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God, Jesus, the Trinity, is not the problem

Mark Dohle

Well-Known Member
lovegodlovepeople1.jpg

God, Jesus, the Trinity, is not the problem


January 2, 2020

“Dear children, I know that I am present in your lives and in your hearts. I feel your love, I hear your prayers and direct them to my Son. But, my children, according to motherly love, I desire to be in the lives of all of my children. I desire to gather all of my children around me, beneath my motherly mantle. This is why I am inviting you and calling you, apostles of my love, to help me. My children, my Son pronounced the words of the ‘Our Father’—Our Father, who are everywhere and in our hearts—because He desires to teach you to pray with words and feelings. He desires for you to always be better, to live merciful love which is prayer and limitless sacrifice for others. My children, give to my Son love for your neighbors, give words of consolation, compassion and works of righteousness to your neighbors. Everything that you give to others, apostles of my love, my Son accepts as a gift. I am also with you, because my Son desires for my love, as a ray of light, to bring your souls to life; for me to help you in the search for peace and eternal happiness. Therefore, my children, love one another, be united through my Son, be children of God who all together, with full, open and pure heart, pronounce the ‘Our Father’. And do not be afraid! Thank you.”--Medjugorje January 2, 2019

++++++++++

One day I was talking to a man who was about my age. He asked me a question, which is presented to me at least a couple of times each year. He wanted to know if I was saved. Some Christians believe that they can pinpoint the exact time that they became a Christian. For instance: I was saved on my 20th birthday. I do not disagree with that. We can all make a very conscious choice to give our lives over to Christ. Yet it is also a process, one that can take years for a person to make that deliberate decision to give their lives to the Lord. Yet have been on the path for many years through their seeking.


Yet, Christ Jesus is calling each of us, myself in particular, to look deeply into our hearts and to see how we love others, or not. Serve those around us, or not. Jesus said: “Whatever you do the least, you do to me”. So yes, an act of kindness to another that is rooted in love, is a gift to Jesus, since it is Jesus that we are kind to. Christ Jesus lives in all hearts, in some, he is asleep, or even dead, yet he is there, loving the place where he dwells seeking to bring to life each heart in all men, women, and children.

Yet, I have seen many who tell me that, that they are saved, and who am I to judge. Yet, they are still living in anger and bitterness and cling to it like some sort of security blanket. The fruit of which is to spread it around. Take it out on others, to share the pain. Seeds can grow slowly if the soil is arid, yet the living waters work on all of us. So, again, the Lord tells us not to judge the souls of others.

Yet, Christ Jesus is calling each of us, myself in particular, to look deeply into our hearts and to see how we love others, or not. Serve those around us, or not. Jesus said: “Whatever you do the least, you do to me”. So yes, an act of kindness to another that is rooted in love, is a gift to Jesus, since it is Jesus that we are kind to. Christ Jesus lives in all hearts, in some, he is asleep, or even dead, yet he is there, loving the place where he dwells seeking to bring to life each heart in all men, women, and children.

Jesus is the “Word”, infinite, eternal, and the all-encompassing intelligence that holds us all in existence. Each moment is an act of creation, to exist, means we are seen by God, and yes loved. Yet, it is easy to reduce Jesus to a tribal deity, a war god, or Zeus, and to make our faith seem like slavery instead of the path to infinite freedom.

A pure heart (something I am still working on) is one who sees deeply and can let go of the compulsion to judge others in ways we are actually commanded not to. Each day we are to give our lives to Christ Jesus in a conscious manner. Each time, this giving of ourselves comes from a deeper place, and we are healed over time from the effects of our sins. Our acts of love have a ripple effect on the world, just as our sins do, and our compulsions. Jesus wishes only to free us from that burden of our tendency towards self-destruction.

God, Jesus, the Trinity, is not the problem. We are. Jesus did not come to save us from the Father, but to save us from ourselves. Let us grow in trust of God, his love, and to bring that to others. To also have the courage to let go of our limiting concepts of God—Br.MD


 

nPeace

Veteran Member
View attachment 36047

God, Jesus, the Trinity, is not the problem


January 2, 2020

“Dear children, I know that I am present in your lives and in your hearts. I feel your love, I hear your prayers and direct them to my Son. But, my children, according to motherly love, I desire to be in the lives of all of my children. I desire to gather all of my children around me, beneath my motherly mantle. This is why I am inviting you and calling you, apostles of my love, to help me. My children, my Son pronounced the words of the ‘Our Father’—Our Father, who are everywhere and in our hearts—because He desires to teach you to pray with words and feelings. He desires for you to always be better, to live merciful love which is prayer and limitless sacrifice for others. My children, give to my Son love for your neighbors, give words of consolation, compassion and works of righteousness to your neighbors. Everything that you give to others, apostles of my love, my Son accepts as a gift. I am also with you, because my Son desires for my love, as a ray of light, to bring your souls to life; for me to help you in the search for peace and eternal happiness. Therefore, my children, love one another, be united through my Son, be children of God who all together, with full, open and pure heart, pronounce the ‘Our Father’. And do not be afraid! Thank you.”--Medjugorje January 2, 2019

++++++++++

One day I was talking to a man who was about my age. He asked me a question, which is presented to me at least a couple of times each year. He wanted to know if I was saved. Some Christians believe that they can pinpoint the exact time that they became a Christian. For instance: I was saved on my 20th birthday. I do not disagree with that. We can all make a very conscious choice to give our lives over to Christ. Yet it is also a process, one that can take years for a person to make that deliberate decision to give their lives to the Lord. Yet have been on the path for many years through their seeking.


Yet, Christ Jesus is calling each of us, myself in particular, to look deeply into our hearts and to see how we love others, or not. Serve those around us, or not. Jesus said: “Whatever you do the least, you do to me”. So yes, an act of kindness to another that is rooted in love, is a gift to Jesus, since it is Jesus that we are kind to. Christ Jesus lives in all hearts, in some, he is asleep, or even dead, yet he is there, loving the place where he dwells seeking to bring to life each heart in all men, women, and children.

Yet, I have seen many who tell me that, that they are saved, and who am I to judge. Yet, they are still living in anger and bitterness and cling to it like some sort of security blanket. The fruit of which is to spread it around. Take it out on others, to share the pain. Seeds can grow slowly if the soil is arid, yet the living waters work on all of us. So, again, the Lord tells us not to judge the souls of others.

Yet, Christ Jesus is calling each of us, myself in particular, to look deeply into our hearts and to see how we love others, or not. Serve those around us, or not. Jesus said: “Whatever you do the least, you do to me”. So yes, an act of kindness to another that is rooted in love, is a gift to Jesus, since it is Jesus that we are kind to. Christ Jesus lives in all hearts, in some, he is asleep, or even dead, yet he is there, loving the place where he dwells seeking to bring to life each heart in all men, women, and children.

Jesus is the “Word”, infinite, eternal, and the all-encompassing intelligence that holds us all in existence. Each moment is an act of creation, to exist, means we are seen by God, and yes loved. Yet, it is easy to reduce Jesus to a tribal deity, a war god, or Zeus, and to make our faith seem like slavery instead of the path to infinite freedom.

A pure heart (something I am still working on) is one who sees deeply and can let go of the compulsion to judge others in ways we are actually commanded not to. Each day we are to give our lives to Christ Jesus in a conscious manner. Each time, this giving of ourselves comes from a deeper place, and we are healed over time from the effects of our sins. Our acts of love have a ripple effect on the world, just as our sins do, and our compulsions. Jesus wishes only to free us from that burden of our tendency towards self-destruction.

God, Jesus, the Trinity, is not the problem. We are. Jesus did not come to save us from the Father, but to save us from ourselves. Let us grow in trust of God, his love, and to bring that to others. To also have the courage to let go of our limiting concepts of God—Br.MD
When someone asks me, 'Am I saved?' My first thought is, "Saved from what?"
If they mean sin, I can't answer 'Yes', since we are all sinners, and no one can say they are not... unless they are lying. So saved from what?
Paul used the phrase in Romans 10, "will be saved". So we know that if we take certain steps, and as Jesus said, "endure to the end", we will be saved. (Matthew 10:22 ; Matthew 24:13)
Until then, we are only in a relatively safe condition - safe in the "arms of God's love" (if we demonstrate our love for him, by faith).

What allows us to be in that condition is not the fact that Christ died for our sins, but that Christ died for our sins, and we live by the truth he taught. (Matthew 20:28)
(John 1:17) . . .truth came to be through Jesus Christ. . .

This is the important part many tend to leave off.
Jesus said...
"...the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” (John 4:23, 24)

“If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32)

"Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

So I think it is important people understand what they are asking when they ask, "Are you saved?" Saved from what? I would say to I am saved from Satan's lies, because of accepting the truth Jesus taught. I am saved from problems that can be avoided, by the truth Jesus taught. I am saved from being part of this world ruled by Satan, because of accepting the truth Jesus taught. etc...

However, what is it people are really asking, when they ask, "Are you saved?" I don't know.
I have heard the expression, "Saved by the blood of the lamb". What does that really mean? I don't know.

Do you know the answer to these? Can you help me out?
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Since we retain free will even as believers, one could always backslide, and that is mentioned by Paul. Matter of fact, Paul said that he was unwilling to claim that he himself was saved. And in the Parable of the Seed & Sower, Jesus refers to those who may backslide.
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
Our acts of love have a ripple effect on the world, just as our sins do, and our compulsions. Jesus wishes only to free us from that burden of our tendency towards self-destruction.

Sin is not personal, always affecting another, the meaning of original sin. I think if the question 'are you saved' were asked of a Catholic the answer would be 'I do not know' but live in hope. As with Paul its a struggle, 'why do I do the things I hate?', 'Lord I believe, help my unbelief.' Jesus is the example of what it is to be perfectly human, in what we are capable of in living for others.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
BTW, may each of you have a Most Blessed Lord's Day, and I hope you all have avoided the flu that's going around. My wife and I didn't, and it's not fun, let me tell ya.:(
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
BTW, may each of you have a Most Blessed Lord's Day, and I hope you all have avoided the flu that's going around. My wife and I didn't, and it's not fun, let me tell ya.:(

And to you also. But what's your excuse for not getting the flu shot?
 

Mark Dohle

Well-Known Member
When someone asks me, 'Am I saved?' My first thought is, "Saved from what?"
If they mean sin, I can't answer 'Yes', since we are all sinners, and no one can say they are not... unless they are lying. So saved from what?
Paul used the phrase in Romans 10, "will be saved". So we know that if we take certain steps, and as Jesus said, "endure to the end", we will be saved. (Matthew 10:22 ; Matthew 24:13)
Until then, we are only in a relatively safe condition - safe in the "arms of God's love" (if we demonstrate our love for him, by faith).

What allows us to be in that condition is not the fact that Christ died for our sins, but that Christ died for our sins, and we live by the truth he taught. (Matthew 20:28)
(John 1:17) . . .truth came to be through Jesus Christ. . .

This is the important part many tend to leave off.
Jesus said...
"...the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” (John 4:23, 24)

“If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32)

"Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

So I think it is important people understand what they are asking when they ask, "Are you saved?" Saved from what? I would say to I am saved from Satan's lies, because of accepting the truth Jesus taught. I am saved from problems that can be avoided, by the truth Jesus taught. I am saved from being part of this world ruled by Satan, because of accepting the truth Jesus taught. etc...

However, what is it people are really asking, when they ask, "Are you saved?" I don't know.
I have heard the expression, "Saved by the blood of the lamb". What does that really mean? I don't know.

Do you know the answer to these? Can you help me out?

Three things: Love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor, as yourself. It is about a relationship with God, others, and self.......love of self leads to love of others, which takes a real death to self to live out from that place since true love of self is not what it is normally thought it to be.f

What we do to others, we do to Jesus Christ, he is one with us. So If I say I love God or am saved, but hate, it is a lie, and then I need to pray for the grace to love God, and to be healed to love others.

peace
mark
 

Mark Dohle

Well-Known Member
Sin is not personal, always affecting another, the meaning of original sin. I think if the question 'are you saved' were asked of a Catholic the answer would be 'I do not know' but live in hope. As with Paul its a struggle, 'why do I do the things I hate?', 'Lord I believe, help my unbelief.' Jesus is the example of what it is to be perfectly human, in what we are capable of in living for others.
Thank you, very good comment my friend.

peace
Mark
 

Mark Dohle

Well-Known Member
Since we retain free will even as believers, one could always backslide, and that is mentioned by Paul. Matter of fact, Paul said that he was unwilling to claim that he himself was saved. And in the Parable of the Seed & Sower, Jesus refers to those who may backslide.
Yes, knowing that keeps us rooted in Jesus Christ.........let us pray for one another.

peace
mark
 
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