ON LOVE; PART CMLIII

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God

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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).

We ended the last two essays with the Apostle Paul’s use of the Greek word eritheia which IS rendered by the King James translators as strife. As we noted a few posts back, Vincent tells us that strife IS: A wrong rendering, founded on the mistaken derivation from ἔρις, strife ⁴;  we also noted that the lexicon tells us that the presumed root word eris IS of uncertain affinity ². In ALL of this we should see that this word IS a NOT strife but IS better understood as Vincent shows us, as the idea of faction which idea can be derived from Greek writings that date before the New Testament. This idea IS most always associated with politics according to New Testament commentary but this may be a limit that must be overlooked to rightly understand the apostle’s intent. The 1828 edition of Webster’s dictionary defines faction as:

1. A party, in political society, combined or acting in union, in opposition to the prince, government or state; usually applied to a minority, but it may be applied to a majority. sometimes a state is divided into factions nearly equal. Rome was almost always disturbed by factions. Republics are proverbial for factions, and factions in monarchies have often effected revolutions.
   A feeble government produces more factions than an oppressive one.
   By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
2. Tumult; discord; dissension. ¹

While this definition IS also wrapped in political ideas, the second  example IS NOT and if we can see this idea of united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community we can then better understand how this idea IS contrary to the Truth. Two posts back we aligned this idea as it IS presented by Webster’s with Paul’s words to the Corinthians that show how that there ARE divisions among the people based on the teacher that each man acknowledges as his own. This IS much like the denominational separations of Christianity that we see today and, to a man, each IS convinced that his own denominational view IS right; and this IS ofttimes taken to extremes.

It IS with this in mind that we ended the last essay with our view of the similarity between this idea of eritheia as faction and our use of the idea of glamour as this afflicts most ALL men. In our view of Life glamour IS both a cause and an effect of illusion and this idea of illusion IS for us the reality of the idea of vanity as Paul uses this and as Vincent defines it. If we can see Vincent’s idea of vanity as Paul uses this idea to say “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same” (Romans 8:20) and understand that this IS that sense of illusion, we can come to better understand the reality of Life here in this Earth. Vincent tells us that this vanity IS: the reference is to a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends  ⁴ and if we can see how that glamour IS a working condition of this illusory view of Truth, we can then see the apostle’s idea of faction more clearly.

ALL views of the Godhead CAN NOT be the Truth and while men may believe that their particular brand IS the Truth, the reality IS that NONE ARE except they include the reality of the Great Commandments and the Truth of keeping His words. This IS True regardless of what True religion or denomination one may peruse as ALL teach the reality of Jesus’ own words at their heart. As IS True in Christianity so it IS True in most ALL religions; it IS the doctrines of men that ARE formed from their interpretations of the Truth that become the denominations or sects that pose as the Truth. At the heart of ALL True religions IS the admonition to men that they should look past their little selves in this world and strive toward the spiritual reality that comes in right thoughts, right attitudes and right actions, ALL of which see the reality of this One World, One Humanity and One God.

And this IS glamour: that men DO NOT see this One World, One Humanity and One God through their own selfish thoughts and attitudes which seek to minimize the beliefs of others in favor of their own. This IS despite the common sense reality that there can be ONLY One God, that this IS Truly ONE World and that ALL men ARE a part of the same human family. It IS in this idea of faction that ALL separation exists and this begins always in the selfish thoughts of men. It IS this idea of faction that should be taken from Paul’s words to the Corinthians who, in the early days of Christianity, chose to divide themselves into groups aligned along the teachings of a particular approach rather that to see the One Truth in the totality of ALL approaches. In the right view of the apostle’s words we should try to see this idea of faction as this IS the clear message when this word IS separated from the common views that have been applied to both the Greek word and the English translations; we read again:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

The Commentary Critical and Explanatory of the Whole Bible shows us this idea of faction in their commentary and, although they DO NOT apply this idea as we DO, the gist of their point IS clear; we read in part: every one of you saith–Ye say severally, “glorying in men”….one, I am of Paul; another, I am of Apollos, &c. Not that they formed definite parties, but they individually betrayed the spirit of party in contentions under the name of different favorite teachers  ⁸. Can we see here how that it IS this same spirit of party that IS the very foundation of Paul’s idea of faction and how that it IS this that IS responsible for the many thousands of different denominational views of the One Truth? And can we see the apostle’s point here in citing faction as one of those things that will keep a man from the “kingdom of God“? Can we see how that his caution IS against dividing the Truth and in claiming that one’s own view IS that Truth? And can we see how that this IS contrary to the Master’s words and the cautions offered by His apostles? We read the apostle’s words again:

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:17-24).

In the interpretation of this idea of faction into the simple idea of strife, or as rivalry as some render this, much of the impact of Paul’s intent IS lost and when we can see how that most ALL human disharmony IS fundamentally founded in the divisions created by men, we can then better see that intent. And this IS NOT limited to religion as we understand it alone as this sense of division reaches out to most ALL aspects of human Life; it IS in the thoughts and attitudes of men which ARE based in what they may believe to be True that the deeper reality of religion IS found. Paul however IS speaking in more spiritual terms as he points to the One Truth as he asks “Is Christ divided?” and here we should try to see that ALL else IS an offshoot of men’s misinterpretation of that One Truth regardless of who may have expressed it. As we leave this word we should try to see how that this IS a factor in opposition to the second of the Great Commandments which clearly says that men should “love thy neighbour as thyself” and when we can understand this Love, this agape, as this idea IS intended, we can more clearly see the apostle’s point which IS further clarified for us by the Master who also tells us “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them“

From a Truly Christian perspective the ONLY Truth IS found in keeping His words and ALL factions that teach contrary to this fundamental fact ARE covered by Paul’s intent here as he includes this as a grievous action of men. That men DO NOT see how that this most common human failing will keep a man from the “kingdom of God“? IS but a part of the glamour that such factions provide. And we should see this reality in Jesus’ words that form our trifecta of spiritual reality as it IS in His words that the Truth IS found and NOT in the many interpretations that form the factions of men. We read His words on the Kingdom of God, the One Truth and the Presence of God in one’s Life again:

• “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free“ (John 8:31-32).
• “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” (Matthew 7:21).
• “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).

While most of the disharmony caused by factions IS carnal in nature, the root IS ever spiritual as it goes to the fundamental beliefs that men hold; beliefs that ARE contrary to the spiritual Truths that Jesus and His apostle’s offer us. One need not be a ‘religious’ person to realize the totality of disharmony that exists in the world today and how that this IS ALL based in the divisions of Life created by men. This realization IS found in the deeper understanding that men DO have regarding right and wrong and although this realization IS obnubilated by the self serving thoughts and attitudes of men, it IS ever waiting to be awakened. And this IS the True intent of most ALL spiritual teachings and scriptures: that they will awaken one to the Presence of his own Soul as the True Life and the guiding force that MUST eventually be followed if one IS to gain the “kingdom of God“.

Paul’s next words are similar in nature to this idea of faction and follow upon it as the actions of men who allow such glamour to overcome their sense of Truth. These ideas of seditions and heresies as the King James Bible renders them ARE, with their idea of strife, rendered in a most confusing manner by others with words that cross over from one idea to another. By example, we have strife, seditions and heresies here that ARE rendered as factions, divisions and parties by the American Standard Version and in our view of the ideas intended by faction, all of these rendered words apply. In the defining ideas from the lexicon of apostle’s next word, the Greek word dichostasia which IS rendered as seditions, we find dissension and division ² and this word IS rendered as division in its other two appearances in Paul’s epistles according to the King James Bible.

We should see that such division IS inherent in the idea of faction which IS the nearest idea to that Greek word eritheia as we have been discussing. The relationship of these points can be seen in Paul’s continued discussion with the Corinthians where, after he has told them that such factious thoughts and attitudes as expressed in I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas ARE errant, he continues to say: “ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (1 Corinthians 3:3-5). Here the idea of division is rendered from dichostasia while strife IS rendered from eris which IS rendered in our list as variance, and envying IS rendered from zelos which the King James gives us as emulation in our subject list.

Two points we should try to see here; first that this word that IS rendered as strife and which we see as faction IS a very important part of the human failure to properly relate to God and with the idea of glamour which we see as inherent in this faction, we have a root cause for so much of the disharmony that IS “the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21) from which we must escape. Our second point IS simply that in the confusion of these Greek words whose translations overlap and change based in the assumptions of the translators and commentators we should be able to see that there IS a different message than that which IS commonly perceived by men, a message that has spiritual connotations and the identification of human thoughts, attitudes and actions the will keep a man from the “kingdom of God“.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Aspect of God	Potency	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Great Invocation	In relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Spirit or Life	Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Soul or Christ Within	Heart of God	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Life Within	Mind of God	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

This Quote of the Day is the antithesis of glamour and illusion. In this mantram are the thoughts about ourselves and our brothers in the world that can diffuse these forces that hold a man in the world of things and prevent his spiritual progress.

Mantram of Unification

The sons of men are one and I am one with them.
I seek to love, not hate;
I seek to serve and not exact due service;
I seek to heal, not hurt.

Let pain bring due reward of light and love.
Let the Soul control the outer form, and life and all events,
And bring to light the love that underlies the happenings of the time.

Let vision come and insight.
Let the future stand revealed.
Let inner union demonstrate and outer cleavages be gone.
Let love prevail.
Let all men love.

The Mantram of Unification is a meditation and a prayer that at first affirms the unity of all men and the Brotherhood of Man based on the Fatherhood of God. The first stanza sets forth several truly Christian ideals in Unity, Love, Service and Healing. The second stanza is a invocation to the Lord and to our own Souls asking that from the pain (if there can truly be any) incurred in focusing on the Spirit and not the world will come Light and Love into our lives and that we begin to function as Souls through our conscious personalities. We ask that the spiritual control of our lives will bring to light for us the Love that underlies world events; a Love that the world oriented man will not see working out behind the scenes and also that the Love that we bring forth, individually and as a world group, can be seen by all and ultimately in all. Finally, in the last stanza we ask for those things that are needed for Love to abound. Vision and insight so that we can direct our attention properly; revelation of the future in the sense that all can see the Power of Love in the world; inner union so that we do not fall back into the world’s ways, that we faint not; and that a sense of separation, the antithesis of brotherhood, ends as we know it today. Let Love Prevail, Let All Men Love.spiritual control of our lives will bring to light for us the Love that underlies world events; a Love that the world oriented man will not see working out behind the scenes.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts