Post by Hercules on Dec 26, 2019 21:04:06 GMT
Hi Everyone here is Rant number 3,
"John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The essence of the good news centers on this passage. It states our original sin is forgiven and all of our sins can be forgiven if we believe in Christ given that his death provide a human sacrifice to God to atone for sin. This is the essence of the bible and the New Testament in particular.
That is not the purpose of this rant however. My message centres on a hidden implication of Jesus's death and human sacrifice that I want to explore.
We must all try to become Christ like and become a part of Christ is another meme from the Bible. In the 1990s there was an acronym WWJD - what would Jesus Do? Christians were challenged to act like Christ at all times, of possible.
1 John 2:6 ESV
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 Peter 2:21 ESV
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
All of these quotes back up this meme. Try to act like Christ.
Now here is the rub:
Part of acting like Christ is to make an ultimate sacrifice like he did. Your sacrifice will not be to atone for others sins. It will instead be for you or your direct family. Think of a father who gives up his dreams of being a writer to just take on an ordinary job that pays the bills to pay for his family to have food on the table. He has sacrificed his life dream to achieve a successful life.
I have had to sacrifice much in my life including my hopes of having a high powered job/career ambition as my illness put paid to that. Life made that decision for me. It wasn't a chosen path, life or god made me give it up and made me accept a more hands on role in the companies I serve. nonetheless it was a sacrifice as I had to accept it and make my peace with it.
Earlier in my life I willingly gave up my sporting career to pursue my studies.
When thinking about yourself please don't imagine personal tragedies or relationship breakups or anything upsetting. Am more describing things more in your circle of responsibility.
So the insight of this rant is You are on God's path and a path for happiness if you have made an important sacrifice because then you are being Christ like. Your sacrifice will unlock other goodness and good things in your life.
But wait there is more - How does enlightenment come into it.
Enlightenment according to Buddhist teachings is frequently unlocked when an important possession breaks or is stolen.
The victim is forced to accept that nothing really matters. It is not a matter of don't sweat the small stuff. It is more a case of don't sweat anything.
Nothing really matters - losing something of great importance makes us accept this and come to the realisation that health, love, and life continue and if these aren't threatened then a 500 year family heir loom is not of importance if it is lost.
So the "important" thing you either willingly or unwillingly sacrificed doesn't really matter. It may be an important thing and have much value...but it doesn't matter. Not in God's eyes. He loves you whether or not you finish your life with that attribute/accomplishment or not.
Now how can this be when Mathew 5 asks us to shine light on our deeds so that we can glorify god. The resolution of this dichotomy is that our deed may be the sacrifice. Think again of the Father who sacrificed his writing career for his children. He will surely be seen in a good light by all especially his children and if he gives glory to god for guiding his decision especially glorifying god with giving him peace of mind about his decision then all verses have been fulfilled.
Your happiness can not be through the flesh or worldly accomplishments or career goals or 500 year old family heirlooms. Helping others, contributing to spiritual treasures that will await you in the afterlife are of a higher importance. Nothing else matters. In general nothing matters and are actually a detraction from your true purpose in life. Being free from tangible gifts or assets or career paths or tangible advantages should be viewed as being free from encumbrances rather than losing something that you won't recover from.
And that is a form of enlightenment - a realisation of the illusion of meaning given to items of great importance.
Be willing to give away items of great importance or accept their loss.
"John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The essence of the good news centers on this passage. It states our original sin is forgiven and all of our sins can be forgiven if we believe in Christ given that his death provide a human sacrifice to God to atone for sin. This is the essence of the bible and the New Testament in particular.
That is not the purpose of this rant however. My message centres on a hidden implication of Jesus's death and human sacrifice that I want to explore.
We must all try to become Christ like and become a part of Christ is another meme from the Bible. In the 1990s there was an acronym WWJD - what would Jesus Do? Christians were challenged to act like Christ at all times, of possible.
1 John 2:6 ESV
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 Peter 2:21 ESV
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
All of these quotes back up this meme. Try to act like Christ.
Now here is the rub:
Part of acting like Christ is to make an ultimate sacrifice like he did. Your sacrifice will not be to atone for others sins. It will instead be for you or your direct family. Think of a father who gives up his dreams of being a writer to just take on an ordinary job that pays the bills to pay for his family to have food on the table. He has sacrificed his life dream to achieve a successful life.
I have had to sacrifice much in my life including my hopes of having a high powered job/career ambition as my illness put paid to that. Life made that decision for me. It wasn't a chosen path, life or god made me give it up and made me accept a more hands on role in the companies I serve. nonetheless it was a sacrifice as I had to accept it and make my peace with it.
Earlier in my life I willingly gave up my sporting career to pursue my studies.
When thinking about yourself please don't imagine personal tragedies or relationship breakups or anything upsetting. Am more describing things more in your circle of responsibility.
So the insight of this rant is You are on God's path and a path for happiness if you have made an important sacrifice because then you are being Christ like. Your sacrifice will unlock other goodness and good things in your life.
But wait there is more - How does enlightenment come into it.
Enlightenment according to Buddhist teachings is frequently unlocked when an important possession breaks or is stolen.
The victim is forced to accept that nothing really matters. It is not a matter of don't sweat the small stuff. It is more a case of don't sweat anything.
Nothing really matters - losing something of great importance makes us accept this and come to the realisation that health, love, and life continue and if these aren't threatened then a 500 year family heir loom is not of importance if it is lost.
So the "important" thing you either willingly or unwillingly sacrificed doesn't really matter. It may be an important thing and have much value...but it doesn't matter. Not in God's eyes. He loves you whether or not you finish your life with that attribute/accomplishment or not.
Now how can this be when Mathew 5 asks us to shine light on our deeds so that we can glorify god. The resolution of this dichotomy is that our deed may be the sacrifice. Think again of the Father who sacrificed his writing career for his children. He will surely be seen in a good light by all especially his children and if he gives glory to god for guiding his decision especially glorifying god with giving him peace of mind about his decision then all verses have been fulfilled.
Your happiness can not be through the flesh or worldly accomplishments or career goals or 500 year old family heirlooms. Helping others, contributing to spiritual treasures that will await you in the afterlife are of a higher importance. Nothing else matters. In general nothing matters and are actually a detraction from your true purpose in life. Being free from tangible gifts or assets or career paths or tangible advantages should be viewed as being free from encumbrances rather than losing something that you won't recover from.
And that is a form of enlightenment - a realisation of the illusion of meaning given to items of great importance.
Be willing to give away items of great importance or accept their loss.
