The Promises of Inspiration

[Mortalsfool]

WHEN OLD HALLOWED WORDS COMBINE WITH INSPIRATION

It is exciting to discover the incredible versatility of words when combined with God's interaction through His holy words. The myriad ways they blend into coherent meanings, meanings never before put into words, clarify both promises and prophecies and take on new, understandable meanings. Unlimited representations of the human experience, both in this life and after. A brochure for now and the future.
Nothing can compare to the flood of understanding that is derived from holy inspiration, the very direct communication from God Himself. While the words themselves are old and have previous meanings, they are born anew. When freed from the chains of dogma, words take on new light, revealing, as God intended, truths that cannot be taught by men. These "new" truths can only be shared, not taught, because God is the arbiter of who receives what He teaches. Only He knows the secrets of our hearts. Only He decides who is worthy to receive the knowledge of their own salvation. Only He can prepare those who bear witness in this life for the judgments He has prepared for us.

I hold that truths revealed by God can be shared but not taught. I think this because I can write about what I believe I have learned, but I do not see anything in my words that teaches. Perhaps my writing presents ideas that the earnest can consider in the light of their present understanding of the subject. The words may point. They may invite reflection. They may encourage the reader to search more deeply into holy promises and rewards of faith. But the understanding itself belongs to God. The revelation belongs to God. The witness belongs to God.

For this reason, I do not think anything I have learned is directed toward controlling behavior, establishing practices, or forcing a change in belief. Rather, it encourages devotion and attentiveness. It directs the eye toward promises already given and rewards already offered. It encourages a greater expectation that God is willing to reveal what He has hidden, according to His own purpose and timing.

Some of those revelations concern matters of eternal importance. To understand the mechanisms that make self-judgment pardonable, one must understand the sacrifice of Jesus, the unveiling of the Christ. How and why did Christ, a man who suffered for our sins, become an acceptable advocate for all who sinned? Without this understanding, the self-accused suffers his own judgment without Christ's vouchsafe.
Having a fear or concern of death and judgment is caused by thinking God will judge you, while not realizing that judgment of yourself removes you from a grace offered through God's advocate. When you stand in judgment alone, you confess your sins with no sacrifice to offer for your transgressions. Only your soul remains to satisfy the debt.

The revelation of Christ changes this understanding. The sacrifice of Christ is not merely a historical event to be acknowledged. It is the unveiling of God's provision for those who would otherwise standalone before their own testimony. The advocate stands where the accused cannot stand for himself. The sacrifice speaks where the sinner has nothing to offer.

These are not things that can be taught into a man. They can be spoken of. They can be shared. They can be witnessed. Yet the understanding itself arrives only when God opens the eyes of the hearer. The words may be old, but when joined with holy inspiration, they live again. Through them, promises become clearer, prophecies become understandable, and faith finds new reasons to hope in what God has prepared for those who love Christ.

[Lacewing]

May I offer a different perspective, experience, awareness...?

I realize that what you've said is what you believe. But that of course is just one perspective of so many. And it makes sense to me that perspectives are MANY because the truth and potential IS TRULY THAT VAST. It is not limited to any religion or particular book or set of human ideas.

Nothing can compare to the flood of understanding that is derived from holy inspiration...

I have had this experience repeatedly... a profound flood of knowing and seeing... as if behind/beyond the curtain of physical human reality... accompanied by peaceful acceptance and gratitude. I do not believe this comes from a male god figure. Rather, this kind of awareness seems completely natural when accessing the ability to tap into ONENESS... that surely ALL is part of... no divisions.

When freed from the chains of dogma, words take on new light, revealing, as God intended, truths that cannot be taught by men.

This includes books and stories written and imagined by men in which they describe their own beliefs as absolute truths, which they claim are somehow superior to all others. Yes, what might we understand and see if we open up more broadly than that?

I hold that truths revealed by God can be shared but not taught.

And truths may come to any and all who open to them, without any need of a certain belief structure. It makes the most sense to me that we are naturally part of that which speaks to us and through us, and any separation is an illusion. It is our resistance, rigidity, or denseness that blocks the natural connectivity and flow that is always there.

Having a fear or concern of death and judgment is caused by thinking God will judge you, while not realizing that judgment of yourself removes you from a grace offered through God's advocate.

I agree with all but the 'advocate' part because, again, that suggests we are separate and need all of these stories and ideas and go-betweens... all of which were imagined and created by men.

If we were to recognize that ALL IS ONE... and there is no ultimate division or separation... then wouldn't that empower everyone in a way that has been denied them? Men creating structures and rules for 'who and how and what'... secures power within those ideas and for those who use them. Could it be that we've become so dependent on our supposed 'roles' within these structures, that we are afraid of considering how much more vastness we are part of... and how 'divine' ALL of it actually is? Truly, how beautiful would that be?

If we loved and forgave and understood ourselves in the way that many of us might imagine ONLY A GOD could do, wouldn't that be showing ourselves grace and freeing and expanding our experience in whole new ways? It is our self-judgment and lack of love that seemingly imprisons and separates us. The light is naturally there when we step out of the darkness we imagine and cater to.

[Mortalsfool]

Hi Lacewing, I do appreciate you taking the time to read the rather long post. I have little to comment on your response, other than, I don’t see so much of disagreement with my ideas, as much as I see a view from a different perspective than mine. I’ve given up writing things that I have to defend or justify. Now I write for no greater purpose than to share thoughts that are not generally taught in Sunday school. Things I’ve found to prove themselves in my life’s experience. Again, I thank you for your input. And pray your expression of faith rewards you with a state of contentment, as satisfying as mine has given me.

I’m starting to reach old age now and can claim some experience with the concept of ‘all One’. However, being a Christian, the concept of Christ as an advocate is of some great importance to me. My understanding of how, what, and why, the story of Christ has part in my salvation, is now understood, and to good purpose. The story of Jesus was like a fable to me; it revealed access to a moral that gave clarity to the reasons I believed its message.

[Lacewing]

Hi Lacewing, I do appreciate you taking the time to read the rather long post. I have little to comment on your response, other than, I don’t see so much of disagreement with my ideas, as much as I see a view from a different perspective than mine.

I appreciated your inspired writing, and, yes, I wanted to express a similar understanding from a different perspective. I like seeing potential demonstrated and respected in many forms.

I often focus on communicating how I see divine spirit and connection and awareness as being natural without requiring particular stories to deliver or contain them. That does not negate the value from using frameworks -- I simply feel compelled at times to suggest that frameworks can become limiting and can become the thing/idea that is being served/worshipped, and I ask if we can see beyond/behind them.

What I've experienced is that there are so many paths of ONE SPIRIT. I think that's beautiful, and I wish more religions and religious discussions would acknowledge that AND be thrilled to do so! It seems strangely suspect to me that they don't. Loving spirit is clearly available to all... as can be seen in the eyes of children before they are taught to be in denial of it.

Again, I thank you for your input. And pray your expression of faith rewards you with a state of contentment, as satisfying as mine has given me.

Thank you. I wish the same for you.

[Gary Childress]

WHEN OLD HALLOWED WORDS COMBINE WITH INSPIRATION

It is exciting to discover the incredible versatility of words when combined with God's interaction through His holy words. The myriad ways they blend into coherent meanings, meanings never before put into words, clarify both promises and prophecies and take on new, understandable meanings. Unlimited representations of the human experience, both in this life and after. A brochure for now and the future.
Nothing can compare to the flood of understanding that is derived from holy inspiration, the very direct communication from God Himself. While the words themselves are old and have previous meanings, they are born anew. When freed from the chains of dogma, words take on new light, revealing, as God intended, truths that cannot be taught by men. These "new" truths can only be shared, not taught, because God is the arbiter of who receives what He teaches. Only He knows the secrets of our hearts. Only He decides who is worthy to receive the knowledge of their own salvation. Only He can prepare those who bear witness in this life for the judgments He has prepared for us.

I hold that truths revealed by God can be shared but not taught. I think this because I can write about what I believe I have learned, but I do not see anything in my words that teaches. Perhaps my writing presents ideas that the earnest can consider in the light of their present understanding of the subject. The words may point. They may invite reflection. They may encourage the reader to search more deeply into holy promises and rewards of faith. But the understanding itself belongs to God. The revelation belongs to God. The witness belongs to God.

For this reason, I do not think anything I have learned is directed toward controlling behavior, establishing practices, or forcing a change in belief. Rather, it encourages devotion and attentiveness. It directs the eye toward promises already given and rewards already offered. It encourages a greater expectation that God is willing to reveal what He has hidden, according to His own purpose and timing.

Some of those revelations concern matters of eternal importance. To understand the mechanisms that make self-judgment pardonable, one must understand the sacrifice of Jesus, the unveiling of the Christ. How and why did Christ, a man who suffered for our sins, become an acceptable advocate for all who sinned? Without this understanding, the self-accused suffers his own judgment without Christ's vouchsafe.
Having a fear or concern of death and judgment is caused by thinking God will judge you, while not realizing that judgment of yourself removes you from a grace offered through God's advocate. When you stand in judgment alone, you confess your sins with no sacrifice to offer for your transgressions. Only your soul remains to satisfy the debt.

The revelation of Christ changes this understanding. The sacrifice of Christ is not merely a historical event to be acknowledged. It is the unveiling of God's provision for those who would otherwise standalone before their own testimony. The advocate stands where the accused cannot stand for himself. The sacrifice speaks where the sinner has nothing to offer.

These are not things that can be taught into a man. They can be spoken of. They can be shared. They can be witnessed. Yet the understanding itself arrives only when God opens the eyes of the hearer. The words may be old, but when joined with holy inspiration, they live again. Through them, promises become clearer, prophecies become understandable, and faith finds new reasons to hope in what God has prepared for those who love Christ.

Sounds very inspiring, if there is a "God" and if he produced a mortal "son" named Jesus. It might even be true. I've always wondered about "original sin". Did any great crime of original disobedience to God ever truly happen in history? Are we all truly guilty for this "original sin" as soon as we come out of the womb, or are we "guilty" even before we come out of the womb?

[Mortalsfool]

If I had to guess why original sin exists, I would see it as a concession by God within the larger conflict between Himself and Lucifer.

Scripture presents Lucifer as free to use his influence to persuade humanity to reject God's ways and embrace his own. If this conflict is being played out within human experience, then original sin may represent God's willingness to give Lucifer an apparent advantage.

Every person begins life with a fallen nature and an inclination toward sin. Yet God is so certain of the outcome of His plan that He allows humanity to enter the battlefield already carrying that burden.

I believe God stepped back from direct intervention, fully confident that His self-sustaining plan for humanity's good would ultimately prevail. The issue is not whether God possesses greater power. That was never in question.

The question is whether God's ways are truly better than the alternatives offered by sin.

When Lucifer ultimately fails, it will be evident to all who witness this conflict that God did not need to overpower His creation to prove His righteousness. Instead, His wisdom, justice, and love will stand on their own.

In that sense, original sin is not evidence of God's weakness, but of His confidence that truth can withstand every challenge brought against it.

That's the only way that it makes sense to me. I believe, since God knows the end from the beginning, the 'act of Christ' was in God's original plan. It offset the handicap of starting all human life as sinners. Love was the only weapon God used to offset Satan's wiles.

[Gary Childress]

If I had to guess why original sin exists, I would see it as a concession by God within the larger conflict between Himself and Lucifer.

Scripture presents Lucifer as free to use his influence to persuade humanity to reject God's ways and embrace his own. If this conflict is being played out within human experience, then original sin may represent God's willingness to give Lucifer an apparent advantage.

Every person begins life with a fallen nature and an inclination toward sin. Yet God is so certain of the outcome of His plan that He allows humanity to enter the battlefield already carrying that burden.

I believe God stepped back from direct intervention, fully confident that His self-sustaining plan for humanity's good would ultimately prevail. The issue is not whether God possesses greater power. That was never in question.

The question is whether God's ways are truly better than the alternatives offered by sin.

When Lucifer ultimately fails, it will be evident to all who witness this conflict that God did not need to overpower His creation to prove His righteousness. Instead, His wisdom, justice, and love will stand on their own.

In that sense, original sin is not evidence of God's weakness, but of His confidence that truth can withstand every challenge brought against it.

That's the only way that it makes sense to me. I believe, since God knows the end from the beginning, the 'act of Christ' was in God's original plan. It offset the handicap of starting all human life as sinners. Love was the only weapon God used to offset Satan's wiles.

OK. So what are your thoughts on Trump's attack on Iran? Good thing, bad thing, or not sure?

[Mortalsfool]

Hi Gary, I have never posted publicly, the way I feel about politics. I can only hope you are not MAGA. If you are, all I can say is, he makes me believe in the 'end times'. Since you did ask, I will answer. I don't usually like to say negative things about anyone. I have met a lot of people in my life, and I've never seen a man that I can call DESPICABLE in so many ways. Socially, politically, religiously, disrespectful to everyone, demeaning, and if I tried, I could find many other categories. Gary, this is the first time I have ever voiced my opinion about that poor representative of our once proud nation. If Satan has a head minion on this earth, it has to be he, because I can't imagine anyone who is so good at being bad for everything. And, by the way, I truly believe I am anything but a judgmental man. Well, I guess I have to say; thanks for asking.

[Mortalsfool]

I'm sorry Gary. You asked about the war in Iran. I think most presidents would like to have been a wartime president, because it insures a sure legacy. But, another stupid war for the wrong purpose, will also leave a legacy, but not so good.

[Lacewing]

Gary, I have never posted publicly, the way I feel about politics. I can only hope you are not MAGA. If you are, all I can say is, he makes me believe in the 'end times'. Since you did ask, I will answer. I don't usually like to say negative things about anyone. I have met a lot of people in my life, and I've never seen a man that I can call DESPICABLE in so many ways. Socially, politically, religiously, disrespectful to everyone, demeaning, and if I tried, I could find many other categories. Gary, this is the first time I have ever voiced my opinion about that poor representative of our once proud nation. If Satan has a head minion on this earth, it has to be he, because I can't imagine anyone who is so good at being bad for everything. And, by the way, I truly believe I am anything but a judgmental man. Well, I guess I have to say; thanks for asking.

WELL SAID!

The way I look at it Mortalsfool, it may be part of a bigger picture that will lead us eventually to greater awareness and choices... EXACTLY BECAUSE we have seen how low human beings can go, and how vulnerable our systems are for absolute corruption and being taken-over despite supposed safeguards. We had no idea how quickly a cult mentality could destroy so much and lack so much awareness. It doesn't seem right on so many levels... and that might bring the natural undoing of it. It's out-of-balance, it's ignorant, it's destructive... and (I think) there are greater qualities in greater numbers across humankind which are rising in the face of this monstrous threat against the well-being of our entire planet.

Maybe we were too lulled by the mundane nature of our world, making it tempting to be fascinated with gold idols and to fall back into archaic fearful attitudes... rather than envisioning and rightfully embracing NEW WAYS forward that honor ALL PEOPLE and their differences.

[Gary Childress]

I can only hope you are not MAGA.

I'm not MAGA. I don't want anything to do with MAGA.

[Mortalsfool]

Throughout this regimes reign, I have often asked myself, how does a society put up with such despots? When you look at history, you can see the same story over and over. How? Why? Until you experience it, as we are, it doesn’t seem possible.

What really amazes me, is the fact that good intelligent people are on their bandwagon too. When I see family and those whose ‘normal’ intelligence gets my respect, as faithful followers, I see the ‘how’ of it, but not the ‘why’. It’s a phenomenon to me, so deep set that discussion is out of the question.

Having been raised a Seventh Day Adventist, not practicing now of course, it is easy for me to link today’s happenings to the last days prophesies. And the Bible does say that He/God, ‘will cause them to believe a lie’, in which case, just as in the case of Pharaoh, God hardened their hearts. So, perhaps that is the cause, done just so God could prove a point. So I allow that that possibility could answer the ‘why’ question. I just have a hard time knowing they watch the same craziness every day in the news and still join the parade of foolishness. I like to think that God is in control. I think without that hope, I would despair.

[Lacewing]

Throughout this regimes reign, I have often asked myself, how does a society put up with such despots? When you look at history, you can see the same story over and over. How? Why? Until you experience it, as we are, it doesn’t seem possible.

Yes, it's baffling. I can only explain it to myself by considering that there's a much, much, much bigger interweave of collective conscious energy creatively exploring potential limits. We and all of nature, as expressions and examples of potential, are surfing what's possible... while maybe learning how to consciously choose paths.

What really amazes me, is the fact that good intelligent people are on their bandwagon too.

It's a test for staying conscious, perhaps, to avoid losing ourselves -- to avoid giving our identity to the wrong kind of power simply because we feel powerless.

Having been raised a Seventh Day Adventist, not practicing now of course, it is easy for me to link today’s happenings to the last days prophesies. And the Bible does say that He/God, ‘will cause them to believe a lie’, in which case, just as in the case of Pharaoh, God hardened their hearts.

This prophetic stuff is fascinating to me: it appears to me that we have written our human stories and continue to write our stories, consciously or not, on individual and collective levels. The Christian story is for those who are drawn to it, and their bible warns them about their own downfall, which naturally ripples outward across the collective landscape, affecting others.

So, perhaps that is the cause, done just so God could prove a point.

I like your suggestion of 'God proving a point'. That's how I would see divine awareness playing things out... proving a point for those inclined to participate in 'parades of foolishness' (to use your good description). And humankind does it over and over. There's some sort of fascination with it, apparently. 'Oh look at what we can do... let's do it!'

I like to think that God is in control. I think without that hope, I would despair.

Personally, I think the human concept of 'God' is a great reduction of far greater potential. It seems more reasonable to me that something much greater that we are ALL naturally part of is at work and play. We already belong. We're here to navigate this co-created show as well as possible, and love as much as we can along the way... which is the reward.

[Dubious]

Throughout this regimes reign, I have often asked myself, how does a society put up with such despots? When you look at history, you can see the same story over and over. How? Why? Until you experience it, as we are, it doesn’t seem possible.

Humans have always yielded to promises or any prejudice accepted or endorsed by the age; flaws which never ceased to travel almost seamlessly on the monorail of least resistance. It's a process devoid of nearly all obstacles requiring no invasive thinking, only collusion by the masses to make it real, which at certain junctures, may become disastrously surreal as a turning point in the history of humans.

The question then transforms to, are we ever going to graduate as successful scribes, however limited, in the cosmos or default to endless silence in a final abdication of what could have been. Are the deficiencies of the human brain going to have their final say based on the extent its defects are anchored within it.