The One to whom we say created the heavens and the earth and is infinite in Being, we too often seem to have all the answers for and descriptions well defined. How silly. How foolish of anyone to think God is in any one book, one man. While I embrace the fact that for me God is most DEFINED in Jesus, I do not see God as CONFINED to Jesus. And for one who calls himself a Christian that is anathema to many.
Why do so many Christians only want there to be only ONE religion, just ONE denomination, and only ONE way to salvation, or whatever term is used. And then the obvious question is of course, why is it that ONLY THEY know and have that ONE WAY? How is it that BILLIONS of people can be wrong and only they can be right?
The ego is such a powerful force.
And yet here we have this beautiful and sacred literature called the Bible full of mystical and mysterious stories, parables, allegories, similies, and metaphors which many want to reduce down to precise intellectual formulas. Of all people, it was Einstein who said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious”. So why do we feel we must take the intrigue, mystery, and mystical nature out of teh Bible, God, and thus life? Why is that!
I don’t know the author, but the phrase and the truth is, “Stillness is the language that God speaks. Everything else is bad translation.” We have so many bad translations of God-Creator-Consciousness-One-Source because of our egos need to quantify and categorize that it might control. Can you see the EGO rising up in Adam, and I’m not talking just about eating from the tree of knowledge. In the NAMING the animals, control steps in.
Unfortunately mystical experiences are considered emotional aberrations because they are usually divorced from ordinary reality. And that’s probably one reason so many of the mystical books and phrases of books that we re accepted into canonization, were removed at Nicea. How much have we lost. More importantly how much can we regain if we’ll simply allow the mystical and mysterious Creator just BE.
Letting the Spirit BE, allows us to BE (I AM).
Jesus made it clear He was the only way to God.(John 6:40;14:6) Luke agreed with Jesus’ statement when he quoted Peter as saying, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Paul concurred that there is but one mediator between man and God (I Tim. 2:5). That’s not ego, it’s God’s truth.
The Bible also tells us that God is big enough to have made Himself known to all men, so they are without excuse (Romans 1:19,20). One of the great delights for me is to see how God reaches out sovereignly to those who have hungry hearts for the knowledge of their Creator. People like Ruth and Rahab, from unbelieving nations, came to know Jesus through God’s power and mercy. He is no respecter of persons.
Literalists have long proclaimed that the way to salvation is through the profession of a name (in this case–“Jesusâ€), citing the exact letter of scripture as the basis for this interpretation. As if the Infinite could possibly be confined to a literal formula. The letter always kills, but the Spirit brings life.
At the surface level, these mystical statements seemingly marginalize and ostracize billions of individuals who have never called on the name of Jesus in a literal fashion. We have failed to recognize Jesus as the personification of man’s spiritual identity, and as long as we persist in this failure, the Light will not be revealed and we will continue to see dimly.
We become the mediator between God and man when we awaken to the truth, as Jesus did, that there is not God and man—there is only God in this world.
Pardon my “religious relapse“, but AMEN & AMEN!
God is not a man (Numbers 23:19 ), but GOD IS LIGHT (1 John 1:5). To think we could confine God to “anything” (any THING- person, being, etc.) is to trivialize, marginalize, and miss the message that God is omnipresent meaning he occupies the very space of EVERY human being. My favorite line is, “God is best DEFINED by Jesus, but God is not CONFINED to Jesus (or anyone).
Ernie thanks for this comment one of the best.
This is my thinking:
1) God is not human, and now he is here for everyone.
2) The Bible (the book) was never made to be exclusive to one religion is a code book. You’re not alone.
3) When we released our minds as literal and what culture tells us we have to do, then released to God in us.
TE AMOOOOOOOO!
I agree totally that God cannot be confined in a book, not even in the great bible. How can we, as christians, be so arrogant and think our way (Jesus) is the only way. And that everything that Jesus said and did is what we have to copy to reach God. I believe that Jesus had the closest relationship with God and that we can learn much from his walk here on earth. But I don’t believe that we are supposed to be cookie cutters of him. If that were the case, why are we ALL made in God’s image but are still unique? Could it be that He is in everybody and everything to express Himself in HIS unique way?
I think it cannot get more exciting and liberating than that. We just need to love Him and experient Him. That’s too easy? Maybe so; or not? But that is when we will see miracles and true life.
It all boils down to whether you believe Jesus. He clearly said that “he who hears My word, and believes him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment.” (John 5:24) He also said to the religious leaders they were unwilling to come to Him to receive life (John 5:40). Jesus reminded his disciples God’s word is truth (John 17:17). They were given a choice as are we: 1) take Jesus at His word or 2) teach as doctrine the precepts of men (Mark 7:9)
I do believe Jesus and the Word, the bible. But I also know that the word alone gives no insight into Jesus’ life. But only the Spirit will give the understanding of the Word. Only the Spirit will give us insight into Jesus’ thinking and emotions that he went through as a human. And every human is and perceives his message, about God, differently; because we are different and our purpose here on earth are different.
To me the religious leaders are just the hard core people who were not willing to accept the message that came through Jesus. And we have seen the damage that they did to the people then. Did they bring people closer to God? I don’t think so; just on the contrary, they could not see HIS light and love because they were so busy with obeying the rules and in doing so they pleased men but not God. Unfunately, the same group excists today as then.
If we just accept our neigbors as THEY ARE with all differences, and not as WE WANT THEM to be, that would bring us so much closer to the path that Jesus walked.
Thank you Ernie for showing us the difference between love and LOVE.
Congratulations to you for following the Spirit. I try not to get involved in the tit-for-tat (dueling Scriptures) because it does no good unless a person has a teachable spirit- WANTS to know something other than what they BELIEVE. The Bible is full of contradictions. So, it’s up to each person as to WHAT position you want to take, which words Jesus spoke (if he in fact did). As I’ve pointed out before Jesus is reported to have said “A” in one place and then “B” (the exact opposite) in another place. Which is it, which do you WANT to believe? Choose your theology and live gracefully. As for me and my house GOD IS LOVE and that’s the WAY that Jesus lived.
Linda- You said, “It all boils down to whether you believe Jesus”.
I feel it all boils down to whether you believe the Bible is meant to be interpreted LITERALLY; if the words attributed to Jesus in “your” translation are the actual, verbatum words of Jesus. That’s what it “all boils to”. I DON’T believe all the “Words in Red” are the literal verbatum words of Jesus. Since you leave no other options, then you automatically quote “scripture” as if it is the LITERAL and ONLY truth. All of your arguments center around one book and one interpretation. Whether you agree or not, there are other opinions and options. Amid the plethera of interpretations, one truth shines through: God is unconditional love. If this is true, there are many paths to the same SOURCE, in spite of what “your” translation says…..
Teachable is a good word to add into this cenario. Life is a university and we are all it’s students if we desire. I thought I knew a lot at the age of 18. Boy was I wrong, but I think most go through that. Now I just seek and let God add daily. Discernemnt is needed in dealing with our fellow travelers. Sometimes the spirit let you know when it is just time to stop. Each on their own path. Often it takes significant emotional events to shake us up and keep us growing.
Jesus was not the only person who declared salvation was through Him alone. I John 5:12 declares, “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”
Being teachable is a wonderful and humble quality. We need to examine that which is presented to use as spiritual food before we chew it up and swallow it. The book of Proverbs repeatedly exhorts us to get wisdom and understanding, but it also gives warnings about which voices we listen to. In the New Testament, I John 4:1 tells us not to believe every spirit, but test to see whether they’re from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Paulette, I do agree it often takes significant emotional events to shake us and grow us up. Get ready for some shaking. I’m believing this will be a banner year for many of us!