It may surprise some of you to know that I was never cool or popular in high school (then again, it may be no shock at all). In fact, in stark contrast to my current size and shape, in high school I was short, scrawny, and a bit awkward looking.
Looking back, it occurs to me that high school is not always the greatest place if you are a little different from the 'normal' of the school you attend. Clearly, I was not 'normal' in high school and as a result was the target of some quite significant bullying at times. As a result of this bullying I have developed a real compassion for others who are picked on and targeted for bullying in whatever form it may take.
As you might imagine, when I read the story about the Xavier College boy who was hospitalised after a muck up day rugbyesque game and how a friend of his claimed that he had been the target of systemic bullying at the school (read the article here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=651791). Later in the week I was shocked to read in the newspaper that children in prep class at primary school are reporting cases of being bullied.
Bullying should not be accepted as being a 'normal' part of growing up. Yes it happens, and yes, I am a much stronger person today because of the things I have experienced growing up, but this in no way makes it right or acceptable. As I read the bible I see a God who has a passion for those who are oppressed, harassed and bullied by the more powerful. I see God continually call His people to take a stand against the oppression and harassment of others and to promote a society where all are accepted and cared for.
In Amos we see the "Fat cows of Bashan" condemned for their oppression of the poor and the crushing of the needy, James 1:27 says: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God , the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (NRSV)" The Message puts it this way: "Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."
This week, I would encourage you to look out for those who are subjected to harassment or bullying and reach out to them with the grace and love that God has shown us.
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Staying dry at these events is very hard!!!
The Unofficial website of The Salvation Army's Western Victoria Divisional Youth, Childrens and Candidates Secretary. *Please note that this is not an official site of The Salvation Army and therefore all thoughts and comments posted on this site are the thoughts of individuals, not necessarily the movement as a whole!
About Me
- Joel Clifford
- Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- I'm a committed Christian and an officer in The Salvation Army. I lead the Salvo's chruch in Oakden SA and love to see people meet Jesus and find a life of abundance as they follow His desires for their life!
Summer Celebration Warrnambool
Staying dry at these events is very hard!!!
10 comments:
"Pure And Undefiled Religion"
"Pure religion and undefiled before GOD The Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world." (James 1:27)
Simply, all other religion is impure and defiled!
Faith will not create a system of religion.......
Hope is there would be those who take heed unto The Call of The Only True GOD to "Come Out of her, MY people"!
For they will "Come Out" of this wicked world(babylon) and it's systems of religion, into "the glorious Liberty of The Children of The Only True GOD".
They will no longer be of those who are destroying the earth(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures)" and perverting that which is Spirit(Light, Truth, Life, Love, Peace, Hope, Faith, Mercy, Grace, Miracles, etc.).
Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(religion) that is of this world, for "the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one" (1John5:19) indeed and Truth.......
Truth is never ending.......
thedestructionoftheearth.wordpress.com
Hey Elderchild,
Thanks for reading my post, but after having read your comment and your blog, I am still not exactly sure what your point is. I encourage open discussion of issues around faith, and would be happy to talk with you via email about some of the points you have raised, but I am not sure if you really got the gist of my post. My real aim was to demonstrate that God wants us to care for those around us, not to make their life harder.
As for the destruction of the earth, i believe that as the Kingdom of God draws nearer, we will beign to see restoration in our world, in peoples lives espically. And when Jesus returns I believe we will se a new heaven and a new earth where everything is fully restore to the way it should be.
appreciate your responding Joel.
sadly, it seems that religion has had it's way with you ;-(
as for communing via e-mail?
seems that would be a good thing to do, however, most of that which i have seen and heard has been posted at asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com and thedestructionoftheearth.wordpress.com
yet even as i keyed in the above it became clear that only a portion of that which i have "seen and heard" has been posted.
a good starting point for communing might be my believing The Plan is of The Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL, and that
The Messiah was a servant of The Only True GOD, HE WHO IS The GOD and Father of The Messiah and His Brethren.
my e-mail address can be found in my profile at the blogspot referred to above.
peace, in spite of the dis-ease(religion) that is of this world and it's systems of religion, for "the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one" indeed and Truth.......
Truth is never ending.......
Elderchild,
I find it interesting that you would think that religion has "had it's way with me". If you ask anyone who knows me well, you will find that I am one of the least religious people around. What i do have, however, is faith and a relationship with the living Jesus Christ.
Religion can be a tricky thing. Real Christianity is unlike all other religions in that it is about a relationship with God the creator, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus the Son and therough the power of the Holy Spirit.
As a rule religions are either fatalistic, or legalistic, and the deity they worship or serve is either aloof and uncaring or impersonal and judgemental. Christianity differs in that we believe that we follow a God who is interested in us, who cares for us and who allows us to choose for ourselves our eternal destiny, because we are judged not by some big book of rules and requirements we can never hope to fulfill, but by grace.
My faith in Jesus Christ recognises Him as part of the triune God, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory. I believe that Jesus is the way, and that way is one of truth and life, a life of abundance, a life of more than we could ever hope or imagine. And while this does not mean life will always be easy, it will be the best life we could have.
Joel
Once again:
"religion" has had it's way with you ;-(
"Pure religion and undefiled before GOD The Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world." (James 1:27)
Simply, all other religion is impure and defiled!
Faith will not create a system of religion.......
Truth is never ending.......
Hi Elderchild,
I am not sure what your last comment means. How exactly has religion had its way with me? I am interested in hearing your thoughts, but must admit that I find your comments a little confusing.
I am not sure, just quoting passages of scripture is actually an argument of any sort, scripture can and has been used to justify, rationalise and permit any number of different things and they weren't all what God would have wanted I am sure.
I agree with you that faith does not create a system of religion, and I am not sure that it should, as I said earlier religions tend to be either fatalistic, in that there is nothing we ourselves can do to receive salvation, or religion is legalistic, in that the only way to acheive salvation is to follow a complicated set of rules and rituals to earn salvation.
The last time i read my bible, the only prerequsite I could find for salvation was the belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah/Saviour. Check out John 3: 16 and Romans 10: 9 - 13. The continuation of a state of salvation depends upon continued faith and obedience to Jesus Christ. This obedience extend to following what he taught whilst here on earth, to visit the poor, sick, imprisoned, orphaned; to love God with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength and to love others as we love ourselves. Faith in Christ and a relationship with Him will drive us towards this, and religousity will never be an issue where love and grace are applied.
"The Only True GOD is not a man, that HE should lie; neither the son of man, that HE should repent: has HE said, and shall HE not do it? or has HE has spoken, and shall HE not make it good?"
you testify, "i serve the man with the plan".
And WHO gaven "the man" the plan?
John The Baptist had testified, "He(The Messiah) Whom The Only True GOD(Great Spirit) has sent speaks The Words of GOD: for GOD does not give The Spirit by measure unto Him." (John 3:34)
The Messiah testified, "I have greater witness than that of John: for The Works which The Father(Great Spirit, GOD,Creator,,) has given me to finish, are the same Works that I do, and they bear witness of Me, that The Father has sent Me." (John 5:36)
The Messiah also testified, "I have not spoken of Myself; but The Father WHO sent Me, HE gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and how I should speak." (John 12:49)"
And The Messiah, the spokesman for "Our Father(Great Spirit, GOD, Creator,,)" bore witness to "A Simple and Spiritual Life" and revealed that a man's sufficiency is of Creation, of The Creator!
"Do not lay up treasures for yourselves upon earth, for that is what moth and rust can corrupt, and where thieves can break through and steal: But lay up treasures for yourselves in Heaven, where neither moth or rust can corrupt, and where thieves can not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve both The Only True GOD and money.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not The Life more than meat, and the body than clothes?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why do you take thought for clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these flowers. Wherefore, if The Only True GOD so clothes the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall HE not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, how shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the worldly seek) For your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of GOD, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Every day has evils enough of it's own." (Matthew 6:19-34)
Simply, sad for all those who believe in "self-sufficiency" ;-(
Yet, i believe that is just a term that has been used in ignorance by those who in Truth are living The Life that bears witness to Creation sufficiency.
Now The Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL, HE promised to "fulfill all the needs of HIS Children richly, through HIS Son The Messiah"!
The Life is sustained by Our Father(Creator), in Creation as we now experience it, through The Spirit.
Simply, Creation is sufficient!
Once again, The Messiah testified, "I have not spoken of Myself; but The Father(Great Spirit, GOD, Creator,,) WHO sent Me, HE gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and how I should speak." (John 12:49)"
"Don't you believe that I am in The Father, and The Father in Me? The Words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but The Father WHO dwells in Me, HE does The Works." (John 14:10)
"He that loves Me not, does not keep My sayings: and The Word which you hear is not Mine, but The Father's, HE WHO sent Me." (John 14:24)"
I have manifested YOUR Name unto the men WHO YOU gave Me out of the world: YOUR's they were, and YOU gave them to Me; and they have kept YOUR Word." (John 17:6)"
Then answered The Messiah and said unto them, Truly, Truly, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but that which He has seen The Father do: for whatever things The Father does, those things The Son also does." (John 5:19)"
I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but The Will of The Father WHO has sent Me." (John 5:30)
And The Testimonies bear witness to The Messiah being "a servant" of "The ONLY TRUE GOD". (Isaiah 42:1)
Hope is, there will be those reading this who will no longer deny and defy their Creator(Father), for The Creator, The Only True GOD(Great Spirit) and Father of All, HE knows what is best for HIS Creation.
So There Is Hope!
For Miracles do happen!
Hope is there may be those who experience The Miracle that is "receiving a love of The Truth", for they will "Come Out" from among those who are destroying and perverting Creation(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures, Light, Truth, Life, Love, Peace, Hope, Faith, Miracles, .etc.)
Those who "Come Out" will desire but "A Simple and Spiritual Life", and they no longer will be of those The Creator is going to "destroy because they are destroying the earth(HIS Creation)". (Revelations 11:18c)
And they will have Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this wicked world and it's systems of religion, for "The WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one"(1John5:19) indeed and Truth......
Truth is never ending....... (thedestructionoftheearth.wordpress.com)
Elderchild,
I see you are still insisting on quoting large portions of the Bible without making much of an argument of your own. While I believe the Bible, and by extension God, speaks for itself, I do not think that the Bible will speak for us on its own. We need to add our own words to formulate an argument.
From your posts I can see that we both agree and disagree on some points.
First, I agree with you that humanity’s self-sufficiency is inadequate when it comes to salvation, but I disagree that nature is sufficient for salvation.
The passage you quote does not speak of salvation to me, but of provision. This passage seems to be telling us to not worry about things we need because God will provide that which we need when we need it. Our primary focus should be on seeking God and His Kingdom and living in a way that will bring His Kingdom to earth now, as soon as possible.
I believe that the only way to be saved is to confess Jesus is Lord with your mouth and believe it with your heart (see Romans 10:9) becuase God loved the world so much that He gave His Son Jesus so that ANYONE who choses to belive in Him will not die, but have eternal life, not that Jesus was sent to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him (see John 3:16-17). Nothing in creation is sufficient to achieve salvation otherwise.
This brings me to my next point, we seem to disagree on the divinity of Jesus. You quote the gospel of John as showing Jesus as a messenger of God, but not God, which from those verses it seems to indicate, but you have removed them from their context. At the very beginning of the gospel of John it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Later on the gospel of John says: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a fathers son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Here John explains that Jesus is God and has been with God since the dawn of creation, and goes on to explain that Jesus, who is God, came to earth as a human to reveal the grace and truth of God, and to make an atoning sacrifice to restore us to relationship with our creator, that we might fulfil the purpose of our creation, to be in relationship with Him.
Elderchild, I respect that you have different points of view on these topics to myself, and am indeed open to dialogue, but I want to hear more from you, not just passages quoted out of the bible.
I would be interested in hearing where you come from, what formulates your theology and beliefs.
God Bless,
Joel
Sadly, educational processes, both secular and religious, have had their way with you ;-(
Simply, "THY Kingdom" HAS "Come" indeed and Truth!
As for the "imag"ined english name that the catholic/christians gave to one head of their three-headed pagan 'god' some 1400 years after "The Messiah was raised from among the dead"?
"jesus" is but the transliteration of the catholic latin "iesus" ;-(
"Let There Be Light"
"In The Beginning" The Creator(Our Father) said,
"Let There Be Light, and There Was Light"
"LIGHT Begets Light!"
"The Beginning of The Creation of GOD!"
And the revelation that The Messiah received of
The Creator and gave unto the apostle John bore
witness to The Truth that The Messiah, was
"The Beginning of the Creation of GOD(Our
Father, Creator of ALL)"! (Rev 1:1, 3:14)
And The Messiah bore witness to His Brethren
when He testified, "My GOD is your GOD and My
Father(Creator) is your Father(Creator)."(Jn 20:17)
The Messiah testified "I have sent My angel to
you with this testimony for the assemblies. I am
the root and the offspring of David. I am the bright,
Morning Star(Light)"! (Rev 22:16) ) Peter testified
"We have the more sure word of prophecy; and
you do well to take heed, as to a lamp shining in a
dark place, until the day dawns, and The Morning
Star(Light) arises in your hearts."(2Pt 1:19) "But
you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, HIS own special people, that you
may proclaim the praises of HIM who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous Light."(1Pt2:9)
And the evening(darkness) and The Morning
(Light) was the First Day." (Gen 1:5)
"Let There Be Light"!
"The Beginning of The Creation of GOD"!
It is very important to both know and experience
The Messiah as He Is, Was and always Will Be,
and also to know the "glory He had with Our
Father" before He was born in "the likeness of
sinful flesh". (John 17:5, Rom 8:3) For what The
Messiah Was and Is, Is that which He will always
Will Be."The Only Begotten Son" of "Our Father"!
First, let me simply state that I do not believe the
"catholic" and "christian" theo'ry'logical doctrines
concerning "The Only True GOD, Father ALL". For
they "image"ine a three-headed "god" they call
their "trinity", or they declare their "christ" to be
their "god and father", or they believe that The
Messiah was but an exalted messenger(angel)
or prophet.
John The Baptist testified, "And I saw, and bare
record that The Messiah is the Son of GOD(Our
Father)."(John 1:34) Peter testified, "You are The
Messiah, The Son of The Living GOD(Father of
ALL)"!(Matt 16:16) And the Ethiopian eunuch
testified, "I believe that The Messiah is The Son
of GOD(Our Father)". (Acts 8:37) "Seeing then
that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the Heavens, The Messiah, The Son of
GOD(Our Father), let us hold fast our profession."
(Heb 4:14) "These things are written so that you
might believe that The Messiah is The Son of GOD
(Our Father)". (John 20:31) The Messiah testified
that He was "The Son of GOD", and that His GOD
was "The Only True GOD(Father of ALL)".
(John 10:36,17:3)
And The Messiah also testified that He was the
"Son of man" and "The Light of the world".
(Matt 26:64, John 8:12)
It is needful to believe that The Messiah Was, Is
and always Will Be "The Son of The Living GOD",
and that there is but "One GOD, HE WHO is
Father of ALL". (Mat 16:16, Eph 4:6) The Messiah
bore witness to His Brethren when He testified
after being "raised from among the dead", "My GOD
is your GOD and My Father(Creator) is your Father
(Creator)" (John 20:17)
Is The Messiah's GOD and Father your GOD
and Father?
Who are The Brethren of The Messiah?
"Let There Be Light"
Once again, It is very important to both know and
experience The Messiah as He Was, Is and always
Will Be. The Messiah simply testified in John 17:5
"And now O Father, glorify Me with YOUR own self
with the glory that I had with YOU before the world
began".
Prior to that testimony The Messiah had testified,
"Yet a little while is The Light with you. Walk while
you have The Light, lest darkness comes upon
you: for he that walks in darkness does not know
where he goes. While you have Light, believe in
The Light, that you may be the children of Light."
(John 12:35-36)
And the apostle John testified: "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and
The Word was GOD. (John did not testify that
The Word is GOD)The same was in the beginning
with GOD. All things were made by Him, and
without Him was not any thing made that was
made. In Him was Life; and The Life was The
Light of men. And The Light shined in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not. There
was a man sent from GOD, whose name was
John. The same came for a witness, to bear
witness of The Light, that all men through Him
might believe. He(John the baptist) was not that
Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the True Light, which enlightens every
man that comes into the world. He(The Messiah)
was in the world, and the world was made by
Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto
His own, and His own received Him not. But as
many as received Him, to them He gave power
to become the sons of GOD, even to them that
believe on His name: Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of "The Only True GOD, Father of
ALL"." (John 1:1-13)
It is needful to realize that The Messiah testified
of "The Only True GOD" in John 17:3, and so it is
that The GOD and Father of The Messiah IS,
WAS and always WILL BE "The Only True GOD".
"The Only True GOD" is "Father of ALL".
And "The Father of ALL" is "Our Father", HE WHO
IS "The Only True GOD" and Father of The Messiah
and His Brethren.
And the apostle John testified in John 3:17-21:
"For Our Father sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world; but that the world through
Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is
not condemned: but he that believes not is
condemned already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD(Our
Father). And this is the condemnation, that Light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that does evil hates The Light,
neither comes to The Light, lest his deeds should
be reproved. But he that does Truth comes to The
Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that
they are wrought in GOD(Our Father)."
In John 12:34 the people asked, "Who is this Son
of man? Then in John 12:35-36, "The Messiah said
unto them, yet a little while is The Light with you.
Walk while you have The Light, lest darkness come
upon you: for he that walks in darkness does not
know where he goes. While you have Light, believe
in The Light, that you may be the children of Light.
The Messiah spoke these things, and departed,
and hid Himself from them."
Simply, "In The Beginning" The Only True GOD
spoke The Word, "Let There Be Light", "And there
was Light"! "And there was evening(darkness) and
there was morning (Light), The First Day". (Gen 1:5)
Certainly such "Light" was not "natural" light, for
"natural" light, the sun, moon, and stars were not
created until the "fourth day". (Gen 1:14-19)
"In the beginning", "The First Day", The Father of
All created "The Light", without which Creation and
Life, as we now know and experience it, could not
have been.
The First Day, "The Light", The Messiah, "The
beginning of the Creation of GOD(HE WHO is
The Only True GOD and Father of ALL)"!
(Gen 1:3, Rev 3:14, John 17:3, Eph 4:6)
And "The Only True GOD" created all "things" by,
through, and for "The Light", The Messiah, "The
Son of The Living GOD" and "Son of man".
(Col 1:15, Eph 3:9, Mat 16:16, Mat 12:32)
LIGHT begets Light!
And "The True Light which enlightens every man
coming into the world", was born as a child
destined to be The Messiah. (John 1:9, Mat 1:21)
The Messiah, "The Light of the world".
(John 8:12, 9:5)
The Messiah, "The firstborn of every creature
(all creation)". (Col 1:15)
The Messiah, "Begotten of Our Father",
"The firstborn among many Brethren".
(Heb 1:5) (Ps 2:7) (Rom 8:29)
The Messiah, "A servant of The Only True GOD
(Father of ALL)". (Isa 42:1-7)
The Messiah, "The Lamb of GOD".
(John 1:29,36)
The Messiah, "The firstborn from among the dead".
(Col 1:18)
Once again: "In The Beginning" Our Father, "The
Only True GOD" spoke: "Let there be Light, and
there was Light"! The Messiah, "The Beginning of
the Creation of GOD", "the firstborn of every
creature(all creation)". (Gen 1:3, John 17:3,
Rev 3:14, Col 1:15)
Thanks Be To "Our Father"!
The Messiah, The Creation of "The Only True
GOD, Father of ALL"! (Rev 3:14)
The Messiah, "made so much better than the
angels"! (Heb 1:4)
The Messiah, "The Light of the world"!
(John 8:12, 9:5)
"The Lamb of GOD", "The Light of The New
Heavenly Jerusalem"! (Rev 21:22-23)
Paul experienced "The Light " on the road to
Damascus. "And it came to pass, that, as I
made my journey, and came near unto
Damascus about noontime, suddenly a great
Light from Heaven shone round about me.
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice
saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute Me? And I answered, "Who are
You, Master"? And He said unto me, I am
Yehowshuwa'(Yeshua, Jeshua) of Nazareth,
Whom you persecute. And they that were
with me saw The Light, and were afraid; but
they did not hear the voice of Him that spoke
to me. And I said, "What shall I do, Master"?
And He said unto me, arise and go into
Damascus, and there you shall be told all
things which are appointed for you to do.
And when I could not see for the glory of
that Light, I was led by the hand into
Damascus." (Acts 22:6-11)
Paul also testified, "At midday I saw in the
way a Light from Heaven, ABOVE THE
BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN, shining round
about me and those who journeyed with me.
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I
heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying
in the HEBREW tongue, Saul, Saul, why do
you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick
against the pricks." (The Messiah could not
have told Paul, "I am jesus" for He spoke in
the "HEBREW tongue") (Acts 26:13-14)
Paul saw "The Light" that was The Messiah
and he was blinded(naturally, not Spiritually)
for a time. Now when The Messiah was in
the "likeness of sinful flesh", born as "the
Son of man", He could only reflect "The
Light", liken unto the moon which but reflects
the light of the natural sun.
"Let There Be Light"
The Messiah, "The Light of the world"!
And consider the natural light provided by the
sun, which was Created on the fourth day.
Does not the natural light of the sun reveal
outwardly, all the earthly, natural things?
Consider what happens when that which you
thought was clean is exposed to the light of
the sun? Is not the least outward particle of
uncleanness readily seen in the light of the
sun? And so it is with "The Light" that is The
Messiah. For His Life, "The Life", reveals
and exposes all the uncleanness in "our"
life, the life that is of "our" own creation,
which is the "I(ego, id)" in all of us, the
product of "our" own vain "imag"inations!
So it needs be that "The Light" penetrates
deeply, even into the innermost recesses
of the heart, "rightly dividing the soul and
spirit", exposing all the darkness that the
"I" in all of us did not want to "see"!
Yet for such a cleansing to begin one must
"experience The Messiah(The Light) and
The Power that raised Him from among the
dead"!(Php 3:10) Oh, there are many who
know of a "messiah", yet who has
experienced "The Light"? For "The Light"
was "The Beginning of Creation" both the
old, which was natural and earthly and The
New, which is of The Spirit and Heavenly.
Those who "love this world and it's things"
yet desire that which "decayed, waxed
old and vanished away" (Heb 8:13) They
are of those "whose 'god' is their belly,
and whose glory is in their shame, for
they mind earthly things". (Phlp 3:19)
Sadly, those who "love this world and it's
things" yet love darkness more than The
Light and they will abide in the darkness
they loved forever ;-( (1Jn2:15,Jn3:19-20)
Sadder yet, systems of religion that are of
this world, such as "catholicism", "christianity",
"judaism", "islam", etc., have so perverted
The Testimonies, that today, as in the two
thousand or so, years gone by, "The Way
of Truth is evil spoken of"! All because of
the theo'ry'logical, heretical doctrines that
are of men! And especially those
theo'ry'logical doctrines which seek to
define "The Only True GOD, Father of All".
(2Peter 2:1-2)
All such doctrines are but the product of
mankind's "imag"ination and mankind's
"imag"ination is destroying and perverting
Creation(land, air, water, creatures, Light,
Truth, Love, Peace, Joy, Hope, .etc.)
Yes, sadly ;-( Creation is being destroyed
by self-willed men who could care less
about that which is of The Truth(What Is,
Was, and always Will Be), and care even
less about those things which they can
not comprehend apart from their
"natural" senses and mental processes ;-(
And The Truth testifies, The Creator "will
destroy those who destroy the earth(HIS
Creation)"(Rev 11:18).
Sadly, in this wicked world, those who
seek profit will naturally overcome those
who do not ;-(
Yet, There Is Hope!
For The Life is of The Spirit!
And Miracles do happen!
And Faith rejoices against profit(greed)
and theo'ry'logy(logic)!
Hope is there would be those who experience
The Miracle that is receiving "a love of The
Truth" for they will "see" "The Light".
(2Thes 2:10, John 8:12, 9:5)
And they will receive peace, in spite of the
dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world, for
they will clearly "see" that "The WHOLE
world is under the control of the evil one".
(1John 5:19) And they will clearly "see"
things as they are and not as "imag"inative,
world-loving humans would have others
believe them to be, for they will "see" The
Light that is The Messiah....... francisco
Elderchild,
It seems as though we may have to agree to disagree on this topic. I have read your post and again you use much scripture to reinforce your point, although I could use much of that to make my own point also.
You accuse me of being a victim to educational processes, something I cannot deny, I have been educated and taught, both in secular schools, and in religious institutions. I have also learnt much from reading, life experience and personal study. The reality is that we are all products of what we have been taught, you included. It is impossible to claim to be completely neutral on a topic as our culture influences much of what we perceive (all sensation is filtered through perception after all). The culture of Jesus’ time is so far removed from our own that we must be careful not to filter all of the bible through our own culture and remove it from it’s original context, by doing this we lose much of the depth of meaning.
As for our ongoing debate about the deity/divinity of Jesus, you use scripture to make your point, but much of that scripture has been interpreted by your educational processes, and I can use many of those same scriptures to make my own point. The use of the term Son of God, is not meant to mean a biological relationship between Jesus and God the Father. This was understood by the Jewish readers at the time the bible was written, in the culture of the day, this use of Sonship was used to indicate that jesus was of the same essence or substance of God. The purpose of calling Jesus the Son of God was to demonstrate the close association between Jesus and God, i.e. that they are one.
As for your point about John not saying the Word (Jesus) is God, by saying that the Word was God; this is more of a matter of tense than accuracy. John is talking about the past, as in that Jesus was with God at the beginning and that Jesus was God at the beginning. It would grammatically incorrect to say that Jesus is God at the beginning.
In the Old testament the Tetragrammaton YHWH was used to spell the name of God, that is Yahweh. In modern English texts the Tetragrammaton is rendered LORD. I do not believe that it is coincidental that Jesus is referred to as Lord.
In fact, the creedal statement “Jesus is Lord” is the earliest creedal statement in all of the New Testament. Peter refers many times throughout the gospels to Jesus as his Lord, Thomas declares, indeed testifies; “My Lord and my God.” (Jn. 20:28) upon seeing Jesus after His resurrection.
This theme of Jesus’ divinity/deity is continued in the epistles in the New Testament. Romans 10: 9 I have already listed, you used Colossians 1: 15 to make your point about Jesus being created, and yet I could do the same to prove Jesus’ divinity; Jesus is the image of the invisible God, this is continues in Colossians 1: 19 “For in him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” This points us toward a man who while he was fully human, was also fully God as well. Colossians 2: 9 – 10 tells us of Jesus; “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.” This shows us that God took human form, that Jesus was fully God while still fully man.
I by no means expect to convince you to change your beliefs on this matter, it seems to me that you hold your beliefs very firmly and are convinced of them, as I am mine. I do not see any further point in discussing this subject, as I do not expect either one of us to change our mind. Over the next few days I will be travelling for work purposes, and will not be able to respond to comments on this site, as a result I am asking that if you wish to continue this dialogue that you email me at joeljclifford@hotmail.com and I will attempt to respond to your reply as soon as I can. Because I cannot respond here, any more comments on this post will be deleted from this site, and no more discussion will be entered into this topic on this site at this time. I acknowledge that you may think this unfair, and perhaps it is, but it is my blog so I get the last say.
God bless,
Joel
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