from a person's private experience with calling upon the name of Jesus for a transformation by being able to receive a new 'mindedness'.
We have countless examples of this being vainly attempted with many other manifestations of sin's bondage (resentment, bitterness, lascivousness) . If a sincere attempt to get free is not found in their private world, what remedy will they find if they come to you, me, or any other member of the body of Christ?
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I agree that my examples of hobbies were weak considering they have nothing to do with relationships, but I believe they still have merit into the conversation when one considers the overall point, and that being that we all have 'attractions' in our life and that some aren't necessarily a choice, but a preference.
I'll give you a wonderful example. I don't like macaroni and cheese. I detest the stuff. Not because I haven't tried it, because I have, but when I was young, a traumatic thing happened that turned me off forever.
Let me first say that children's taste in foods change as they age. This isn't genetic, nor is it a choice, but it happens for us all in one way or another. I didn't eat broccoli or shrimp until I was in my late teens, for instance.
Anyway, my mom was a parent that believed in us trying something once, but if we didn't like it, she didn't force us to eat it. We had several meals with both mac and cheese and corn....my brother liked the former but to this day won't eat the latter.
There was a lady who babysat us often and her oldest daughter and I were best friends for years. However, she couldn't stand me (most adults couldn't) and she was quite mean (however, we are great friends today....I consider her my adopted mom).
She made dinner one day and mac and cheese was part of the meal. Well, I informed her (I think I was 9) that I didn't eat that nasty stuff, so a spoonful was put on my plate.
I ate everything but the mac and cheese, but being raised in an era where your plate was cleaned, they were upset, and another spoonful was put on my plate. I couldn't leave until I ate it.
Well, I protested and each time, another spoonful was put on my plate. An hour and a half later, I had a large plate of this nasty stuff to eat. There was no mercy.
So, not having any other choice.....I picked up my spoon. I remember not even chewing, just putting it in and swallowing it quick. I was gagging the entire time, but there was no way I was vomited because I had no doubt that they would make me eat it again!!
This was also the days before microwaves, so it was cold. I still remember that taste and feeling as I type this out. It's funny now, but it was traumatic at the time.
My adopted parents and I laugh about it now, and they admitted they were wrong for doing that, and couldn't imagine doing that to their grandchildren, but the damage was done all the same. I have never done that to my children either.
Anyway, things that happen in our childhood affect us in our adult lives, and this includes relationships with others, whether it's friends, authority, family, or lovers.
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