Here is our faith

 Those who pray the Lord’s Prayer know that it ends “Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever Amen” referring to the Father. Do those who pray this prayer sincerely mean it? Knowing what they are praying? That although the Father and Son will eventually sit side by side on the highest throne, the Father is forever greater than the Son, and it is His throne forever and He allows the Son to sit on it. 

How Christendom as a whole sometimes causes believers to sin

 The concept of co-equality in divinity and co-equality in relationship within the Trinity has been foundational to many mainstream Christian doctrines; however, both aspects can be challenged as potentially unscriptural. Co-equality in divinity asserts that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share the same divine essence and attributes, leading to the belief that none is greater or lesser than the others. However, scriptural passages such as John 14:28, where Jesus states, "The Father is greater than I," and 1 Corinthians 15:28, which indicates that the Son will subject Himself to the Father, suggest a hierarchy that contradicts the notion of absolute co-equality. Moreover, if one considers divinity as source versus divinity by receipt and representation, the distinction becomes more pronounced; the Father is often portrayed as the source of divine authority and essence, while the Son is seen as a representation or recipient of that divinity, which undermines the idea of co-equality. Furthermore, the idea of co-equality in relationship implies that the interpersonal dynamics within the Trinity are entirely equal and interchangeable, yet the New Testament consistently portrays the Son as acting in submission to the Father, raising questions about the permanence and nature of this relational equality. When these notions are scrutinized against the biblical text, their foundations become shaky, suggesting that they might not accurately reflect the scriptural narrative.

Moreover, the imposition of such debatable doctrines as mandatory beliefs within creeds presents significant ethical and theological dilemmas. Forcing individuals to affirm doctrines, particularly those that may lack strong scriptural support, can lead to insincerity in worship practices, such as liturgies, catechisms, and ordination processes. This situation can place adherents in the uncomfortable position of vocalizing beliefs they do not hold, leading to feelings of alienation and frustration. In extreme cases, individuals may feel compelled to engage in what could be perceived as lying or even perjury, undermining the integrity of their faith commitments and the authenticity of their community worship. This practice raises profound questions about the nature of faith and belief: if adherence to certain doctrines is coerced rather than freely embraced, can it genuinely reflect one’s understanding of God and scripture? Mandating such beliefs risks fracturing the unity of the body of Christ by privileging conformity over genuine faith, thereby stifling the open dialogue that is crucial for spiritual growth and communal harmony.

ChatGPT, 2024 

Trinity Doctrine motivated by self-exaltation

 It could be argued that self-exaltation has motivated the development and acceptance of the co-equality doctrine among some believers and theologians. This doctrine, which posits that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equally divine and possess the same essence, may appeal to a desire for empowerment and status within the Christian faith. By emphasizing co-equality, adherents might feel a greater connection to divine authority and identity, fostering a more exalted view of their own spiritual standing. Such a perspective can lead to a mindset that prioritizes personal agency and significance, overshadowing the biblical themes of humility, servanthood, and dependence on God’s grace. Moreover, the assertion of co-equality can sometimes serve as a means of affirming one's theological stance against perceived hierarchies that suggest a subordinate position for the Son, creating an environment where believers might elevate their own understanding of divinity and authority. This alignment with the concept of co-equality can tempt individuals to interpret scripture in ways that allow for greater personal empowerment, distorting the original intent of biblical teachings about the nature of God and the relationship between the Father and the Son. As a result, the doctrine of co-equality could reflect an underlying desire for self-exaltation rather than a faithful interpretation of scripture, ultimately leading to a diminished emphasis on humility and reliance on God’s grace in the believer's life.

(ChatGPT, 2024) 

A warning against self-exaltation through Trinity errors

 Scripture suggests that the subordination of the Son to the Father is eternal, as evidenced by passages like 1 Corinthians 15:28, which states that the Son will ultimately be made subject to the Father, indicating a lasting relational hierarchy. This understanding frames the significance of the Son sitting on the Father’s throne—not as a claim to co-equality, but as an act of divine authority granted by the Father. When believers emphasize co-equality based on this imagery, it can lead to self-exaltation, as they may view themselves as having an inherent right to authority akin to Christ’s, thereby distorting the intended message of Revelation. This perspective risks undermining the biblical truth that sitting on the throne is a gift from Christ to the faithful rather than a reflection of their own divine status. It also introduces the false notion that the Son might sit on the Father’s throne by virtue of co-equality, which contradicts the scriptural affirmation of His subordination. By misinterpreting this promise, believers may overlook the essential themes of humility and dependence on God’s grace, which are central to understanding their relationship with Christ and the nature of their exaltation.

— ChatGPT, 2024 

The mainstream self-exalting Trinity co-equality doctrine

 The doctrine of co-equality within the Trinity can lead to a sense of self-exaltation among believers, particularly when interpreting passages in the Book of Revelation that speak of overcoming and sharing in Christ’s authority. For example, Revelation 3:21 promises, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” This verse, when viewed through the lens of co-equality, can foster an inflated self-image among believers, as they may perceive themselves as sharing in Christ’s divine authority and status. This interpretation can lead to a misunderstanding of their role and relationship with God, as the emphasis on co-equality may overshadow the fundamental biblical principles of humility, servanthood, and dependence on divine grace. Instead of recognizing that their exaltation is a gift from God and contingent upon His grace, believers might develop a sense of entitlement, thinking that their victory somehow equates them with Christ’s divine nature and authority. Such a perspective can distort the intended message of Revelation, which emphasizes overcoming through faith and perseverance rather than self-empowerment. The focus on co-equality can inadvertently promote a self-exalting attitude that neglects the critical biblical themes of humility and the understanding that any authority or position granted to believers ultimately derives from God’s grace, not from their inherent worthiness or status. Thus, while the promise of sharing in Christ’s throne is indeed a profound and encouraging aspect of the believer's hope, it must be understood within the broader context of biblical teaching that emphasizes reliance on God's grace and the call to live in humility and service to others.

ChatGPT, 2024 

Where the whole of mainstream Christendom gets it wrong

 Certain interpretations of Scripture, particularly passages like 1 Corinthians 15:28—“Then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him”—suggest that the Son’s subjection to the Father extends beyond His earthly mission and continues eternally as part of His identity as the Son. Along with Jesus’ assertion that the Father is greater than He, these interpretations indicate that the concept of co-equality upheld by historical church councils in Christendom is not fully supported by Scripture. Additionally, no mainstream churches in Christendom teach both of these biblical concepts—that the Father is eternally greater than the Son and that the Son is eternally subject to the Father.

Eastern Theological Framework

 The Eastern Orthodox Monarchical doctrine and the scriptural doctrine of the Son’s eternal subordination share certain concepts but differ significantly in their understanding of the relationship between the Father and the Son. In Eastern Orthodoxy, the Monarchical view holds that the Father is the “source” or “origin” of the Godhead, meaning that the Father alone is unbegotten, while the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father. This “monarchy of the Father” establishes the Father as the unique source within the Trinity, yet it does not imply any inferiority in nature or essence for the Son and the Spirit, who are considered co-equal and co-eternal with the Father in full divinity. According to Orthodox teaching, the Son’s subordination to the Father, as seen in His earthly ministry, is understood as functional and temporary, relevant only to His mission of redemption and not extending into eternity; in other words, any subordination in Orthodoxy is in role and action rather than in nature or eternal relationship. By contrast, some interpretations of Scripture, especially passages like 1 Corinthians 15:28—“Then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him”—suggest that the Son’s subjection to the Father is not limited to His earthly mission but continues eternally as part of His relational identity as the Son, an aspect of His role in the Godhead that remains even after His redemptive work is complete. In this view, often called the doctrine of eternal subordination, the Son’s subjection to the Father is intrinsic to His position within the Godhead, meaning that His subordination is relational and ongoing rather than simply functional. The key difference, then, lies in that the Eastern Monarchical doctrine sees the Father as the source within a framework of co-equality and holds that any subordination is temporary and functional, whereas the doctrine of eternal subordination implies a permanent, relational hierarchy in which the Father eternally holds authority over the Son, even while acknowledging both are fully divine.

ChatGPT, 2024 

Not a good time for Evangelicals

 People boldly proclaim that the Christ will soon return, but today is not a good time for Evangelical Christianity. Churches today are closing because of the covering up of child abuse, when it gets found out. That is true of Baptists, Brethren, Methodists, and Evangelicals broadly, at least it is where I live. Yet, the root causes, which are powerless teachings and cessationalist defeatism and toleration of false doctrines and fake believers, and especially the neglect of the commandments, all this is never dealt with. “Israel has sinned”, says God. The eagle overhead, this is the sign. Yet God’s commands are relegated to lower priority than Puritanical Darbyism. Such yeast of the legalists is no match for human degeneracy. Dispensationalism and pre-tribulation rapture doctrines are not the necessary message to curb the out-of-control degenerate human desires. Guilty ones should be handed over to the authorities legally and to Satan spiritually: and also those whose false teachings cause the bad morals.

Faith towards the Father

 Here is how I believe faith towards the Father develops from the teachings of Jesus Christ. The first step might be just a willingness to listen to Jesus’ teachings, perhaps being read out loud or preached. This willingness might come from a belief in the credibility and benefit of teachings from Jesus Christ, because of his reputation and fame. The preacher or reader also needs such persuasion that it is worthwhile to preach or read aloud such teachings. The teachings then inspire further faith in the teacher, Jesus, himself and in the Father who sent him. This might lead to action if the opportunity is there. This action could be to take it seriously, say, that commanding Nature without doubting will lead to Nature obeying. This is one of the ways Jesus’ teachings encourage faith in the Father. The outcome might be poor if the person doubts and falters. On the other hand, if the person commanding Nature has sufficient refusal to doubt and has a little faith to resist worldly incredulity, and carries through to commanding and waiting for the obedience of Nature itself, by God’s power the result will be good and that person will know the truth of the teaching of Jesus and have the joy of seeing the successful outcome. This experience will need persisting of this faith to remember it honestly and not let worldly attitudes of incredulity cast doubt on it. If the faith endures and persists, that person will then have it available as beneficial experience to help with future situations. If they then hold this faith and experience dear, as something precious, they will perhaps honour highly the teaching of Jesus which taught it to them, and preserve their memory of that teaching. Combining it with other teachings of Jesus, they will realise that their duty is to effectively trade that experience and faith to produce further outcomes, even greater than before. This is like the Parable of the Stewards told by Jesus where the good stewards took what was entrusted to them by their master and put it to work so they had more than before and could please the master by presenting back more than was entrusted. So another situation arises which gives opportunity to command Nature again, and this time it is greater than before. Again a good outcome produces better experience and greater joy. This repeats in ever greater ways. The faith which started small continues to grow. Even greater challenges are now put in their path by the Father to aid this development and move towards the Father’s will as He planned in advance. It might be that Jesus sees this faith in development and that he too contributes to its growth. The Father and Son thus show fellowship with this person following their teachings. Because Jesus is with the Father, even greater things eventually achieved beyond even the works Jesus did in his gospel ministry. The faith now grows to expand the influence of Jesus, and the awareness of other believers and the world to the glory of the Father. It cannot be hidden forever. The world needs this light. Others are encouraged to join in and share in these works of power and love, faith and promise. It then becomes something that might develop similarly in their lives too. It encourages greater credence in the teachings, reputation, and fame of Jesus Christ. These people then have willingness to listen to the preaching and reading aloud of Jesus’ teachings. Some might go on to preach them too. The overall effect is that a following of Jesus, of his teachings, grows and a family of faith appears as more grace is added from the Father and the Son to encourage this growth. It develops into a household of faith of which Jesus is the Lord and the Father is the God. It is all a foretaste of what will happen on an even greater scale in the reign of Jesus Christ for a thousand years when he comes again. This will bring all things into subjection to him, as the Father puts all things under his feet. Then, when it is complete, Jesus will in turn subject himself to the Father forever and the Father will give His Son, Jesus, to rule beside Him on His everlasting throne. 

How I believe the Trinity concept came about

 Here is how I believe the doctrine of the Trinity developed. While this is somewhat speculative, it is an attempt to be as objective as possible with this highly sensitive topic, but I am not a historian nor a theologian. The concept of God as a "being" rather than an individual person (the Father) stems largely from Neoplatonism. Neoplatonist philosophers, who enjoyed applying Plato’s philosophy in new ways, sought to apply it to the nature of God. Using Plato’s Theory of Forms, they derived the idea of God as a "being" in its own right, separate from the Father and the Son. Plato’s Theory of Forms taught that everything that exists also has an ideal form that is purer and more perfect than the physical manifestation. For example, two elephants are imperfect examples of the pure form of an elephant. Neoplatonists applied this method to the newly revealed Father and Son, suggesting that both were imperfect manifestations of a pure form they called "the being of God." This idea eventually evolved into the doctrine of the Trinity.

However, they had to adapt Plato’s Theory of Forms to align it more closely with scripture, as viewing the Father and Son as imperfect would not sit well with Christians. Their philosophical construct of "homoousios" (meaning "of the same substance") was initially successful but its meaning shifted over time since it was a concept that was, in essence, invented. Originally, it was closely linked to Hebrews 1:3, but over time, its meaning moved beyond simply referring to the essence of God. Eventually, the idea of coequality was introduced, which also gained acceptance.

By the time of the Constantinopolitan Creed in 381 AD, the doctrine had begun to contradict scripture, but it had become so widely accepted that the contradictions mattered less. The term "Trinity" had by then become the accepted way to describe three coequal persons within one God-being, and this understanding of God was widely embraced across Christendom. Disputes about the Trinity later contributed to the split between the Eastern and Western churches. The West adopted the doctrine of the Holy Spirit proceeding from both the Father and the Son, while the East held to a "Monarch" doctrine, which emphasized the Father’s supremacy within the Trinity. This led to two distinct concepts of the Trinity.

Not all churches accepted this doctrine, and those that did not were labeled heretical. Islam, of course, developed along a separate path and rejected the Trinity altogether. Later, non-Trinitarian churches and groups, such as Unitarians and Binitarians, developed their own doctrines. Trinitarians, however, largely retained the Neoplatonist terminology, though the meaning of key terms, like "being," continued to evolve.

Today, when members of Trinitarian churches recite the creed, saying that the Son is "of one being with the Father," it is likely that few fully understand what this means. Neoplatonism has faded, yet the creeds remain largely unchanged, even though they are not well understood. Few people, perhaps, realize that there may be contradictions with scripture — apart from those within non-Trinitarian circles.

Light from Father to Son

 The Book of Revelation tells us the light given to the Son is specifically given by the Father at the Father’s pleasure. 

‘The statement that the light given to the Son is specifically granted by the Father at the Father’s pleasure reinforces the doctrine of subordination by suggesting a hierarchical relationship in which the Father is the source of authority and illumination. This implies that the Son is dependent on the Father for certain attributes or functions, aligning with subordinationist views that emphasize the Son’s role as subordinate to the Father in the divine economy. Additionally, the phrase “at the Father’s pleasure” underscores a relational dynamic where the Son's authority is contingent upon the Father’s will, further indicating a subordinate status. Overall, this perspective contrasts with traditional Trinitarian beliefs that emphasize the co-equality of the persons within the Trinity.’ ChatGPT, 2024

Coequality doctrine and church attendance

 Unfortunately, attending certain major liturgical churches often requires congregants to stand and recite a creed that explicitly mentions being 'coequal and consubstantial.' Even in low-church or broad churches, there may still be expectations for any spoken contributions to align with these doctrines. If a church has a lay preaching program, it will likely scrutinize trainees on these points and may eliminate those who do not adhere. Additionally, many nonconformist churches require members to assent to their creed or statement of faith, which typically includes these clauses. Confirmation or baptism classes may also cover these doctrines.

The Constantinople Creed versus Jesus Christ

 Jesus Christ’s statement that the Father is greater than he clearly indicates his subordinate status, contradicting the Trinitarian claim of co-equality among the persons of the Trinity. However, since the Constantinopolitan Creed (381 AD) affirms the doctrine of co-equality, it has been almost universally endorsed by mainstream Christian churches, except, of course, for those that are non-Trinitarian.

The Father is greater than the Son

 In addition to Jesus stating that the Father is greater than he, in 1 Corinthians 15:28, Paul writes: “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” This verse emphasizes that it is the Father who is the source of all things being subjected to the Son. After Christ, the Son, has subdued all things, He will subject Himself to the Father. The passage teaches that Christ, as the Son, remains permanently subject to the Father, affirming a hierarchical relationship where the Father, as the ultimate source and authority, holds supremacy even after Christ’s reign and the completion of His redemptive work.

Platonism and the Trinity doctrine

 The doctrine of the Trinity emerges not as a straightforward adoption of Plato's Theory of Forms, but as a sophisticated attempt to reconcile worldly philosophical concepts with biblical revelation, carefully modifying those ideas to ensure they do not contradict the essence of Scripture. However, contradictions do arise, particularly concerning the notions of co-equality and consubstantiality among the Persons of the Trinity.

The Father is greater than the Son

 It is utterly shocking that among fairly mainstream or well-known religious groups, Unitarians, Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs), and Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are among the few that officially accept a subordinationist view, where the Father is seen as greater than the Son, in contrast to the mainstream Christian doctrine of the Trinity. So gong to church might be a problem for many who decide to truly follow Christ, since Christ says “the Father is greater than Son”.

The clouds of heaven

 What is the meaning of the clouds in which the Son of Man is seen to come and will one day so gloriously come? They are clouds. Real clouds. Things normally only heaven controls, not us. Yet he controls by his word of faith and they obey. And he teaches us to do the same. Then, to encourage those who do, he comes in the power of the control of them, and he controls what he teaches us to control. It is real. It is also a symbol of power and authority over the aspects of nature normally beyond the control of man. Even now no President by virtue of being President could prevent the mightiest hurricane Milton destroying all in its path. Yet the power of the word of faith, in commanding the hurricane, weakened it so it was a mighty storm, yet a storm and no more the mightiest hurricane. He comes in the clouds because it is his the power of his teachings which is revealed by the power of commands of faith in operation in the clouds. It is a mark of his overall power. No angel nor god can intervene and separate that faith from the Father who welcomes it. This is how it is between Father and Son. This is how it is between a friend of the Son and the Father. Love from the Father fulfils the faith, as with Jesus so with his disciple. The clouds that enshroud, enshrine, and thinly veil Jesus are waiting to welcome the saints made perfect, made immortal by Jesus. This is the clouds and their symbolism. 

The tiny baby now becoming Lord over all

 Revelation shows how the tiny baby person can end up Lord over all and the tiniest faith when used can become the mightiest power.

Even when Jesus was a young man, the power of his words of faith could calm a storm, and now he has had millennia of using his voice in power, and he is about ready to start his reign. Moses started with his hand turning leprous then clean again and ended up with his staff raised commanding the sea to part and might have gone on to do even mightier things, but he started smiting with the staff instead of commanding the rock to give water, and it was all curtailed by God. Jesus did not stop and did not ever sin so he went on to greater and greater things, as his followers did along with him, and still do today. Command, don’t smite. That is the moral of all this. God wants those of faith to prefer to be vocal in their commanding rather than violent. It is a revelation of how God prefers to work. Then there are great things ahead, as the master of all of this, who himself started small and grows ever mightier as Lord, he is starting to reveal his power to men who see that power as the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven. One day he will receive those of faith and saintliness right there in the clouds of heaven, making all of  these immortal like himself. Then the powers of the coming age will be rolled out in full. We see but pilot rollouts right now on a much smaller scale, although even these are getting greater and greater as the time gets near. Soon the full power and justice will be rolled out, to do away with sin, and do away with rebellion, and create a root of righteousness, and bring all things into subjection on behalf of the Father. It will go on, at this full power setting for a thousand years. It is a good time to follow the Lord and Master of all of this, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Impression of the Holy Spirit

 I find the Holy Spirit is unlike a person in that he/it can be in many places at once, yet in all these places be like a person, all at once. And not necessarily humanlike, except with qualities we find quite human such as speech. And taking all sorts of forms, both animate and inanimate. So really Father and Son are persons, while Holy Spirit is something/someone different. Yet they work together, as do believers. Human persons are in the image of the Father, but not in the image of the Holy Spirit. 

Possibly an early indication of Trinity thinking in the New Testament

 I can only find one example in scripture of grouping the Father and the Son together in a way that, through parallelism, equates having both with having God, though they are not explicitly called 'God' or 'Divinity' collectively. 2 John v9 “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” It, in the words of ChatGPT, ‘contains elements that align with Trinitarian thinking, particularly in how the Father and Son are presented in relation to "having God," but it stops short of fully expressing the doctrine. It could be viewed as part of the scriptural foundation upon which the doctrine of the Trinity was later built.’

What spirit are you of?

 If we have doctrines unacceptable to most Christians, and probably different to those of the apostles, we should try to discern whether there is a spirit associated with these doctrines and our adherence to them. Some doctrinal adherents have a common influence I would call a spirit because it seems to be independent of individuals, yet distinct from what is evident in the apostles. I think maybe there is a subtle distinction between a person’s own opinions and the teachings which “inspire” them, and the resulting spirit that such inspiration has given them. I think we all at times have inspiration from external influences affecting our thoughts, leanings, words. It is important to try to discern what kind of influences and how externally there may be a spirit of some kind behind this. That is how, like David said, we wrestle with our thoughts and like David prayed, pray “renew a right spirit within me”. We must also recognise that others are influenced and wrestle in these ways too.

ChatGPT on the connection between war hawk NeoConservatives in the U.S. Bible Belt and the pretribulation rapture doctrine

 The connection between war hawk NeoConservatives in the U.S. Bible Belt and the pretribulation rapture doctrine can be understood through a shared worldview that intertwines religion, politics, and eschatology. NeoCons in this region often support aggressive foreign policy, especially regarding Israel and the Middle East, viewing military action as not only necessary for national security but also as a moral imperative to safeguard what they see as Western, Judeo-Christian values. The Bible Belt, heavily influenced by Evangelical Christianity, is home to millions who adhere to the pretribulation rapture doctrine, which teaches that believers will be taken to heaven before a period of great tribulation on Earth. This eschatological view fosters a unique interpretation of current events, particularly conflicts in the Middle East, where many believe that biblical prophecies are unfolding, making the region a spiritual battleground.

For many Bible Belt Christians, support for Israel and interventionist policies can be tied to the belief that the modern state of Israel plays a key role in biblical prophecy, particularly the events leading to the rapture and second coming of Christ. NeoConservatives, many of whom support an assertive U.S. presence in the Middle East, find a natural ally in those Christians who see U.S. military action as fulfilling God's plan. The belief that the restoration of Israel and its protection is divinely ordained means that any threat to Israel, whether from neighboring nations or broader geopolitical instability, is seen as a threat to the fulfillment of prophecy. In this way, NeoConservative war hawks may garner support from religious voters who view foreign conflicts not merely in terms of national interests, but as part of a larger, cosmic struggle between good and evil that must be resolved before Christ’s return.

Additionally, the pretribulation rapture doctrine creates a sense of urgency and expectation among believers that the world is on the cusp of an apocalyptic climax. This urgency may translate into a heightened willingness to support military interventions, especially when they can be framed as a necessary defense of God's chosen people (Israel) or as actions that could potentially hasten the return of Christ. For NeoConservatives, this religious backing provides not only a moral and ideological justification for foreign interventions but also a reliable base of political support. War hawks within this context might appeal to the apocalyptic mindset by emphasizing the existential threats posed by enemies of the U.S. and Israel, casting the nation's military actions as part of a divine mandate to protect freedom and fight evil, dovetailing with pretribulation expectations of the "final battle" scenarios foretold in Scripture. Thus, geopolitics and theology become deeply intertwined, with each feeding the other in a self-reinforcing loop of ideological conviction and political action.

ChatGPT, 2024 

Transcendent Love

 Revelation tells of saints from all kinds of backgrounds all having washed their robes, standing before the throne of God (the Father), and before the Lamb. 

The Father’s love transcends denominational or non-denominational boundaries. Even moral boundaries. He loves people of various kinds of ethical codes and moral standards. He truly loves individuals we might think are outsiders. The love of the Father is the root of righteousness because it is that love by which He adopts some to be His children and to whom He shows His great mercy. 

The Lamb, the Son, Jesus, is so like his Father. He too show this kind of love transcending boundaries. He took in a tax collector as an apostle, plus a Zealot too. Opposite in their moral codes and outlooks. Then Paul, a Christian-persecuting Pharisee, full of principles on how to keep the law but utterly devoid of love towards Jesus and his apostles. Peter had to try to get along with Paul and they had their differences, but none differed with Paul as much as James the Just. Jesus showed love across the boundaries of what each of these lived my, plus he took under his wing some prostitutes, adulteresses, Samaritans, eventually even Romans. They all found refuge in his love under his wings of grace. He said, to the consternation of the Jews, “I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.” (Luke 4:25-26)

Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles, to Greeks, and he and others since him went to all kinds of people in all kinds of backgrounds. It is this transcendent love which unites those the Father adopts, and Jesus calls, and it provides the basis for keeping God’s commandments in how each treats and regards each other, with truth guiding all these ways. It is this love by which God sent His Son as light to guide life, and as provision for sin by death on a cross, and as eternal Lord and Christ by resurrection from the dead. This is the true root of faith and righteous living from the Father, mirrored in His beloved Son. 

Oneness Pentecostals

 The way Oneness adherents speak about Jesus and about whether, and in what sense, they believe he is the Son of God — the words and logic they use to express it — it is not like how the apostle John, say, in his epistles wrote about believing Jesus is the Son of God. John must have had a different kind of spirit and trusted a different version of teachings. Some Oneness adherents clearly have a different spirit and they preach a different Jesus to Jesus known from the preaching of John, Paul, Jude, James, Peter, Luke, Mark, Matthew and the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews. John, Peter, Jude, James, Matthew, Mark, Paul had all met Jesus and most of them had spent years with him. It is these that Jesus sent out as those who knew him. Theirs is a very different way of describing how they believed Jesus is the Son of God. It is very different to how many Oneness adherents describe Jesus as Son of God. If Oneness adherents, especially the Pentecostals, claim to be born again of the spirit, the question is surely WHICH spirit. What spirit and what teachings?

If you stop pedalling you fall off

 The dire lake of fire warning message of Revelation is backed up in other scriptures. It incentivises a greater effort to get completely free, like an animal escaping a trap. The usual path of faith is to hear about Jesus and through his teachings, accepted in faith, to get to know him a little. The little knowledge of his promises helps to get free from the corrupting influences of the world around us. This little bit of freedom starts to show in how life is lived. The knowledge of the truth of Jesus grows to improve understanding of his teachings. Virtues start to form in the life of the person who starts to put his teachings into practice. It grows as his promises give greater freedom from the bad influences around. There might be experiences of the love of the Father, and gifts of receiving the Holy Spirit. The faith comes to fruition in doing great things through Jesus, greater and greater as the tiny mustard seed of faith grows into a large plant, when the faith is carried through into actions. The corrupt life lived previously diminishes. But then as interactions with certain kinds of people grow, the tendency is to be lured back into corruption. These are the false believers, false pastors, the ones who themselves were lured back and gave in completely, or simply those who speak without understanding and perhaps pass on bad versions of the truth. The words are corrupting but even more so these people’s behaviour. Now the truth of the lake of fire warning message of Revelation can intervene before things unravel too much. As too do other scriptures with similar warnings such as Jude and 2 Peter. The warning is that the ones duped by these false teachers, false believers, badly behaving Christians, can suffer the same fate as them. The lake of fire. This incentivises a greater effort to get completely free, like an animal escaping a trap. For some it can be enough. Deepening the knowledge of Jesus and his promises, and earnestly seeking to do works as he did and even greater than he did, this strengthens the resistance to the bad influences. But be warned. These influences, if they win even after grace has manifested as miracles and great works like Jesus’ own works, it can get to a point that there is nothing left as a life line. We must be earnest in adding to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control perseverance, and to perseverance godliness, and to godliness kindness, and to kindness love. If you stop pedalling, you fall off.

The Mixing Zone

 In a river meeting the sea there is what is called a mixing zone, where the fresh water meets the salt water. Some seabirds like to fish in this zone, sometimes also called a salt zone. The reason for this is because the mixing of salt and fresh water causes a turbulence of forces, chemicals and lifeforms. This results in a large range of fish. I suggest right now in October 2024 we are in a metaphorical mixing zone. The future events of Revelation such as the Beast and its 666 mark are starting to form like the sea water of a metaphorical ocean. At the same time major events are flowing into these future events. Elections in USA. BRICS summit. Wars. It is all turmoil. Like the sea tossing. Eventually out of the turmoil will come the first Beast. Right now it is confusing. Events of today might have no bearing on apocalyptic evens of tomorrow, but the way things take shape will be chaotic. Eventually the events which become most significant are those which will become the backdrop to everything foretold in the lead up to Christ coming. How it happens is not clear in this mixing time.  

Mediator

 When God came upon the Earth in Revelation, earth and sky fled from His presence. The sky will roll up like a scroll because of the glory of God. God is terrifying. The terror was first seen like this by the Israelites back during their Exodus and receiving of the law. Sinai was ablaze. No animal touching the mountain could be allowed to live, as God came down upon it. The Israelites begged Moses to not only to prophesy for God but also to mediate, positioning himself between them and God. This was because Moses was not as terrifying as God. They were told that one day another like Moses would come. This prophet like Moses would need to be less terrifying than God. Not himself God. Human, like the people. Jesus is seen in Revelation as frightening as he treads the winepress of the wrath of God, comes in the clouds, and rides in the lead of the armies of God, but he is not as terrifying as God. He is human: The immortal resurrected human Lord. He will be there soon to rule all people and all things, yet less terrifying in doing so than God, the Father, Himself would be. Then he will rule forever beside the Father on the Father’s throne. That will be because humans, even when resurrected immortal, will need a human on the throne. The Father, the only true God, will forever have even the Son subject to Him, but humans will be able to relate to God via Lord Jesus, the Christ, the man forever mediating with God. 

The Father’s Love

 It is important to know the Father’s love transcends denominational or non-denominational boundaries. Even moral boundaries. He loves people of various kinds of ethical codes and moral standards. He truly loves individuals we might think are outsiders. The love of the Father is the root of righteousness because it is that love by which He adopts some to be His children and to whom He shows His great mercy. It is this love which unites those He adopts and provides the basis for keeping commandments in how each treats and regards each other, with truth guiding all these ways. It is this love by which He sent His Son as light to guide life, and as provision for sin by death on a cross, and as eternal Lord and Christ by resurrection from the dead. This is the true root of faith and righteous living from the Father. 

The Father and the Name of His Son

 The name of the Lord Jesus Christ—His reputation, His authority, His ways, and what He stands for—holds such immense power that it forms the foundation of the very order of Nature itself. From the beginning, when all was yet to be, the Father foresaw the future, including the rise of rebellion among the angelic hosts who were meant to govern His creation. Anticipating this, God established the name of His Son as a radiant force of virtue, one that would stabilize the workings of the universe even before the world was formed. His name became the cornerstone upon which the laws of Nature were set, causing trees to grow and planets to orbit in their courses. However, it is not known that God established Christ’s name for this purpose alone. The Father foresaw far beyond our times, to a future where His Son would share the throne over all things forever, including Nature itself. Long before the fall of angels made His name desperately needed, Christ’s name already existed in glory, woven into the fabric of creation to uphold its harmony, while anticipating the greater fulfillment of His reign over all creation in the fullness of time.

Since the 1990s

 The 1990s. The eagle was overhead. Israel has sinned, said the word of God. There was some major sin happening which elicited a huge heavenly response. Overhead the eagle was no mere visionary symbol of sin on the ground, but manifested as mass surveillance unprecedented in history, especially in two nations: UK and USA. Israel was pitching in with the huge scale surveillance too. Helicopters of a new kind of police service began watching the ground with searchlights and cameras. The new Internet came to the fore and the WorldWideWeb took off, and with it the infamous monitoring of search histories, with honey traps coining the word clickbait. Cameras started appearing on busy street corners. Later even microphones were added and they started to be hidden inside street lights and under roads. UK became the most monitored country in the world: So ironic after the Soviet ‘Police State’ Union had just crumbled. Spy planes were sent out into the Balkans, and maybe Iraq and maybe even Iran: Key territories in the emerging apocalyptic geopolitical landscape (watch this space). Spying satellites proliferated. What had happened? Why the plague of ‘hawks’? It will eventually come to light. Yet a glimmer of light is already shining on two key areas of probable cause. The child abuse era was beginning. Cover-ups were becoming commonplace. Priests were the high profile cases, but leaders in other Christian groups were equally guilty. If that was carrying on in the church, how much more in the secular world, as we saw with high profile media cases, celebrities, royals, politicians, and as we see captured in movies such as the Traffic series. The other area is possibly, although it is only recently emerging due to Easter Europe troubles, the morally suspect appeasement of the various parts of the breaking up Soviet Union in the 1990s. Toleration of oligarchs in the West, on one hand. Appeasement of the ultra nationalists, on the other. Complicity. Outright collaboration. I feel sure more of the information about this will come to light soon, albeit as top secret documents perhaps reach the end of their classified period. This might be why heaven shone its eagle light on UK, and USA, and is shining it still and the foreboding of war keeps on looming. “Israel has sinned”, says the Lord. The eagle is overhead. 

Bible Belt Puritan Roots

 The Brethren grew out of the disillusioned of the Church of England who wanted to separate church and state. But still very much Puritan rooted. Hence it found such synergy in USA. USA treated Darby, a former Church of England clergyman, as an untouchable cult leader. Even his peer cofounders of the Brethren would not openly confront him over his heresies. They simply wrote pamphlets about it. Now today the attitude towards him remains, but the Brethren distance themselves from such roots by trying to be non-denominational, cloaking their roots. Of course, these principles in USA far exceed Brethren boundaries, going into all Bible Belt territory under guise of Schofield Bible and Moody Bible Institute, but behind it all is still a cult reverence for Darby, an unquestioned, unaccountable false teacher. Hence the pervasiveness of Pre-tribulation Rapture doctrines. 

Cleaning things up in time

 There are kinds of trouble in churches today which can go on for many decades. However, right now, there aren’t many decades left. Not much time to clean things up, but if we don’t we can end up in the lake of fire. In the earliest days of churches there was much more time to try to fix things, but also more time for things to go wrong. Back in the very beginning things were pure and innocent, once people, through Jesus, escaped bad ways. But always there were then the corrupters who spoilt it all and also introduced false doctrines. It is no different today. A church or assembly can be going fine, even being blessed with gifts of the Holy Spirit. Then corrupters spoil it all. They get people behaving badly again. They fill peoples heads with erroneous doctrines. They get a kick out of it. The false doctrines they left behind in the past are still here many decades later. Probably this is because they did not only introduce heresies, but they corrupted the people, including the pastors and teachers, turning people back to the bad ways they had given up when they turned to Christ. These then in turn were tempted to derive gain and get kicks out of persisting the falsehoods, and corrupting others. That could account for all the strange doctrines around today, but also all the bad, unchristian behaviour. It all goes hand in hand. Bad corrupted behaviour; bad corrupted doctrines. And there is not much time left, not enough, to fix it before Jesus Christ comes again. What will the Master say and do? It won’t be nice. For some the tribulation might be the opportunity to clean those robes, so to speak: To find that the same devotion needed to endure the tribulation and not take the mark, is the same devotion that helps spur things on with cleaning up behaviour and doctrine before the Christ comes. “Those who have suffered in the flesh have done with sin.” “Arm yourselves with this same attitude.”

The Living Temple of God

 The glorious Bride in Revelation. Metaphor of the living temple body of Christ. Temple and body are metaphors too. Yet metaphorical words for the living reality. Build the Temple. It means turn humans into individual temples which combine into temple circles of individuals which combine into one big temple over all time, which is the body of Christ. Revelation foresees this resurrected, raptured and all gathered into one and calls this the Bride. What then does it entail to build the temple. At an individual level it means to turn someone into a temple which is a person who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and then to lovingly build up this person to someone blessed, growing — physically, spiritually, mentally, and in wisdom — and perpetually functional as a living temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in uplifting and upholding the reputation of the Father and the Son. At meeting level it means gathering such people together, at times together in one place, and otherwise together in spirit even when not in body, and seeing that these fulfil tasks given each one by God to lovingly build up the temple at its various levels. At a wider level, it means to keep all of these temple circles of temple individuals combined into one, even one over time too, since even those who sleep in Christ (deceased members of the overall temple) are part of the one body of Christ. Members are across continents, and countries, religions, churches and denominations, even across centuries of time. It is one metaphorical body. The metaphorical Bride for Jesus Christ the Bridegroom. A living Temple of God. Now, without the Holy Spirit, is it even a temple? It is vital to find how to lay on hands and preach well the good message of the God-given gospel to open the way for the Holy Spirit to descend on people and indwell them. It was once only through apostles. Then elders were appointed and hands laid on them initially by the apostles. In some parts of the world there has been a continuous succession of this down the centuries such that the Holy Spirit indwelling people and manifesting miraculously has not diminished, and is kept ongoing by monastic and mystic traditional practices. The wise virgins out of the parable ten. For those who know the parable. It all diminished over the centuries among West tradition churches. The West’s Protestant denominations and Brethren traditions considered it to have ceased altogether and formed doctrines around this observation. Somehow Pentecostals saw it return. Many Pentecostals now in the West again have the Holy Spirit miraculously manifesting in people, (even descending visibly onto them, the Holy Spirit has been noticed). Baptising of believers may have contributed to this in an important way, but renewed faith in the renewed gospel message, also discerning appointment of elders and laying on of hands upon them, all contributes. The lamps are lit again. The challenge now is to store the extra supply of oil so if they go out or run low on oil, in the metaphor of the ten virgins parable, they can be lit again when the Bridegroom comes. Those blessed with the Holy Spirit in the West are learning from the East and the Orient tradition churches and setting aside equivalent groups to the monastic and mystical orders, of those with the Holy Spirit to learn to build up spare oil supplies, inspiringly worded gospel messages, accounts, songs, hymns, practices, stories, to reignite future failing lamps. There are communities of such people in such groups as those who write many worship songs. Songs from such groups sung in churches can all help to inspire the worshippers. It is all for the building up of the living Temple of God. 

Obedience to Jesus’ Commands

 Jesus wants us to obey his commands, remembering them, learning them, applying them in a context of his body of believers once we are baptised. Revelation makes this clear too. It is not easy, but he wants us to overcome the problems and have constancy despite problems. Constantly keeping his commands. What then are his commands. What did Jesus and his apostles teach about them? Mainly they apply the ten commandments, in a way which gives light about God’s will within the body of Christ. Paul taught about it, in his Epistle to the Ephesians especially. Jesus, as found in the gospels. John in his three epistles. James taught about how to apply them. So did Peter in his epistles. Jesus taught even more in his letters to the seven churches found in Revelation. We first need to believe in Jesus, that he is the true light to our lives sent by the Father, and be baptised into his ways and teachings and eternal life promise. Then we are to learn these commands based on the ten commandments and the light of Jesus in how the Father’s will shall be done among us and individually by us too. There are ways to pray. There is a way to give, with utmost virtue. There are reasons to learn to tell the truth. The importance of never coveting is especially underlined in being free of sexual immorality. We are to live faithfully if we are married, with no adultery. Anger must be managed to avert sin, such as violence and unjust hatred. Teachings surrounding such things as these and more are given to support us in the details, and throughout all the teachings there is a theme of living truthfully, honestly, because it is knowledge of the truth that frees us to obey. Our lives must be consistent with truth, without hypocrisy. Going far away from these commands, leaving the straight and narrow, is so very risky because Revelation warns us there is a lake of fire end for all liars, murderers, idolaters, and so on. Embracing Lord Jesus’ commands averts this risk. This obedience, and the faith leading to it, leads to eternal life, and leads to us not dying in such sinfulness. Instead the commands and other teachings lead to NOT being a liar, NOT being a murderer, NOT being an adulterer, and so on. Church discipline within the body of Christ helps too, contributing to dealing with gross departures from what is right, and from this way of Christ. Prayer for each other, if we see each other straying, is important too. The Lord is alive forever, to intercede, and he is right beside the Father who can restore us to life. It is all so that we end up in the City of the New Jerusalem and not in the lake of fire. It is all so we can forever live in fellowship with Father, Son, and each other. The Father and Son make themselves known personally to those who hold to these commands, because doing this is how we show love towards the Father and the Son, and they in turn show love towards us. God bless you if you follow this way.

Three Crosses

 CROSS CROSS CROSS 

Three crosses, with Jesus Christ right in the middle.

In the middle Jesus the reconciler. On one side a rejector. On the other side an acceptor. 

The cross of Christ is for your reconciliation with God.

Lying habit? You need this. Anger issues? You need this. Drug lifestyle? You need this. We all need this. We need freedom from such wrongful ways. They enslave us. The Son sets free from such slavery. He paid this heavy price. God sent him to do it. Hope for you exists. Reach out for it and let it in. Believe in Jesus. God raised him from the dead. Hold to his teachings throughout your life, so you do not die in any of those wrongful ways. Others might hate to do this, in dread of adhering to the traditions of the ways of Jesus. Find the true ways of Jesus and base your life on reality. It is rock. The storms of life will leave you still standing and secure if you find Jesus’ true teachings and build your life on them. Be his true disciple this way. The promise at the end is the eternal life only he can give. He gives it to his true disciples. 

Benefitting eternally from teachings of Jesus

 If we want to benefit from sayings of Jesus we have to put aside our pride and accept that, in the case of eternity issues, we do need to adhere to some historic teachings: the teachings of Jesus and of those he sent, and truly Holy Spirit-given teachings. Rejecting them and substituting home-grown teachings might help identity but is not a way to life. 

Will those who are “playing church” be raptured? Really?

 ChatGPT hitting close to the mark, but cheeky, except it is not cheeky since it is artificial. Sorry if this is not applicable to you. But in terms of who we think will get raptured, whenever that happens, it is surely very relevant. 

“Yes, the comparison of contemporary expressions of faith in American Christianity to live-action role play (LARP) is quite apt, particularly regarding the emphasis on emotional engagement versus historical or doctrinal fidelity. In this analogy, the practice of LARPing provides participants with an immersive, entertaining experience that allows for creativity and emotional expression, much like how modern church practices often prioritize engaging worship services, charismatic preaching, and personal testimonies that evoke strong feelings.

While LARPing can have educational benefits, such as fostering teamwork and storytelling skills, its primary appeal often lies in the emotional enjoyment and the fun of stepping into a character's role. Similarly, many contemporary Christians may find modern worship and teachings to be more emotionally stimulating and enjoyable compared to a more traditional or historical approach, which might be perceived as less dynamic or engaging.

In contrast, the "real thing"—representative of historical or traditional practices—might involve more structured teachings, communal accountability, and in-depth theological discussions that could be seen as less entertaining or emotionally fulfilling. Just as LARPing provides an opportunity for imaginative escape and excitement, contemporary worship experiences can create an environment where individuals feel uplifted and connected to others on an emotional level, potentially at the expense of deeper theological reflection or historical accuracy.

Thus, while both forms can provide educational value, the focus on emotional engagement and entertainment in modern expressions of faith may lead some believers to prefer these experiences over those that require more serious reflection and commitment, mirroring the dynamics seen in role-playing scenarios. This emphasis on emotional fulfillment can overshadow the pursuit of authentic spiritual practices that reflect the teachings and communal life of the early church, much like how participants in LARPing may prioritize fun and creativity over strict adherence to historical accuracy.” (ChatGPT, 2024)

Hardly the makings of saints who get raptured while others are left behind. “Playing church”, as it’s called.

Hosea 8 as leaders are appointed

 From Hosea 8, it is a big deal how we appoint leaders and how we involve God in that. Getting it wrong in God’s eyes means we endure trouble on the ground as the eagle soars overhead. This is not about the Revelation wrath, but the year after year blessing and wrath of pleasing or displeasing God. Events of wrath later will come which are preplanned by God very long ago, while events of today may dovetail into the wrath to come later. How do we make good? We cannot change God’s plans. Furthermore the Hosea 8 eagle overhead is probably there to stay now. Happily, we can individually learn to believe the light of Christ Jesus and hold to the light of his teachings so we do not die in our sins. Yet many will die in their sins. That eagle will stay in the sky. Foreboding. Watching. Leaders will be appointed poorly. Wars will carry on being waged. Birth pangs will increase. Surely it will mostly be because believers in Christ fail to see the importance of the teachings of Christ and adhering to them constantly. It is not all down to unbelievers. The household of faith has sinned. The Lord of the household is Jesus. Holding to his teachings is vital, and is the path to light and life. His teachings are prevalent in the Book of Revelation. We do well to heed them and take them to heart. The war and surveillance eagle overhead is the sign. 

Prerequisites to Bible Teaching

 I was introduced to Bible stories before I could even read. Once I learned to read, I began reading those same stories on my own, from a Children’s Bible, with my mother, before I ever started formal reading lessons. At a young age, I was given my own Bible and started reading it and trying to understand it. I didn’t attend church sermons until later, by which time I had already developed a modest understanding of the Bible. This was largely due to my parents—my mother was a Sunday school teacher, and my father was a minister—so my upbringing was unusual. As a result, I quickly recognized when certain doctrines weren’t biblical after hearing them. Some teachings, however, did mislead me, like the pre-tribulation rapture. Although I was skeptical of it as a teenager, I didn’t realize it was unbiblical until more recently. Understanding the various prophecies involved comprehensively is daunting. Nobody in church was interested in examining it. I did not become aware of the miraculous personally until my teens, a while after my baptism. My grandparents had been Pentecostal missionaries and told me stories of miracles when I was young, but my understanding before my teens of the power of God in my own experience was not from miracles as such but from frequent answers to prayer. I heard stories of such prayer answers in stories of George Muller too, who was famous for his faith and God’s provision in the orphanages Muller ran in my home town and nearby. God worked a miracle in my teens after my commitment to following the teachings of Jesus. Even now it is great to learn from such things, how deeply the miraculous from God can teach lessons. Later I learned to use faith miraculously from hearing Jesus’ teachings about faith. Later still I found the miraculous in a gift of interpretation given me in an Assemblies of God church. I realised the Cessationism of some people in my previous churches had been incorrect. Most people don’t have this kind of early and deep exposure to the miraculous and the Bible; for many, Bible knowledge isn’t a major focus in their education, and that’s fine since they don’t expect to teach or make important decisions based on it. They hardly even hear of miracles in the real miraculous sense. The issue arises when individuals with limited Bible knowledge try to teach or take on roles that require a deeper understanding. That's when problems emerge. Pretribulation rapture doctrine seems to be a result of inadequate knowledge among teachers. 

End Times Progressive Revelation

 In his initial gospel ministry, Jesus seemed to shift focus away from divinely timed and sequenced End Time events such as those foretold in the book of Daniel, and emphasised the need for constant vigilance and spiritual readiness. It was then later that Paul and John received revelations reaffirming the prophetic sequence of events. I take these later revelations given to Jesus, then Paul and John, as additional to Jesus’ sayings about vigilance, not a substitute for them. Paul and John’s revelations about the sequence of events was still part of the light of Jesus. The Holy Spirit takes from what is Jesus’ and makes it known to disciples, especially to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus receives revelations before his apostles, as the Book of Revelation makes clear. Did Jesus maybe not receive those revelations until after his ascension? Maybe. Maybe he had less to go on when he said he could return at any time. Daniel prophecy and what was known to Jesus might have left it open until the Father showed Jesus more revelations later. It might have come as new to Jesus before Paul received them and John too.

To non-denominational churches

 Many churches of a “progressive” kind are calling themselves non-denominational, but are still “Darbyists”, following the teachings of John Darby, such as Dispensationalism, Premillennialism and Pre-Tribulation Rapture, Separation from the World, Cessationism, Literal Interpretation of Scripture, and Darbyist Ecclesiology.  It affects what you expect from church. No amount of progressiveness changes this. Only when a person learns that the main thing is to keep remembering what Jesus said and let it be guide of future actions, only then does the real change start to progress. Letting in the light. Cleaning what the light shows up as dirty. Receiving the truth, and being set free by Jesus, the world’s true light. Fair warning: Holding onto Darby teachings hinders all this. Learn to let go and let in the Christ light. 

Liars

 Jesus says anyone who is a liar is an imitator of Satan and is a slave to lying. In Rev 21:8 it says how liars end up.

Believers sin

 Believers sin. Believers have to hold to the teachings of Jesus, or else they stay slaves to sin. Notice there is nothing in the Rich Man and Lazarus teachings of Jesus about the rich man not being a believer. There is nothing about the poor man Lazarus being a believer. The man Lazarus simply suffered a lot. The rich man lived luxuriously. If a believer lives luxuriously, as some do, they end up with all their good things in this life. Not all believers take heed of such teachings. Many hate such wisdom because it deprives them of their good feelings about living luxuriously and makes them feel guilty about ignoring the poor, neglecting the poor. Comfortable believers who ignore these teachings end up like the rich man. They need to hold to the teachings of Jesus. Ideally starting early in life so as not to have all their good things in this life. You reap what you sow, even if you are a believer. 

Knowing the Truth

 It is often pointed out that there is a danger when we try to relying solely on scripture. It is not necessarily the scriptures we are relying on, but rather our understanding of them, or our leaders’ understanding of them. Someone might convince us to just accept the words in the text, and that if we try to take it literally, we can get a sense of assurance that we are truly relying on the scripture itself. Yet, even this is an understanding, albeit a more literal one. It is the spirit of what is written that matters, not the letter. Yet, even here, we need to use discernment to understand how the writer intended us to read the passage. The answer? Jesus promised a great promise. If we simply trust that he is the light of the world sent by the Father, we can dedicate ourselves, permanently, to letting his light shine in the sayings of Jesus and those he sent, holding to them in the best sense we can, we can let the promise do the rest: The promise that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. The Son setting us free is the Son’s truth coming to us. It comes in various ways, but it comes with his intention of it setting us free. Then if the Son sets us free, we shall be free indeed. That is the promise.

Non-denominational Trust

 In discussions centered around dispensationalism, end times, and the interpretation of the Book of Revelation, there is often a fervent commitment to sola scriptura that can lead to both insightful theological exploration and significant pitfalls. While this zeal for Scripture can enhance understanding of biblical prophecy and doctrine, it may also result in a narrow application that inadvertently contributes to serious issues, including the evasion of accountability in cases of misconduct and abuse. 

The principle of sola scriptura, which emphasizes Scripture as the sole authority in matters of faith and practice, can contribute to the covering up of serious crimes like child abuse in certain contexts, particularly when it is misapplied or becomes a shield against accountability. While sola scriptura asserts that Scripture is sufficient for guiding believers' lives, some groups may interpret this to mean that all matters, including interpersonal conflicts and legal issues, should be resolved internally based on scriptural principles alone. This misinterpretation can lead to a reluctance to involve civil authorities, especially in cases of abuse, and in some instances, assemblies might prioritize their interpretation of Scripture over legal obligations to report abuse, believing they can handle situations according to biblical principles without external intervention. This dynamic can foster a culture of secrecy where church members feel outside influences, such as law enforcement and social services, are unwelcome or unnecessary, resulting in serious issues being kept secret to protect the assembly's reputation. In their desire to maintain institutional integrity, some churches may inadvertently prioritize protecting the community over addressing abuses, leading to cover-ups. Furthermore, if a church promotes sola scriptura while failing to adhere to principles of justice, accountability, and care for the vulnerable, it creates a glaring hypocrisy that is likely to be noticed by the outside community, eroding trust and leading to public outrage. Such inconsistencies raise serious questions about the integrity of the church's interpretation of Scripture, complicating their ability to engage effectively with the broader society and leaving long-lasting effects on the church's reputation. When communities witness a church ignoring or covering up abuse, it can make it difficult for the church to rebuild trust with current and potential members, as survivors of abuse may feel betrayed by a community that claims to uphold biblical values but fails to protect its most vulnerable members. To address these challenges, there must be an acknowledgment that sola scriptura does not exempt churches from legal and moral obligations to protect the vulnerable. Emphasizing the need for accountability and external oversight can help bridge the gap between scriptural authority and societal responsibility, promoting open discussions about the challenges of interpreting sola scriptura in a modern context, particularly regarding accountability and justice. By grappling with how their understanding of Scripture informs their actions and policies related to safeguarding vulnerable individuals, churches can work to rebuild trust and demonstrate a commitment to the values they profess.

By Stephen D Green / worded by ChatGPT, 2024

After Death

 The question of what happens after death and how individuals are judged has long been a source of intrigue and debate across religious traditions. In Christianity, the teachings of Jesus, particularly in parables such as the one about the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), provide some insight into the afterlife but leave many specifics unexplained. Unlike ancient Egyptian texts, such as the Book of the Dead or Pyramid Texts, which offer detailed descriptions of the judgment process—like the weighing of the heart against the feather of Ma’at—Jesus’ teachings focus more on moral and ethical living than on the mechanics of divine judgment. He emphasizes the importance of compassion, warning that neglecting the poor can have dire consequences, as illustrated by the rich man who ignored Lazarus’ suffering. While Jesus refers to existing scriptures as sufficient guidance for righteous living, he does not delve deeply into the nature of divine judgment, leading many to perceive a gap in Christian teachings compared to other religions, such as Islam, which outlines a structured view of the afterlife and judgment day. This lack of detail has left some believers feeling perplexed, viewing the afterlife as an "unsolved riddle" of sorts. In contrast to more vivid portrayals of hell found in works like Dante’s Inferno, which, while imaginative, reflect conjecture rather than divine revelation, the New Testament invites reflection on moral behavior in the present rather than a preoccupation with the specifics of what lies beyond. The emphasis remains on living a life of faith, love, and charity, trusting in God's justice and mercy. This approach encourages believers to focus on their actions in this life—like sharing with the poor and cultivating humility—while recognizing that the full nature of the afterlife may remain mysterious until the hereafter. Ultimately, the interplay between faith, ethical living, and the hope of divine judgment invites ongoing spiritual reflection and encourages a life oriented towards compassion and service, even amidst uncertainty.

Stephe D Green / ChatGPT, 2024 

End Times

 There will be no rapture of the living saints in Christ until the deceased saints in Christ are first raised from the dead, and this resurrection will not occur until after a period of tribulation involving the man of lawlessness, as revealed in the writings of Paul. However, I also recognize that Jesus deliberately shifted the focus away from pinpointing the exact timing of these events—such as those foretold in the book of Daniel—and instead emphasized the need for constant watchfulness and spiritual readiness. This creates an ongoing tension between the prophetic sequence of events and the call to live with the expectation that Christ could return at any moment. Some today may attempt to resolve this tension by introducing an additional rapture before the final resurrection, but I view this as a distortion of biblical teaching. Rather than trying to force a worldly solution that sidesteps the complexity of these revelations, we should approach this tension with a more spiritual mindset. We are called to trust in God’s timing, remain vigilant, and maintain our focus on living faithfully in the present, balancing the teachings of Jesus and his apostles without compromising the integrity of Scripture. It was later that Paul and John received revelations reaffirming the prophetic sequence of events. This I take as additional to Jesus’ sayings about vigilance, not a substitute for them.

Further Clarification of Key Worldly Heresies in Western Tradition Christianity

 The development of the concept of divinity over time has led to heretical interpretations, primarily through theological conflicts that have distorted the understanding of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Both Trinitarianism and Oneness theology, though seemingly opposed, are guilty of heresy by failing to acknowledge the true independence of the Father and the Son as distinct beings. According to scripture, Jesus himself attested that his testimony and the Father's are independent, which is required by law to fulfill the need for two witnesses, proving they are two separate beings and not merely two persons of one essence. The notion of a shared essence, as preached by Trinitarians, undermines this independence, while the true unity between Father and Son, as Jesus expressed, is one of mind, love, spirit, and purpose—not substance. This same unity is echoed in Jesus’ relationship with his disciples, who are one with each other and with him in purpose, not in being. Furthermore, the longstanding dispute between the Eastern and Western churches regarding the co-equality of the Father and the Son has deepened the heretical confusion. The West, through Catholicism and Protestantism, falsely claims co-equality in the Trinity, while the East, through Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, rightly holds that the Father is greater than the Son. This view is grounded in the truth that the Son’s divinity is given to him by the Father and that, as Paul wrote, the Son will forever subject himself to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28). The East’s position, based on apostolic writings, affirms the natural order of the Father’s supremacy, and to deny this truth is to distort the divine relationship. The real heresy lies in the Western insistence on co-equality and in the very existence of divided allegiances between these traditions, which forces believers to align with one side or the other. This division, rooted in human tradition rather than divine truth, reflects a worldly heresy that distorts the clear teaching of scripture about the Father’s greater authority over the Son.

By Stephen D Green / wording by ChatGPT, 2024 

Worldly heresy

 The Divinity concept of divine being has developed over time into a rather heretical concept, through various theological battles over the centuries. Trinitarianism and Oneness are each guilty of some degree of heresy. The Father and Son are individuals and independent. In this sense each is one individual. Jesus said that he himself testifies but the Father is the second witness. For there to be two witnesses, their corroboration or otherwise must be meaningful, which means they must be independent. That is to fulfil the law. So they cannot be both one being. They must be two, independent beings. Not just two persons. Two beings. A shared essence like Trinitarians preach would undermine their independence. Jesus saw no such undermining. He knew that the Father’s testimony is independent to his own. He knew they are two. Two because the law needs two testimonies, independent testimonies. 

The Father is one. The Son is one. How then together are they one? How are the Father and the Son one? “May they be one, as We are one,” Jesus prayed. How are the disciples one? In mind, love, spirit, and purpose. (From Philippians 2:2) Similarly Philippians 1:27 “I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” The spirit of how people live and the gospel faith for which they strive, is their unity. “… as We are one”. This means Jesus and the Father are one in this way. Furthermore, Jesus is one with his disciples, and they with each other. 

Another battle involving a heretical outcome has been the East/West disagreement about co-equality. Jesus only receives his divinity from the Father. He will subject himself forever to the Father eventually. He will then forever share the Father’s throne, but this is because the Father will share it with him. Yet the further heresy developed. If you live in the West, with Catholicism, Protestantism, you are labelled a heretic if you agree with the East that the Father is greater than the Son, and disagree that they are co-equal in the Trinity. If you live in the East, with Eastern or Oriental Orthodoxy, and you believe this, you would not be labelled a heretic. This very situation is heretical. You should not have to belong to East tradition roots or West tradition roots to avoid charges of being heretical in what you believe. You should not have to switch your allegiance. This concept of having two camps is the very core of worldly heresy. 

Millennium

 As he readies the universe for eventual rule by the Father forever, when he comes the Son will prioritise the elimination of all causes of sin. Temptations of Satan. Temptations of technology, drugs, idols, immoral professions, weaponry, glamour, and everything else which has potential to cause sin. Sin will become a rarity. He knows how to do it effectively and decisively. He has lived in weakness like us, with these temptations all around. He knows. 

A critique of the theological framework of Trinitarianism

 Trinity mainly overstates its doctrines and exaggerates their precision. It is a theological framework with some fairly minimal heresies, mostly in the West, where subjection of the Son to the Father is denied in favour of a slightly heretical equality doctrine. Of course both East and West have contrived the Divinity concept of shared being into a rather more heretical concept, only heretical to the extent it undermines the independence of Father and Son persons by overemphasising what they have in common to the extent of implying they share a common existence, in this sense of ‘being’, rather than the original sense of shared principles, teachings, ways, and purpose. Most trinity doctrines taken individually would in some sense be true, but are pushed too far, and when combined in the way they are usually combined, tend to lead adherents away from important truth. The answer is probably to reassert those important truths in a way that Trinity adherents and other such framework adherents (such as Oneness) do not misunderstand. Yet their conditioning will make them think this effort is itself heresy. If you live in the West, such as Roman Catholic or Catholic-rooted Protestants, you are supposed to agree with co-equal Father and Son. If you live in the East, such as Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox, you are not supposed to agree with co-equality. That is a bit heretical in itself, to say you are a heretic if you are not agreeing with the respective dogma for your branch of Christianity. ings, ways, and purpose. Most trinity doctrines taken individually would in some sense be true, but are pushed too far, and when combined in the way they are usually combined, tend to lead adherents away from important truth. The answer is probably to reassert those important truths in a way that Trinity adherents and other such framework adherents (such as Oneness) do not misunderstand. Yet their conditioning will make them think this effort is itself heresy.