Again: seek the source. There's far, far too much distraction and confusion abounding at this point for anything less to ultimately suffice unto deliverance, salvation.
Consider: What do we truly serve, most often, when seeking to order our understanding according to particular precepts given as traditional practice? Right theology, right doctrine, right doxology?
But do we more often serve God or ourselves, by accumulating what knowledge we consider appropriate to these ends?
This is a matter which must be brought before Him, continually and individually, as much as all matters ought--especially, though, given that knowledge without love leads to arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). Knowledge which isn't securely seated in love increases pride. Pride is opposition to God, whatever form it takes, as it effectively directs worship due Him in alternate directions.
These are hard-bought lessons for anyone who understands them, given the humiliation necessary to be able to speak without being prideful, necessarily keeping head bowed and eyes focused upon the Lord for direction of heart, though, speech, and act. As is right.
Increasingly pursued.
There's a vast trap set for so many, along the lines of prideful knowledge, in terms of modern cultural climate and what it hails as most necessary and the best good for all. This, especially as some particular tenets set forth by the world have their origin in godly pursuits, thus even seeming superficially beneficial, in instance.
Such as instance of esteeming the pursuit of knowledge (ostensibly, unto betterment of self and others).
Even given a superficial consideration, this seems very good. There are many Scriptures which...if taken individually, considered out of context of the entirety of Scripture...make it seem as though this is actually a godly pursuit, in itself without need for further context or consideration. As though any ardent pursuit of knowledge is automatically aligned with God's will.
But we must never forget that the heart of every matter is what decides nature and effects. If the greatest of all commandments are to love God and love others, then what deviates from those points has already gone off course. To love Him is to desire, wholeheartedly, to obey Him. To love others is to desire, even at expense of self or temporary discomfort unto actual betterment, to see others helped. As part of this, it's good to reflect upon what love--true, pure, godly love actually looks like. For instance, love doesn't blindly accept, encourage, or promote the destruction of beloved others--even if it's what they would choose, then love would still entreat them not to self-harm. Neither does love belittle, disparage, or mock the beloved for perceived or actual error, but rather love grieves what harms those who are beloved--yearning to do whatsoever love of God and of others would permit, unto reconciliation and wellness, rather than sitting aloft in even right judgment unto condemnation or any sense of justification of self.
Love does not exalt itself above others. It does not seek to divide, but accepts separation that comes by course of love with sorrow. Love doesn't boast of superiority. It doesn't esteem itself superior, but as servant of all.
So, attainment of knowledge cannot be an act unto itself, unless it simultaneously increase love of God which will always increase love of others, or otherwise getting knowledge yields to further indulgence in and edification of pride. Increased knowledge, according to its nature, expands individual perspective/awareness--this will either exalt or humble self, depending entirely upon the spiritual context in and of and unto which learning takes place.
This is vital.
Especially given that further context in Scripture (which could deviantly be used to promote knowledge as rightful pursuit, unto itself, if taken out of context of the whole of Scripture)...
...shows that without knowledge, we actively forsake freedom and actually contribute to bringing about our own captivity (to wrong ideas, wrong beliefs, and whatsoever else...though instances have also been as unto foreign cultures, when the former of these have been fulfilled unto manifestation of this such reality in physical circumstance).
We are actually destroyed because of our lack of knowledge.
Yet, as with all things, the world's proliferate emphasis upon the high value of knowledge and understanding...still requires discernment in approach:
There's a fundamental truth to utmost necessity of such pursuits as knowledge; however, there's also simultaneous, abject need for proper context of development for each and all such pursuits. This, just in order not to have such pursuits become stumbling blocks...as to pursue them in a way which actually honors God, rather than esteeming self. A minute, but absolutely vital distinction which requires God-given discernment.
That's the way things are on all fronts, moreover. All things which, in themselves, seem to superficially present an appearance of goodwill and righteousness...if lacking a vital core alignment with God's actual nature and will...actually amount to destruction.
As another brief consideration along these same lines (albeit, conversely expressed), regarding the necessity of actual alignment with God's will and nature...in terms of variations in express embodiment of such an alignment:
Consider part of Jesus' eulogy for His cousin John, recorded by Luke and Matthew:
John lived a fasted live, in terms of diet and society, and he never consumed "fruit of the vine" (no grape juice, period)...all to the glory of God, as called to prepare the way for Christ.
Alternately, Jesus ate and socialized comparatively liberally, even as still always to the glory of the Father as expressly in accord with His will. (I'm not convinced, personally, that any wine Jesus consumed or created was alcoholic (i.e., anything other than new wine/unfermented): the Old Testament largely decries consumption of intoxicating beverages; plus, in this instance He was specifically quoting rumors, so not expressly describing His actual mode of interaction in that He was reciting slander). Point being, though--Jesus didn't shun the company of people who requested His presence--not sinners nor the self-righteous. He openly engage with others regardless of their way of life, yet without ever compromising His message (we have many examples recorded as proof of this).
But those who were the religious elite of the day said John was possessed of a demon--because of the way he lived--and that Jesus was a glutton and drunkard, a friend of sinners, and eventually also called Him demon possessed--because of the way He lived.
Outward manifestations of obedience to God the Father differed vastly between these two, yet Jesus said wisdom was vindicated in all who heeded her. (As a side-note: Where did they each get their direction?...because I'm pretty sure (like, 100% confidence) none of us are capable of doing a better job of conforming to God's will and character than Christ--God Incarnate. He knew Scripture inside and out, He composed it. And He was led/directed/inspired/empowered by the Spirit of God, which is His Spirit, always...so...should we be any less dependent on His Spirit?)
Same difference here, is the point. You could undertake pursuit of something which might seem good, conforming externally to what the world and the church both (or either one) say is a right and godly and worthwhile course...while actually creating a shipwreck of your faith, in the process. Just as, alternately, two different people may have two seemingly contradictory manners of serving the Lord which externally lack apparent similarity, seeming even discordant....while, actually, both are serving the Father with utmost reverence and devotion (consider that the One who was accused of excess and of lawlessness was the only One who has never sinned: how great an indication of the utmost necessity of seeking to be conformed to God's individual will for us each?).
He has to deliver us even from ourselves, in terms of discerning and obeying the will of God, though.
Otherwise, our hearts will always be divided between what seems right and what we want to do and what God's express will actually is for each of us--not to mention all the other potential side-tracks that come up, time to time.
One of the major movements these days, though, in terms of church doctrine...assiduously and in-the-name-of-good undermines the individuality of God's guidance of each those who are His--ultimately undermining the actual nature of salvation, in effect, in claiming a moratorium on so-called "extra-Biblical" revelation.
Despite that we have been told that the Holy Spirit is with us to lead, prompt, guide, and teach us (John 14:26, John 16:12-15, 1 John 2:27). And, further, He is with us even to direct our steps (Psalm 25:8, Proverbs 3:6, Proverbs 16:9, Isaiah 30:21, Isaiah 42:16, Isaiah 54:13, Jeremiah 31:34), even telling us which is the way to walk. All while going before us and keeping our rear guard--He makes our paths straight (apparent, clearly defined, certain). Also, He will give us the very words we are to speak, in instances where we are given to speak (Luke 21:14-15).
And ultimately, unless we're being led by the Holy Spirit, in terms of doctrine and action and even our reading of Scripture, we can't even recognize truth, period (John 14:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21). No matter what course of study we sign up for, no matter how many centuries of attestation to success there may be of that course, no matter what our perception otherwise might be...unless the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ directly intervenes in and unto and with each and every single one of us, individually, as and in what ultimately actually equates to an "extra-Biblical revelation of Himself" unto each of us...we could recite words all day, but the "truth" of what we're saying will only ever go skin deep, if even that.
Salvation is an extra-Biblical revelation of Christ, to each and every who are saved. Otherwise, it's not salvation. Scripture speaks of this, and the words don't make the experience take place--Jesus, Himself, does. The living Spirit of God, intervening directly and personally and individually in each person's life...according to Jesus' love and mercy, the Father's good will, in that instant changing a spirit, changing a heart...
...is salvation. We don't make this happen. He does. And either He is intimately involved--you know, the whole "coming to dwell"-thing, a "guarantee"-given as a "seal?"...or we're not saved, we've not been reborn. Our only hope is to throw ourselves on His mercy, all in all.
Which is whereby this bit about "extra-Biblical revelation" being heresy is actual heresy, having created a false-dichotomy of sorts (attempts at self-preservation are wont to do such) which masquerades as helpfulness while actually attacking the very truth of the gospel:
Either He reveals Himself outside of Scripture.
Or
Salvation is no longer possible.
Period.
So what strange argument is it that Scripture is the end of God's revelations unto and to us, that we need nothing more? Which, again...precludes active work being done by and yet to be completed by God, outside the record of the book.
The claim is patently false, or otherwise there's no longer salvation and neither you nor I could exist, for not having had our names written therein.
You can't have it both ways, along that front: you can't say there's no "extra-Biblical revelation" of and by God and still claim the God whose works and words and nature are on record therein is the one you're actually serving. Otherwise, you've set up a miasma of contingencies based on extra-Biblical reasoning which ever becomes all the more convoluted as to have made and supported such a claim. And the more convoluted a thing becomes, the more rife for error.
Which, perhaps oddly enough it might seem, is also why "black and white" theology gets you nowhere: You pigeonhole God and you've effectively made an idol of something (self), because God cannot be pigeonholed. (Question Job. And His friends. God effectively told them all they were in error. For that matter, check out what Isaiah recorded, in terms of God's thoughts.)
Which, again...is why there's utmost and unarguable need to return to the source.
God.
Go to God.
Ask Him.
Talk to Him.
He's the only one who actually understands Himself.
He's the one with the power.
He's the one who will pull together all the loose wires, tie up all the loose ends. Whatever they be.
He's done so much for me, even, and still...there are many things more to continue to seek Him for--there always will be more to seek Him for: He's endless.
So, whatever there is, however vast the need...He is the answer, ultimately.
Whether He calms the storm or calms you in the midst of it, still...
And, alternately, if You don't believe you have need of Him, then your need is far greater than even those who are aware their state of lack.
Our Creator cares and wants to intervene.
The world is being given over to the perverse desires of our hearts, at this point: darkness has grown thick, lack of understanding abounds, lovelessness is increasingly abounding (and false love, also, which seeks only to placate or exalt rather than actually help or deliver).
Thinking things are well in the world is either a matter of resting securely in Christ while earnestly praying for those who have yet to seek Him unto salvation...or of being so deep in delusion wrought per sin as to be insensible of the darkness. Or...maybe...maybe it's not necessary for you to be aware of it, but only of Christ. Ultimately so. Unto love.
Love will overcome. It already has.
We're just awaiting His return, whenever that day may be--yet even 2000 years ago, He admonished us to watch and pray, as we don't know when He'll return...but that we should guard against becoming slack. We're 2,000 years nearer the point of His return now than even when He spoke that dire, sincere, and heartfelt warning.
So, in the meantime, we have opportunity and duty to draw nearer to Him, to Christ. To know Him, ever more deeply, so to be increasingly conformed to His image, to be saved to His life, to do His will. Of peace. Of hope. Of love.
Or otherwise remain in darkness: we're permitted, though warned against it...again and again, as it's unto our own destruction. But we're allowed to remain in opposition to Him, in this life. Unto our own destruction, if that be the course. Despite that He made a way to be reconciled, and offers reconciliation freely to all who come to Him. He loves immensely. And the weight of His love will fall upon us all, yet burning like absolute and eternal fire upon those whose hearts are given to opposition, malice, and self-indulgence...those who, in truth, actively despise Him.
So we're all called to make peace with Him, now, while there's time. All will be seasoned with fire. As purification or condemnation.
Don't let your own heart condemn you--He's willing to birth love in hearts which only know unrest, uncertainty, fear, conflict, distraction, and all whatever other manner of animosity and distress there be.
He's willing to take a heart which has grown hard against actual, pure love, and bring it to life.
He died for this. And lives for it, now.
So, ask and continue to ask...until your desire for change becomes true. And even then, keep asking--from image to image, transformed.
Never stop asking until You fully know the Truth...until You fully know Christ, Himself (an eternal quest!).
The Truth will set you free.
No one else can.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Test Your Foundation
Something that's been seen, moment to moment--glimpsed time to time, from the side and even fully acknowledged...
...has made all the more apparent absolute need for seeking God, Himself, without so much regard for form or fashion except to want Him, in truth. In Himself, He is distinctly perfect and holy--completely sovereign and set wholly apart and above all of His creation, while still...being the means by which it continues to exist, being that in which it subsists.
Put another way...
If you really want to know the truth of something, there's no choice but to go to the source.
Think along lines of the "telephone game," in terms of what happens to information that's been passed from one hand to the next--even with full intention of relaying a very specific message, being quite intentional with attempted precision in enunciation...still, something is always lost in translation.
Something is always slightly altered, even if only in terms of the way a thing is perceived, as flavored by the perspective of the beholder.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, is what's also important to note...merely, communication is as subjective as is individual existence. There may be vast similarities and near-total overlaps in means and methods and manners of understanding and practicing matters which seem utterly straightforward to such as share a similar perspective...whereas for those with a differing perspective, while the same truth is wholly applicable, the manner in which it might come into fruition as realized in each own life will be by a different course.
Truth, itself, is the same. In essence. And especially of certain particulars--the further near to absolute you arrive, the less room for variableness in interpretation and application without having altered the truth in such a way as perverts it.
God is God, for instance--as the source of all truth and of all reality, He is the ultimate of all truths and beings. None are superior, and His vastness is incomprehensible, even as the sheer fact of His being is inalterable, regardless that some might reject or attempt to alter this truth. The truth of who He is can't be impacted nor altered by a deviation from an accurate knowledge of Him--merely the deviant interpretations only compound unto further and further deviations from truth within the minds of those who ever find means and rationale as to justify and "recover" the dissonance, internal, created by believing a lie.
As one lie is chosen as palatable, then each which compounds as further deviation from truth becomes more readily digested...until appetite for truth is wholly ruined and only falsehoods are even nearly digestible, even as to maintain the flow and consistency of such stringent error as must be held in a very strained balance as to be retained.
One upon another, lie upon lie, each to support the last, just as each flows more readily unto a next. It requires self-deception just as to believe a lie, in other words. Whereas believing truth requires only acceptance, as truth can be endlessly worried and incessantly troubled without fading one iota nor growing ever a shade more pale.
What is true will remain true, no matter what rigors of honestly endeavored dissection are forcibly endured. Rather, truth only stands more apparent as true, given ardent and unceasing devotion to poking and prodding at any seeming uncertainty or seeming inconsistency--not allowing such as might seem to indicate a point of weakness to stand, but requiring it prove itself as either solid or faulty.
And, again, put another way--if a foundation is truly, wholly solid...no matter what you throw at it, nor how much you beat against it, nor what manner of madness you attempt to corroborate it with...if you sincerely and honestly asses the damage done, sincerely and honestly go about "proving" the matter (testing and testing and testing again)...
...if it is sound, it will remain.
Even if anything built upon it may have seeming inconsistencies, then the foundation remains secure. And whatever is inconsistent will come down, too, upon such rigorous ballasting as otherwise is required to test such a foundation's strength.
So, each to seek God, then. Trusting He will do as He has said, for those who do seek. That's the only hope, in terms of salvation. Christ is God incarnate, and this is also an utmost fundamental truth which must be acknowledged, in terms of knowing and seeking God. And of that fundamental, there is the fact of those essentials which He asserted as utterly required as to have true knowledge of God, which IS life...
...He took our sins upon Himself, at the crucifixion.
He preached a message of repentance, that all must repent of wickedness and turn to God, even to Him, for forgiveness...
...or otherwise, to be eternally outcast and suffering, according to the state of our hearts' miseries and malice against a sovereign, omnipotent Creator.
God is the ultimate truth, and those things which He said are utterly vital are what needs must be done. Repentance through Christ. Unto salvation.
And the manifestation of each our salvation, we're told we each have to work out, drawing nearer to God and having to rely ever more fully upon Him for direct revelation as direction even given through Scripture, or as always accordant with Scripture, at the very least.
There's no discord in God. But a unity in diversity. Total unity, though.
To what extent do we each manifest this aspect of who and how He is, within ourselves, without our society, within and without even our congregations?
...has made all the more apparent absolute need for seeking God, Himself, without so much regard for form or fashion except to want Him, in truth. In Himself, He is distinctly perfect and holy--completely sovereign and set wholly apart and above all of His creation, while still...being the means by which it continues to exist, being that in which it subsists.
Put another way...
If you really want to know the truth of something, there's no choice but to go to the source.
Think along lines of the "telephone game," in terms of what happens to information that's been passed from one hand to the next--even with full intention of relaying a very specific message, being quite intentional with attempted precision in enunciation...still, something is always lost in translation.
Something is always slightly altered, even if only in terms of the way a thing is perceived, as flavored by the perspective of the beholder.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, is what's also important to note...merely, communication is as subjective as is individual existence. There may be vast similarities and near-total overlaps in means and methods and manners of understanding and practicing matters which seem utterly straightforward to such as share a similar perspective...whereas for those with a differing perspective, while the same truth is wholly applicable, the manner in which it might come into fruition as realized in each own life will be by a different course.
Truth, itself, is the same. In essence. And especially of certain particulars--the further near to absolute you arrive, the less room for variableness in interpretation and application without having altered the truth in such a way as perverts it.
God is God, for instance--as the source of all truth and of all reality, He is the ultimate of all truths and beings. None are superior, and His vastness is incomprehensible, even as the sheer fact of His being is inalterable, regardless that some might reject or attempt to alter this truth. The truth of who He is can't be impacted nor altered by a deviation from an accurate knowledge of Him--merely the deviant interpretations only compound unto further and further deviations from truth within the minds of those who ever find means and rationale as to justify and "recover" the dissonance, internal, created by believing a lie.
As one lie is chosen as palatable, then each which compounds as further deviation from truth becomes more readily digested...until appetite for truth is wholly ruined and only falsehoods are even nearly digestible, even as to maintain the flow and consistency of such stringent error as must be held in a very strained balance as to be retained.
One upon another, lie upon lie, each to support the last, just as each flows more readily unto a next. It requires self-deception just as to believe a lie, in other words. Whereas believing truth requires only acceptance, as truth can be endlessly worried and incessantly troubled without fading one iota nor growing ever a shade more pale.
What is true will remain true, no matter what rigors of honestly endeavored dissection are forcibly endured. Rather, truth only stands more apparent as true, given ardent and unceasing devotion to poking and prodding at any seeming uncertainty or seeming inconsistency--not allowing such as might seem to indicate a point of weakness to stand, but requiring it prove itself as either solid or faulty.
And, again, put another way--if a foundation is truly, wholly solid...no matter what you throw at it, nor how much you beat against it, nor what manner of madness you attempt to corroborate it with...if you sincerely and honestly asses the damage done, sincerely and honestly go about "proving" the matter (testing and testing and testing again)...
...if it is sound, it will remain.
Even if anything built upon it may have seeming inconsistencies, then the foundation remains secure. And whatever is inconsistent will come down, too, upon such rigorous ballasting as otherwise is required to test such a foundation's strength.
So, each to seek God, then. Trusting He will do as He has said, for those who do seek. That's the only hope, in terms of salvation. Christ is God incarnate, and this is also an utmost fundamental truth which must be acknowledged, in terms of knowing and seeking God. And of that fundamental, there is the fact of those essentials which He asserted as utterly required as to have true knowledge of God, which IS life...
...He took our sins upon Himself, at the crucifixion.
He preached a message of repentance, that all must repent of wickedness and turn to God, even to Him, for forgiveness...
...or otherwise, to be eternally outcast and suffering, according to the state of our hearts' miseries and malice against a sovereign, omnipotent Creator.
God is the ultimate truth, and those things which He said are utterly vital are what needs must be done. Repentance through Christ. Unto salvation.
And the manifestation of each our salvation, we're told we each have to work out, drawing nearer to God and having to rely ever more fully upon Him for direct revelation as direction even given through Scripture, or as always accordant with Scripture, at the very least.
There's no discord in God. But a unity in diversity. Total unity, though.
To what extent do we each manifest this aspect of who and how He is, within ourselves, without our society, within and without even our congregations?
Friday, February 19, 2016
Paradoxical Heresy of Methodology
Been submitting some new questions to the Lord, again, regarding love.
With it being the greatest of all commandments, seems like focus really needs to remain there, foremost. Especially given tendency to so readily stray to arrogance or various other self-exalting perversions of truth.
Just to meditate upon what love actually is, though, is mind-blowing. Paul was given to write a breakdown of many characteristics, easily glossed over and by-passed but they're utterly beautiful to contemplate at length. Just to think that Christ lived and died and resurrected, of love. He was given us out of love and resurrected because of love (in part). The power of God, manifested. Through love. As love. By love.
Reading through the gospels of Matthew and Mark, instances where Jesus' displays of emotion were noted, especially prominent, regard those whom He healed. He was pained, grieved at the suffering of disease and disability, at the disconnection and despair wrought of sin. And also especially pained over injustices wrought by the religious, per their lack of love. They forsook mercy, He said.
They ignored the greater things of the law.
The neglected love, as though it weren't vital.
And they became hard-hearted, callous to suffering, and insensitive to the destruction wrought and perpetuated by such indifference. Teaching truths according to their own understanding, they thus served God in their own strength--professing righteousness before all men, while standing condemned by their very own hearts before the Creator who walked among them. Even condemning Him to death.
Put another way, entirely:
Methods aren't sufficient to achieve, know, or experience salvation and life and love.
Not even methods which are "accurate" or "justifiable," in terms of recorded Scripture.
The crucifixion of Christ by the very ones who served in the Holy of Holies is a severe testament to this truth.
They, above and beyond anything we might now claim, truly possessed the Word of God. It was given to them to keep, follow, and maintain. For certain ones, such as Caiaphas...their entire lives, generation after generation, were attuned to this very purpose: to know and live by Scripture. Nonetheless, there were flagrant and ongoing perversions of "clearly recorded truths:" The Spirit of the Law was wholly neglected, in favor of blatant attempt to obey the letter of the law, comprehended according to man's understanding, as a method unto holiness based upon precise dissemination and deconstruction and exegesis and extrapolation of Scripture. Even according to various means, these things. Yet, still, unto Christ's crucifixion.
So, if the very nation which was entrusted and exalted by God as to carry His Word in the midst of the world was not able to maintain a right heart and obedience, even devoting generation after generation to such a cause as proper exegesis and application of tenets of Scripture...
...why would we think ourselves better suited to adopting this-type practice, for having traditions as "records" passed down in commentaries and biographies and the holy writings of saints which have preceded us?
It's only by grace of His direct intervention, individually and personally, that any person is saved.
So why does it seem there's a pervasive, vastly duplicitous attempt to "figure out how" to accomplish the things written in Scripture, unto obedience to God...in much of the modern church?
There's a twofold problem there.
Again, first off, the Law again and again only proves us incapable of achieving heartfelt obedience to God (it's the spirit in which a thing's done that determines obedience, not whether it gives an outward showing of correspondence to truth--and the first of all commands is to love God with our entire being, so have we done this?). Our best efforts always fall flat, if attempted in our own power. This shouldn't be a surprise at all, given the nation which is recipient of God's own covenantal promises didn't recognize Him in the flesh--in large part still refusing to acknowledge His having come as the suffering servant recorded in Isaiah 53, unto salvation of Israel and of the world.
How much less likely are we (who aren't physical descendants of Israel) to be obedient, then, when our lives are so taken up with the world's treasures? How much less likely are we to have hearts which are right before God, if worship isn't part of our very heritage?...and, even if it was, then are we alternately falling prey to considering ourselves recipients of grace, by right, rather than as unmerited gift?
Regardless...Any way you go on that front, we're just inherently incapable of fulfilling the will of God, in ourselves, as according to our own understanding and in our own strength.
Along this line, consider what it is to study to show oneself approved.
...what do we study, as such?...and to what actual end?
...in other words...
...what are we seeking to know, by studying at all, and what is the nature of such an approval, that it could be sought or known?
Consider this:
If we are accepted in Christ, as made acceptable in the Beloved, then what is our actual state of approval? Is it not a right standing with God, as abiding in Christ?
And how are we to abide, except in His love?...even as He said we could know that we are abiding in His love, when we are obeying Him.
What did He command, then, unto obedience?
...except, primarily, that we love one another.
Even as this still was noted as secondary to loving God--to loving Christ--with everything that we are: our mind, our heart, our strength of will, our actions. We are to be consumed by love for Him--enflamed by it, truly.
Love which is insincere isn't viable, as incomplete or empty on any of a number of levels--whether emotionally void (from apathy unto despair), mentally uncommitted (from apathy unto resentment), physically incapable of maintaining act of devotion (from apathy unto incapacitation). Attempts at love which aren't sincere ultimately degrade, revealing inherent lack--giving light to the innate inconsistencies which prevented maintenance of the lie, hypocrisy is revealed. Even as with the Sadducees and Pharisees.
In other words, the world's by-line of "fake it till you make it" has repeatedly and continually been proven false and hollow, in terms of love. The first century Sanhedrin and Pharisees had the same Old Testament Scriptures we do, and there's command there to love God, but they apparently believed they were complying. They believed themselves right before God, after all.
But insincere love isn't love. So you can't "fake it till you make it," on that count. No matter what angle you approach from, it has to be a work of God to enliven a heart which has become insensate to love and emotion.
Otherwise, there's always a disconnect on some level, given inherent inconsistency of attempted expression. That disconnect creates discord, and dysfunction proliferates.
And this goes on (Romans 1, especially, gives an overview of the process of delusion unto hard-heartedness) until a point comes where the heart is fairly incapable of emotion. Empty of love and affection, as increasingly filled with fascination over destructive and vindictive pastimes (while no longer sensible of this being the case of such matters, for having become numbed).
So, there's that. Meaning...pursuing obedience for the sake of obedience (without love being the inspiration) leads to delusion, as lack of love proliferates: Self-exaltation ultimately results, if even silently, as works become a justification in their own right.
And alternately (and oft concurrently), there's a manner of assuming that just because a thing seems reasonable, it's right. Such that reading and seeing in Scripture the commands to obey, to study, to live in a way which is worthy of the calling unto Christ...come to seem, to the natural mind, implicitly decrees that we must be capable of doing these things in our own strength, according to our own means, and in ways which would be deduced by our own reasonings...or otherwise, why would we be commanded to do them? Seems reasonable, doesn't it?
But that reasoning deviates from the whole of the Spirit of Scripture's message, from its very outset to its summation, as (for one) blatantly ignoring the fact that we weren't even created to depend upon our own understanding of right and wrong: We weren't intended to be self-sufficient, in terms of right living and right doing.
God didn't originally create us as judge. He didn't exalt us in His own place.
Sin attempted to do that, and still attempts to purport that as the case:
The carnal mind, which is enmity against God, attempts to maintain that we must know and act upon the difference between good and evil, as the proper, reasonable, and right expectations of ourselves.
Forsaking that path means forsaking self, moreover, but in favor of submitting to God.
Nothing in the flesh wants to do that, although it's what we're called to do by Christ, unto salvation.
So, if we are study, then, what or how do we study?
Do we study so as to esteem ourselves in the estimation of man?
...if our knowledge is complete vanity in comparison to the wisdom of God, then studying won't esteem us in His estimation. And all else is pointless.
And, furthermore...reaching a point of believing ourselves knowledgeable actually evidences a spirit of arrogance, become exalted against God's supremely higher knowledge. So, what does it avail us to gain knowledge?
Except, perhaps, only to study...as unto God. Or, otherwise, exalting self against Him.
Perhaps, then, we might only study as to know Him more intimately, to understand Him broadly--by any and all means He provides and permits, unto Himself.
And perhaps we might study, also, as to serve Him by being all the more filled with love for others, as attaining unto various reaches of knowledge might be used by God to shape our hearts into forms more fitted to deeper compassion for those whose lives have thence become more clearly seen and appreciated per such applied pursuits unto understanding.
Study is not a way in and of itself, is the thing--study is only another means of drawing nearer to God.
Christ is the only way, unto God. He is the only means in and through and by whom we can have approval before God.
Just as drawing nearer to Him results in becoming conformed more completely into His image, as made acceptable in Him and by Him: From image to image of Him, we are transformed from glory to glory, praise be unto God.
We're not to exalt ourselves, though, yet knowledge has a tendency to puff up when it's attained unto and pursued according to the ways of the world (as a means and a way unto understanding and right methodology, in itself). God, Himself, has to keep us humble along such a trek, even as our only hope is always in Him.
As unto Him we draw near, by grace, there we are further delivered and conformed by and in and unto and so to love.
He's what we seek, though:
Not a method. Not a means. Not a manner of right living.
No matter how much the world despises such a claim, that's the only true one, the only worth maintaining and pursuing. Christ came that we might have the very life of God, in ourselves restored. He came to put to death the deeds of the flesh and of the world, to lay sin to rest in each of those who draw near to Him, coming to know Him more completely and seeking to walk ever more closely with Him, filled with the fullness of who He is, even as to share the mind of Christ, Himself.
Scripture isn't a piecemeal offering that we can tear apart and reassemble according to what our predilections for living might be. It's a record of who God is and it's a living Word unto those who would know Him, those who desire to know truth.
He wants to be known by us, or He would not have come. He created us. And loves us.
We can trust Him to help us, to change our hearts, to fill us with love and lead us in how to love. We are not capable of doing the things we are to do, according to our own understanding nor in our own strength. We were not created to be self-sufficient in these ways.
Merely, our proclivity for sin and for thinking according to the ways the world believes makes it seem to be the case that we ought to be able to do the things, to live right, to know how to please God and serve Him, in our own strength, according to our own understanding. But when and as we would ever seek to act in our own strength rather than submit to God for direction and empowerment to act, we turn away from Him. He must do the work in and through each of us, or it won't be done according to His will. Jesus even said that the things He did, the judgments He made, were not of Himself. How much more do we need God's explicit, innate and living guidance, as by His Spirit living within each of us?
Remember, Nicodemus despaired of what Jesus said was required for salvation.
And if we truly understood what it meant to be saved and to walk in a manner that's pleasing to Him, we should despair, too: It's right that we despair of ourselves, as a good part of the gospel is that there's no hope in us, but that there is hope in Christ, and this...as His Holy Spirit will come to us, dwell in us, doing works of God in and through us.
Each one of us must turn to God for help, for direction, for guidance. Otherwise, we're totally lost. Period. But He doesn't turn away anyone who truly seeks Him, and we are told to seek and continue seeking. Not merely "five minutes here," every couple days, but a constant endeavor. Unceasing. Lifelong. And eternal.
Living forces of evil do attempt to keep us from seeking Him (within and around us), so we must press on all the more.
Because eternity is about knowing Him, experiencing His Presence, and not about knowing of Him. Relationships, as this is, are by nature interpersonal. And they're not form-fitted: Love is love, and yet each is so distinct as may experience manifestations and development differently. This, while knowing that what is of God, will accord with and conform to descriptions explicitly detailed especially in what constitutes our New Testament. We're told to always test our experiences (as even against Scripture). On the whole. Constantly. Even every thought.
We can't stop the search nor the longing after Christ, though, because stakes are high--our very souls depend upon Him. And there are even such entities as despise God and would incessantly badger us or even entreat us beguilingly (unto straying from truth, step by step, gradually indiscernible except to those who stay in Christ and mindful)...they would do so just to spite Him. And just to shame us, and to spite us. Without it necessarily even ever becoming personal, but only a matter of open-ended spite.
But those who know Christ and who strive to always rest in His, living in His Presence...we have a Spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind even as to discern truth. As we are guided into all truth--each to each, and yet as unto God...wisdom being justified in each of her children.
Scripture is not to be taken piecemeal and applied as according to pragmatic considerations, then. It's not to be relied upon in one's own understanding, exclusive guidance of the Holy Spirit.
This, as we're not to test God, not even by relying upon the Words of Scripture apart from His active guidance and empowerment unto obedience of what's recorded. Otherwise, we succumb to the temptation to rest in our own abilities to understand and act according to our conceptions of "righteousness" and "faith." Faith is of Christ, or it's not faith in God. Living faith rests in Him, and not in writing...even as the Scriptures are faithful sayings, they are so as given by a living God who stands by His Word as it's honored. As He is discerned, as His will is sought. Foremost. As He is loved...which is the highest grace, as to know.
As goes faith, we're not capable of trusting what we don't know, otherwise we're effectively only trusting in ideas about what we think a thing is or might be..but not trusting the person or thing, itself. This is a fine point of distinction, but it's vital as trust is strongest when there's an ongoing, unbroken, interactive relationship between the one trusting and the one being trusted: The more familiar you are with someone and their ways (given they are trustworthy), the more you can trust and/or love them.
Those aren't states of being which exist in disconnect from the people and things which they actually exist only in relation to...trust and love are only as viable and secure as is the actual, working knowledge of their recipient objects/persons.
And faith is a type of trust--it's active belief, for having been convinced of the truthfulness, trustworthiness, reliability of a person or thing. Even as so-called "Good faith" agreements exist between those who have a reasonable expectation that their expectations are justifiable that the agreement with be upheld...such agreements won't be legitimately made in situations where someone is reasonably uncertain of the viability of parties entering agreement.
Faith requires reason. It doesn't exist in a vacuum. The stronger a relationship between the one in whom faith is placed and the one who has faith, the stronger the faith will be.
Like as, if your family has always been very loving and supportive, you will very likely have a great deal of faith in their willingness and ability to be there for you, when you endure difficulties. Just as, if the opposite is true of your family, you would likewise take it on faith that they would be unwilling and incapable of providing emotional or material support when you encounter hardship. Either way, your faith is according to being convinced by what you know of the situation, according to evidence, according to reasoned assessment which proceeds from actual experience.
So, if Christ is faithful to save us, to bring us into salvation...given that He took on flesh, walked among us, and died to redeem us...
...resurrecting, even as proof of His Godhood and of the acceptability of His work...
...why do we still hang on to this idea that we have to manage our own sanctification, our own keeping from error?
Why are we still so very reluctant to trust Him, to seek Him, and to put our faith in Him fully?
Why do we still remain convinced that the world has it right--that we have to protect ourselves, that we are our own saviors, and that we are capable of discerning what is right and what is wrong in our own strength according to our own understanding?
He's the Good Shepherd. We're the sheep.
That's a pretty distinctive and descriptive relationship.
He leads. He protects. He saves. He guides and teaches.
Otherwise, we would only ever wander and stray and be in error and be lost and be deceived (even by our own thoughts).
Just as we were all once living totally in error, then did we deliver ourselves?
If we think we did, then we're still deceived. And, otherwise, we know we didn't deliver ourselves.
So,why would we think that--having been incapable of ever delivering ourselves--we should now be capable of keeping ourselves from error and further discerning what's right and good, according to our own (increasingly known as flawed, if only as being wholly shortsighted) understanding?
Draw near to Him. Talk to Jesus about these things.
He'll teach You.
There's no other way, is the thing:
No matter what your manner of understanding these things, it's the same principle still:
He teaches, or we're not taught.
He reveals Himself, or we can't know Him.
He saves us, or otherwise we have no salvation.
It's all Him. It's not about us and our abilities.
It's about Him.
So, go to Him. And don't cease to harass/pester/question/talk to Him until You know Him.
And all the while, test everything you think and know and experience against what's written in Scripture. Not merely against the words, but against the Spirit in which the entire text was written.
Don't stop these things.
There's no reason to stop.
There's no greater joy.
And this is what eternity will be, only without the suffering.
All the better to reap of what joys are available in Him, now, as He permits.
And, yet, either it will all be completed of and by Him, or it will be nothing at all.
With it being the greatest of all commandments, seems like focus really needs to remain there, foremost. Especially given tendency to so readily stray to arrogance or various other self-exalting perversions of truth.
Just to meditate upon what love actually is, though, is mind-blowing. Paul was given to write a breakdown of many characteristics, easily glossed over and by-passed but they're utterly beautiful to contemplate at length. Just to think that Christ lived and died and resurrected, of love. He was given us out of love and resurrected because of love (in part). The power of God, manifested. Through love. As love. By love.
Reading through the gospels of Matthew and Mark, instances where Jesus' displays of emotion were noted, especially prominent, regard those whom He healed. He was pained, grieved at the suffering of disease and disability, at the disconnection and despair wrought of sin. And also especially pained over injustices wrought by the religious, per their lack of love. They forsook mercy, He said.
They ignored the greater things of the law.
The neglected love, as though it weren't vital.
And they became hard-hearted, callous to suffering, and insensitive to the destruction wrought and perpetuated by such indifference. Teaching truths according to their own understanding, they thus served God in their own strength--professing righteousness before all men, while standing condemned by their very own hearts before the Creator who walked among them. Even condemning Him to death.
Put another way, entirely:
Methods aren't sufficient to achieve, know, or experience salvation and life and love.
Not even methods which are "accurate" or "justifiable," in terms of recorded Scripture.
The crucifixion of Christ by the very ones who served in the Holy of Holies is a severe testament to this truth.
They, above and beyond anything we might now claim, truly possessed the Word of God. It was given to them to keep, follow, and maintain. For certain ones, such as Caiaphas...their entire lives, generation after generation, were attuned to this very purpose: to know and live by Scripture. Nonetheless, there were flagrant and ongoing perversions of "clearly recorded truths:" The Spirit of the Law was wholly neglected, in favor of blatant attempt to obey the letter of the law, comprehended according to man's understanding, as a method unto holiness based upon precise dissemination and deconstruction and exegesis and extrapolation of Scripture. Even according to various means, these things. Yet, still, unto Christ's crucifixion.
So, if the very nation which was entrusted and exalted by God as to carry His Word in the midst of the world was not able to maintain a right heart and obedience, even devoting generation after generation to such a cause as proper exegesis and application of tenets of Scripture...
...why would we think ourselves better suited to adopting this-type practice, for having traditions as "records" passed down in commentaries and biographies and the holy writings of saints which have preceded us?
It's only by grace of His direct intervention, individually and personally, that any person is saved.
So why does it seem there's a pervasive, vastly duplicitous attempt to "figure out how" to accomplish the things written in Scripture, unto obedience to God...in much of the modern church?
There's a twofold problem there.
Again, first off, the Law again and again only proves us incapable of achieving heartfelt obedience to God (it's the spirit in which a thing's done that determines obedience, not whether it gives an outward showing of correspondence to truth--and the first of all commands is to love God with our entire being, so have we done this?). Our best efforts always fall flat, if attempted in our own power. This shouldn't be a surprise at all, given the nation which is recipient of God's own covenantal promises didn't recognize Him in the flesh--in large part still refusing to acknowledge His having come as the suffering servant recorded in Isaiah 53, unto salvation of Israel and of the world.
How much less likely are we (who aren't physical descendants of Israel) to be obedient, then, when our lives are so taken up with the world's treasures? How much less likely are we to have hearts which are right before God, if worship isn't part of our very heritage?...and, even if it was, then are we alternately falling prey to considering ourselves recipients of grace, by right, rather than as unmerited gift?
Regardless...Any way you go on that front, we're just inherently incapable of fulfilling the will of God, in ourselves, as according to our own understanding and in our own strength.
Along this line, consider what it is to study to show oneself approved.
...what do we study, as such?...and to what actual end?
...in other words...
...what are we seeking to know, by studying at all, and what is the nature of such an approval, that it could be sought or known?
Consider this:
If we are accepted in Christ, as made acceptable in the Beloved, then what is our actual state of approval? Is it not a right standing with God, as abiding in Christ?
And how are we to abide, except in His love?...even as He said we could know that we are abiding in His love, when we are obeying Him.
What did He command, then, unto obedience?
...except, primarily, that we love one another.
Even as this still was noted as secondary to loving God--to loving Christ--with everything that we are: our mind, our heart, our strength of will, our actions. We are to be consumed by love for Him--enflamed by it, truly.
Love which is insincere isn't viable, as incomplete or empty on any of a number of levels--whether emotionally void (from apathy unto despair), mentally uncommitted (from apathy unto resentment), physically incapable of maintaining act of devotion (from apathy unto incapacitation). Attempts at love which aren't sincere ultimately degrade, revealing inherent lack--giving light to the innate inconsistencies which prevented maintenance of the lie, hypocrisy is revealed. Even as with the Sadducees and Pharisees.
In other words, the world's by-line of "fake it till you make it" has repeatedly and continually been proven false and hollow, in terms of love. The first century Sanhedrin and Pharisees had the same Old Testament Scriptures we do, and there's command there to love God, but they apparently believed they were complying. They believed themselves right before God, after all.
But insincere love isn't love. So you can't "fake it till you make it," on that count. No matter what angle you approach from, it has to be a work of God to enliven a heart which has become insensate to love and emotion.
Otherwise, there's always a disconnect on some level, given inherent inconsistency of attempted expression. That disconnect creates discord, and dysfunction proliferates.
And this goes on (Romans 1, especially, gives an overview of the process of delusion unto hard-heartedness) until a point comes where the heart is fairly incapable of emotion. Empty of love and affection, as increasingly filled with fascination over destructive and vindictive pastimes (while no longer sensible of this being the case of such matters, for having become numbed).
So, there's that. Meaning...pursuing obedience for the sake of obedience (without love being the inspiration) leads to delusion, as lack of love proliferates: Self-exaltation ultimately results, if even silently, as works become a justification in their own right.
And alternately (and oft concurrently), there's a manner of assuming that just because a thing seems reasonable, it's right. Such that reading and seeing in Scripture the commands to obey, to study, to live in a way which is worthy of the calling unto Christ...come to seem, to the natural mind, implicitly decrees that we must be capable of doing these things in our own strength, according to our own means, and in ways which would be deduced by our own reasonings...or otherwise, why would we be commanded to do them? Seems reasonable, doesn't it?
But that reasoning deviates from the whole of the Spirit of Scripture's message, from its very outset to its summation, as (for one) blatantly ignoring the fact that we weren't even created to depend upon our own understanding of right and wrong: We weren't intended to be self-sufficient, in terms of right living and right doing.
God didn't originally create us as judge. He didn't exalt us in His own place.
Sin attempted to do that, and still attempts to purport that as the case:
The carnal mind, which is enmity against God, attempts to maintain that we must know and act upon the difference between good and evil, as the proper, reasonable, and right expectations of ourselves.
Forsaking that path means forsaking self, moreover, but in favor of submitting to God.
Nothing in the flesh wants to do that, although it's what we're called to do by Christ, unto salvation.
So, if we are study, then, what or how do we study?
Do we study so as to esteem ourselves in the estimation of man?
...if our knowledge is complete vanity in comparison to the wisdom of God, then studying won't esteem us in His estimation. And all else is pointless.
And, furthermore...reaching a point of believing ourselves knowledgeable actually evidences a spirit of arrogance, become exalted against God's supremely higher knowledge. So, what does it avail us to gain knowledge?
Except, perhaps, only to study...as unto God. Or, otherwise, exalting self against Him.
Perhaps, then, we might only study as to know Him more intimately, to understand Him broadly--by any and all means He provides and permits, unto Himself.
And perhaps we might study, also, as to serve Him by being all the more filled with love for others, as attaining unto various reaches of knowledge might be used by God to shape our hearts into forms more fitted to deeper compassion for those whose lives have thence become more clearly seen and appreciated per such applied pursuits unto understanding.
Study is not a way in and of itself, is the thing--study is only another means of drawing nearer to God.
Christ is the only way, unto God. He is the only means in and through and by whom we can have approval before God.
Just as drawing nearer to Him results in becoming conformed more completely into His image, as made acceptable in Him and by Him: From image to image of Him, we are transformed from glory to glory, praise be unto God.
We're not to exalt ourselves, though, yet knowledge has a tendency to puff up when it's attained unto and pursued according to the ways of the world (as a means and a way unto understanding and right methodology, in itself). God, Himself, has to keep us humble along such a trek, even as our only hope is always in Him.
As unto Him we draw near, by grace, there we are further delivered and conformed by and in and unto and so to love.
He's what we seek, though:
Not a method. Not a means. Not a manner of right living.
No matter how much the world despises such a claim, that's the only true one, the only worth maintaining and pursuing. Christ came that we might have the very life of God, in ourselves restored. He came to put to death the deeds of the flesh and of the world, to lay sin to rest in each of those who draw near to Him, coming to know Him more completely and seeking to walk ever more closely with Him, filled with the fullness of who He is, even as to share the mind of Christ, Himself.
Scripture isn't a piecemeal offering that we can tear apart and reassemble according to what our predilections for living might be. It's a record of who God is and it's a living Word unto those who would know Him, those who desire to know truth.
He wants to be known by us, or He would not have come. He created us. And loves us.
We can trust Him to help us, to change our hearts, to fill us with love and lead us in how to love. We are not capable of doing the things we are to do, according to our own understanding nor in our own strength. We were not created to be self-sufficient in these ways.
Merely, our proclivity for sin and for thinking according to the ways the world believes makes it seem to be the case that we ought to be able to do the things, to live right, to know how to please God and serve Him, in our own strength, according to our own understanding. But when and as we would ever seek to act in our own strength rather than submit to God for direction and empowerment to act, we turn away from Him. He must do the work in and through each of us, or it won't be done according to His will. Jesus even said that the things He did, the judgments He made, were not of Himself. How much more do we need God's explicit, innate and living guidance, as by His Spirit living within each of us?
Remember, Nicodemus despaired of what Jesus said was required for salvation.
And if we truly understood what it meant to be saved and to walk in a manner that's pleasing to Him, we should despair, too: It's right that we despair of ourselves, as a good part of the gospel is that there's no hope in us, but that there is hope in Christ, and this...as His Holy Spirit will come to us, dwell in us, doing works of God in and through us.
Each one of us must turn to God for help, for direction, for guidance. Otherwise, we're totally lost. Period. But He doesn't turn away anyone who truly seeks Him, and we are told to seek and continue seeking. Not merely "five minutes here," every couple days, but a constant endeavor. Unceasing. Lifelong. And eternal.
Living forces of evil do attempt to keep us from seeking Him (within and around us), so we must press on all the more.
Because eternity is about knowing Him, experiencing His Presence, and not about knowing of Him. Relationships, as this is, are by nature interpersonal. And they're not form-fitted: Love is love, and yet each is so distinct as may experience manifestations and development differently. This, while knowing that what is of God, will accord with and conform to descriptions explicitly detailed especially in what constitutes our New Testament. We're told to always test our experiences (as even against Scripture). On the whole. Constantly. Even every thought.
We can't stop the search nor the longing after Christ, though, because stakes are high--our very souls depend upon Him. And there are even such entities as despise God and would incessantly badger us or even entreat us beguilingly (unto straying from truth, step by step, gradually indiscernible except to those who stay in Christ and mindful)...they would do so just to spite Him. And just to shame us, and to spite us. Without it necessarily even ever becoming personal, but only a matter of open-ended spite.
But those who know Christ and who strive to always rest in His, living in His Presence...we have a Spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind even as to discern truth. As we are guided into all truth--each to each, and yet as unto God...wisdom being justified in each of her children.
Scripture is not to be taken piecemeal and applied as according to pragmatic considerations, then. It's not to be relied upon in one's own understanding, exclusive guidance of the Holy Spirit.
This, as we're not to test God, not even by relying upon the Words of Scripture apart from His active guidance and empowerment unto obedience of what's recorded. Otherwise, we succumb to the temptation to rest in our own abilities to understand and act according to our conceptions of "righteousness" and "faith." Faith is of Christ, or it's not faith in God. Living faith rests in Him, and not in writing...even as the Scriptures are faithful sayings, they are so as given by a living God who stands by His Word as it's honored. As He is discerned, as His will is sought. Foremost. As He is loved...which is the highest grace, as to know.
As goes faith, we're not capable of trusting what we don't know, otherwise we're effectively only trusting in ideas about what we think a thing is or might be..but not trusting the person or thing, itself. This is a fine point of distinction, but it's vital as trust is strongest when there's an ongoing, unbroken, interactive relationship between the one trusting and the one being trusted: The more familiar you are with someone and their ways (given they are trustworthy), the more you can trust and/or love them.
Those aren't states of being which exist in disconnect from the people and things which they actually exist only in relation to...trust and love are only as viable and secure as is the actual, working knowledge of their recipient objects/persons.
And faith is a type of trust--it's active belief, for having been convinced of the truthfulness, trustworthiness, reliability of a person or thing. Even as so-called "Good faith" agreements exist between those who have a reasonable expectation that their expectations are justifiable that the agreement with be upheld...such agreements won't be legitimately made in situations where someone is reasonably uncertain of the viability of parties entering agreement.
Faith requires reason. It doesn't exist in a vacuum. The stronger a relationship between the one in whom faith is placed and the one who has faith, the stronger the faith will be.
Like as, if your family has always been very loving and supportive, you will very likely have a great deal of faith in their willingness and ability to be there for you, when you endure difficulties. Just as, if the opposite is true of your family, you would likewise take it on faith that they would be unwilling and incapable of providing emotional or material support when you encounter hardship. Either way, your faith is according to being convinced by what you know of the situation, according to evidence, according to reasoned assessment which proceeds from actual experience.
So, if Christ is faithful to save us, to bring us into salvation...given that He took on flesh, walked among us, and died to redeem us...
...resurrecting, even as proof of His Godhood and of the acceptability of His work...
...why do we still hang on to this idea that we have to manage our own sanctification, our own keeping from error?
Why are we still so very reluctant to trust Him, to seek Him, and to put our faith in Him fully?
Why do we still remain convinced that the world has it right--that we have to protect ourselves, that we are our own saviors, and that we are capable of discerning what is right and what is wrong in our own strength according to our own understanding?
He's the Good Shepherd. We're the sheep.
That's a pretty distinctive and descriptive relationship.
He leads. He protects. He saves. He guides and teaches.
Otherwise, we would only ever wander and stray and be in error and be lost and be deceived (even by our own thoughts).
Just as we were all once living totally in error, then did we deliver ourselves?
If we think we did, then we're still deceived. And, otherwise, we know we didn't deliver ourselves.
So,why would we think that--having been incapable of ever delivering ourselves--we should now be capable of keeping ourselves from error and further discerning what's right and good, according to our own (increasingly known as flawed, if only as being wholly shortsighted) understanding?
Draw near to Him. Talk to Jesus about these things.
He'll teach You.
There's no other way, is the thing:
No matter what your manner of understanding these things, it's the same principle still:
He teaches, or we're not taught.
He reveals Himself, or we can't know Him.
He saves us, or otherwise we have no salvation.
It's all Him. It's not about us and our abilities.
It's about Him.
So, go to Him. And don't cease to harass/pester/question/talk to Him until You know Him.
And all the while, test everything you think and know and experience against what's written in Scripture. Not merely against the words, but against the Spirit in which the entire text was written.
Don't stop these things.
There's no reason to stop.
There's no greater joy.
And this is what eternity will be, only without the suffering.
All the better to reap of what joys are available in Him, now, as He permits.
And, yet, either it will all be completed of and by Him, or it will be nothing at all.
Friday, February 12, 2016
A Critical Redemption?
What does it mean to be restored? Reconciled, moreover.
Given new life. From above.
And what does it require of us?...what are we impelled unto, having experienced such a miracle?
So, yes, this requirement is in the sense of being complicitly entailed of progressive revelation of the experience--not a separate act, not a disparate course of intent, not a chosen directive even given ardent study.
But entailed. Impelling us, as a complicit act. In accord with God's own will.
Not of our own prior will, then, but of ours coming into alignment with His. Reconciled unto Him.
What does that mean?
...if not restoration.
Sin, rather, is a deviation. A destruction of right order. Aberrant against right order. In discord with goodness and mercy and love.
Sin acts against God, who is good. Goodness is of Him. All which deviates, opposes, contradicts, and attempts to reject His will or His ways or the spiritual, moral law He's instituted does so at the expense of goodness.
I've heard argument that He allowed this that love might have a fuller meaning, as not enforced but chosen. That love without choice as to love or not love isn't love, in some manner. As though there were deviations from love that aren't unto hatred. As though we do choose to love.
Do we?
Or does He have mercy on some?
Is it as Paul proposed might be a reason--that He ordered things in such a way as that His patience and lovingkindness would be shown so clearly in enduring and even giving grace for so long as unto judgment of those who yet despise and slander Him, that the glory of His patience and mercy and grace would be magnified per such a longsuffering endurance of those would would yet despise their own Maker. Even as the glory of His grace is so greatly manifested to those who receive forgiveness of sins, in Christ, eternal...that the power of His might may be displayed through due wrath unto those who life-long refuse repentance.
Job claimed He hardened whom He would, giving the hearts of some...entirely over to wickedness. And upholding others, according to an order which could be known only to God, Himself...not fathomable at any level, to man.
Job claimed it was even as God told Moses--it is the Almighty's prerogative to do with His creation whatever is His will, without anyone daring to question His motives. He's too far beyond us. Too far superior to us. Far too powerful and wise and utterly secure for us to dare attempt to question and expect to even be capable of understanding His response, were He willing to even reveal His intents.
Someday we'll know. If it's His will to truly reveal these things. If we are at all capable of adequately understanding.
Yet, what would love be, without contrast? Is it all the more dear to love and be loved, when there is such a travesty as hate, even amongst brethren?
And if He who created us loves so much even as to take on flesh, to save us from ourselves and the wrath we have chosen...
...who are we to fight amongst ourselves?
There were some rather strong words sent to the Romans in terms of attempts to differentiate according to "reason," rather than the Spirit. We aren't to judge. We aren't to look down on anyone.
IF we have been granted reconciliation through Christ, we have all the less justification for being discriminatory. Did He discriminate against us, according to our wrongness?
And our own wrongness is one increasingly realized to be an abject and not preferential matter--not as though, like Paul described, some are able to eat meat and others aren't and this is more a matter of opinion than of either salvation or sanctification. A matter of mere preference, really, according to the manner of each individual's own faith...as specifically pertains to their own, individual walk before the Lord, whom they will have to answer to, same as we.
Those who honestly and truly know Jesus now are increasingly becoming aware of the truth of their wrongness before Him, prior to salvation especially, but also as pertains to those matters which are presently being sanctified unto Him. Not preferential, then, if He is convicting us unto repentance for them.
Always, always, always....we must test whatsoever comes to us against Scripture. Regardless from whom it comes, regardless from what book...and even testing Scripture against itself! Didn't Satan even attempt to use Scripture against Christ, Himself, when He was enduring temptations?
How much more apt are we to succumb to that same precise attack, if and when it comes even through words recorded in Scripture?
For it's not the Law that gives life, but the Spirit. And the spirit in which a thing is taught or spoken is that which flavors and enlivens or distorts and perverts the message, as a whole.
These are hard things.
Not to be taken lightly. Think on this--immediately prior to Christ's great work, He told the disciples...told Peter that Satan had been seeking, imploring to sift them...but that He, Christ, had prayed to the Father on their behalf, that they would not be lost.
They endured their own sufferings--far less than Christ's, infinitely--but they were entirely overwrought, dispersed, distraught, despairing...all hope seemed utterly lost to them, for at least three days, in full. But He resurrected, He took on life again, overcoming death through the power of His Holy Spirit (which dwells in us, even now). And He restored them to faith. And not only restored them, but utterly altered the entirety of their natures. They were converted. They were given the Holy Spirit, when He breathed upon them.
And instructed to wait, to pray, for empowerment from on high.
A baptism by the Holy Spirit, which turned Jerusalem upon its head, within a day.
120 received. 3000 converted, the first day.
By His Spirit.
Not by the understanding of man.
Not by emotional pleas. Not by rational arguments, although one was certainly given...by Peter, who had previously run in fear of even being recognized as knowing Christ. He spoke boldly, without pretense, without preparation--but as given by the Spirit of Christ, so to speak.
Do we do this?
Can we, moreover?
I hear arguments to the effect that things have changed, these last few centuries. We no longer need signs from on high. We no longer need such revelation of God. Because we have the church?
Because we have books?
Because we have ourselves to look to, for direction and order.
Ourselves as those others before us--but ourselves, none the less.
But can we save ourselves?
Who, ever, has restored a spirit to life, having once endured the cup of death, as sin?
Who, ever, has done such a thing, but Christ, Himself?
And He, alone.
We may think ourselves wise.
We may think ourselves learned.
We may think ourselves near to God, for a long manner of having sought Him according to what seemed right and orderly and best, so to do.
But are we the ones who order these things, in truth?
Were we not in error, when He called us unto Himself, into salvation?
Was it our own understanding which allowed us to, in some flash of inspiration akin to a wholly new light having borne forth into our awareness, realize the actual truth of who Christ is, and what that means to each of us?
We could not have known the truth, except that the Spirit of Christ had revealed it to us--making deaf ears hear, blind eyes see, closed minds open to truth, and mute tongues proclaim praise of the One who has come!
To speak a thing is nothing, lest there be a force behind it which exceeds all reckoning.
In matters of truth.
I am guilty. We all are guilty.
But His love...His kindness to me...
...His purity and goodness and mercy...
...oh, but His love...
...it broke me, unseated my opposition. And set me free.
Even still, His work continues.
Seeing His goodness...His wonderful, radiant, total purity...
...that even hanging, enduring untold pain--not merely of the crucifixion, but of the weight of sin, as well...
...silent, suffering, enduring long what He could have ended in a second, had He chosen not to complete the trial, the payment, the exchange...
...fully aware, all the while.
No dregs of sluggish thought that might have come upon another man, whose body had endured such unconscionable torment.
Not a whit of mistiness.
Fully aware.
Suffering keenly.
What mercy He shows us, even, that our torments...our physical pains...are dulled by the endorphins our bodies are even designed to release. In such an extreme.
And shock, for us, would grant us, most, at least slight delirium. In that such a circumstance, at least, if not in all.
We have an apex unto internal pain mitigation--a turning point, even as there are those who have studied long to find ways to maximize and prolong and offset such points, intended torture...wicked, evil, murderous...as we all are, to have done so to Him...
...as the sin.
Without solace of delirium.
This is what we wrought, per our high minds and understanding of what is right. Per our desire to do good to one another, without seeking first to know the will of the One who made us.
This is what we wrought, unto Him. That He would make way to reconcile any one of us, into His love. His guidance, His fellowship. Into an accord with Him.
Dizzying.
He endured.
Would we crucify Him anew, unto ourselves, so to have a stake in saying which of each of us is more correct than another? ...as that He's blessed us with life, through His death and resurrection, would we now consider ourselves superior so as to maintain a stance that proclaims ourselves capable of remaining free from error, in our own power, now that He's shown such mercy as to have ever, Himself alone, drawn us out of error in the first place?
Does He keep us, or do we?
Because if we are the ones responsible to keep ourselves, then it's not the Good Shepherd whose voice we're following.
Which of any of His commandments and ordained effects are we capable of keeping, in our own power, truly? If we cannot do the very first of even the most basic of them all, then why on earth or within heaven's graces would we expect to be capable of managing the rest, apart from grace and divine intervention? (And He is willing! So, so willing! Even as to have offered up Himself, so to make a way!--what else would He not do, as needed?)
But, to say these things is one thing. To live them...comes by grace, alone.
Many times, I've heard explanations given for various things which, by nature, cannot be contained to word. And have heard questioning come regarding certain matters which are also, by nature, impossible to wholly describe except experientially. Would we quantify faith?
Is faith truly faith if we plan it out? Or is it not lived, in each moment?
Do you make plans so to take your next breath? Do you make plans regarding the function of your next-fifth heartbeat? Are these matters we had ought to expound, methodologically, expecting such a process to make the experiential working and endurance somehow more understandable and consciously comprehended?
Do you think that the woman with the 12-year hemorrhage sat down for days, wondering to herself what it might be to act on faith, searching her long-past-heard remembrance of any known Scripture for an instance which might inform her on what it should look like for her to "have faith?" Do you think it was even anywhere remotely near her mind--self-reflections upon what faith is, reflections upon the word, itself?--when she literally took her life into her hands, stepping forth into the crowd, desperate to touch His garment?
She would have been stoned for defiling the crowd by coming into physical contact with them. She would have been mercilessly cast down, most likely, especially for having such a long-standing, socially repulsive condition as was hers...and to have dared enter a crowd?
She counted her life as loss, to reach out to Him, for healing.
And why would she have trembled, that He called her into public awareness?
...her condition would have made her an object of stoning, for what she'd done.
But His mercy. His love. And such grace.
Not only was she healed, physically, but in the center of a crowd, she was exonerated and declared clean by the One who ordained her to live.
She was publicly declared clean. In the midst of the crowd.
A dying child, yet waiting, but He took time to stop and publicly give her pardon. He could have continued on, knowing she'd received healing, but without making a remark.
But He stopped for her. For one who had been publicly shamed, entirely outcast, utterly bereft for over a decade...one who counted life worth forsaking, for sake of receiving healing, even without begging notice, but just to receive what she knew was of Him. Then, even to slip back into obscure rejection.
He restored her.
Her faith made her whole.
How many are there, now, who suffer...longing for healing of some sort, but knowing no source? And would we consider ourselves superior to them--esteeming ourselves, mentally, even unconsciously over them when "mingling," if exists external evidence of brokenness?
He knew her state. He knew the whole of her condition. And not only did He not allow her to receive her physical healing, yet slink away in silence...He accorded Himself with her, saying power had gone out from Him according to her faith and even as a daughter she was thenceforth whole.
So many matters, like this. Where even something within me wants to raise a fist, strike an opposition, that there's no good to come of being too open.
But, again--I follow Him. Same goes of any of us, who know Him. We each will stand or fall, according to His will, not our own. Faith without works is dead, but works which aren't of faith are, too.
So, either the Lord build the house, or he labors in vain, who builds it. Consider, now, quite what a house is meant to be?...when God, Himself, tabernacled amongst us.
Has He changed, then? Or have we?
Or does He give gifts, only to take them back?
We cannot earn what is freely given. And yet, if we lack a thing, is it His fault that we would not be forced to endure that which we neither ask of nor seek for, in Him?
He has no faults. But we don't receive, in truth, that which we will not ask for according to His will, and not according to ungodly desires.
Just as being undesirous of submitting entirely to Him will leave us dependent upon our own understanding, then we are to that degree liable to falter and stumble and succumb to deceptions which are constantly seeking to lead each of us and all of humanity astray.
He is good and merciful, so He saves many.
Yet, still, we don't trust Him.
Still, we trust in ourselves.
Our experiences or our understanding.
Only looking to God on the side, as whatsoever we think to see of Him aligns with what we've experienced or read.
All things must be in accord, though, or there's a false note.
It's not "one" or "the other" or "that lattermost."
He is the one who brings all things into alignment.
He must, or nothing would ever accord.
From Him, all order flows.
He restores. He reconciles.
In and unto Himself.
Leading, all the way.
From start to finish.
By whatever means we might otherwise seek to busy our hands, fill our minds, lift our hearts...still He is the one who progresses all works, unto good.
We can't see as far as our nose, in terms of all that goes on--how would we presume to think to understand what needs to be done, for Him?
He indulges us our odd inconsistencies in thought, on these terms, or otherwise...He'd have stopped doing His work on earth at the time of the fall, in the Garden.
Yet, even in Christ...even led by Him, unto Him...when will we learn just to love and to trust Him?
To stop "picking things apart" as though we understand anything.
We don't.
If we know anything at all, then it's only knowing Christ, Himself.
All else is only relative to the truth of who He is.
And He...
...is infinite.
I only know these things for being so very guilty of them, that He's allowed me to see, to repent, to pray for deliverance of those yet struggling, in whom these many painful and sore tendencies still hold such sway.
We simply cannot comprehend infinity.
No matter what angle we approach from.
Yet, He has come to give us life.
And to lead us into all truth.
And guide us into righteousness.
So that we might love one another.
Loving Him, as He gives us hearts to do so.
Out of which flows the abundance of our ministries to Him.
I am tired of fighting against Him on these fronts.
I am grieved of seeing it so common a feint in the lives of so many whom He ardently loves and desires to draw near.
May we lay down our arms from against the One who leads us?
And pick them up only as He directs, from now on?
And not against those for whom He died, like us?
...but against those powers, principalities, and the like as we've been instructed to resist?
It's such a strange thing to see so many actively engaged in attempting to convince the Holy Spirit that His work is no longer much necessary...that the world has things right, that we need only apply ourselves more diligently to studies and practical helps.
This is something which absolutely devastates, of myself.
There is no, "I can do this, Lord, just bear with me," when it comes to Christ's redemption.
There's only, "Lord, You've done this, help me to walk in step with You," it seems.
May we cease to fight Him?
Oh, Lord...Your will be done.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Labors of Love
Do we even know how to follow Him?
It seems so often that much of what's overheard tends toward pushing through, against all odds, that where there is a will, there's a way. At all costs, do explicitly what Scripture says.
But according to our interpretation, or His?
Do we realize that, even in terms of reading, seeking understanding, and attempting application of Scripture...there is a vast difference between self-effort and Spirit-led reception and application?
He's so gracious as to bless the efforts, regardless, most usually...
There's just a battle being waged, still, in terms of being again and again told that I should be doing certain things, certain ways, and according to certain manners of proceeding. Most recently, the voice of this was even externally manifested--all while continuing lambast from within, simultaneous.
But, the thing is--I am not the one who makes or breaks sanctification.
I am not the master of my own destiny.
I no longer maintain the "privileged position" of deciding how or in what way to go about my life.
And the same is true for anyone who has come to Christ, broken and contrite and surrendered, being changed by Him and saved and cleansed by Him.
Because, truth of the matter is--no matter what voice, from what seeming source, might say otherwise--we aren't our own, and our actions aren't really even given by our own strength and will, anymore, if we've truly come to Christ.
Because we have been bought with a price.
Meaning we are not our own, at all, any longer (not that ever we were, truly--we were previously ruled by sin).
But as we abide more fully in Christ's loving presence, even consciously, we draw nearer to Him and are more fully conformed to His image.
I'm aware how vast is the potential for complete absurdist misinterpretation of all these things, as said--well, and increasingly aware, as the Lord has increasingly made it apparent that even His own Scriptures, His very own recorded words are perverted and twisted and abused by the machinations of the flesh, even unintentional. Sometimes, this comes merely as a matter of operating according to a particular, familiar standard of understanding--rigorously developed, with intentional focus upon remaining free from error, through years of studious cross-referencing of materials deemed and judged worthwhile commentary.
Constant reminder of the Pharisees...
Consider this:
God has given us intellectual abilities to comprehend and explore the dynamics of the world we live in. He has indeed made us in such a way that we are capable of investigating and interpreting the mechanics of our surroundings, and even of our own physiology. And, even still, there's record of Him mentioning that those who boast should boast only in that they know God and understand His ways.
Not to boast in being capable of any other things, as they are comparatively inconsequential.
And yet, He is simultaneously both innately known by all and also inscrutable.
We can't approach God in the same way as we approach scientific discovery of principles of His quantum mechanics. Because of His complexity, supremacy, infinity, and also such false premises as we're operating under to even have thoughts of attempting such an approach...and primarily, also, because of His complete holiness:
Approaching Him in a manner other than that which He ordained equates to actively expressing a lack of acceptance of basic truths revealed, regarding who He is.
So...if we were to embark upon a pursuit of knowledge of Him by attempting to build upon such wholly false premises, how could we expect to arrive at correct understandings?
Understanding Him according to our own understanding is far too limited to offer an anywise accurate view, is the problem--we're inherently limited from being capable of comprehending Him, even in essence: Infinity cannot be encompassed by the finite, and holiness cannot be approached unto by the unholy. But He's so gracious as to give glimpses. He went on record, even, in terms which are simultaneously largely accessible to us without wholly obscuring facets of His being.
And He came, in the flesh, too! Revealed Himself even more plainly--explicitly in our terms...as on our terms.
So, He seriously takes the time to explain Himself, to those willing to listen and who truly want to know Him--not as indulgence of a passing fancy, but as a matter of desiring actual truth.
He takes the time.
Pharisees, though (as a constant temptation, perhaps many of us battle)...
...want a method which doesn't require reliance upon God for explanation or revelation.
A way of godliness, but without God...which doesn't require Him:
Finding ways and means to attempt to do what seems right, and even what's been described as right by law--social, interpersonal, governmental, familial, and in all spheres of being and interaction...and even described in Scripture...
...but seeking explicit descriptions of these "ways and means" of acting "rightly" in order to be able to proceed without constant reliance upon God for guidance, interpretation, and confirmation.
This is, in other words, a madness which is wholly reliant upon methodology, rather than upon God.
Further, also consider a perspective on what happened in the Garden:
Those means which God endowed us with--to think and understand--were put to a use which was defiant, seeking independence from God. We sought to be self-reliant, in acting upon our own understanding (Adam and Eve, both). We sought, through our own understanding of what seemed worthwhile, to know good and evil without requiring God's input. We sought to be as God, in these matters specifically, and we counted that a worthwhile desire.
He is so merciful, though, that despite our rebellion against Him--shirking the truth of His goodness and guidance, though created as beings intended for dependence upon Him in these matters...created to walk with Him, in fellowship, and apparently created to always look to Him for right understanding, trust Him for necessary revelation, and rely wholly upon Him for guidance in what is right and good...
...He didn't destroy us, but ordained salvation.
We can't make salvation happen, though.
We could do all things, on this earth--we could climb all mountains, we could expose the depths of the sea, we could chart every star in the sky...but we cannot save our own soul.
And ever having had a single thought against God's sovereignty, we have erred egregiously, grievously against even all of Creation, as even having harbored doubt against our Maker, He who is perfectly and infinitely good.
We can't do the things, guys. We weren't meant to, is the thing. We contrive so many schemes, so many methodologies unto understanding and a right interpretation and application of Scripture--each of which, except they actually be ordained by and guided by God, Himself, is only a repeat of the Fall. He graces us with mercy, though, despite our misgivings and rebellion...or otherwise none would be saved.
But if any of us has hope in our own understanding, our own abilities, our own activities and efforts, then we aren't fully hoping in Christ.
And to whatever extent we aren't hoping completely in Christ, we are blind...lost.
There is no hope, other than Him, though.
We can't even understand any of Scripture, except that He reveal it to us.
No matter how hard we might try.
No matter how many years we might study.
No matter how many courses we might take.
No matter how many professors we might sit under.
No matter how many supposed and accepted experts we might easily speak with, as "conversant" in theology.
Being able to recite a verse isn't an active knowledge of its meaning, for one thing.
Being able to recite the entire Book from beginning to end is even futile, unless the truth of those words, as revealed by their author, lives in the heart.
He knows the heart, though. And He is merciful:
Those who truly seek Him, He does reveal Himself to--no matter how halting and faltering the steps unto Him.
He knows we are but dust.
He knows intimately our frame.
He created us--each one!
And even walked as one of us, now exalted.
He knows where there's malice in the heart, but an outward show of devotion.
Just as He knows where there's a silent longing to know truth, in the midst of outward rebellion.
He knows these things, and all in between.
So, even when wrong steps are taken, He oft has explicit mercy.
Otherwise none would be saved.
He draws us, after all.
And He longs that all would come to Him, for salvation. But some will always refuse Him. Yet, in long-suffering endurance of our ingratitude unto abject hatred of Him, He even allows this rebellion...despite knowing, no less, that all will be salted with fire: Here and now, hereafter and eternal.
Objections voiced by many come in terms of a seeming bit of inconsistency and apparent (to them) unfairness of claiming that there's no way of knowing truth, apart from knowing God, apart from Him revealing it, Himself.
This is especially vehemently argued in terms of interpretation of Scripture, as a blatantly tangible point of such argument.
There are differing interpretations of Scripture, is the thing. And I've heard, again and again (and prior espoused the argument, myself), that all the things can't be true--out of one book can't come so many entirely differing and sometimes entirely opposed interpretations, while arguing any degree of validity for each or the whole. Something along the lines of "there should be one interpretation--or at least non-oppositional interpretations--but opposing interpretations cannot be correct, or they undermine the legitimacy of one another by being simultaneously divergent."
Problem is, it's the Word of God. And it's not intended for private interpretation.
The Holy Spirit gave it to us, through prophets and inspired scribes (prophetic writers)...and He has to interpret it, too, or we just aren't capable of understanding what's there.
Take it any way you want it--put the book through any amount of testing you want, run any sort of thematic interpretation through the entire scope, and you may conceivably achieve a veritable infinitude of differing interpretations, still, depending entirely upon the lenses through which you've chosen to view piece and parcel...
...and, still, unless the Spirit of Christ guide your interpretation, in a wholly real way...
...you're reaching false conclusions. No matter how well founded they might seem.
Even the most seemingly apparent statements can be interpreted wholly falsely, if taken only according to apparent meaning:
Again, check out the Pharisees. They made a life of interpreting and applying Scripture--of living it out. Practically speaking, they were experts.
And they missed the point entirely.
They made a big deal of overtly following the letter of the law, but wholly missed the Spirit in which it was given.
Unto eternal damnation of their souls, they chose practical methodology over experiential, intimate knowledge of God. They sacrificed one for the other, ostensibly for the sake of attempting to refrain from erring against Him by wandering unintentionally, unknowingly into sin. By attempting to preserve themselves from error, they completely forsook God, Himself. They, then, embraced error by so diligently striving to avoid it. Heartbreaking, the futility. The abject and complete wretchedness of such a state. The Lord lamented it, grievously, longing for them to be reconciled to Himself, but finding them unwilling.
It's a very fine line, though, walked only by the grace of God (literally).
We're not meant to rely on ourselves, is the thing. Apart from Christ, we're not capable of saving, keeping, or maintaining ourselves. So, we are to do as He would have us do, moment by moment, and not strive for a methodological approach to serving Him. He might give us a routine to follow, though, in serving Him. He may even have us do many, many laborious and time-intensive things which aren't simple nor easy, but which are to our sanctification and the glory of His name. Or He might take us hither and thither, bit by bit, to witness and testify of His keeping power and deliverance. Or give us just the strength to rest in Him and pray for others.
But there's not a chart to follow, individually. There's no checklist, day to day.
We have to rely on Him, for direction, for guidance into all truth. We have no choice but to trust Him to lead us, even as we are directed to relentlessly seek Him in prayer and in fellowship (with Him and with believers) and in Scripture. Especially as there are so many false teachings, abounding. And a lot of false spirits constantly seeking to supplant Him.
Of these latter, to avoid being deceived is to be intimately acquainted with Christ's voice and to stay that way. So, constantly seek Him in Scripture. He penned it, even as through inspiration. Still, His Spirit. Ultimately, His tone, His voice, His nature...evident and described and relayed. So, whose voice do you hear, when you read? That is a very important consideration, to be prayerfully thought through.
Especially as it doesn't have to be a so-called "mystical," weird thing to seek to actually know God, when according to His own express desire, He would be known by us who seek Him. Seriously.
In fact, according to what's written, those whom He doesn't actively know--those who don't actively know Him--aren't regenerate, aren't born again, aren't saved. Because we can't be saved, apart from Him. And to know Him, to truly know Him...is to be indwelt by His Spirit. Literally.
Not figuratively.
We have a spirit. No matter how much this world might be attempting to drown out the truth of spiritual, metaphysical reality (ever actually look up what "metaphysical" means?...and not as an abstraction, but in terms of reality?)...it is truth. Confoundingly, one of the most abstract, theoretical forms of science (largely responsible for technological advances) is the one nearest to actually proving the truth of this matter. Although, depending upon how far from truth the field veers, there's potential for vast error, too.
Same as with Scripture, is all. Where the premise is wrong, conclusions derived from it will be, too. Unless, somehow, the Lord intervenes and actually clarifies along the way.
It's His prerogative, though.
But the basics are the things:
-God is God, we're not. (That, alone, could fill multiple books, in terms of implications and imperatives.)
-God reveals Himself. (Through Creation and innately to each of His Creatures--read Romans 1, Psalm 19. Through Scripture. In Christ. Through His Spirit, which reveals Christ, personally.)
-Christ made it possible for us to be reconciled with God, that our transgressions could be forgiven, as paid. (And all transgressions will be paid for--whether Christ's atonement is accepted by each of us, or whether it's rejected and we choose to stand on our own before God, then to answer for our hatred.)
-Salvation is in Christ. (In Christ. Being made one with Him, spiritually--however your phrasing may vary, this is still the basic point of the matter.)
-Being made one with Him changes us completely, spiritually. (And the outworking of that, in all facets of our being, is a process--interpretations vary drastically, regarding the process).
-And from there...interpretation differs dramatically. Drastically.
Regardless, the aforementioned, baseline tenets are the matters which most delineate need and means unto salvation (according to everything that's been observed, studied, experienced, and gathered--not only since salvation, but from having studied spiritual matters since youth). It doesn't make sense, though, according to the flesh/human understanding, that a single book could have multiple valid interpretations--some, blatantly contradictory--and there still be legitimacy maintained for even the contradictory interpretations.
I've asked the Lord about this, and read and studied, and the only which has continually stood out is Paul's mention of the different parts of the body. Some as eyes, some ears. Elbows, hands, and feet.
Do each of these function in the same way? Do each of these need to be instructed in the same manner, as to how to operate?
Or do they require individual, function-specific instructions? And, if so, then how could they possibly derive such explicitly, vastly differing instructions from the same source?
The Lord has created--He ordained diversity. Then, wouldn't He also make ample accommodation for its rightful instruction and procreation and function?
Discussion of Scripture with friends is always particularly beneficial, along those lines. We each are sufficiently unique to receive distinctly different (if oft overlapping, and rarely entirely contradictory) facets of meaning from even the same passage of Scripture, as impressed upon us by the Lord for what's necessary to growth in each of us:
What, to one friend, is a passage which chastises self-concern and selfishness may to another be solely a relieving display of awe-inspiring, magnanimous love and provision.
...what. to one, may be an admonition to refrain from speaking flippantly--chastising for inconsistencies and undependability--may, to another, serve as instruction in the need to walk humbly before God and men, gently reminded of each one's inability to act or perform even the smallest task apart from Christ.
The very same Scriptures, each of these examples. Two specific verses were the focus--one verse, of each example, and only one. But, without knowing which, there may be many other verses than the actual ones which were the inspiration of those thoughts to come to mind for you--ones which never may have had the same interpretation given to me, or to my friends. Our interpretations differed severely--neither had even suspected an alternate interpretation from our own, prior to hearing it spoken. But each interpretation is valid, even given context. And the interpretations which could be taken aren't nearly exhausted by these mere two interpretations of each verse.
That sort of seeming ambiguity absolutely frustrates and enrages those who won't bow the knee to God, is all. Because there is...inherent the consideration of an "unknowable," "unfixed" meaning...an implication of inherent insufficiency, as attention is directed to God as the only valid source of interpretation. So, in being to any degree at odds with God, such implication is untenable, unconscionable, upsetting. Because it means I am not able, in my own strength, according to my own understanding. No matter how much time I might spend or money I might invest or years I might research or expects I might consult. Still, finding self incapable--not only incapable, moreover, but barred from entry...enrages unsurrendered will.
Or, at least, it did for me. Before coming to the point of realizing I wasn't capable of being God--not capable of even acting the part in my own life, not capable of maintaining the blasphemous lie of "mind over matter"/"I can do this, no matter what it takes"-mentality...before realizing and embracing that there is One Higher to submit to, I utterly disdained and rejected the thought of being unable to do anything. I lived my life believing I could do anything, if I put my mind to it. And being told, in explicit terms, in Scripture...that it was and is beyond me to even be able to interpret the Word without direct intervention of the Holy Spirit?--was something to scoff at and ultimately disdain and despise and ignore.
But, brought to a point of realizing no choice except to acknowledge my actual, inherent incapabilities--confronted by the actual, wholly capable Creator--was inherently humbling, debasing, and ultimately...freeing. There's a hinge-joint inherent that-type encounter, upon which hangs necessary admission of the truth that we are each seriously, grievously wrong for ever having even thought to attempt to be like Him--even by ordering our own lives, even by "only" attempting to know (in our own strength, according to our own understanding) what's right and what's wrong.
He's infinitely holy, perfectly good, perfectly powerful. And infinitely worthy of all praise: Any act or even thought against Him is thus infinitely deplorable.
Plus, we didn't create this universe. He did. So, no matter to what extent we might ever describe it--no matter to what degree of complexity we might understand or adapt understanding unto "creations" of our own...these things won't affect the unalterable fact that we are not and can never be the Creator.
Even if we were to break our way into the very throne room of God, via some quantum-mechanized means--given whatever madness might be wrought through higher attempts at application of quantum physics (like teleportation, perhaps--which the U.S. Air Force began studying in 2004)...we'd be no less condemned by the state of our own hearts, for ever having acted apart from seeking Him first--seeking His righteousness, seeking His ways, and foremost seeking to love Him above all.
So, mere differences in understanding shouldn't be such a stumbling block, even as they again and again point to the fact that the God we serve is infinite and wholly good, that there could and ought be unity in such diversity.
Infighting doesn't glorify Him, is the thing. "Interdenominational" slandering, scoffing, mocking, and bickering doesn't glorify Him.
Aspersions cast between Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism don't glorify Him. Rather, the world looks upon these things and says that we are just like them, only worse, as we can't even agree amongst ourselves. And didn't He say we would be known by our love for one another?
All the more then, is it evidenced by these things by that we are supposed to be led by Him--even if that means lovingly, privately speak with those who claim to follow Christ, yet who seem to be in error, then are we doing so according to His guidance or according to our own understanding of what we think Scripture says? Moreover, do we ever perhaps mistake differences in our function in the body of Christ as differences in actual professions of salvation? I have found this to be much the truth of myself, lamentably so, at times over the past year. And all I can do is repent, mourning the pain such lovelessness incited--begging not only deliverance for myself, but for others who are where I have been. Seeking further deliverance unto Him, still, and ever more.
For, even as there are many descriptors of what can be expected to come about in the lives of those who have been saved--so that we can know if we have truly been regenerated by Christ (and if we haven't been, then we can all the more ardently seek Him, to that end)...
...more than anything, we are admonished to love. And not at the expense of serving God, in truth.
Not in a way which would lead into or condone known sin--that isn't love, given that the end is death. And we don't murder those we love (nor stand idly while they kill themselves--pray!).
Whether in word, deed, thought, or intent, though--we don't knowingly harm those we love.
We don't seek to see them condemned.
We don't desire to see them tormented.
We don't hope to see them suffer.
We long to see them delivered.
Into peace, into life, into hope, into love!
...into Christ's ever-waiting, outstretched arms.
Put another way...
If God, Himself, would prefer for all to repent, that no one would perish--delaying final judgment, for this very reason: That more would turn to Him, in Christ, and be saved...
...if He would prefer all to repent and be saved, then who are we to condemn anyone?
The Holy Spirit is the still convicting of sin, making us aware we have erred against God, pointing us to the need to repent--to turn to Christ asking forgiveness, desiring to cease from sinning...longing for deliverance, to be changed.
While the condemnation of God is awaiting the day of judgment.
So, if He has yet to enact judgment upon us...
...and the Holy Spirit is still actively convicting of the need to turn away from what will otherwise be condemnation, at the end...
...who are we to condemn?
Under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul even reminded that it wasn't condemnation that brought us to repentance, for those who do know God...
...it was and is His kindness which brings us to repentance.
So, would we, then, build bridges to peace by disagreeing with and disdaining one another's pursuits of God?
This isn't to say that all "pursuits of God" are truly what they claim, either. Not all things which call themselves by Christ's name are of Him: He said there would be many who would come in His name, and that even those who actually knew Him would be deceived (if it were possible), given the apparent sincerity and seeming legitimacy of certain such claims: Voices similar to His own, but with vital differences--primarily, that not everything which claims to be of Him is HIM. Which is why we have to test ALL the spirits.
But, consider this...
...what did He say we are to do for our enemies (not spirits, mind you--people)?
Stone them? (Literally or figuratively, moreover?)
Remember and be tempered by remembrance that we were all enemies of Christ, when He died for us.
So, what did He do to His enemies?
...from what I read, He spoke truth to people, with great love. He offered hope. He sought to save the lost. And He proclaimed God's salvation, come--the day of the Lord, that we must repent. And He healed people. With great love. Deep compassion.
Even as there were instances where such love was expressed with a not-so-quiet manner of speech. Not necessarily spoken harshly, but sharply.
How great the love, though: do you love so much that you would weep, over doing such a thing?
Do you love so much that it would devastate you, entirely, to be compelled to speak sharply to a sister or brother?...to have to act seemingly rashly amongst brethren, for a moment, desiring only to see them only restored to the Father's love?
Never taken lightly, then, to sharply rebuke. Not entered into without utmost prayer, ardent searching of Scripture (to ascertain, ensure, and reconfirm), and utter, spiritual certainty of the Father's will.
For, ultimately, He went on to the cross. For His enemies. For us.
In love.
For the sake of the glory of God and the glorification of His name.
For the sake of the salvation of many.
For love.
He didn't speak nor act apart from the Father's will.
So, are we better than Christ?, that we don't need to do the same?
Such that, where there is differentiation of interpretations, ought we not remember that He leads each of us. Reflecting upon that instance where Peter even took momentary slight, thinking to question God's will for himself as compared to the fate of another disciple...we would all do well to remember what he was told, in response:
If I want him to remain until my return, what is that to you? You follow me.
Which, itself, was a strong rebuke. And in context of what love, but one which had just died and also been resurrected even for this man?
All our ills, our pains, our sufferings...they grieved Jesus, deeply. So, surely they grieve Him, still.
Now, why would we add to His grief, by even creating additional suffering by fighting amongst ourselves?
And for those who don't or refuse to understand what His will is?, prayer is our primary recourse. Lovingly endeavored. For, only the Father knows what it is come, for each of us--He had mercy on me, and surely on many of You--who are we to question His judgment? I know I was not and am not worthy. None of us are.
But He loved me and you so much He took on flesh, lived a life of temptation such as we do (yet, without sinning!), and died as an atonement for us...so that we can be absolved by a just God who yet loves us.
Would we not extend the same mercies lavished upon us, to others?
...for fear of rejection?...for fear of being wrong?...for fear of pain?...for fear of persecution?...for fear of falling away from Christ, per association with those we perceive as the unrighteous?
He has to be the one to guide in all these things, or we will end up doing damage--to ourselves and others. Even if it means painful separations, then He will give the strength, but He must be the one who directs steps and speech. And what He directs unto will accord with Scripture--will be in the Spirit which Scripture was given. Or it's not of Him. And He's not in a rush, He's Master of all--time included. So, test until you're sure. To whatever end. Because, ultimately, all we have is Him.
And either He will keep us, or He won't. Either He will deliver us, or He won't.
Either He will complete the work in us which He began, or He won't.
But from everything I've seen and experienced, and from all which is written and recorded, even according to His Spirit:
He stands by His word.
Faithfully.
Enduringly.
Steadfastly.
Eternally.
So, I'd rather take Him at His word than cling to doubts.
Even if that may ever mean mockery, rejection, isolation, dejection, difficulty, or whatsoever other difficulties might befall, to try me. Because I do also know that He works all things to good for those who love Him.
So whatever sufferings there are now...will be for the refinement of faith, the development of long-suffering, the perfection of love, and are not even worthy to be compared with the wonder to come.
He will keep those who are His. We're not capable of protecting ourselves from error, even--no matter what schemes we might develop, it's still only by His grace that we're preserved, ever having been delivered. Which serves as all the more reason to diligently seek Him, because He is so good and He rewards those who seek Him!
He will keep us, He will deliver us.
He will complete the good works that He began.
His salvation is sure.
We are not to be deceived, because He gives discernment. And as we draw nearer to Him, we see more clearly the snares and pitfalls which lay before us, and we become all the more desirous of only Him, thus are less inclined to err against Him.
He does these things. Even a desire for them only comes from Him.
We have esteemed ourselves for far too long, against Him.
In His mercy, by His grace, He's yet saved many, brought many to repentance.
And as it's His will, He'll continue to do so.
But there's no hope, apart from Him.
It's all Him. The universe exists in Him. A reality, superimposed.
He holds it all together.
Same, each of us.
Everything.
Just, we have to keep turning to Him. Constantly.
No matter what seeks to denounce need of Him. No matter what seeks to announce itself as a fair pursuit, even alongside...then, only if it's His personally revealed will...
We much all the more pray.
And if you don't hear Him, explicitly of the inner witness, then He'll no less bless whatever efforts toward seeking Him are earnestly and sincerely endeavored--because His love covers a multitude of sins, to those who repent and seek Him as Savior. And He will no less guide, so long as He's sought.
Just as, even where interpretation of Scripture differs, then so will His revelation of Himself and His guidance differ from each to each. But know, it's not any less of Him, regardless the form it takes, so long as it's in accord with the Holy Spirit, who always concurs with Scripture. Test Him on this. We're told we must.
And our own efforts, otherwise--around the whole course of our walk with Christ--are only to be a labor of love for Him. They add nothing to our salvation.
And, yet, to love Him is to seek to do whatever would please Him: Seeking to love Him more, understand Him better, and know Him more intimately, in all the purity and joy of His revelations...
...these are what we need, what He desires of us, and what we are primarily called to do.
Even unto serving one another, in love, out of love, out of the abundance of our love for God.
Rather than bickering over differences, then, seeking a reconciliation which comes only through Christ: let Him work out the details, as He, alone, can.
Just pray, follow His leading, love abundantly, and let Him be the one who guides in what need be said and done, when it need be said and done--if ever a moment does come when word or deed is either to be given or received, ever perhaps of correction unto deeper godliness.
Such are to be labors of love, or they're not of the Lord, regardless.
All we do.
Labors of love.
It seems so often that much of what's overheard tends toward pushing through, against all odds, that where there is a will, there's a way. At all costs, do explicitly what Scripture says.
But according to our interpretation, or His?
Do we realize that, even in terms of reading, seeking understanding, and attempting application of Scripture...there is a vast difference between self-effort and Spirit-led reception and application?
He's so gracious as to bless the efforts, regardless, most usually...
There's just a battle being waged, still, in terms of being again and again told that I should be doing certain things, certain ways, and according to certain manners of proceeding. Most recently, the voice of this was even externally manifested--all while continuing lambast from within, simultaneous.
But, the thing is--I am not the one who makes or breaks sanctification.
I am not the master of my own destiny.
I no longer maintain the "privileged position" of deciding how or in what way to go about my life.
And the same is true for anyone who has come to Christ, broken and contrite and surrendered, being changed by Him and saved and cleansed by Him.
Because, truth of the matter is--no matter what voice, from what seeming source, might say otherwise--we aren't our own, and our actions aren't really even given by our own strength and will, anymore, if we've truly come to Christ.
Because we have been bought with a price.
Meaning we are not our own, at all, any longer (not that ever we were, truly--we were previously ruled by sin).
But as we abide more fully in Christ's loving presence, even consciously, we draw nearer to Him and are more fully conformed to His image.
I'm aware how vast is the potential for complete absurdist misinterpretation of all these things, as said--well, and increasingly aware, as the Lord has increasingly made it apparent that even His own Scriptures, His very own recorded words are perverted and twisted and abused by the machinations of the flesh, even unintentional. Sometimes, this comes merely as a matter of operating according to a particular, familiar standard of understanding--rigorously developed, with intentional focus upon remaining free from error, through years of studious cross-referencing of materials deemed and judged worthwhile commentary.
Constant reminder of the Pharisees...
Consider this:
God has given us intellectual abilities to comprehend and explore the dynamics of the world we live in. He has indeed made us in such a way that we are capable of investigating and interpreting the mechanics of our surroundings, and even of our own physiology. And, even still, there's record of Him mentioning that those who boast should boast only in that they know God and understand His ways.
Not to boast in being capable of any other things, as they are comparatively inconsequential.
And yet, He is simultaneously both innately known by all and also inscrutable.
We can't approach God in the same way as we approach scientific discovery of principles of His quantum mechanics. Because of His complexity, supremacy, infinity, and also such false premises as we're operating under to even have thoughts of attempting such an approach...and primarily, also, because of His complete holiness:
Approaching Him in a manner other than that which He ordained equates to actively expressing a lack of acceptance of basic truths revealed, regarding who He is.
So...if we were to embark upon a pursuit of knowledge of Him by attempting to build upon such wholly false premises, how could we expect to arrive at correct understandings?
Understanding Him according to our own understanding is far too limited to offer an anywise accurate view, is the problem--we're inherently limited from being capable of comprehending Him, even in essence: Infinity cannot be encompassed by the finite, and holiness cannot be approached unto by the unholy. But He's so gracious as to give glimpses. He went on record, even, in terms which are simultaneously largely accessible to us without wholly obscuring facets of His being.
And He came, in the flesh, too! Revealed Himself even more plainly--explicitly in our terms...as on our terms.
So, He seriously takes the time to explain Himself, to those willing to listen and who truly want to know Him--not as indulgence of a passing fancy, but as a matter of desiring actual truth.
He takes the time.
Pharisees, though (as a constant temptation, perhaps many of us battle)...
...want a method which doesn't require reliance upon God for explanation or revelation.
A way of godliness, but without God...which doesn't require Him:
Finding ways and means to attempt to do what seems right, and even what's been described as right by law--social, interpersonal, governmental, familial, and in all spheres of being and interaction...and even described in Scripture...
...but seeking explicit descriptions of these "ways and means" of acting "rightly" in order to be able to proceed without constant reliance upon God for guidance, interpretation, and confirmation.
This is, in other words, a madness which is wholly reliant upon methodology, rather than upon God.
Further, also consider a perspective on what happened in the Garden:
Those means which God endowed us with--to think and understand--were put to a use which was defiant, seeking independence from God. We sought to be self-reliant, in acting upon our own understanding (Adam and Eve, both). We sought, through our own understanding of what seemed worthwhile, to know good and evil without requiring God's input. We sought to be as God, in these matters specifically, and we counted that a worthwhile desire.
He is so merciful, though, that despite our rebellion against Him--shirking the truth of His goodness and guidance, though created as beings intended for dependence upon Him in these matters...created to walk with Him, in fellowship, and apparently created to always look to Him for right understanding, trust Him for necessary revelation, and rely wholly upon Him for guidance in what is right and good...
...He didn't destroy us, but ordained salvation.
We can't make salvation happen, though.
We could do all things, on this earth--we could climb all mountains, we could expose the depths of the sea, we could chart every star in the sky...but we cannot save our own soul.
And ever having had a single thought against God's sovereignty, we have erred egregiously, grievously against even all of Creation, as even having harbored doubt against our Maker, He who is perfectly and infinitely good.
We can't do the things, guys. We weren't meant to, is the thing. We contrive so many schemes, so many methodologies unto understanding and a right interpretation and application of Scripture--each of which, except they actually be ordained by and guided by God, Himself, is only a repeat of the Fall. He graces us with mercy, though, despite our misgivings and rebellion...or otherwise none would be saved.
But if any of us has hope in our own understanding, our own abilities, our own activities and efforts, then we aren't fully hoping in Christ.
And to whatever extent we aren't hoping completely in Christ, we are blind...lost.
There is no hope, other than Him, though.
We can't even understand any of Scripture, except that He reveal it to us.
No matter how hard we might try.
No matter how many years we might study.
No matter how many courses we might take.
No matter how many professors we might sit under.
No matter how many supposed and accepted experts we might easily speak with, as "conversant" in theology.
Being able to recite a verse isn't an active knowledge of its meaning, for one thing.
Being able to recite the entire Book from beginning to end is even futile, unless the truth of those words, as revealed by their author, lives in the heart.
He knows the heart, though. And He is merciful:
Those who truly seek Him, He does reveal Himself to--no matter how halting and faltering the steps unto Him.
He knows we are but dust.
He knows intimately our frame.
He created us--each one!
And even walked as one of us, now exalted.
He knows where there's malice in the heart, but an outward show of devotion.
Just as He knows where there's a silent longing to know truth, in the midst of outward rebellion.
He knows these things, and all in between.
So, even when wrong steps are taken, He oft has explicit mercy.
Otherwise none would be saved.
He draws us, after all.
And He longs that all would come to Him, for salvation. But some will always refuse Him. Yet, in long-suffering endurance of our ingratitude unto abject hatred of Him, He even allows this rebellion...despite knowing, no less, that all will be salted with fire: Here and now, hereafter and eternal.
Objections voiced by many come in terms of a seeming bit of inconsistency and apparent (to them) unfairness of claiming that there's no way of knowing truth, apart from knowing God, apart from Him revealing it, Himself.
This is especially vehemently argued in terms of interpretation of Scripture, as a blatantly tangible point of such argument.
There are differing interpretations of Scripture, is the thing. And I've heard, again and again (and prior espoused the argument, myself), that all the things can't be true--out of one book can't come so many entirely differing and sometimes entirely opposed interpretations, while arguing any degree of validity for each or the whole. Something along the lines of "there should be one interpretation--or at least non-oppositional interpretations--but opposing interpretations cannot be correct, or they undermine the legitimacy of one another by being simultaneously divergent."
Problem is, it's the Word of God. And it's not intended for private interpretation.
The Holy Spirit gave it to us, through prophets and inspired scribes (prophetic writers)...and He has to interpret it, too, or we just aren't capable of understanding what's there.
Take it any way you want it--put the book through any amount of testing you want, run any sort of thematic interpretation through the entire scope, and you may conceivably achieve a veritable infinitude of differing interpretations, still, depending entirely upon the lenses through which you've chosen to view piece and parcel...
...and, still, unless the Spirit of Christ guide your interpretation, in a wholly real way...
...you're reaching false conclusions. No matter how well founded they might seem.
Even the most seemingly apparent statements can be interpreted wholly falsely, if taken only according to apparent meaning:
Again, check out the Pharisees. They made a life of interpreting and applying Scripture--of living it out. Practically speaking, they were experts.
And they missed the point entirely.
They made a big deal of overtly following the letter of the law, but wholly missed the Spirit in which it was given.
Unto eternal damnation of their souls, they chose practical methodology over experiential, intimate knowledge of God. They sacrificed one for the other, ostensibly for the sake of attempting to refrain from erring against Him by wandering unintentionally, unknowingly into sin. By attempting to preserve themselves from error, they completely forsook God, Himself. They, then, embraced error by so diligently striving to avoid it. Heartbreaking, the futility. The abject and complete wretchedness of such a state. The Lord lamented it, grievously, longing for them to be reconciled to Himself, but finding them unwilling.
It's a very fine line, though, walked only by the grace of God (literally).
We're not meant to rely on ourselves, is the thing. Apart from Christ, we're not capable of saving, keeping, or maintaining ourselves. So, we are to do as He would have us do, moment by moment, and not strive for a methodological approach to serving Him. He might give us a routine to follow, though, in serving Him. He may even have us do many, many laborious and time-intensive things which aren't simple nor easy, but which are to our sanctification and the glory of His name. Or He might take us hither and thither, bit by bit, to witness and testify of His keeping power and deliverance. Or give us just the strength to rest in Him and pray for others.
But there's not a chart to follow, individually. There's no checklist, day to day.
We have to rely on Him, for direction, for guidance into all truth. We have no choice but to trust Him to lead us, even as we are directed to relentlessly seek Him in prayer and in fellowship (with Him and with believers) and in Scripture. Especially as there are so many false teachings, abounding. And a lot of false spirits constantly seeking to supplant Him.
Of these latter, to avoid being deceived is to be intimately acquainted with Christ's voice and to stay that way. So, constantly seek Him in Scripture. He penned it, even as through inspiration. Still, His Spirit. Ultimately, His tone, His voice, His nature...evident and described and relayed. So, whose voice do you hear, when you read? That is a very important consideration, to be prayerfully thought through.
Especially as it doesn't have to be a so-called "mystical," weird thing to seek to actually know God, when according to His own express desire, He would be known by us who seek Him. Seriously.
In fact, according to what's written, those whom He doesn't actively know--those who don't actively know Him--aren't regenerate, aren't born again, aren't saved. Because we can't be saved, apart from Him. And to know Him, to truly know Him...is to be indwelt by His Spirit. Literally.
Not figuratively.
We have a spirit. No matter how much this world might be attempting to drown out the truth of spiritual, metaphysical reality (ever actually look up what "metaphysical" means?...and not as an abstraction, but in terms of reality?)...it is truth. Confoundingly, one of the most abstract, theoretical forms of science (largely responsible for technological advances) is the one nearest to actually proving the truth of this matter. Although, depending upon how far from truth the field veers, there's potential for vast error, too.
Same as with Scripture, is all. Where the premise is wrong, conclusions derived from it will be, too. Unless, somehow, the Lord intervenes and actually clarifies along the way.
It's His prerogative, though.
But the basics are the things:
-God is God, we're not. (That, alone, could fill multiple books, in terms of implications and imperatives.)
-God reveals Himself. (Through Creation and innately to each of His Creatures--read Romans 1, Psalm 19. Through Scripture. In Christ. Through His Spirit, which reveals Christ, personally.)
-Christ made it possible for us to be reconciled with God, that our transgressions could be forgiven, as paid. (And all transgressions will be paid for--whether Christ's atonement is accepted by each of us, or whether it's rejected and we choose to stand on our own before God, then to answer for our hatred.)
-Salvation is in Christ. (In Christ. Being made one with Him, spiritually--however your phrasing may vary, this is still the basic point of the matter.)
-Being made one with Him changes us completely, spiritually. (And the outworking of that, in all facets of our being, is a process--interpretations vary drastically, regarding the process).
-And from there...interpretation differs dramatically. Drastically.
Regardless, the aforementioned, baseline tenets are the matters which most delineate need and means unto salvation (according to everything that's been observed, studied, experienced, and gathered--not only since salvation, but from having studied spiritual matters since youth). It doesn't make sense, though, according to the flesh/human understanding, that a single book could have multiple valid interpretations--some, blatantly contradictory--and there still be legitimacy maintained for even the contradictory interpretations.
I've asked the Lord about this, and read and studied, and the only which has continually stood out is Paul's mention of the different parts of the body. Some as eyes, some ears. Elbows, hands, and feet.
Do each of these function in the same way? Do each of these need to be instructed in the same manner, as to how to operate?
Or do they require individual, function-specific instructions? And, if so, then how could they possibly derive such explicitly, vastly differing instructions from the same source?
The Lord has created--He ordained diversity. Then, wouldn't He also make ample accommodation for its rightful instruction and procreation and function?
Discussion of Scripture with friends is always particularly beneficial, along those lines. We each are sufficiently unique to receive distinctly different (if oft overlapping, and rarely entirely contradictory) facets of meaning from even the same passage of Scripture, as impressed upon us by the Lord for what's necessary to growth in each of us:
What, to one friend, is a passage which chastises self-concern and selfishness may to another be solely a relieving display of awe-inspiring, magnanimous love and provision.
...what. to one, may be an admonition to refrain from speaking flippantly--chastising for inconsistencies and undependability--may, to another, serve as instruction in the need to walk humbly before God and men, gently reminded of each one's inability to act or perform even the smallest task apart from Christ.
The very same Scriptures, each of these examples. Two specific verses were the focus--one verse, of each example, and only one. But, without knowing which, there may be many other verses than the actual ones which were the inspiration of those thoughts to come to mind for you--ones which never may have had the same interpretation given to me, or to my friends. Our interpretations differed severely--neither had even suspected an alternate interpretation from our own, prior to hearing it spoken. But each interpretation is valid, even given context. And the interpretations which could be taken aren't nearly exhausted by these mere two interpretations of each verse.
That sort of seeming ambiguity absolutely frustrates and enrages those who won't bow the knee to God, is all. Because there is...inherent the consideration of an "unknowable," "unfixed" meaning...an implication of inherent insufficiency, as attention is directed to God as the only valid source of interpretation. So, in being to any degree at odds with God, such implication is untenable, unconscionable, upsetting. Because it means I am not able, in my own strength, according to my own understanding. No matter how much time I might spend or money I might invest or years I might research or expects I might consult. Still, finding self incapable--not only incapable, moreover, but barred from entry...enrages unsurrendered will.
Or, at least, it did for me. Before coming to the point of realizing I wasn't capable of being God--not capable of even acting the part in my own life, not capable of maintaining the blasphemous lie of "mind over matter"/"I can do this, no matter what it takes"-mentality...before realizing and embracing that there is One Higher to submit to, I utterly disdained and rejected the thought of being unable to do anything. I lived my life believing I could do anything, if I put my mind to it. And being told, in explicit terms, in Scripture...that it was and is beyond me to even be able to interpret the Word without direct intervention of the Holy Spirit?--was something to scoff at and ultimately disdain and despise and ignore.
But, brought to a point of realizing no choice except to acknowledge my actual, inherent incapabilities--confronted by the actual, wholly capable Creator--was inherently humbling, debasing, and ultimately...freeing. There's a hinge-joint inherent that-type encounter, upon which hangs necessary admission of the truth that we are each seriously, grievously wrong for ever having even thought to attempt to be like Him--even by ordering our own lives, even by "only" attempting to know (in our own strength, according to our own understanding) what's right and what's wrong.
He's infinitely holy, perfectly good, perfectly powerful. And infinitely worthy of all praise: Any act or even thought against Him is thus infinitely deplorable.
Plus, we didn't create this universe. He did. So, no matter to what extent we might ever describe it--no matter to what degree of complexity we might understand or adapt understanding unto "creations" of our own...these things won't affect the unalterable fact that we are not and can never be the Creator.
Even if we were to break our way into the very throne room of God, via some quantum-mechanized means--given whatever madness might be wrought through higher attempts at application of quantum physics (like teleportation, perhaps--which the U.S. Air Force began studying in 2004)...we'd be no less condemned by the state of our own hearts, for ever having acted apart from seeking Him first--seeking His righteousness, seeking His ways, and foremost seeking to love Him above all.
So, mere differences in understanding shouldn't be such a stumbling block, even as they again and again point to the fact that the God we serve is infinite and wholly good, that there could and ought be unity in such diversity.
Infighting doesn't glorify Him, is the thing. "Interdenominational" slandering, scoffing, mocking, and bickering doesn't glorify Him.
Aspersions cast between Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism don't glorify Him. Rather, the world looks upon these things and says that we are just like them, only worse, as we can't even agree amongst ourselves. And didn't He say we would be known by our love for one another?
All the more then, is it evidenced by these things by that we are supposed to be led by Him--even if that means lovingly, privately speak with those who claim to follow Christ, yet who seem to be in error, then are we doing so according to His guidance or according to our own understanding of what we think Scripture says? Moreover, do we ever perhaps mistake differences in our function in the body of Christ as differences in actual professions of salvation? I have found this to be much the truth of myself, lamentably so, at times over the past year. And all I can do is repent, mourning the pain such lovelessness incited--begging not only deliverance for myself, but for others who are where I have been. Seeking further deliverance unto Him, still, and ever more.
For, even as there are many descriptors of what can be expected to come about in the lives of those who have been saved--so that we can know if we have truly been regenerated by Christ (and if we haven't been, then we can all the more ardently seek Him, to that end)...
...more than anything, we are admonished to love. And not at the expense of serving God, in truth.
Not in a way which would lead into or condone known sin--that isn't love, given that the end is death. And we don't murder those we love (nor stand idly while they kill themselves--pray!).
Whether in word, deed, thought, or intent, though--we don't knowingly harm those we love.
We don't seek to see them condemned.
We don't desire to see them tormented.
We don't hope to see them suffer.
We long to see them delivered.
Into peace, into life, into hope, into love!
...into Christ's ever-waiting, outstretched arms.
Put another way...
If God, Himself, would prefer for all to repent, that no one would perish--delaying final judgment, for this very reason: That more would turn to Him, in Christ, and be saved...
...if He would prefer all to repent and be saved, then who are we to condemn anyone?
The Holy Spirit is the still convicting of sin, making us aware we have erred against God, pointing us to the need to repent--to turn to Christ asking forgiveness, desiring to cease from sinning...longing for deliverance, to be changed.
While the condemnation of God is awaiting the day of judgment.
So, if He has yet to enact judgment upon us...
...and the Holy Spirit is still actively convicting of the need to turn away from what will otherwise be condemnation, at the end...
...who are we to condemn?
Under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul even reminded that it wasn't condemnation that brought us to repentance, for those who do know God...
...it was and is His kindness which brings us to repentance.
So, would we, then, build bridges to peace by disagreeing with and disdaining one another's pursuits of God?
This isn't to say that all "pursuits of God" are truly what they claim, either. Not all things which call themselves by Christ's name are of Him: He said there would be many who would come in His name, and that even those who actually knew Him would be deceived (if it were possible), given the apparent sincerity and seeming legitimacy of certain such claims: Voices similar to His own, but with vital differences--primarily, that not everything which claims to be of Him is HIM. Which is why we have to test ALL the spirits.
But, consider this...
...what did He say we are to do for our enemies (not spirits, mind you--people)?
Stone them? (Literally or figuratively, moreover?)
Remember and be tempered by remembrance that we were all enemies of Christ, when He died for us.
So, what did He do to His enemies?
...from what I read, He spoke truth to people, with great love. He offered hope. He sought to save the lost. And He proclaimed God's salvation, come--the day of the Lord, that we must repent. And He healed people. With great love. Deep compassion.
Even as there were instances where such love was expressed with a not-so-quiet manner of speech. Not necessarily spoken harshly, but sharply.
How great the love, though: do you love so much that you would weep, over doing such a thing?
Do you love so much that it would devastate you, entirely, to be compelled to speak sharply to a sister or brother?...to have to act seemingly rashly amongst brethren, for a moment, desiring only to see them only restored to the Father's love?
Never taken lightly, then, to sharply rebuke. Not entered into without utmost prayer, ardent searching of Scripture (to ascertain, ensure, and reconfirm), and utter, spiritual certainty of the Father's will.
For, ultimately, He went on to the cross. For His enemies. For us.
In love.
For the sake of the glory of God and the glorification of His name.
For the sake of the salvation of many.
For love.
He didn't speak nor act apart from the Father's will.
So, are we better than Christ?, that we don't need to do the same?
Such that, where there is differentiation of interpretations, ought we not remember that He leads each of us. Reflecting upon that instance where Peter even took momentary slight, thinking to question God's will for himself as compared to the fate of another disciple...we would all do well to remember what he was told, in response:
If I want him to remain until my return, what is that to you? You follow me.
Which, itself, was a strong rebuke. And in context of what love, but one which had just died and also been resurrected even for this man?
All our ills, our pains, our sufferings...they grieved Jesus, deeply. So, surely they grieve Him, still.
Now, why would we add to His grief, by even creating additional suffering by fighting amongst ourselves?
And for those who don't or refuse to understand what His will is?, prayer is our primary recourse. Lovingly endeavored. For, only the Father knows what it is come, for each of us--He had mercy on me, and surely on many of You--who are we to question His judgment? I know I was not and am not worthy. None of us are.
But He loved me and you so much He took on flesh, lived a life of temptation such as we do (yet, without sinning!), and died as an atonement for us...so that we can be absolved by a just God who yet loves us.
Would we not extend the same mercies lavished upon us, to others?
...for fear of rejection?...for fear of being wrong?...for fear of pain?...for fear of persecution?...for fear of falling away from Christ, per association with those we perceive as the unrighteous?
He has to be the one to guide in all these things, or we will end up doing damage--to ourselves and others. Even if it means painful separations, then He will give the strength, but He must be the one who directs steps and speech. And what He directs unto will accord with Scripture--will be in the Spirit which Scripture was given. Or it's not of Him. And He's not in a rush, He's Master of all--time included. So, test until you're sure. To whatever end. Because, ultimately, all we have is Him.
And either He will keep us, or He won't. Either He will deliver us, or He won't.
Either He will complete the work in us which He began, or He won't.
But from everything I've seen and experienced, and from all which is written and recorded, even according to His Spirit:
He stands by His word.
Faithfully.
Enduringly.
Steadfastly.
Eternally.
So, I'd rather take Him at His word than cling to doubts.
Even if that may ever mean mockery, rejection, isolation, dejection, difficulty, or whatsoever other difficulties might befall, to try me. Because I do also know that He works all things to good for those who love Him.
So whatever sufferings there are now...will be for the refinement of faith, the development of long-suffering, the perfection of love, and are not even worthy to be compared with the wonder to come.
He will keep those who are His. We're not capable of protecting ourselves from error, even--no matter what schemes we might develop, it's still only by His grace that we're preserved, ever having been delivered. Which serves as all the more reason to diligently seek Him, because He is so good and He rewards those who seek Him!
He will keep us, He will deliver us.
He will complete the good works that He began.
His salvation is sure.
We are not to be deceived, because He gives discernment. And as we draw nearer to Him, we see more clearly the snares and pitfalls which lay before us, and we become all the more desirous of only Him, thus are less inclined to err against Him.
He does these things. Even a desire for them only comes from Him.
We have esteemed ourselves for far too long, against Him.
In His mercy, by His grace, He's yet saved many, brought many to repentance.
And as it's His will, He'll continue to do so.
But there's no hope, apart from Him.
It's all Him. The universe exists in Him. A reality, superimposed.
He holds it all together.
Same, each of us.
Everything.
Just, we have to keep turning to Him. Constantly.
No matter what seeks to denounce need of Him. No matter what seeks to announce itself as a fair pursuit, even alongside...then, only if it's His personally revealed will...
We much all the more pray.
And if you don't hear Him, explicitly of the inner witness, then He'll no less bless whatever efforts toward seeking Him are earnestly and sincerely endeavored--because His love covers a multitude of sins, to those who repent and seek Him as Savior. And He will no less guide, so long as He's sought.
Just as, even where interpretation of Scripture differs, then so will His revelation of Himself and His guidance differ from each to each. But know, it's not any less of Him, regardless the form it takes, so long as it's in accord with the Holy Spirit, who always concurs with Scripture. Test Him on this. We're told we must.
And our own efforts, otherwise--around the whole course of our walk with Christ--are only to be a labor of love for Him. They add nothing to our salvation.
And, yet, to love Him is to seek to do whatever would please Him: Seeking to love Him more, understand Him better, and know Him more intimately, in all the purity and joy of His revelations...
...these are what we need, what He desires of us, and what we are primarily called to do.
Even unto serving one another, in love, out of love, out of the abundance of our love for God.
Rather than bickering over differences, then, seeking a reconciliation which comes only through Christ: let Him work out the details, as He, alone, can.
Just pray, follow His leading, love abundantly, and let Him be the one who guides in what need be said and done, when it need be said and done--if ever a moment does come when word or deed is either to be given or received, ever perhaps of correction unto deeper godliness.
Such are to be labors of love, or they're not of the Lord, regardless.
All we do.
Labors of love.
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