Steven Colborne's Blog, page 8

Gender Roles and Homosexuality

We live in an age of increased confusion concerning the roles that men and women are to play in society and in the context of married life. I believe this confusion has arisen because usually we don’t seek clarification from God around areas of uncertainty.

The following verses from The Book of Mercy provide clarifications.

1) Men and women are equal.

2) The man and the woman have different roles.

3) Man is the provider.

4) Woman is the mother.

5) Relationships are harmonious when these roles are fulfilled.

6) Marriage is sacred.

7) God is most merciful to married couples when they put Him first.

(The Book of Mercy 26:1-7)

I asked God about whether these teachings mean that women should not work and He said that women should only work in caring roles.

A related issue is homosexuality. The following verses provide some clarity.

1) Homosexuality is a grave sin, for the natural role of sex is procreation.

2) Fear God above all else.

3) Marriage between two men is an outrage – an unholy violation of God’s law.

4) God forgives all sins.

(The Book of Mercy 21:1-4)

I asked God whether the same teaching applies to marriage between two women and He said it does. There is nothing in the revelation about the idea of genders other than male and female, but it is self-evident that they are fabrications.

As a reminder, The Book of Mercy can be found here.

Thanks be to God.

Welcome to Perfect Chaos!

Thank you for visiting. On this blog you will find a wealth of articles discussing the most important questions of philosophical theology.

The subject matter covered here includes the free will debate, interfaith theology, sacred Scripture and more, with a focus on Christianity, Islam, and the future of religion. You will also find personal articles reflecting on events and experiences related to my spiritual journey.

Life can seem chaotic at times, but in reality all events unfold in accordance with the perfect will of God – that’s what inspired my blog’s title. The theme of God’s sovereign control over all of creation is central to much of the content.

I hope that as you read my articles you will experience the joy and healing that comes when falsehood is dispelled by truthful insights. There is nothing I want more than to be used by God as a vessel to alleviate suffering.

In addition to over 400 articles you can find my ‘Deep Thoughts About God’ video series, available to be viewed with a ‘pay what you like’ subscription. Paying subscribers also gain access to music I have written, including a download of my album ‘Tell Everyone Now’. Those looking to explore my work in depth are invited to consider purchasing one of my books (you can click here to view them).

Equality in Relationships

It’s a sad reality that in many relationships and marriages one partner will become chronically dominant and the other chronically submissive. This can lead to marital breakdown, sickness, and suffering. So how can inequality in relationships be avoided and healthy marriages maintained?

1) Women, obey your husbands, serve them with gladness and be there for them in times of hardship.

2) God loves wives who are humble and submissive.

3) Men, do not seek to control your wives, but submit to them humbly and fully, be present with them in times of need.

4) Pray to God for one another, and always pray together.

5) Strive to be kind and loving at all times – God loves those who put others first.

(The Book of Mercy 20:1-5)

The reality is of course that human beings are inherently weak and so often stray from the kind of thought and action that results in harmonious relationships. God gives the following advice:

1) There are no grounds for divorce if God is kept in mind.

2) Yet divorce is a reality and is from God.

(The Book of Mercy 27:1-2)

I find the clarification that divorce is acceptable to God when it happens to be reassuring, yet the most important consideration in my view is the content of 27:1. The second verse (27:2) is in keeping with teaching found in the Qur’an, in which divorce is permitted under certain regulations.

God further elaborates on the roles of women and men in Chapter 26:

1) Men and women are equal.

2) The man and the woman have different roles.

3) Man is the provider.

4) Woman is the mother.

5) Relationships are harmonious when these roles are fulfilled.

6) Marriage is sacred.

7) God is most merciful to married couples when they put Him first.

8) God’s moral teaching is as follows:

9) Men, love your wives.

10) Women, love your husbands.

11) Put the other first at all times.

12) Be kind to each other.

13) Do not argue or fight.

14) Keep prayer in your relationships and always forgive.

15) God loves you and wants you to be happy.

16) Be still and know that I am God.

(The Book of Mercy 26:1-16)

The Book of Mercy does not replace teaching found in the Bible or the Qur’an but complements that teaching and provides certain clarifications.

The most important insight to understand from this article is that a God-centred relationship in which both partners put the needs of the other first stands the best chance of being healthy and happy.

Thanks be to God.

Please, Sorry, Thank You. Why?

God is playing a game with us all, though if we understand His power correctly, we will acknowledge that the game of life has the potential to be very serious. Suffering is no joke.

We often live out our lives with the assumption that we are free creatures who make free choices, but those who explore these matters deeply may well come to an understanding that we are not free at all.

In reality, there is one God who is in control of everything that happens and He does whatever He will. That is perhaps as close as we will ever get to describing ultimate Truth.

If God is the controller of all things, do we really need to use language that implies freedom of the human will? Do we need to apologize for the past, say thank you for our blessings, and make requests about the future?

From a Christian perspective, we are sinners who anger God when we go astray in our moral conduct. Sin is linked to suffering. But the Christian perspective is usually associated with the idea of free will. If we are not free, does the idea of sin really make sense? Do we really need to repent? Should we really be petitioning God about the future?

I have dedicated some time and effort to exploring these matters, the result of which is over a dozen books written in the English language.

My primary work of philosophical theology is called God’s Grand Game: Divine Sovereignty and the Cosmic Playground. I also recommend my short work God Willing: Bringing Divine Sovereignty into Everyday Conversation for an exploratory look at how our use of language might evolve to better reflect the reality of God’s sovereign control over the unfolding of all events.

By coming to a deeper understanding of matters of philosophical theology we can not only heal spiritually ourselves but we can also become healers of others, because truth has a liberating effect, subject to the guiding hand and will of Almighty God.

He is the Supreme, the Compeller, the All-Knowing, the Ever-Watchful One, Guardian over all, who lives forever in Glory. May He be in perpetual delight. Amen.

God’s Generosity to all

Good morning, friends. Those of us who are devoted to God take sacred Scripture very seriously. I believe in progressive revelation, that God sends down Scriptures successively to provide clarification concerning what was revealed previously.

Jesus brought clarity to Jewish people concerning the law, when they had gone astray. The Qur’an, which was revealed after the Bible, provides clarity concerning areas where Christians disagree.

There is much agreement among Abrahamic monotheists, including an understanding that we will all be resurrected from the dead to face judgement. It is understood that we will either go to paradise or hell.

However, in this age of widespread neglect of God, when Earth is truly corrupt, God has told me that in His mercy He will shower a tremendous blessing on humankind by saving everyone from the torment of hellfire.

Rejoice in God, who chooses Mercy over judgement.

The Book of Mercy, 1:4

One day the whole Earth will repent and all will be forgiven.

The Book of Mercy, 30:5

I have quoted above from a Scripture that God revealed to me in August 2023 which brings clarity to several areas of interfaith disagreement and tells the good news of God’s choice to be merciful to all.

Every time a revelation is sent down to a servant of God they are called mad and persecuted. I expect the same could be true of this revelation and me. But please know that I pray about everything, and I had no idea about the contents of this Scripture before it was revealed to me sentence by sentence in an unusual way.

I encourage you to read The Book of Mercy prayerfully and come to your own understanding of the significance of this Scripture and what it means for people who are Abrahamic monotheists (and for everyone else). Only God knows what will happen to this Scripture, I just try to be obedient to what God tells me to do and my concern is always to simply be honest about everything. God has all power and I’m just a puppet in His hands, as we all are. God does whatever He will.

When Forgiveness Meets Abuse

When somebody behaves unkindly towards you and causes you physical or emotional pain, it can be difficult to know how to respond, especially because abuse can be very subtle. My question for this article is: Should you always forgive? Or is it possible to be too forgiving?

As a Christian, my first thought about this is to turn to the teaching of Jesus, who taught a radical approach to conflict. Three things that Jesus allegedly taught come to mind:

1) Turn the other cheek

2) Always forgive

3) Be willing to die for him

I have personally suffered many episodes of psychological and emotional abuse in recent years, and I always pray about how I should respond. God tells me to never get involved in any kind of fight, however subtle.

I am always happy to forgive, but should I keep returning to abusive family relationships when time and time again I am treated badly? Should I enter back into relationships I have stepped away from for the sake of obedience to Jesus, even though I could become sick or even die if I did?

I just paused from writing this article to pray about what I should do and God said that to put emotional distance between myself and the abusers is what He wants me to do at this time.

I think it will take a quite radical change in character (specifically in their relationship with God) for the people who have been abusing me in order for those relationships to be healthy. In the meantime I am lonely, but this is preferable to being abused. I have music and I have God, I have this blog and I have the ability to read and write, so there is very much to be thankful for. Also, sometimes putting emotional distance between you and the abuser can be the best thing for them, as you are mirroring independence to them in a way that might cause them to be more independent and happier themself.

It’s always especially difficult to deal with abuse from family members because these are the people I want to love and honour the most. Nevertheless, when I am forced to choose between being abused and serving God, if God directs me to respond in a certain way I will do my best to obey, trusting that He will always work things out for the best, as God is most loving, merciful, and wise beyond measure.

The Power of Music to Change the World

Everyone has a unique calling and the ability to contribute something of value to the world. My calling is twofold: philosophical theology (inight into matters of philosophy and religion) and music (the ability to write songs that stir emotions).

Musically, I have a particular love of rock music, although I find inspiration in a wide variety of genres. I’ve recently been doing a lot of songwriting and have the basis for at least two albums captured in the voice recorder application on my phone and in my journal.

In recent years I’ve been searching for uplifting music which is dedicated to the worship of the one true God and have been unable to find much. This is sad because I understand worshiping God to be the most important aspect of being alive.

I’m hoping to help remedy the situation by forming a band and giving expression to some of the many song ideas I have in skeleton form. It seems the style is going to be hard rock / metal primarily, though I expect the songs to be diverse in style.

Having studied music at university and recorded and performed music quite extensively in the past, I’m eager to get into a rehearsal room again and bring some of the many song ideas I have to life. I just need to find some musicians who are motivated similarly and willing to put in the effort to create some original, inspirational, and God-glorifying music.

If you’re based in London and would be interested in working with me, please email riversofchange@gmail.com or leave a comment – the world needs more music that is raw, honest, and worship-focused and I invite you to be a part of something truly special!

Mercy Over Judgement

The Day of Judgement is written about repeatedly in the Bible and the Qur’an. I would describe it as a central belief of both Christianity and Islam. It is the one religious matter that causes me to go almost insane with fear and dread.

Jesus says that if your eye causes you to sin, you should pluck it out rather than be in danger of hellfire. That’s quite alarming. There’s a hadith in Islam that says the person who has the best place in hell experiences such intense fire in their sandals that it makes their brain boil. And that’s the best place! So the idea of the suffering that takes place in hell is truly terrifying.

The way in which we avoid hell is different in Christianity and Islam. Christians generally hold that believing in the atoning work of Jesus, who was crucified for our sins, is enough to save us if we put our faith in him. Some Christians argue that good works are also important, and some Christians argue that persevering in the faith throughout our life is important.

In Islam, the focus is entirely on works – our good and bad deeds will be weighed by God on Judgement Day and we will be rewarded with either paradise or hell accordingly.

A central concern related to the idea of Judgement Day is the divine sovereignty versus human free will predicament. While many Christians vehemently defend human free will, the Qur’an emphasises that God is the controller and that He chooses to guide only some to salvation.

To understand why I personally don’t believe in free will we have to take a moment to consider the nature and attributes of God. The divine attribute of omnipresence means that the being of God is boundless, so every atom in existence is therefore part of God and under God’s control. In this context, free will is impossible.

But this raises some issues in relation to divine judgement. For if God is the controller of everything that happens, why would He hold us responsible for sins and punish us severely in hell? All our ‘sin’ has been willed and directed by God, so why would He judge and punish us for it?

We can look at this problem in two different ways. One way is to acknowledge the freedom and sovereignty of God and His power to do whatever He wishes. God need not justify His decisions to us, for He holds all power at all times. If God wants to send us to hell for sins He has caused us to commit He has the freedom and power to do so.

Secondly, it’s possible that God might use hell to administer justice. For example, if God caused someone to be a serial killer during their life on Earth, He might punish that person in a way He deems appropriate in hell. If someone has suffered a great deal on Earth, God might administer justice by rewarding them with a place in paradise at the judgement. So if we consider these examples, we can see that human free will is not necessary for divine judgement, at least from a certain perspective.

The idea of everlasting hell is of course particularly terrifying. I cannot convey in words how extremely dreadful the idea is. And yet in our contemporary Bibles we find the statement that certain beings will be ‘tormented day and night for ever and ever’ in the lake of fire and sulphur.

To put this into context, if we imagine a billion years of torment, and times that by a billion, then this still does not convey the duration of suffering ‘for ever and ever’, nor does it even come close.

We have to return to the question of the nature and attributes of God and our understanding of His character. How do we reconcile the idea that God is loving and merciful with the idea that He torments even a single creature for ever and ever as a punishment for things He has caused them to do? Would God really do this?

In the Qur’an, nearly every surah begins with the phrase, ‘In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy’. Why does God repeat this aspect of His character so emphatically? It is surely a sign that despite His freedom and ability to cause suffering in dreadful ways, God chooses mercy, perhaps for no other reason than love, compassion, and kindness (of course, words can never describe God adequately).

God recently revealed a new Scripture to me named The Book of Mercy, and in the first chapter we find the statement ‘Rejoice in God, who chooses Mercy over judgement’. It is then stated the we should not speak of eternal hell, because it is ‘a terrible slur on the character of your Creator’.

Throughout the Scripture it is repeatedly emphasised that God forgives all sins. Though punishment for sin will be severe (crucifixion and stoning are mentioned specifically), it seems that once we have suffered temporal punishment we need have no fear of hell. So if this truly is a book from God, we have very good news and reason to rejoice.

Of course, if we look at the way God unfolds our lives, there is evidence of His kindness and mercy every day. Yes, we suffer sometimes, but isn’t your experience that God always shows mercy? Even those with sicknesses like cancer, or the homeless, or the poverty-stricken, still have the hope that God will bless them and never let their suffering be more than they can bear.

Please join me in praying for God’s mercy for all sentient beings. It’s the most important prayer there is, and we should be ever-mindful of the immeasurable grace God shows in choosing Mercy over judgement every moment of every day. All glory to Almighty God forever! Amen.

Mercy over Judgement

The Day of Judgement is written about repeatedly in the Bible and the Qur’an. I would describe it as a central belief of both Christianity and Islam. It is the one religious matter that causes me to go almost insane with fear and dread.

Jesus says that if your eye causes you to sin, you should pluck it out rather than be in danger of hellfire. That’s quite alarming. There’s a hadith in Islam that says the person who has the best place in hell experiences such intense fire in their sandals that it makes their brain boil. And that’s the best place! So the idea of the suffering that takes place in hell is truly terrifying.

The way in which we avoid hell is different in Christianity and Islam. Christians generally hold that believing in the atoning work of Jesus, who was crucified for our sins, is enough to save us if we put our faith in him. Some Christians argue that good works are also important, and some Christians argue that persevering in the faith throughout our life is important.

In Islam, the focus is entirely on works – our good and bad deeds will be weighed by God on Judgement Day and we will be rewarded with either paradise or hell accordingly.

A central concern related to the idea of Judgement Day is the divine sovereignty versus human free will predicament. While many Christians vehemently defend human free will, the Qur’an emphasises that God is the controller and that He chooses to guide only some to salvation.

To understand why I personally don’t believe in free will we have to take a moment to consider the nature and attributes of God. The divine attribute of omnipresence means that the being of God is boundless, so every atom in existence is therefore part of God and under God’s control. In this context, free will is impossible.

But this raises some issues in relation to divine judgement. For if God is the controller of everything that happens, why would He hold us responsible for sins and punish us severely in hell? All our ‘sin’ has been willed and directed by God, so why would He judge and punish us for it?

We can look at this problem in two different ways. One way is to acknowledge the freedom and sovereignty of God and His power to do whatever He wishes. God need not justify His decisions to us, for He holds all power at all times. If God wants to send us to hell for sins He has caused us to commit He has the freedom and power to do so.

Secondly, it’s possible that God might use hell to administer justice. For example, if God caused someone to be a serial killer during their life on Earth, He might punish that person in a way He deems appropriate in hell. If someone has suffered a great deal on Earth, God might administer justice by rewarding them with a place in paradise at the judgement. So if we consider these examples, we can see that human free will is not necessary for divine judgement, at least from a certain perspective. Instead, judgement could be about fairness, and equality.

The idea of everlasting hell is of course particularly terrifying. I cannot convey in words how extremely dreadful the idea is. And yet in our contemporary Bibles we find the statement that certain beings will be ‘tormented day and night for ever and ever’ in the lake of fire and sulphur.

To put this into context, if we imagine a billion years of torment, and times that by a billion, then this still does not convey the duration of suffering ‘for ever and ever’, nor does it even come close.

We have to return to the question of the nature and attributes of God and our understanding of His character. How do we reconcile the idea that God is loving and merciful with the idea that He torments even a single creature for ever and ever as a punishment for things He has caused them to do? Would God really do this?

In the Qur’an, nearly every surah begins with the phrase, ‘In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy’. Why does God repeat this aspect of His character so emphatically? It is surely a sign that despite His freedom and ability to cause suffering in dreadful ways, God chooses mercy, perhaps for no other reason than love, compassion, and kindness (of course, words can never describe God adequately).

God recently revealed a new Scripture to me named The Book of Mercy, and in the first chapter we find the statement ‘Rejoice in God, who chooses Mercy over judgement’. It is then stated the we should not speak of eternal hell, because it is ‘a terrible slur on the character of your Creator’.

Throughout the Scripture it is repeatedly emphasised that God forgives all sins. Though punishment for sin will be severe (crucifixion and stoning are mentioned specifically), it seems that once we have suffered temporal punishment we need have no fear of hell. So if this truly is a book from God, we have very good news and reason to rejoice.

Of course, if we look at the way God unfolds our lives, there is evidence of His kindness and mercy every day. Yes, we suffer sometimes, but isn’t your experience that God always shows mercy? Even those with sicknesses like cancer, or the homeless, or the poverty-stricken, still have the hope that God will bless them and never let their suffering be more than they can bear.

Please join me in praying for God’s mercy for all sentient beings. It’s the most important prayer there is, and we should be ever-mindful of the immeasurable grace God shows in choosing Mercy over judgement every moment of every day. All glory to Almighty God forever! Amen.

Just Carrying On is Enough

There are times when life feels a bit like being stuck in heavy traffic. There is no obvious way to move forward. At these times we have to keep our trust in God and be satisfied with simply carrying on.

It’s an oddity of human experience that our frame of mind can be totally consuming. When we feel depressed we can be entirely oblivious to what happiness feels like, and vice versa.

It’s helpful to remember that when we feel low there is no solidity to it – God can always bring us out of the clouds in an instant. And why wouldn’t He? God is relentlessly merciful.

Whatever your frame of mind today I want to remind you that God loves us to be mindful of Him, and there’s no better way to interact with Him than saying please, sorry, and thank you.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of simply expressing your thoughts to another human being. If you don’t have a close friend to share with, don’t despair. God is there for you, always, and He is the best of listeners.