"Thy Will be done - in the biologically changing world blinded by sin, as in the un-changeable, un-hampered reality of the eternal moment."
When I
think along these lines I always remember one of the great statements of faith
recorded outside the Bible in the pre-christian era. Recorded in part of the
wisdom literature of the Greeks, which came to be known as ‘gnostic’ in lesser
and corrupt forms. We find a story by Hermese Trismigistus (which means “the
thrice great Hermese”) about the Shepherd of Mankind. Hermese reports that he
was praying for his family, for his children especially fearing the effects the
world was having on them, wondering how he was going to pass on to them his
experience of “Wisdom”, that is his experience of the reality of God. (Echoes of the story of Enoch here – as
recorded in the Book of Enoch) As he is deeply in prayer the Shepherd of
Mankind appeared to him and said basically “Your sincere prayers have brought
you favor with God, so I am here in answer to your prayers and am willing and
able to answer any questions you have.” Hermese didn’t hesitate he said, “I want to know God and things as they
are.” We might say, “Lord, teach me what is real” and if that is our
sincere prayer, as we pray that prayer the Lord will begin to expose to us our
own illusions. (Illusion - a mistaken
perception of reality) But to get to this state where we begin to dismiss
the fog of illusions, where we begin to “clear our vision” we have to overcome
our “delusional state.” (Delusional state - mistaken and false beliefs that
persist despite evidence to the contrary)
Delusions for the most part are part and parcel of our “personal religion” or better stated our “religious sickness.” Our “religious sickness” may not appear as “religion” at all; for instance we may be in lock step with the common culture and appear to society as the most rational non-religious of men. An example would be, a scientist who views himself as a practical man, a pragmatist who refuses to believe anything he cannot effect in the laboratory or anything outside of “defined” material reality. Such a one would seem to be anything but “religious” yet in fact such a one, refusing to recognize God in the equation, has inadvertently been deluded by the religion of “extreme materialism.” Or another example would be someone who has adopted the mythology of Darwinism’s Origin of Species, to the exclusion of God in the equation; such a one has been deluded by the religion of “Pure Darwinism.” These are examples of “systematized” philosophies people have purposely or inadvertently adopted. More common are the personal philosophies, adopted on a “gut level” from information grasped inadvertently in development, in ones environment, bits and pieces from the pop-culture, and various philosophical saying and an admixture of accidentally gathered or purposely gathered religion knowledge. Usually such bits and piece of “knowledge” are purposely chosen because they feel good at the time, and/or confirm some preconceived notion of childhood or later development. Such “personal philosophies” may be mildly debilitating or grossly warping. And of course we have the Cultural Marxist media programming people into hedonism and nihilism and constraining their intellect in Politically Correct and Multi-Cultural Solipsism.
Delusions for the most part are part and parcel of our “personal religion” or better stated our “religious sickness.” Our “religious sickness” may not appear as “religion” at all; for instance we may be in lock step with the common culture and appear to society as the most rational non-religious of men. An example would be, a scientist who views himself as a practical man, a pragmatist who refuses to believe anything he cannot effect in the laboratory or anything outside of “defined” material reality. Such a one would seem to be anything but “religious” yet in fact such a one, refusing to recognize God in the equation, has inadvertently been deluded by the religion of “extreme materialism.” Or another example would be someone who has adopted the mythology of Darwinism’s Origin of Species, to the exclusion of God in the equation; such a one has been deluded by the religion of “Pure Darwinism.” These are examples of “systematized” philosophies people have purposely or inadvertently adopted. More common are the personal philosophies, adopted on a “gut level” from information grasped inadvertently in development, in ones environment, bits and pieces from the pop-culture, and various philosophical saying and an admixture of accidentally gathered or purposely gathered religion knowledge. Usually such bits and piece of “knowledge” are purposely chosen because they feel good at the time, and/or confirm some preconceived notion of childhood or later development. Such “personal philosophies” may be mildly debilitating or grossly warping. And of course we have the Cultural Marxist media programming people into hedonism and nihilism and constraining their intellect in Politically Correct and Multi-Cultural Solipsism.
Let me
give three examples: (1) A person male or female who lives life by rote, moves
and acts strictly on ‘received information’ who never critically questions the
validity of any aspect of their family mythology, or peer mythology, which in
these days is probably stronger; who fears anyone who does not conform to their
norms, lives in fear of non-acceptance, carefully ‘acting the part’ their
family/peer mythology requires no matter how they feel inwardly or what
questions may arrive. The opposite of this person, (the other side of the same
coin) is one who mindlessly rebels. One side of the coin is characterized by a
grinding fear of failing, which precludes the person from acting upon any
course but the prescribed course. The other side is characterized by the fear
of disappearing, making it impossible to conform even when such a course would
be to their personal advantage.
(2) A sort of middle ground might be demonstrated by the hard drinking red neck, unable to take life very seriously, good natured fun the rule, with an ever increasing cynical edge as he ages, refusing to mature, still partying at 50, mocking any questioning of his life choices, mocking anyone who takes life seriously.
(2) A sort of middle ground might be demonstrated by the hard drinking red neck, unable to take life very seriously, good natured fun the rule, with an ever increasing cynical edge as he ages, refusing to mature, still partying at 50, mocking any questioning of his life choices, mocking anyone who takes life seriously.
(3) The
psychopath or psychotic, totally insulated unable to touch life, oblivious to
the experience of anything but his own needs.
Each
example above represents different levels of intrinsic selfishness.
The first time I read Hermese’s request, “I want to know God and things as they are” I was dumbfounded by the wisdom of it and its implication began to work on me. Illusion is false perceptions, delusion is false beliefs; in other words, our perception of what is real in any place or event is predicated upon our core self, how we are formed, what we have chosen to take into ourselves. The more delusional our core being, the more illusory (clouded) is our perception. Saint Paul wrote about the degradation and even disintegration of the mind of the prideful saying:
Rom 1:28 And just as they did not approve to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do the things which are not fitting; having been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness; they are whisperers, slanderers, hateful to God, insolent men, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, having known the righteous judgment of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but also approve of those who practice them.
Surely we can recognize in these words “sub-cultures” that exist in our neighborhoods, which we collectively call gangs. At least gangs are honest “do bad” societies. What about the hypocritical “do bad” societies like cults, where any “evil” is acceptable to protect the illusion of goodness the cult wishes to project to the world? In the same vein, politics and corporations at the beginning of the twenty first century in the U.S. have become cultish, where the “corporate culture” or “party line” becomes its theology and any sacrifice (evil) is justified for the good of the corporation or party. How many stories of poisonous drugs, poison contaminated foods and dog foods, defective air bags and brakes and parking gears, have we seen where the corporation purposely ignored carnage, and let it continue for PROFIT. And the mentality has crept into government. Look at all the people damaged in Flint, Michigan, because of the conspiracy to cover up the massive lead contamination in the water supply.
The first time I read Hermese’s request, “I want to know God and things as they are” I was dumbfounded by the wisdom of it and its implication began to work on me. Illusion is false perceptions, delusion is false beliefs; in other words, our perception of what is real in any place or event is predicated upon our core self, how we are formed, what we have chosen to take into ourselves. The more delusional our core being, the more illusory (clouded) is our perception. Saint Paul wrote about the degradation and even disintegration of the mind of the prideful saying:
Rom 1:28 And just as they did not approve to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do the things which are not fitting; having been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness; they are whisperers, slanderers, hateful to God, insolent men, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, having known the righteous judgment of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but also approve of those who practice them.
Surely we can recognize in these words “sub-cultures” that exist in our neighborhoods, which we collectively call gangs. At least gangs are honest “do bad” societies. What about the hypocritical “do bad” societies like cults, where any “evil” is acceptable to protect the illusion of goodness the cult wishes to project to the world? In the same vein, politics and corporations at the beginning of the twenty first century in the U.S. have become cultish, where the “corporate culture” or “party line” becomes its theology and any sacrifice (evil) is justified for the good of the corporation or party. How many stories of poisonous drugs, poison contaminated foods and dog foods, defective air bags and brakes and parking gears, have we seen where the corporation purposely ignored carnage, and let it continue for PROFIT. And the mentality has crept into government. Look at all the people damaged in Flint, Michigan, because of the conspiracy to cover up the massive lead contamination in the water supply.
No one
could rightly deny that terrorist organizations have become “killing cults” and
we have seen in history that entire nations can become “killing cults”, where
the most despicable anti-human acts are perpetrated in the name of “for human
good.” The deluded Al Qaeda/ISIS member perpetrates anti-human acts of terror,
not because he sees himself as “evil” but because he has become so deluded he
thinks he is acting “for human good.” Is he not full of malice, full of envy,
an inventor of evil things, without understanding, unloving, unforgiving,
unmerciful? Are the Utopian Globalists less evil? How can individuals and
societies (gangs, cults, parties, corporations, even nations) become so blindly
deluded?
Orthodoxy might state it this way, “The perception of Truth is primarily a matter of purity or character.” When in impurity we choose also to “deceive” we have come full circle, at the same time we have exposed the “wages of sin” which are progressively: Illusion, Delusion, Deception and finally Death. The which, not incidentally, is the full arsenal of Satan’s power. The story of Satan’s fall is a story of progressive delusion, as he began to fancy himself equal to God. The story of Adam and Eve is a story of Satan’s own delusion exercised in deception, creating illusion, delusion, deception and death. This is why Satan is called, The Liar and The Great Deceiver.
Orthodoxy might state it this way, “The perception of Truth is primarily a matter of purity or character.” When in impurity we choose also to “deceive” we have come full circle, at the same time we have exposed the “wages of sin” which are progressively: Illusion, Delusion, Deception and finally Death. The which, not incidentally, is the full arsenal of Satan’s power. The story of Satan’s fall is a story of progressive delusion, as he began to fancy himself equal to God. The story of Adam and Eve is a story of Satan’s own delusion exercised in deception, creating illusion, delusion, deception and death. This is why Satan is called, The Liar and The Great Deceiver.
When we
take that added step “to deceive” which is unavoidable in the economy of
humanity as we share our ideas, perceptions, opinions, impressions etc, if they
are from a core that is “impure” i.e. deluded, our “natural conversation”
becomes in lock step with Satan as our delusions, offered as “truth,” act in
others to deceive. We pass our delusion, our own false beliefs, to friends and children:
Exo 20:5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and forth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
In America for whatever societal/religious reasons we greatly value the “miraculous.” For us it is a particular challenge, the thought that all miracles might not be “for the good.” How could it be that those empowered to create signs and wonders, miracles of healing and casting out devils could stand before the judgment seat and Christ say, “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you”? Jesus explains it clearly, “Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit.” Matt. 7:18. When Jesus was genuinely healing people they accused him saying, “He casts out devils by the Evil One.” Of course Jesus answered saying, “How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” Yet in our era, for every real there is a false, and I don’t necessarily mean a “fake”, for just as there is the appearance of Christ and anti-christ, both having the “appearance” of goodness so there are miracles by the Spirit of Christ and by the spirit of anti-christ.
Like a pebble hitting a still pond produces concentric waves in proportion to its weight and velocity, so too our words and actions radiate from us, characterized by the condition of our core, they are healing or destructive, pointing towards truth or filled with deception, an exact mirror of our deepest selves. Is it any wonder then that the early monastic movement taught that the employment of silence and stillness (not absence of labor but absence of willful-action) was the quickest way to get to spiritual purity, or that the pre-christian monks of many philosophies taught basically the same thing?
One of the Orthodox Fathers wrote that if one is filled with sinful temptation and despondency that one should keep ones mouth shut and not spread the disease, but in private continue to confess and to call upon Christ at every moment for deliverance. He wasn’t suggesting that one should “fake it until one makes it” spiritually speaking, but rather he was acknowledging the reality that “sin” is “disease” and expressions of the sinful heart are contaminated with sickness that is contagious.
When one grasps this foundational truth, “One cannot act contrary to the reality of ones own nature” the true and deepest meaning of the Sermon on the Mount comes into view. Those who “think” they act contrary to their own nature, are simply holders of that delusion. There is an old saying, “An honest man cannot be conned.” Why? Because we cannot be conned by another by any means we have not already con ourselves. Apply this to the crowds arriving and “blessing” the Carney Evangelist; apply this also to those arriving to see the priest/magician, with the weeping Icon; apply this to all eager to see ANY sign and wonder; apply this to any unwilling to seek wisdom as to the source and means of the “miraculous,” both the real and the counterfeit.
Exo 20:5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and forth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
In America for whatever societal/religious reasons we greatly value the “miraculous.” For us it is a particular challenge, the thought that all miracles might not be “for the good.” How could it be that those empowered to create signs and wonders, miracles of healing and casting out devils could stand before the judgment seat and Christ say, “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you”? Jesus explains it clearly, “Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit.” Matt. 7:18. When Jesus was genuinely healing people they accused him saying, “He casts out devils by the Evil One.” Of course Jesus answered saying, “How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” Yet in our era, for every real there is a false, and I don’t necessarily mean a “fake”, for just as there is the appearance of Christ and anti-christ, both having the “appearance” of goodness so there are miracles by the Spirit of Christ and by the spirit of anti-christ.
Like a pebble hitting a still pond produces concentric waves in proportion to its weight and velocity, so too our words and actions radiate from us, characterized by the condition of our core, they are healing or destructive, pointing towards truth or filled with deception, an exact mirror of our deepest selves. Is it any wonder then that the early monastic movement taught that the employment of silence and stillness (not absence of labor but absence of willful-action) was the quickest way to get to spiritual purity, or that the pre-christian monks of many philosophies taught basically the same thing?
One of the Orthodox Fathers wrote that if one is filled with sinful temptation and despondency that one should keep ones mouth shut and not spread the disease, but in private continue to confess and to call upon Christ at every moment for deliverance. He wasn’t suggesting that one should “fake it until one makes it” spiritually speaking, but rather he was acknowledging the reality that “sin” is “disease” and expressions of the sinful heart are contaminated with sickness that is contagious.
When one grasps this foundational truth, “One cannot act contrary to the reality of ones own nature” the true and deepest meaning of the Sermon on the Mount comes into view. Those who “think” they act contrary to their own nature, are simply holders of that delusion. There is an old saying, “An honest man cannot be conned.” Why? Because we cannot be conned by another by any means we have not already con ourselves. Apply this to the crowds arriving and “blessing” the Carney Evangelist; apply this also to those arriving to see the priest/magician, with the weeping Icon; apply this to all eager to see ANY sign and wonder; apply this to any unwilling to seek wisdom as to the source and means of the “miraculous,” both the real and the counterfeit.
The skilled confidence man knows that the only way that he can get one over on the “mark”(his victim) is through the mark’s own weaknesses, delusions and lusts. The first delusion the con man uses in this culture is the common delusion that “everybody is basically good.” He knows that people will do all sorts of things to affirm to themselves and even to strangers that they are a “basically good person.” Next he finds a way that he can tempt a person to act (usually to act on greed) while the mark tells himself or herself that, “though I may benefit from this action, I am acting because I’m a good person, because I wish to help out, or because I am a smart person, or because I am spiritual person, or because I am a special person _______” fill in the blank. Many people have been robbed of material wealth by this simple delusion – “I am a good person.”
St. Peter of Damaskos lists all the “weaknesses” (passions) of man that he found in scripture; it is quite amazing. Some of these “passions” are illusions, some are delusions, some are confusion, some are purposeful deceptions and all have the potential to lead to death.
Here is the list:
harshness
trickery
malice
perversity
Mindlessness
Licentiousness
Enticement
Dullness
lack of understanding
idleness
sluggishness
stupidity
flattery
silliness
idiocy
madness
derangement
coarseness
rashness
cowardice
lethargy
dearth of good actions
moral errors
greed,
over-frugality
ignorance
folly
spurious knowledge
forgetfulness
lack of discrimination
obduracy (obstanance)
injustice
evil intention
a conscienceless soul
slothfulness
idle chatter
breaking of faith,
wrongdoing
sinfulness
lawlessness
criminality
passion
seduction
assent to evil
mindless coupling
demonic provocation
dallying
bodily comfort beyond what is required
vice
stumbling
sickness of soul
enervation (lack of physical, emotional, moral vigor)
weakness of intellect
negligence
laziness
a reprehensible despondency
disdain of God
aberration (departing from what is real)
transgression
unbelief
lack of faith
wrong belief
poverty of faith
heresy
fellowship in heresy
polytheism
idolatry
ignorance of God
impiety
magic
astrology
divination
sorcery
denial of God
the love of idols
dissipation
profligacy
loquacity,
indolence
self-love
inattentiveness
lack of progress
deceit
delusion
audacity
witchcraft
defilement
the eating of unclean food
soft living
dissoluteness
voracity
unchastity
avarice,
anger
dejection
listlessness
self-esteem
pride
presumption
self-elation
boastfulness
infatuation
foulness
satiety,
doltishness
torpor
sensuality
over-eating
gluttony
insatiability
secret eating
hoggishness
solitary eating,
indifference
fickleness
self-will
thoughtlessness
self-satisfaction
love of popularity
ignorance of beauty
uncouthness
gaucherie
light-mindedness
boorishness
rudeness
contentiousness
quarrelsomeness
abusiveness
shouting
brawling
fighting
rage
mindless desire
gall
exasperation
giving offence
enmity
meddlesomeness
chicanery
asperity
slander
censure
calumny
condemnation
accusation
hatred
railing
insolence
dishonor,
ferocity
frenzy
severity
aggressiveness
forswearing oneself
oathtaking
lack of compassion
hatred of one's brothers,
partiality
patricide
matricide
breaking fasts
laxity
acceptance of bribes
theft
rapine
jealousy
strife
envy
indecency
jesting
vilification
mockery
derision
exploitation
oppression
disdain of one's neighbor
flogging
making sport of others
hanging
throttling
heartlessness
implacability
covenant-breaking
bewitchment
harshness
shamelessness
impudence
obfuscation of thoughts
obtuseness
mental blindness
attraction to what is fleeting
impassionedness
frivolity
disobedience
dullwittedness
drowsiness of soul
excessive sleep
fantasy
heavy drinking
drunkenness
uselessness
slackness
mindless enjoyment
self-indulgence
venery
using foul language
effeminacy
unbridled desire
burning lust
masturbation
pimping
adultery
sodomy
bestiality
defilement
wantonness
a stained soul
incest
uncleanliness
pollution
sordidness
feigned affection
laughter
jokes
immodest dancing
clapping
improper songs
revelry
fluteplaying
license of tongue
excessive love of order
insubordination
disorderliness
reprehensible collusion
conspiracy
warfare
killing
brigandry
sacrilege
illicit gains
usury
wiliness
grave-robbing
hardness of heart
obloquy
complaining
blasphemy
fault-finding
ingratitude
malevolence
contemptuousness
pettiness
confusion
lying
verbosity
empty words,
mindless joy
daydreaming
mindless friendship
bad habits
nonsensicality
silly talk
garrulity
niggardliness
depravity
intolerance
irritability
affluence
rancor
misuse
ill-temper
clinging to life
ostentation
affectation
pusillanimity
satanic love
curiosity
contumely
lack of the fear of God
unteachability
senselessness
haughtiness
self-vaunting
self-inflation
scorn for one's neighbor
mercilessness
insensitivity
hopelessness
spiritual paralysis
hatred of God
despair
suicide
a falling away from God in all things
utter destruction
--Altogether 298 Passions:
"These, then, are the passions which are named in the Holy Scriptures. I have set them down in a single list, as I did at the beginning of my discourse with the various books I have used. I have not tried, and nor would I have been able, to arrange them all in order; this would have been beyond my powers, for the reason given by St. John Climacus: `If you seek understanding among wicked men, you will not find it.' For all that the demons produce is disorderly. In common with the godless and the unjust, the demons have but one purpose: to destroy the souls of those who accept their evil counsel. Yet sometimes they actually help men to attain holiness. In these instances they are conquered by the patience and faith of those who put their trust in the Lord, and who through their good actions and resistance to evil thoughts counteract the demons and bring down curses upon them."
Honest, if you want to take a deep psychological journey down the road of human illusion, delusion, confusion, deception and death, I would suggest taking Webster's 1828 dictionary (available online) and examining each of these words. Trust me I could write a doctoral dissertation on the significance of these words, vis a vis human weakness and the early American understanding of the same according to Webster's 1828 American English Dictionary vs the Whitewashing of these words in the 20th century. You see, Webster was not insane, and was not trying to remove the meaning from words, as the later Cultural Marxist dictionaries have done.
Peter of Damaskos obviously had a lot of time on his hands trying to “systematize” the illusions, delusions and weaknesses of man, from scripture. He used St John Climacus’ words to emphasize that such a task is hopeless, since it is the process of mucking about in a sea of confusion. And really that is the point I want to make with it, to draw a line between “Wisdom” and “Confusion.” Christ’s coming and dying did not nullify the great Wisdom Literature of Holy Scripture. In fact, via the Power of the Holy Spirit available to us today, its “secrets” ought to be easier for us to access and comprehend. Yet, in the name of the Holy Spirit, this great treasure is more and more ignored by Christians of all stripes, and substituted in its place is a sort of “soulish intuition,” an unenlightened ignorance, which carries us about by whims of emotion, purported to be “leading of the Holy Spirit.” Sadly, some have substituted the rambling of preachers, or the sanctity of priests, connection through a purity of jurisdiction, when there is nothing that can substitute for actual reaching to the True Wisdom of God, that is “to Know God and things as they are.” There are no substitutes for this.
Peter of Damaskos’ list comes to us translated from one language to another, from one culture to another, from a perspective of monastic living to the realities of modern life, yet many, many . . . too many of the passions he names may be seen as “universal.” In the confusing array, some are aspects of another and some may not be “passions” at all. I don’t understand for instance why, David’s harp playing, cymbal crashing, drum beating is not “passion” but flute playing is, and clapping is. These are obviously cultural things, not properly translating out of the culture in which they were observed. But in any event look at how the others apply to our actions springing from the reality of our core. Look at how many apply to us going through life inattentive to the state of our mind and heart, acting or not-acting based upon illusion and delusion, paralyzed as it were by confusion.
I noticed that “mindless joy” was listed. I was a little taken aback since Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. But then upon a little reflection I’ve witnessed people who were “poor deluded creatures” (to quote Batman) and filled with joy. Many cultists find this false or “mindless joy” in their religious sickness. I’m sure the Jihadi fanatics find joy in their conspiratorial “fellowship” just as the old KKK rallies were rollicking good times and the camaraderie of NAZI Brown Shirts was warm and uplifting. In each case it is nothing more than the esprit de corps of pagans and barbarians, i.e. mindless joy.
This list of “weaknesses” from scripture may or may not be a complete list of the means we have to fool ourselves; it may or may not be a complete list of the weaknesses a con man may used to deceive us; it may or may not be a complete list of the tools Satan may own in us for our own destruction. But one has to acknowledge the diabolical genius of the Evil One, creating unique webs of delusion where even the appearance of good may be evil, where even the most sacred is mimicked, where even the healing power of the stripes of our Lord is aped. THIS is the nature of anti-Christs, which is very different than the honest “enemies of Christ.” What is anti-christ, mimics what is real.
A heart filled with the passions cannot perceive truth. A heart filled with the passions cannot discriminate between true miracle and charlatanism. A heart filled with the passions is stymied in all good works. Regardless of the good motives, the appearance of philanthropy and sweat of brow, “the loving kindness of the wicked is cruelty.” Likewise the rebuke of a righteous man is “kindness.”
Pro 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
The bold prayer of Hermese, “I want to know God, and things as they are” is so important in its purely Christian parallels. One cannot come to know “things as they are” without first gaining knowledge of Truth who walked among us. We stand in a spiritual stupor when our knowledge of things as they are is a product of our “common culture” which in the first decade of the twenty-first century has proven itself to be insane. Name any aspect of the culture and one with eyes to see can point out the delusions, that is, “the common beliefs held, despite ample demonstrable/contradictory facts.” Just to quickly name one: The mythology that Climate Change is the result of the actions of common man. There most certainly is Climate Change, and there is Global Warming, make no mistake, it is quite severe, causing drastic melting of the polar ice caps . . . on Mars! Yes, on Mars. The atmosphere on Mars, more susceptible to the variations of the radiance of the Sun has been in a period of warming, many times greater than the mere .6 degree in average yearly temperature the earth’s atmosphere has experienced, since the time scientists began keeping such records. The ample demonstrable/contradictory facts are clear since there are no humans on Mars and we share the same Sun, and independently, scientists have also measured an increase in the Sun’s radiance on earth. Yet these two pivotal facts have not been applied to the “mythology” that Global Warming is caused by human action.
Even the
Ecumenical Patriarch has thrown in with the radical and blind Cultural Marxist ecologists.
He convened an international symposium on Global Warming a few years ago,
giving yet another platform to these radicals. Nothing explains this other than
societal/cultural insanity. In fact when NASA published its report about the
Global Warming on Mars, the clamor that humans cause Global Warming increased
exponentially. NASA’s report was relegated to their own web-pages, the back
pages of newspapers and not covered by the National Electronic Media at all.
Please understand that what I’m saying is not “radical theory” it is instead
“knowable, provable scientific data” published by no less than NASA (The
National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and NOAA (the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) parent of the National Weather
Service. And in 2010 NASA published the data measuring the heat radiating from
earth, and the actual heat radiated (i.e. dissipated via heat radiation) from
earth was magnitudes greater than any climatological model’s assumptions,
proving the total fiction that were the common computer projections.
Of course we ought to be good stewards of our beautiful home, our earth; of course we ought to treat it with respect and do all in our power to leave it in better shape than the generation before us. But this “good stewardship” has nothing to do with false mythologies. It has instead to do with Wisdom of God, which produces in the human psyche “thankfulness and respect” for all God’s creatures and all God’s creation. And with the Wisdom of God comes the realization that “creation moans and groans for the renewal of all things, that will accompany the revelation of the sons of God.” The single most powerful thing we can do for the ecology of our planet is take our prayer life seriously, praying for our own healing/salvation, that we may both be good stewards of the earth and that we may hasten the revelation of the Sons of God.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
All this to bring us back to that truth written by C.S. Lewis. "I pray not to change God or cause Him to act, but to change me." We could paraphrase, “I pray, not to gain power over others, but love in my own heart.” “I pray, not to cause an effect in the world, but to heal the defects in me.” “I pray, not from knowledge but by Faith, that I might learn how to pray genuinely with knowledge.” “I pray, not for wealth but for wisdom.” “I pray, not for signs and wonders, but for healing/salvation.” “I pray, not to become special and holy, but to become real.” “I pray, to be released from prison, to gain the freedom neither Satan nor death can hinder.” “I pray to gain a mind and heart in which Satan with his web of deceit owns NOTHING.”
It is only with this understanding that the words of Jesus ring clear: we should not seek miracles or signs or wonders, but the kingdom of God, wherein is our healing, and
completion.
Mat 6:33 "But be seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these [things] will be added to you.”
All these?? In this context, literally what we will eat, what we will drink, what we will wear, and since he says that this is what even the pagans seek, he means for our focus
to be “more.” Not more of the same, heaping wealth upon ourselves as the prosperity gospel heresy suggests, but “More” as in everything that leads to true health, true
wealth, and real-everlasting - LIFE. I can hear him say, “While you seek what is REAL, I’ll protect you, that you may find it.” “While you chase after what is false, you remain the
slave of the father of lies.”
A Serious Caution for Sincere Orthodox Believers
Is it possible that the Veneration of Icons could ever degenerate to the Worship of Idols? This question in no way questions the validity of the findings of The Seventh Ecumenical Council, which took place in Nicaea in 787 AD, and is also known as the Second Council of Nicaea. This Council rightly restored the use of Icons in Christian worship and rightly stood against the prevalent “iconoclast heresy” of the day. History clearly shows that the battle with the iconoclast heresy of that day was yet another round fought against Gnosticism or at least the influence of certain Gnostic concepts in Islam. Bottom-line, it was an attempt by Satan himself to exclusively own the visual means of human communication and to permanently block the communication of the Gospel and depiction of the sacred via visual means. Amazing trick if he could have pulled it off! And in a web of diabolical genius the iconoclast heresy was couched in language that seemed to protect the Gospel and Christian worship from “pagan influence” and a huge portion of The Church was fooled by this deceit. Using Icons as symbols of Holiness and Sanctity in the communication of the Gospel and the work of the worship of God is what the Seventh Council affirmed. Knowing now what a powerful influence “visual media” is, can you imagine it as the sole property of Satan? Yet this would have been the result of the heresy.
Of course we ought to be good stewards of our beautiful home, our earth; of course we ought to treat it with respect and do all in our power to leave it in better shape than the generation before us. But this “good stewardship” has nothing to do with false mythologies. It has instead to do with Wisdom of God, which produces in the human psyche “thankfulness and respect” for all God’s creatures and all God’s creation. And with the Wisdom of God comes the realization that “creation moans and groans for the renewal of all things, that will accompany the revelation of the sons of God.” The single most powerful thing we can do for the ecology of our planet is take our prayer life seriously, praying for our own healing/salvation, that we may both be good stewards of the earth and that we may hasten the revelation of the Sons of God.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
All this to bring us back to that truth written by C.S. Lewis. "I pray not to change God or cause Him to act, but to change me." We could paraphrase, “I pray, not to gain power over others, but love in my own heart.” “I pray, not to cause an effect in the world, but to heal the defects in me.” “I pray, not from knowledge but by Faith, that I might learn how to pray genuinely with knowledge.” “I pray, not for wealth but for wisdom.” “I pray, not for signs and wonders, but for healing/salvation.” “I pray, not to become special and holy, but to become real.” “I pray, to be released from prison, to gain the freedom neither Satan nor death can hinder.” “I pray to gain a mind and heart in which Satan with his web of deceit owns NOTHING.”
It is only with this understanding that the words of Jesus ring clear: we should not seek miracles or signs or wonders, but the kingdom of God, wherein is our healing, and
completion.
Mat 6:33 "But be seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these [things] will be added to you.”
All these?? In this context, literally what we will eat, what we will drink, what we will wear, and since he says that this is what even the pagans seek, he means for our focus
to be “more.” Not more of the same, heaping wealth upon ourselves as the prosperity gospel heresy suggests, but “More” as in everything that leads to true health, true
wealth, and real-everlasting - LIFE. I can hear him say, “While you seek what is REAL, I’ll protect you, that you may find it.” “While you chase after what is false, you remain the
slave of the father of lies.”
A Serious Caution for Sincere Orthodox Believers
Is it possible that the Veneration of Icons could ever degenerate to the Worship of Idols? This question in no way questions the validity of the findings of The Seventh Ecumenical Council, which took place in Nicaea in 787 AD, and is also known as the Second Council of Nicaea. This Council rightly restored the use of Icons in Christian worship and rightly stood against the prevalent “iconoclast heresy” of the day. History clearly shows that the battle with the iconoclast heresy of that day was yet another round fought against Gnosticism or at least the influence of certain Gnostic concepts in Islam. Bottom-line, it was an attempt by Satan himself to exclusively own the visual means of human communication and to permanently block the communication of the Gospel and depiction of the sacred via visual means. Amazing trick if he could have pulled it off! And in a web of diabolical genius the iconoclast heresy was couched in language that seemed to protect the Gospel and Christian worship from “pagan influence” and a huge portion of The Church was fooled by this deceit. Using Icons as symbols of Holiness and Sanctity in the communication of the Gospel and the work of the worship of God is what the Seventh Council affirmed. Knowing now what a powerful influence “visual media” is, can you imagine it as the sole property of Satan? Yet this would have been the result of the heresy.
The power of the Tangible Sacred Artifact:
Any iconoclast Protestant fundamentalist were they to look upon a true relic of the Cross of Christ, a documented true relic of the cross, they would intrinsically know that it was something very special, though it were mere wood. Instinctively they would be in awe of it, wish to protect it, not to harm it, not to be the person that lost it to history, certainly not the person to destroy it. They would automatically discover a new bond to Christ Jesus, in the reality of that physical object. Were we Orthodox to venerate a sliver of wood, purported to be a scrap of the True Cross of Christ, a sliver of wood sold to the unsuspecting in times past by a charlatan, no more a part of the true cross than a splinter of wood from my desk, would that be an idolatrous act? NO, for the sliver of wood has become a true symbol, a true Icon of the true cross, a material connection via “symbol” to something especially sacred and grace filled. However, were we to expect that sliver of wood to turn crimson, or radiate especial light, or put on some other “show for us” and were some magician through his trickery to create this illusion for us, THEN it would be idolatry.
No comments:
Post a Comment