The Religious Right.

If you reject the way of the world but merely switch to the Religious Right you are falling into a trap.

Because the Religious Right is ruled by fear.

They have compromised the message of God and usurped the name of Jesus.

Jesus called them blind guides.  (Matthew 15:14)

He said: "'You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering..'"  Luke 11:52 (NRSV)

They have been corrupted by the temptations of power and authority.

Many preach Prosperity Theology which is merely the way of the world in disguise.

So you must be discriminating in your beliefs.

And diligent in your study.

(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Men.

To be a man you must be: strong, hard, tough, brave, active, pragmatic, worldly, and successful.

Or so they think.

But this is not the way of God.

God is: gentle, soft, merciful, fearless, idealistic, forgiving, and loving.

This is true strength, not fear of other men and fear of failure.

"But how then can you win?" I hear you ask.

The answer is that you don't necessarily win in a worldly sense.

But you win something much greater than that.

You win the struggle of life.

For love is the source and the purpose of  life.

And love is the inmost nature of God.

So do not be seduced by the idols of this world.

But seek God and bow down to Him.

For His is the greater wisdom.

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Socialism.

Socialism is not Communism.

Socialism is not anti-religious and it is not totalitarian.

Socialism respects religious beliefs and it is democratic.

This is just another example of blatant conflation by the political and religious right.

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Conflation.

Ronald Reagan called the Hippies and Baby-Boomers "unconscious agents of the devil".

This was because their rock stars secretly practised Satanism.

But you could just as easily say they were unconscious agents of Jesus Christ through their association with Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi and their philosophy of peace and love.

This is blatant conflation.

The association of the Baby-Boomers with Satanism in rock music was transferred onto their fans and left-wing politicians who had nothing to do with Satan at all.

This was also done with gays and lesbians.

Their association with gay rock stars like David Bowie was transferred to implicate all gay and lesbian people.

These practices by the religious and political right are blatantly criminal.

Hippies and gays are innocent.

It is rock stars who are guilty.

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Love is the Fulfilling of the Law*.

Most people in the Church believe that religion is all about obeying the rules.

And while the rules are important if you are obeying them out of fear then you will not experience God's blessing in all its fullness.

But when you see that the Law is a reflection of God's Love then your motivation becomes love and you will experience the ultimate.

Love God and love your neighbor.

Then you will be free!

(*Romans 13:10)

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The White Rider.

In the Book of Revelation the White Rider who defeats the Beast does not brandish a sword in his hand.

"From his mouth comes a sharp sword." Revelation 19;15 (NRSV)

"and his name is called The Word of God." Revelation 19:13 (NRSV)

So it is not by violence that the Beast is defeated but by the Word of God.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Angels.

I have noticed that recently images of angels have begun appearing on my Facebook page.

These images, however, are of both good and evil angels.

And the good angels are exclusive,y musclebound males brandishing swords and fire with which to fight against the evil angels and the devil.

While this is not an uncommon idea of what God's angels do I believe that it is not correct nor is it borne out by the facts. 

If this scenario was true evil would have been defeated centuries ago*.

But there is no evidence that God and His angels act in this way at all.

God is non-violent.

And His angels reflect the Divine Nature.

They are agents of love and blessing.

They are not violent agents of God's wrath.

(* I remember it was supposed to happen at the Millennium.)

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