Complaining against clergy and leadership within the church, hypocrisy, truth, and more on the language and process of the Scriptures are shared, today. A BATTLE CRY acknowledges the new status of Pope Benedict XVI as emeritus and the music ministries of singer Joe Ligon and composer/arranger Dr. James Cleveland. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Badwolf” (Level 2 with 434 points, a member since June 7, 2012) posted the following:
Does the fact that you are spiritually guided by hypocrites like Cardinal O'Brien and such not scare you?
if the cant be true to themselves ,how the hell do you know if the can even tell you the truth of religion
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haha ..like all the non catholics in here ..its not like the Evangelists and pastors up and down the land act any better
say what ..you have hit the nail on the head ..this could have easily been a question about political leaders
THE BATTLE AXE: Non-existent Debt? (03/06/2013)—Created beings and living creatures owe no debt to Almighty GOD for the endowments of divine substance, eternal life, repentance and wisdom that are bestowed upon them through Jesus Christ, nor must they make payment for the sacred operations to nourish, console and maintain existence such as creation, judgment, redemption, resurrection and sanctification. Even so, because humans presently rely almost entirely upon language and tools for communication that emerge from a “common ground” of carnal, material and social experience, appeals and explanations regarding need for change in the makeup of existence must go forth. Awareness, behavior, belief, expectation and myriad processes of self-will are built up, corrected and restored through the holy writings; and this is to prepare mankind to become permanently incorruptible and immortal. The systems and traditions that were introduced to crystallize acknowledgment of the Invisible included animal sacrifices, free-will offerings, a tabernacle/temple tax and tithing to support the earthly priesthood. However, these are all completed through the atonement by Jesus Christ; and the Scripture proclaims that following judgment of the wicked, mankind will no longer be mortal. GOD will dwell with men, and there never again will be a temple or worship to counteract and remove the effects of sin.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3: 12-18, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Attending Church? (11/12/2012); A Holy Kiss? (11/13/2012); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); Family and Romance (10/13/2012); A Sanctuary? (08/21/2012); Shaken Once More (08/22/2012); Why Confess Before Priest (02/27/2012); GOD Was Sorry? (02/28/2012); Binder 28: Purity (10/25/2011); Binder 27: Confession (10/24/2011); Binder 26: The Priest’s Lips (10/23/2011); Dispatch 43: Mercy (09/22/2011); Dispatch 41: Victory (09/20/2011); Lip Service? (03/01/2011); To Give a Life? (03/02/2011); Church a Duty? (01/11/2011); A Good Name? (01/12/2011); Two Wisdoms? (10/12/2010); Why Sacrifice? (10/13/2010)
THE BATTLE CRY: Readers are encouraged to hear “I’ve Been in the Storm Too Long” rendered by Joe Ligon, a music minister for many years with the vocal group, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy. When it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI would be leaving office as leader of the Catholic Church to become the first emeritus since the year 1415, this gospel lament that demonstrates fervent prayer and importunity immediately came to mind. While the lyrics, music and vocal styling draw upon the rich treasury of “sorrow songs” found in African American culture, this piece composed by the Reverend James Cleveland, is held to be a matchless classic of modern, Southern gospel music, and one of the most memorable and thought-provoking captures of Black gospel tradition. Cleveland has been called the “King of Gospel,” and is credited with having been the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound that brings the daring of hard gospel, jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs. In 1967, along with Albertina Walker, called the “Queen of Gospel,” Cleveland founded the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA). MP3 files are available from the 1979 Mighty Clouds album “Changing Times” as well as the 2003 Aretha Franklin album, “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.”
Rightly understood, the church does not focus upon communities, families, isolated individuals, nations, and the animal aspects of our human condition. The church established upon the earth by Jesus Christ is a divine tool to (1) make known and visible the action, person and presence of GOD in the earth; (2) complete various ongoing sacred processes including creation, judgment, repentance, revelation, salvation and sanctification; (3) impart divinity and sacred truth that emanate from the Divine Person. Through the church, human nature and mankind are to be altered, changed and transformed. Thus, many mature Christian believers agree that ones assurance and security as a member of a local congregation derives from their personal experience of continuous spiritual discovery and growth, rather than upon the beliefs, opinions, service and works from clergy, and other individuals.
The church as a social institution is a mechanism to ensure that specific practices and sacraments are maintained. Included are baptism, confession, contemplation, prayer, preaching of the Gospel, public worship, and sharing the Lord’s Supper. While donations to comfort the poor may be distributed by those who regularly assemble, the church is not to be a primary provider of burial, clothing, food, health care, housing, or protection and psychiatric services that address sexual violence.
Those who acquire identity as new creatures in Christ acknowledge that the church must respond to realities of the earth, yet can never be simply another product of the flesh (i.e., appetite such as hunger, thirst, sexual craving; sensation such as hearing seeing, touching; and mind such as desire, fantasy and imagination). Only when grounded in the Holy Spirit may believers achieve the self-discipline that allows embracing others of the church without conflict, criticism, gossip and slander, because their continuing activity, consciousness and focus are then by, through, and upon spirit substance (such as faith, forgiveness, hope, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, sanctification, wisdom).
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, since you mention “truth”…Pontius Pilate asked Jesus the question, What is truth? Those who wanted assurance that the doctrine and teaching from Jesus was truly sent by GOD were told their own conformity, obedience and performance of divine will would establish the certainty of their origin. Similarly, Jesus alerted the church that there would be wolves in sheep’s clothing—those seeking to have influence within the body who would use deceit and disguise their destructive motives. See John 18: 33-38, John 7: 14-18, Matthew 7: 1-5 and Matthew 7: 15-20, King James Version.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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