Are you a Samaritan?

“How do you read what is in the law?” That is my own paraphrase. Indeed, how do we read what we read? Not everyone gets the same thing out of reading the same thing – even though the words are all there before us in black and white. They are the same for us as they are for others – exactly the same. So why don't we get the same thing?

This parable comes to us from Luke 10:26-37. Some of us read from strength; some of us read from weakness. Some of us read from freedom while others read through bars and chains. We get different things, not because the law, or the words are different, but because we are different.

So, we sit in conversation, and compare our different takes on what we think we know. Sometimes a consensus affords a greater understanding to all involved. At other times, one knows more, and teaches the rest of us. Christ was the teacher in this parable. He taught the lawyer what we may only suppose the lawyer should have already known.

The lawyer merely recites the law as it was given. No lawyer was required for that, as any one who attended the Sabbath readings was bound to remember the words. Like so many of us in our age, the lawyer presumed the meaning automatically came with the words. He said, “Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Most of us have little inclination to struggle past the face value, whereas meaning is actually hard won. It is earned through work. But, who really works at definition? We don't ever trouble ourselves with that, because it is in a dictionary somewhere. The sad thing is, we go on using our words as 'meaning-included', yet, we haven't ever consulted the dictionary.

So Jesus tells him, “This do, and thou shalt live.” Exactly here is where one of two things must occur. Either there must be an exchange leading to a consensus, or one must teach while the others learn. It is at this point where the work of definition and meaning must commence.

The original question was “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus answered, 'do the law and you will live.' But here's the ticker – the lawyer wasn't asking for information he, or any other, had missed in the Sabbath readings, he was trying to be clever. He was tempting Jesus.

The lawyer recited words as 'meaning-included', but it was Christ who offered definition. This story is recorded for the ages. It remains before us in black and white, but it is only a door that may be opened by those willing to work for it. This is the point where we are given such a privilege.

This yoke is easy, and this burden is light, for we only have to look up the meaning that Christ gave us. We find it in John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

We have the meaning of life before us in black and white. The lawyer, continuing his ruse, dismissed the opportunity we just availed ourselves of. He was not truly interested in meaning. He asked, “Who is my neighbor?”

So Christ begins the parable of the good Samaritan. As we know, a parable will achieve two simultaneous results. It will offer meaning and definition to those willing to work for it, and it will deny meaning and definition to those who dismiss the opportunity.

The elements of the parable are these: A man robbed, wounded, and left for dead.

A man ignored and shunned by the privileged. A man helped by a commoner, a working man, a man held in low esteem – a Samaritan.

At the end of the parable, Christ asked the lawyer, 'Who was the neighbor?' Now the lawyer was only there to trip Jesus in a flurry of legalisms, but his word games backfired. It was the lawyer who got tripped. He answered, 'The one that showed mercy.'

Lesson learned. Here is the spiritual approach to truth, definition, and meaning. While we are concerned with who our neighbor is, Christ teaches us to 'Go and be the neighbor.'

Judgment

An excerpt from my ongoing study in "Meaning"

In this next parable, Christ presents 'a creditor with two debtors'. It is found in Luke 7:41-43. In this parable, Christ touches upon our responsibility as children of God. To be like God, which is to be like the son of God, one must employ the same mind set, the same nature, the same predilection of character.

Is this a parable about forgiveness? In a way, yes it is – but that is really too simple for such a parable. Everyone already practiced a form of forgiveness: it was a matter of Jewish law. Even when it was shallow and meaningless, it was still a matter of legal implementation.

Had this parable been about forgiveness, one debtor would have sufficed to tell the story. The forgiveness, as we see plainly in the text, was a given: “frankly forgave them both”. We see in the choice of wording (frankly, which means honestly or candidly) that this particular act was the genuine article rather than mere practice.

Both debtors received an equal forgiveness, even though their debts, 500 as opposed to 50 pence, was anything but equal. In consideration of the amounts, we note two facts: pence was not that big of a deal to the creditor, that was the basic unit, and the word from which we get our modern 'penny'. At the same time, if one could not pay 50 cents and the other could not pay 5 dollars, admittedly, they were poorer than dirt.

Simon was asked to determine one and only one salient point: of the two forgiven debtors, “which will love him (the forgiving creditor) most”? This is the same point that all of us must also determine. It is a simple test, and one with an obvious answer. Simon got the point. Will you?

An earlier iteration was that Christ touches upon our responsibility as children of God, for to be like God, or to be like Christ, we must employ the same mind set, the same nature, the same predilection of character. We are called upon to employ judgment, a thing we do daily in a multitude of cases. We judge: that is how we know, how we navigate. Sadly, many of our judgments are baseless opinions –and that touches upon the meaning of this parable.

We are called upon to achieve a measure of spiritual correctness, or righteousness. If we can manage that, then we may be sure we are on the same page with Simon when Christ affirms “Thou hast rightly judged”.

Imagine

This week, I offer only this short opinion piece. More precisely, it is the beginning of an opinion. Perhaps you will help me build upon it.

Imagine a nation without borders. Imagine no border patrol, but instead, a people patrol. Why not put in place a system that permits and encourages a better life wherever they may find themselves, or wherever they may choose to go? Let that system no longer guard borders, but values and standards.

This is my thought. Let America and Mexico join as one, each in full control of their separate identities, yet working in harmony for the good of the people. Who would be denied access? Gangs, criminals, and terrorists would find in our new union a border impossible to breach. Could you live in such a nation? Would you be proud to be a citizen?

The new union would be such an institution that would serve the needs of the people; citizens of the new union would be such as treat each other with respect and compassion. Of course, standards would have to be created, policies set in place. To move to a new place, one would necessarily have to obligate oneself to the standards of that region.

Governments could no longer claim to be powers or authorities, for they exist merely to serve the will of the people. Police and military, under the standards elected by the people, would hold themselves accountable to the citizenry of the new union – for, after all, they are its citizens, too.

Canada would hear of the new union, and of course, they would want to join in. What might we call a citizen of the new union? Canamexicans? Mexcamericans? Amexadians? Regardless, it would be a society of standards. We might say, when in Canada, do as the Canadians do – or, when in America, or when in Mexico. The appropriate standards would insure that a citizen has rights equal to his obligations.

Growing together

We're looking for meaning. Read correctly, the Bible offers just that. The parables of Christ are two-fold: on the one hand they are like a key that gets us through a door we want to open; on the other hand they are like the door that bars entrance to all but those who have the key.

Isn't it cool how talking about something common and ordinary can either enlighten some people as to meaning, or else from others keep it hidden? Christ explained meaning through the common place. “So is the kingdom of God.”

Christ could take a dumb farmer, and with him explain the mysteries of the universe. Let us take the clue: a farmer represents the man who is working toward a goal, meaning-of-life-wise, a seeker of truth – someone with a plan.

Like the farmer, any of us may be “a man (who) casts his seed into the ground.” We may “sleep and rise night and day,” maintaining our quest with all diligence. Yet, to spite all of our most heroic efforts, what we are after is a thing that pretty much takes care of itself: “the seed should spring and grow,” and we are left to confess our ignorance: “he knoweth not how.”

Even in our modern age of information, there are farmers who are no experts in the botanical sciences. Some of them are as dumb as they come, but they can plant a field and reap the harvest. Their labors, even in their ignorance, will lead them to the purpose and meaning of their profession.

One of the complaints lodged against the faithful is that they do not have the science, or the facts and figures, on their side. I say, that is precisely the hopeful message found in the parables of Christ. One need not be an expert seeker of truth to find truth. I was fluent in no particular language when I began to speak. As we know through faith, the thousand mile journey of a farmer begins and ends with a single step. To find meaning, to achieve purpose, we need only be the farmer.

“The earth brings forth fruit of herself, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” We need only take it a step at a time. When everything falls into place, we reach out and seize truth, meaning, purpose – “because the harvest is come.”

Meaning

Introduction

One of my pet peeves is that people don't seem especially interested in the meaning of things. Ask anyone for a definition of the word love, and what you are most likely to get is: “love is like . . .” or “it's that feeling you get when . . .”.

Obviously, love is an issue central to most, but few will offer up an intelligible definition, if indeed, they know how to define, rather than explain. In an attempt to derive a more personal definition of the word, some years back, I went to the dictionary with an off-the-wall plan.

The plan involved a simple determination on my part, namely: to decide what seemed to be the key word within the definition. The subsequent steps were as follow: look up the definition of the key word, and then determine the key word of that definition. Many would have found the whole affair tedious and boring, but I persevered.

In the end, I completed a quite lengthy circuit that ended with the key word: 'love'. That is not to say that I ever achieved that personal definition I sought, but I did come away with a broader sense of the word. Ask another for that, or ask yourself. Would you be like the preacher faced with an unresponsive audience?

The preacher says 'love' – no 'amen' in return, only silence. Obviously, he had not made the word clear; he had not gotten across. So he takes a deep breath, and squeezes the word above the heads of his crowd like a trail of toothpaste: “LoooOoOvvVVeee!!!” The word comes out twisted and forced, as if that might somehow define the concept he wants to put forth. Silence. Blank faces. Now the preacher must pull out all the stops. The word booms forth like a canon shot, complete with echo, and poignant silence.

“LOVE!!!” (love, love, love) (shhhh) “Can I get an Amen?!” This you get, but no definition. Over the years, I have felt an increasing need for definition as a starting point of communication, and understanding. What if you and I were having a discussion that hinged on the definition of the word 'love'? Would we even be on the same page? I might have worked out that love is actually something more concrete than a warm fuzzy feeling, but you might still subscribe to the warm and fuzzy.

I might say: “stoic” or “austere” and you might only hear: “warm” or “fuzzy”. Now, I am not so much attempting to harp on that one word, or to assume a superior stance by comparison, but I do maintain the need for definition. That is the shape of things, after all, without the which we are left with nothing more than flab and fluff.

I have attempted, in my writings, to be more concise, and to strive toward an actual definition of the concepts I put forth. This writing finds me, once more, struggling with the issues of definition and effective communication. I used the word love as a lead in, as an example, but I have done no more than touch lightly upon it. Perhaps, I may come back to it. But, I wish to touch first on the broader implications.

We employ so many common expressions in our conversations, so many concepts that, at least to me, we seem to accept in an all too cavalier manner, as if none of it really matters. I see the possibility that it really does matter, and I hope there is someone somewhere who feels the same way. Let us strike up a conversation, and determine definitions together. Let us gather all our lambs into the pen and see which are mottled, ringstraked, or white.

One

While I began this writing with the word love, as an example, what actually prompted this was a curiosity for a Biblical expression used by Jesus, and that is what I would like to begin with in earnest. This is the expression: “straight and narrow”.

What is “straight and narrow”? Let's examine the full quote. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” That is found in Matthew 7:13-14.

An inspection of the variant spelling is called for. We normally compare the spelling of 'straight', which is used elsewhere in scripture, and the spelling of 'strait', as used in this particular passage, only to conclude that it is just more of that unintelligible King James stuff. Our response to such things is to immediately move on. Yet, there is something about the spelling of strait that should cause us to do a double-take.

I went to Wikipedia for clarification, as I often do. What I discovered surprised me. A strait is a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water, and that separates two bodies of earth. Another word for strait is 'passage'. I came away with three concomitant concepts: 'water', 'connection', and 'passage'.

It may be that the gate we are urged to enter has much to do with water. At this point, it may be an easy step to include the washing rituals of the early temple as well as the baptism ritual of Christianity. Water may thus be easily seen as the connection that joins two larger bodies. Here, we must think of the water of life connecting life to life.

Another point of interest, here, is the alternate application of the word 'passage'. It is possible that the gate through which we may enter is, in actuality, a Biblical passage, perhaps one concerning ritual washing, or baptism.

Such matters require due inspection. Again – permit me to return later to this topic in particular. I think the direction of this writing demands a broader scope, one that includes the many expressions and concepts of scripture we normally move past without much thought. Words, terms, and expressions, that cry out for definition, must be gathered, sorted, and approached topically.

But then, how would one ultimately derive a definition? Should common usage of a word or expression be settled upon, one must surely agree that 'common usage' is a fleeting sprite. It changes from age to age. Indeed, within my own lifetime, I have seen 'common usage' vary. The word 'gay' used to mean 'happy' – but sub-cultural connotations have altered that. Likewise, the word 'ain't' – formerly resisted tooth and nail – has been included into the lexicon of common use.

Should Biblical definition hold sway, modern definition might suffer loss. Our Bible puts forth the concept that we should not allow a witch to live. That was a standard that continued into the American colonies, where, in Salem Massachusetts, witches were burned and hung. We do no define witches as worthy of death in our modern day – application of law has altered the meaning in this case.

On the other hand, modern definition would negate much of what we hold dear as spiritual truth. Modern tendencies hold more with physical facts and figures that may be measured – more with affections and affectations that would villainize spiritual standards as harsh and cruel. Modern definition alone would be destructive by way of its non-confrontational, live-and-let-live attitudes.

As to the thoughts of our hearts, we must let reason have its way. Reason is a spiritual function that is not limited to 'modern' or 'Biblical' or 'common use'. Reason rises above them all, and includes what is good and right from each. We are simply not accustomed to such a synthesis, but whoever approaches an accurate definition must remain respectfully open-minded to each source and application.

I turn to the reader for suggestions. Is there a particular expression in the Bible that begs clarification? Is there a word or term that is overworked without due definition? Please make as many suggestions as you feel comfortable making. Thanks.   

The small book of Angels

We may speak of Christ being subject to God, but in what sense do we mean that? Many think of Christ as a person who obeys another person. Others view Christ as that other person. That other person is interpreted by the world as a singular authority who says “Jump!” - and that is what you had better do, or else. However, that interpretation is based on the 'Sky Daddy' concept - God as a tyrannical, white-bearded father figure.

God is no figure at all. Christ, who will be subject to him, informed us that God is a spirit. God, the most high among the ascended, the core and center, has no body. He does not occupy space. Around him, and radiating from him, are mind-sets, and bodies. You may take the analogy of early men gathered around and tending a flame so that it does not go out.

God himself, being spirit, never once spoke to man or appeared to him in any physical manner, but always used angels - beings filled with the mind of God, and tending, in a manner of speaking, the core flame.

The burning bush, the cloud and fire in the wilderness march, both invisible and non-humanoid angels, as well as humanoid angels are all vehicles of the will and intent of the mind of God. Angels are a society of 'flame-keepers'.

Christ may be called a prince, but so is Michael - that is their elite rank. Highest of all the princes is the King, Jesus Christ. He is King of all on that high plane, and also King of all below. As angels progress upward, they draw from mankind to fill their ranks.

The physical nature of angels may also continue to evolve, and that progress may end at the throne – where a more or less physical ascendant finally merges with the intangible, but powerful and pervasive center of all being. A new Jesus may step forward from the rank of Michaels, and a lesser but promising angel will fill his shoes. At the bottom of the ladder of angels, man looks up hopefully.

Angels, the ultimate secret society, have an important mission. That is that every being, not just Jesus and the society of princes, but every last one of us from the most promising right down to you and me, may be thoroughly saturated, filled, and in subjection to the mind of God.

That God may be all in all.

Against the separation of Church and State

I have heard many sermons about the tribulation; heard many differing opinions regarding the number ‘666'; have understood multiple scenarios concerning the suffering of the righteous meek at the hands of those in power who espouse their own, unobstructed, version of the separation of church and state. I must admit that the contemporary church deserves every bit of it, though I would not see it, if they, to the least individual, are too ignorant about, or too unwilling to fight the evil that is apparent all around them. This Bible study began as the notion to study more closely the "number of a man," but then expanded to include ‘separation of church and state’ - which led me unerringly to the laws of man. This study must, then, necessarily include sources not from the scriptures.

It is commonly held that our secular laws have their beginnings in spirit filled Christians who fled Europe’s political tyranny over the Christian way of life. By extension, it is plainly seen that the laws embodied in our Constitution have for their origin the beliefs and hopes of righteous people. So firstly, I point to what the encyclopedia notes about our Constitution:

Constitution of the United States:

A constitution, ratified in 1787, founded upon the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and based upon the concepts of limited and responsible government . . .

I hope that you see as plainly as I do that a ‘limited and responsible government’, created from principles already in existence - principles that come down from spiritual people that fled governmental tyranny over them, would be created to enhance and protect, rather than inhibit or detract from the spiritual lives of those who desired the change. So, let us look closely at the more telling points of the Declaration; let us see what these people fought against, and what these people hoped for.

Notice the spirituality of the Declaration: Our very first legal document not only lifted God above man, but set as the true authority of any nation or government - not the government, but the "good people."

appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies,

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,

to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

Did any of this find its way into our present law (by which I mean the Constitution), or were these isolated and fading sentiments? Remembering that our constitution was founded on the spiritual principles of the Declaration of Independence, let us look keenly into our present law.
Constitutional Amendments:

Article I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Article IX. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article X. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Please read and note that congress does not have the constitutional authorization to pass any law to separate the exercise of spiritual freedom from any aspect of daily life - which includes not only the schooling of children, but also offices of government; which should be filled only with God fearing men and women that represent and serve the "good people." Note also that any power not delegated by the Constitution, ultimately reverts back to the true national authority: its people. Read these amendments (our law) very carefully - look at the order and wording. Especially read the 9th amendment - anything that is not specifically covered in the rest of the law, is protected by the 9th amendment. The rights of the people (even the unspoken rights of the people) shall never be denied or disparaged. Would not this also include the protection and everlasting affirmation of the unspecified privileges and immunities mentioned above?
So then, let us now return to the Declaration and discover the tyrannies that our forefathers fought against. As we understand that they spoke specifically against their King in England, let us also see that King as a precursory image of our general governmental representative of the "good people." Let us weigh our elected representatives in this light. Do they truly represent us?

let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

invasions on the rights of the people.

erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people,

affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

pretended offences

establishing an Arbitrary government,

abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

destroyed the lives of our people.

works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy

constrained our fellow Citizens to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren,

A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a Free people.

unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.

the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.

Remember where we have come from, and think closely on those we have elected to represent us. How hard have we fought to put godly men and women in office? If we want prayer in school, but don’t have it, have our representatives truly represented us? I think not! And so it is at this day; the unfit are allowed to have their way unopposed; those who do not represent the "good people" hold sway over policy. The unfit march forward relentlessly, but, the "good people," with every fearful inaction, tighten their future noose just a little tighter on their collective neck.

all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

That statement is shocking, even frightening. Is there no hope? I must cling all the more, then, to the hope that an informed people will do what is right. How can we look straight at a thing and not see it? There are none so blind as the ignorant, and yet, the blind will take the hand of the one who sees. We, then, though blind, can see by the sight of others. We, then, can understand - and act. What did our forefathers see?

1). Governments are instituted among Men,
2). deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
3). whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the
Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,
4). laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
5). it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I have belabored the political end of this Bible study in order to more clearly visualize the future plight of a people that had ample opportunity, and forewarning enough to act in their own best interest. Who are the people of the saints that will fight the righteous fight against evil?

KJV Daniel 7:25-27
25. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.

Freedom wears no armor. How can it be a shield? In the United States of America, freedom is offered equally to all. The evil have used it for their evil ends; they have marched forward, like a swarm of termites, devouring from the foundation up. They have twisted the intent of our founding fathers to limit government. The evil infiltrators within our government would limit the people.

Now, many have considered that the mark of the beast has something to do with computers. While it has a bearing on daily commerce, I contest that the real mark is a spiritual mark - one that spiritual beings can see. The ‘hand’ represents our works; the ‘head’ or ‘forehead’ represents the stand we take - whether of God or of the world. Christ said, "Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou savorest not the things that be of God . . ." What is a beast but a soulless, totally disconnected man, whose inner man lifts up only those lesser things of man, and of worldliness. To whom, then, belongs the greater woe - the beast, or the Christian that did not take his Christianity far enough?

According to the book of Revelation, The ‘mark’ is described several ways.

KJV Revelation 13:17
17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Many think of computer chips when they think of the mark, but what if the mark turns out to be a sort of dynastic ‘brand’: that is, an affiliation to a ‘ruling family’? Forget parties - the family is in. Why would I suggest a ‘family’ or a ‘family name’? Let us not forget to remember that John came from a people with much different definitions than our own. What is ‘the number of a man’ in terms of old world definitions? How did they number a man? For one, they numbered a man by his genealogical pedigree: or the line of his ancestry. Such thinking was still evident in the New Testament, when Matthew numbered Jesus at fourteen generations. For another, men were numbered by their sons and grandsons - and the whole long list of men that made up that clan within the tribe. For a closing point, I will point to one man that was so numbered in the Old Testament. Might his name be somehow relevant?

KJV Ezra 2:13
13. The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty six.

Spirit and Truth: a two-sided coin

There is a special relationship between the spiritual and the corporeal that most people simply don’t understand. The spirit exists in relation to the corporeal. The mind of God exists in relation to man’s physical state. We must (though most do not) keep in mind that the relationship between spirit and truth is mutually inclusive; and non static. Even in matters of salvation, it must be noted, not all Christians are ‘current’. We should, perhaps, take the next step and admit that we all stand somewhere in the middle: having something yet to be communicated. It’s not ignorance, so much, nor is ‘need’ the best name for it. It is simply the looming of our next great leap. We stand upon a peak, but the zenith rises up and up. Witness the uncommunicated Christian in Acts 19:2, "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."
We exist in a two-sided reality: spiritual reality, and corporeality. To most, these seem to be at odds. Yet, both are traveling in a direction that will bring them into perfect amalgamation. The future union of the seeming opposites is a thing predicted, and an issue that we must come to terms with. What hinders an individual’s ability to assimilate the new mind is our old language: a thing that places spirituality and corporeality at a distance. Even when we think of them as the two sides of a single coin, our language calls those sides opposite. But we seekers fight language with language. We like to say that those two opposite sides are joined in the middle. Language is the seeker’s ally, and here is some of the science of it. One name for Christ is ‘the Truth’; you can look that up for yourselves, but then, that is no news to the seasoned seeker. To continue, all of creation was made by the Truth. It was created by and for Truth. Truth is before all things, and by Truth all things consist. We may say, then, that Christ made all things, and that all things consist of Christ, and that one of Christ’s names is Truth. Conclusion: truth is every thing that is. To the natural man (which includes some people who call themselves Christian) this is foolishness, but to the seeker, this is a way of spiritually understanding the spiritual. When Christ used the expression "spirit and truth," He was, I believe, indicating the two complimentary sides of existence. Let me ask this, if God calls man, who is corporeal, to worship only spiritually, what hope does he have? God is a spirit, but man is not. However, everything that is, consists of Truth - is truth. Read John 4:23-24, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." This meant, of course, an upgrade from the purely ceremonial. We will call that ceremony ‘truth’, for it was the corporeal half of the issue. When a man lifts his hands to God; or when a man makes a sacrifice; lights a candle; marches in procession; fasts; counts beads, or any other such thing - it’s all cool with God, but it is only half of the matter. These are only corporeal movements; God wants the spiritual added to all such worship. That, we have found, is mentality. That is when the human organ of thought is in concert with the angelic other’s organ of thought. In other words, God desires that we put ‘heart’ and ‘soul’ into worship.
We already acknowledge that each side is affected by the other side, but for our part we ask, which side shoulders the lion’s share of the burden? Proverbs 18:14, gives us an indication. "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" This work does not propose to convince; we already believe. In fact, we merely build upon the works of our predecessors. Seekers who have gone before us have discovered that our very nature as man has a spiritual component that is exposed to the spiritual eye. Just look at 1 Samuel 16:7, "The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart (mind)." The ‘heart’ references human mentality, and thoughts are spiritual. God is a mind reader. It cannot be helped; the very act of having a thought is to parade that thought before God. Think about Ezekiel 11:5, "The Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." Therefore God has called for the addition of the spiritual mind to His worship, for as Nahum 1:7 says, "He knoweth them that trust in Him."
One cannot climb a mountain by taking the downward path. One cannot climb to greater heights by crossing the valley floor. A man may walk the length and breadth of the valley, but in doing so, he remains on the same level. The valley dweller can tell you anything you want to know about the valley: he is a valley expert, but none of his expertise can explain the loftier climes. We seekers come with spiked boots and roped shoulders. It has already been pointed out to man that only a new mind can grasp new thoughts. See 1 Corinthians 2:11 & 14, "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save (but by) the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but (by) the Spirit of God. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Certain thoughts may only be thought by the mind of God, but the mind of God is only obtained by the thinking of such thoughts. Sounds like a conundrum, but valley preconception and dogma have limitations beyond which one must simply start climbing. Some Christians will ever preach salvation to the saved, and never rise up to meet the mind of God.
Preconception and dogma.
Misunderstanding and misinterpretation.
If truth is placed just out of man’s reach, it was intended all along that he climb up and grab it. The mountain climber finds a suitable peek from which to proclaim: "This rare and lofty zenith is one with the valley floor." The valley dweller finds a suitable spot from which to preach: "This is the mountain top; it is flat and green." Following is an example of a concept that must be held in the present tense to be of any application, yet contemporary Christian thinking has not climbed above the physical past. Read this until it sinks in, then you will know that the communication imparts the nature of the communicator. Read and know 1 John 4:2, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." This submission is my own paraphrase: this is me climbing and reaching: "This is how we obtain the mind of God: every mind that confesses that Jesus Christ is now in the flesh is of God."
Toward a more fluid approach, I submit that the word ‘spirit’ may be of more personal edification when read as the word ‘mind’. Men have sought the fountain of youth, but I present a fountain of a different magnitude. To drink from this fountain will turn your brain into a fountain. Imagine that you suddenly had greater mental powers. Not only could you see the invisible; know the unknowable, but you could simply ‘breathe’ on your friends and they could have the same powers. Let us call this fountain the ‘mind of God’. To have that mind would mean that you could know what is in the minds of other people as per Ezekiel 11:5. You could instantly recognize your peers as per Nahum 1:7. Your existence would be a balance between spirit and truth. We would no longer be alone in our heads for we would be of one and the same mind. Check out 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
I, having written so much in these studies, might give the impression that I am the type to just say anything; that I sit and spew out whatever comes to mind, like a fool, or, like a child with an active imagination. I am not that type. I have communicated recently that God intends to work in each of us one and the same mind: the mind of God. I have indicated that this new spirit is a present tense combination of Jesus Christ and us: "is come." But, what does God communicate of His intention? I turn to His own word. Ezekiel 11:19, "I will give them one heart (one mind), and I will put a new spirit (new mind) within you; and I will take the stony heart (tablets of formula and preconception) out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh (spirit and truth)." In our coin of existence there are two sides. There is the physical, and there is the spiritual. The spiritual involves mental capabilities; written and verbal communication. The heart is the mind of man. The law is a communicated quality. The law of the Hebrews was communicated in stone. I believe that I speak from a heart of flesh. In contemporary thought, the spirit thwarts the flesh. Contemporary belief holds spirit and flesh at a distance, and sets spiritual growth at the expense of corporeality. But, the preceding verse plainly states that God’s intention is to combine flesh to the new mind. It is necessary that God remove legalistic thinking, "the stony heart," in order to transplant into man the "heart of flesh," which is the "new spirit." Just as with the old mind, the new mind is communicated through the spoken and written word, for the spirit is communication imparting communication.
Even the belief systems of other cultures recognized that spiritual attributes were manifested in man in the qualities of mental attributes. See Daniel 4:9, "O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof." Admittedly, the statement of faith in that verse is a generalization. Be that as it may, the ambiguity of "the spirit of the holy gods" is given the crisp outline of mentality in Daniel 5:12, "Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation."
We speak of the mind, of mental qualities. We call this list of mental attributes ‘spirit’. It might be argued still that we speak of spirit vaguely, as of some incidental property. But, we think not, we seekers of truth and spirit. We have replaced our stone, bronze, and iron implements with the very best of cutting tools. Our new implements cut with surgical precision. When we speak of mentality, we speak of the spirit of God. Of course, we are not yet brain surgeons. Our claim is the claim of God. For the list in God’s own words, read Exodus 31:2-3, "See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship." And for those who will argue against anything that is Old Testament, let’s just add the communicated mind of the New Testament authors. See Ephesians 1:17-18, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."
It bears repeating that the spirit of God; the mind of God, is a communicated quality that is passed from the one to the other to the next. Our cognitive abilities are spiritual. Scripture abounds with reference after reference to that effect. Read these: Deuteronomy 34:9, "Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him." Exodus 31:3, "I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship." Hebrews 10:15-16, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us . . . This is the covenant that I will make with them . . . I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Exodus 28:3, "Thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom."
When God pours out His spirit, He communicates His mind. See Proverbs 1:23, "Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you." Then, like a tiered fountain, we communicate the same to others. Remembering 1 Corinthians 2:11, we know that man has a mind that knows the things of man. It is the corporeal mind. God is combining His spirit with ours in harmonious agreement. Only by the mind of God may we know that we are of God. See Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." See also 1 Corinthians 2:12, "Now we have received, not the spirit (mind) of the world, but the spirit (mind) which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." God freely and liberally communicates His mind into ours: the communicator communicating His own nature of communication. We in turn, through and like Christ, also communicate. See John 3:34, "For (H)he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto (H)him."
When a man, near death, finds and drinks from a well, much goes on. He takes in water, yes, but also refreshment. More than refreshment is communicated; life is communicated. When a man takes refreshment into himself, he speaks praise rather than curse, for he speaks from that refreshing. Read 1 Corinthians 12:3, "No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and . . . no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." I will say it again, our cognitive abilities are spiritual. What does the spirit communicate but the spirit? The spirit is communication; the communication is life. John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
When I say that the truth is everything that is, am I asking you to only see the birds and the bees; the trees and corn fields; the physical world? Absolutely not. I am asking you to step out, and be big, bold, and brave. I am asking you to see everything physical in its proper relationship to everything spiritual. Look not at the truth without the spirit; see not the spirit without truth. See neither as static. In a circuit, when a communication reaches its conclusion, it recommences its journey in a bigger way. Whatever goes around, comes back around. The mind that has seen the end can, on its trip back around, seem to impart the future. Yet, the mind communicates only the mind. See John 16:13, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself (on His own); but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak (communicate): and He will shew you things to come." It could be that Christ’s statement on the cross was based on the template of David’s statement in Psalms 31:5, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed (transformed) me, O Lord God of truth." On the other hand, Christ’s passage through, and triumph over, His crucifixion could have been the true template upon which the unsalvaged David was recovered upon the next circuit. The new mind imparted might well have expressed redemption through the spirit of Him that is all in all; His mind being the communication of everything that is.
Accordingly, this fledgling theory of the ‘circuit’ is under pressure to shed new light on some old, dark abstractions. Our old saying is this: ‘what goes around comes around’. The mind of God has gone from the beginning to the end, and has come back around again. How many times? Who knows? But, it should come as no surprise that the mind that knows all languages will communicate those same mental abilities. See Acts 2:4, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Along with language of any kind is the mind that language issues from. The things we think are the things we communicate. We daily demonstrate our thinking in our talk, and in our walk. What we say and do are communications of what we believe. The old mind can be seen in how we walk and talk: our conversation: our face. The new mind can be seen not only in the new things we say, but also in the new things we do. See the fruit we bear in Ezekiel 36:27, "I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." According to another of our rather proliferus sayings, the individual with the new mind will ‘walk the talk’. The following verse not only shows us that the mind that has seen the end can communicate the same through our mentality; it also shows by exact wording that the new mind (the spirit) has a real relationship with our physical being. That verse is Joel 2:28, "I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."
The book of Proverbs is excellent reading. It deals with the new mind; it also deals with the old mind. In it, we see contrasts between ‘men’ and the ‘sons of men’. In it, we see the differences between the wise man and the fool. One may note, in reading the book of Proverbs, the abundance of expressions dealing with mentality and communication. One should see that such terms as ‘understanding’, ‘knowledge’, ‘wisdom’, as well the ability to communicate such, as found in such terms as ‘law’, ‘instruction’, and ‘words’ are always presented in their relationship to the ‘spirit’. See Proverbs 17:27, "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." Recall, if you will, the excellent spirit found in the prophet Daniel. Job 32:8, tells us that "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." This verse suggests that, along with the communication, there is a medium that may be communicated to. It suggests that the union of the spirit in man and the spirit of God produces the offspring of ‘knowledge’. No such union would be possible if the spirit of man was totally alien to God. The insemination of inspiration would not occur unless some part of our nature opened to receive it. Let us remember that we were created in God’s image. The mind of man was made to receive the mind of God. See the romance in Proverbs 20:27, "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly."
That the union of the two natures cannot be a union of mutual exclusion - we look at concepts that have been around the block. The things communicated by men of old came from the mind of God. Of old, the Holy Ghost has been recognized as above and beyond Testament divisions. See 2 Peter 1:21, "The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." These communications will not seem antiquated to the seeker. The seeker knows that the mind of God has been to the future; that it was that mind from which the men of old communicated. Those qualities that are imparted to us come from the mind that has seen the future; a mind that has gone to the very limit, having been magnified by all. When that mind shall return again to rest upon us, we shall be known by the attributes of that mind. See Isaiah 11:2, "The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Communication imparts communication; receptivity enables receptivity. The two are joined at the hip. The relationship is dynamic; living; growing. See the ongoing process in Colossians 1:9, "Filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." If water is communicated to us, shall we in turn communicate sand? I think not. Our old minds are consumed, as a candle is consumed by the flame. But the old is replaced by the new - such as will bear up under a brighter, hotter fire. We are receptive to the hot intrusions of the spirit; those communications impart the nature of the communicator. We speak not of ourselves anymore, as Exodus 4:12 informs us, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." If we in turn communicate what we have taken in of the mind of God (a communication that has reworked our old mind after the pattern of the new), what are we passing on but the inspiration (the inspirited mind) of the Almighty; the pattern of our recreated mentality? See 1 Chronicles 28:11-12, "Then David gave to Solomon his son . . . the pattern of all that he had by the spirit." Furthermore, if God is a consuming fire, and His communication imparts to us His nature, is it any wonder that we may use incendiary words? Our minds are set on fire; nay, our minds are fire. Let our speech, then, be fiery; let our words burn and brand; let us never return to a cooler flame. See the new, hot mind in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, "Quench not the Spirit."

What the parables of Christ say about the 'Rapture'.

Compared to the few verses that contemporary Christianity employs to support the rapture theory, I have noted a contrary and recurring theme that runs through the entire span of the Holy Bible from old testament to new. That theme is that all people on the face of the earth must endure tribulation; must 'pass through the fire'. It is to be the shaking of the tree to see what falls; a test that brings those who have into a humbler relationship with God, and takes those who have not further into their sin. (Read the parable of the talents with this in mind.)

I have heard many teachings about the rapture, but never have I heard one tempered with the parables of my Lord. Contemporary Christianity puts forth several judgements, and multiple resurrections. The parables of Christ, however, speak of a single action that performs more than one task. In His own words, Jesus speaks of the end days, judgement, resurrection, and regeneration. This study attempts to explore those things which are not taken into account when contemporary Christians speak about the rapture.

Consider the parable of the man who sowed good seed. The man's enemy sowed tares among them, and the servants, when they discovered it, wanted to remove the bad from the good. The master would wait, however, being concerned for his own, and told the servants to allow the bad to grow up with the good. At the harvest (judgement) the reapers (angels) are to first remove and burn the tares, then gather the good. This parable speaks of a single harvest that is to accomplish two things in a given order. After the parable, Christ explains these things to His disciples in no uncertain terms.

Consider another parable that imparts the same message. It is the parable of the net. The fishermen gather of all kinds; the good with the bad. When the net is pulled in, they separated the two. Notice how Jesus ends the parable: look not only at what He says, but the order in which He says it. "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just."

Let us look at yet another parable. This one is about a king and the marriage he has prepared for his son. This parable is not obscure; it is often used in sermons. It, too, speaks of end days, and a single judgement on the king's part to reject the one and receive the other. It is comparable to a fourth such illustration: the one about the ten virgins. In the fourth parable there are two sets of virgins: the one and the other. The one is received and the other is sent away. With the former of these two parables, the servants gathered both good and bad and brought them into the feast: both were there together until the king judged that the bad should be removed from the good. Still another: the one of the sheep and goats, tells of a single judgement with the sheep on the right hand, and the goats on the left hand. They are there together, and the judgement decrees that the goats must leave.

In discussing the last days with His disciples, Christ made two high profile statements: "the end is not yet" and "these are the beginning of sorrows". These expressions were used in conveying that much must transpire before the actual end comes. Jesus is speaking to His own about what His own must go through in regard to tribulation. He makes this statement in that regard: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Someone tell me how anyone can endure a thing that they are not directly and thoroughly immersed in. Try reading Matthew 24 with this in mind.

Christ, in the book of Revelation, uses these concepts while speaking directly to the churches: ‘overcome’; ‘endure’; 'unto the end'. And check out the wording of Revelation 7:14. It goes like this - "out of great tribulation" rather than 'a great tribulation' or 'the great tribulation'. The wording of this verse speaks of something held in common. And finally consider Revelation 14:13. This occurs in the midst of tribulation, with the gospel still being preached. The verse speaks of those who might otherwise have been caught away, saying, "blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth".

As an after thought, I would like to add the saying of the two houses; one built on sand, the other founded upon a rock. The thing that struck me about that scripture is that the very same series of catastrophic events were applied to both houses. The good house was in no sense removed from the storm.

Will the Church Survive?

I see the church as an unfinished work; a work upon which the chisel of its own membership should move. Yet, it is not the constant hand of its own constituency, but the hand of Christendom’s longtime enemy, that shapes the church. I will not address the fact that democracy permits such antagonism beneath the guise of freedom, but, society at large chips away at the church. They seem awash in the spirit of anti-church antagonism. People of all walks are swooning before the persistent propaganda of the anti-church spirit. Repeatedly, they chip at the outer facade of the church; at its walls and foundations. It is an aggression tantamount to war. When the institution has been chiseled away, will the attacks cease? They most certainly will not. Their chisels will then turn upon the individual rights of those within.
Who fights this onslaught? Who is on the front lines? The church seems to sit back and watch. Is equality a real issue these days, or just another guise for the enemy of the church. When the enemy took away the strength of public prayer, what did the church take from the enemy? They took nothing in return; they gave the other cheek. Of course, these things do not fall like an avalanche. Something is taken, and time passes. It all seems commonplace. Then something else is chipped away, and more time passes. No one seems to see the bigger picture.
I am not only writing about the larger issues such as the Pledge of Allegiance, public prayer, and the Ten Commandments. I also write of the smaller matters such as the airport Christmas tree, and the issue of saying "Merry Christmas" in stores. I live in Sioux City, Iowa - an out-of-the-way mid-sized mid-western town. I see the problem not only at a national level, but also at a local level. Years ago, the local elders banned the playing of church music through loud speakers on the outer walls of religious establishments. Yet, the city permits rock and roll to be played publicly, loudly, and customarily. Such events are held several times a year in this town, and are loud enough to be heard in the suburbs. I ask, then, why was not the matter made equal by the taking away of rock and roll music? I can only guess that there are no Christian strongholds in government. If non-religious people are allowed to lobby for non-religious causes, then should not the religious lobby in the same government for religious causes?
Recently, Sioux City attacked the church again. Now, churches are only permitted one church sign, and that must be (as I understand it) on their main, front, or street facing wall. Churches retaining signs on their lawns will now be fined fifty dollars. How ridiculous! Is ownership of property now only a lie? Why should we pay such high prices, and such high property taxes if we are not allowed full, true ownership? I cannot imagine what may come next, but I assure you that such things will continue until Christians stand up and fight back. Will the church survive? That depends on the church goer.

A closer look

The entire chapter of Matthew 6 points to 'one' thing. Keywords in this study are 'one', 'pure', 'single', 'straight', and 'narrow'. The concept of mirroring, here implied, shall be paid greater attention in future studies.

Matt. 6:1-6 - ‘One’ way not corrupted by another way; ‘one’ goal not corrupted by another goal; ‘one’ reason not corrupted by another reason.

Matt. 6:7&8 - Are vain repetitions vain because they are repetitions? Rather than a singularity, repetitions are a multitude, or, a ‘multiplicity’.

Matt. 6:9-13 - A ‘single’ formula for prayer:
1.) Recognize that you are but one of God’s children; i.e. ‘Our Father’.
2.) Affirm God’s greatness through confessed obedience:
A.) His name ‘is’ hallowed; i.e. ‘You are special to me’.
B.) His kingdom ‘is’ come; i.e. ‘I submit to Your rule’.
C.) His will ‘is’ done; i.e. ‘I do as You command’.
3.) Look to a single source for your needs.
4.) Understand that a single action is ‘mirrored’ between the spiritual and the corporeal, that is - ‘forgive / forgive’.
5.) See the whole picture of God, not just the comforting parts. There is one God - all power; all glory - the whole nine yards.

Matt. 6:14&15 - Jesus stresses the bottom line: the connecting ‘oneness’ in the relationship between God and man is the mirror mechanism, or, the universal constant: ‘forgive / forgive’.

Matt. 6:16-18 - An exclusive line of sight (again the mirroring) in that what we are is ‘unto’, ‘toward’, ‘for’ God alone. We should not cause that line of sight to become impure through admixture.

Matt. 6:19-21 - Look not at just the one thing, but at the one right thing - at the right time - and for the right reason. God’s ‘single’, undivided kingdom includes our hearts. What we build through heart-felt obedience here (the mirror image) accrues in heaven.

Matt. 6:22-24 - Why is it ‘single’ as opposed to evil rather than ‘good’ as opposed to evil? The straightest path between any two points is a ‘single’ line. The contrast is between two, and only two, possible states: the pure, and the impure. The words ‘straight’, ‘narrow’, ‘single’, ‘one’, and ‘pure’ can here be taken to have exactly the same connotation. Imagine an oriental fan spread before you; there are many ribs, but only one is centered - all the others are somewhat off. There can only be one of two states: the ‘pure’ light of God, or, the great darkness (the great multiplicity). If you can view the path before you spreading wide like an oriental fan, you cannot miss the multiplicity of directions; possibilities; and choices. A man lost in a desert, without a straight road out, can only wander in circles.

Matt. 6:25-30 - The conclusion: will you walk in faith, or will you waver? Do your physical actions mirror anything approaching spiritual savvy?

Matt. 6:31-34 - You are lost in a wide desert; a million directions lie before you. What can you do? Find a straight path; choose one direction. A single, or, pure way to believe in God must be found. You are faced with the multiplicity (evil) of the day. You seek the straightest approach, and trust God to take care of the rest.

Read more about study, and spirituality at: http://www.megamaxstudios.com

Random Religious Rant

"Can", "Can not", "Should", "Should not": of such issues, there are as many opinions as there are people. Mankind is noteworthy for its erroneous beliefs. It is common knowledge that man often ascribes to scripture things that are simply not there: quotes from ‘Poor Richard’s Almanac’, for instance. Man, also, has a propensity to believe a thing because he feels it strongly: (after all, he thinks, it must be true - I felt it!).

When my thoughts turn to these matters, as my mind is want to do, I am reminded within my spirit that nowhere in the Bible does God say "Come, let us emote together" - and I do not mean to point this saying at those Christians who know their salvation by way of an emotional experience (:in the absence of reason, men often resort to feelings), but I would like to make it plain to a people whose system of belief has become overly effeminate, That the Living God did say "Come, let us reason together".

People believe that God is love, and that would do them well if they really understood love, but the same scripture also tells them that God is a man of war. People believe in Christ’s advocacy for the ‘little children’, and this is right, but it is usually used secondarily, that is - to rationalize their feelings about abortion.

The God that Jesus prayed to in the new testament was the same God that in the old testament sent the chosen people into the pagan lands commanding them to slaughter all. The people of God were under injunction to kill old, young, male, female, children, and even the unborn still in the womb. People believe that an all-seeing God cannot look upon sin. That is like their belief that God cannot lie. Yet, God sent an angel, as a lying spirit, into one armed camp of an old testament confrontation, causing them to lose.

People also use these same erroneous, effeminized, emotional beliefs, like a blunt club, against their own kind. One will say of the other, if he was a Christian, he would do thus and thus; or, one will say to the other, if you don’t do it the way I am used to seeing it done then you are wrong. And really, how much of the language of peer pressure is the communication of an unapproving glance, or a turning away, or even a hesitation?

The contemporary Christian ‘way’ has come down to modern times through centuries of ‘monkey-see-monkey-do’ custom: "...teaching for doctrines the commandments of men". Contemporary religion is pretty much what contemporary man wants it to be. It is the church as a building and as a place in time; it is the well ordered - modular - service; it is a congregation that worships the richly dressed preacher with plentiful ‘amens’.

Those of us who practice our faith rather than works, live under pressure from those above us, for like the medaled military general; like the double-vested business baron, the preacher has gotten papers to hang on his wall; has gotten power over others.

On the other hand, living one’s faith (or, abiding in the truth) can be likened to a house with many rooms: while you may always reside in the same house, that is not to say that you are always in the same room. Jesus did not describe the faithful as stolid attendees of the same building, and the same hour, and the same day - that is a tradition of man. Rather, Jesus described His own in terms of the unseen, spontaneous wind - known in its passing, and its tree shaking propensity.

Not even the sermons in a contemporary church show the spontaneity of the Holy Ghost, but are pieced together from the sermons and commentaries of those who have preached, and commented before. Books are printed and sold that are filled with nothing but prefabricated, ready-to-use sermons.

People learn, sans the true understanding, by doing the thing. The contemporary Christian church is a sect of mimickers, who do what they have seen others do. They are trapped in a loop - preaching salvation to the saved, and revival to the revived. But, where are those zephyr -like, spiritually mature ones who have graduated past the milk of the Word to the meat of maintenance?

There are spiritual matters that we need to be learning now, but who will teach us? - certainly not the contemporary. He will stand before you in his fine, expensive suit - as if that was the insignia of his social rank - and his shiny Florshiems and Rolex look-alike - as if such accessories made him appear more humble and down to earth - and he will teach you to be ever so sweet natured and ineffectual. His stock sermons will begin and end with the gathering of his flock, the maintenance of his pulpit, and the well funded continuation of his work.

Let me clarify an important, and as yet unspoken point: I do not see the contemporary Christian as a rival, or as an enemy. The Bible tells us that God’s ways are equal; it does not automatically follow that God has adopted an ‘across-the-board’ policy.

Man desires a single answer to the many questions he bears like a cross. This can be seen in man’s attempts to deal with his brothers and sisters; it can be seen in law, as well as the casual gem of wit, such as, ‘what’s good for the goose is good for the gander’.

It is clear that God deals with each issue based on its own merit.

Man, on the other hand, preaches a ‘personal savior’ to a faceless multitude. Man ultimately deals with man based on physical constants, such as: ‘motion follows the path of least resistance’.

God, on the other hand, says in the scripture 'Of some have compassion making a difference, others save with fear, pulling them from the fire, hating even to touch their garments spotted with the flesh'.

The word ‘pulling’ is a word of physical force akin to ‘yanking’ or ‘pushing’ or ‘kicking’. This latter group doesn’t even merit compassion, but is jerked up by the nape of the neck, like the wreckless guttersnipe you would just as soon throttle for good measure.

Man, too, in dealing with man, is admonished to avoid the simplistic, or across the board approach. Use compassion where compassion is right - anywhere else, it will be like casting your pearls before the swine.

Let it not be said, in all my bashing of the contemporary Christian, that I do not have compassion, for I, like a life guard, desire to save the drowning man - knowing full well that he will fight against his rescuer - and I would not see him bruised. But for those contemporary Christians that stand littering my beach, I would just as soon save them with a swift kick.

If we saw the beliefs of the contemporary Christian as a body that only exercised its big toe - how much atrophy would we note?

Chapter Five

FIVE:
The Classic Pattern:
Fiery Serpents

A pattern is a representation of a reality. If that reality must be built, the pattern is a representation of something in the future. The classic pattern is that of the ‘fiery serpent’. Normally, we associate ‘serpent’ with the devil. Yet, our aspiration is to view the ‘bigger picture’. We deal with shadows. This is a pattern that represents Christ. It is a physical healing that indicates a spiritual healing, and it is by no means chance that a snake on a pole is the physician’s symbol. Numbers 21:6-9 begins thusly: "And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."
Now, of course, many things must be taken into account. First, however, let me forestall the conclusion that Christ and Satan are somehow one and the same. This serpent, in no wise, represented The enemy in its foreshadowing of Christ. It represented the sins of the people. The people had set themselves up for calamity; God delivered. The brass snake on a pole was a pattern for sin crucified. The serpent does not represent Christ, but the sin He became on our behalf. The Hebrews had to look upon the serpent to live: they had to look upon their own sin. An interesting undertone to that scenario is that the thing they ran afoul of was the thing that saved them. This may also be applied to our spiritual salvation. John 3:14-15 says, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
It is a step forward to go from recognition to belief. But, here we are. A man must do more than simply see Christ on the cross. Man must learn not to downplay the communications God sends our way. Today, we are very much like the men in Christ’s day. We look at the Bible and say, oh, that’s just written by man. Our backs are turned on God. Should we, like the men of old, ever turn back around and look into the mirror, we would see God in man. I have written that the image in a mirror reenacts our every posture. Christ communicated that His actions were the reflection of God’s actions. John 8:28 shows that, "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things." Christ pointed to connections between God and man. Man would not see. Likewise, modern Christians reject the deeper connections between Christ and Man. ("In the third day He will raise us up.")
This study is not about simple directions a man may go in, but more aptly about transitions of the nature of man. We are the image and glory of God, but we have turned away. If we should turn back, the underlying formational transition implied in the word "unto" from the next scripture reference makes perfect sense. John 12:32 tells us, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Just what if: this is not the directional up to heaven ‘unto’, but a spiritual upgrade in present man, so that each of us can be a Jesus. Check out Psalms 68:18, "Thou hast ascended on high (attained a spiritual state), thou hast led captivity captive (a dead end no more): thou hast received gifts (light) for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

Chapter Four

FOUR:
Patterns & Shadows


In the evolution of communication, man first had to work through what he saw and what he knew. With that level attained, he then went on to express the more abstract by way of comparison to the familiar. Matters of a higher order had to be bodied forth using low end language. Spiritual issues were described by words heretofore used for the corporeal. Thus, an example or indication; hint or clue, became ‘patterns’ and ‘shadows’. Shadows came first, I think: it was a part of their reality, like the shadow of a high rock, or a tent: Isaiah 32:2 for example, "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Whereas a shadow originally might reference an object able to cast that shadow (as something needful or useful), the language soon associated the shadow with the expectation of it, as in whatever gave relief, refreshing, or revival. Job 7:2 says this, "As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow." Man then was able to use the fact symbolically as an example (pattern) of higher forms of relief, refreshing, and revival - even the saving of one’s life could be used as a pattern for something higher. If a great rock may cast a saving shadow, it is easy to step up to the next level: thus, symbolically, the great rock in a weary land becomes a savior; the shadow becomes a spiritual salvation. A ‘shadow’ now speaks of heavenly things, as says Hebrews 8:5, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." It is in the same manner that Isaiah 4:6 becomes a reference to our Lord, "And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat."
It is familiar to the well read that spiritual patterns are realized in the corporeal world. The Tabernacle that was carried for so long by the tribes of Israel is a prime example. Exodus 25:40 speaks of this, "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount." There is a spiritual, or heavenly, alter. God gave a blueprint to Moses in the mount. Joshua 22:28 says, "Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord." That alter was the mirror image of something that really existed in Heaven; a reflection of a spiritual object that was composed of God particles: a reality. Not only the Tabernacle is a reflection, but all the lesser objects as well. Numbers 8:4 speaks of a candlestick that existed spiritually, "According unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick." All the accouterments were included. Exodus 25:9 says, "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." As to whether or not the spiritual objects still exist in Heaven while there is no corporeal reflection, I shall not venture to guess.
The word ‘shadow’ came to use as an indication of the unseen ‘ghost’ or ‘spirit’. This may be seen to stem from such application as is found in Job 17:7, "And all my members are as a shadow." Job’s application is of what ‘is not there’, for he had withered away as a corporeal being. While the language still struggled, man was getting ever better at abstract thought. By way of comparative symbolisms, man could point to the spiritual. Man gave words to the invisible, and expanded the scope of his reality.
Symbols such as ‘fire’ and ‘light’ sprang to the lead position, indicating that of the highest order. God is light, and in Him is no darkness; His only begotten son is the light of the world. Words may at any point be symbols. If the Holy Spirit speaks through the written word, then it behooves us to pay closer attention to such words. Is Jesus a spiritual pattern realized in a single man? Matthew 4:16 says this, "And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." Here, ‘shadow of death’ is used in the same manner as ‘shadow of a great rock’. One initially imagines that a shadow is cast due to a light source from behind it. It could well be that God is the light that causes both shadows, for God claimed that He also creates evil. Else, shadow may here be used simply to identify a ‘region’ without light; could be the world. If a light is sprung up in the world, it must be the light of the world.
To continue in this vein, James 1:17 tells us, "Every good gift and every perfect gift (light) is from above, and cometh down (to the region and shadow of death) from the Father of lights (individuals like Jesus), with whom is no variableness, neither shadow (indication) of turning."
Psalms 91:1 continues, "He that dwelleth in the secret (unseen or spiritual) place of the most High shall abide under the shadow (protection or authority) of the Almighty." I get ‘shadow’ as authority from Judges 9:15 "Then come and put your trust in my shadow." This, of course was the Old Testament parable of the trees seeking a king (albeit, their heads were already in Heaven).
Christ, then, may be seen in pattern. The pattern of His work in our lives may also be seen. To which pattern do I refer? I refer to the corn of wheat that must fall into the ground and die. The pattern is of bearing fruit as shown us in 1 Timothy 1:16, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." Likewise in Titus 2:7, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works." This, unlike prior patterns, works in reverse. The former pattern worked from the spiritual to the corporeal, the latter pattern works from the corporeal to the spiritual - as an extension of the former. The whole work, thus being finished, may be called perfect. God looks through the mirror to man and sees Himself; He gives man a gift (the pattern working from spiritual to corporeal). That perfect gift: that light, being planted, bears fruit and is given to God, the pattern now working from corporeal to spiritual. Now, God, His image and glory being man, is magnified. This theme will receive more attention later; suffice it to say, it is one of the truths that the writer of the book of Hebrews saw and wrote of. Hebrews 10:1 explains, "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."
Shadows may be things that are, or things hoped for. Faith has no color; has no texture. One may not hold the certainty of their faith in the palm of their hand to test its weight. Everything that is exists within God, made of the stuff that God is made of. Within that framework is a river of communication. The head of that river is Christ. Anything that is in us, first passed through the head, by way of communication, to the ocean that is us. We are not separate from the river, for the communication continues in circuit. Everything we are given, we return again, as the pattern of communication turns around upon itself. Colossians 2:16-17 puts it before our eyes, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."