Whole.

                        

God makes us whole.

To be whole is to harmonize body, mind, and spirit.

It is to embrace our sexuality, our mentality, and our heart.

And it is to hold a holistic view of God.

God is One.

God is panentheistic and immanent.

So to develop spirituality no longer requires us to reject the body or sex.

Spirituality is no longer hierarchical with sex and the body at the bottom and the mind and spirit at the top.

Spirituality comes through the heart which in fact is in the middle.

We are to follow moderation which is the middle path.

Passion and pleasure are not excluded.

Our body is not cut off.

Some say that God is a Spirit.

But I say that God has a Spirit but He is more than that.

We have a body and a spirit.
How can God be less than us?
God must be all of this and more.

So when people say that God will make you whole it cannot mean that you become bodyless, quite the contrary, it makes the body, the mind, and the heart well. 


Photo Credit: socialmedia_vacv Flickr via Compfight cc
(The image has been slightly modified.)

Motivation.

                            

If our motivation is to save the Church then our mission is doomed to failure.

We should, instead, be motivated by love.

Love for those around us in society.

Our love will cause us to care about the sufferings of others, even those far removed from us physically.

I mean the 10.9% of the population of our world who will go to bed hungry tonight.

I mean the millions fleeing war and persecution.

So, rather than closing our borders, we should open our hearts and our homes to those in need.


Photo Credit: alx_chief Flickr via Compfight cc

If You Can't Beat Them.

                            

It is not possible for those who follow Satan to win.

Apart from the fact that God will always win out the fact that there is no Satan in reality means that he cannot help them.

So if you can't beat them join them.

If, by demonstration, God can convince them that their image of Him is false and that He is not opposed to sex in general and homosexuality in particular then they might change their approach.

If we can demonstrate that the image of God as a harsh judge and punisher of men and women is false then there may be some hope.

If we can show them that the teachings of the Conservative Churches is no more true today than they were in Jesus' time then they may change their minds.

The New Paradigm will not exclude them.

They too can experience the Love and forgiveness of God.


Photo Credit: jerrysoer Flickr via Compfight cc

Enough.

                            

And how do we address the fears of the regime of power and privilege in our world?

By faith.

Faith in God's Love reassures us that there will always be enough.

The Love of God ensures that our needs will always be met.

So love God and love your neighbor.

Love even your enemies.

And pray for them.

Pray for them to realize that there will always be enough.


Photo Credit: rachaellmathews Flickr via Compfight cc

Lord of the Rings.

                            

Although Lord of the Rings gives us valuable counters to evil in our world there are several errors which cause concern.

The first of these is the dehumanization of the enemy.

Evil is represented as non-human and therefore we can kill them without remorse.

The other error is  the sword.
Using violence to resolve conflict, however dire, is never the answer.

So where does that leave us?

White, light, goodness - these things remain.

But mature religion teaches the humanity of our enemies and urges us to forgive, redeem, even love them.

The sword is not the answer.

The answer is Love.


Photo Credit: pooshda Flickr via Compfight cc

Beatitudes.

                            

Blessed are those who cannot cope.
Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the poor.
Theirs is the Kingdom of God.

Blessed are the needy.
Their needs will be met.

Blessed are the whistle-blowers.
Theirs is the reward of the prophets.

Blessed are the activists.
They are the children of God.

Blessed are the peacemakers.
They will find peace.

Blessed are those who show mercy.
Mercy will be shown to them.

Blessed are the broken-hearted.
God will mend their hearts.

Blessed are the persecuted.
Their reward is great in Heaven.


Photo Credit: koi|fish Flickr via Compfight cc

Wars.

                            

When we think of all the wars and revolutions that have been fought in our world we realize that each new regime is always subject to the same temptations of human nature as the old regime.

And the corruptions of power and privilege merely repeat themselves.

And when we think of all the ideologies and 'isms of our world we realize that they all have failed for the same reasons.

Until we find Love.

Love leads us to the other.

Love inspires us to sacrifice for the other.

Love cares about the other.

Only love will overcome our fears.

Only love will save us.

And when the Prince of Peace came prophesying Love they crucified him.

Those in positions of power and privilege - the current regime - stripped and killed Jesus out of fear.

Fear of losing their privileges.

Fear of losing their power.

Fear of hell.

So if we address the fears of our current regime and treat them as human beings perhaps we can avoid conflict.

The only thing that casts out fear is Love.

So instead of attacking our enemies we should love them.

And cast out their fears.


Photo Credit: Beardy Git Flickr via Compfight cc