ON LOVE; PART MCCCXCII
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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).
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In the last essay we discussed some of our thoughts on the way that the churches have adopted their own chimeras which ARE reflected in their doctrinal messages and, to be sure, there ARE many such monsters in the world today. While the classic idea of the chimera IS a mythological monster, a fire-breathing monster* to be specific, the word itself has been lent to ideas of the mind. Today’s dictionary shows us that this monster can be a horrible or unreal creature of the imagination; a vain or idle fancy* which IS a depiction of whatsoever falsities one may believe regardless of one’s ability to actually imagine such things. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives us a clearer idea saying that the chimera IS: a creature of the imagination, composed of contradictions or absurdities, that can have no existence except in thought1 and here we should try to see the religious claims of many denominations and sects, claims that ARE NOT founded in reality nor in the scripture that they purport to be the source. While much of what we write can be likened to our own form of a chimera, and there ARE likely parts that ARE, our sense of reality actually comes from scripture, from the unadulterated words of the Master and His apostles. These ARE supplemented by the astute commentaries of several bible scholars who have grasped the meanings of the Greek words as we have and applied such defining ideas despite the way that some ARE contrary to their own doctrinal leanings. Our point here IS that the developed chimeras of religious thought ARE founded in the “commandments of men” which ARE NOT seen as such by the church that has been teaching such ideas for centuries at the expense of the Truth of Jesus’ own teaching. Most important here IS the reliance of the church on their nebulous ideas of faith in such things that can in NO way be proven; a faith that is become a tool of the monster which causes men to simply believe. There ARE many such chimeras in the Christian world and these range from their ideas of heaven and hell, to eternal damnation, to the singularity of Christ as the ONLY Way to God, to the vast and varied teachings on eschatology; in such ideas we should be able to easily see that there can be NO evidence of Truth. While the same can be said by the atheist regarding the teachings of the Master upon which we rely, there IS a difference. The teachings of the Master ARE grounded in agape and in the common sense idea that if we Love according to the reality His words, definite changes can be wrought in the lives of men. To this we add that Jesus and His apostles offer us a nearly scientific approach to the Lord as they show us that “there is no respect of persons” (Colossians 3:25) with God and while the convenience of using a personal pronoun abounds, there IS NO implication that our One God thinks, feels or acts as DO humans. It IS because the idea that God speaks to men IS so prevalent in the world’s scriptures that so many believe that He DOES think, feel and act as DOES a human albeit on a higher level as depicted in much of the world’s artwork regarding the Lord and, when a religion portrays the Lord in some other way as we find in Hinduism, that religion IS demeaned by those whose ideas ARE more human.
The Truth IS that God IS NOT a man, let alone a white man. God IS a Presence in which ALL men have a share and it IS ONLY when we can see the Lord as both His larger and smaller selves that we can properly understand our relationship to the Godhead. God IS Transcendent, that IS that He, as a Presence, encompasses ALL; there IS naught in the Universe that IS NOT part and parcel of that ‘Being’ which IS described for us as the “One Boundless Immutable Principle; one Absolute Reality which, antecedes all manifested conditioned Being. It is beyond the range and reach of any human thought or expression“**. It IS based on such ideas of God that men have created the human component that so many see as God; it IS ONLY in this idea of His ‘humanity’ that so many men can grasp any meaning of God. God IS also Immanent in His creation which idea IS the foundation for much that IS offered to us in the world’s religions albeit not according to the Truth of His reality which IS reflected for us in such ideas as “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27). Add to this the Master’s own words regarding His Presence in the hearts of men, words that must be properly interpreted away from the dogma of doctrinal teachings. The third part of our trifecta reflects this Presence and while the idea IS doctrinally presented as that it IS the ‘believer’ that has such Presence, the reality IS that it IS ONLY those who “keep His words” that can have such realizations of Truth. Jesus tells us that “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” and the deeper meaning of this idea IS founded in His continuing dialogue with His disciples. The simplicity of His words to His disciples should show us that He IS speaking to men who DO keep His words, an idea that IS doctrinally stretched to include ALL believers according to the individual doctrines that they accept. It IS commonly understood that man IS Spirit, Soul and body but the relationships between these aspects of God and man ARE NOT nearly understood and ARE a part of what the prophet tells us according to Matthew saying “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35). It IS these same secrets that Paul shows us as “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (Colossians 1:27, 26). What IS this mystery according to Paul? It IS the reality of “Christ in you” which IS God Immanent as the Soul of everyman, an aspect of humanity that ever IS but which goes unrealized by those whose focus IS yet carnal and, to be sure, this includes most everyone. While the idea of man as Spirit, Soul and body seems an accurate presentation, it IS NOT Truly so as the body IS NOT a part of the True man, the Spirit and Soul, and neither IS his developed personality. Both of these physical aspects of man ARE but the vehicle of expression for the True man. Spirit IS yet another misunderstood idea which many teach IS the possession of a man in this world; the reality IS that the Spirit IS the True man which IS manifest as Soul and that these two aspects ARE inseparable in the normal functioning of men in this world. It IS the functioning of the aspects of man and God that ARE the subject of this chart that we published in many blog posts of the past and which we provide here again for our further discussion:
| 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 |
We will not find the ‘body’ as an aspect in this chart which IS based in esoteric literature. Most ALL of this type of literature IS demeaned by the Christian world as heretical and this IS a True analysis according to the meaning of the word, a meaning that IS NOT properly understood by many who use it. Heresy IS defined today as: opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system* and to be sure such ideas as this chart and the accompanying literature, indeed much of what we discuss in this blog, IS at variance with and ofttimes outright contradicts accepted Christian doctrine. Here again we have the power of the assumed spiritual authority over any and ALL spiritual ideas that conflict with the orthodoxy of the church’s doctrinal views and the fact that much of this has been developed over many centuries DOES NOT in itself make such views any the more True. While the churches have gone off in their various directions, the reality and the Truth remains as this IS established in a right reading of the world’s scriptures and, for us, the Truths that ARE established in the Master’s words and the rightly interpreted words of His apostles. While the church consistently demeans the ideas of ALL that DO NOT agree with their orthodox views regarding the True message of Jesus and His apostles, the esoteric world shows us a similar view of the church under such ideas which we have discussed in past essays as: “The church today is the tomb of the Christ and the stone of theology has been rolled to the door of the sepulchre“^. This statement reflects the esoteric opinion that the ways of the church over the last 2000 years have buried the Truth in its various doctrinal views, views that we should remember DO qualify under Jesus words saying s “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). Another view of the misinterpretations of the church IS found in this from the Tibetan Master whose Life’s work has been dedicated to the Truth that the Master revealed; he tells us that: “Starting with St. Paul, the theologians interpreted His words in such a manner that they served to bridge the gap between the spiritual future of the world and the Jewish dispensation which should have been passing out. So effective has been their work that the teachings of the loving, simple Son of God have been largely ignored; the failure of Christianity can be traced to its Jewish background (emphasised by St. Paul), which made it full of propaganda instead of loving action, which taught the blood sacrifice instead of loving service, and which emphasised the existence of a wrathful God, needing to be placated by death, and which embodied the threats of the Old Testament Jehovah in the Christian teaching of hell fire“.
We should admit here that much of what we write has its foundations in the many esoteric writings that teach the Truth of the message of the Christ and we should add that this Truth is readily evident to any and ALL that seek it without any motivation to protect their doctrinal allegiances. It IS the churches reliance upon their interpretations of Paul’s writings to the exclusion of the Truth of Jesus’ words that has plagued True Christianity from the beginning. While the apostles seemingly tried to write specifically about Jesus’ teachings, their own Jewish ideas, and they ARE ALL Jews, inadvertently crept into their thoughts as they saw the greatest audience for the Master’s words in the Jewish population of the time. The strength of the Jewish orthodoxy held firm however and through the assumed authority of the Jew’s religious leaders most ALL of the Jewish audience faded into the pronouncements of the Pharisees, the scribes, the High Priests and ALL those so affiliated. Of course we should understand that this was predictable; first based upon the words of the prophets and the Master Himself and second based upon the human nature through which doctrines flourish yet today. Jesus’ shows us this as He says to the Jews’ religious leaders “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” and we should understand here that the Jews believed that the Kingdom was theirs, that it was their right. These words are a part of the Master’s attempt to show these Jews that they ARE seeing the Truth but NOT recognizing it because they ARE seeing the whole of Life through doctrinal eyes. It IS with this idea that we should understand our point that Truth is readily evident to any and ALL that seek it without any motivation to protect their doctrinal allegiances. This sense of protection was a great motivation for the Jews as it IS today for the Christian and we ofttimes point out that were the Master to come among us today most ALL would look away and see Him as a heretic based on His utterances of Truth. We should try to see here that 2000 years ago much of this was scripted through the words of the prophets among which we must include David who says “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22-23). It IS these words that the Master repeats saying “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:42-44). It IS in their own sense of vanity, their own illusions and glamour that caused the Jews to believe that they were right and were righteous and the idea that Jesus would confront them while showing them the greater Truth ONLY resulted in a hardening of their position which in the end resulted in the Master’s physical death on the cross.
The vanity, the illusion and the glamour, of the church over the last 2000 years and yet today IS NOT different; most ALL rail against anything that IS contrary to their varied doctrinal teachings and we should note that the variance among denominations and sects IS such that many speak ill of each other as divisions of the Christian faith. At the same time they rally together against other religions and against any who write contrary to their often unfounded beliefs. We DO NOT use the word unfounded lightly; while many in the secular world would call ALL religion unfounded, including our own foundational beliefs, according to the definition of the word, this IS mostly because the secular world has NO perception of spiritual Truths. According to today’s dictionary unfounded means: without foundation; not based on fact, realistic considerations, or the like* and there Truly IS little or no foundation for much of church doctrines which ARE based in the wrangling of men concerning interpretations of out of context and misapplied sayings from scripture. Our view of the idea that the doctrinal church IS built upon such unfounded ideas IS based in the reality that they ignore the direct teachings of the Master; hence the comment by the Tibetan above saying: So effective has been their work that the teachings of the loving, simple Son of God have been largely ignored. Much of the secular world DOES of course even dismiss the Master’s words while taking some of them as mottos and virtuous ideas and a part of this problem can be traced to the doctrinal ideas of the churches from the beginning. This includes the way that the Jews interpreted the laws of Moses into their mitzvah which concentrates on the mundane and the carnal over the spiritual Truths. Jesus goes to great lengths to teach us that the nature of men must be overcome as He shows us such things while reflecting of the predictability of mankind saying such things as “whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive” (Matthew 13:12-14). This IS the state of the church which sees and hears the Master’s words yet DO neither understand them nor perceive the Truth which IS blocked from their minds by their doctrinal allegiances. A clear example to this IS found in our trifecta which we repeat here saying:
- “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).
We should try to see that most ALL of the world DOES conform to Isaiah’s words spoken nearly 3000 years ago; little has changed in the psyches of men. Most ALL are hearing but only what they choose to hear and whensoever something IS heard as the words of the Master above in our trifecta, there IS little acceptance and therefore little understanding. Should we conflate this idea of hearing with seeing as this IS shown us in the Master’s repeating of Isaiah’s words we could then understand that this IS NOT ONLY through the eyes but rather through the minds of men. In this perhaps we can ‘see‘ how that such things that appear to men in thought regarding the things of God ARE equally dismissed and, again, with NO acceptance there IS NO understanding. An example of both IS found in the Master’s words on treasure where doctrinal thinkers will acknowledge that the subject IS riches but deny that the Master’s intent IS that they should choose “treasures in heaven” over “treasures upon earth” as a strict construct. While Jesus’ intent IS clear, the Truth IS NOT heard as men have convinced themselves that His intent IS NOT that they should not have nor seek treasures but that they should share whatsoever they may accumulate. Similarly the Master dialogue with the rich young ruler where the take away IS Truly that his riches surely inhibit his ability to “enter into the kingdom of God“. Despite the clarity of explanation that Jesus offers there IS little or NO perception of the Truth as men see the idea but dismiss it because of its inconvenience in their lives. Luke shows us the ending of this exchange as Jesus tells His disciples “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:24-25). Men DO NOT Truly perceive the reality of Jesus’ words here nor DO they understand the purport of them despite the reality that they DO see the Truth and hear it. They have NOT accepted it however and this because those who have taken authority over the centuries have NOT accepted the spiritual principle; they have rather focused upon obscure meanings of “a needle’s eye” as a gate to the city rather than the specific idea of the words which ARE a needle intended for sewing. These examples concern both men’s quest for physical comfort which they choose over the words of Truth from the Master and there ARE examples of this in most every mention of human endeavor in Jesus words. Men choose the carnal over the spiritual because they DO NOT perceive nor understand what they should be clearly seeing and hearing. A final note on this particular encounter IS the closing question and the Master’s answer which has been accepted but interpreted into an idea where the self proclaimed Christian IS protected. The question posed IS “Who then can be saved?” and Jesus answer IS “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:26, 27) and from this we can draw our own conclusions, or own understanding and perception as we ask ourselves IS our own view carnal or spiritual.
This IS the nature of men that must be overcome if one IS to Truly seek the Kingdom of God and, according to Jesus words that ARE our trifecta, it IS in our keeping His words that we ARE Truly ‘saved‘ while ALL else, ALL of our interpretations and ideas that lie “against the Truth“, ARE but a carnal perception and understanding of the spiritual ideas presented. While presumably in a different context, the Apostle James uses this idea to show us the way that men deny their own behavior and we should understand here that this afflicts most ALL men, religiously oriented or secular. Speaking of the ideas of zelos and eritheia which ARE wrongly rendered as “bitter envying and strife“, James tells us “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:13-16). The idea here IS intimately tied to Jesus teachings on the necessary focus of the man who Truly seeks the Lord and shows us this man in the absence of Repentance. In zelos we have the idea of emulation which Vincent shows us saying that: the rendering envying, as A. V., more properly belongs to φθόνος, which is never used in a good sense. Emulation is the better general rendering, which does not necessarily include envy, but may be full of the spirit of self-devotion4. In emulation we have a much clearer view of the proclivities of men in this world and the product of that vanity to which ALL ARE subjected. Today’s dictionary defines emulation as men’s effort or desire to equal or excel others* but this IS at best an incomplete understanding. Webster’s 1828 dictionary, which ideas ARE likely used by Vincent and others of his era, tells us that emulation IS: the act of attempting to equal or excel in qualities or actions; rivalry; desire of superiority, attended with effort to attain to it; generally in a good sense, or an attempt to equal or excel others in that which is praise-worthy, without the desire of depressing others. Rom.11. In a bad sense, a striving to equal or do more than others to obtain carnal favors or honors1. Again, we should see humanity, carnal humanity to be sure, in these ideas of emulation and we should note that in a ‘good sense‘ or in a ‘bad sense‘ the idea IS at its heart self serving; it IS ever pointing to the self and the betterment of the self in this world. This idea IS much more complex than “bitter envying” and the intent of the phrase can be understood as “bitter emulation” with the idea of bitter better understood as sharp, biting* which Vincent tells us implies the “bad sense“. A better view may be that this idea of sharp be applied to ALL motivations to emulate; leaving the idea in a “bad sense” however DOES show us James clear intent as he tells us that such emulation IS “is earthly, sensual, devilish“.
The idea of emulation should show us the human desire to be better and we should try to understand that this emotional response to the world around us IS exactly that. Our desires ARE to be better according to our own social status and in this we should be able to see a wide range of emulations based upon that status; while men would ‘wish’ to extend beyond their own status, the direct aims ARE usually within their own social construct. Our point here IS that emulation in and of itself IS a self serving enterprise and whensoever it IS NOT directed at Truly spiritual endeavors it remains so, it remains a carnal drive toward betterment. That James shows us that such attitudes ARE “earthly, sensual, devilish” the ideas here need NOT invoke thoughts of ‘evil’ as doctrines may interpret this but rather should invoke thoughts of the general attitudes of men in this world whose focus IS yet upon the self and the things of the self. This again IS the result of that vanity of which we read that “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because expectation that the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21). In this revealing idea that we often discuss we have the placement of men into this world of things, of attitudes, of desires and of conflict, and we should understand that this IS the natural design of humanity as the human ‘animal’ instincts overwhelm the spiritual instincts of the Soul and it IS through this subjection and the nurturing and indoctrination that ALL endure that the result IS a Life that IS predictably “earthly, sensual, devilish“. Spiritually it IS this that we must overcome if we ARE to Truly follow the Lord and the doctrinal ideas of ‘salvation‘ serve little or NO purpose against our ability to make ourselves free from, to escape as Peter frames this (2 Peter 1:4), this vanity which IS our own individual “bondage of corruption“. Hence, James warns us against emulation and ALL of its derivatives which can include ideas of “bitter envying” which IS rendered by others as jealousy and which IS NOT completely understood by those who DO render as emulation. The further point here IS that James IS offering us spiritual instruction and this with his apparent understanding of Vincent’s commentary on vanity which ends with the final reality that the Greek word mataiotes shows us to be in: a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends4. Can we see the nature of the apostle’s warning here
Our next point in James words IS the word rendered as strife and this too IS a wrong understanding of the apostle’s intent. The Greek word here IS eritheia and while it IS rendered as strife, the Strong’s definition IS broader saying that this word IS: properly, intrigue, i.e. (by implication) faction:—contention(-ious), strife9a. As with many Greek words there IS an uncertain etymology but here the larger problem IS settlement upon the idea of strife to be inclusive of the other defining ideas. Thayer’s goes a bit deeper telling us that eritheia IS: used of those who electioneer for office, courting popular applause by trickery and low arts9 based upon its usage in Greek writing. Thayer’s goes on to say that eritheia IS: apparently, in the N. T. a courting distinction, a desire to put oneself forward, a partisan and factious spirit which does not disdain low arts; partisanship, factiousness9 and while a partisan and factious spirit may lead one to see the idea of strife, it IS the factious divisions that should be seen as James’ intent. Vincent helps clarify the idea behind this word saying that strife IS: A wrong rendering, founded on the mistaken derivation from ἔρις, strife. It is derived from ἔριθος, a hired servant, and means, primarily, labor for hire4; Vincent goes on to cite some references and then continues saying of the idea that: it comes to be applied to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest, and who, to that end, promote party spirit and faction. So Rom 2:8 : them that are contentious (ἐξ ἐριθείας), lit., of faction. Rev., factious. Also, Co2 12:20. Rev., here, rightly, faction4. Some of these defining ideas have allowed for such renderings as “self-centered ambition” or “selfish ambition“, “the desire to get the better of others” and just plain selfishness; none of these ideas however come close to the better understanding of faction which IS also used by some translators. Today’s dictionary defines faction as: a group or clique within a larger group, party, government, organization, or the like, typically having different opinions and interests than the larger group* and in this we should see the idea of division which IS likely James main point in using this idea which we refer to as factious division. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives us a comment in its definition of faction which may help us to understand the divisions of the early church against which James IS speaking; they say: 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 community1. In a later edition these words ARE applied to James Madison in the Federalist Papers. Our greater point to defining these ideas IS the inadequacy of the rendering of the words into “bitter envying and strife“. The implications ARE much greater and are better clarified in the rendering the idea as “harsh emulation and factious division” which can easily be seen as “earthly, sensual, devilish” as James aligns them before adding that “For where envying and strife harsh emulation and factious division is, there is confusion and every evil work“.
These words from James should serve to show us the way that the many translations of the bible fail to record the actual intent of the gospel and epistle writers. Much as the idea of riches has been downplayed by the church and even fought against by some as we find in the teaching of the so called ‘prosperity gospel’ where the teachers insist that we ARE intended to be rich or to at least have some overabundance. And there IS little cost for such overabundance save for asking and praying. From our perspective the ONLY persons Truly benefiting from such teachings ARE the teachers and their organizations and families which reap their share of tithes and offerings; most ALL others who may experience such benefits receive them according to happenstance and NOT the hand of God. There IS also a greater harm which must be endured by the majority that DO NOT receive any benefit despite their prayers, their tithing and their offerings; many ARE said to have too little or too weak faith. James covers this idea from a more spiritual perspective which when tied to his words rendered as “bitter envying and strife” offer us a greater reason for the failure of those with too little faith. James says “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever* therefore will be* a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:1-4). While the idea of “wars and fightings among you” seems to convey the idea of nations, the instructions ARE purely personal and should be understood to reflect the results of men’s “harsh emulation and factious division” and this as individuals through their alignment with separative groups in religion, politics or any social construct that tends to divide. The greater point however IS the reality that men DO “receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” and the whole of James words here serves to show us that there IS naught of this world that will come to men from God who IS “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). Moreover, it IS this same idea that IS covered by the Apostle Paul in our last selection from his First Epistle to the Corinthians; in this we have his reality that in the absence of one’s expression of agape, ALL that may be understood as gotten from the Lord IS but carnal manifestations and NOT the True spiritual fruit that comes into the lives of those DO have such expression of Love. In the end ALL of men’s seeking after riches, personal power or any other carnal benefit IS but the product of that vanity into which ALL ARE born, that vanity that IS our: perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends4. Few however understand this reality of Life in form.
We end today with our new selection from the First Epistle of John and will begin our discussion on this in the next post.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby* know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is borna of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4).
- 1 Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913 from https://1828.mshaffer.com/
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition
- 9 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon on blueletterbible.org
- 9a The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible on blueletterbible.org
- * Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
- ^ From The Reappearance of the Christ by Alice A Bailey; © 1948 by Lucis Trust
- ** From Externalization of the Hierarchy by Alice A Bailey © 1957 by Lucis Trust
Those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.
Voltaire, Writer and Philosopher
