My Sunday Thought for 080617: That Which We Don't Know or Haven't Read

“All natures, all formed things, all creatures exist in and with one another and will again be resolved into their own roots, for the nature of matter is dissolved into the roots of its nature alone. He, who has ears, let him hear.”

(Note to the reader:  This post is an update of my August 6, 2013 post.)

Eastern philosophy is evident in most sayings of Jesus not accepted for inclusion into the New Testament. And, why would this exclusion seem out of place for this period in Christian history? Controlling the minds of the people was the rule of the day, right?  Well, it would seem the philosophy that was true then still holds true today: When the government controls the money, education, and religion, it also controls the people. Socialism and communism would fall into this category, and it would seem evident that capitalism and democracy are not immune to the desire for total control. The United States is heading down this road as we, the people, are manipulated into becoming more dependent on government, and the courts deem it prudent to remove references to God from our lives under the guise of atheist complaints. When the church is in charge of the state, however, everything else falls before it at a much more rapid pace.

“Peace, be with you. Receive my peace unto yourselves. Beware that no one lead you astray saying, “Lo here,” or, “Lo there!” For the son of man is within you. Follow after Him! Those who seek Him will find Him. Go then and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it.”

So what is it the church and state don’t want us to hear? Let’s look at the last quote again. “Beware that no one lead you astray,” would indicate to me Jesus was very aware of the gullibility of man to fall for any fast talking con job, especially from religious clerics. 

“There is no sin [of the world], but you make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin.  That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature, in order to restore it to its root.  That is why you become sick and die, for you are deprived of the one who can heal you.  He, who has a mind to understand, let him understand.”

“Matter gave birth to a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from something contrary to nature.  Then there arises a disturbance in its whole body.  That is why I said to you, “Be of good courage, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature.”  He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

“For the son of man is within you,” not in a church and you don’t have to pay money for clues.  “Follow after Him!  Those that seek him shall find him,” and your heart will guide on your path as you seek God’s love within you. 

If we take this last as truth, the spirit of Jesus Christ is within us, not in a church and we don't have to tithe for information, clues, which we already know.  We are all on our own path, seeking that which we already have within us - God's love.

And the final quote, and my favorite, “Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it.”  Gee, any church law, edict, rule, etc., would seem to go against this statement.  Is it any wonder church and state would like to keep us ignorant of the simple gospel handed to us by Christ?  The simple truth was left out of the Bible while chapters of conflicting confusion were handed to us as we are told by the church, “It’s all a matter of faith."  Yes, but our faith, not that of the clergy.  Only we can save ourselves.

It’s not supposed to be a matter of faith, is it?  It’s supposed to be a matter of love!

God has given us the tools.  Jesus was sent to reinforce the simplicity of it.  He gave everything he could give and, once again, it was up to each of us to find our way.  Would you give your hard earned money to a stock broker to invest for you?  Why would you hand over your soul to a priest? 

When he was finished teaching, as Buddha also declared long before him, he was done! Jesus stated this to Mary Magdalene in her vision:

“From this time on will I attain to the rest of the time, of the season, of the aeon, in silence.”

If we are not given everything which is written, how then can we find the love of God within us?  If we rely on clergy to mead out information, without seeking the truth for ourselves, how can we ever be certain the truth we have is the one great truth?  When all's said and done, if we haven't performed our own due diligence, we deserve what we get for the personal effort we put into it.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.