A New Interpretation.

When you see that Satanism hijacked the peace movement of the 1960s it is not sufficient to just switch to the Religious Right.

Because the Religious Right is the equivalent of the Priests and Pharisees in the story of Jesus.

Jesus called them "blind guides". (Matthew 15;14)

They do not know God, nor do they reflect His nature.

They are political.

And their politics is driven by money.

So if you return to the Bible as a spiritual guide you must reinterpret the scriptures in view of the times and context of each passage.

This is the new interpretation that forms the basis of Progressive Christianity.

It is realistic, non-violent, merciful, and gracious.

And it will inform the religion of the future.

Photo Credit: miklahlife.com

The Seed and The Sower.

In the Parable of The Seed and The Sower a man goes out to sow his seed and some fell on the path and the birds ate it up, some fell on rocks and it withered, some fell among thorns and they choked it.....But some fell on good soil and it flourished.

This is what happens with the Word of God.

Some is soon picked off, some has no roots, some are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of this world.....But some hold fast in a good and honest heart and bear fruit with patient endurance.

(Luke 8:5-15)

Photo Credit: freepik.com

The Kingdom of God.

What are the values of the Kingdom of God?

The values of the Kingdom of God are set out in the Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:3-11)

Justice, comfort, non-violence, righteousness, mercy, pure love, peacemaking. and endurance.

These things are blessed.

And they lead to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Photo Credit: wallpaperaccess.com

Values.

What do we value in life?

Do we value: money, kudos, status, possessions, power, pleasures, and hate?

Or do we value: truth, justice, mercy, charity, forgiveness, equality, and love?

Do we value the way of the world?

Or do we value the Kingdom of God?

It is a clear choice.

But most of us fudge our faith.

We compromise the values of the Kingdom of God.

And we submit to the exigencies of the world.

Photo Credit: tooeasylife4you.blogspot,com

The World.

Many of us are horrified at the things that are happening in our world.

Corruption. war, violence, ignorance, deceit, prejudice, persecution.....

All these things abound in our world.

And we feel powerless to stop them.

But we cannot just sit back and say it does not affect us.

Martin Luther King said that if there is injustice anywhere in our world it is injustice to us all.

And so we hope and we pray.

And we do what we can.

But it is not enough.

We can only hope that the world will come to its senses.

And turn to a God who is love, truth, and justice.

Photo Credit: edition.cnn.com

Gay Sex.

Many religious people will tell you that it is O.K. to be gay so long as you don't have sex.

They may as well tell you not to be gay!

As if that was possible.

So gay sex is non-negotiable.

It is an essential part of our identity.

And it is O.K. with God.

So don't let anyone tell you that God has banned gay sex.

It is not true.

Gay sex is as acceptable to God as heterosexual sex.

Love is love.

And love is our salvation.

Photo Credit: goldcoastbulletin.com.au

Evil.

If you're basing your self-righteousness on the words of Ronald Reagan then you are sorely mistaken.

Ronald Reagan was not the hero that the corporate-owned media and Fundamentalist Christians claimed.

Ronald Reagan based his war against the political left on demonization and finger pointing.

He used blame and scapegoating techniques to blacken his enemies.

But these things are proscribed in the Bible and associated with Hitler and Nazi Germany.

"If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil....."  Isaiah 58:9 (NRSV)

As far as his bogus Last Judgement which was linked to the Millennium, Jesus told the parable of the weeds and the wheat.

In this parable the slaves ask the master if he wants them to gather the weeds that have grown up amongst the wheat, but the master says, "No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them."  Matthew 13: 29 (NRSV)

And this is what happened.

Innocent people were demonized, judged, and damned because of Reagan's words which were not true then and are not true now.

So those who enacted Reagan's revenge have incurred a massive debt which will be seen for what it is.

For God is truth.

And the truth will endure.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.