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dale-partridge · 3 months ago

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Understanding the Five Solas: Foundations of Reformed Theology

The Five Solas represent the core principles of Reformed theology that emerged during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. These five Latin phrases—Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria—are foundational to understanding the beliefs and doctrines of many Protestant traditions. They were formulated as a response to the theological issues of the time, particularly the perceived excesses and corruptions within the Roman Catholic Church. By examining these solas, we can better appreciate the key differences between Protestant and Catholic theology and the enduring influence of the Reformation.

Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)

Sola Scriptura is the doctrine that Scripture alone is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice. During the Reformation, this idea directly challenged the Catholic Church's view that Scripture and church tradition held equal authority. Reformers like Martin Luther argued that the Bible, as the inspired Word of God, must be the final judge of truth without additional revelation from church councils or traditions.

Sola Scriptura asserts that the Bible is sufficient for understanding God's will. This does not mean that other sources, such as church teachings or theological writings, have no value but must be subordinate to Scripture. This principle drove the Reformers to translate the Bible into the vernacular languages of the people, making it accessible to all rather than limiting its study to clergy and scholars.

This doctrine continues to influence Protestantism today, with many denominations emphasizing personal Bible study and interpretation. However, it also leads to significant theological diversity, as interpretations of Scripture can vary widely.

Sola Fide (Faith Alone)

Sola Fide is the belief that salvation is received through faith alone, apart from any human works or merit. This doctrine was perhaps the most controversial of the Reformation, as it directly opposed the Catholic Church's teaching that faith must be accompanied by works of righteousness to achieve salvation.

The Reformers, particularly Luther and John Calvin, argued that justification—being declared righteous before God—comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ. Good works, they maintained, are a natural result of genuine faith but do not contribute to one’s justification. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

This understanding of faith and justification was central to the Reformation’s message. It emphasized the believer’s dependence on Christ for salvation, removing the fear that salvation could be lost if one failed to live up to the church’s standards of righteousness. Instead, salvation was seen as a gift from God, granted by faith alone.

Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)

Closely related to Sola Fide is Sola Gratia, the doctrine that salvation is the result of God’s grace alone. This means that human beings, in their fallen state, cannot earn or deserve salvation. Instead, salvation is an unmerited gift from God, extended to humanity through Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

For the Reformers, the doctrine of Sola Gratia underscored human depravity and the necessity of divine intervention. While the Catholic Church taught that grace and human cooperation were necessary for salvation, the Reformers insisted that grace alone was sufficient. They believed that no human effort, no matter how righteous, could contribute to one’s salvation, which depends entirely on God’s gracious choice.

This understanding of grace leads to a deep sense of humility and gratitude among believers. It affirms that salvation is not something one can earn but a gift to be received with thankfulness. The doctrine also comforts those who may struggle with unworthiness, reminding them that God’s grace is freely given and does not depend on human merit.

Solus Christus (Christ Alone)

Solus Christus teaches that Christ alone is the mediator between God and humanity and that salvation is accomplished solely through His death and resurrection. During the Reformation, this doctrine rejected the Catholic practice of venerating saints and the belief that priests acted as mediators between God and the people, particularly in the sacrament of confession.

The Reformers pointed to passages like 1 Timothy 2:5, which states, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” They argued that Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to atone for humanity's sins, rendering the need for additional mediators or sacrifices unnecessary.

By emphasizing Christ as the sole means of salvation, Solus Christus affirms that nothing outside of Christ’s work is required for a person’s redemption. This doctrine also highlights the personal nature of salvation, where each individual has direct access to God through Jesus Christ. In many Protestant traditions today, this idea is reflected in personal prayer, where believers are encouraged to bring their confessions, needs, and praises directly to God through Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

The final sola, Soli Deo Gloria, expresses the belief that all glory is due to God alone. This doctrine reflects the Reformers’ view that every aspect of the Christian life should ultimately be for the glory of God, whether in worship, work, or daily living. It also rejects the idea that any human being deserves glory or veneration, whether a pope, priest, or saint.

The doctrine of Soli Deo Gloria arose in response to the Catholic Church’s practice of venerating saints and attributing spiritual merit to human actions. The Reformers believed such practices detracted from the glory that belongs to God alone. They emphasized that salvation, creation, and all good works result from God’s grace, and thus, God should receive all the praise.

This sola encourages believers to live with the understanding that their lives are to be lived in worship and service to God. Whether through acts of charity, excellence in work, or faithful obedience, everything is to be done for God’s glory. The principle of Soli Deo Gloria remains central to Reformed theology, reminding believers that their ultimate purpose is to honor God in all they do.

The Lasting Legacy of the Five Solas

The Five Solas remain foundational to Reformed theology and continue to shape the beliefs and practices of many Protestant denominations today. Together, they offer a clear and concise summary of the key theological convictions that arose during the Protestant Reformation. Each sola addresses a particular aspect of the Christian faith, from the authority of Scripture to the means of salvation and the purpose of life.

In an era when many aspects of theology and church practice are constantly being re-examined and reinterpreted, the Five Solas provide a timeless framework for understanding the essentials of the Christian faith. They remind believers that salvation is found through faith in Christ, by grace alone, and that the ultimate goal of Christian life is to bring glory to God. Understanding these solas helps Christians remain grounded in their faith, fostering a deep dependence on God’s Word, Christ’s work, and the grace that underpins their salvation.

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childofchrist1983 · 1 year ago

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God indeed said He would dwell in the Temple of Solomon in a special way, and His presence there was called the "Shekinah Glory of God”; which dwelt above the Ark of the Covenant, by the place where the High Priest sprinkled the blood of the annual sin offering on the Day of Atonement. But here God reminds Israel that He does not dwell in temples on this Earth so as to be confined to or limited by those places. He is omnipresent, He is everywhere! The Heavens themselves cannot contain Him, no not the entirety of the created universe. The universe is vast beyond our ability to comprehend, yet as a created thing, we know it must have its limits. But God is infinite. His divine nature is beyond our ability to comprehend, and we feel our smallness. But we also know He dwells in His chosen people and His children, and holds intimate communion with our spirits everyday. He extends salvation to everyone, and we want to show the world the freedom, hope and peace they can have in accepting and following Him. May we follow and serve God daily with love, trust, awe and wonder. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ strengthen our faith, lift our spirits, protect our hearts, and show us opportunities to help bring others to Him and His Gospel Truth daily.

We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with sincere hearts to ask forgiveness and follow Him and His Holy Word and Spirit always. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ open our minds and hearts more and more to perceive and embrace Him and His truths. May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. May He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

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hadesoftheladies · 4 months ago

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I'm gonna speedrun here:

Christus Victor and Penal Substitutionary Atonement are not exclusive. Both are needed to make sense of the Biblical narrative. Sin costs death, God is holy, humans aren't. The belief in Christ is only necessary because of this divide between God's holiness and our sin. Christus Victor still begs the question of how God reconciled humans to himself by sending his son to die (and why there was a need to reconcile in the first place).

Even if it was Christus Victor alone, I fail to see how that remedies anything in the world or solves any metaphysical problem. Injustice done is still done. Forgiving my aggressor on my behalf or for their own sake is still not justice. God taking responsibility for his creation is "not a greater justice." It can only be called mercy. My mother taking the blame for the sins of her son isn't justice. If her son wronged someone and she "reconciled him to herself" that doesn't fix or even address what he did to his victim.

"But Divine Intervention is supernatural and miraculous, and normally in the Old Testament especially, it's to the end of an entire people's salvation . . ." Women are an entire people.

"It's another agree/disagree thing, ought God have done more than He did. I ultimately toss it at the feet of my limited range of knowledge and perspective against the infinite knowledge of a God who is infinitely good." This is precisely what I find so dangerous about Christianity. When faced with the most important questions, your ultimate response is to take these conflicting accounts for granted. I think it's irresponsible with both the material and the minds and livelihoods of others to take these discrepancies for granted and forcefully assume God's benevolence when there are multiple, useful explanations as to why these discrepancies exist (e.g. these stories were from the ANE, from a patriarchal culture, in a time where humans abstracted time and life in certain ways, in context to the surrounding kingdoms and civilizations, in context of the Neolithic agricultural revolution and the rise of the archaic king state). There are perfectly reasonable answers as to why God does what he does in the Biblical narrative when you respect literary criticism instead of usurping it for cosmic validation or personal spirituality. To ignore the history, context and nature of the Bible is to weaponize it.

"I'm able to trust that in His providence, He had a good reason." Women were slaughtered and raped and sold for centuries because God just kinda forgot to establish they were human beings to his chosen people. Woops. I can't help but think men's goals and YHWH's "omissions" seem to coincide a lot. I wonder if there's any possible explanation as to why that is?

"I will say, absolutely yes, Scripture (as well as Christian teaching or actions in general) are often twisted to empower power imbalances, which is not good." Scripture commands power imbalances in different areas (I mean, how can we forget the Epistles of Paul or the letters of Peter?). It does not merely twist them. Neither does it often subvert them. And I know Christians like to quote Galatians 3:28-29 as "proof" that God was all for equality, but it was deliberately about who got to be a believer (in a chapter focusing on what made one a believer in the first place). Please note, no religion of that time was closed to anyone because of their class or sex. Some roles may have been limited to specific people, but no one was ever excluded from worshipping a deity because of their sex, ethnicity or class. So Christianity doing this was not unique. The focus is not "you are all equals" but that "you are all Christians so act like it." This verse is not itself a critique of the hierarchies present in that society. I hate how common it is for Christians to gaslight women about this.

I've heard good things about Dominion and still plan to read it. I just don't find the idea that Christianity is the basis for modern society's morals. I think it's the work of everyday human beings. Which explains why modern society is improved in some aspects and sadistic in others. If Christianity is to blame for a lot of our moral sense, then it is also to blame for a lot of our modern prejudice and judicial failures (i.e. the oppression and terrorization of LGB people). Or, we could factor it in as one influence among many rather than a cause. Humans throughout time advance in knowledge and intellectual thought. It makes sense that our moral knowledge expands as well. Atheism is also not the opposite of religion, and atheists do not all share the same worldview or values. This is also from a Western and probably masculinist perspective.

"I also don't necessarily see patriarchy as equivalent to male supremacy." And here we come full circle. You just admitted to being a complementarian. To say that one sex should have authority over another because they are that sex, is to also say that there is something innate about that sex that makes it superior/worthy of that position. That is what male supremacy is in a nutshell, and religion has clearly effectively desensitized you to how dangerous, damaging and dehumanizing that rhetoric is. Soft patriarchy is still patriarchy. No amount of it is moral or tolerable. Also, religious celibacy is a very common in a myriad of religions across cultures and throughout history. Not to mention, Paul stated that such an idea was more of his opinion than God's revelation. It isn't really a doctrine or command. Also, also, in that same chapter, Paul mandates marital rape. I don't find that very "inspired" at all.

Suffice to say, this last response really just proves my initial post right. You have become desensitized, dare I say even dismissive, to the subjugation of women by men, because religion frequently makes this issue seem illegitimate and reinforces it far more than it subverts it.

both islam and christianity are colonial and misogynistic religions. like you don't have to venerate either one. they're both terrible. no woman who follows these religions wins.

#religion #paul #christianity #feminism #radblr

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pooma-bible · 2 years ago

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தமிழில்

Limited atonement in Christianity.

1. If Jesus actually atoned for the sins of all humanity and is sitting at the right hand of God interceding for those He died for, why does His intercession fail for those He died for who end up in hell?

The possible explanation is that Jesus' atonement provides the opportunity for salvation, but it does not force anyone to accept it. The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift from God that must be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Therefore, it is possible that some individuals may reject the gift of salvation and choose to live in rebellion against God, despite Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Additionally, the Bible also teaches that God is just and righteous, and that He will judge every person according to their deeds (Revelation 20:12-13).

Therefore, those who reject the gift of salvation and persist in unrepentant sin will face judgment and condemnation, regardless of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Ultimately, the reasons why some individuals may choose to reject salvation and face condemnation are complex and multifaceted, and cannot be fully understood by human beings.

However, Christians believe that God is loving and merciful, and that He desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

2. How can anything Jesus does fail?

It is generally believed among Christians that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was effective in accomplishing its intended purpose of atoning for the sins of humanity.

The Bible teaches that through His death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for people to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

However, it is also important to note that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross does not guarantee salvation for all people.

The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift from God that must be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Therefore, it is possible for individuals to reject the gift of salvation and choose to live in rebellion against God, despite Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

In that sense, it could be said that Jesus' sacrifice does not fail, but rather, some individuals choose to reject the salvation that He offers.

3. Why does the Father not listen to the Son’s petition on behalf of those sinners who He paid the debts for?

It is generally believed among Christians that God the Father and Jesus the Son are united in their desire to save humanity and bring people into a relationship with God.

The Bible teaches that Jesus intercedes on behalf of believers before God (Romans 8:34), and that He is the mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).

It is also important to note that the Bible teaches that God is just and righteous, and that He will judge every person according to their deeds (Revelation 20:12-13).

Therefore, it is possible that some individuals may choose to reject the gift of salvation and face judgment and condemnation, regardless of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Ultimately, the reasons why some individuals may not be saved are complex and multifaceted, and cannot be fully understood by human beings.

However, Christians believe that God is loving and merciful, and that He desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

கிறிஸ்தவத்தில் வரையறுக்கப்பட்ட பரிகாரம்.

1. இயேசு உண்மையில் அனைத்து மனிதகுலத்தின் பாவங்களுக்காகப் பரிகாரம் செய்து, கடவுளின் வலது பாரிசத்தில் அமர்ந்து அவர் இறந்தவர்களுக்காகப் பரிந்து பேசுகிறார் என்றால், அவர் இறந்தவர்களுக்காக நரகத்தில் மு��ிவடைந்தவர்களுக்காக அவருடைய பரிந்துரை ஏன் தோல்வியடைகிறது?

சாத்தியமான விளக்கம் என்னவென்றால், இயேசுவின் பரிகாரம் இரட்சிப்புக்கான வாய்ப்பை வழங்குகிறது, ஆனால் அதை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும்படி யாரையும் கட்டாயப்படுத்தவில்லை. இரட்சிப்பு என்பது கடவுளின் இலவச பரிசு என்று பைபிள் போதிக்கிறது, அது விசுவாசத்தால் பெறப்பட வேண்டும் (எபேசியர் 2:8-9).

எனவே, சில தனிநபர்கள் இரட்சிப்பின் பரிசை நிராகரித்து, இயேசுவின் சிலுவையில் பலியிட்ட போதிலும், கடவுளுக்கு எதிரான கலகத்தில் வாழத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கலாம்.

கூடுதலாக, கடவுள் நீதியுள்ளவர் மற்றும் நீதியுள்ளவர் என்றும், ஒவ்வொரு நபரின் செயல்களின்படி அவர் நியாயந்தீர்ப்பார் என்றும் பைபிள் கற்பிக்கிறது (வெளிப்படுத்துதல் 20:12-13).

எனவே, இரட்சிப்பின் வரத்தை நிராகரித்து, மனந்திரும்பாத பாவத்தில் நிலைத்திருப்பவர்கள், இயேசுவின் சிலுவை பலியைப் பொருட்படுத்தாமல், நியாயத்தீர்ப்பையும் கண்டனத்தையும் சந்திப்பார்கள்.

இறுதியில், சில தனிநபர்கள் இரட்சிப்பை நிராகரிப்பதற்கும் கண்டனத்தை எதிர்கொள்வதற்குமான காரணங்கள் சிக்கலானவை மற்றும் பன்முகத்தன்மை கொண்டவை, மேலும் மனிதர்களால் முழுமையாக புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியாது.

இருப்பினும், கடவுள் அன்பானவர், இரக்கமுள்ளவர் என்று கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் நம்புகிறார்கள், மேலும் எல்லா மக்களும் இரட்சிக்கப்படவும், சத்தியத்தைப் பற்றிய அறிவை அடையவும் அவர் விரும்புகிறார் (1 தீமோத்தேயு 2:4).

2. இயேசு செய்த எதுவும் எப்படி தோல்வியடையும்?

மனிதகுலத்தின் பாவங்களுக்குப் பரிகாரம் என்ற அதன் நோக்கத்தை நிறைவேற்றுவதில் இயேசுவின் சிலுவையில் தியாகம் பயனுள்ளதாக இருந்தது என்று பொதுவாக கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் மத்தியில் நம்பப்படுகிறது.

இயேசு தம்முடைய மரணம் மற்றும் உயிர்த்தெழுதல் மூலம் மக்கள் கடவுளோடு சமரசம் செய்து நித்திய ஜீவனைப் பெற வழி செய்தார் என்று பைபிள் போதிக்கிறது (யோவான் 3:16, ரோமர் 5:8, 2 கொரிந்தியர் 5:18-21).

இருப்பினும், இயேசுவின் சிலுவையில் பலி எல்லா மக்களுக்கும் இரட்சிப்புக்கு உத்தரவாதம் அளிக்காது என்பதையும் கவனத்தில் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

இரட்சிப்பு என்பது கடவுளின் இலவச பரிசு என்று பைபிள் போதிக்கிறது, அது விசுவாசத்தால் பெறப்பட வேண்டும் (எபேசியர் 2:8-9).

எனவே, இரட்சிப்பின் பரிசை நிராகரித்து, இயேசுவின் சிலுவையில் தியாகம் செய்த போதிலும், தனிநபர்கள் கடவுளுக்கு எதிரான கிளர்ச்சியில் வாழத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கலாம்.

அந்த வகையில், இயேசுவின் தியாகம் தோல்வியடையாது என்று கூறலாம், மாறாக, சில தனிநபர்கள் அவர் அளிக்கும் இரட்சிப்பை நிராகரிக்க விரும்புகிறார்கள்.

3. கடனை செலுத்திய அந்த பாவிகளின் சார்பாக குமாரனின் மனுவை தந்தை ஏன் கேட்கவில்லை?

மனிதகுலத்தைக் காப்பாற்றவும், கடவுளுடன் மக்களைக் கொண்டு வரவும் தங்கள் விருப்பத்தில் பிதாவாகிய கடவுளும் இயேசுவும் ஒன்றாக இருக்கிறார்கள் என்று பொதுவாக கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் நம்புகிறார்கள்.

கடவுளுக்கு முன்பாக விசுவாசிகளின் சார்பாக இயேசு பரிந்து பேசுகிறார் (ரோமர் 8:34), மேலும் அவர் கடவுளுக்கும் மனிதகுலத்திற்கும் இடையில் மத்தியஸ்தராக இருக்க��றார் (1 தீமோத்தேயு 2:5) என்று பைபிள் கற்பிக்கிறது.

கடவுள் நீதியுள்ளவர், நீதியுள்ளவர் என்று பைபிள் போதிக்கிறது, மேலும் அவர் ஒவ்வொரு நபரையும் அவரவர் செயல்களுக்கு ஏற்ப நியாயந்தீர்ப்பார் (வெளிப்படுத்துதல் 20:12-13).

எனவே, சில தனிநபர்கள் இரட்சிப்பின் பரிசை நிராகரிக்கலாம் மற்றும் சிலுவையில் இயேசுவின் பலியைப் பொருட்படுத்தாமல் தீர்ப்பு மற்றும் கண்டனத்தை எதிர்கொள்ளலாம்.

இறுதியில், சில தனிநபர்கள் இரட்சிக்கப்படாமல் இருப்பதற்கான காரணங்கள் சிக்கலானவை மற்றும் பன்முகத்தன்மை கொண்டவை, மேலும் மனிதர்களால் முழுமையாக புரிந்து கொள்ள முடியாது.

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dialovers-translations · 4 years ago

Text

DIABOLIK LOVERS MORE, MORE BLOOD Vol.12 Mukami Ruki [Track 5 + Epilogue]

Original title: 暴かれた罪 & エピローグ

Source: Diabolik Lovers More, More Blood Vol. 12 Mukami Ruki [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here & here

Seiyuu: Takahiro Sakurai

Translator’s note: God this CD was so mentally draining. > < This final track in particular, Ruki is just so...evil. I feel like this has surpassed the level of ‘sadism’ and he really just wants to make the MC’s life a living hell. :’’) He even literally says it a few times. I honestly can’t help but feel like this Ruki was kind of OOC and I know at least one Ruki stan who would agree with me. xD

Track 1 ll Track 2 ll Track 3 ll Track 4 ll Track 5 + Epilogue

→ LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

Track 5: Exposed Sin

*Ding dong・ Ding dong*

You rush towards the library.

*Rattle*

“...You’re late! How long did you intend to keep me waiting?”

You apologize.

“Oh well. I shall give you credit for coming here running at least. Hurry up and get inside.”

You enter the room.

“You seem cautious. Shouldn’t it be obvious why I called you to the library? I helped you look for resources the other day, and today I’ll have you return the favor. Search for the book with this title.”

Ruki hands you a piece of paper.

*Flip*

“Someone borrowed it for an extended period of time. I heard it had been returned to the library but I can’t find it anywhere. Even the librarian was left puzzled. You shall help me find it as well. Please look through the book shelves in this row. I’ll be looking over on this side.”

You nod.

“A clever response. Bring it to me as soon as you find it. It is a very valuable book. Do not damage it by mistake.”

You start looking around for the book.

*Rustle rustle*

“I heard there’s a seal imprinted on the spine of the book, so you should be able to tell which one is the right one as soon as you spot it. “

*Rustle*

You find the book.

“You’ve already found it? I’m impressed. Treat it with care. I won’t go easy on you if you were to fold one of the pages.”

You grab hold of the book, accidentally dropping all the pages.

“Oi...!? What are you doing...!?”

Ruki stomps over to you.

“The pages are all over the place...What did you do to it!?”

You try and explain.

“Are you trying to make up excuses? Seems like you don’t feel any guilt towards the blunder you just committed. In that case, it cannot be helped. I shall teach it to your body directly.”

You pull out the hourglass.

*Cling*

*Tick tock - Tick tock - Tick tock - Tick tock*

ーーー

...

“I heard there’s a seal imprinted on the spine of the book, so you should be able to tell which one is the right one as soon as you spot it. “

You sigh in relief.

“What’s wrong? Why do you seem so relieved? I don’t remember giving you permission to take a break? ...Huh?”

Ruki walks over to you.

“It’s right in front of you. This is the one. The book I’ve been looking for.”

You try and stop him.

“What’s wrong? Should I not grab it?”

You explain.

“What are you saying? You claim that the pages have become loose and will fall out? That is ridiculous.”

He takes the book off the shelf.

“Just as I thought, they had it amongst their collection. It has been preserved in great condition as well.”

*Flip*

Your eyes widen in surprise.

“What’s wrong? It looks as if your eyes are going to pop out. ...You said the pages would fall out, no? As you can see, as long as you flip them carefully, there’s no risks involved at all.”

*Flip*

“After all...I’m the one who set this all up.

Your heart stops for a second.

“I put an aged book here on purpose; I should be the only one aware though.”

He walks towards you.

“Of the fact that the book’s binder has broken, so the pages will come falling out. ...So how did you know?”

You flinch.

“The reason is easy. You have used the hourglass once already, haven’t you? That is how you rewinded time, and erased your mistake. Judging by your reaction, this has not been the first time you did so either. These past few days, you have been looping time over and over, haven’t you? I thought something was off, but I finally figured you out. ...I assume you did something which upset me? What exactly did you do?”

You hurriedly pull out the hourglass.

*Rustle rustle*

“You really believe I’d let you use it? I will take this back.”

*Cling*

“Such beautiful red sand. Its decorations truly are sublime as well. However, the magic energy has decreased quite a bit. ...How many times did you rewind? How many times were you punished by me, but rendered it void?”

You remain quiet.

“I can make an estimate even if you don’t give me an answer. Enough times for the magic to be this drained at least. It seems like you need to be punished.”

You try and defend yourself.

“Aah. I did say that, did I not? That I was curious how you would use it. However, using it to cover up your own mistakes is simply inexcusable. You concealed your own mishaps, deceiving those around you...As someone who once read the Bible, I am sure you know just how severe of a sin that is. You must atone for your sins. In that case, I shall lend you a helping hand. ...You were aware, weren’t you? Every time you turned back time, you were the only one who retained your memories. To me...This is the first time I’ve disciplined you in quite some time.

*Rustle*

“I shall teach you thoroughly. From head to toe.”

Ruki bites you.

*Sluuuuurp*

*Gulp gulp*

“Haah...What’s wrong? Have you become worked up because it has been a while since I sucked your blood? ...No, that’s wrong. I suppose that isn’t quite correct. You’ve been rewinding time again and again, haven’t you? Going back, doing things over, but those memories are burnt inside your mind. Did you never consider this? If you were to rewind time, the wounds left on your body would heal, but the pain you received from my fangs remains vivid in your memory. Unharmed skin, striking pain...No wonder your brain would become confused. If you were to repeat this process over and over, you might even go crazy.”

Your face goes pale.

“You only just realized? How foolish. You have been using the hourglass only to cover up your mistakes, haven’t you? However, you should have take notice of the weight of your actions. Well then, now that you understand...I shall give you a gift.”

*Cling*

“The red sand is almost like sand. ...This time, I shall use it.”

*Rustle*

“I shall rewind time and give you my fangs. Then repeat the process over and over. Your mind will slowly become numb from the continuous pain and pleasure. I am sure you can imagine what will happen to you if I keep on rewinding time, piling one memory on top of the other? Your disoriented mind will gradually begin to break. The overwhelming pleasure will make you go insane. You will surely...grow mad.”

You look at him in horror.

“What is wrong? You seem rather pale. You don’t mind, do you? You are the one who already used this hourglass plenty of times. I am sure I would have gone mad at some point as well. Well then, it seems like you understand what I have in store for you. I shall rewind time for us. Break for all I care!”

You beg for his mercy.

“Hmph. Now that’s a lovely cry. I can’t deny that seeing you thoroughly terrified like that does something to me. I see. So you want me to stop, huh? Why don’t you get down on your knees and plea? You might just be able to change my mind.”

You grovel in front of him.

*Rustle*

“I didn’t think you’d actually do it...Seems like your own identity as livestock has really sunken in. Although I suppose that only makes sense. I am the one who tamed you after all. However, it seems like you still fail to understand one thing. Have I ever gone easy on you in the middle of a discipline session?”

You flinch.

“Ah, seems like you remembered. You’ve become a little more clever at least. Seeing you tremble in despair is not a bad sight at all. Well then...Have a taste of Hell...”

*Tick tock - Tick tock - Tick tock - Tick tock*

ーーー

...

“I see. So this is how you’ve been rewinding time? Your skin is still untouched. It has indeed returned to its previous state, before I pierced it with my fangs. For the sake of your training, I made sure your memories remain intact. Do you remember what I was doing to you up until just now?”

You look at Ruki in fear.

“That look on your face makes for a fine reply. Furthermore, I can pick up the sweet scent of your blood, even though I have yet to bite you. It must be rather rough to be so worked up, no? No matter where I touch you now, it should make for an overwhelming stimulus.”

He steps closer.

“Shall we put it to the test? Just from running my fingers from your throat to your collarbone...”

*Rustle*

“Just as I thought. Simply carressing your skin makes the strong sensations eat away at you. How does it feel to slowly feel your body erode from the surface of your skin? On top of that...This should be nowhere near satisfying in your current state. The stronger the sensation becomes, the easier it will be to use this as a tool to manipulate you. I suppose I shall toy with you like this a little longer. Your arm or your back...Where else do you want me to touch you?”

Ruki paces around you.

“I have to give you an even stronger stimulus.”

You whimper in distress.

“You seem to be having a hard time. To show me such a shameless side of you, it seems like I have not yet disciplined you enough.”

*Smooch*

You squeak.

“I guess you are nearing your limit? Very well. I’ll suck you from behind this time.”

*Rustle rustle*

He bites you again.

*Sluuuurp*

“Mmh...Nn...”

*Gulp*

“Nn...Haah...Such lovely cries...The taste of your blood isn’t bad either. I can tell that your whole body has become heated. Ah, you are already starting to feel faint? Rest assured. We still have plenty of time...”

*Cling*

*Tick tock - Tick tock - Tick tock - Tick tock*

ーーー

...

“This works.”

You tilt your head to the side.

“Do you not understand? I turned back time. Your body is still unscathed. Like this, you won’t fall unconscious due to blood loss, right? Of course, the pain and pleasure you experienced still remain in your memory.”

You beg for him to stop.

“Not a bad cry at all. However, I shall not stop turning back time until your punishment is over. You are aware, aren’t you? You will only break free from this Hell, the moment you go mad. ...Hurry up and lose your mind already. If you want this suffering to end, that is.”

Ruki bites you again.

“Mmh...Nn...Fufu...Haah...Aah...I suppose I shouldn’t call it ‘suffering’. I suppose pleasure is already the only thing you can feel. Your eyes have lost focus. I doubt you can even still properly pick up my voice...Even your mouth is slacked...Mmh...”

*Smooch*

“What’s wrong? Is this not enough for you? Very well, I shall give it to you. I shall cover you with the marks of my fangs from head to toe. No matter how hard-handedly I treat you, all I need to do is rewind time afterwards. So I can do with this body of yours as I please...Ah, but I suppose it’ll stick in your memories. The intense pain, as well as the pleasure, crystal clear. Seems like you will be in quite the pinch once I rewind. I wonder how long you will be able to remain sane? Please rest assured. I don’t plan on giving you relief any time soon.”

He leans in.

“...I want you to suffer, between sanity and insanity.”

Track 6: Epilogue

*Rustle*

“...So you’ve lost consciousness? Isn’t that a little soon? Your body should still be overflowing with blood. There is just no way you would faint already. Of course, even if you do, I could simply rewind time. However...You better don’t think I will let you go mad so easily. I don’t plan on giving you relief after just one time. Your sin for deceiving me is grave. I shall engrave it deep inside your body, just how foolish and shameless you have been. ...So you can properly atone.”

*Rustle*

“Well then...It is time to wake up. I wonder how I should punish you next? Although, I am sure that whatever I do, it will be like pure torture to you.”

He paces around you.

“I am very much looking forward...to seeing you suffer in Hell.”

*Cling*

*Thud*

ーー THE END ーー

--> PROCEED TO ANOTHER STORY [DELUXE EDITION ONLY]

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #ruki mukami #diabolik lovers more more blood #diabolik lovers translation #diabolik lovers drama cd #drama cd

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theexodvs · 3 months ago

Note

"Are you sure it took that long? Are you sure? Maybe it's just way too stupidly obvious to be worth pointing out. This is like when catholics ask 'why didn't anyone in the Bible say communion was symbolic?'"

John Chrysostom did not come to this conclusion in his Homilies on Matthew, nor does Rabanus on his commentary of Matthew, nor does Augustine in De Trinitate. And to the Catholic, I would say that Christ's sacrifice was a one-time event, according to 1 Corinthians 15 and Hebrews 10, so communion cannot be what they teach.

"The cover demonstrates my point, which is that calvinists caricature self-love as a strawman of narcissism."

Self-love is a marketing ploy to justify the purchase of overpriced clothing, cosmetics, vehicles, and entertainment.

"The genuinely kind people I know do not hate themselves. When I say kindness, I do not mean the manipulative and conditional false kindness of evangelical Christianity."

Like many other things we've discussed, I have no doubt your definition of "kindness" is idiosyncratic. Idiosyncratic language is literally a symptom of autism (Volden and Lord), so I will let this slide, but don't expect me to play along with it.

"Quips like 'I would never cross an international border for a screw' in regards to my long-distance relationship. Very Christian."

You want me to applaud you leading your girlfriend on, and you know it.

"'Eternal life to all who believe' does contradict 'eternal life only to God's special favorites,' you dumbass Calvinist."

Not according to Romans 8:28-30.

"'Limited atonement' sounds like something detractors pf Calvinism would call it. So you admit it? You admit you are imposing your own limitations on God? That's really what it boils down to, isn't it? You couldn't imagine caring about everyone, so you can't conceive of a god who would. Cruel people create cruel gods who create cruel people."

Jacob I loved, Esau I hated. The scandal here is not for Esau's sake, but for Jacob's, as they were both equally deserving of eternal wrath.

"Even if such a god was real, I'd proudly tell him to fuck off and face damnation on principle. Only the most craven bootlicking piece of shit would willingly bow to such a depraved god."

By what standard do you make this judgement?

Matthew 22:39

If you don't love yourself, you don't love your neighbor.

Connor, I know that's you.

The first person who interpreted this verse to command what you want me to believe it does was Erich Fromm in the 1970s, and if you don't believe me, I'd recommend you pick pick up The Danger of Self-Love by Brownback. I don't consider a 20th-century humanist to be the final authority on Biblical hermeneutics.

This verse is a single command, second to the Shema, as the context demonstrates. Nothing in the wording directly implies that it is a command to love oneself, but rather it is for listeners to love other people as they are already loved.

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rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw · 5 years ago

Text

Saturday Morning Session

President Russell M. Nelson

Life’s personal trials stretch far beyond this pandemic

o If you are prepared you shall not fear.

· Faith, Truth, and Testimony

· The purpose of general conference is to help us to Hear Him

· We are to seek, in every way we can, to hear Jesus Christ who speaks to us through the power and ministering of the Holy Ghost.

· The effects of this conference will be felt as our lives change and we commence a life long quest to hear the Savior.

· This year will be extraordinary as we focus on the Savior and His restored gospel.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

· Talking about all the accounts of the first vision – there are five total I believe but he is drawing from four.

· James 1:5-6

· The Bible does not contain all the answers to all of life’s questions – it shows us how to find the answers, which is through communicating with God through prayer.

· How would you feel if you were told every other church on earth did not have the fullness of the gospel? What would you do?

o My soul was filled with love – Joseph Smith

· Without the translation of the Book of Mormon we would not have the truths we have today.

· “Mother, weep not for us, we have overcome the world with love”

· Go forward and not backward, Courage brothers and sisters, go toward the victory.

Brother James R. Rasband

· The plan of mercy could not be accomplished unless all the demands of justice were satisfied.

· What would justice have required?

· “Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you cannot fix, is the very purpose of the atonement.”

· To ensure a righteous judgement, Christ atoned for all sins, including those of little children

· The Atonement of Jesus Christ heals as a free gift.

· The Savior offers healing on the condition of repentance and faith in Him.

· The truth made clear to Alma was that not only could the atonement cleanse his own sins, but that the people he had hurt could be healed.

o Alma’s joy was not just for himself

· The Savior will clear away the painful underbrush of ignorance and hurt we cause.

· For many of our sins and mistakes we are not fully able to heal those we have hurt. The Savior will mend all that we have broken, and He will also mend us if we turn to Him with humility and faith.

Sister Joy D. Jones

· We have an especially noble calling. We have a divine errand from the Lord.

· Everything to do with becoming more like the Savior is difficult. – President Nelson

o The Lord loves effort – because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it.

· He knows each of us by name and has individual roles for us to fulfill

· Learning is integral to progression, especially as the Holy Ghost teaches us what we need to lay aside – that which would limit our progression.

· Because of our relationship with the Lord, I believe He expects us to receive revelation

· Women wear many hats, but it is impossible and unneeded to wear them all at once. The Spirit helps us determine which work to focus on today.

· Our continuing role is to receive continuing revelation.

· The worlds greatest champion of women and womanhood is Jesus Christ

· Hear Him, Follow Him, Trust Him, and become an extension of His love.

Elder Neil L. Anderson

· If I had not experienced what I had I would not have believed it myself.

· God knows and loves each of us

· Spiritually defining experiences are always accompanied by the feeling of the love of God.

· What are times that you have felt blessed by the Spirit? Times when you have felt the love of God without realizing until afterward that that’s what happened? How do you know the witness is true?

· As an aside, I’ve been feeling lost and lonely (especially with all the stupid COVID-19 stuff). I mentioned earlier that I was crying through everything, all the talks and the songs. God is answering a prayer I didn’t know I had. He’s giving me all the comfort I have been missing. I’m a very extroverted person and I need people constantly. It’s been very hard not being home with my family right now (I’m the oldest of 11 and am still used to always being surrounded by children) and not being able to see my friends except brief glimpses over factime/zoom or whatever. Not seeing people in person is so hard.

· I knew that God knew that I knew

· Faith, humility, and intent open the windows of heaven.

· Trust that they come to you from Heavenly Father and His Son. Have faith that they will nurture your doubts

· There are many different wars to Hear Him

Brother Douglas D. Holmes

· The Lord has put in place through His prophets all that is needed to remember Him

· Don’t forget the principals behind the new youth programs.

· Relationships

o We need love and support – remember we do not need to walk the path alone

o Relationships are the key to effective ministering

o The overarching purpose of these gatherings is to unite us and bring us closer to Christ together.

o To connect our hearts with heaven we need spiritual experiences.

o Making friends in the church is important!

· God doesn’t want us to just do what is right, but to choose to do what is right.

President Henry B. Eyring

· In what way is my part vital?

· The Lord is preparing His church and His people

· He will lift each of us so we can rise to spiritual challenges and opportunities which have not been seen in this world.

· Gift of the gospel to every nation, tongue, and people

· We will become more united, gathered with the spiritual strength of groups and families

· Faithful saints will fearlessly, humbly, and openly, bear the name of Christ

· Every breath to be virtually a prayer to God for His people

· Have faith in your daily life

· Pray in faith with all the energy of heart.

· Speak to God with joy in your voice

#ldsconf #genconf #generalconference #tumblrstake #churchofjesuschrist #mormon #ldsconf2020 #genconfnotes

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acourseinmiracles-us · 4 years ago

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The Metaphysics of a Course in Miracles

A Course in Miracles by David Hoffmeister communicates that everybody is God's holy child. We are all equal. Even Jesus is our equal. A course in miracles message is that the physical world we seem to be in was not created by God, but is a delusion of our own making.

The Metaphysics of a Course in Miracles:

The metaphysics of a course in miracles isn’t something that somebody made up, it isn’t an interpretation, it isn’t themed to anyone's opinion, and there is no room for questioning it. It is not one of many possible definitions of the truth. It is the truth. Either you understand it as it is and accept it as logically true, or you are in denial and confusion.

Metaphysics is facts. The thought system of the Holy Spirit is completely logically consistent, as is the thought system of the ego. There is absolutely no room for interpretation. What is "true" can easily be determined by looking at the logical structure of what has happened and where things fit. If you master the metaphysics, you will be able to extrapolate the logical thought system to explain absolutely anything in its correct perspective.

What happens after the separation from God is completely 100% logical. Everything that happens after separation must happen, and it must happen in a very specific way. The results of separation are not diverse or one option amongst numerous. There is only one way to separate, there is only one scenario which comes about when separation seems to have happened, and there is only one outcome.

If you can learn the essential, totally rationally consistent metaphysical structure of the separation, it provides you with a framework in which the whole thing just fits into place. A Course in Miracles by David HHoffmeister is teaching this metaphysical structure, but it is not always very obvious. Its obscure nature tends to lead people to not even realize there is a solid "core" to the Course or that you can use this structure to perfectly explain everything the ego does, the meaning of death, and what must be true based on it.

For example, separation from God is not possible, because you cannot be somewhere that God is absent. God is everywhere. This immediately tells us that, logically, to believe that this is possible is insanity. It also must tell us that to believe in such a separation is to believe in a dream, a fiction, something which is false or not true and not real. This is already the beginning of some very solid metaphysics, and many people grasp this basic starting point.

As you study the metaphysics of a course in miracles, which is rather deeper than just "the words" of the Course, you will attain a kind of pattern or set of simple laws which you understand to make perfect sense. These can be rather abstract so it can entail some learning to generalize the learning and understand that it's all grounded on a simple set of logic. But when you then get the simple logic, you can now use that simple logic to observe undeniably any part of life, any activity or drive or way that something happens, and describe it in terms of what the metaphysics says about it, which will be the truth. Irrefutable truth. Provided your grasp of the metaphysics is clear and consistent and you're not making subtle logical errors, the metaphysics gives you vision to be able to see the truth of what's happening or where things fit together.

For instance, lately there have been debates about whether you can be at harmony with death. There were many opinions given. None of the opinions were relevant. The one fact is in what the metaphysics declares. In the metaphysical fact, the body is a device of separation, it is a deception, and it is within the mind of Christ. It blocks and hides what is behind it and its only function and purpose is to maintain the illusion of the mind being separate. The metaphysics also tells us that since God is life, and being opposite to God is the separation, separation must be death. It also must be a fiction of death - a dream of death. It has to be. It also tells us that therefore when the body is alive, the body is still inside a dream of death. This also tells us that the death which occurs at the end of life is just a symbol for death, because what happens before it is also death. This is why Jesus says "death is not an end, it is a continuation."

Since the metaphysics teaches that death is the opposite of life, and life and peace are one, and therefore death is not peace, we very simply can conclude that it is not possible for there to be death and harmony at the same time. This is irrefutable, perfect logic. This is the truth that the metaphysics tells us. It has no strings to do with someone's opinion, someone's inability of understanding, someone's story of what they believe is true based on their so-called experiences, or anything else. It cannot be true that death and peace are the same thing or that they truly can be hundred percent experienced at the same time. Yet many people have tried to justify that they are at peace with death or have come to accept it. They must be in denial. The metaphysics makes this clear.

The Most Commonly Asked Questions About A Course in Miracles

1) What is the nature of God?

To start with, it is imperative to distinguish that the true alive God articulated of in A Course in Miracles is a non-dualistic Being, in Whom undeniably no contraries reside. The Holy One is the Creator of all life, a Being of clean Love and the Foundation and First Cause of non-physical truth and totality, the flawless One Who is all-encompassing, outside of Whom is factually nothing, for He is Everything. Our Source's nature can’t be defined or really understood at all, as Jesus’s explanations in the workbook:

Oneness is simply the idea God is. And in His Being, He encompasses all things. No mind holds anything but Him. We say "God is," and then we cease to speak, for in that knowledge words are meaningless. There are no lips to speak them, and no part of mind sufficiently distinct to feel that it is now aware of something not itself. It has united with its Source. And like its Source Itself, it merely

2) What is the nature of reality?

Reality as well-defined by A Course in Miracles is not a physical empire, dimension, or knowledge, since truth is created by God and as God is unformed, unchanging, everlasting, endless love, and boundless and unified perfection -- a non-dualistic oneness. Reality in the Course is one and the same with Heaven and perceptibly cannot be connected in any method to the universe of form that the world calls reality. Being unchanging, true reality is everlasting and fixed, and therefore any assumption of separation -- which is change -- is not possible and therefore on no occasion was. As a non-dualistic state, reality is beyond insight, since perception presumes a subject-object dichotomy which is integrally dualistic and so can’t be real. In A Course in Miracles, reality is also synonymous with knowledge, the state of being that is Heaven.

3) What is the nature of life?

In A Course in Miracles, life as created by God has nothing to do with what we call or know of as life in the body. Life is soul: non-material, non-dualistic, and everlasting. Possibly the richest statement in the Course on the essence of life -- what it is and what it is not

4) Is the God in A Course in Miracles the same as the God in the Bible?

Jesus clearly states in the Course that God did not create this world, and thus on this basis unaccompanied He is definitely different from the Judaeo-Christian deity. The biblical God is a dualistic creator of a physical universe that he creates by the articulated word, as noted in Genesis' first account of creation: "And God said, let there be ...... Thus, this world and all creatures came into existence as separated entities, existing outside of him. In effect, therefore, the biblical God creates by projecting a thought or concept outside himself, where it becomes a physical "reality," as witnessed, again, in the creation story in the Book of Genesis.

But the differences among the two are even more philosophical. The biblical God is very much a person who sees sin as real, and must therefore respond to it, first by punishment, and then by the plan of the atonement wherein salvation and forgiveness are won through the suffering and sacrifice of his holy Servant (the Suffering Servant in Isaiah -- Old Testament) and his only begotten Son Jesus (New Testament). The God of a Course in Miracles, on the other hand, is not a person and therefore has none of the anthropomorphic qualities of homo sapiens. This God does not even know about the separation (the Course's equivalent of the biblical notion of original sin), and thus does not and cannot respond to it.

Therefore, the God of the Course is not the God of formal religion, and certainly not the God of the Bible. In truth, our Source is beyond all concepts and anthropomorphisms, and has nothing in common with the biblical God who has all the attributes of special love (a God who has a chosen people) and special hate (a God of punishment) that are associated with the ego thought system.

A Course in Miracles: The Message:

A Course in Miracles the message teaches us that there is a Voice for God in our minds that is always talking to us, telling us that we are: unlimited, one with all life, eternal, and literally invulnerable. That Voice is the Holy Spirit. There is another voice in our minds that we made up that lies to us and tells us we are: limited, separate, mortal, and vulnerable. That voice is the ego. A primary focus of a course in miracle’s message is to teach us how to tell these two voices apart. Once we do that we must choose to listen to the Holy Spirit and trust the Holy Spirit's counsel. We will always hear the voice of the ego while here in the dream but we should not accept its guidance or counsel about anything. In a course in miracle the message is not about the death of the ego, but how to properly relate to it.

#A Course In Miracles #ACIM Spiritual Community #Spirituality #Spiritual #Enlightenment

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davidhoffmeister · 4 years ago

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The Metaphysics of a Course in Miracles:

The Most Commonly Asked Questions About A Course in Miracles

1) What is the nature of God?

2) What is the nature of reality?

3) What is the nature of life?

4) Is the God in A Course in Miracles the same as the God in the Bible?

A Course in Miracles: The Message: A Course in Miracles the message teaches us that there is a Voice for God in our minds that is always talking to us, telling us that we are: unlimited, one with all life, eternal, and literally invulnerable. That Voice is the Holy Spirit. There is another voice in our minds that we made up that lies to us and tells us we are: limited, separate, mortal, and vulnerable. That voice is the ego. A primary focus of a course in miracle’s message is to teach us how to tell these two voices apart. Once we do that we must choose to listen to the Holy Spirit and trust the Holy Spirit's counsel. We will always hear the voice of the ego while here in the dream but we should not accept its guidance or counsel about anything. In a course in miracle the message is not about the death of the ego, but how to properly relate to it.

#a course in miracles

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nerdygaymormon · 5 years ago

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Gospel Topic Essays

In 2013 & 2014, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a series of essays that address a number of question and criticisms. These essays have been approved by the First Presidency and Quorum of 12 Apostles. The stated reason for the essays is gathering accurate information and making it available.

I added a few thoughts in italics

Are Mormons Christian - Members of the Church believe in and teach of Christ, but they don’t believe in the post-New Testament Creeds, and have scriptures in addition to the Bible. The LDS Church also is not a direct descendant of an existing Christian church.

What Mormons mean by the word “Christian” is different than the rest of Christianity. Mormons are Christian in that they believe Jesus was the Messiah and redeemer of the world.

Becoming Like God - Since people are the spirit children of God, we have the potential to develop and grow to become like God. The essay includes some Bible verses to support this teaching, but most of the world interprets them differently.

The essay leaves out Bible verses that would seem to contradict this teaching. The Bible, at best, is mixed. There aren’t any verses from the Book of Mormon included because this concept is absent from that book.

God was once like humans are now. And people can become gods. We teach God is married, so there are godly roles for both men & women. Does this make us polytheists? Yes, in that there are many gods, but really no because we only worship our Heavenly Father and will continue doing so even when we become gods ourselves.

How does someone become like God? It’s the covenant path we hear so much about. Baptism, Melchizedek Priesthood (if you’re male), temple endowment, sealed to a spouse, obey temple covenants.

Sounds pretty good, except...

What about if your spouse or children are unworthy? If you’re gay? If you get divorced? A widowed husband gets married & sealed to a 2nd wife, what if the 1st wife isn’t into polygamy?

Book of Mormon and DNA Studies - The purpose of the Book of Mormon is spiritual, not historical. There’s no DNA evidence to confirm that Middle Eastern people came to the Americas prior to Christopher Columbus. This essay goes through many possible excuses for why no DNA of the Jaredites, Nephites or Lamanites has yet been found in the Americas.

The introduction page to the Book of Mormon used to say that the Jaredites & Nephites were destroyed, leaving the Lamanites who are "the principal ancestors of the American Indians.” DNA evidence forced a change, it now says, Lamanites are “among” the ancestors of the American Indians.

Book of Mormon Translation - Joseph placed either the interpreters (Urim & Thummim) or his seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to block out light, and read aloud the English words that appeared. He dictated the words, not punctuation, to the scribes. The scribes wrote their own punctuation and that is what was printed. Most changes in the Book of Mormon have involved punctuation and creating verses & chapters.

It’s not a “translation” in the usual sense of that word. An examination of the characters on the plate wasn’t typically involved (despite much of the artwork that suggests otherwise), in fact, the plates often weren’t visible. There’s no way to test the accuracy of the translation.

Also, some other changes beyond punctuation and creating chapters/verses has taken place, like having some of the more racist language toned down.

First Vision Accounts - Joseph had a vision (not necessarily an actual visitation) in which 2 heavenly beings appeared to him.

Joseph published 2 accounts of this vision during his lifetime. Two additional accounts (from his autobiography and from a journal) have been found and published in the 1960′s. There are also 5 descriptions of Joseph Smith’s vision recorded by others who heard Joseph speak about the vision.

That makes 9 different accounts, and there are some differences between them. The essay explains that different accounts emphasize different details. Memories fade over time and things get remembered differently.

There is a generally consistent theme across the different versions, but the first written account comes many years after the vision is supposed to have occurred, which makes me wonder how accurate or reliable it is.

Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple and Women - During the 19th century, women frequently blessed the sick by a prayer of faith, and many women received priesthood blessings promising that they would have the gift of healing. In reference to these healing blessings, Relief Society general president Eliza R. Snow explained in 1883, "Women can administer in the name of JESUS, but not by virtue of the Priesthood."

That’s because the priesthood was new & fresh, but understanding changed as Joseph Smith received more revelations.

I think they stuck to Joseph Smith’s teachings so they wouldn’t have to go into the misogynistic teachings of Brigham Young or Spencer Kimball. At the time of Joseph’s death, women were still doing healings & had control of the Relief Society.

Priesthood power is given to women in the temple as part of the endowment ceremony. When a couple is sealed in the temple, together they enter into an order of the priesthood. Women can officiate in the priesthood in ordinances for other women. Women can officiate when only women are getting the ordinance, when it is for men & women then the men are in charge.

Women and the Priesthood today - well, they still can do stuff in the temple.

Mother in Heaven - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother. This understanding is rooted in scriptural and prophetic teachings about the nature of God, and the godly potential of men and women. The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints.

According to things taught through most of church history, this essay could have been titled Mothers in Heaven. We each have a mother & father in heaven, we each have the same father but there could be many different mothers in heaven. Good old polygamy, interwoven into our theology.

6 paragraphs, that’s all? Shouldn’t we know more? What is heaven like for women?

Peace in Violence among 19th-Century Latter-day Saints - The Latter-day Saints were persecuted, often violently, for their beliefs. Several incidents are discussed.

Well, to be accurate, it was more for their actions than their beliefs. We weren’t exactly great neighbors to non-members of the church.

And, tragically, some Church members participated in deplorable violence against people they perceived to be their enemies. Joseph Smith had the Danites, and a stake president ordered the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Brigham Young taught that some sins were serious enough that the person should be killed as part of forgiveness process (blood atonement).

The early Mormons had many threats and violence done against them, and they also did the same to others. It was a rough time.

Imagine all the things said & done against the LGBTQ+ community by the Church--denying they exist, electro-shock therapy, advocating for laws to limit & take away their rights. In a real sense the church isn’t a good neighbor to this group. In an earlier time, this might get settled via guns and violence.

Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo - God commanded people in ancient Israel to have polygamous marriages. As part of the restoration of all things, God commanded Joseph Smith to introduce polygamy.

The verses cited just indicate that polygamy was practiced in Old Testament times, not that God commanded anyone to have such marriages.

Joseph really didn’t want to do it (or worried about how his wife Emma would react), so God had to send an angel 3 times between 1834 and 1842 to command him to proceed with plural marriage. During the final appearance, the angel came with a drawn sword, threatening Joseph with destruction unless he went forward and obeyed the commandment fully.

The concept of polygamy was part of the revelation on eternal marriage and is how to be exalted with God.

The essay says there wasn’t much instruction on how to do polygamy, I think this is meant to suggest that mistakes happened because people didn’t know better. D&C 132 does have a number of instructions, some of which were ignored. Such as the 1st wife had to give permission for any additional wife, and the additional wives each have to be virgins.

Joseph kept most of his marriages secret from Emma, and he married other men’s wives who most assuredly weren’t virgins.

Joseph had 30-40 wives. His oldest wife was 56 and the youngest was 14.

Polygamy was illegal. Most people who participated were told to keep it secret. Also important for married women to keep it a secret from their first husband. Rumors spread and so “carefully worded denials” were issued in which they’d switch one word, or change the meaning of a word. Basically it looks like they were lying because it would mean trouble.

Wilford Woodruff issued a manifesto in 1890 which led to the end of polygamy (eventually...it took a second manifesto in 1904 to end it officially).

A form of polygamy still survives. Men who remarry may be sealed to their additional wives. People can do temple work to seal women who were married to more than one man during their lifetimes but not sealed to them. Only men are allowed to be sealed to more than one person whilst alive.

Plural Marriage and Families in early Utah - Church members do not understand the purposes for instituting the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The essay heavily suggests that having a lot of children was a primary purpose.

Footnote 6 says “Studies have shown that monogamous women bore more children per wife than did polygamous wives except the first.” In all likelihood, polygamy led to fewer children than probably would have been born in a monogamous society

Accounts left by men and women who practiced plural marriage attest to the challenges and difficulties they experienced, such as financial difficulty, interpersonal strife, and some wives’ longing for the sustained companionship of their husbands. Virtually all of those practicing it in the earliest years had to overcome their own prejudice against plural marriage and adjust to life in polygamous families.

Few would have entered into plural marriages if leaders didn’t emphasize that polygamy was required for a man’s highest exaltation in the life to come, and women who refused plural marriage could find themselves single & a servant in heaven. Polygamous wives were so unhappy that Brigham Young eventually gave an ultimatum, 2 weeks to freely leave the territory or stop whining and fully live their religion.

Plural marriage was an illegal practice and members engaged in civil disobedience against such laws. In direct violation of the 12th Article of Faith

The essay shows Mormon polygamy in a very favorable light.

The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage - Polygamous marriage was illegal in the United States and the LDS Church fled to Mexico but the United States took the territory they were fleeing to. The Church felt that polygamy was protected under the Constitution’s freedom of religion but the Supreme Court disagreed.

Given the importance polygamy to the church’s beliefs about heaven, the members were encouraged to disregard the law and obey God. After 2 decades of increasing troubles, many polygamous families headed to Canada or Mexico to escape US justice (nevermind polygamy was just as illegal in those countries).

When the US Supreme Court upheld the legality of confiscating church property, this could mean that temple ordinances would end when those buildings are seized. Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto to ban polygamy in 1890. This calmed things with the US government and within 3 years Utah was admitted as a state.

Members continued entering into new plural marriages for about 15 more years, but in declining numbers. In 1899 the newly-elected senator from Utah was not allowed to take his seat in Congress because he had 3 wives, including one he married after the manifesto. When an apostle was elected in 1903, he also was not allowed to take his seat as an investigation took place into the church & polygamy, even church president Joseph F. Smith testified before Congress.

President Smith testified that the Manifesto removed God’s commandment on the church to practice polygamy, but didn’t forbid individuals from choosing to continue to be polygamous. He issued a Second Manifest at the April General Conference forbidding members from entering new polygamous marriages.

Race and the Priesthood - The Church was established in 1830, many people of African descent in the United States lived in slavery, and racial prejudice were believed by most white Americans.

From the mid-1800s until 1978—the Church did not ordain men of black African descent to its priesthood or allow black men or women to participate in temple endowment or sealing ordinances.

This is true, but one would hope a church which claims revelation through prophets would be able to overcome cultural norms that aren’t in line with the gospel.

Church leaders taught many things to explain the ban, and today, all of that is rejected by the church and considered error. These weren’t just teachings, they were doctrines. And the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham were used to justify bigotry, such as stating that the curse of Cain was a dark skin.

International expansion of the church, especially in Brazil, forced the church into difficult situations. The Church in the USA was also under heavy pressure for the priesthood restrictions.

Church president Spencer W. Kimball spent many hours praying for revelation to undo the priesthood ban. The essay makes it sound like some big revelation was received, but it wasn’t that way. It was a process, a statement drafted and changes made to it and voted on.

Today, the Church disavows all teachings that teach any race or ethnicity if inferior in any way, or that mixed-race marriages are wrong. Church leaders unequivocally condemn all racism.

No reason for the priesthood ban is put forward in this article other than racism. The past leaders were racists and that blinded them to what God wanted for black people. There’s a big lesson in that.

Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces the book of Abraham as scripture.

A traveling salesman sold several Egyptian papyri and mummies to Joseph Smith. He was excited to learn one papyrus was scripture from Abraham and set to translating it.

After the church left Nauvoo, Joseph’s family sold the Egyptian artifacts and they eventually ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. In 1967, the museum transferred these fragments to the Church.

Discovery of the papyri allowed an examination of Joseph Smith’s translation. Mormon and non-Mormon Egyptologists agree that the characters on the fragments do not match the translation given in the book of Abraham.

Joseph’s translation was not a literal rendering of the papyri as a conventional translation would be. Rather, the physical artifacts provided an occasion for meditation, reflection, and revelation. They catalyzed a process whereby God gave to Joseph Smith a revelation about the life of Abraham, even if that revelation did not directly correlate to the characters on the papyri.

The essay mostly tries to explain how it is possible for Joseph Smith to have called the process for bringing forth the book of Abraham a "translation" when it is obvious that it was not a translation of the Egyptian papyri in his possession

#before these essays many of these positions would be considered anti-Mormon #tumblrstake

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garamterang · 5 years ago

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Universalisme?

Oleh Wen Wie Kwang

“Dan Ia adalah pendamaian untuk segala dosa kita, dan bukan untuk dosa kita saja, tetapi juga untuk dosa seluruh dunia.” - 1 Yoh. 2:2

1 Yoh. 2:2 sering digunakan sebagai dasar pijak untuk mengemukakan pendapat bahwa semua orang diselamatkan (universalisme). Tetapi benarkah Alkitab mengajarkan bahwa semua orang diselamatkan? Sebaiknya untuk memahami ayat tersebut kita melihat ayat-ayat lain di dalam Alkitab.

Surat-Surat yang ditulis oleh para Rasul memang ditujukan kepada orang-orang percaya, siapakah orang-orang percaya itu? Tuhan Yesus Kristus sebelum kenaikannya ke sorga memberikan Amanat Agung kepada para murid untuk memberitakan Injil (Mat. 28:19-20, Mrk. 16:15-16, Luk. 24:47, bandingkan Kis. 1:8, Kis. 13:47, Rom. 10:18). Pemberitaan ini dimulai dari Yerusalem, Yudea, Samaria lalu sampai ke ujung bumi (Kis. 1:8). Hasil dari penginjilan itu adalah orang-orang percaya yang adalah orang-orang Yahudi dan orang-orang Yunani, juga orang-orang dari bangsa lain (Rom. 1:16). Kita melihat bahwa berita keselamatan diberitakan kepada orang-orang diseluruh dunia, jadi ini menyebutkan soal cakupan luasnya pemberitaan Injil, inilah yang dimaksudkan oleh Yohanes di dalam 1 Yoh. 2:2, bahwa pendamaian untuk segala dosa bukan untuk orang Yahudi saja, tetapi juga untuk orang-orang dari bangsa lain, keselamatan itu dikabarkan juga kepada bangsa-bangsa di seluruh dunia, dan siapa yang percaya akan diselamatkan, dan siapa yang tidak percaya akan dihukum (Mrk. 16:16). Dalam kesaksian-kesaksian yang dicatat di dalam Kisah Para Rasul pun diperlihatkan ada yang percaya dan diselamatkan, tetapi ada pula yang menolak berita Injil (misalkan Kis. 14:1-4, Kis. 17:22-31). Dengan demikian Alkitab sendiri menolak pandangan universalisme, lebih tegas lagi Paulus menjelaskan ini di dalam Roma 9:1-33, Rom. 10:16-21; bandingkan dengan Kis. 17:32, Yoh. 3:16.

Perhatikan juga komentar-komentar dibawah ini mengenai 1 Yoh 2:2:

Edwin H. Palmer dalam buku Lima Pokok Calvinisme, hal. 75 (Penerbit Momentum): “Yang dimaksud ayat ini adalah bahwa Kristus mati bukan saja untuk menebus dosa-dosa bangsa Yahudi, tetapi juga dosa-dosa bangsa Belanda, Italia, Swedia, dan semua bangsa di dunia, tetapi bukan berarti dosa semua orang Yahudi, semua orang Belanda, Italia, Swedia atau semua orang di dunia.”

R. C. Sproul buku Kebenaran-Kebenaran Dasar Iman Kristen, hal. 237 (Literatur SAAT): “Di dalam Perjanjian Baru sering kali dicatat tentang kontras antara keselamatan yang dinikmati oleh orang-orang Yahudi dan keselamatan yang dinikmati oleh orang-orang non Yahudi. Hal krusial dari Injil adalah Injil tidak hanya terbatas bagi orang Yahudi, tetapi bagi semua umat manusia di dunia ini, yaitu orang dari berbagai bangsa dan berbagai suku… Di dalam teks ini, Yohanes mungkin hanya berkata bahwa Kristus tidak hanya menebus dosa-dosa kita (orang-orang percaya Yahudi), tetapi juga orang-orang pilihan yang terdapat di seluruh pelosok dunia.”

Matthew Henry: “Melalui luasnya pembelaan-Nya atau jangkauan pendamaianNya. Pembelaan atau pendamaian-Nya ini tidak dibatasi bagi satu bangsa saja, dan tidak dikhususkan bagi bangsa Israel, umat Allah pada zaman dahulu itu: Ia adalah pendamaian untuk segala dosa kita, dan bukan untuk dosa kita saja (bukan untuk dosa-dosa kita orang Yahudi saja, kita yang merupakan keturunan Abraham secara jasmani), tetapi juga untuk dosa seluruh dunia (ay. 2). Tidak saja bagi orang-orang percaya pada masa lampau atau sekarang, tetapi juga bagi dosa-dosa semua orang yang akan percaya kepada-Nya atau datang kepada Allah melalui Dia. Jangkauan dan tujuan kematian Sang Pengantara menjangkau semua suku, bangsa, dan negara. Sama seperti Ia merupakan satu-satunya Pengantara, Ia juga merupakan pendamaian menyeluruh bagi semua orang yang diselamatkan dan dibawa pulang kepada Allah, dan kepada perkenan serta pengampunan-Nya.”

ESV Study Bible: “For the sins of the world does not mean that every person will be saved, for John is clear that forgiveness of sins comes only to those who repent and believe the gospel.” (Karena dosa-dosa dunia tidak berarti bahwa setiap orang akan diselamatkan, karena Yohanes dengan jelas menyatakan bahwa pengampunan dosa hanya datang kepada mereka yang bertobat dan percaya kepada Injil).

NIV Study Bible: “Forgiveness through Christ’s atoning sacrifice is not limited to one particular group only, it has worldwide application (see Yoh. 1:29), it must however, be received by faith. Thus, this verse does not teach universalism (that all people ultimately will be saved)”. (Pengampunan melalui korban penebusan Kristus tidak terbatas pada satu kelompok saja, ia memiliki penerapan di seluruh dunia (lihat Yoh. 1:29), namun demikian, itu harus diterima dengan iman. Dengan demikian, ayat ini tidak mengajarkan universalisme; bahwa semua orang pada akhirnya akan diselamatkan).

The New Bible Commentary (Tafsiran Alkitab Masa Kini Vol. 3): “… Yohanes melanjutkan dengan menunjuk, bahwa karya penyelamatan Kristus menjangkau seluruh dunia.”

#artikel

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theexodvs · 6 years ago

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Sentences that will upset American Evangelicals more than “Christ is a created being.”

The Church is the True Israel.

Trump is a serial adulterer.

Trump is a bigamist (the Bible does not accept grounds for divorce besides abandonment or adultery).

Trump has not taken Proverbs 22:7 into mind when borrowing money.

Jesus and His disciples drank wine that probably had a higher alcohol content than what we know today.

Jeremiah 29:11 is not addressed to anyone currently living, but Romans 9 is.

If you don’t trust what the Holy Spirit said 2000 years ago, you won’t trust what He would say to you today.

John 3:16 teaches limited atonement. The phrase pas ha pisteuon most literally means “all the believers,” but sounds awkward that way.

Philippians 4:13 does not mean you can suddenly cure yourself or other people of cancer, or handle snakes.

Israel has exiled a higher proportion of its Christians than any modern Arab State.

The “Our beliefs” section on your church’s website is a creed, as is the sinner’s prayer, and saying, “We have no creed but Christ/no book but the Bible.”

Eleven out of the Twelve Disciples died penniless and through torture. The other one lived out his days exiled on a desert island, also penniless.

When Jesus said “all nations” in the Great Commission, He was talking about the Jews as well.

The Bible never mentions the Rapture, and using Matthew 24 to teach the Rapture doesn’t make any sense.

Fog machines don’t attract the crowds.

If Isaiah 11:11 literally refers to current or recent events, so does Isaiah 11:8. So go ahead and throw your baby into a cobra’s nest.

Most non-denom churches and Churches of Christ, and a great deal of unaffiliated non-Reformed Baptist churches, have gone/will go through a succession crisis because their pastors are generally miniature popes.

A generally rejection of “philosophy” has ultimately philosophical grounds.

Most of the artifacts, terminology, and practices used in worship by Anglicans and Lutherans might not have existed when the New Testament was still being written, but neither did pews, hymnals as we know them, Sunday schools, children’s church, steeples, church bulletins, the sinner's prayer, grape juice, the American flag, the Christian flag, anything your pastor wears, or the terms “pastor” or “reverend” or cognate terms to refer to a minister of the Gospel.

#evangelicals #evangelicalism #evangelical #evanjelly #evanjellyfish

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mrlnsfrt · 6 years ago

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Utterly Destroy

In an age when global solidarity is highly valued, and so many are interested in a social gospel, there are many attacks and an outright rejection of various Old Testament passages.

There are many, including Bible believing Christians, who say that “the violence called for in Deuteronomy 7 contrasts sharply with the assertion that God is love.” (Biddle 136) A popular “solution” is to name Moses as the author of these commands, perhaps trying to protect God from seeming barbaric.

The behavior commanded on Deuteronomy 7:2 is widely considered not only unloving but also unchristian, leading many to neglect the study of the Old Testament as the inspired word of God or at least as still relevant to 21st Century Christians.

The Question

Was God angrier and meaner in the Old Testament or is the God of Deuteronomy 7 the same loving and just God that is present throughout the Scriptures?

Is the God of the Bible a God of love or a God of destruction?

A God of peace or a God of war?

The Approach

We will embark on an in depth study of God’s command to “utterly destroy” found in primarily in the context of war and extermination. Since the occurrences range primarily from Deuteronomy through 2 Chronicles, Deuteronomy 7:1–5 seemed like the perfect place to begin our study for it gives a good description of what God intended for Israel to do. If you were to look up every occurrence of this verb you would see that the other texts deal with a summary of the Israel’s military conquest of the territory west of the Jordan under Joshua, and are all connected to this command.

The most common approach when dealing with Deuteronomy 7:2, is to make a brief applications such as “compromise leads to apostasy; therefore, avoid it” (Honeycutt 127), or “the covenant-treaty of the Lord with Israel excludes other treaties.” (Gebelein) Though such comments are true and important, they only scratch the surface of what this text has to offer.

Others have treated the command as a hyperbole or exaggeration meant to illustrate a high moral calling but never meant to be literally followed. The tendency is to simply label such comments as “strange anomalies and paradoxes” (New Interpreter’s Bible) and move on without seriously attempting to harmonize it with the rest of Scripture.

Historical and Literary Context

One of the keys to gaining a clear understanding of a text is to study its context. Historically, the book of Deuteronomy describes the events that took place at the end of the Mosaic period, just before Israel enters into Canaan. This was a critical time for Israel because their future goal was dependent on their obedience and commitment to God.

Literarily Deuteronomy 7 and the command to “utterly destroy” come after a call to love the Lord God, found in Deuteronomy 6, and just before a warning to not forget the Lord, found on chapter eight.

Interpreting The Text

As we read this text we notice “a very strict caution against all friendship and fellowship with idols and idolaters.” (Henry) Because those who are taken into communion with God must have “no communication with the unfruitful works of darkness,” (Eph. 5:11) and God gave these orders to protect His people from this snare now before them. (Henry)

The Interpreter’s Bible states that Deuteronomy 7:2 describes the principle that everything belonging to foreign gods, including people and their possessions, was abhorrent to Yahweh and was therefore “devoted” to destruction. This interpretation may be okay, but the explanation that follows it is dangerous. The Interpreter’s Bible states that “if we are revolted by a command to exterminate the people of the land just because they worshiped other gods, our repugnance may be mitigated by the fact that it was never rigorously carried out.” (Buttrick 378,379)

In an attempt to mitigate our reaction to God’s command, the George A. Buttrick, highlights how the Canaanites lived side by side with the Israelites until the Exile and beyond. Such an approach to Scriptures encourages the reader to disobey God whenever she thinks He is being too harsh, in which case the reader no longer following God. The reader now becomes a judge of which parts of God’s massage are applicable to her.

You can’t highlight Israel’s high moral code while doing away with the “grosser features” (Buttrick 378–379) of God’s command to “utterly destroy” without giving any reasons for this position other then referring to it as “extreme” and “almost unbelievably harsh” (ibid) will of God.

The command is treated as a hyperbole meant to illustrate a high moral calling but never meant to be literally followed. We need to resist focusing on the New Testament and skipping to applications without putting forth a serious effort to understand the text in its historical and literary context.

It is true that to the modern reader the demands found on Deuteronomy 7:2 seem to contrast strangely with the preceding affirmations concerning the loving aspects of God and of obedience, and that the book of Deuteronomy presents the reader with a number of apparent strange anomalies and paradoxes. It is easy to call these teachings contradictory and move on, but a deeper study of the text goes a long way in doing away with many of these supposed “anomalies and paradoxes.” (New Interpreter’s Bible)

In order to properly understand verse two it is important to pay attention to its context. In Deuteronomy 7:1, seven nations are named and “they are specified, that Israel might know the bounds and limits of their commission: hitherto their severity must come, but no further.” Therefore, Israel is not here authorized to treat every nation in this way. (Matthew Henry)

“The confining of this commission to the nations here mentioned plainly intimates that after-ages were not to draw this into a precedent” therefore, to use this text to justify similar behavior in the future under different circumstances is to misuse the Scriptures. (ibid)

The text is clear, Israel was not to take in anyone who belonged to any of the seven nations named by God. The members of those nations could not be tenants, tributaries, or servants. No covenant of any kind was to be made with them, and as we mentioned earlier no mercy may be shown them. This severity was appointed by God. The iniquity of the Amorites was now full.

There are some who want to rationalize that God chose such extreme methods because God prescribed it to a dispensation under which large numbers of beasts were killed and burned in sacrifice. The argument is that now that all sacrifices of atonement “are perfected in, and superseded by, the great propitiation made by the blood of Christ, human blood has become perhaps more precious than it was, and those that have most power yet must not be prodigal of it.” (ibid)

Are we to believe that human blood became more precious to God after Jesus’ death? Such dispensationalist position raises serious questions concerning God’s love towards sinners, and about our value before God. Henry’s suggestion that God loved people less before Jesus’ death on the cross is unbiblical. Are we to accept the idea that God is evolving and becoming more loving over time? Does the plan of salvation evolve throughout history making it easier and easier for people to be saved?

God’s command to “destroy them totally, that is, men, women, and children,” (Walvoord) has often been thought of as unethical for a loving God. However we need to keep several points in mind concerning these people.

The first point is that they deserved to die for their sin (Deut. 9:4–5). According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, studies of the religion, literature, and archeological remains of those peoples reveal that they were the “most morally depraved culture on the earth at that time.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary) These peoples would even sacrifice children to their gods (Deut. 12:30–31).

Secondly, we must keep in mind that they persisted in their hatred of God (Deut. 7:10). If they had repented, God would have spared them as He spared the Ninevites who repented at the preaching of Jonah.(Johan 4:2) Nevertheless, it appears that these nations were not interested in repenting and changing their ways.

A third point to keep in mind is that the Canaanites constituted a moral cancer (Deut. 20:17–18; Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:12–13) When reading these texts we need to remember is that one day Jesus Christ will return and there will be a final judgment, and a condemnation of unrepentant sinners. This is a factor that many Christians forget. The wrath of God and the final condemnation of unrepentant sinners is a topic many avoid.

The key idea here is that there is no dichotomy between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. The God of the Bible is the same God in both testaments, revealing Himself to us as a loving and righteous God.

“The command to engage in holy war is, of course, not applicable today since at the present time God is not working through one nation to set up His kingdom on the earth.” Nevertheless, we can learn from this text how ruthless we should be with sin in our own lives, not willing to make any treaties with it. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

According to A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments the relentless doom of extermination which God denounced against those tribes of Canaan in Deuteronomy 7:2 “cannot be reconciled with the attributes of the divine character, except on the assumption that their gross idolatry and enormous wickedness left no reasonable hope of their repentance and amendment.” (Jamieson)

After all, God also swept away the antediluvians (Genesis 6–9) and also utterly destroyed the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16–19:29). Unrepentant sinners who filled up the measure of their iniquities have faced God’s wrath in multiple occasions.

As we see how God works throughout the Bible, we know that those living in the land at that time must have been hopelessly unrepentant idolaters and this command must have been a form of immediate divine judgment upon those who had sinned away their day of grace.

God gave the inhabitants of the land about 400 years to change their ways (Genesis 15:16; Exodus 12:40). Abraham had lived there and set up altars and was well known. (Genesis 13,14) When the Israelites finally come into the promise land, the people were aware of who they were and of the God they worshiped (Joshua 2:9–14).

Those nations were not being destroyed just because they were not Israelites, because if Israel was to behave in a similar way they would suffer a similar judgment (Leviticus 18:24–30 24). The judgment was based on the actions and wickedness of the inhabitants, not on their ethnicity or ignorance.

Those who do not understand the judgment of God do not understand the awfulness of sin. Moreover, those who do not understand the sinfulness and awfulness of sin are the ones who argue that God was wicked to destroy these nations. If we understood the sinfulness of these pagan religions and the way these nations had resisted God, we would feel differently about God’s command. We need to read these texts keeping in mind the whole Bible and what it says about God as a context. If God sent Jonah, despite Jonah’s resistance, to warn Nineveh and eventually spared them.(Jonah 1–4) If God was willing to spare Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous people living there, and sent angels to deliver Lot and his family, even though they were not that willing to be saved (Genesis 18:16–19:29). If God sent His Son to die that we might live (John 3:16). Then, in the context of who God is, as revealed throughout the Bible, these people must have indeed been terrible sinners who sinned away their day of grace.

In our modern day we get upset when we witness injustices, and many shake their fists to the heavens asking why God does not do something about all the evil in the world. Yet on the times that God judges and destroys we then shake our firsts at heaven asking how He could do such a thing. If we want to have the freedom to make our own choices, that means some people will misuse that freedom. For God to make everyone nice people would mean limiting their freedom and thus make God a tyrant. Therefore, people have the freedom to chose their path, and also enjoy the consequences that company different choices.

God calls for love and commitment from those who want to follow Him. This is nothing beyond what married couples expect form their spouse. Except God knows the consequences that follow rebelion against His rules, He wants to protect us by inviting us to set ertain things aside. Deuteronomy 2 gives us an example of “spirituality that sets aside what is incompatible with God’s lordship, even to its apparent strategic disadvantage.” (Work) But it is not the only passage in the Bible that calls for us to set aside sin. Consider the following texts:

Matthew 7:16–21–16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Ephesians 5:11 — And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Covenanting, showing mercy, and or marrying members of those peoples, would destroy Israel quickly. Israel was a chosen people and through them the whole word would be blessed. A little bit of sin is all it takes, the enemy wants just a foothold in our lives, and from there he can work our destruction.

Application

God gave those seven nations plenty of time to repent, from the time of Abraham to the time of Joshua. Rehab, a prostitute from Jericho was saved, because she believed (Joshua 6:17). Sadly however the majority preferred to stay and fight against God and His people. The same way Rahab was saved, I am sure anyone else who wanted to join Israel could have done so. I don’t have time to cover it in this post but look into the stories of Tamar (Genesis 38:1–30), Rahab (Joshua 2:1–21), Ruth (Ruth 4:12–22; Hebrews 11:31), and Bathsheba (2Samuel 11:1–27). At least three of these women were not Isralites, and they are all mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:3–6), showing God’s willingness to use both men and women, Jews and Gentiles.

The obedience and purity of Israel were important because the whole world would be blessed through them, we, the modern day children of God, are no different. Not that we are called to wage war against non-believers, but rather in the sense that when we sin, we too deprive others form blessings.

We know things are just getting worse. We know that Jesus is coming back soon. We know God’s grace will not be extended forever. There is a parable of Jesus recorded in Matthew 25 about 10 virgins. All ten knew the bridegroom was coming.Five were wise and prepared, five were foolish and were caught unprepared. The problem with the five foolish virgins is not that they were ignorant, but rather that they failed to prepare properly. The parable tells us that at a certain point the door was shut, and even though the foolish virgins wanted to come in to the wedding banquet, they could not because the door had been shut.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

Revelation confirms the teaching of this parable. In Revelation 22 we are told that there comes a time when people will continue on the path they have chosen and no one will change from that point on. The saved will remain saved, and the lost will remain lost.

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous[a] still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11

The idea of judgment is present throughout the Bible. Jesus himself describes it Matthew 25 comparing he process to a shepherd separating sheep form goats. In the end there are only two groups of people.

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:32

The book of Revelation confirms this teaching with a different illustration on chapter 20 starting with verse 11 we read about a judgment, and books are opened, and once again we have two groups.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

This may seem harsh, or extreme, but it is necessary. Because there is one more scene described in Revelation that I would like to call to your attention.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

The former things need to pass away. For there to be no more death nor sorrow nor crying, the cause of death and sorrow and crying must be destroyed. Those who do not love God and have no interest in living in harmony with Him are allowed to die. If you want to live forever with God, today is the day to make that decision.

Today the door of mercy is still open.

Jesus died to save you, but you have to want to be saved. Jesus will not throw you into heaven by force.

If there is something separating you from Christ today, something keeping you from committing yourself fully to Him, make a decision right now not to allow it to stand between you and Christ anymore.

I make an appeal for you to make a serious decision for Christ, for you to make a commitment. To choose Jesus whenever the option comes up.

When you have to chose between Jesus and your boss, choose Jesus.

Between Jesus and your boyfriend or girlfriend, choose Jesus.

Between Jesus and partying, drinking, sexual immorality, infidelity to your spouse, lying and cheating, being an abusive person, choose Jesus.

You cannot afford to wait, to postpone it.

Those who repeatedly reject Jesus,

Those who come to church and learn but refuse to follow

Those who come to quiet their conscience but don’t live according to the light they have received.

Those who know, but for different reasons chose not to follow and choose to rebel, will be utterly destroyed.

There is no reason for anyone to be destroyed. There is no reason for anyone to be lost. Jesus died that we might live.

I ask that you stop rejecting Jesus, and make a real commitment.

Right now I invite you to close your eyes, and pray inviting Jesus into your heart and renewing your commitment to Him.

I just ask that you stop postponing. That you stop playing games. This is the most important decision you will ever make in your life, this is life. Do not reject life. There is no reason to. Humble yourself and receive God’s salvation and allow Him to bring the changes that He wants to bring about in your heart.

Deuteronomy 7:1–5 has a message of judgment, which is not new, for we have the account of the flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah among others in the Old Testament, and we also have mention of judgment at the end of times on both the Old and New Testaments.

Exodus 34:6–7 tells us that though we have a “compassionate and gracious God,” He “does not leave the guilty unpunished.”

The God of Deuteronomy 7:1–2 is not a different God, but the same one, this text only presents us with a facet of God many wish to ignore.

Summary and Conclusion

In conclusion, even though Deuteronomy 7:2 may strike many 21st Century Christians as an extremely harsh and unloving command given by God, a closer look at the text allows us to see the same God who is described in the New Testament. Deuteronomy 7:2 is often misinterpreted.

Though it is a harsh judgment from God, it is not the only one of its kind, for we also have the account of the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as the final Judgment at the end of times. Our God is a loving God, but He is also a just God who will not allow iniquity to go on forever unpunished. Also when we look at the context and the use of “utterly destroy” we realize that Israel was not allowed to treat everyone in this manner.

These were specific measures given by God for a specific situation, this was judgment, and it was restricted to seven nations and a specific geographical location. Just because those peoples were facing judgment at that point it does not mean that they did not have opportunities to repent beforehand. Overall, Deuteronomy 7:2 provides the reader with another facet of God’s character; the same loving, just, and unchanging God that we have in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

Sources:

Abingdon Press. The New Interpreter’s Bible : General Articles & Introduction, Commentary, & Reflections for Each Book of the Bible, Including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994.

Biddle, Mark E. Deuteronomy Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary. Macon, Ga.: Smyth & Helwys Pub., 2003.

Botterweck, G. Johannes, and Helmer Ringgren. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1974.

Buttrick, George Arthur. The Interpreter’s Bible: The Holy Scriptures in the King James and Revised Standard Versions with General Articles and Introduction, Exegesis, Exposition for Each Book of the Bible. New York,: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1951.

Craigie, Peter C. The Book of Deuteronomy The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976.

Gaebelein, Frank Ely, J. D. Douglas, and Dick Polcyn. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary : With the New International Version of the Holy Bible. 12 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1976.

Honeycutt, Roy Lee. Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Layman’s Bible Book Commentary V. 3. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman Press, 1979.

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. Grand Rapids, Mich.,: Zondervan pub. house, 1934.

Kelley, Page H. Biblical Hebrew : An Introductory Grammar. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, 1992.

Mayes, A. D. H. Deuteronomy : Based on the Revised Standard Version New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich. London: Eerdmans ; Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1981.

Merrill, Eugene H. Deuteronomy The New American Commentary V. 4. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 1994.

Rauschenbusch, Walter. Dare We Be Christians? The William Bradford Collection from the Pilgrim Press. Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press, 1993.

Waltke, Bruce K., and Michael Patrick O’Connor. An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 1990.

Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. 2 vols. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1983.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1993.

Work, Telford. Deuteronomy Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009.

Zondervan Bible, Publishers. Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

#God #Judgment #Destroy #Old Testament #Theology #Israel #War

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tryingtoescapereality007 · 6 years ago

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Okay so I know this is gonna sound totally weird, but just go with me here. So everybody knows today's Easter, and since my family (not me by any means, just clarifying) is Christian, we all sat down as a family and talked about Jesus and the Atonement and all that shit. Well as we were taking, my stepdad brought up something that made me think. He said that leading up to when they were gonna crucify Jesus and stuff, Satan was really against it, and he tried everything in his power to stop it.

May not seem like anything important, but to my fanfiction shipping ass, it sounded like ship material. And if you think about it, it kinda makes sense. Now I don't claim to be a religious expert by any means, all I have is my years of childhood Mormon conditioning and scripture reading, but I know a thing or two, and by what knowledge I have, this ship makes sense.

Let's start from the beginning when everybody was in heaven and God hadn't created the Earth yet. As some of you may know, God gathered everybody, told them his plan, and then said that he needed a volunteer pretty much to do the whole Atonement thing. Out of everybody there, only two people offered. Jesus and Lucifer. Jesus was the golden boy. He was pretty much like, "God choose me cause I'm a good boy I'll do whatever you say. I love everybody so I'll die for them and shit." But Lucifer was having none of that. He was all like, "No God choose me. I'll take your good plan, and make it better. This way everybody can come back to live here." Now, most people think that Lucifer said this because he was jealous and angry and evil and all that, but he never spoke until after Jesus spoke. Notice that. Maybe that was because Jesus spoke first, maybe it was because he couldn't stand to see his crush go all Katniss on him. Maybe he volunteered himself because he would rather go than have Jesus go. I mean, nobody else but those two stood up. Nobody else volunteered. And despite what it seemed, he cared about those souls in heaven. They were his siblings. He loved them. So, of course, he would see the fact that not everybody would be getting back as a flaw in the plan, a flaw that his plan fixed. And yes it wasn't the best idea but at least his way involved everybody getting back home.

But as you know God picked Jesus because he didn't like Lucifer opposing his plan. And then Lucifer took 1/3of the population and left. Again, most people think that this was because he was evil, but maybe he was just angry. Angry that God had chosen Jesus, his crush, instead of him. Angry that God had rejected his plan so completely, not even considering the idea before rejecting it. Angry that now his crush was going to go die a painful death and repent for sins that weren't his, have to suffer alone, without him. So yeah, he was angry, and he was stupid and reckless. He got some followers and said, "We're leaving this shithole." So they left. He left. And Jesus stayed. Jesus stayed.

Fast forward to when Jesus is on Earth, from a young age Lucifer seemed to tempt him, try to get him to mess up, sin, use his powers for bad, for selfish reasons. But every time Jesus stayed strong and kept on the path. Now some may say that Satan did this because he's Satan, he's evil and just wants to destroy all the good in the world. But maybe that's not the reason.

Maybe he knew that God's plan relied on Jesus' purity, his innocence, his perfection. So he knew that if he broke that perfection if he got him to make just one little mistake, then God's plan would be ruined. He'd have to find someone else, try again or something. Jesus would be free. He wouldn't be bound to that agreement, that promise anymore. All throughout the scriptures, Lucifer never really tempts him to do super awful things like killing someone or anything that extreme, just small things. Like make that rock shine, turn this into food, etc.

Actually, I remember one scripture chapter thing that pretty much was just Satan trying to tempt Jesus into sinning. He tried everything. Mind you, Jesus at this point had been fasting for like 40 something days or more, without food or water, just like praying on a mountain or something. Satan had probably been watching the whole time. And he probably was like, "Okay, enough is enough." And then he pretty much just appeared and was like, "Make this rock into some food, turn this into water, etc. "Just small things. But the food and water thing, why that specifically? Why not a bug, or a plant, or whatever? People say it was because he wanted him to eat/drink it and break his fast, which I think is true. He wanted him to break his fast because he couldn't stand to watch any longer as Jesus just wasted away and refused to take care of himself. I mean, 40 something days seems a little excessive, don't you think?

Also in that scripture, he wanted Jesus to jump off a cliff and see if the angels would catch him. I think he was trying to prove a point. That there was no way out. That this agreement was binding, and even death couldn't stop it. He was trying to make Jesus realize the extent and extremity of what he had naively gotten himself into.

But, unfortunately, Jesus remained pure and got crucified. He went to the garden of Gethsemane and atoned for everybody's sins. He died for all mankind. But then he came back. Three days later he came back and visited the people a little bit before leaving back to heaven. God's plan worked. And now Jesus was his little puppet, his golden boy, his favorite, his "Only-begotten Son". He forgot about Lucifer, no, not forgot, it was worse than that. He hated him.

He hated him. God had made him out to be the enemy, and as far as Jesus knew, his father, God, had never failed him, had never lied to him, so why would he lie about Lucifer?

And God described the place that Lucifer ruled as hell, as a terrible, horrible place where all the bad people went. But that wasn't accurate. Hell wasn't terrible, and it wasn't hot. In fact, it was cold. Very cold. And lonely. And the only people that went there were the misfits, the runaways, the people society deemed "odd" or "weird" or "crazy". The people that didn't conform, didn't follow God's prechosen plan. And since God didn't like that, he sent them down to live with the only other person he knew who didn't follow his plan either, Lucifer, or Satan, as he was so dubbed.

And they say that Lucifer and his followers roam the Earth trying to get us to sin, to do bad things and that everything bad and not good in the world is them, and is because of them, but that's not true.

It's just another lie made up by God.

They do, sometimes, roam the Earth, but they do so in order to warn us, to open our eyes to God's manipulation, so that we don't follow the same path as Jesus.

And Lucifer does roam the Earth occasionally, but only in hopes that he'll catch a glimpse of Jesus, or that he'll be there when the Second Coming happens so that maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to see him one last time, talk to him, and save him.

Author's Note: Okay. So before you, all get all hissy pissy at me, I just want to disclaim a few things. I do not, as stated above, claim in any way shape or form to be a religious expert. I am not. All I have is my very limited knowledge and my imagination. Also, in case you guys are wondering, the references I am using come from the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine of Covenants, the Bible (King James version) and other Mormon-related teachings and lessons. Also, most of this I made up. Like all of this is just me and my thoughts and my ideas and imagination, so don't take any of it as facts. Finally, I do not mean to offend any Christians or Mormons or anybody else who celebrates Easter for religious reasons. I understand the significance of this day to such people and do not mean to offend them in any way shape or form. I'm sorry if what I've said offends you. Happy Easter and goodnight/morning/afternoon depending on what time you read this.

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savedfromsalvation · 7 years ago

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The 12 Worst Ideas Organized Religion Has Unleashed On the World

These dubious concepts advocate conflict, cruelty and suffering.

By Valerie Tarico / AlterNet

April 30, 2018, 10:34 PM GMT

Some of humanity’s technological innovations are things we would have been better off without: the medieval rack, the atomic bomb and powdered lead potions come to mind. Religions tend to invent ideas or concepts rather than technologies, but like every other creative human enterprise, they produce some really bad ones along with the good.

I've previously highlighted some of humanity’s best moral and spiritual concepts, our shared moral core. Here, by way of contrast, are some of the worst. These twelve dubious concepts promote conflict, cruelty, suffering and death rather than love and peace. To paraphrase Christopher Hitchens, they belong in the dustbin of history just as soon as we can get them there.

1. Chosen People –The term “Chosen People” typically refers to the Hebrew Bible and the ugly idea that God has given certain tribes a Promised Land (even though it is already occupied by other people). But in reality many sects endorse some version of this concept. The New Testament identifies Christians as the chosen ones. Calvinists talk about “God’s elect,” believing that they themselves are the special few who were chosen before the beginning of time. Jehovah’s witnesses believe that 144,000 souls will get a special place in the afterlife. In many cultures certain privileged and powerful bloodlines were thought to be descended directly from gods (in contrast to everyone else).

Religious sects are inherently tribal and divisive because they compete by making mutually exclusive truth claims and by promising blessings or afterlife rewards that no competing sect can offer. “Gang symbols” like special haircuts, attire, hand signals and jargon differentiate insiders from outsiders and subtly (or not so subtly) convey to both that insiders are inherently superior.

2. Heretics – Heretics, kafir, or infidels (to use the medieval Catholic term) are not just outsiders, they are morally suspect and often seen as less than fully human. In the Torah, slaves taken from among outsiders don’t merit the same protections as Hebrew slaves. Those who don’t believe in a god are corrupt, doers of abominable deeds. “There is none [among them] who does good,” says the Psalmist.

Islam teaches the concept of “dhimmitude” and provides special rules for the subjugation of religious minorities, with monotheists getting better treatment than polytheists. Christianity blurs together the concepts of unbeliever and evildoer. Ultimately, heretics are a threat that needs to be neutralized by conversion, conquest, isolation, domination, or—in worst cases—mass murder.

3. Holy War – If war can be holy, anything goes. The medieval Roman Catholic Church conducted a twenty year campaign of extermination against heretical Cathar Christians in the south of France, promising their land and possessions to real Christians who signed on as crusaders. Sunni and Shia Muslims have slaughtered each other for centuries. The Hebrew scriptures recount battle after battle in which their war God, Yahweh, helps them to not only defeat but also exterminate the shepherding cultures that occupy their “Promised Land.” As in later holy wars, like the modern rise of ISIS, divine sanction let them kill the elderly and children, burn orchards, and take virgin females as sexual slaves—all while retaining a sense of moral superiority.

4. Blasphemy – Blasphemy is the notion that some ideas are inviolable, off limits to criticism, satire, debate, or even question. By definition, criticism of these ideas is an outrage, and it is precisely this emotion–outrage–that the crime of blasphemy evokes in believers. The Bible prescribes death for blasphemers; the Quran does not, but death-to-blasphemers became part of Shariah during medieval times.

The idea that blasphemy must be prevented or avenged has caused millions of murders over the centuries and countless other horrors. As I write, blogger Raif Badawi awaits round after round of flogging in Saudi Arabia—1000 lashes in batches of 50—while his wife and children plead from Canada for the international community to do something.

5. Glorified suffering – Picture secret societies of monks flogging their own backs. The image that comes to mind is probably from Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, but the idea isn’t one he made up. A core premise of Christianity is that righteous torture—if it’s just intense and prolonged enough–can somehow fix the damage done by evil, sinful behavior. Millions of crucifixes litter the world as testaments to this belief. Shia Muslims beat themselves with lashes and chains during Aashura, a form of sanctified suffering called Matam that commemorates the death of the martyr Hussein. Self-denial in the form of asceticism and fasting is a part of both Eastern and Western religions, not only because deprivation induces altered states but also because people believe suffering somehow brings us closer to divinity.

Our ancestors lived in a world in which pain came unbidden, and people had very little power to control it. An aspirin or heating pad would have been a miracle to the writers of the Bible, Quran, or Gita. Faced with uncontrollable suffering, the best advice religion could offer was to lean in or make meaning of it. The problem, of course is that glorifying suffering—turning it into a spiritual good—has made people more willing to inflict it on not only themselves and their enemies but also those who are helpless, including the ill or dying (as in the case of Mother Teresa and the American Bishops) and children (as in the child beating Patriarchy movement).

6. Genital mutilation – Primitive people have used scarification and other body modifications to define tribal membership for as long as history records. But genital mutilation allowed our ancestors several additional perks—if you want to call them that. Infant circumcision in Judaism serves as a sign of tribal membership, but circumcision also serves to test the commitment of adult converts. In one Bible story, a chieftain agrees to convert and submit his clan to the procedure as a show of commitment to a peace treaty. (While the men lie incapacitated, the whole town is then slain by the Israelites.)

In Islam, painful male circumcision serves as a rite of passage into manhood, initiation into a powerful club. By contrast, in some Muslim cultures cutting away or burning the female clitoris and labia ritually establishes the submission of women by reducing sexual arousal and agency. An estimated 2 million girls annually are subjected to the procedure, with consequences including hemorrhage, infection, painful urination and death. – In the list of religion’s worst ideas, this is the only one that appears to be in its final stages. Only some Hindus (, goddess of power) and some Muslims (, Feast of the Sacrifice) continue to ritually slaughter sacrificial animals on a mass scale. Hindu scriptures including the Gita and Puranas forbid ritual killing, and most Hindus now eschew the practice based on the principle of ahimsa, but it persists as a residual of folk religion.

7. Blood sacrifice – In the list of religion’s worst ideas, this is the only one that appears to be in its final stages. Only some Hindus (during the Festival of Gadhimai, goddess of power) and some Muslims (during Eid al Adha, Feast of the Sacrifice) continue to ritually slaughter sacrificial animals on a mass scale. Hindu scriptures including the Gita and Puranas forbid ritual killing, and most Hindus now eschew the practice based on the principle of ahimsa, but it persists as a residual of folk religion.

When our ancient ancestors slit the throats of humans and animals or cut out their hearts or sent the smoke of sacrifices heavenward, many believed they were literally feeding supernatural beings. In time, in most religions, the rationale changed—the gods didn’t need feeding so much as signs of devotion and penance. The residual child sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible (yes, it is there) typically has this function. Christianity’s persistent focus on blood atonement—the notion of Jesus as the be-all-end-all lamb without blemish, the final “propitiation” for human sin—is hopefully the last iteration of humanity’s long fascination with blood sacrifice.

8. Hell – Whether we are talking about Christianity, Islam or Buddhism, an afterlife filled with demons, monsters, and eternal torture was the worst suffering the Iron Age minds could conceive and medieval minds could elaborate. Invented, perhaps, as a means to satisfy the human desire for justice, the concept of Hell quickly devolved into a tool for coercing behavior and belief.

Most Buddhists see hell as a metaphor, a journey into the evil inside the self, but the descriptions of torturing monsters and levels of hell can be quite explicit. Likewise, many Muslims and Christians hasten to assure that it is a real place, full of fire and the anguish of non-believers. Some Christians have gone so far as to insist that the screams of the damned can be heard from the center of the Earth or that observing their anguish from afar will be one of the pleasures of paradise.

9. Karma – Like hell, the concept of karma offers a selfish incentive for good behavior—it’ll come back at you later—but it has enormous costs. Chief among these is a tremendous weight of cultural passivity in the face of harm and suffering. Secondarily, the idea of karmasanctifies the broad human practice of blaming the victim. If what goes around comes around, then the disabled child or cancer patient or untouchable poor (or the hungry rabbit or mangy dog) must have done something in either this life or a past one to bring their position on themselves.

10. Eternal Life – To our weary and unwashed ancestors, the idea of gem encrusted walls, streets of gold, the fountain of youth, or an eternity of angelic chorus (or sex with virgins) may have seemed like sheer bliss. But it doesn’t take much analysis to realize how quickly eternal paradise would become hellish—an endless repetition of never changing groundhog days (because how could they change if they were perfect).

The real reason that the notion of eternal life is such a bad invention, though, is the degree to which it diminishes and degrades existence on this earthly plane. With eyes lifted heavenward, we can’t see the intricate beauty beneath our feet. Devout believers put their spiritual energy into preparing for a world to come rather than cherishing and stewarding the one wild and precious world we have been given.

11. Male Ownership of Female Fertility – The notion of women as brood mares or children as assets likely didn’t originate with religion, but the idea that women were created for this purpose, that if a woman should die of childbearing “she was made to do it,” most certainly did. Traditional religions variously assert that men have a god-ordained right to give women in marriage, take them in war, exclude them from heaven, and kill them if the origins of their offspring can’t be assured. Hence Catholicism’s maniacal obsession with the virginity of Mary and female martyrs.

As we approach the limits of our planetary life support system and stare dystopia in the face, defining women as breeders and children as assets becomes ever more costly. We now know that resource scarcity is a conflict trigger and that demand for water and arable land is growing even as both resources decline. And yet, a pope who claims to care about the desperate poor lectures them against contraceptionwhile Muslim leaders ban vasectomies in a drive to outbreed their enemies.

12. Bibliolatry (aka Book Worship) – Preliterate people handed down their best guesses about gods and goodness by way of oral tradition, and they made objects of stone and wood, idols, to channel their devotion. Their notions of what was good and what was Real and how to live in moral community with each other were free to evolve as culture and technology changed. But the advent of the written word changed that. As our Iron Age ancestors recorded and compiled their ideas into sacred texts, these texts allowed their understanding of gods and goodness to become static. The sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam forbid idol worship, but over time the texts themselves became idols, and many modern believers practice—essentially—book worship, also known as bibliolatry.

“Because the faith of Islam is perfect, it does not allow for any innovations to the religion,” says one young Muslim explaining his faith online. His statement betrays a naïve lack of information about the origins of his own dogmas. But more broadly, it sums up the challenge all religions face moving forward. Imagine if a physicist said, “Because our understanding of physics is perfect, it does not allow for any innovations to the field.”

Adherents who think their faith is perfect, are not just naïve or ill informed. They are developmentally arrested, and in the case of the world’s major religions, they are anchored to the Iron Age, a time of violence, slavery, desperation and early death.

Ironically, the mindset that our sacred texts are perfect betrays the very quest that drove our ancestors to write those texts. Each of the men who wrote part of the Bible, Quran, or Gita took his received tradition, revised it, and offered his own best articulation of what is good and real. We can honor the quest of our spiritual ancestors, or we can honor their answers, but we cannot do both.

Religious apologists often try to deny, minimize, or explain away the sins of scripture and the evils of religious history. “It wasn’t really slavery.” “That’s just the Old Testament.” “He didn’t mean it that way.” “You have to understand how bad their enemies were.” “Those people who did harm in the name of God weren’t real [Christians/Jews/Muslims].” Such platitudes may offer comfort, but denying problems doesn’t solve them. Quite the opposite, in fact. Change comes with introspection and insight, a willingness to acknowledge our faults and flaws while still embracing our strengths and potential for growth.

In a world that is teeming with humanity, armed with pipe bombs and machine guns and nuclear weapons and drones, we don’t need defenders of religion’s status quo—we need real reformation, as radical as that of the 16th Century and much, much broader. It is only by acknowledging religion’s worst ideas that we have any hope of embracing the best.

Valerie Tarico is a psychologist and writer in Seattle, Washington, and the founder of Wisdom Commons. She is the author of "Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Looks at Old Beliefs in a New Light" and "Deas and Other Imaginings." Her articles can be found at valerietarico.com.

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