The Sermon of the
Beatitudes (La sermon des béatitudes) 1886-1896 by James Tissot depicts Jesus
teaching the multitude
Today, reply
is on comparing sacred and secular knowledge, and the life tools of
intellect and logic against spirit content
imparted from the makeup of GOD. Where a reader claiming to
know science can not understand and process what I am presenting in this blog, I
would not raise a question about their intelligence, however, I might well ask
them to consider whether they have received the fresh endowment of divine spirit
available from GOD through Jesus Christ. Correctly understood, dialogue on
Christian substance and belief is never one on self-promotion through “me,
myself, and I” in place of focus upon GOD, whose character, nature and substance
is exalted, immense, and sovereign. Just as comparing and contrasting Jesus
Christ with the other persons comprising divine fullness (i.e., the
GODhead; the Father and the Holy Spirit) is foolish and unproductive, seeking to
judge, impose hierarchy, and rank the Son of the Highest against other men
because they have shared mortality with him is as useless as attempting to
compare the greatness of two athletes in the same sport as different as
basketball stars Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry. Their accomplishments,
physical endowments, skills, strategies, and opportunities within a game always
will be very different. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID
“STEVAN” (Level 1 with 59 points, a member since August 10,
2017) posted the following:
Was Jesus as intelligent as
Stephen Hawking?
THE GOLDEN ARROW:
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of
men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is
godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great
gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is
certain we can carry nothing out. (1st Timothy 6: 3-7, King James Version,
KJV)
THE DOUBLE
DAGGER: His Suffering At Gethsemane (03/12/2018); The Coming(s) of Christ
(03/11/2018); The Option of Atheism (02/11/2018); We Begin Within GOD
(02/06/2018); Standards For Godly Behavior (02/01/2018); Sin No “One-time” Event
(01/03/2018); Idolatry -- Exalting Human Devices? (09/21/2017)
“STEVAN”, although
Christ and Hawking both have displayed authentic humanity recognizable by their
endurance and overcoming of suffering (not by their imperfection); and both have
served as teachers sharing views of the origins of mankind, the spheres of life,
and the process of the universe, many Christian believers will argue that it is
inappropriate to compare sacred knowledge against secular
knowledge, the operations for achieving temporal goals against those
for accomplishing eternal purposes, and the using of finite tools from
mathematics, philosophy and science (e.g., analysis, contrast, logic,
measurement, synthesis, discursive thought) against the sacred operations and
divine substance required to endow mankind with eternal life (e.g., faith,
holiness, longsuffering, resurrection from the dead, revelation, and
sanctification.)
Practicing the circumspection and
restraint that appear as godly wisdom among Christians, mature believers would
shrink from the task of comparing (judging?) Hawking against Sir Isaac Newton,
who has been lauded as “the most original and influential theorist in the
history of science.” (An entire branch within the field of Physics has been
named for Sir Isaac.) Even so, it is more correct to acknowledge the
complementary of their distinct contributions, rather than introduce a vain
condition (one that lacks spirit matter from the makeup of divinity) insisting
on competition and rivalry. Within the church of Jesus Christ, developing
believers often have erred seeking to compare ministries of the Apostles,
particularly, Paul and Peter. Such focus is a distraction grounded in carnal,
material and social earthiness. It is more correct to acknowledge and affirm
the appearance of the Holy Spirit within all the apostles, and their works.
Included should be genuine fellowship, love, and oneness without
sameness. Consider again the following that uses language from the
Bible:
(1.) Acts 4: 10-14, King James Version
(KJV): 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13 Now
when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were
unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them,
that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed
standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
(2.) Ephesians 4: 4-8, KJV: 4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every
one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and
gave gifts unto men.
(3.) 1st Corinthians 12: 17-27, KJV:
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If
the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now
hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now
are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye
cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the
feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which
seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the
body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For
our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body
together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members
should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer,
all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members
rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.
There is far more to be said, correctly
examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) 1st Corinthians 3:
2-9, KJV: 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were
not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet
carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of
Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is
Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as
the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the
increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that
watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that
watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his
own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry,
ye are God’s building.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be
useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington,
DC
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