The Revelation of Jesus Christ

[WhyCzar]

I await your reply ----

I was born free and free I will die. - Galatians 5:1

 

[unsafe]

I was born free and free I will die. - Galatians 5:1

You wish ----boy are you grasping at straws -----Good luck -------

Can't quite get there ------- nice to spar with you

 

[Luce NDs]

It is said that some are born to fight and some are born to fly free ... indicating some are confined and restricted to their desires!

Imagine the choice ... and so it goes (he, she, it)! Can we put it to word ... that's god?

If the story appears to repeat do you suppose we've been here before and have got nowhere? There are those that declare you can't escape it if you do not read deeply ... in what's plotted and laid out ... all in the dark and mystery! Warpage ... or just weaving about ...

What addicts folk seems to be materialism ... and thus substantial abuse ...

 

[chansen]

What makes you think that God should allow you into His Holy Domain ---when you know you were born with a corrupt Nature and know you have a way to correct that Nature and you refuse to do so by your own choice ------????????

I await your reply ----

God, I hate being (sorta) on Rita's side.

I like that this supreme being of yours is this needy because it makes me smile. You, and your bible, paint for us a supreme being who is pathetic. He's just like Trump, in that he requires constant attention and affirmation. Maybe a cross between Trump, a jealous boyfriend and a micromanaging boss. Not a positive character trait among them.

 

[WhyCzar]

I accept Jesus as a historical dissident whose death targeted the faith he inspired because it challenged centralized power.

Salvation as I understand it is less about vicarious atonement ("Jesus saves you from sin") and more about the inspirational model.

It's a call to emulate that stance in facing modern "demolitions" of freedom.

boy are you grasping at straws

boy are you evading picking up your own cross?

 

[unsafe]

I accept Jesus as a historical dissident whose death targeted the faith he inspired because it challenged centralized power.

Salvation as I understand it is less about vicarious atonement ("Jesus saves you from sin") and more about the inspirational model.

Well---you can see Jesus anyway you like ----

And you can understand Salvation any way you like ----

and I say

 

[Mendalla]

The problem of different understandings of Jesus is as old as Christianity, really. Even looking at the non-canonical gospels and related writings, you see a range of understandings even in the first century or two. Basically, almost as soon as he died (or was raised up to heaven if you believe that), people started developing divergent ideas about him. Which hews back to the thread about whether Christianity is "of Jesus" or "about Jesus" and why I answer "about Jesus".

Personally, I find the idea of Jesus offering forgiveness (or God offering it through Jesus is perhaps more accurate) quite powerful. I actually sang along with Amazing Grace (a modern worship version, at least) at a funeral yesterday. Both the music and the belief expressed move me. I am less sure about that forgiveness being the path to eternal life since I am agnostic on the idea. Freeing us to live more fully and closely with God is perhaps more the "resurrection" that I see in that forgiveness.

 

[WhyCzar]

Personally, I find the idea of Jesus offering forgiveness (or God offering it through Jesus is perhaps more accurate) quite powerful. I actually sang along with Amazing Grace (a modern worship version, at least) at a funeral yesterday. Both the music and the belief expressed move me. I am less sure about that forgiveness being the path to eternal life since I am agnostic on the idea. Freeing us to live more fully and closely with God is perhaps more the "resurrection" that I see in that forgiveness.

Singing along has "Resurrection Power"

Now I have resurrection power
Living on the inside
Jesus, You have given us freedom
No longer bound by sin and darkness
Living in the light of Your goodness
You have given us freedom

(by Chris Tomlin (co-written with Ed Cash and Ryan Ellis, released around 2018).

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Love is enough. The rest is commentary.

All commentary, no love, is a waste of time (fruitless).

 

[timothyu]

Which hews back to the thread about whether Christianity is "of Jesus" or "about Jesus" and why I answer "about Jesus".

Exactly. Why would any adversarial spirit want it any other way?

 

[WhyCzar]

Love is enough.

No comment.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

It is said that some are born to fight and some are born to fly free ... indicating some are confined and restricted to their desires!

Imagine the choice ... and so it goes (he, she, it)! Can we put it to word ... that's god?

If the story appears to repeat do you suppose we've been here before and have got nowhere? There are those that declare you can't escape it if you do not read deeply ... in what's plotted and laid out ... all in the dark and mystery! Warpage ... or just weaving about ...

What addicts folk seems to be materialism ... and thus substantial abuse ...

You claim others can’t escape it they don’t read deeply but Jesus saved even the illiterate. And a few of his scribes may have made errors in interpreting events - we’re not supposed to question. But look how fish tales evolve and do damage. The core element to overcoming this is not consuming multitudes of stories (that’s a choice and there’s nothing wrong with it unless it’s so consuming it causes neglect) - and for some I think that’s just an entertainment addiction - the core element is “love one another” (whether we’re stupid, lazy, distracted, eccentric, born poor, born wealthy, whatever etc - nobody escapes being flawed) Love one another. It’s the only thing that gets humanity through - not knowledge. We need to understand the world to get by, but knowledge is secondary to love. As for materialism do you mean people who really just want a stable home, or people who want a palace?

 

[WhyCzar]

Exactly. Why would any adversarial spirit want it any other way?

I think I get where you are going with that.

"love your enemies" is quintessentially of Jesus.

Much of historical Christianity has been about Jesus (doctrines, rituals, institutions) to evade what he actually demanded in practice.

Of Jesus calls for a return to this ethic of loving your enemies.

The adversarial spirit you mentioned would indeed prefer the softer, doctrinal version about Jesus.

While the radical, enemy-loving of Jesus dismantles hatred at its root.

 

[Luce NDs]

Expressing love to the adversary would have a bad effect of those that don't like love ... you can't talk about it to someone with road rage ...

That occurred just down the way today and a collision occurred in which one car was upset in a 40 Km zone ... imagine this happening in the dash ...

But who wishes their self to slow down? The case would rest ... dead as a nit ...

The the stuff that goes on in the dark, unseen, unspeakable ... consider leaders, politicians, pious, etc. That's un changeable ... stones eh!

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Feeling angry that people don’t love - don’t care - is also an oxymoron I know. It wouldn’t take much if everybody was resolved to make it better, was supportive and did what they could. But the mindset isn’t there, and hearts aren’t in it. We could change that if people wanted to.

 

[Luce NDs]

Feeling angry that people don’t love - don’t care - is also an oxymoron I know.

It is self-related so one can connect ... especially in a contemplative sense ... looking into it! Complications are perverse ...

Consider electing someone who is not good for much of anything ... it happens! Lacking thought? Happens under great emotional stress ... sociological?

Tell that to the antisocial type ... then how many believe they stand alone ... simple concept?

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

When I say love I don’t mean sappy I mean - gives a s**t.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

It is self-related so one can connect ... especially in a contemplative sense ... looking into it! Complications are perverse ...

Consider electing someone who is not good for much of anything ... it happens! Lacking thought? Happens under great emotional stress ... sociological?

Tell that to the antisocial type ... then how many believe they stand alone ... simple concept?

Electing someone not good for much - electing for what, and says who?

The utilitarian thing? It’s a social blind spot. Ignorance.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

“Some people don’t like love.”

Would they even know it?

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

“Perfect love casts out all fear.”

As far as I can tell, using a belief system that promotes fear in order to gain adherents - fear of not being good enough for God, or heaven, or anyone - is not a system based on love. There are two sides: a God who loves unconditionally and wants to heal humanity’s rifts. And a god who uses fear, and an appeal to peoples’ own greed, to divide and control them. No side is perfect, but one is caring and unifying. And it’s not about religions or governments it’s about core human values that people support, internally.

I’ve never met any person on earth who loves perfectly. Maybe sometimes we’re close, other times we are selfish or ignorant - we try to learn from it and keep on keeping on. Then there are those for whom love is meaningless except when used as a bartering chip with a heavy side of fear. Some, that’s all they know. They don’t really like love it’s just a superficial tool, and they can pretend. But, if your values are unconditional love it’s a risk you have to take and it might get bumpy.

I think if you look at the real world it’s evident who’s dominating. Unfortunately. But people are waking up - I don’t think we’re beyond hope. I wonder if it felt the same way - a bit surreal - at other points in history when there were major shifts?