The World as a unique belief system is the topic today; also there is more on preachers quoting Scripture during their prayers. With regard to the Internet as a public forum, I’ve been specially pressed to share some of my thoughts in today’s presentation as a response to several comments upon recent postings. Writers “wirelessguru1” and “beelzebob” (that I first took to be Beelzebub—the fallen prince of devils defeated and sealed at the Cross by Jesus Christ—and resisted calling “beelzeboob”) in effect, offered to save me from my salvation in Christ, and release me from a state of gross delusion like that described in the Matrix series of Academy Award winning films (that introduced the “bullet” cinema filming techniques.) They have not heard me moaning and groaning, or complaining against the new life; and it must be their own sad experience of something other than Jesus that is fuelling their discontent. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Mr S The Goon” (Level 1 with 44 points, a member since April 22, 2013) posted the following:
Is life as we see it an illusion?
Are we just existing in a reality that society has created for us?
THE BATTLE AXE: Quoting Scripture to GOD? (04/24/2013)—(6.) The holy writings are understood to provide a vocabulary of sacred events, a shared language and shared truth that have been specially fit together and patterned by GOD to permit believers access to the Holy as shared awareness. As a common focus for GOD and mankind, the Scriptures are a necessary bridge over the fixed gulf of carnal and finite being. See 2nd Timothy 2: 15-16, 2nd Timothy 4: 1-5, 2nd Peter 1: 2-9 and 2nd Peter 1: 16-21, King James Version.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1st John 2: 15-17, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Science and the Laws of Nature? (03/23/2013); How To Love GOD? (03/24/2013); What is Reality (a.k.a. Truth)? (09/29/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); The Right Religion (03/25/2012); Mixing Islam and Christianity? (03/26/2012); Mankind’s World (11/20/2010); For Our Sins? (11/21/2010); Two Wisdoms? (10/12/2010); Why Sacrifice? (10/13/2010)
Mr S The Goon, here are some ideas from a mature Christian believer that many have found useful for overcoming spiritual confusion. Often the problem is not with life or truth, it’s with our failure to accept and correctly understand it:
(1.) A belief system is a closed set of definitions, explanations and values that describe reality, and fosters a sense of control and wholeness for those operating within the limits that are put into place by the unique terms of the system. A believer may not go outside of the system for answers, correction, guidance, or inspiration; must not rely upon altered versions, fragments, mutations or partial presentations of the full system; must not introduce material from alternative and opposing systems that would contaminate, defile and profane their beliefs; and must trust that the system they commit themselves to is all-inclusive, authoritative, complete and finished.
(2.) The World System is real, and is a valid source of direction and meaning for human life. Called humanism, secularism, and society, the World provides necessary structure for human exchange, interaction and survival. Included are customs, institutions, language, professions, and traditions that generate rules for our experience of education, family, marriage, politics, science, work life, etc., etc., etc., etc. Mature Christians believe the earth (our physical sphere) is created by GOD, and acknowledge that the World is the creation of mankind.
(3.) In addition to the World, other real systems also foster human understanding of reality. The Flesh system is described by such aspects of experience as appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual craving), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and mental function (e.g., desire, fantasy, forgetting, imagination, thought). Both the Flesh and the World may determine and dictate what one understands as bad/good, deadly/life-giving, real/unreal, right/wrong, and useful/useless.
(4.) The Christian belief system also supplies ideas to describe and maintain human reality. However, in addition to viewing humanity as carnal, emotional, intellectual, physical, psychological and social, Christianity also acknowledges mankind as spiritual. GOD, the Maker of all created beings and living creatures, is a spirit; and has imparted aspects of himself to all Creation.
(5.) Achieving a clear, correct view upon life is very difficult, and requires discipline, focus, and maturity. Truth does not change, however our readiness to accept the truth does. Human living absolutely must go forward as change: we typically grow, increase, and learn. As the process of our living, most humans rely upon discovery, trial-and-error, risk-taking, and vicarious experience (every device available, even clutching at straws), and so there are multiple opportunities and sources for error, and misunderstanding of the truth.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) In the Christian belief system, sin may dominate the awareness of created beings and living creatures, yet, has no influence upon GOD. Sin distorts and skewers human consciousness, and alters the application of self-will. Sin opposes the existence of divine law, divine person, and the entire universe of GOD. Hence, sinners go about to destroy society, and themselves.) 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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