Monthly Archives: March 2014

ON LOVE; PART DLXXVI

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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“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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“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

We have been spending much time on this first chapter of the Epistle of James where we are trying to break down the apostles use of Greek words that have more meaning according to his intent than IS apparent in the translated words themselves. James’s manner of writing, his choosing of words that are not common Greek terms and his use of others that can mean multiple ideas, IS for us reminiscent of the writing style of the Master as James seems to make full use of parabolic language to hide meaning from those who CAN NOT yet see clearly. When the ideas from James are measured against the similar arguments from Jesus, the Truth of his language shines through and where the Master tells us of His use of the parable and why, the apostle DOES NOT but at the same time interjects several plainly stated Truths that are his key to understanding. The clearest example of this IS of course the idea that a man should be a DOER and this has its meaning regardless of what a man may believe in the word hearer as we read: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Here, while the nature of one’s deception can be debated, the idea of being a DOER IS abundantly clear. As we have discussed, there ARE several approaches to this idea of being a hearer; the most real for us the of course the Truth, that to listen to the Truth of His words and believe that they ARE the Way does NO thing for the man but allow him to deceive himself in his own thoughts regarding his religion that may tell him that he already IS saved or IS born again. From our perspective the idea that a man can hear the words of the Master that tell us of the Love that a man MUST express and that the Truth of salvation IS in keeping His words which ARE the word of God and then NOT DO these things because of established beliefs, IS self-deception.

We have ofttimes said that there is a need for this reliance on doctrine in the world as it DOES keep many closer to God than they may have been without it and we have also said that there IS a need for the Truth, for the right understanding of the words of the Master and His apostles regarding these ideas of being born again and salvation. We have ofttimes said that there ARE NO shortcuts and no easy affirmations that can replace the need to keep His words and this IS the message here from the Apostle James. In the last few posts we have established a kind of secondary way of being a DOER; that is that a man can DO those things that doctrine tells him are True and we used the example of Love to show our meaning. This idea should however be expanded to include ALL things that doctrine teaches regarding the actions of a man in the world and, as we KNOW, these teachings vary by doctrine as each sees the Truth through the lens of their own minds and the thoughts of the founders. In this idea we should see that regardless of what one’s belief system may be that whatsoever his religion dictates as Truth, that the man should be a DOER of these things and our own belief here IS if one can do this sincerely and not just by habit, that he IS entering into a relationship with his own Soul that can only grow into a relationship with greater Truths. Here again however there IS the Truth in James words, even here is this ‘secondary’ way, a man must be a DOER and not one who simply hears and understands the precepts of the doctrine but DOES NOT do them…this man is as well self-deceived.

The apostle DOES much to teach the aspirant and the disciple about the way, about temptation and about the things of the world before he addresses this idea of being a DOER and it IS in the context of the former sayings that the True intent of this idea of DOING IS founded. The most simple interpretation of the whole of James’ words IS that a man refrain from the ways of the world in favor of the Ways of God, “the perfect law — that of liberty” and that this become his way of Life. That many DO NOT see this IS NOT only due to the fact of James’ parabolic style of writing, but the refusal of those who are ensconced in their own religious ways of the world to venture into the greater Truth, a Truth that can upend one’s entire view of Life. Perhaps the apostle sees this result as he writes his words and in his insight offers us these ideas on religion:

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:26-27).

In the last essay we discussed the word rendered as religion and we noted that Jame’s intent IS NOT what Vincent described as a zealous and diligent performance of religious services ⁴. James’ intent is more in tune with the modern understanding of the English definition: one who IS imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly; scrupulously faithful; conscientious ⁷. This would be the man who, in theory, IS practicing what he believes as a Lifestyle and not merely in services and here we can see the apostle’s thought being that if a man thinks that he is practicing his beliefs, that he IS thinking that he IS religious. James’ point here IS then IS about this same sense of self-deception that we see above in hearing, which is understanding and comprehending or our view of believing,  and NOT DOING; here we should understand the idea of “bridleth not his tongue” in this same context and as an expansion upon the previous thought. This IS NOT however how this IS interpreted by doctrine as we see in these comments from John Gill: If any man among you seem to be religious; By his preaching, or praying, and hearing, and other external duties of religion, he is constant in the observance of; and who, upon the account of these things, “thinks himself to be a religious man”, and bridleth not his tongue; but boasts of his works, and speaks ill of his brethren; backbites them, and hurts their names and characters, by private insinuations, and public charges without any foundation; who takes no care of what he says, but gives his tongue a liberty of speaking anything, to the injury of others, and the dishonour of God, and his ways ⁸.

Here we have the apostle’s parabolic language resulting in the literal ideas that ARE NOT in the context of the sayings and the interjection of Mr. Gills ideas of what an unbridled tongue may be. We should see also that Mr. Gills ideas on religion seem to be in line with what we repeat above from Vincent. The Commentary Critical and Explanatory of the Whole Bible offers us a better understanding of religion but maintains the same thoughts of the idea of the tongue; we read: An example of doing work. religious . . . religion–The Greek expresses the external service or exercise of religion, “godliness” being the internal soul of it. “If any man think himself to be (so the Greek) religious, that is, observant of the offices of religion, let him know these consist not so much in outward observances, as in such acts of mercy and humble piety ( Micah 6:7 Micah 6:8 ) as visiting the fatherless, &c., and keeping one’s self unspotted from the world” ( Matthew 23:23 ). James does not mean that these offices are the great essentials, or sum total of religion; but that, whereas the law service was merely ceremonial, the very services of the Gospel consist in acts of mercy and holiness, and it has light for its garment, its very robe being righteousness [TRENCH]. The Greek word is only found in Acts 26:5 , “after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.” Colossians 2:18 , “worshipping of angels.” bridleth not . . . tongue–Discretion in speech is better than fluency of speech (compare james 3:2 james 3:3 ). Compare Psalms 39:1 . God alone can enable us to do so. James, in treating of the law, naturally notices this sin. For they who are free from grosser sins, and even bear the outward show of sanctity, will often exalt themselves by detracting others under the pretense of zeal, while their real motive is love of evil-speaking [CALVIN]. heart–It and the tongue act and react on one another ⁸. We should note that the authors DO see the idea of this saying being related to the previous thought on DOING and that they bypass the Greek idea of religion in favor of not so much in outward observances, as in such acts of mercy and humble piety.

However, on the idea of the tongue both offer ONLY the ideas that the tongue brings to mind….speech, what a man may say and perhaps the motivation behind this. For us the ideas behind this Greek word glossa have much deeper meaning in the Life of the man who would follow the Master and this is the same as we should try to understand in hearing and even the idea of the ear. In the Master’s saying “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15) we should be able to see the intent of these words used by James; ALL men have ears but not ALL men hear the Truth….many hear only what they choose to hear. So hearing in the scriptural sense IS more than just what enters the ear, it IS what the man does with it and we should understand that the there ARE many other ways to hear as a man can hear with his eyes by seeing and reading and he can hear with his mind in thought and in the prompting of his own Soul….remember how that the Apostles Peter and Paul heard a voice in a vision.

It IS in this light that we should see this idea of tongue, that this IS the totality of the expression of the man which can be in speech or in actions or in thoughts and attitudes; one can even speak with his eyes which at times IS at variance with what may come from the tongue in actual speech. In this we should see the Master’s words from the Sermon according to Luke where, speaking about the good things and the evil things of a mans Life, He tells us: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). Here in this mixed sense of language is the parabolic speech of the Master as he speaks of treasure good and evil; this IS NOT physical treasure but the thoughts and attitudes that a man is focused upon and the idea here is that whatsoever IS in ones heart is what one will express in Life; in speech yes, but in thoughts, attitudes and actions as well. And we can see this idea of the totality of expression in the Masters saying that: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4); here we should understand that God DOES NOT have a mouth as we understand this and that God speaks through His Will which IS His expression of Truth.

And so we have the similar ideas in James’ words on the tongue; that this IS a parabolic word in this usage and the meaning IS the expression of the man in the world; his words yes, but also his thoughts, his attitudes and his actions. Here the apostle IS telling us that if a man CAN NOT bridle his expression, that IS if a man CAN NOT control his expression to the world, then whatsoever he may think of himself regarding religion IS vain; his religion itself IS vain. In this idea of vain we should see futile or even worthless and Vincent explains this to us from its use as a verb by Paul saying: Vain things (μάταια) was the Jews’ name for idols. Compare Acts 4:15. Their ideas and conceptions of God had no intrinsic value corresponding with the truth. “The understanding was reduced to work in vacuo. It rendered itself in a way futile” (Godet) ⁴. We should try to see the underlying message in James’ saying; that if a man believes himself to be religious, to be following and keeping the word of the Lord, and yet does not control his expression as that it IS the same as he believes, that his belief IS futile, it IS worthless, and the man IS deceiving himself. This is another idea that builds upon the first idea, that one must be a DOER and not a hearer ONLY; here we see a man’s own evidence that he IS a DOER, a religious man in the right understanding of the word; that he IS such if he IS expressing the Truths that he believes in a constant and a controlled manner so that he is one who “continueth therein“.

In our view this saying on religion IS the same as the one on being a DOER except that it is from a different perspective; that both embrace the idea that a man deceives himself whensoever he believes that he IS righteous, believes that he is saved or born again or any other idea that portends that a man IS keeping His words when the reality IS that he IS NOT. We must ever be careful here in these saying as these are intended for the each man’s own personal view of himself, these are a test of each man’s own True beliefs against those things that he puts on display to the world. These ARE a guard against pretense to be sure but these are also a guard against believing what IS NOT True; here for example a man may be faced with the reality of the words of the Master and the commandments of the Lord as opposed to the dictates of his particular doctrine or sect. In this situation a man may have a glimpse of the Truth of His words and yet perform lesser things according to doctrine and in so doing this man IS deceived. Deception can come in many forms, and another is found in the words of the Master as He tells us of false teachers who one may lean toward believing over one’s own sense of Truth and of which Jesus says of and to His own disciples that “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).

There IS of course ever a choice for the man in the world and especially for the man who Truly seeks God and who KNOWS the direction of the Path, that it IS away from the world and the things of the world; that it is away from the temptations of the world and toward the “righteousness of God“. This IS the way of the aspirant and the disciple, this IS the way that they have chosen and this IS the result of Repentance. For the man without such direction however the way is exceedingly difficult as the power of the personality would keep a man involved in the attractions and the attachments of the world which are fed by the illusion and glamour of Life through temptations to those things that ARE pleasurable and here we should try to see the complexity of this power. In following the Way of God there IS much that must be done that IS against the tendencies and the ease of the personality Life and his mental and emotional perspectives; the very thought of these things can cause a man to seek compromise to assuage the impact of the Way of God and here we can see some of the motivation to the dilutions and the changes to the Truth that have been made over the centuries. Here, while this may seem to be from the heart that IS focused upon God, much is from the heart that IS governed by the personality and which seeks the easier way to which the man will convince himself. While this may sound as though this is a purposeful subverting of the Truth, this IS in fact the just the ways of the world and the ways of men in the world against which James is teaching and cautioning. It IS from this very cycle that the disciple MUST extract himself.

The division between the spiritual and the carnal IS found in the reality of the Word, that keeping His word IS contrary to the ways of the flesh, the ways of the world and there IS NO reality to believing that a man can be focused in both; this is the double minded man that James speaks of and against which the Master teaches saying that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). This IS another saying that IS grossly misunderstood in doctrine and likely due to the reasons we cite here. We close today with these words from Paul which, if they are read in the Spirit of Truth, will show this division of the Truth of God and the things of the world from Paul’s personal perspective.

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:3-8).

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.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit (John 3:3-8)

Today’s Quote of the Day is in regard to the new birth which Nicodemus did not understand and which many today do not understand either. The words of the Master tell us of a total commitment to the Lord as the way to the Kingdom and these verses say that as well. This total commitment is being born again. The differences in language aside, we should try to see the relationship between these ideas of being born again which is the essence of discipleship for it is only in discipleship that one can Truly see the Kingdom. These are much misused ideas because they are seen from the perspective of the man in form and no from the perspective of the Soul living through form.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ⁷ Dictionary.com Unabridged based on Random House Dictionary – 2011
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com