Deceiver

The new rotation around the sun has gotten off to a wonderful start due entirely to my perspective on life. While the circumstances surrounding it continue to be challenging, the stamina obtained from the healing that's occurred, on many levels, along with the accumulation of strength over periods of grueling endurance provide me with an increasingly and progressively clearer vision in more than a decade now of finding my bearings in a new territory.

In Becoming, a post written in December, I shared my philosophical case for the invisible reality of my faith. It's something I rarely do because, first of all, it doesn't need it. Second my case for it, true and accurate as it may be, is powerless in realizing itself in the life of the individual reading it. The power lies in the operation created by the Creator - believing, simply, that Jesus Christ is alive.

Hence the philosophical/scientific case for the invisible Christ - again not because he needs it but because I can and wanted to. The case lies in the understanding that we as individuals are not what we see either.

I'd like to leave the philosophical explanation of the above to the post devoted to it and return to the spiritual understanding providing the insight to begin with (and for the reason I mentioned in the beginning); because my wits are not the source and, consequently, my aim is not intellectual glory.

It's understandable but at the same time a curious thing, to me, that persons sharing my faith express a common sentiment upon learning of my stance on views held commonly among the denominations of Christendom. The practice of water baptism, for one, and a perhaps entirely unanimous view, that is including Protestants and Catholics, on the practice of the Holy Communion.

The sentiment repeatedly expressed, to quote a person I was having a discussion with on Facebook, is the following:

"... if we influence others with our observations that are not rooted in the Word, but in our opinions, we are positioning ourselves not where God wants us to be..."

The consensus is the understanding which I've articulated in previous posts such as Water, for example, but more often have and do in person when the occasion presents itself, is of my own invention. There is always a word of warning that comes along with the assumption. It doesn't offend me because I can understand the reluctance and fear to believe outside of long held practices believed to be necessary and productive.

I haven't said anything in defense because I have not felt the need to defend what is neither my invention or will to even understand. My will, rather, was and has been to be OK. Wired, if you would, in such a way as to feel maybe more than others, I know the utility has been in the agitation in settling for anything less than peace in my heart. Perhaps this is, and in fact I'll go so far as to say I know this is one reason (along with being unlikely) that I would come to know what I've learned, see and know. Because I struggled with the aspect of having to stand out in the way I inevitably would by going public with the "opinions" I've been "influencing" people with.

One of the most important and liberating things I've learned is non judgement. I don't judge a person who shares my faith by the practices they observe or don't observe. There's a verse that explains this:

Romans 14:22
The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God...

Fellow believers are often caught up in what other people are doing or not doing. It's counterproductive to the growth of a believer. And personal spiritual growth ought to be the goal - and is the end of the practice of worship.

Denominations define the practice of worship, more similarly than different, and for this reason obstruct the spiritual growth of a believer in Christ. If I strive to do one thing it's to promote the understanding which has caused me to prosper spiritually. It conflicts with the teaching - commonly held beliefs and practices naturally come under attack in other words, but that is not the goal. Again, I do not judge a person by the way in which they practice their faith. More precisely, I do not judge them as being saved or unsaved, right or wrong. Christ himself came not to judge but to save, did he not?

Each believer has access to the authority for instructions on how to worship God according to knowledge and productivity. It is my sincere belief therefore that others will for this reason arrive to the understanding I seem to be inventing. This is what the following two verses are about:

Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith...

and

Ephesians 4:16
...maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

(I'm including these last few verses to express some of the relevant thoughts I've had. )

2 Timothy 2:19
...The Lord knows those who are His...

Acts 24:14
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers...

Romans 10:2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Colossians 2:21-3
(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Matthew 5:20
"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Galatians 1:12
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:19-21
Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."