FINDING LIFE - 10/26/14 - The symptoms of sin are not its definition, which is what we generally have settled for, and present, mainly because we dont want to face the true and full reality of sin - its essence. So, we settle for being able to identify sins in others, and for thinking the immoral and unethical behavior (sin symptoms) of others is bad, and I suppose it is. But in taking this tack, we blind ourselves to the reality of sin and the invisible way that it is IN us, and how complicit we all are in it individually and corporately. This may not be an easy read for you, but one that might be very important. Jesus says, I and The Father are One and also “You live in, and by, the written words, whose whole reason for being is to point you to my coming presence. Well, here I AM. I AM THE WORD, THE ALIVE AND LIVING WORD-OF-GOD. The COMPLETION and CORRECTION of ALL the written words. The I AM is right in front of you, but you are looking for - your EXPECTATIONS are for something else, something more(?), and so you keep settling for something else, something other. The LIFE you seek is not something to come but something here-and-now, right before you, and fully available to you, to be quickened IN you. Sin, inadequately and simplistically defined as a violation of some particular religious groups moral and or ethical code, as an effective means of bringing individuals into conformity and keeping them in uniformity implicitly or explicitly using the violence of manipulative fear and the threat of rejection (including Hell - eternal conscious torment, and the like) for violation, AND the often unspoken means of building and maintaining individual and group identity and purpose at the expense (scapegoating and sacrifice) of certain innocent outsiders (or insiders) for the purpose of resolving internal group conflict and restoring or maintaining internal order. In institutional religious systems, although this is sometimes practiced overtly, it is continually practiced covertly, subtly, almost invisibly, and human beings, including and sometimes especially leaders, are completely blind to its existence and practice. It becomes such an intrinsic and accepted aspect of the character and nature of the system, and indeed, of ALL human systems, that it simply becomes invisible. This is the consequence of all systems - religious, political, economic, judicial, etc.), that they explicitly CREATE victims, and thus act as victimizers. God demonstrates explicitly-to-the-extreme in Jesus that Hod stands with the victims, not against the victimizers(human beings whom God also loves unsurpassable), but against VICTIMIZATION, and to the pointing of standing in as OUR victim and suffering OUR victimization (not Gods wrath, punishment, our appeasement), dying, not so much INSTEAD of us, but FOR us, and BY us, all the while FORGIVING us. Anyway, the systemic process described above is the meaning behind the principalities and powers of which Paul speaks, and of which Jesus identifies as the ruler of this world. Neither saved individuals, The Gathered Body, and especially not the Institutional Religious System, are immune from this, and even many (if not most) have little awareness of it, or consider it justified, and even a God-like expression of righteousness. What sin IS - The essence of sin is the crisis of identity and purpose that results as we reject the God-given identity and purpose of reflecting and representing (good mimesis) Gods nature and character as is completely (but not always simplistically) discernible in and through Jesus, choosing rather to create our own identity and character and joy (a power and feeling [glory] greater than ourselves) through acquisition, possession, and control of and over things and other beings, which always leads to some form of violence (control, intimidation, coercion, manipulation, exploitation, rejection, marginalization, oppression, captivity, and/or any form of emotional, physical, or spiritual injury or death) against creation, created beings, or self. It saddens me deeply to know that I have thrown stones, and or been tempted to, and that I often have a few pebbles in my pocket. Lord, help me. How about you? Once we understand this, we MIGHT pursue metanoia for ourselves, and collectively, for our group. There is NOTHING that I have identified as being the problem above that in any way fits or describes God. Yet, we project and impose many of these characteristics ON God, NOT because God IS this, but because we WANT God to BE like this precisely because this is who and what we are apart from God, and we seek to justify ourselves by making these things appear to be God-like. We cannot escape this aspect of our God-given identity and purpose (to mimic God), such that even as we hide from God, we try to make God like us, so that we might APPEAR to be like God. THIS is the great deception. Jesus didnt come to start a new religion - which we have done. Jesus didnt come to try to fix a failed religion - which is what we are always trying to do. Jesus came to expose and identify the essence of sin behind the superficial definition of its symptoms that we have settled for in order to avoid facing the true, deep, and hidden reality of sin. Our sin lies in mimicking something -anything - other than God. And the logical consequence if this is to change (recreate) The Unchangeable God in OUR image. This we do. This Jesus exposes. We deceive ourselves if we think we have no sin because we do not commit certain sins. We all SIN as we fail to faithfully reflect and represent the true nature and character of God. I suggest that WE MAKE THIS MORE DIFFICULT for ourselves and others as we individually and publicly present an image of God as God that IS NOT God. This, too - this especially - is sin. And we do this EVERY TIME we present God as being ANYTHING other than Christlike. God is not vengeful, punishing, retributive, wrathful - WE ARE, and as we represent God this way - as Jesus DID NOT - we create an idol god that IS NOT TRUE. Blessings and peace.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 12:51:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015