As most of my readers know, this site is dedicated to espousing the truth, expounding it, and even hammering it to the point of nailing it down into your psyches. Each and every month your humble writer strives and toils to enable you to further grasp your “Christian hope” so that you will “always be ready to explain it” [1Pe 3.15] to anyone, no matter what!
Most of the people I personally run into and try to persuade with the systematic theology of the Bible[1] (contrary to traditional orthodoxy) are in love with their particular religion so much, that the comforting blind Delusion [aka Devil] has either stopped them from further “examining the scriptures daily [since they are the only means to attaining “the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes in Christ Jesus”, Acts 7.11; 2Tim 3.15; cp. John 5.39-40], or they have simply given up and prefer to remain in what they feel is the true love they have found in their respective churches (due to their newly found personal relationships or family members). Yet, time and time again they not only close their doors but label me a heretic. And time and time again I walk away scratching my head wondering, 'where’s the love?'
The truth is we all seek love — not only that, we crave it. We need it so much that sometimes we leave everything because of it, without even knowing what love is (I certainly did!). This is a universal hunger in all human beings. The void has to be filled and so we fill it, for the good or the bad.
But love, as it’s popularly known, can be deceptive. This can only be found out when we experience a sensation we equate with love but on hindsight we realize that it wasn’t love at all. In other words, love can also be faked, fabricated. This happens more often than not because we so thirst and hunger for love that we go head first, blind, like a runner in the dark. This experience is similar to what some call romantic (puppy) love, that warm, fuzzy feeling you get in your gut.
Most of the people I personally run into and try to persuade with the systematic theology of the Bible[1] (contrary to traditional orthodoxy) are in love with their particular religion so much, that the comforting blind Delusion [aka Devil] has either stopped them from further “examining the scriptures daily [since they are the only means to attaining “the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes in Christ Jesus”, Acts 7.11; 2Tim 3.15; cp. John 5.39-40], or they have simply given up and prefer to remain in what they feel is the true love they have found in their respective churches (due to their newly found personal relationships or family members). Yet, time and time again they not only close their doors but label me a heretic. And time and time again I walk away scratching my head wondering, 'where’s the love?'
The truth is we all seek love — not only that, we crave it. We need it so much that sometimes we leave everything because of it, without even knowing what love is (I certainly did!). This is a universal hunger in all human beings. The void has to be filled and so we fill it, for the good or the bad.
But love, as it’s popularly known, can be deceptive. This can only be found out when we experience a sensation we equate with love but on hindsight we realize that it wasn’t love at all. In other words, love can also be faked, fabricated. This happens more often than not because we so thirst and hunger for love that we go head first, blind, like a runner in the dark. This experience is similar to what some call romantic (puppy) love, that warm, fuzzy feeling you get in your gut.
“That love is a natural insanity, a temporary delusion which the individual is compelled to suffer for the sake of the race, is indeed an explanation that has suggested itself to many who have been baffled by its mystery…It must be remembered that in the lower sense of deception, love may be, and frequently is, a delusion. A man may deceive himself, or be deceived by the object of his attraction…In first love, occurring in youth, such deception is perhaps entirely normal…”[2] emphasis added
Yet, at some point in “the race,” God’s unique brand of love (agape) may come to us. In whatever manner it comes to us the result is the same: we regain our sight, and most importantly, our perception of where we are or what we have gotten ourselves into. Most people do not take advantage of this ‘side-effect’ [if you will] and it’s a shame because sometimes that moment can come and go so quickly as to make it almost illusory.
Many people’s spiritual growth has been stunted because of the way certain religions successfully manufacture and sell this type of delusional love [masquerading as agape]. In the process they captivate a large part of humanity who naturally crave the love that can only come from "the one true God and Father of the lord Jesus Christ" [cp. Jn 17.3; Rom 15.6; 2 Cor 1:3; Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3; Eph 1:17].
Whenever I meet traditional 'Christian folk' many quote to me Paul’s ‘love chapter’ [1Cor 13] explaining that ultimately, at the end of all things, this is what Christianity is all about. Well, you can imagine, after about a zillion times of "searching and examining" this, I noticed something very essential in that chapter, the key [I think] to understanding what God’s love should really be affecting in our individual lives.
Many people’s spiritual growth has been stunted because of the way certain religions successfully manufacture and sell this type of delusional love [masquerading as agape]. In the process they captivate a large part of humanity who naturally crave the love that can only come from "the one true God and Father of the lord Jesus Christ" [cp. Jn 17.3; Rom 15.6; 2 Cor 1:3; Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3; Eph 1:17].
Whenever I meet traditional 'Christian folk' many quote to me Paul’s ‘love chapter’ [1Cor 13] explaining that ultimately, at the end of all things, this is what Christianity is all about. Well, you can imagine, after about a zillion times of "searching and examining" this, I noticed something very essential in that chapter, the key [I think] to understanding what God’s love should really be affecting in our individual lives.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1Cor 13.6
There it is, in a nice little verse, compact, yet so beautifully true! As Jesus himself famously attests, “you will know [future tense] the truth and it shall set you free” [John 8.31-32]. In order for us to reflect God’s love and truly walk in the sandals of our lord Jesus we must love in a way that is in step with what the Bible defines as love, something that “rejoices with the truth.” God's definition of "truth" (a real, all-consuming, life-changing, encompassing truth) cannot be a partner with error (evil, wickedness).
Now, how do we know we are in the truth? As I mentioned, the Bible calls on all who profess to love God (not just church leaders, the clergy, etc.) to keep searching and examining the scriptures. Along with this we are commanded to constantly "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" [1 John 4.1] so we can "reprove, rebuke, exhort" [2Tim 4.2] and teach the sound [health giving] doctrine, in order to prove ourselves "sound in faith, in love" [Titus 2.2].
I urge you, as a fellow searcher and hungerer[3] for "truth in love", to test everything this site claims. Don’t just believe it because you don’t have either the time or the patience or the ability to prove it, but because you love God and His word.
Now, how do we know we are in the truth? As I mentioned, the Bible calls on all who profess to love God (not just church leaders, the clergy, etc.) to keep searching and examining the scriptures. Along with this we are commanded to constantly "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" [1 John 4.1] so we can "reprove, rebuke, exhort" [2Tim 4.2] and teach the sound [health giving] doctrine, in order to prove ourselves "sound in faith, in love" [Titus 2.2].
I urge you, as a fellow searcher and hungerer[3] for "truth in love", to test everything this site claims. Don’t just believe it because you don’t have either the time or the patience or the ability to prove it, but because you love God and His word.
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good” Rom 8.28
The “good” here is not truth that rejoices with error (evil), but the truth that permits us to “walk in [His] love” [2John 1.4; 3 John 1.3-4].
Footnotes:
[1] The best expositions include Peter’s address to the crowd at Pentecost [Acts 2.14-41], Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin [Acts 7] and Paul’s defense of his gospel [Acts 13.16-48].
[2] Studies in the Psychology of Sex Vol. 6, Havelock Ellis, p 124, 2007. Emphasis added.
[3] "n. One who hungers; one who longs." Webster’s Dictionary, p 713, 1913.
[1] The best expositions include Peter’s address to the crowd at Pentecost [Acts 2.14-41], Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin [Acts 7] and Paul’s defense of his gospel [Acts 13.16-48].
[2] Studies in the Psychology of Sex Vol. 6, Havelock Ellis, p 124, 2007. Emphasis added.
[3] "n. One who hungers; one who longs." Webster’s Dictionary, p 713, 1913.
No comments:
Post a Comment