Experiences > Words

A couple times a year, my wife and I load up the family and travel south.  "South", includes one of two places; Norris Lake, TN or Florida.  Even though we've been countless times, we still wait for the signposts to tell us "how many more miles" we have until we reach our destination.  Our youngest child will say every few minutes, "how much longer." 

"How much longer."  That seems to be motto for much of spirituality.  We sit next to the signposts, but miss the journey.  We miss all the potential experiences that lead to the destination, and sometimes we miss the destination all together because we hang on to "how much longer" the experience will last.  Like a wise man once said, "Words are like signposts...they just point to what they are describing, but aren't the object of our desire." 

Words are important!!  I don't want to belittle their importance.  They give us a sense of direction and purpose for our seeking, but yet, words are not the end goal.  Words are merely a starting point.  If you ask me for directions, I will give you words, "Go this way," or "Go that way."  The words will never get you to the point unless you "go."  The same is true with words that are in the Bible or whatever book you choose to be your "spiritual guide."  The words are not made to be deified or something to be worshipped.  I've seen people kissing their Bible like it is some magic book of spells or a genie in a bottle. If they carry it with them, it will bring them some great fortune.  I used to carry my Bible around with me everywhere I went thinking that it would bring me some sort of good luck.  Now, I didn't say "luck" because good Christians don't believe in luck (at least they won't admit it publicly).  The Bible doesn't have any special power in and of itself.

Even the book of John describes this "word."  It was in the beginning, it created everything, it was with God, and the word was God.  Yet, when describing "the Word" it is described not with "it" but a personal pronoun, "he."  It goes on even farther and describes "the Word" as having flesh and living among us.  "Word" or the Greek "logos", is used as an abstraction or figuratively.  The Word is an experience--it is a living person.  The words of the text lead you to "The Word," a person/experience.  It isn't that you get hung up on the semantics of signposts, but that you get to experience the destination in which the signpost points.  The destination is formless and filled with  experiences that are formless as well.  They are the abstract emotions that are felt and the energy experienced.  It is the experiences that awaken the inner life force that bring forth joy, peace, excitement, and a kingdom within that Jesus so frequently speaks about.

The words are forms, concrete and unmoved. That is why the Bible speaks of "his words" not changing (heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away--Matthew 24:35).  His concrete words are like signs that will sit there in a certain spot and point.  In this chapter he was giving the people directions, or a road map if you will.  Until the people began to move and walk towards the destination He speaks of, they will never experience the energy and life behind the words. 

There is no life in the WORDS, but in the experiences, the destination, and especially the journey.  Don't miss the journey you are on because you are paralyzed by the signpost.  My soul cries out: I WANT TO EXPERIENCE "LIFE"...not just read about it or sit by a signpost. 

An Unexpected Gift

As somebody who comes from a Christian tradition in America, Christmas is about expectations.  An expectation is a strong belief that something will happen or be the base in the future.  There are expectations of giving gifts, receiving gifts, and the celebration of the birth of Christ.  There are the expectations of office parties, family get togethers, and for some--Christmas church services.  It is a time for family and friends. 

This morning I had an UNexpected reality.  Surprises that go outside what is expected can bring a plethora of emotions, but surprises are part of the "expectations" of Christmas.  I opened my Bible and read this out of Colossians chapter one:

⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

I've read this countless times, but this Christmas morning I couldn't help but notice the word "all."  For those of you that know me I'm really hung up on semantics, especially when it comes to a book that was written in three different languages,  2000+ years ago.  I love breaking down words in their original context and trying to understand what the author was trying to communicate.  In the midst of this deconstruction, there was one word I couldn't deconstruct.  It was the word "ALL."  ALL: everything, the whole, the greatest possible quality, each and every one.  It covers EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY.  

I don't know about you, but there are a lot of things I don't agree with, organizations I don't like, and things I just don't enjoy--about myself and others.  In spite of what I agree with, like, or believe in, ALL encompasses all of that (I know that is kind of a weird sentence but stay with me).  Now, when we start plugging different words/substitutions for Christmas (happy holidays, merry xmas, etc), some people get offended because religiously, they think it is leaving "Christ" out of Christmas.  Yet, according to the verses above, Christ created it all anyway, even if His name isn't in it...if you believe ALL is all, and not just some.  

You could go as far as saying that God, through Christ, is even reconciling all religions and religious holidays unto himself because ultimately it was all created by him in the first place and then went astray somewhere.  Therefore, Merry Christmas, X-mas, Happy Holidays, Eid, Yule, kwanza, umoja, kujichagulia, ujima, nia, Imani, and any other quasi religious Christmas. Ultimately, the announcement of this reconciliation by the angels was not, "we are starting an exclusive religion that has the right holidays for you to celebrate" but, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." (Luke 2:10) 

Are we afraid of "good news" that will cause great joy for ALL (there is that word again) people in spite of religious affiliation or how they say "Christmas."  Is "Christ" bigger than holidays and what we expect.  If we could get over personal expectations that create our own personal reality, we will enter into a reality that is much bigger and full of joy.  This Christmas I'm glad my expectations were surprisingly interrupted by a bigger reality than the one I've created.  So, whatever you are celebrating today or tomorrow, I stand with you as a fellow member of the human race being reconciled to God.  What great news!  I'm not here to fight or be "right," I just want to experience this "great joy" with ALL people.  I guess the only thing I can expect from here are new experiences that will create a greater consciousness of what already is.  Have a great Christmas!!

What Are You Expecting?

Yep.  Here's my story: "I wasn't expecting this..."

עבור לעצמך ואתה תמצא את השלום. 
Go to yourself (lech lecha) and find peace.

The Unlikey Response

You've probably seen the recent backlash in the Christian community against Victoria Osteen.  She recently went on air at the end of Lakewood's broadcast and said:

"When we obey God, we're not doing it for God...we're doing it for ourself. Because God takes pleasure when we're happy. Do good 'cause God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you're not doing it for God, really. You're doing it for yourself because that's what makes God happy."

Twitter blew up with Christians bashing her with idea of humanism and idolatry.  Steve Camp, pastor of The Cross Church in Palm City, Florida, told Christian News Network that Osteen's remarks went directly against scripture:
“It’s the age old sin of idolatry -- that it’s not about God, it’s about us. True worship for the humanist is about how we feel at the end of the day and what gives us meaning, as opposed to what gives God glory.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/04/victoria-osteenreactions_n_5759860.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592)

Christians immediately went to work making up parodies and posting them on You Tube.  The most popular was the video with Victoria Osteen giving her message and Bill Cosby responding at the end (watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00-6OyXVA0M)

Morgon Guyton, a college chaplain said; "I would revise Victoria Osteen’s words to point out that the way we gain true happiness is to forget ourselves because of our delight in God."

I'm not here to jump on either side and say, "this person is wrong and this person is right, " all I want to do is just ask a few simple questions in which I don't have answers.  If I can ask the right questions, maybe I'll stumble on some right answers eventually in regards to Victoria Osteen's statement and the Christian backlash against her.

1.) Were we created in the image of God? If "yes",  proceed to #2 
2.) Being made "like God" or a "duplication of God" does our emotions duplicate the copy (God) as well?  How about our desires?  Does the image of God desire the same things as God?
3.) If the people correcting Victoria Osteen are correct about the Bible saying that God wants glory and worship for himself, then what does that say about us?  Back to statement 1 & 2--we are created in the image of God--a duplication of who He is.  If He wants glory and worship, is it built into us to want something similar?  Would God forget about himself? (You could make the argument of "yes" if you believe Jesus was God...but that is for another blog :))
4.) What does glory and worship look like for the image bearer of God?  Is it directed only towards the Creator, or is there this secretly imbedded instinct that seeks this same thing within us, yet it is supressed because of the idea of pride, idolatry, and self-rightousness. The idea just isn't politically correct amongst most Christians.  It just "seems wrong."
5.) If "yes" for #4, what would the new definition of pride look like?  

Just thinking out loud tonight because I see both sides point of view.  Could the answer lie somewhere in the middle?  Remember, I am not on either side or justifying Osteen's statement or the Christians response.  Lech lecha!!

Underground Reality

Today, I found myself enthralled within the first chapter of The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, M.D., F.I.C.S.  Though I've read the book before I felt the need to go back and reread it again.  I remember being told once that the first time you read a book you are just a tourist.  The second time you become a visitor, and the third time you become a student.  I noticed many things I hadn't noticed before.  It made me question a few things in my life, and why things in the past didn't work, especially in regards to previous goals and religion.  He didn't bring up the second, but it was like I had one of those "light bulb" moments where things just "clicked." 

I've always been one that has set goals for myself.  In the last few years, especially my last years of Christian ministry, I had others help set those goals, that I was to achieve, and help the organization achieve.  I was taken through a series of psychological assessments, interviews, and even some quasi-counseling sessions, to see if I could achieve the goals that were set before me.  After months of deliberation, it was decided that I would venture out to achieve these goals.  In other words, my identity was directly attached to an external set of circumstances.  This "self-image" was based upon a contract, a look, a talk, and by the way I conducted my day.  The contract (goals) were the "outside of the cup" that people saw. 

When this contract couldn't be fulfilled my self-image was lost.  The only way to gain a self-image was to create a new contract, a new set of goals, and a new challenge.  I had failed to accomplish that which I promised to do.  Maxwell, in his book, talked about students that identified their self-image with their test taking abilities.  He said, "The trouble with these students was not that they were dumb or lacking in basic aptitudes.  The trouble was an inadequate self-image ("I don't have a mathematical mind"; "I'm just naturally a poor speller").  They identified with their mistakes and failures.  Instead of saying "I failed the test (factual and descriptive), they concluded "I am a failure."  Instead of saying "I flunked that subject," they said "I am a flunk-out."(Maltz, Maxwell. "The Self-Image: Your Key to Living Without Limits." In The New Psycho-Cybernetics, . ed. New York: Penguin Books, Ltd. , 2001.) 

Rather than saying, "I failed the contract" I said, "I am a failure."  My self-image was directly connected to the contract and goals.  It was based upon external circumstances rather than internal factors.  It is quite easy to create an identity on goals, but should we can create an identity based on external past events, which I am also guilty of doing?  This is where I disagree with Alcoholics Anonymous.  I think it is a great organization, and it helps people get honest and real with their problems, but it also creates a false sense of self-image that I think can be eternally damaging.  To stand up and say, "I am an alcoholic" is basing your identity on something external that a person chose to do.  They chose to over drink, become addicted, and struggle with alcohol.  The issue is that you can only function in the identity that you create for yourself. If you say you are something based upon the external your subconscious brain then adapts to make that a reality.

When it comes to religion there is a popular movement in Christianity that attempts to "speak things into existence", or the "word-faith" movement.  If you speak good things, good things will happen.  In a non-religious world, this is called, "The Law Of Attraction."  You will naturally attract that which you speak because of the positive energy and vibrations that you emanate.  If I say, "I am going to have a great day at work" I speak into an external situation.  If I say, "I will achieve the goals that I have set out before me today", I've spoken into an external situation.  This is problematic because the internal situation has not changed.  Maxwell said, "In fact, it is literally impossible to really think positive about a particular situation, as long as you hold a negative concept of self." 

To bring it even more closer to home and a problem I've always had with what I call, "controlling religion" is that it defines a person, even universally, by the mistakes they've made.  They call it "sin."  Therefore, many identify with being a sinner--something they do.  Therefore, they become the situation.  Just like the kid who says he is dumb because he failed a test, and continues failing, the person who calls himself a "sinner" defaults to sinning (this is relative to what the denomination defines sin as).  The system, hence, becomes the defining entity of the person based on their interpretation of what or what isn't sin.  It is so easy to become imprisoned within the concepts of your mind because of external circumstances. 

I like what Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day.  ""Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean" (Matthew 23:27).  The outside, external circumstances can be cleaned, new goals dreamed up, and new contracts made, but these past failures lurk underneath the surface in our subconscious minds, wreaking havoc on the inside that is like "dead bones and uncleanliness."  The subconscious then hijacks the new contracts and dreams because our self-image was created by past failures.  Many times we subconsciously high-jack a goal before it begins because we know we are going to fail at it. 

I have somebody very, very, close to me in my life that subconsciously high-jacks relationships and intentionally breaks them up because of an event that happened to them in the past.  A past event determines their behavior now, because their self-image rests in an external event.  Your behaviors and motivators follow past experiences you've identified yourself with.  You and I create an underground reality that creates the external reality that you and I live in.  The roots determine the height and width of the tree.  

This is why I am convinced of the Jewish idea of "Lech lecha" that I mention so often.  It is a call to leave the reality you've created and step into the reality the Creator has already made.  Step out of the perspective you are so convinced of, and into the perspective of "an outsider."  Let me define "outsider."  It is seeing yourself from outside yourself.  I would compared this to a scientist who is observing his experiment, running tests on his experiment, and analyzing it with outside sources other than his own.  The interesting thing about the experiment that he is observing is that he is both the scientist and the experiment.  He must step outside of himself and become the observer of that which he is studying--"himself." 

Have you ever tried to observe yourself outside your perspective.  Have you ever listened to yourself on a recording and said, "Do I sound like that?"  It is different from what you hear when you just talk. Have you ever seen a video of yourself?  Have you noticed that it looks differently than the person you see in the mirror everyday when you brush your teeth.  Have you ever seen yourself from another person's perspective?  That is metaphysical and what Maimonides calls the "highest form of connecting with the Divine.  Have you ever just really tried seeing somebody else's point of view without trying to discredit them or convince them that you are right?  What if this happened religiously?  What would happen in the Middle East if those fighting would just stop, observe, and walk in the person's shoes they are fighting with. 

This is tough...not an easy journey and I'm sure many, if not most choose to live on the mountain.  Then their are the few, fueled by adventure and curiosity, that want to know how deep the mountain goes underground.  I want to know why I "tick".  I want to know this Creator that formed the universe.  I want to know the divine image that I was created in.  I want to understand the depths of "loving my neighbor as myself", "blessing my enemy", "being a Good Samaritan", "having peace that passes all understanding."  I desire the secret Paul found when he said, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want"(Philippians 4:12). I want to understand the depths of what the Buddha said when he said, "the whole secret of existence is to have no fear.  Never fear what will become of you.  Depend on no one.  Only the moment you reject all help you are you free."  I want to understand the mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory"(Colossians 1:27).  

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”- - See more at: http://quotesnsmiles.com/quotes/calming-buddha-quotes/#sthash.qW3vd7oD.dpuf

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.” - See more at: http://quotesnsmiles.com/quotes/calming-buddha-quotes/#sthash.qW3vd7oD.dpuf

What is this "Christ" in us--that is below the surface of what everybody sees.  That which is internal and not based on external circumstances. This isn't Jesus' last name, but the title He was given.  This same title is nestled somewhere deep within our self-image that we must find a way to identify with in spite of what we've been told or the way external situations have turned out.  It is "salvation."

It isn't through the church, a religion, a synagogue, mosque, or enlightenment center--but through a journey.  A journey that starts by leaving the mental images that have been shaped by external events.  These events have shaped how we view God--so, we must leave that god (atheism), to find God.  When we find ourselves, we find God, and when we find them both, we find the "Christ" within that is able to save us from those external situations that have crippled and defined us.  Yes, Jesus was "the Way" of this journey to a "land that only God can show us" (Genesis 12:1).  The result of "leaving" is: 

2“I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

 

There is something in "the name"... or just some unorthodox heresy. 

So, Are You a ____________?

I've been asked quite a bit lately, "Are you even a Christian?"  That's a loaded question.  There are so many layers to that question it is hard to give just a simple "yes" or "no."  Some questions are easy to answer with a "yes" or "no".  For example, if somebody asked me, "do you work for Nurses Care."  Then my answer is a simple "yes."  If I were asked, "Are you married to Amanda?"  Once again, simple "yes."  If you asked me if I had a son named John, I would simply say, "no", and correct you with, "His name is Nyles." 

The whole Christian thing/identity spans over 2,000 years and traveled over a few continents before it got to us over here in 'Merica.  Not only has Christianity spanned over time and continents, but through splits, reformations, rebranding, reidentitying itself (Catholic/Protestants/Eastern Orthodox), and thousand of denominational interpretations.  Then to heap more stuff on top of all of this, you have churches that have membership factors that plays into identifying what "Christian"is, hierarchy that influences doctrine that determine if somebody is a Christian or not, along with creeds, statements of beliefs, and mission statements.  They all go into the identity of "Christian."  To make this an even more complicated issue you might as well throw in the religious subcultural conditioning of each area, education, upbringing, and influence of family members that all go into determining how the word "Christian" is defined. 

I told somebody this once when they asked me if I was a Christian or not, and they said, "Wow, you sure make things confusing."  He was probably right.  I wish I could just give a simple yes or no to this answer, but my brain doesn't process information this way. Even though it is probably impossible, when I'm asked this question I want to give a simple answer genuinely and completely honest.  Therefore, I need to add caveats.  Not only do I need to add caveats, but I need to be very careful when I answer this question based upon who is asking it.  I need to know more about the person asking the question then the question itself because my answer will cause the person asking the question to create an identity for me in their head.  I can be the greatest guy in the world, but if the person asking the question only sees Christianity as an abusive system that hurts people and I identify with Christianity, it is not based on my definition, but how he/she defines it.  Once I identify as Christian to this person, my identity immediately changes from positive to negative.  My definition means nothing, their definition means everything.  Their definition will shape their reality of how they see you.    

Here is another example: Let's say I consider myself a Christian according to my definition.  A right wing, conservative, fundamentalist asks me if I'm a Christian and I say "yes" without an explanation. Then they attempt to fit me into their conservative fundy identity of how they define Christian.  If I go outside of that mold then I suddenly become a "non-Christian."  So, "Christian" in that sense is all relative to the one defining it.

My wife tells me that I lose people when I pontificate like this,  but there is a simple reason for my silly philosophical rants.  This question, "Are you a Christian" is not a question simply for "gaining more knowledge", but a relational qualifier, which in my opinion, is wrong from every angle.  Most people, not all, ask this to simply see if they can be in a relationship with you or not.  I watched a friend of mine join a fundamental independent right wing--uber conservative Christian group and he immediately eliminated all of his friends that didn't join him.  He cut all ties and those he hung out with, he no longer did because his values changed. He now attempts to convert Christians of other denominations to his denomination and calls it "evangelism."  In essence, if you aren't a ________(fill in the blank) then you are not a Christian in his eyes.  You're "lost." 

I don't know if Jesus was really concerned about labels that identified your religious affliation.  Peter Rollins once said that Jesus, "constantly reached across the divides (for example talking with a Samaritan woman and eating with a Tax Collector), and who condemned those who held rigidly to their own traditions (the religious leaders of the day)."  Rollins goes on to say that when you identify with Jesus, "a person finds oneself having more in common with those who believe something different, or who have different practices, or different desires, than those who have the same beliefs, practices and desires."  Jesus was more concerned about the relationship and the deepest human need, than a label that was completely relative to the person's interpretation. 

The whole Middle Eastern drama that we hear about constantly with Israel and Palestine is over religious identification at its core.  Almost every war that has ever happened, every disagreement, or terrorist attack throughout history can be traced back to how a person interprets their religious identity--all through the lens of the interpretter and what they feel entitled to according to what they create in their mind.  Paul had a novel idea about created labels, identities, and relationships as he wrote to some folks in Philippi in the first century:

"Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? ² If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. ³ When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. ⁴ Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

⁵ In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.
⁶ Christ himself was like God in everything.
    But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.
⁷ But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.
    He was born as a man
    and became like a servant.
⁸ And when he was living as a man,
    he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God,
    even when that caused his death—death on a cross. (Philippians 2:1-8)

"Be interested in the lives of others."  Notice that labels and identities were completey torn and stripped in this letter.  They mean nothing!!  It even says that Jesus stripped himself of God and became nothing--he became like man, a servant.  His identity wasn't religious--as a matter of fact, even the generic "God" label was stripped.  Just go ahead and take that identity out of the conversation.  He became "human."  This is the simplest identifying factor of everybody that has ever lived.  A servant of the human race.  The cross was the identity stripper--NOT an identifier.  When a person comes to the cross, they become "human" and suddenly relate to everybody.  When a person comes to the cross they suddenly care about others more than protecting what they believe.  Creeds, believe statements, church memberships, denominational names, and any other thing that we say we are.  "Christian", "Jewish", "Muslim", "Atheist", "Hindu", "Buddhist", etc--are gone when you approach the cross.  We are all just human and have to learn to relate on that level, and that level alone.  Would being fully "Christian" be defined as being "fully human" at its most primal foundational level?

My answer to the question, "Are you really a Christian," would be, "I'm a human...nice to meet you." The more I read the Bible, the more I begin to question, "Do we have this completely backwards?"  Underneath all the layers of "skin" I've identified myself with, I've realized I am nothing more than just a human.  The more I've attempted to identify with Jesus, the more I've found myself not identifying with religious labels...the more free I've become.  Yeah, I'm happy with the label, "human."  Let's keep it simple!!  Lech lecha!

Heretics and Hypocrites...and an Occasional Beelzebub

One time Jesus was sending out a demon who could not talk. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The people were amazed. But some of them said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people.” -Luke 11:14-15


Image (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beelzebub.png)

The Jewish people were very much a tribal nation throughout the entire Biblical text.  They were constantly at war or in some kind of battle with their enemy.  Even when reading the New Testament there is still an enemy, it’s just that it changes from outsiders to insiders within the Jewish culture. Nevertheless, they were still at war.  The way they degraded their enemies was by degrading their gods and render then impotent.  It was the ultimate smack in the face to degrade a city state's or tribe's god.  If you read through the book of Exodus you will find one of the biggest theological "bodyslams" in ancient historical writings.  The plagues weren't just plagues against Egypt, each plague was directed at an Egyptian deity.  After all the Egyptian gods were debunked, Egypt let them go. 
One of the biggest enemies of the Jewish people were the Philistines.  You remember the story of Goliath--you know, the big giant that David killed.  He was a Philistine, and in a literary sense, he was a symbol of something larger.  The author of this Bible story specifically gives measurements of his weapon and what it looked like.  It said his "armor" was like "scales."  Scales of what?  You got it...a snake!  The Hebrew writers were describing their nemesis as a giant snake (referring back to Genesis 3).  They also gave a name to their god.  Check out this little gem:

2 Kings 1:2-3

² Ahaziah fell down through the wooden bars in his upstairs room in Samaria and was badly hurt. He sent messengers and told them, “Go, ask Baal-Zebub, god of Ekron, if I will recover from my injuries.”

The Hebrew writers gave the Philistine god a name: "Baal-Zebub".  When you take this over into the New Testament and into Greek, it comes out as "Beelzebub."  Beelzebub literally means “lord of the flies” and was a deity invoked by the Philistines to bring "pestilence" and death to their enemies.  It also invoked conquest when the enemy would terrorize a village…isolate it, or cut off the water supply to subdue it, etc. Thus it would, of course, be demonized and seen as an evil entity by Jews. 

Demons and devils were the gods of other city states or tribes that the Jews went to war with.  As the culture began to change and shift in the 3rd century BCE, religion began to adapt to a more Greek philosophy, culture, and religious influence.  Theses city state/tribal gods that were the enemies of the Jews began to take on a new form in the shape of demonic creatures of the underworld Tartarus.  They took on a more mystical, spiritual form that weren't just enemies but spiritual forces.  

Enough history, because I know I’ve probably lost many of you by now.  So, in the simplest form of who this Beelzebub is - the arch enemy.  He was a make-believe god.  Back to the story at the top of this page...there was a man who couldn't talk.  The common belief in the time of Jesus was if someone had an illness or disorder, it was the result of their parents’ sin or their own disobedience to God.  They believed God punished people by giving them disorders.  You would avoid these people at all costs because they were "unclean."  Kinda like much of religion does today...there are certain things that make you "not fit to be around."  I remember being in Israel back in 2007 and when I went to the Dome of the Rock, the Muslims looked at me like I had leprosy.  I could not go into their holy place.  The same is true for many Christians.  They attempt to shelter themselves in fear of contamination.  Jesus went and did something you weren't supposed to do.  Jesus went against that which was politically correct.  As a matter of fact, Jesus went against everything that was religiously acceptable. 


Image: http://barlowesrealm.deviantart.com/art/Inferno-Beelzebub-s-Flies-283814250

Because Jesus did something they weren't accustomed to, was not accepted, and religiously taboo--even though it was good, he was labeled.  He was accused of "working for the enemy", "being on the other side", or as we would say today, "obtaining demonic powers."  Jesus became the enemy by just doing something they weren't used to, but had positive results.  

Some things never change.  People within religion fear what they don't understand and want to label it as "the enemy."  It becomes about "us" and "them."  The battle isn't Satan vs. God or the devil vs. Christians.  The battle is very similar to the battle in 1st century Palestine.  We label our own as "Beelzebub" if they go outside the lines we draw.  How ridiculous is this statement they made about Jesus: "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people."  In my last blog I quoted an encyclopedia and study group that found over 33,000 denominations in Christianity and 242 in Catholicism.  We throw people out that have new ideas, different perspectives, and see things from a different angle.  You see, we are all heretics and hypocrites to those who won't open their minds beyond their own. Our insecurities can drive us to ascribe motives to those we disagree with.  When we label others, it is really a sign of our own insecurity and lack of understanding.  God told Abram; "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).  From my perspective God is telling Abram, "Leave your security, embrace your insecurities/fears, and experience a world outside of your own."  When Elijah was on the verge of suicide and thinking he was the only one that had it right and everybody else was his enemy and out to get him, God reminded him, "I've got 7000 other prophets that haven't bowed the knee to Baal."  
When you are told by a religion, a church, a leader that you are a heretic, hypocrite, or demon possessed...know you are in good company--they did the same to Jesus. 


We are all heretics and hypocrites to those who won't open their minds beyond their own.  It's real simple: 

Micah 6:8
The Lord has told you, human, what is good;
    he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
    love being kind to others,
    and live humbly, obeying your God.

Do this, and you will be a heretic...maybe even Beelzebub--EMBRACE IT!!

Our insecurities can drive us to ascribe motives to those we disagree with. - See more at: http://askdrbrown.org/are-people-projecting-their-own-hurts/#comments

Our insecurities can drive us to ascribe motives to those we disagree with. - See more at: http://askdrbrown.org/are-people-projecting-their-own-hurts/#comments

A Splash of Color

 ^{A Splash of Color}

^{1 John 1:7-8}

⁷ But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.

⁸ If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

 
MARSHALL MCLUHAN...have you ever heard of him?  Marshall McLuhan was a philosopher of communications.  He was the one that coined the phrase, "the medium is the massage."  "McLuhan adopted the term "massage" to denote the effect each medium has on the human sensorium, taking inventory of the "effects" of numerous media in terms of how they "massage" the sensorium" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan).  Let's try to figure this out in a "non-academic" common language that we all use every day.  This guy believed that the message of any media outlet was perceived by the general public as the person communicating it.  When I think of "Nike Basketball" shoes, I don't think of shoes, but a person--Michael Jordan.  It wasn't a product, but a person, and that person was the product.   

Everybody in the entire world is looking to believe in something.  I would argue in a generic sense that everybody is religious--it is something just built into our DNA.  That religion doesn't have to be mainline religions like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc., but could be atheism, humanism, or just believing in self.  I'm not here to rip on any of them--that isn't my job.  I'm simply saying that it is human nature to want to believe in something.  The belief itself has a medium--a face, a personality, a person.  For instance, let's take atheism--the belief that there is no god.  The person communicating this belief, effectively in essence becomes the belief.  The better the communicator, the better the message.  Therefore, that person "becomes" atheism, rather than atheism is just what the person believes.  When a person then thinks of atheism, they won't necessarily think of all the bullet points, beliefs, theories, and arguments the person communicating had, but they will think about the person.  The person becomes the face of a belief.  

I can only speak at this point of that in which I know, Christianity.  For the last few years, I've been the biggest cynic of Christianity because I strongly disagreed with the "mediums" communicating the message and it appeared the mediums contradicted themselves.  You've got a right wing medium (conservative fundamentalists), a left wing medium (liberal), and a middle ground called "contemporary".  It was usually a hidden political motif clothed in Christianity--Republican or Democrat.  Both claimed God was on their side, which is quite laughable in the grand scheme.  If you will allow me just a few minutes of your time, an open mind, I would like to share with you the medium of the Christian message, that appears very "unChristian" from a western, consumeristic, institutionalized version of the message.

"If we live in the light..."  Light...a word that has been used from the beginning.   It was the first thing God spoke into the embryonic chaos the Hebrew Bible called "tehom."  "Let there be light..."(Genesis 1:3).  A few verses later in 1 John, the writer talks more in depth about this "light," 

"Here is the message we have heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all."

The medium of the message is the "light" and the "light" is God.  There is one small problem...we don't really have a definition of light.  Some commentators I read have said that "light" is symbolic of God's goodness and truth.  The only problem in this theory is that it becomes just something to describe--an adjective.  Light is the noun and is used to describe God--the medium.  God is the message.  Then, according to Christianity and the Bible, God puts on human flesh and becomes Jesus.  Jesus then becomes the medium of this message.  When you think of Christianity, one thinks of Jesus.  Then Jesus bestows the medium-ship on people, in which he calls "the church", or the "Body of Christ."  Now the medium becomes a group of people.  All of this goes back to one fact that defines them all--LIGHT.   

Second problem--and this is a real biggie: people just can't seem to agree upon anything...especially when it comes to religion.  Take a good hard look at Christianity.  Christianity Today did a study and claimed there were over 38,000 denominations within Christianity.  The World Christian Encyclopedia of 2001 counted 33,830.  There are 242 Roman Catholic denominations!  And another: It is estimated there will be 55,000 denominations by the year 2025.  In one religion alone, there are tens of thousands of different perspectives all claiming they are right...all claiming they are "walking in the light."  Sound ludicrous, obnoxious, and even moronic...but is it? Why would people argue and split over something if there is just ONE true answer...IT MUST BE FALSE...or, there is another layer.

Light--we are to walk in it, God is in it, and God is it.  If you look deeper in the Hebrew and Greek of this word it doesn't give a whole lot of insight.  Light is light...but the color of light is what opens up a whole new world of possibilities, especially when we talk faith. 

 
 Light is NOT made up of a singular color.  This statement alone changes everything.  If truth is light, and light is a spectrum that messes up everything that I've ever been taught.  I was taught there is only ONE truth, not everybody can be right, there is an obvious right and an obvious wrong, but the number of denominations obviously denies that fact.  Not everybody can be wrong, and not everybody can be right.  Light is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.  That's just the colors our little brains can wrap around.  Who knows, it could be more, but I'll just go with what we know.  

It says if we walk in this "light" (multicolored spectrum), it says we have "fellowship."  I have to stop here and make a comment.  I was involved with one particular denomination for many, many, many years.  I struggled with many of their concepts.  When I finally came out and gave a perspective that opposed theirs, rather than stopping, listening, and considering--I was called "poison," "apostate," "heretic," and in danger of eternal damnation.  I was disenfrancised.  They broke fellowship with me.  Fellowship is based on "light" and the many colors of it.  Early rabbis taught that the text was like a diamond and when the light hit it, it brought forth many different colors.  They focused on the beauty, rather than the differences of colors.  They saw how awesome it was for something they could only see a singularity of color, shined through angles, brought forth even more color...like a birth.  

          Black is the absence of color (and is therefore not a color)
Explanation:
When there is no light, everything is black. Test this out by going into a photographic dark room. There are no photons of light. In other words, there are no photons of colors.

White is the blending of all colors and is a color.
Explanation:
Light appears colorless or white. Sunlight is white light that is composed of all the colors of the spectrum.  A rainbow is proof. You can't see the colors of sunlight except when atmospheric conditions bend the light rays and create a rainbow. You can also use a prism to demonstrate this.


Could there be so many denominations, perspectives, interpretations, etc. because of God being light.  I know this will get me in hot water, but I'll say it anyway....could there be so many perspectives because their are so many angles and colors of truth when it comes to God.  If one person or one denomination, or even one religion had all the truth there is to know about God, would they be a god.  Would there even be a need for God at that point?  Living in the light, is living in the spectrum of possibilities and perspectives.  We all can learn from others if we are just willing to shut our mouths and just genuinely listen.  If we would just listen to what they have to say, where it comes from, and try to understand the experiences they are drawing from to come up with their beliefs.  To "walk in the light" is to walk in the spectrum of beauty--the many different colors, because God is a multi-faceted, "multi-colored" God.  

I'll close with one of the most profound questions anybody has ever asked.  Pilate asked Jesus, while Jesus was on trial, "What is truth?"  Check out this conversation between Pilate and Jesus:

³³ Then Pilate went back inside the palace and called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

³⁴ Jesus said, “Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

³⁵ Pilate answered, “I am not one of you. It was your own people and their leading priests who handed you over to me. What have you done wrong?”

³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being given over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is from another place.”

³⁷ Pilate said, “So you are a king!”

Jesus answered, “You are the one saying I am a king. This is why I was born and came into the world: to tell people the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”

³⁸ Pilate said, “What is truth?” After he said this, he went out to the crowd again and said to them, “I find nothing against this man. 

Jesus never gave Pilate a clear-cut answer.  There was no "cookie-cutter" version of truth that was laid out in bullet points or read from Webster's dictionary.  It was up to Pilate to discover the beauty of truth.  I know there will be people that label me and try to tell you that I am in the camp that "believes in no absolute truth", and "new ager's think truth is relative," but I will just turn it back around and say, "light is multi-colored, but darkness on the other hand, has only one color--the absence of light--black."  And technically, black isn't even a real color; black is the absence of color.  If the medium is the message, then be a spectrum of light that listens, gives off beauty, is multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, and open to seeing other colors.  That is a reflection of God!!!