Love Your Neighbor

Every time I write one of these blog entries, I think to myself that it is the most important thing I have ever written. Is that a sign that I take myself too seriously, perhaps?

Well, this blog entry is the same.

My religious upbringing was not too tolerant of differing viewpoints. And as I read stories in the news, and as I listen to people's conversations nowadays, it seems at least this corner of the world is not getting more tolerant. It is getting less!

I may be wrong. Maybe others are right to take an intolerant stance for the cause of their beliefs. For them, that is their truth and they will probably die to defend it, thinking there is no other way. Although saddened, I can accept their right to their view even though they cannot accept mine, where it happens to differ from theirs.

Unfortunately, the closed-minded will not be able to hear the message that I present here, with them specifically in mind.

I would like to present to the reader a better way of life, a way of getting along with others, a way to make it easier to "love your neighbor" without compromising any of your core beliefs. If it matters to you, I believe this was Jesus' stance, as well.

Remember the story of Jesus with the woman at the well?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (John 4:13-15 KJV)

What was Jesus referring to when he talked about water that would forever quench her thirst? I believe he was referring either to himself, or to what he presented, true worship of God. This can be the topic of a future discussion, as what I want to talk about here and now are the implications.

What ARE the implications of water that would quench all thirst?

Was the woman at the well Jewish, as Jesus was? You know what - for the purposes of our discussion here it really doesn't matter! He was offering to quench her thirst, no matter where she came from.

Just for a moment, try this thought on for size- What Jesus presents to us all can quench our thirst, at a personal level, wherever we come from.

Jesus can satisfy the Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, atheist, even someone who isn't yet aware of God. In a way, you could say that the 'path' of any honestly seeking person will lead to Jesus and what he talked about.

Those who do not seek? The hardships of life will eventually change them, open them up. God softens the ground (the listener) with rain (life's problems) all in God's good time. Not our job!

I don't believe Jesus intended for us to contend, or fight, with others. I think this is why he healed the centurion's ear and rebuked Peter for chopping it off (Luke 22). I also remember a scripture that spoke against forming factions -

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1Corinthians 1:12,13 KJV)

Forming factions separates us when we should be together.

Where does this spirit of contention and competition come from? What is the result of contention, and destructive competition? Separation. And if you could sum up in one word the legacy that we inherit from the Fall of Man wouldn't it be separation? Separation from God and from our fellow man is what we choose and what we are cursed with, until we see that there is a better way.

And there IS a better way! Stop seeing those around you as your enemy, and start seeing them as your brother.

ADDED LATER:

Although I think I stated my views in a fairly straightforward manner above, maybe the meaning will be lost. So I want to offer further explanation:

It sickens me that many Christians nowadays think that they must fight those of other faiths. Not only does this keep us on different 'sides' but does not provide the answers/ satisfaction/ thirst-quenching that Jesus wanted us to communicate to others.

If modern Christians were able to see Jesus as the fulfillment or culmination of humankind's earlier expressions of a search for God, the true meaning of the good news of the gospel could be realized, and more easily communicated.

God does not compete with any. To say that God competes with any other entity puts that entity on the same level as God.

The Bible is one big story, that we were meant to learn from. In Genesis, Cain's lame defense"Am I my brother's keeper?" carried an implied "YES, in fact, you are!" and this is the very same directive of Jesus -- "Love your neighbor as yourself." Cain and Abel did not worship God in the same way, but they were still brothers, not enemies.

Your brother IS your neighbor, and your neighbor IS your brother, even if they be Hindu, Mormon, Catholic, believe in nothing at all, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Faith Versus Fear

I feel that my last post, 'Shattered Plans' was really meaty, and I just want to take another quick look at the dynamics of that Luke 12:15-34 quote of Jesus'. It was a little on the large side and some may have glanced over it, not seeing its tremendous power and simplicity.

(You can click either of those two links above to read Luke 12:15-34. I feel it's redundant for me to quote it again, and would bog this post down. Sorry!)

What meaning I get from reading this, is that you don't have to have huge faith, providing you do not have great treasures. A small amount of faith is all that is needed to counter any fears, if you have little or no treasures to lose.

Later, in Matthew 17:20 Jesus says,

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

And also he says in Luke 17:6,

"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."

The context of both those passages talk of neglected prayer and fasting (going without), and needs of self improperly placed ahead of others needs. Perhaps the tree and mountain represent the mass of attachments/Earthly treasures/worldly cares that hold us back? Shedding those cares, then "Faith the size of a mustard seed" is all that is needed!

1Jo 4:18 KJV - "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

Perfect love says, "Mi casa es su casa!" Perfect love wants the best for others, those things the individual used to want for himself. Perfect love is not competitive.

How did I get from talking about 'faith' to talking of 'love'? But perfect love IS a very simple trust that God has us in his hand, and we can release those worldly cares. Perfect love IS faith the size of a mustard seed, a small thing, but not inconsequential!

Shattered Plans

I'm seeing some similarities in my life, and a common thread.

I am very concerned about my son's progress in school, his extra-curricular activities and the quality of his friends and associates.

Why?

Because I have plans for him. I want him to succeed in life. He MUST succeed in life!

I am still recovering from my divorce. It's hard for me to give up on the plans for our future together, and our children's future.

Job 17:11 (KJV) - My days are past, my purposes are broken off, [even] the thoughts of my heart.

At fifty, my view of the world is quite different than it was at twenty. All those years ago I felt like I had infinite potential to succeed.

But now?

Now it seems I have become either cynical or maybe just resigned to life, and I see less and less reason to plan.

Psalms 146:4 (KJV) - His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

In each case I see a grief over the perceived loss of these goals.

I can see it farther back in my personal history as well. In this ending decade I have realized that my political party has been taken over by greedy men who consider the end more important than the means, and I'm sad over the loss of great ideals.

Job 5:12 KJV - He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise.

'Global Warming' and 2012 doomsday scenarios- Why do they scare and upset? Nothing puts a crimp in your plans like discussing the pending destruction of humanity!

James 4:13-16 (KJV) - Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Maybe the stunted economy is warping my view, getting me to think that my country is also in decline. Or maybe the sickened economy is proof that our country really is in decline! Can we recover? What exactly is this feeling of loss, if not the trashing of a dream?

Proverbs 19:21 (KJV) - [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

The church is not immune. It seems easy to see its breakdown, from control by politically minded leaders to the exposed corruption of those we are asked to trust. In the absence of the strong, the spotlight falls on marginal and delusional crackpots who just want to be responsible for stirring the pot, inciting dissension. And of course this makes for very easy targets for atheists and other critics.

With the possible exception of 2012 doomsday scenarios (which I find very 'entertaining' right along discussions of the Zombie Apocalypse), I am feeling some grief and loss in all these areas. Where does that feeling of loss come from? What have I 'lost'?

Proverbs 16:9 (KJV) - A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

I guess I have to say that in making these plans, having these goals, I have been collecting Earthly treasures. We all know of physical treasure, like the pirates chest full of gold doubloons, or in modern terms, the Escalade and the beach house. But treasure can also be intangible thoughts like goals, ideals.

What did Jesus say?

Luke 12:11-14 (KJV) - And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and [unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

(I think Jesus was saying- "Hey, do you think your estate is of ANY importance?")

He continues:

Luke 12:15-34 (KJV) - And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What do you really care about?

Can we strip ourselves of all caring, so as to not have any 'attachments'? Some do.

What earthly (or heavenly) good is it to anyone else, if a person is freed from 'attachments' through detachment, becoming a veritable hermit?

OR- [WHISPER]pssst! There may be a better way![/WHISPER]

Are there healthier things to care about, that can never be stolen or lost? Are there any 'safe bets' for our investment?

Here are two or three:

Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV) - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind ...and... Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mark 12:30,31 (KJV) - ...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength ...and... Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Luke 10:27 (KJV) - ...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Loving God-- always a safe bet that you can never lose out on.

And loving your fellow human being, despite anything they might do to you, is also a safe bet, because no one can ever take that from you.

The love you have to give is a never ending resource. It never came from external things, and has always come from within you!

The TV show Fringe, and Identity

Any watchers of the TV show, 'Fringe'?

In this TV show there are two parallel universes at war with each other. There is an urgency to protect 'this' side at the expense of the 'other' side. Each side has a different goal, and the identity of each character is to be allied with one side and therefore against the other side.

But what would happen if the brilliant scientist of both universes, Walter/Walternate, figured out that they are not really working at cross-purposes, that they have the same goals? What if they had the following conversation?:

WALTER: "I'm so sorry I stole your son. I was just trying to..."

WALTERNATE: "...save his life. Yes. And you did. If you had not, he would have died. I am eternally grateful to you for that."

WALTER: "Thank you!"

WALTERNATE: "Now I think you and I need to figure out how to..."

WALTER: "...repair the damage to the continuum! Yes! Exactly what I was thinking! Asteroid, get us some pudding, we've got WORK to do!"

That's an idea of what might happen if they decided to work together. But, what would happen if one 'side' won, and completely destroyed their mirror? What would Broyles, Olivia, Peter, Astrid, and dear old Walter do? There would be no more identity as part of the Fringe division because there would no longer be a reason for the Fringe division to exist. So there must be a higher ultimate purpose in their individual lives.

Does our life have any significance to it? Most people would say Yes. Because our life has meaning is precisely why our identity or life's purpose can not be laid out in an 'us versus them' framework. The ultimate meaning of life somehow goes beyond this life, whatever that might mean. The temporary conflict of 'us versus them' is no more reality and has no more permanence than a fictional TV show.

Are you more defined by what you stand against, or what you stand for?

We look out into space, and no matter how far we try to see, even to aiding our vision with special telescopes and instrumentation, and what do we find? We find more space, and so we get a concept of infinity. But what if we found a wall? Some might think that meant the boundary. But then someone would ask how thick that wall was, which would imply that there was a farther edge and more space on the other side of course. So you see, no matter what we find at the farthest reaches of space, to us it will always mean infinity! So, who is it that glimpses the infinite? Whoever it is, is way beyond an 'us versus them' identity.

Baseball, hot-dogs, and apple pie!

I hope you'll excuse me just this once if I present some questions designed to stimulate thought. Some, most, of these are rhetorical in nature, and I guarantee that you will have a different set of answers than the person sitting next to you in the pew at church. But that's OK. We don't all have to be the same!

1. How has God interacted with us in the past?

2. Can we infer that this is how God normally continues to interact with us?

3. Why did Jesus ask us to be like the little children?

4. What do we expect of ourselves and others, as Christians?

5. Can you have a relationship with someone if you are hiding from them, or if they are hiding themselves from you?

6. Is Christianity about knowledge that you believe? Or is it about having a relationship? Is it from a book, or experience?

7. How does this change our idea or practice of modern faith? Do we need to be doing anything differently?

My thoughts:
Question 1 can be taken two ways. Historical can mean Biblically, or personally.

Question 2 is actually asking if God changes. Does it make sense that He would?

Question 3: because being childlike is to be full of wonder, excitement, and openness.

Question 4: to have a 'personal' relationship with God, however that is expressed.

Question 5: No, a relationship is revealing one another. In my humble opinion, God continues to reveal himself to us, both from the written word and from life itself. Even if you say that revelation is ONLY from the written word and not from life, then it is a special, personal interaction with God that we derive from our experience of reading that word, and so is a personal revelatory experience.

Question 6: Let me illustrate by asking a similar question-- Is being American about 'baseball, hot-dogs, and apple pie', or about following all the laws, being a good citizen? Of course it is about both. But what a sad existence if you left out the 'baseball, hot-dogs, and apple pie' side of being an American citizen!
And just as a degree in art is inferior to actually having the vision of an artist or being an artist, getting an 'A+' on a theology test is completely inferior to having a personal relationship through God's ongoing revelation of himself to us.
Jesus said:

John 10:10 KJV "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly."

We are to live!

The Bible says that Satan and his demons also have knowledge of God, probably more than is even recorded in the Bible, so obviously it is not knowledge of any sort that saves.

Jam 2:19 KJV "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

Are we self-sufficient in our knowledge, or do we trust in the living God?

Question 7: Yeah- live! Whatever you do, dedicate it to God.

The Prodigal Son and Marley & Me

It occurred to me today that if any of us were to come up with a story like Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate God's love for us, that there would probably be a lot of legalistic nay-sayers that would explode with criticism. "Why does the story not include some sacrificial imagery, or some sort of reference to payment? The father can't just accept him back. It wouldn't be fair, or just!" (Which is exactly the argument presented by the older brother in the story.) Let me be clear- I am not saying that Jesus' death on the cross had/has no meaning. I'm not saying that we don't need Jesus, or that we can bypass Jesus. I do believe that all salvation does go through Jesus Christ. ((Whew!))

Here's my motive in bringing this up- in order to tell another story. I knew this other story is very simplistic, in that it also neglects to include the entire 'plan of salvation'. Just so we're clear-- I already know this!

I just watched the movie 'Marley & Me' again today. I've seen it now five times. It is such a wonderful movie! The movie follows a young couple throughout years of marriage and raising their kids, and the whole time that we get to see their struggles and triumphs, we see how their dog is a part of all of it. The dog chews up the furniture, knocks out the screen on the door, swallows jewelry, ruins dinners and special occasions, alienates neighbors and babysitters, and defies any and every sort of idea of control that they can come up with. Saying that the dog is willful is an understatement! He is self-will run amok!

In the end of the movie the family gets to think back of their lives with Marley, how everything that made them a family involved him. No one asks the question, because it's so obvious what the answer would be-- "Of COURSE we would do it again!" All those years, whenever Marley would chew up the sofa cushions or eat some household appliance, all those little events seemed not only to be huge problems, but reflected flaws in his doggie character. And yet... At the end of the movie when the family is remembering how their lives had been enriched by the company of this dog, those events were not a problem at all. Those weren't flaws in the dog's character, but his way of expressing his joy of life, which didn't always fit in with the expectations of his human family. You can almost hear them say, "Of course everything is forgiven! Of course we love you, Marley! We always did!"

'Marley & Me' is not a story of salvation. But it is a story about life, and how we tend to get way too serious in thinking about our flaws.

As a kid, I used to lay in my bed at night for hours, wracked with guilt that I had laughed at the wrong time in a conversation, or that I had forgotten something obvious in a moment of embarrassment in front of others. I felt ashamed that I could not easily express myself. I would feel red hot embarrassment if the whole family was watching TV and a feminine hygiene commercial played, or if the show had characters that were in bed, or taking their shirt off. I felt guilty about not catching the fly ball earlier in the day, or not having the needed coordination to keep from traveling in basketball. I even felt guilty and embarrassed about stressful misunderstandings between TV characters in the shows, or in fictional stories! As if it weren't enough to be teased and ridiculed by fellow school kids, or chewed out or ignored by my parents, I beat myself up over any and everything, at the drop of a hat! No doubt about it- I was my own worst enemy.

But here's what I'm here to say today--

Just as the father loved his prodigal son and accepted him back without hesitation, without question,

just as the family loved their dog Marley enough to fully accept all of his quirky behavior,

God accepts and loves us. Yes, just like that!

Now, knowing that God loves and accepts us, can we love and accept ourselves? Can we stop being our own worst enemy, yet?

Perfection

Something finally dawned on me tonight as I lay in bed-- Our misconception of perfection can trip us up just as much as our imperfection.

In my last post to this blog I mentioned my connection with God and my connection with other people had to be static free in order for me to feel like I could write anything further in this blog. I want to come from a position of absolute perfection. If my motive is from clarity, of concentration on a perfectly practical message, then it's understandable, if a bit naive. If my motive is from authority, then obviously my sneaky ego is at work again.

But regardless of the process that brought me to this juncture, the idea that things have to be perfect in order to proceed is faulty. It purports to inspire betterment, but only succeeds in applying the brakes to any progress.

How can my relationship with God, and my prayer life with God, be perfect, if I am still not yet fully mature? Do we wait until we have full maturity, and only then pray to God? Of course not!

Similarly, how can my relationships with others be perfect when they and I are all at different maturity levels, and all of us still not yet fully mature? Should I wait until I have my act together (to the point where it is not 'an act') before I try to cultivate a delicate little seedling of a new relationship? Of course not!

We are all still on our path. We are still running the race (competing only against ourselves though).

In this life we do have problems, setbacks, and we feel those losses as suffering. If there is something to learn (and there most always is) then we grasp onto that, so that hopefully we don't have to repeat the lesson. If, as in the case of Job, there is no obvious reason for our problem, then we have to accept that life is like that more often than not.

No tree branch grows perfectly straight, and neither do we, but as the tree branch is perfect in its free-form growth, so are we.

Grasping after wisdom itself can become a burden too, as none of us was ever meant to become an encyclopedia, or curator to a virtual museum of rhetoric.

If you asked the tree branch what it's philosophy of life was, it would probably say to trust that the tree will gather and send the needed water and nutrients, and to search out the Sun.

On hold...

A few people have asked me when I'm going to write another post, or given me encouragement along the lines of "keep it coming" which is of course appreciated. But I'm finding myself on hold.

I know that in order for me to write something of any practical value to anyone (which is my goal) the God&me connection and the others&me connection need to both be static free. And my end just doesn't feel right at this moment. So I'm on hold.

I feel my direction is gently being turned. Instead of venting complaints, I hear the question, "Well, what are you going to DO about that?"

The Obsession of 'Figuring It Out'

Are we in a recession, or is this an economic depression? Does it matter?

Ask someone who is out of work if it matters!

I know many people who are struggling. Not long ago a friend of mine wrote that he knew where he was going in the next life, but that he couldn't figure out this life. Times are tough.

Good, capable people with normally very marketable skills are frustrated by rejection after rejection.

The temptation is to ask, "Why me? What have I done to deserve this?"

Another friend of mine just had a death in her family. The person was very young.

The mind tries to get a grasp of the situation, but it turns out to be an unsolvable puzzle. The mind thinks that if it could just figure out 'why' that somehow the situation could be satisfactory in some way. But the person is still gone, and that is unsatisfactory! And the grief goads the mind back to trying to figure it out. The mind is caught in an endless, painful loop.

Again, the temptation to ask, "Why?"

I was trimming the trees in my back yard. That's what the picture is, above. I was thinking about when Jesus said,

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:1,2)

He was talking about a process in our lives, not a specific event in time.

I looked at the perfectly good branches I had cut from the trees, that were now laying on the ground. Nothing had been wrong with them. But according to my purpose (landscaping), they had to be cut.

The book of Job in the Bible deals with this question. Why does something bad happen to good people? Is it because of a failing on our part? Isn't God supposed to take care of us? Why does God let these things happen?

In one day Job lost all his possessions, lost his children, too. When he thought it couldn't get any worse, he broke out in painful boils. Know what Job said?

"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21)

"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:9,10)

His closest friends did not desert him, but they didn't know how to comfort or console him. They tried to counsel him, to get Job to see that somehow he was less than upright. They thought he must be in denial about some sort of dishonesty or moral flaw. Try as he might, Job could think of no reason for these things to happen to him.

Finally Job gets to hear from God:

"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest?" (Job 38)

'Whirlwind' is probably an accurate way to describe the drama of Job's life!

I highly recommend reading all of God's answer in Job 38, indeed, read the whole book of Job!

I can anticipate what you might ask-- "So, what's the answer?"

The answer is-- There IS NO ANSWER. More precisely, there is no answer that would satisfy the mind, but the mind will go crazy looking for it anyways.

Isn't it our inflated ego that tries to convince us that we deserve answers to everything?

How we get stuck

In my previous entry I said

"Jesus' obedience was to make himself open to whatever God wanted from him. It is very important to note that Jesus did not stop with any 'basics'. Jesus went all the way, and that's the reason we can follow him. Jesus didn't get stuck."

Sometimes the writers of the Bible referred to things that hold us back as impediments, or things that make someone stumble. In other places the same things are referred to as chains that bind us. The picture we have of Jesus in the desert discusses these things as temptations. All of these are good descriptions, because they do trip us up, bind us, and seem good. And these can also be seen as fears, and as such, are ways that we can be controlled. They are all external things that we think will make us happy, but don't deliver.

Look at the temptations of Jesus in the desert.

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

PHYSICAL NEEDS

The first was for physical sustenance, turning stones into bread.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The first temptation was so close to home. Jesus was weak from his fast, and the temptation was really close to a mere observation of his need for food and water. Who would dispute that? Of course he needed food and water!

In our modern society one way freedom is denied is to become a wage slave. If you are in fear of the fallout from the loss of your job, you might be tempted to justify even unethical actions. After all, you may have a family to feed!

How do we break the chains of being a 'wage-slave' to our job? You don't have to quit your job, just recognize that life is more than a paycheck. Your boss doesn't own you.

"If only I had my needs met, I would be happy!" -- But happiness doesn't depend on paying any bills. In Matthew 6:25 Jesus says,

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

There is much more to life than the physical, there is the spiritual. And both types of sustenance come from God, not your employer.

RECOGNITION

The second temptation was that Jesus could jump from the top of the temple and not be hurt.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

It appealed to a sense of power and of status. Here is another way we can end up chained and controlled, just like a bought politician.

This stumbling block is societal. It is all about power, status, having some sort of recognition. It is about the fear that someone else will get the promotion ahead of us.

"If only I were appreciated, recognized, I would be happy!" -- But happiness doesn't depend on pats on the back.

Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

I think most personality disorders and controlling behavior falls into this category. In our attempts to control situations and people, and pursuit of recognition, we might use all sorts of justifications for what good we can accomplish. But power, status, or recognition that is of any value is our status with God. Everything else is as ethereal as a cloud.


RICHES

The third temptation was to gain the whole world-- materialism.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The song 'Billionnaire' by Travie Mccoy is very popular now, expressing the mindset of most people nowadays, it seems.

"If only I were rich, I would be happy!" -- But happiness doesn't depend on riches.

Riches become your chains, your master, because once you have them you must guard them lest they be stolen. You worry that somehow everything will be taken away, and this worry will rule you.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

But as we noted with temptation number two, everything of TRUE value comes from God. And as with the proper response to temptation one, everything we TRULY need comes from God.

LIBERATION

At first these external pursuits look good to us. And we ask ourselves how something that is good can ever be bad for us. There is a saying, 'The Good is the enemy of the Best'. When the road forks, you can't take both paths.

Jesus came to light the path, to show us the way to freedom. By following his example we too can keep from getting stuck. And if we already feel trapped, following his example can liberate us from our bondage to this world. But you have to follow him, do what he did, step where he stepped, so to speak.

What Jesus tried to communicate was this: If everything of value and everything we need comes from God, then that's the end of discussion! Why would we look to the external world for what only God can give? We don't need to give room in our thinking to the lie that we will be happy if we can get, grab, collect, or have. These external things no longer rule us, or even have any meaning to us, because our whole existence is on another level.

for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

Maturity

We are accustomed to the prepackaged and ready to go. Everything should be within our immediate reach, so we can claim it, use it, and move on. Forget the journey, we only care about the destination. This is the voice that says, "I don't care about the process, I want the product and I want it now!"

I am convinced that we are in desperate trouble if we forget the journey. The journey is the point.

Paul said in I Corinthians 3:1-3

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Paul also said something similar in Hebrews 5:11,12

Of [Christ] we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Paul wished that people were ready to move on but that they were still babies, still clamoring for milk when he would have liked to give them meat. What did that mean? How were they childish, not ready to grow?

First thing to note here is that there IS more to discover when you get past the basics!

What keeps us stuck on the basics? "For ye are yet carnal...[there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions..." We are stuck on the basics because we are still thinking like we used to. We still insist on looking for the differences, not the similarities. And ultimately, if you carry the 'differences' seeking approach out to its logical conclusion you will end up standing 100% alone!

If we are to move from milk to meat, we have to grow, mature. A person can only grow when they are open to the process of growing. We are to return to that child-like wonder and openness, not be childish, immature. Opening yourself is the first step to discovering something new, and growing.

Maturity is a process, rather than a destination.

Do you know that Jesus went through this process of openness, in order to grow?

Hebrews 5 tells about it:

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Jesus' obedience was to make himself open to whatever God wanted from him. It is very important to note that Jesus did not stop with any 'basics'. Jesus went all the way, and that's the reason we can follow him. Jesus didn't get stuck.

What does God want from you? Make yourself open to it, accept it, and enjoy your journey!

Separation

In this modern society it is so easy to isolate from others, to see other people as either obstacles or vehicles. It is so easy to fall into a pattern of thinking in which the whole world revolves around you. Our society actively encourages us to build ourselves up, to grab what we want. Even our modern vacations have become shopping sprees, to get more stuff. And yet, even with a bunch of new stuff, are we fulfilled?

Maybe occasionally as we drive out of a shopping center we will see some scruffy looking panhandler and either be annoyed and look the other way, or...? Is there a slight feeling inside?

Is there a regret for the panhandler's condition, or a greater regret from the sudden realization that I have lost much of my capacity for compassion? Where did it go? Does this mean that I am a 'bad' person?

How can I get back to having a healthy sense of compassion for my fellow man?

If I don't 'feel' it, how am I supposed to do what Jesus said?

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted [Jesus], saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
[Jesus] said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Luke 10:25-28)

Here is an interesting paradox. Have you ever noticed how someone who looks for fulfillment in things outside himself is considered self-centered, yet someone who instead embarks on some deep internal soul searching finds contentment with the outer world? Which one is more likely to show love, charity, or compassion to a stranger?

Have you ever noticed baby birds in a nest, how they cry for their mother to feed them? Isn't that a good illustration of someone who looks for their happiness in external things? You take care of me! Feed me! I need!

What Has Value?

There is a parable in the Bible about wheat and tares (begins at Matthew 13:24), in which the workers found that weeds were all through the wheat crop. When they asked the owner what to do he told them to leave everything alone, that the weeds would be separated out at harvest time.

This is very plainly telling us to be tolerant and let God figure it out, in His time.

I love the Tao Te Ching and it's view of God, because it says that anything we come up with can never define God, just as we can never fully define what it means to be human. And if we can't define God, and we can't define exactly what it means to be human, why do we start thinking that we can define what it means to worship God or be 'called according to His purpose'?

There is a respectful reverence there, in not seeking to define God or judge people, and in waiting and listening for God.

I feel the need to reveal a little of my own story, as it relates to the above.

As I grew up, our family went to church several days and nights of the week, and I attended private Bible school Monday through Friday. All of our family and friends were Christian too. It was a pretty one-sided experience, though not bad.

I went to Bible College, but had some maturity problems and dropped out in my 3rd year. All my plans of becoming a minister were blown. I felt disgraced at home and at my church. I felt I had failed at the only thing I truly was meant to do in life.

I had trouble adjusting, but I found work. I fell in with a group of guys who loved to drink, and I went through a time when I was very self destructive. At one point I realized how bad I had let things get, and I prayed for God to do something, anything, or kill me. One or the other.

The very next day, a person was put in my life that literally turned me around. If it wasn't an angel from God, then I don't know what.

I started going to church again.

A couple of years later I completely fell for a woman, and we married. But it turned out that she was not motivated towards God or church, and over the years we were successful in uncovering many other areas of incompatibility.

We had two great kids. It wasn't all bad.

During our marriage I had still tried to attend church, although it was hit & miss.

When 9/11 happened, I was in shock. And over the next couple of years I felt like one thing after another was taken from me. I couldn't be proud of my Texas heritage, because Dubya was making all Texans look like fools. I couldn't be proud of being Republican because the Neo-Cons had taken over the party and were making all Republicans look like criminals. I couldn't be proud of being a Christian, because the Religious Right was saying that if I wasn't pro-Bush then I was anti-American and anti-Christian. And finally I couldn't even be proud to be an American because we were attacking Iraq, who had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11. All the intel turned out to be manufactured, and we had a baboon of a leader that thought it was all a joke. I was disgusted with the church, that all of Christianity was now in bed with such criminals! WWJD?

I fell away from the church. I still loved God, but for a time I refused to call myself a Christian. I reasoned that the peaceful philosophy behind Aikido was the healthiest, and seriously began studying Eastern philosophies. I found a lot of valuable wisdom, and for me these philosophies began to reawaken and amplify my relationship with God.

I found I could not get away from God, and He brought me back to what I feel is authentically following Christ. After all, I never stopped having an awe-filled wonder of Him and a deep fascination with the person of Jesus Christ. And I can't get enough of Jesus. I am consumed by him!

I know this, without a doubt- The relationships we have with others are deeply spiritual bonds, and as such are way more important than laws, customs, ideas, or anything else. Herein lies integrity, honor, love, dedication. In a way (not Jesus' intent but my own, for what it's worth), these spiritual bonding relationships are the wheat, and our casual encounters with things and people that we treat as things, are the tares. Only the wheat has any value.

ADDENDUM:

After I wrote the above, I realized that many may not understand what I was trying to say. I did not explicitly state what I was getting at in the writing above, but I don't want anyone to miss it. So let me explain:

1. We are not here to judge our neighbor. Not only is it not our job, but judgments, being external things, are useless to us. It's like a foreign currency that we cannot spend. Worthless!

2. I related my story as an illustration of the idea of 'process' which is why none of us is in a position (literally) to judge another. None of us watching the tennis match have the view from the referee's seat, above. Only God can see the whole picture.

3. In my story is a definite turning away from external religion, external bits of societal 'bling' (like pride in this or that), to an internal seeking of God, and internal communion with God. On an individual level only what is inside lasts. Neither moth, rust, nor thieves can touch it!

Connection

Aside from any religion, faith, or philosophy, education or lack thereof- despite any socioeconomic or ethnic differences- regardless of country or geographic location- not caring about personal likes, dislikes, weight, age or any other perceived differences- the time has come for us to come together. We need to open dialog, and we need to get to know each other. We need to be present with each other!

I don't even care if you disagree with me, we still need to come together!

The world can be a harsh, cold, and impersonal place. It didn't start out that way, and here's a secret-- it doesn't have to stay that way for you if you don't want to live like that!

"That sounds great. What does it cost?"

Well, for some the price may seem too high...

"Cut to the chase-- how much will it cost me?"

Only your bias, your pre-conceived ideas.

In 'I and Thou' Martin Buber says,

"Insofar as a human being makes do with the things that he experiences and uses, he lives in the past, and his moment has no presence. He has nothing but objects; but objects consist in having been.
Presence is not what is evanescent and passes but what confronts us, waiting and enduring...
What is essential is lived in the present, objects in the past."

What he means by objects in the past is pre-conceived ideas. Judgments. Have you ever met someone and gotten the impression that they had already made up their mind about you? That's what Martin Buber was talking about-- being objectified, summed up and pigeon-holed into a category. It's not being present.

This being treated like an 'It' is one of two ways that we humans interact with our world. The other is to instead intimately interact as equals, as a 'You'.

I really like how Martin Buber treats being present in the intimate interpersonal:

"This is no metaphor but actuality: love does not cling to an I, as if the You were merely its 'content' or object; it is between I and You... Love is a cosmic force. For those who stand in it and behold in it, men emerge from their entanglement in busy-ness; and the good and the evil, the clever and the foolish, the beautiful and the ugly, one after another become actual and a You for them; that is, liberated, emerging into a unique confrontation. Exclusiveness comes into being miraculously again and again-- and now one can act, help, heal, educate, raise, redeem. Love is responsibility of an I for a You: in this consists what cannot consist in any feeling-- the equality of all lovers, from the smallest to the greatest and from the blissfully secure whose life is circumscribed by the life of one beloved human being to him that is nailed his life long to the cross of the world, capable of what is immense and bold enough to risk it: to love man."

We either find a connection with others, or we end up treating them as objects. One or the other. Take your pick.

I think we are already connected, all of us, and that pointing out this connection was a major part of Jesus' ministry.

John 15:1,2 says:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

First impulse is to read this with attention to the main meaning-- the branches that are removed. But there is also something else here-- It sounds like all of us do have a connection! (True, a parable is an analogy and we don't want to over-examine it and end up making false assumptions.)

Mal 2:10 says we all have one source:

"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?"

There is the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:24. Note that all are in the same field, and not separated from each other!

Act 10:34 says God looks at us equally:

"Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

Some might think that Matthew 10:34 could rebut any talk of togetherness:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

As you can see, Jesus was not saying that he brings a sword. He obviously meant that we would have troubles in this life from persecution.

LIKE... MINI TRINITIES?
Probably because Buber's 'I and Thou' has been on my mind, I had an idea yesterday about the sacred spirit of the relationship. It is complete conjecture on my part, so it may or may not have merit.

I have heard of the Trinity described this way-- There is God the father, and Christ, the son. The relationship between the father and the son is the Holy Spirit.

If that is the case, then when we have relationships we make miniature trinities all the time!

God and I, and our relationship make a mini-trinity.

You and I, and our relationship make a mini-trinity.

Jesus did say something not the same, but similar in Matthew 18:20:

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

If this is true, that there is a sacred spirit of our relationship, then what would it mean to grieve the spirit (in this connotation)?

Ephesians 4:30-

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

If we all are branches off of the one true vine, and so have a connection to God and to each other, perhaps in these smaller, trinity-like bonds of relationship, 'grieving the spirit' would be to ignore the connection, to instead show bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, or malice.

Maybe how to foster good, sacred bonds with others is to "be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

That is why we turn the other cheek. That is why we love our neighbor as ourselves!

Remember-- I'm not talking about just having relationships with like-minded people. That's too easy.

We have a good quality, sacred, connection right now to every other human being on the planet. It just needs to be remembered, reawakened, and enlivened!

God and Spirit

There are some things that need to be stated unequivocally before we go any further. (This is my viewpoint right now, but I'm keeping an open mind if better ideas show up.)

1. We are not God, but we DO have a God nature, or spirit. God breathed into us life and spirit from Him, at creation. But that doesn't mean we can then say that we ARE God any more than my son could use my driver's license to drive. If you think you are God then you should be able to do something small, like whip up another inhabitable planet that's not too far away (can it be too far away if you are really God?).

2. We can connect with our God nature / explore our own spirituality, and this brings great pleasure and fulfillment to our lives. We can then have our spirit/God nature connect with another's spirit/God nature, and we have valuable, lasting bonds of friendship. And it is very good.

3. But connecting with our own internal God nature is not the same as connecting with God. If we worship our own internal God nature, given to us by God at creation, we are not worshiping the creator, but the creation itself. Our God nature was and is part of our creation, so if we worship IT that might be 'good' but not the 'best'-- worshiping the Creator, God Himself.

4. How do we communicate God to others? Depends on where they are, their culture, their frame of reference. So for modern self-realization/enlightenment people, we recognize that they are already into spiritual things and becoming attuned to our true God nature. That is a very good thing! This is common ground on which we can meet!

5. Many modern Christians have lost their connection with their God nature, their spirit, for various different reasons. I don't think God intends us to live such a meager, sad experience either, and Jesus was trying to point this out. When we are out of tune with the God nature/spirit then our relationships with others suffer tremendously. We end up trashing the planet, making life miserable for all. Christians have much to gain by reconnecting with the original spiritual philosophies that were common even just a few hundred years ago. The common ground between modern Christians and modern enlightenment folks is beneficial to both sides!

That is where I am coming from in the writing of this blog, to reawaken spirituality in the modern Christian, and to get God, who has been much maligned in modern times, back into the dialog of the modern spiritually conscious enlightenment crowd.

People are spiritually starving! I see a gaunt fatigue of malnutrition in the modern church, and empty weariness in spiritual seekers outside the church. Jesus came that we should be fed, and not be hungry.

Fear

I just read a very inspirational story of people who asked themselves, "What would Jesus do?" and overcame their fear, to welcome and connect with their neighbors!

If we are really afraid of Muslim violence (a reaction we choose to nurture in our thinking), or even of Muslim influence, maybe we should take what is in Luke 12 to heart:

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Muslim's aren't 'the one' to fear.

According to the above passage, who should we fear, or deeply respect? "Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell." The only one who will ever have that power is God. But do we need to really be afraid of God? "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

Jesus, as far as I can tell, didn't ask any of his frequent dinner guests (sinners and tax collectors) to change, to be transformed, prior to eating with them. Notice I said 'prior'! They came for the grub, and the companionship!

See, it is possible to eat and drink with people of different backgrounds, because Jesus did it!

Was he afraid that a vagrant or criminal would stab and kill him? Where would God's plan be, then? Yet Jesus didn't have any bodyguards!

Was Jesus afraid that they would convince him of some dangerous philosophy that would steer him off course? Of course not! The suggestion is absurd! God has NOTHING to fear from any of man's thinking!

And Jesus asked them for their benefit, not his own. He was concerned about their health, safety, and well-being. And just so, we should be thinking about the Muslim next door! What would benefit them? Would it be to turn them away? No.

So let the Muslim come. Let the Buddhist, the Hindu, and the Atheist come. We have NO REASON TO FEAR!

Idealism

I read a blog post recently that saddened me. Here is the blog.

It saddens me because I sense that he really does love God, he's just upset at people. And I can't agree more.

People upset me, too.

This is a difficult and maybe impossible topic to pin down to a definition.

Because on one level, our relationship with God is a completely intimate bond between the individual and his creator, and is found in that quiet place inside of us only after we have emptied ourselves of our egotistical attachments. This is prayer, meditation, like Jesus showed in the garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.

And on another level, our relationship with God is reaching out to others, as Jesus did on a daily basis to all around him.

On the personal, internal level, nothing that anyone can ever do can separate me from God. That connection is permanent. I may occasionally forget that it is there, but it never goes away.

On the external, interpersonal level, I believe we have to accept where a person is in their path as being their business, their choice, given the situation and info that they have. We can impart info to them, and/or try to change their physical situation, show compassion. But ultimately it is their choice of how they proceed from there.

And if others attack us, is it really 'us' they attack? A wild animal that is covered in oil from an oil spill, or has a broken leg or wing will attack its rescuer. But it would be insane for the rescuer to seriously be angry with the animal!

If other people, maybe even people in the church, work at contrary purposes to how we perceive they 'should' act, couldn't it be not necessarily from an evil intent, but merely ignorance? Can we be angry at them for the sin of not knowing any better?

Jesus was mistreated by people that really didn't understand that he could solve their problems, banish their fears. Did he get angry with them? What did Jesus get angry at? He was angered by the assertions of those who decided that they were experts on God.

Flash forward to the 21st century-- Spotlight on a couple of blog writers, expounding on matters pertaining to people's relationship with God-- I am humbled. This is very serious and dangerous business, writing such a blog!

I trust that God seeks and saves that which is lost. The shepherd isn't motivated by the lost sheep's thoughts, and the father isn't motivated by the prodigal son's thoughts. God knows us and seeks us out despite what we think we have to say about the matter!

What Doesn't Work in Relationships Doesn't Work With God Either

That last post was a hard one to follow. There is no way to come up with anything better than God's love! Anything after that is a let-down, but I want to start writing again so I'll jump right back into it!

I have talked about Objectification before, but I decided to revisit the topic and show how unfair it is to all parties. Oh, and it doesn't work!

What is 'Objectification'?
The following is quoted from Wikipedia:

Philosopher Martha Nussbaum has argued that something is objectified if any of the following factors is present: * Instrumentality – if the thing is treated as a tool for one's own purposes; * Denial of autonomy – if the thing is treated as if lacking in agency or self-determination; * Inertness – if the thing is treated as if lacking in agency; * Ownership – if the thing is treated as if owned by another; * Fungibility – if the thing is treated as if interchangeable; * Violability – if the thing is treated as if permissible to smash; * denial of subjectivity – if the thing is treated as if there is no need to show concern for the 'object's' feelings and experiences.

What people may be more familiar with because it has been a common topic in the past 40 to 50 years came out of the feminist movement, and that is the topic of objectification of women.

Why would someone objectify another? It is a way of dehumanizing them, in order to more easily control them or others.

I only bring up objectification of women in particular because people have already been introduced to that discussion. But women aren't the only people to be thought of as static objects to be owned or manipulated. Men are sized up (pun intended) on how good of a prospect they are. It takes very little thought to see the connection between dehumanizing a group of people by objectifying them and racial stereotyping. If not the same thing, it is darn close!

Before we examine each bullet point of Martha Nussbaum's, let's get down to the nitty gritty of exactly what the problem is. What is the problem with objectification? The problem is that if you choose to objectify someone you reject who they are on the inside, their feelings, dreams, and their personality. If you choose to sum someone up in a generalization, you reject them as a person, and any opportunity to build a relationship is gone!

Let's look at examples of each one of those points. Keep in mind that word 'any'- Objectification has occurred when ANY of the stated factors are present.

1. Instrumentality – if the thing is treated as a tool for one's own purposes

• In human relationships-- Can you have a healthy relationship if a man just wants a woman to 'fill the position' of girlfriend or wife, or mother to his kids? How must she feel, knowing that? What if a woman marries solely for security? How must her husband feel? Can love, or any healthy relationship exist between the two?
  
• With God-- Are you trying to use God as a tool, to help you succeed? If God made us in his image and we have feelings, wouldn't he have feelings, too?
  

2. Denial of autonomy – if the thing is treated as if lacking in agency or self-determination

• In human relationships-- Do you think that you are irreplaceable, or that your significant other would completely fall apart without your constant help? Isn't this degrading to them, like treating them as if they were a child with no power of their own?
• With God-- Do you think that without your help, God's purposes will not come to pass? Do you think that God would fail without you? Do you think that God needs guidance from you?
  

3. Inertness – if the thing is treated as if lacking in agency

• In human relationships-- Men, do you think you can convince a woman to sleep with you if you just come up with the right pick-up line? What about a special cologne that has an aphrodisiac, that makes you irresistible? Women, do you have any 'guaranteed' formulas to land any man? Aren't these things just a way of treating the other person as if they are an unthinking animal, and not fully human?
• With God-- Do you think that there is a formula that makes God do your will? Do you treat God as if he were just an impersonal force, like 'The Force' in Star Wars? Is there a magic phrase that absolves you, or a set of magic words that gets you into Heaven? Is being with God reduced to entering in a discount code on a cosmic web page?
  

(NOTE: In previous posts I've talked about 'intellectualizing' God, trying to manipulate him with formulas. That's what #3 here is about, too.)

4. Ownership – if the thing is treated as if owned by another

• In human relationships-- Men, do you tell 'your' wife or girlfriend that you 'own' them? Are you a control freak, telling them what they can or can't do, controlling everything they do and every penny they spend? Women, do you do that with 'your' man?
• With God-- Do you think that God only works for you? Do you think that God cannot work in other ways, through other people from other backgrounds?
  

5. Fungibility – if the thing is treated as if interchangeable (non-unique)

• In human relationships-- It is much easier to 'kiss someone off' by saying, "There's plenty of other fish in the sea!" People are not fish. Each of us is a universe of depth, completely unique.
• With God-- (I confess, I don't know what to write here. Do we realize God has his own 'personality' or person-hood? Do we appreciate how unique God is? I feel inadequate to even frame the question!)
  

6. Violability – if the thing is treated as if permissible to smash

• In human relationships-- Have you heard someone say, "I made you and I can break you!" It's the voice of an ogre of a boss to an underling, not of a healthy relationship.
• With God-- Do you consider God to be a construction? Is God just a crutch, to be used for a while and then discarded when no longer desired or needed? If God wants to do something in your life, do you think you can contravene him?
  

7. Denial of subjectivity – if the thing is treated as if there is no need to show concern for the 'object's' feelings and experiences.

• In human relationships-- Do you make promises and not keep them? Do you betray trust, by being unfaithful to your significant other? Or do you ignore them? Don't you realize that this other person has feelings?
• With God-- Do you happily and willingly 'stumble', knowing that God will forgive you? Don't you know that your stumbling only hurts you? What hurts God is that you expect him to endorse it!
  

All of these methods are ways that people use to avoid having a relationship. Why? Probably it is out of a fear of vulnerability, that they could be hurt, or that they would be expected to give of themselves, to compromise, or sacrifice something.

Life is always a compromise. If the weather is cold, you wear a jacket. If you're hungry, you look for a job, or a better job, so you can provide for yourself. If you ask someone to lunch or a movie, they might say, "No" or have a different idea. And if someone close to you is in need, yes, you will probably want to help them! When we see things from God's perspective all of us are siblings, and if one is in need, all feel it and respond.

All of us here on Earth are in the same family, and God wants us to stop avoiding relationships and to instead embrace relationships! And if any of us stand a chance of developing a relationship with our creator, we cannot continue to treat him as an external, impersonal object. God needs to be an internal, personal love affair.

Greatest of these is love

Most Christians know about 1st Corinthians 13. Many have had portions of it recited at their wedding, even if they're not overly religious or Christian. It's a great chapter about love.

Anything else? Let's take a second look:

1Cr 13:8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

This expresses a contrast between the eternal, which is love, and the temporary. That's right, these other things will end, while there is no end to love.

1Cr 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;

This life is a finite life, and no matter how much we study we will never learn everything. No matter how we strive to discover and discern, we can never see it all in this life. No matter what we think of God, in this life we will always have a limited vision.

1Cr 13:10,11 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

When we come to the end of our finite self, what is left is the only thing that is eternal-- love. There will be no more reason to study or limit to our vision. Just as teens no longer play with building blocks like when they were toddlers, we will have no more reason for human rituals.

1Cr 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

1Cr 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

For now, we have faith, hope, and love. But the particulars of faith end up to be training wheels that are removed from our bikes. Similarly, hope will eventually be unnecessary!

Faith and hope will both be unnecessary!

Some are adamant that we are saved by God seeing our good works, which also demands having the absolutely correct vision and definition of God.

Others are equally as certain that we are all saved by God's grace.

But there will come a time when we are past these disputes, and we will see them as the childish babblings that they really are.

And what will be left? Love. Love is eternal. Love is God, and God is love. Love created us, love sustains us, and we become love.

Cautionary Wisdom

I recently read the following from 'The Tao' by Mark Forstater:

"Transmit the message exactly as it stands. Don't transmit it with any excessive language. In this way the envoy can keep himself whole."
'Consider how skillful wrestlers begin with friendly trials of strength, but always end with underhand attempts to gain victory. As the pressure grows, their moves become wily
and clever.
'Those drinking at ceremonies at first observe good order, but always end in disorder. As their excitement grows, etiquette turns into uproar.
'In all things it's the same. People are at first sincere, but always end by becoming unpleasant. At the beginning things are treated as trivial, but as the end draws near, they assume great proportions.
'Words are no different than wind and waves, and actions are a matter of gain and loss. Wind and waves are easily stirred up. and questions of gain and loss easily lead to danger.
'So quarrels are stirred up by nothing so much as clever words and twisted speech, and animosities arise on both sides. When animals are threatened with death, they bellow
wildly, and their breath rages angrily. Cornered, they lash out. Similarly. If people are pushed too far, they lash out - why they don't know. Since they don't know why, who knows how it will end?"

I take this to heart. Because what I've been doing in this blog here is a form of negotiations. I have been trying to rediscover and re-inject some traditional Eastern wisdom back into Christianity, which I believe has lost this element through the years. I do believe that many times when something does not make sense in the Bible or our religion, that if a person looks at whatever it is through an Eastern viewpoint, tremendous vistas of understanding open up.
There are many in and out of churches nowadays who do not see the relevance of the traditional approach to Christianity. If I may anticipate your response to saying that-- No, we shouldn't try to accommodate to try to make everyone happy. But-- We should examine what we are doing to make sure that it is authentic, not to the customs of people but to the intent of the original text. We should constantly take a look to see if modern society has culturally moved on and left the church back in time and irrelevant. 'What should always stay relevant?' is the question.

So in the future I'm going to try to concentrate heavily on quoting text, and minimize any attempts of my ego to be clever. Because whatever the case, I don't matter.

The Point of the Point is not the Point

Have you ever had a dog?

There's a funny scenario that plays out with our pets, time and time again. You're at the park with your dog and you throw the stick/ball/Frisbee. Most of the time your dog follows the arc of your arm as you throw it, and their eyes never leave the object. But this time maybe Rover got distracted by some laughing kids or a car with a loud stereo, but whatever the case, the dog doesn't know that you threw it or where you threw it. And it looks to you, and then to the side, then back to you, then spins around. It's confused!

So you call to your dog, and point in the direction that you threw the object. What does the dog do? Yep, he's looking at your hand! You call, "No, no, over THERE!" but the dog is still looking back and forth from you to your hand. It's so frustrating, and yet funny!

The point is, don't mistake what is pointing for what is pointed AT. The two are completely different.

In the Bible, throughout history there have been wise men that the Jewish people referred to as prophets. Never did these prophets point to themselves, but always to God.

Then came one of the greatest prophets, John the Baptizer, and although he also pointed to God, you could make a case that he was mainly pointing to the coming of Jesus.

Then came Jesus, a prophet that was more than a prophet. Although he could have given in to the temptation to flex his power as God's son, he purposely took great pains to humble himself and limit himself. Why? Because his task and his message was more important than his own person. Think about that for a moment! What Jesus pointed to was more important than Jesus himself! (Wow)

Did the people around him look to see where he was pointing, or did they just look at his hand? So many people just wanted more food, healing, or another magic trick. Over and over Jesus tried to tell stories to illustrate God's love for them, that they didn't have reason to be anxious or worried, that rewards would come to the faithful, and that evil-doers get tripped up in their own evil schemes. He repeatedly showed that what you do from this point on is way more important than anything you have done in the past, and that it's important to stay receptive and not have a hardened heart to the truth. But did people actually hear Jesus? A few did.

The same dynamic is going on right now, 2000 years after Jesus walked the Earth. What do you expect to GET from Jesus? Or are you listening, trying to stay receptive and open?

Ultimately, I think there is even a truth that God is pointing us to. What could it be?

Origin of the Blockhead

I have purposely used the word 'pride' where others might have used 'ego' because I wanted to highlight the falsity of the blown out of proportion ego. We do have an identity as creations of God, and that is good. It is the false construction that is the collection of everything that you've been adding on since early childhood, that has grown into a monster. And that's what must be stripped away either now, or when you die. You can't take it with you!

The Jewish people have a legend about something called a 'golem.' When I say that, what comes to your mind? A monster? That's because the story has changed, and the meaning has changed over the years.

According to Wikipedia:

"The word golem is used in the Bible to refer to an embryonic or incomplete substance: Psalm 139:16 uses [a] word...meaning my unshaped form, which then passes into Yiddish as goylem.[2] The Mishnah uses the term for an uncultivated person..."

On the Pirkei Avos website Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld says,

"The Hebrew word golem literally means an unfinished object, such as a utensil which has been shaped but not polished."

Notice the similarity with the concept of 'the uncarved block' of philosophical Taoism! I like the Benjamin Hoff books, one of which is 'The Tao of Pooh' which has this description of 'the uncarved block':

"One of the basic principles of Taoism is P'U, the Uncarved Block. The essence of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed. This principle applies not only to things, but to people as well. Or Bears. Which brings us to Pooh, the very Epitome of the Uncarved Block. When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few, other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun."

Back to 'golem' for a moment. To recap, 'golem' used to mean something similar to 'the uncarved block' of Taoism. 'Golem' always was a creature, but as people do, over the years the 'golem' became something of a monster.

Wikipedia also has this:

"In many depictions golems are inherently perfectly obedient. However, in its earliest known modern form the story has Rabbi Eliyahu of Chełm creating a golem that became enormous and uncooperative. In one version of this the rabbi had to resort to trickery to deactivate it, whereupon it crumbled upon its creator and crushed him."

The Genesis creation story has God creating Adam as a golem in Genesis 2:7

"And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Again, Wikipedia:

"Adam is described in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 38b) as initially created as a golem when his dust was "kneaded into a shapeless husk"."

I don't think I'm going out on a limb here by asserting that we started out as a child (creation) of God/golem/uncarved block, and then -WE- were the ones that, from our original identity/golem/uncarved block created the false ego (pride) which is also the story of the uncontrollable monster golem! Our pride makes us the uncontrollable monster creation! Who created it? We did!

At the end of one of my recent posts I said that the killing off of the parasite of pride is the same as being born again. As some will think this is a woefully inadequate summation, let me further clarify.

I imagine the response:
"Being 'born again' is from having a new life in Jesus Christ! You're dead to the old life and born again to the new life!"

Yes, we are talking about the same things, just using different words. The 'old life' is the life of being driven by that false creation of ours, pride. Do you remember the OT story of Jacob and Esau, and how Esau traded his birthright for a hot meal? (Genesis 25:30) That's like what happened when we traded God's true creation of our nature for our own creation of our nature, pride.

In God's creation of our nature is joyous life, but in our creation (pride) is something that comes to an early end. God's creation is lasting quality, for he is the master builder. Our creation (pride) is of inferior quality, even if we tried our best. God's creation AUTOMATICALLY recognizes and honors God, whereas our creation of pride always becomes a monster out of control. Becoming born again is changing that decision of Esau's and keeping the birthright instead of trading it away. This is what Jesus taught before we humans killed him to silence him.

Our Pride will go to any lengths to protect itself. It has a mind of it's own!

Do we then need Jesus? Yes! Jesus' death was a living display of a general principle of how we are to live. In inviting Jesus in and looking for his nature inside of us, we are forced to give up our pride. We are to stop thinking of our own survival, our own skin and it's pleasures and wants, and think of how we can help others.

What does it mean to invite Jesus into our heart? It means to look for him there! Stop looking for Jesus in rust spots and baked bread, and instead look for him in you!