Dan Brooks's Blog, page 29
February 4, 2014
Are We Fallen?
What I like about what I've found in Eastern Religion most is what I found in Hinduism. See, in Judeo-Christianity after the fall of Adam and Eve most of the faithful and theologians feel that we are fallen and it is only through God or specifically through Christ that we become whole and holy.
Whereas in Hinduism they say we are all divine by nature and it's the illusions of the world that confuse and lead us astray.
Jesus says "The Kingdom of God is within you."
I think that part of what He means is just that, that we have that divine spark within and we must dig deep, find that spark and cherish it.
The second article faith reads: We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
So even though being LDS and holding to this article of faith should preclude belief in humanity existing in an inherently fallen state many Mormons do believe that we are fallen.
Joseph Smith, I think, was trying to let us know we are not in fact fallen.
The thing is that none of us would be here if the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil had not been eaten by Adam and Eve. Some say that it's not fair for God to punish them when He knew they would sin. But isn't it better that His plan was immune to human failings?
Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden on only one condition, that they never eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were innocent, the knew no real joy because they knew no pain. They could do no right because they knew no sin. Until they ate of the tree. Then they wished they hadn't because with knowledge came responsibility and at first it must've been too much and completely overwhelming.
Because of this it is thought that they were to suffer both physical death and spiritual death meaning not only would they grow old and die but they no longer were allowed to walk with God face to face.
After the Fall, Eve said, “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed [children], and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:11).
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:22–25).
There is a very different yet important and useful lesson from Hinduism. It is called the atman and then there is brahman or God, the absolute.
Ātman (IAST: ātman, Sanskrit: आत्मन्) is a Sanskrit word that means 'inner-self' or 'soul'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism, Ātman is the first principle,[1] the true self of an individual beyond identification with phenomena, the essence of an individual. In order to attain salvation (liberation), a human being must acquire self-knowledge (atma jnana), which is to realize that one's true self (Ātman) is identical with the transcendent self Brahman:
From wikipedia.
This is saying that God dwells within you. And Jesus affirms this when He says the Kingdom of God is within you. It awaits you. When you dig deep and discover the place of transcendence and oneness with God, then you truly become self-aware. Only then do you find true freedom and liberation and what Buddhists call Nirvana or enlightenment.
I'm using Buddhist or Hinduism to convey certain points but Mormon, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu; all these terms are transitory. In the end there is only truth, beyond all these labels and this discovery of the Kingdom within you is the final glance beyond the veil.
Without the fall of Adam and Eve we would not be able to rise. Their story is not one of transgression as much as it is of redemption.
In Hinduism the goal is self-realization and the obstacles are worldly luxuries and trappings because these things are all an illusion and only Brahman or God is real.
There is proof behind the scientific theory that the world is merely an illusion.
The Atonement is the ultimate act of redemption that will resolve every act of transgression and sin, we have all received our golden ticket we need only realize this truth and we are set free from the prison of our own design.
Whereas in Hinduism they say we are all divine by nature and it's the illusions of the world that confuse and lead us astray.
Jesus says "The Kingdom of God is within you."
I think that part of what He means is just that, that we have that divine spark within and we must dig deep, find that spark and cherish it.
The second article faith reads: We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
So even though being LDS and holding to this article of faith should preclude belief in humanity existing in an inherently fallen state many Mormons do believe that we are fallen.
Joseph Smith, I think, was trying to let us know we are not in fact fallen.
The thing is that none of us would be here if the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil had not been eaten by Adam and Eve. Some say that it's not fair for God to punish them when He knew they would sin. But isn't it better that His plan was immune to human failings?
Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden on only one condition, that they never eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were innocent, the knew no real joy because they knew no pain. They could do no right because they knew no sin. Until they ate of the tree. Then they wished they hadn't because with knowledge came responsibility and at first it must've been too much and completely overwhelming.
Because of this it is thought that they were to suffer both physical death and spiritual death meaning not only would they grow old and die but they no longer were allowed to walk with God face to face.
After the Fall, Eve said, “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed [children], and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient” (Moses 5:11).
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:22–25).
There is a very different yet important and useful lesson from Hinduism. It is called the atman and then there is brahman or God, the absolute.
Ātman (IAST: ātman, Sanskrit: आत्मन्) is a Sanskrit word that means 'inner-self' or 'soul'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism, Ātman is the first principle,[1] the true self of an individual beyond identification with phenomena, the essence of an individual. In order to attain salvation (liberation), a human being must acquire self-knowledge (atma jnana), which is to realize that one's true self (Ātman) is identical with the transcendent self Brahman:
From wikipedia.
This is saying that God dwells within you. And Jesus affirms this when He says the Kingdom of God is within you. It awaits you. When you dig deep and discover the place of transcendence and oneness with God, then you truly become self-aware. Only then do you find true freedom and liberation and what Buddhists call Nirvana or enlightenment.
I'm using Buddhist or Hinduism to convey certain points but Mormon, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu; all these terms are transitory. In the end there is only truth, beyond all these labels and this discovery of the Kingdom within you is the final glance beyond the veil.
Without the fall of Adam and Eve we would not be able to rise. Their story is not one of transgression as much as it is of redemption.
In Hinduism the goal is self-realization and the obstacles are worldly luxuries and trappings because these things are all an illusion and only Brahman or God is real.
There is proof behind the scientific theory that the world is merely an illusion.
The Atonement is the ultimate act of redemption that will resolve every act of transgression and sin, we have all received our golden ticket we need only realize this truth and we are set free from the prison of our own design.
January 31, 2014
Forever Young
The living are soft and yielding;
the dead are rigid and stiff.
Living plants are flexible and tender;
the dead are brittle and dry.
Those who are stiff and rigid
are the disciple of death.
Those who are soft and yielding
are the disciples of life.
The rigid and stiff will be broken.
The soft and yielding will overcome.
-Lao Tzu
Those who are rigid and stiff will hold on to their cherished beliefs, ideas, dogmas and ideologies. The open minded, the youthful, the living yield to truth wherever they find it and they prosper because of it. Those who do not die along with their ideologies, dogmas and beliefs. Ths goes for societies and cultures as well.
One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.
Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 199 One must stand for something or else fall for anything. And yet if one does not yeild to truth and wisdom when it presents itself the opportunity may not come again but even if it does it is more likely to be shot down quicker and harsher with each repetition.
Senior citizens often become rigid and set in their ways however the yound are more likely to be open, soft, gentle and yielding to new concepts and new ideas. They are more likely to find the beauty in the strange and unusual. And there is great power in truth where ever you find it and from where ever you find it.
And by being so gentle and yielding it is easier to be present and in the moment and thus truly savor the gifts life has to offer rather than shifting into autopilot and letting it slip through your fingers like grains of sand.
Think of how your body was when it was young, you were flexible or more flexible than you likely are today. Your body was softer more yielding to you movements. And in old age your body will be brittle, dry and unyielding not even remotely flexible.
Your heart and mind can remain forever young, open, soft, gentle, yielding or you can choose to become unyielding and thus become brittle, dry, fragile.
It is better to continue to grow, to remain youthful and flexible, yielding and open to all the surprises life has to offer.
If we think of life on an eternal time frame then it is not a question as to if we will exist but if we will exist as living or dead. There are a few things we must do to not just remain alive but remain youthful.
1) Continue to learn.Adding to the knowledge you have is incredibly important. You may not waiver once you've found truth but your understanding will deepen and that is to be treasured.
2) Nourish your curiosity.Feeding your creativity and curiosity keeps a spark in life. It helps prevent boredom which on an eternal time frame could become excruciating.
3) Exercise.Staying flexible helps if you actually are flexible. Sooner or later your biography becomes your biology. Your path through life is evident in the way you look. As long as you're healthy for you that's all that matters.
4) Don't worry; be happy.Now it would be inappropriate to be happy in every situation in life but being positive makes life much easier to deal with when times are tough and even better when times are good.
When I think of Jesus, I think of just how happy he seemed most of the time. How centered he seemed considering. He was very relaxed most of the time.
We don't need to simply adopt Christs doctrines but also his countenance.
His joy, his centeredness, his delight in the company of others all point to being fully alive and invested in every moment as it presented itself.
And not only alive but youthful, vibrant, bendable but in breakable because he was not dead and brittle.
We don't just need to exist forever we need to be forever young.
the dead are rigid and stiff.
Living plants are flexible and tender;
the dead are brittle and dry.
Those who are stiff and rigid
are the disciple of death.
Those who are soft and yielding
are the disciples of life.
The rigid and stiff will be broken.
The soft and yielding will overcome.
-Lao Tzu
Those who are rigid and stiff will hold on to their cherished beliefs, ideas, dogmas and ideologies. The open minded, the youthful, the living yield to truth wherever they find it and they prosper because of it. Those who do not die along with their ideologies, dogmas and beliefs. Ths goes for societies and cultures as well.
One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.
Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 199 One must stand for something or else fall for anything. And yet if one does not yeild to truth and wisdom when it presents itself the opportunity may not come again but even if it does it is more likely to be shot down quicker and harsher with each repetition.
Senior citizens often become rigid and set in their ways however the yound are more likely to be open, soft, gentle and yielding to new concepts and new ideas. They are more likely to find the beauty in the strange and unusual. And there is great power in truth where ever you find it and from where ever you find it.
And by being so gentle and yielding it is easier to be present and in the moment and thus truly savor the gifts life has to offer rather than shifting into autopilot and letting it slip through your fingers like grains of sand.
Think of how your body was when it was young, you were flexible or more flexible than you likely are today. Your body was softer more yielding to you movements. And in old age your body will be brittle, dry and unyielding not even remotely flexible.
Your heart and mind can remain forever young, open, soft, gentle, yielding or you can choose to become unyielding and thus become brittle, dry, fragile.
It is better to continue to grow, to remain youthful and flexible, yielding and open to all the surprises life has to offer.
If we think of life on an eternal time frame then it is not a question as to if we will exist but if we will exist as living or dead. There are a few things we must do to not just remain alive but remain youthful.
1) Continue to learn.Adding to the knowledge you have is incredibly important. You may not waiver once you've found truth but your understanding will deepen and that is to be treasured.
2) Nourish your curiosity.Feeding your creativity and curiosity keeps a spark in life. It helps prevent boredom which on an eternal time frame could become excruciating.
3) Exercise.Staying flexible helps if you actually are flexible. Sooner or later your biography becomes your biology. Your path through life is evident in the way you look. As long as you're healthy for you that's all that matters.
4) Don't worry; be happy.Now it would be inappropriate to be happy in every situation in life but being positive makes life much easier to deal with when times are tough and even better when times are good.
When I think of Jesus, I think of just how happy he seemed most of the time. How centered he seemed considering. He was very relaxed most of the time.
We don't need to simply adopt Christs doctrines but also his countenance.
His joy, his centeredness, his delight in the company of others all point to being fully alive and invested in every moment as it presented itself.
And not only alive but youthful, vibrant, bendable but in breakable because he was not dead and brittle.
We don't just need to exist forever we need to be forever young.
Spiritual Leprosy
Leprosy is one of the most enduring and ancient of diseases. It has been thought to be hereditary or a curse or a divine punishment. Even once its true cause had been discovered it is still often treated in separate hospitals call leprosariums where they live in colonies.
One tactic to diagnose leprosy was to slide a feather down the infected area and if the patient could not feel anything the diagnosis was confirmed.
Throughout history lepers had to wear special clothing, ring bells to let others know they were close and even walk on different sides of the street depending on the direction of the wind.
Leprosy is a degenerative disease causing disfigurement of the body and numbness.
By closing yourself off to others, by refusing to even care you are falling into what often develops into a spiritual form of leprosy which disfigures and numbs the soul.
No soul is considered uglier than a scrooge like emotional miser who is only concerned with their own welfare. Now we know that some of them are sociopaths but it can be a case of nature or nurture depending on the choices we make.
Jesus on the other hand was anything but a spiritual leper. He had nothing but infinite love for all. And He cared so much for all He met, He showed respect to sinners, and lepers and the poor and all the unclean and undesirables of His society. His approach to life was as radical in His day as it would be in ours.
Genesis 4:24 says "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy and sevenfold."
Seventy and sevenfold is synonymous with seven times seventy and with infinity.
Lamech wanted infinite revenge for limited sin. He was uncaring and one of the most sinister characters in the Bible and certainly spiritually leperous.
There is another example is scripture; Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus is a beggar whose plight is consistently over looked by a very rich man who has more than enough, he could easily help Lazarus out but he does not.
This is a parable of Jesus.
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19-31)
Those tormented in life like Lazarus who do not lash out in return are rewarded in the here after whereas the rich man who rewarded himself and ignored the plight of Lazarus as he suffered is condemned.
Leprosy is outwardly disfiguring, leprosy or numbness of the soul is spiritually disfiguring. It leaves you corrupted due to your own self imposed ignorance of the emotional well being, the physical well being of others.
Anyone of us may do the same thing daily as we drive by the homeless with their signs in the freezing winter weather either not caring about their plight or indignant in the judgment of them being addicts or lazy or any of the other common myths and rationales for refusing to help others.
Gollum is a memorable character who became so numb to others and so self absorbed he physically transformed into a sickly monster. He was viscious toward anyone who intruded into his world, a cave, and saw every action as a threat regardless as to whether or not it really was.
Then we find that he is psychologically split between a good side and a evil side but the good side has not enough faith in the goodness of the world and believes everyne else is as sinister as he really is.
Addiction is a type of spiritual leprosy because once addicted you don't care about anything but your fix, you hurt those closest to you and all you care about is your fix.
This leads to all the tell tale signs of spiritual leprosy.
In Utah this last week a certain public school took the food trays of 30-40 children whose parents hadn't put enough money in their lunch money funds and threw the food away rather than letting children eat free.
This is a classic example of greed, of spiritual leprosy leading some to throw food away rather than giving it away for free and not caring whatsoever that children are suffering or emotionally wounded by your behavior, no the bottom line is all that matters.
People that suffer from spiritual leprosy have a disfigured soul but unfortunately they don't wear special clothing or ring bells when they approach us. The aren't isolated into sealed off communities. And they may be attractive rather than monstrous in appearance.
But their actions make them known. By their fruits shall ye know them.
The only thing that can soften a hardened heart, or reawaken feeling in a spiritual leper is love. Agape is the Greek word for unconditional love like the kind that Christ has for us. That is the only thing that can reignite the furnace of love in the hearts of those who have closed themselves off from the world. Those whose stony facade towers like a mid-evil castle. Love will bring those walls down like the trumpets brought down the walls of Jericho.
In modern times people are unbelievably numb to the plight, to the concerns or emotional well being of others, they care only for themselves and are even idolized for not caring.
This isn't just about showing others how dirty they are, this is about us going to the waters to cleanse ourselves as the ten lepers do after instructed by Jesus in Luke. Only one stays clean and praises God.
Spiritual lepers aren't to be feared as physical lepers are, neither one or the other but both should be embraced. Spiritual lepers need love more than most, it's more than what will cure them, it's likely the one thing they knew too little of in their lives.
Leprosy can be treated both the spiritual kind and the medical kind.
January 29, 2014
Believe
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)Jesus invites Peter to meet Him out on the water, at first Peter does fine but the further out Peter goes the deeper he sinks in to the water.
"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:28-31)
Jesus is asking Peter "Why did you doubt?" Peter's response isn't recorded, the point is made regardless. Jesus is trying to show Peter he can do as Jesus does if only he has the faith to do it.
"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." (Luke 17:6)
The laws of nature will be bound to us as they are bound to God, because though God the Father will always be our God we can progress to a very close level. We have His attributes in embryo, His children will grow into adulthood to be like Him.
We can work the same miracles as Jesus or any Prophet like Moses if only we believe but not only belief in God but belief in ourselves.
If we doubt our own abilities we squander our potential.
We have to believe we are capable of the greatness that was seen in Prophets like Moses or Elijah, or in Jesus Himself.
We have an easier time, I think, having faith in others than we do having faith in ourselves to accomplish great and wonderful things.
The Apostles had all the faith in the world that Jesus could work miracles yet they themselves did not have the faith that they could work the same miracles.
"And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic[c] and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief;[d] for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”[e]
(Matthew 17:14-21)
Jesus is saying that fasting and prayer is how you grow close enough to God to nurture the faith that can work miracles. Spending time alone absorbed in the spirit allows you to feel the majesty of God and after enough time you may wield that majestic power for righteous purposes. Jesus says the only path to it is fasting and prayer.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:6-12)
Contentment with all things in your life is great gain. I think for most of us the lie we keep believing throughout our lives is that "If I can get ____ I will be happy."
But we brought no possessions with us into this world and we will take none with us so how can all this stuff, like a lexus, be all that important?
Jesus didn't have anything more than the clothes on His back and was perfectly content and happy because unlike so many of us He was content with what He did have. He knew He had the love of God and He extended that love to all so He was loved by many because of that divinely loving countenance.
The question is if Jesus says that the birds are taken care of by God and that we are so much more important to Him than them so we will never have to worry, do we believe Him?
When Jesus says the right way, the effective way to deal with those that hate you, that curse you, is to pray for them do we believe that loving our enemies will work? It worked when Gandhi tried it and when Dr.King tried but when have any of us really tried? When have any of us believed that loving your enemy is the way to go? If we believe Jesus is the Christ then why do we fail to believe in His all of His teachings?
If we don't believe every teaching of Christ how are we to know, how is anyone to know, how is Jesus to know we are Christian?
Faith and belief goes beyond simply believing in Jesus as our savior and believing in His teachings and believing that acting them out is the best way for everyone involved and we are all involved.
January 28, 2014
The Kingdom Awaits You
Jesus served many but He was also served. I'll give you a few examples and we will see how Jesus views these acts."And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (Luke 7:36-50)
Jesus turns the table on the Pharisee and points out that He was given no water for His feet but the woman had washed His feet with her tears and washed them with her hair. Jesus says He was given no kiss by the Pharisee yet the woman never ceased kissing His feet.
Though a lowly sinner the woman's service and faith redeemed her while the holier-than-thou Pharisee is not forgiven because he does not forgive.
But Jesus also washed the feet of the Apostles. We will see why:
"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:1-17)
If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. This is the crux of the story Jesus is saying "As I have done to you, you should do to one another."
Later in John Jesus says "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
We will be know as true disciples by our love AND by our service. Because true and meaningful service is born out of love. No one was ever more loving than Christ and no one served more than He did.
He served those He met by offering His wisdom over a meal or by healing them, by rekindling their faith as He did the Samaritan woman at the well. He served the outcasts, the sinners, the poor and all those deemed lesser by the ruling class and religious elite.
The Atonement stands as Christ's greatest act of service.
Take a look at the acts of service Jesus highlights for the disciples of John the Baptist; "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matthew 11:4-5)
Now Jesus served with miracles and maybe we will see our share but this in and of itself is not the only means of service. But the point remains; if you want to experience the Kingdom, take part in it and revel in it then extend forgiveness, love and serve those in your life.
Serve others as Jesus served us is what He is asking of us, it is what He told His Apostles to do.
"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
Mosiah 2:17
In the talk "You Are My Hands" by Uchtdorf we hear a story about a war torn statue of Jesus that was repaired except for its hands. The hands were missing. So someone hung up a sign on it that said "You Are My Hands."
We are told to serve others as Christ served us, we act in His stead, and the more we do the more we may see with His eyes, feel compassion with His heart and act with His hands.
The Kingdom of God is within you, and it awaits you.
We can build up the Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven with acts of service, with acts of love, with Christ-like acts. Once you've found the Kingdom within yourself the service, the acts of love flow naturally.
January 27, 2014
Continuing The Ministry
Jesus talks much about doing the right thing in secret, maybe he's saying that we should do the right thing even when no one is watching or that we should do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:1-8)
The other day I was hoping on the Trax to go downtown, I went to pay for my fare and when I went to put in the cash I found a full fare ticket that would last me long enough to do my running around. So the next day when I was coming home and had an all day pass I no longer needed I also put it in the cash slot at the ticket machine. I felt as good placing a ticket there as I did finding one.
I didn't make a big show of it when I randomly helped out another rider anymore than the person who helped me. The point isn't to show off, it's just to help.
Suspended coffees fall under a similar heading. They are coffees people pay for so that those who can't afford coffees or sandwiches can pick up a drink and some food. You simply ask for suspended coffees and sandwiches and you receive them.
"Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." (Luke 18:22)
And Jesus says in scripture it is by their fruits shall they be known. Meaning, it is by their actions and words that people will be known as a true or false disciple. Just like a good tree never produces bad fruit a bad tree never produces good fruit. Teachings are also included in this. Good teachings produce good fruits and bad teachings produce bad fruits.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:16-23)
Do we walk the walk instead of just talking the talk? Do you think Christ would have built luxurious mega churches or shopping malls or do you think He would have sold all He had and given it to the poor?
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21)
If Jesus says we should sell what we have and give it to the poor does that mean we can do the opposite and still claim discipleship? Or must we live as Jesus did? Should we live by the pattern, by the example Christ set?
If we do the opposite yest profess our own idea of discipleship will we be the ones Christ will profess to not know us, workers of iniquity?
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:42-47)
Those who followed the Apostles were many. After Jesus had been raised, the community He started grew exponentially. Serving the poor, healing the sick, tending to the ostracized were the major tenants of this new faith as preached by Christ's disciples.
Just as they were paramount to Christ's own mission during His ministry and life.
Whether they be acts large and small, shouldn't our acts reflect the light of Christ? Shouldn't we bear the same good fruits as did Christs?
Whether you're paying for suspended coffees and sandwiches or giving up your used bus transfers or Trax tickets or donating blood or volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating to a homeless shelter you, through acts big and small, are continue on the ministry, the life and teachings of Jesus.
We act in His stead. That's what being Christian really means. It means laying down your life in the name of God rather than taking lives in the name of God.
Just as random acts of violence can destroy someones faith in humanity random acts of kindness can restore someones faith in humanity. The act itself is inconsequential when compared to the kindness behind it.
We need a Christianity, a ministry, a discipleship that looks more like Jesus than what we have now. We now say "Let's go shopping!" Instead of saying "Sell all you have and give it to the poor!"
Christianity doesn't look like Jesus to non-Christians and Mormonism isn't fairing much better.
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:1-8)
The other day I was hoping on the Trax to go downtown, I went to pay for my fare and when I went to put in the cash I found a full fare ticket that would last me long enough to do my running around. So the next day when I was coming home and had an all day pass I no longer needed I also put it in the cash slot at the ticket machine. I felt as good placing a ticket there as I did finding one.
I didn't make a big show of it when I randomly helped out another rider anymore than the person who helped me. The point isn't to show off, it's just to help.
Suspended coffees fall under a similar heading. They are coffees people pay for so that those who can't afford coffees or sandwiches can pick up a drink and some food. You simply ask for suspended coffees and sandwiches and you receive them.
"Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." (Luke 18:22)
And Jesus says in scripture it is by their fruits shall they be known. Meaning, it is by their actions and words that people will be known as a true or false disciple. Just like a good tree never produces bad fruit a bad tree never produces good fruit. Teachings are also included in this. Good teachings produce good fruits and bad teachings produce bad fruits.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:16-23)
Do we walk the walk instead of just talking the talk? Do you think Christ would have built luxurious mega churches or shopping malls or do you think He would have sold all He had and given it to the poor?
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21)
If Jesus says we should sell what we have and give it to the poor does that mean we can do the opposite and still claim discipleship? Or must we live as Jesus did? Should we live by the pattern, by the example Christ set?
If we do the opposite yest profess our own idea of discipleship will we be the ones Christ will profess to not know us, workers of iniquity?
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:42-47)
Those who followed the Apostles were many. After Jesus had been raised, the community He started grew exponentially. Serving the poor, healing the sick, tending to the ostracized were the major tenants of this new faith as preached by Christ's disciples.
Just as they were paramount to Christ's own mission during His ministry and life.
Whether they be acts large and small, shouldn't our acts reflect the light of Christ? Shouldn't we bear the same good fruits as did Christs?
Whether you're paying for suspended coffees and sandwiches or giving up your used bus transfers or Trax tickets or donating blood or volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating to a homeless shelter you, through acts big and small, are continue on the ministry, the life and teachings of Jesus.
We act in His stead. That's what being Christian really means. It means laying down your life in the name of God rather than taking lives in the name of God.
Just as random acts of violence can destroy someones faith in humanity random acts of kindness can restore someones faith in humanity. The act itself is inconsequential when compared to the kindness behind it.
We need a Christianity, a ministry, a discipleship that looks more like Jesus than what we have now. We now say "Let's go shopping!" Instead of saying "Sell all you have and give it to the poor!"
Christianity doesn't look like Jesus to non-Christians and Mormonism isn't fairing much better.
January 22, 2014
Faith
In Luke 7:1-10 we see an example of how Jesus reacts to the faith of others, He is overjoyed and praises the Centurion who displays such great faith:"7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant[a] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion[b] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well."
And from the Canaanites came a woman who displayed similar faith.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.(Matthew 15:21-28)
Jesus recognizes her faith and heals her child gladly, He recognizes and praises the faith of the Centurion and heals his servant.
In order to truly be a disciple of Christ it is paramount to cultivate a strong and healthy faith. Jesus tells us:
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.(Matthew 17:18-20)
Jesus is telling His Apostles they could work the same miracles as He if they have even a little bit of faith. If it is true of them it is also true for us.
There is another story in the Gospels where Peter is summoned by Jesus as Jesus walks on the waters just outside of Peters boat. Peter makes it out but as he gets closer to Christ he begins to sink and almost drowns.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?(Matthew 14:22-31)
Faith is rewarded and praised by Christ. Jesus says if we have even a miniscule amount of faith we can move mountains. With faith we can part the Red Sea or walk on water, we can heal the blind or cleanse the leper.
Or more importantly, with faith, we can overcome the obstacles in daily life or the obstacles throughout our lives so that we not only survive but prevail.
Faith that there is justice in the universe, faith that we will prevail, faith that Family is forever is the keystone that makes life worth living. It is what let's us know we are loved, we are cared for, we are significant to The Lord.
It is the key that unlocks the ability to act in Christ's stead.
It is what tells us that eternal justice somewhere means there is true justice everywhere.
And from the Canaanites came a woman who displayed similar faith.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.(Matthew 15:21-28)
Jesus recognizes her faith and heals her child gladly, He recognizes and praises the faith of the Centurion and heals his servant.
In order to truly be a disciple of Christ it is paramount to cultivate a strong and healthy faith. Jesus tells us:
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.(Matthew 17:18-20)
Jesus is telling His Apostles they could work the same miracles as He if they have even a little bit of faith. If it is true of them it is also true for us.
There is another story in the Gospels where Peter is summoned by Jesus as Jesus walks on the waters just outside of Peters boat. Peter makes it out but as he gets closer to Christ he begins to sink and almost drowns.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?(Matthew 14:22-31)
Faith is rewarded and praised by Christ. Jesus says if we have even a miniscule amount of faith we can move mountains. With faith we can part the Red Sea or walk on water, we can heal the blind or cleanse the leper.
Or more importantly, with faith, we can overcome the obstacles in daily life or the obstacles throughout our lives so that we not only survive but prevail.
Faith that there is justice in the universe, faith that we will prevail, faith that Family is forever is the keystone that makes life worth living. It is what let's us know we are loved, we are cared for, we are significant to The Lord.
It is the key that unlocks the ability to act in Christ's stead.
It is what tells us that eternal justice somewhere means there is true justice everywhere.
January 19, 2014
Judgement & Forgiveness
7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Matthew 7:1-3)
In the Joseph Smith Translation of The Bible we are told to "Judge Righteously." Let's see an example:
"Rav Abraham Joseph Twerski, in his book Generation to Generation tells the following story:One Tisha B'Av the Rebbe of Berdichov came accross an obviously non-observant Jew who was eating.
"My child," the Rebbe said, "You must certainly have forgotten that today is Tisha B'Av, a fast day."
"No, I did not forget," the man replied. "I know it is Tisha B'Av," continuing to eat.
"Ah, then, you certainly have not been feeling well, and you are under doctors orders not to fast today," the Rebbe said.
"I am perfectly healthy," the man said, "And I have nothing to do with doctors."
The Berdichover lifted his face toward heaven. "Look, Ribono Shel Olam, how truthful and honest Your children are. I have offered the man opportunities to explain away his behavior, but he insists on telling the truth even to his own hurt. He knows how much You value truth, and he will not divert from it. Who else would be so loyal to your principals?"It says in the Parsha that always falls out the Shabbos before (except when it falls out on) Tisha B'Av(Dev. 1:17) that a judge is not to favor a greater person more then a lesser person, he must listen to them equally, Ki HaMishpat LeElokim Hu, because judgement is God's."
The man questioning the man who is eating favorably judges the man eating rather than condemning him. This is what righteous judgement is.
If you want to read the rest click here.
Jesus tells us that however harsh or light we judge others is the same degree which The Lord will judge us. He also tells us that we must look within and perfect ourselves rather than raking others over the coals for their misdeeds.
He also refers to those who do judge the sins of others as hypocrites.
"Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:4-5)
It is a "He who is without sin may cast the first stone" moment.
Judgement is forbidden because it is too often tied in with condemnation and judgement alone is God's. No one likes being condemned yet so many of those people who are the first to cry foul when they are judged are the very first to offer their judgement and condemnation of others.
I know I don't like judgmental people and I do try not to judge, that's God's job not mine. According to Jesus our job is to love our neighbor, our enemies and all we meet. Our mission is to pray for those who persecute us, to forgive our debtors as we ask forgiveness for our debts.
I am always amazed when I hear someone judge and condemn another only to hear them say the forgive them as well. That can not be done. You can't condemn and forgive at the same time. People who do that I've noticed are trying to clear their conscience not perform the service of forgiveness.
All are alike unto God, so all are as deserving of forgiveness as you are. We are all His children.
If we want forgiveness from God for our transgressions, we must forgive others. And the first step is to stop judging.
Matthew 6:14-15 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Read More...)
Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5:21-24)
Jesus is comparing hate to murder here as He compares lust to adultery elsewhere in scripture. The reason saying "You fool" is worthy of hellfire is because it renders condemnation. Someone who is ill informed can learn but for a fool there is no hope. And Jesus also says here that before God will accept your offerings you must make amends with those who you harbor a grudge against, that it is more important to God that you love on another as He loves us than it is for you to make token offerings while holding on to your hate.
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)
Gematria is a Jewish form of numerology and it was beginning during Jesus' time. 77 or seventy times seven was a symbol for infinity and so Jesus is saying that your forgiveness should know no limits.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Paul, in Romans, is saying that none but Jesus are sinless. It is then fair to say that none are without sin so none may cast the first stone. When Jesus said that to the crowd there was one among them who was sinless and could throw the first stone. But He did not. Christ did not throw the first stone, He simply said "Go and sin no more."
According the the Law everyone knew that adulteress was condemned. But Jesus knew that was not the way. Forgiveness and Love were, and that is what He gave her.
You can never know what is on someone's heart, or what they have been through so without knowing their story how can anyone correctly judge? Maybe no one in that woman's life had ever truly believed in her, or maybe no one had ever truly seen her worth. But in that moment with Jesus she may have felt it for the first time. Because one man spared her life and for perhaps the first time in her life she was forgiven rather than condmemned.
If she felt that value, that worth then maybe that is what gave her the strength to "sin no more."
The thing is all of us are as human as she.
If you can be the one to refuse to condemn and the one who also forgives then who's to say you won't have the same effect on another that Jesus had on the adulteress?
The Atonement is for all to partake in and share amongst each other. When we extend forgiveness without limits as Christ did with the Atonement then we receive it.
Like a butterfly flapping it's wings the effect can be measured worldwide.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Matthew 7:1-3)
In the Joseph Smith Translation of The Bible we are told to "Judge Righteously." Let's see an example:
"Rav Abraham Joseph Twerski, in his book Generation to Generation tells the following story:One Tisha B'Av the Rebbe of Berdichov came accross an obviously non-observant Jew who was eating.
"My child," the Rebbe said, "You must certainly have forgotten that today is Tisha B'Av, a fast day."
"No, I did not forget," the man replied. "I know it is Tisha B'Av," continuing to eat.
"Ah, then, you certainly have not been feeling well, and you are under doctors orders not to fast today," the Rebbe said.
"I am perfectly healthy," the man said, "And I have nothing to do with doctors."
The Berdichover lifted his face toward heaven. "Look, Ribono Shel Olam, how truthful and honest Your children are. I have offered the man opportunities to explain away his behavior, but he insists on telling the truth even to his own hurt. He knows how much You value truth, and he will not divert from it. Who else would be so loyal to your principals?"It says in the Parsha that always falls out the Shabbos before (except when it falls out on) Tisha B'Av(Dev. 1:17) that a judge is not to favor a greater person more then a lesser person, he must listen to them equally, Ki HaMishpat LeElokim Hu, because judgement is God's."
The man questioning the man who is eating favorably judges the man eating rather than condemning him. This is what righteous judgement is.
If you want to read the rest click here.
Jesus tells us that however harsh or light we judge others is the same degree which The Lord will judge us. He also tells us that we must look within and perfect ourselves rather than raking others over the coals for their misdeeds.
He also refers to those who do judge the sins of others as hypocrites.
"Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:4-5)
It is a "He who is without sin may cast the first stone" moment.
Judgement is forbidden because it is too often tied in with condemnation and judgement alone is God's. No one likes being condemned yet so many of those people who are the first to cry foul when they are judged are the very first to offer their judgement and condemnation of others.
I know I don't like judgmental people and I do try not to judge, that's God's job not mine. According to Jesus our job is to love our neighbor, our enemies and all we meet. Our mission is to pray for those who persecute us, to forgive our debtors as we ask forgiveness for our debts.
I am always amazed when I hear someone judge and condemn another only to hear them say the forgive them as well. That can not be done. You can't condemn and forgive at the same time. People who do that I've noticed are trying to clear their conscience not perform the service of forgiveness.
All are alike unto God, so all are as deserving of forgiveness as you are. We are all His children.
If we want forgiveness from God for our transgressions, we must forgive others. And the first step is to stop judging.
Matthew 6:14-15 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Read More...)
Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5:21-24)
Jesus is comparing hate to murder here as He compares lust to adultery elsewhere in scripture. The reason saying "You fool" is worthy of hellfire is because it renders condemnation. Someone who is ill informed can learn but for a fool there is no hope. And Jesus also says here that before God will accept your offerings you must make amends with those who you harbor a grudge against, that it is more important to God that you love on another as He loves us than it is for you to make token offerings while holding on to your hate.
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)
Gematria is a Jewish form of numerology and it was beginning during Jesus' time. 77 or seventy times seven was a symbol for infinity and so Jesus is saying that your forgiveness should know no limits.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Paul, in Romans, is saying that none but Jesus are sinless. It is then fair to say that none are without sin so none may cast the first stone. When Jesus said that to the crowd there was one among them who was sinless and could throw the first stone. But He did not. Christ did not throw the first stone, He simply said "Go and sin no more."
According the the Law everyone knew that adulteress was condemned. But Jesus knew that was not the way. Forgiveness and Love were, and that is what He gave her.
You can never know what is on someone's heart, or what they have been through so without knowing their story how can anyone correctly judge? Maybe no one in that woman's life had ever truly believed in her, or maybe no one had ever truly seen her worth. But in that moment with Jesus she may have felt it for the first time. Because one man spared her life and for perhaps the first time in her life she was forgiven rather than condmemned.
If she felt that value, that worth then maybe that is what gave her the strength to "sin no more."
The thing is all of us are as human as she.
If you can be the one to refuse to condemn and the one who also forgives then who's to say you won't have the same effect on another that Jesus had on the adulteress?
The Atonement is for all to partake in and share amongst each other. When we extend forgiveness without limits as Christ did with the Atonement then we receive it.
Like a butterfly flapping it's wings the effect can be measured worldwide.
January 17, 2014
Acceptance
The idea of acceptance is not a specific doctrine in Christianity but it is paramount in life regardless. In the eight fold path of Buddhism suffering is the result of attachment. But attachment to misconceptions is the result of refusing to accept the reality you find yourself confronted with.
For example every one of Christ's Apostles were raised in the belief that the Messiah would conquer with military force the country of Judea. But Christ had other ideas.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister. (Mark 10:42-43)
Jesus is saying that while the Gentiles lord their authority over those they rule, for Him and His Apostles whoever leads must first serve or minister. Like King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. Or more specifically as Jesus Himself had done.
But the Apostles could not accept that Jesus would have to serve, suffer and die. Which is why, amongst other things, His last act before His crucifixion was to wash the feet of His disciples as would a servant.
This idea was so ingrained in the consciousness of the 2nd Temple period that I have to wonder if this is the reason Jesus told His Apostles not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. Because the people envisioned a Warrior King, not a Servant King. The wanted a Lion of God, they did not anticipate a Lamb of God.
This failure to accept a Lamb of God is I think why so many couldn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. Because He gave His life for The Lord rather than taking lives in the name of The Lord. Once He died they thought the fact that He had been killed and especially that He did not conquer Judea with military force meant that He could not be the long awaited Messiah.
And think of all the Biblical and Book of Mormon Prophets who heard The Lord's call. They had to first accept that calling. Moses took his time. Everyone has the Agency to refuse the call they get but if we are to truly act in His stead we must accept the calling with all the challenges in brings. Jeremiah was known as "The weeping Prophet." He wandered Jerusalem prophesying because he accepted that that was what The Lord needed of him. All the Biblical Prophets endured great hardships because of their calling and only rendered acknowledgement posthumously when their revelations proved true.
So it's not enough to say you accept the Teachings of Jesus; we must act upon them. When Jesus says "He who has ears let him hear" He is intending that by truly hearing His teachings that they will be enacted by those who have heard the word.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
So we must deny our own desires, our own self-interests and pursue the desires of Christ. We must accept His call and must accept the cross and challenges that brings.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39)
If you follow the ways of the world you may loose your soul but if you follow Jesus your world will be turned upside down but you will find everlasting life.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)
The way of the world is to value things, the way of Jesus is to value God and all our brothers and sisters whoever they may be. The treasure you build up in Heaven, the things you can take with you, are memories of the service you offered to others, the love both given and received in your life, the pure happiness from time with your family, friends, children and spouse.
The most powerful part of your testimony is how you talk to, how you talk about and how you treat others after Church services are over.
Jesus doesn't care about how many Bible verses you have memorized as much as He does about how you treat others.
Now giving up material gain and instead building up your treasures in Heaven is something easy to say you believe in but it's quite another to accept and implement those changes.
To accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior means to do more than attach His name at the end of your prayer, it means to live like Him. To sacrifice, to serve, to minister, to lay down your life for the principle embodied in all His teaching, parables and sayings: Agape or unconditional love for God and for all our brothers and sisters.
The Kingdom is within you and you can take part in it, you can bring it about at anytime when you accept His teachings and extend that love and forgiveness of the Atonement to all you meet, in effect acting in His stead. Acting as Jesus would and serving, forgiving and loving without conditions is a hard life to accept. Meeting hate with love is not easy but it's not meant to be, it's only meant to be worth it.
Accept life for what it is, change the things you can, pray about what you can't and accept that truly implementing Christ's teachings will turn your world upside down but it will turn your life right side up in the long run.
We are not humans having a spiritual experience here on Earth, we are spirits having a human experience here on Earth.
Accepting love can be as hard as accepting extending love to those who you hate or who hate you. It's very counter-intuitive to say that that will work but everyone has the agency to accept or reject your efforts, but we still have the responsibility to choose the right.
Hate can not drive out hate; only love can do that. Darkness can not drive out darkness; only light can do that. -Dr. martin Luther King
Like wise you can't magnify the calling Jesus extends to us all of discipleship if you can't accept implementing His teachings rather than just talking about them.
For example every one of Christ's Apostles were raised in the belief that the Messiah would conquer with military force the country of Judea. But Christ had other ideas.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister. (Mark 10:42-43)
Jesus is saying that while the Gentiles lord their authority over those they rule, for Him and His Apostles whoever leads must first serve or minister. Like King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon. Or more specifically as Jesus Himself had done.
But the Apostles could not accept that Jesus would have to serve, suffer and die. Which is why, amongst other things, His last act before His crucifixion was to wash the feet of His disciples as would a servant.
This idea was so ingrained in the consciousness of the 2nd Temple period that I have to wonder if this is the reason Jesus told His Apostles not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. Because the people envisioned a Warrior King, not a Servant King. The wanted a Lion of God, they did not anticipate a Lamb of God.
This failure to accept a Lamb of God is I think why so many couldn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. Because He gave His life for The Lord rather than taking lives in the name of The Lord. Once He died they thought the fact that He had been killed and especially that He did not conquer Judea with military force meant that He could not be the long awaited Messiah.
And think of all the Biblical and Book of Mormon Prophets who heard The Lord's call. They had to first accept that calling. Moses took his time. Everyone has the Agency to refuse the call they get but if we are to truly act in His stead we must accept the calling with all the challenges in brings. Jeremiah was known as "The weeping Prophet." He wandered Jerusalem prophesying because he accepted that that was what The Lord needed of him. All the Biblical Prophets endured great hardships because of their calling and only rendered acknowledgement posthumously when their revelations proved true.
So it's not enough to say you accept the Teachings of Jesus; we must act upon them. When Jesus says "He who has ears let him hear" He is intending that by truly hearing His teachings that they will be enacted by those who have heard the word.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)
So we must deny our own desires, our own self-interests and pursue the desires of Christ. We must accept His call and must accept the cross and challenges that brings.
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39)
If you follow the ways of the world you may loose your soul but if you follow Jesus your world will be turned upside down but you will find everlasting life.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)
The way of the world is to value things, the way of Jesus is to value God and all our brothers and sisters whoever they may be. The treasure you build up in Heaven, the things you can take with you, are memories of the service you offered to others, the love both given and received in your life, the pure happiness from time with your family, friends, children and spouse.
The most powerful part of your testimony is how you talk to, how you talk about and how you treat others after Church services are over.
Jesus doesn't care about how many Bible verses you have memorized as much as He does about how you treat others.
Now giving up material gain and instead building up your treasures in Heaven is something easy to say you believe in but it's quite another to accept and implement those changes.
To accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior means to do more than attach His name at the end of your prayer, it means to live like Him. To sacrifice, to serve, to minister, to lay down your life for the principle embodied in all His teaching, parables and sayings: Agape or unconditional love for God and for all our brothers and sisters.
The Kingdom is within you and you can take part in it, you can bring it about at anytime when you accept His teachings and extend that love and forgiveness of the Atonement to all you meet, in effect acting in His stead. Acting as Jesus would and serving, forgiving and loving without conditions is a hard life to accept. Meeting hate with love is not easy but it's not meant to be, it's only meant to be worth it.
Accept life for what it is, change the things you can, pray about what you can't and accept that truly implementing Christ's teachings will turn your world upside down but it will turn your life right side up in the long run.
We are not humans having a spiritual experience here on Earth, we are spirits having a human experience here on Earth.
Accepting love can be as hard as accepting extending love to those who you hate or who hate you. It's very counter-intuitive to say that that will work but everyone has the agency to accept or reject your efforts, but we still have the responsibility to choose the right.
Hate can not drive out hate; only love can do that. Darkness can not drive out darkness; only light can do that. -Dr. martin Luther King
Like wise you can't magnify the calling Jesus extends to us all of discipleship if you can't accept implementing His teachings rather than just talking about them.
January 14, 2014
The City Of Zion
Enoch was a Prophet who taught and ministered to many, founding the City of Zion. Over the course of over 3 Centuries the City of Zion matured spiritually and was lifted up into the bosom of The Lord.
The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind:Moses 7:18–19;
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold," (Acts 4:34)
The community of Christ's disciples behaved just as righteously as the inhabitants of Zion. They learned well from Jesus.
The City of Zion is symbolic of the Kingdom of God. The people are of one mind and one heart and all are alike unto God. Jesus said much of this Kingdom in fact he said "
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Jesus doesn't just mean accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, part of accepting His teachings is to act on them and live them out.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35)
By their love shall all know that they are disciples of Christ.
By acting on the Teachings of Jesus we bring about The Kingdom of God. Christ said
'The Kingdom of God is within you" and that is the first crucial step in bringing about a Zion community anywhere.
An internal journey, finding oneself and having that baptism of fire is what will bring about a Christ-Like transformation that will unleash that righteousness laying dormant within us and then we shall see that the Kingdom is already here.
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" (Matthew 3:11)
Jesus is a hard act to follow but we are called to carry our cross and follow Him. Hard a path as it is His Apostles learned to walk the walk not just talk the talk. They all were martyred:
Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword at a distant city of Ethiopia.
Mark expired at Alexandria, after being cruelly dragged through the streets of that city.
Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in the classic land of Greece.
John was put in a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner, and was afterward banished to Patmos.
Peter was crucified at Rome upside down.
James, the Greater, was beheaded at Jerusalem.
James, the Less, was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the temple, and then beaten to death with a fuller's club.
Bartholomew was flayed alive.
Andrew was bound to a cross, whence he preached to his persecutors until he died.
Thomas was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East Indies.
Jude was shot to death with arrows.
Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded.
Barnabas of the Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica.
Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by the Emperor Nero.
The Apostles believed in God and practiced that unconditional love so much that they, like Jesus, gave their lives for the cause of building up the kingdom rather than taking lives in the name of God.
The Apostles helped to grow the Jesus movement but around 70AD after the fall of Judea to Rome that movement died according to scholars and the movement that grew up out of that is what became the Catholic Church. After that community that "had no poor among them" disappeared there was a power vacuum that was filled by those who were hungry for power and the money that this new batch of followers had to offer.
After the Apostasy there seem no hope of another Zion community being raised up. But with each generation we have a new hope for helping to build up the Kingdom.
The hope for the Kingdom being built up on Earth as it is in Heaven is rekindled with every generation so it is always possible that we will get there.
But we each must be of one mind and one heart and pick up our crosses and follow the path of love Jesus tread. It lead to His exaltation and it will lead to our redemption.
Are we willing to sacrifice and work and to be transformed, baptized by the Holy Spirit and by fire? Are we willing to meet hate with love? Will we turn the other cheek? Will we practice what Jesus preached? Will we follow His commandments to love our neighbor and our enemies but above all our God?
The question is do we want those things not can we accomplish them.
Dan Brooks's Blog
- Dan Brooks's profile
- 1 follower
Dan Brooks isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
