I am not sure that the Sheeple even perceive the Paradoxes. Seekers definitely see them. Disciples definitely get some explanations.
I do agree that seeking the Kingdom is the overarching directive of Jesus. I do not even think that Jesus is always so interested in giving away the secrets of the paradoxes. He likes us to have some measure of ambiguity...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Did I experince the kingdom or the program
So did the Decon see me lap the host out of the plastic cup with my tounge? Maybe so, but why did he feel the need to tap me on the shoulder and tell me that there was a place in the pew for the plastic cup. I was merely trying to figure out a better stacking design because there was obviously more cups per person than holders in the pew.
When I tried to explain after the service I was met with a dismissal statement about there are "1000s of different designs of cups." Did I just meet a Pharisee or was I messing with the fact that he was on the committee that chose that design of cups?
Was his Kingdom the plastic communion cup?
When I tried to explain after the service I was met with a dismissal statement about there are "1000s of different designs of cups." Did I just meet a Pharisee or was I messing with the fact that he was on the committee that chose that design of cups?
Was his Kingdom the plastic communion cup?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Can the Kingdom be found in the continuum?
Is the Kingdom part of the continuum of our lives or is it elusive like God when he wants us to try harder to find Him? How many of my prayers have been "Where are you God?" How many more will be "Where is the kingdom I am seeking?" Do I bring the people along or must I leave the sheeple of my life to find the kingdom? What benefit is it to the kingdom if I leave the sheeple and find the kingdom? Would that not be selfish? Do I find the kingdom, then come back to the get the sheeple?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Is the Kingdom here, too...?
Is the child experiencing any form of the Kingdom of God, or will she soon? Is any form of the gospel operative or operating here?
I am interested to know your first intuition on the spiritual state of this little girl at the moment of time that the photo was taken. Then I would like to know your thoughts after you spend some quality time confronting the reality of this photo.
Assume she has salvation through Jesus, so her issue is not needing salvation. To me, the concept of "Life" is a pivotal thing in this picture. Unless you have the right picture of Life, you cannot understand the Paradox that is hidden here.
What do you see? (Did I just give away the secret?)
When I first encountered this photo, I nearly gagged. I feel very differently about it now.
I know that right now your Kingdom is fixing the crapper flapper, but...
I really wanna hear your ideas about the "Trinity of the Kingdom". This idea that maybe it is multidimensional on three or more planes is pretty interesting. Never thought of it, and I am ashamed to admit that.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Gospel is a Verb. The Kingdom is a Continuum.
Free thoughts as I read and think... I will try to make sense of them later...
A definition to begin with:
Sheeple = Sheep + People. Non-Seekers. Those that want to follow in a line behind some small pig chanting Baa-Raam-U (Did you see Babe?) Those that are too intellectually or spiritually lazy to seek earnestly. You will hear me speak derisively of them, but I do not hate them. I pity them. I used to be one. I was healed. There is a note of sarcasm intended, because hypocrisy is genetically implanted into Sheeple (it is into all of us, but Seekers tend to be aware of the fact whereas Sheeple do not). Sheeple see only black and white high contrast. They perceive no Gray.
I am not a Sheeple.
ON TO THE SCRIPTURE
1.) Using family and livelihood as the reference point for valuing Him and the gospel is significant. Infinite value - He implies.
2.) Agree strongly that "Me" and The Gospel are not the same thing... Are we going to get into esoteric vs. exoteric here? Yes, we are. My personal belief is that the true essence of of what Jesus teaches is in fact esoteric and highly, highly radical.
3.) LET ME DEFINE SOME WORDS: Please be very careful with the definitions. I will use the words esoteric and occult in non-traditional ways for very specific meanings. I may use them often going forward because I am accustomed to thinking in these terms, so it is imperative that you know what I mean when I say them. When I do this, do not be alarmed. If it really bugs you, let me know and I will refrain. I am NOT into Ouija boards. Let me define...
I use these words when I talk about that paradox of Hidden Visibility. (aka, The Spirit)
ex⋅o⋅ter⋅ic
–adjective 1. suitable for or communicated to the general public - i.e. Sheeple religion.
2. not belonging, limited, or pertaining to the inner or select circle, as of disciples or intimates. - i.e. those that did not seek it did not find it. It elusive only because Sheeple are unaware.3. popular; simple; commonplace.
4. pertaining to the outside; exterior; external.
es⋅o⋅ter⋅ic
–adjective 1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions. - I use this definition very often.
2. belonging to the select few. - i.e. because only the select few bothered to look. 3. private; secret; confidential. - for the same reasons as above.
4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras. - I rarely use the word in this sense. It is not a Black Mass I mean. It is not jealously guarding a secret. The secret guards itself.
oc⋅cult Very useful, but very dangerous word.
–adjective 1. of or pertaining to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies. - I rarely use occult in this way. This is the Sheeple meaning of the word.
2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious. - I use this all the time.
3. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated. - I do not use this one...
4. hidden from view. - I use this one all the time.
5. (in early science) a. not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation. - I use this one all the time.
b. of a nature not understood, as physical qualities. - I use this one all the time, especially for metaphysical issues.
ABOUT THE KINGDOM
4.) I think Jesus gives a strong hint at the Kingdom in this verse. There is definitely a "here and now" aspect. The Beatitudes tells me that the Kingdom exists in the present tense and in the future tense. It should be easy to prove that it has always existed as well. It is a continuum.
5.) The Kingdom necessarily is not time bound. Or else God could not exist there. He would be fundamentally limited, He would be trapped in Space-Time. He would be a planet. It is past, present, and future.
Most important to me, it is here and now.
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
That is certainly a message for the Present Tense. The Kingdom is here and now, and all is possible under certain conditions.
GOING TO YOUR FIRST COMMENT
6.) You understand Sheeple too. To me Sheeple follow exoteric religion. un-Sheeple do not necessarily follow a religion. To me, religion has strong corporate social structure ties to it. And that means that it has inherent dysfunction. Religion does not save me. Spirit does. Spirit is hidden to Sheeple. You have to look for it. It is intrinsically esoteric. If you are unaware, you do not sense the Holy Spirit, you do not respond to Jesus, and hence you do not perceive God. You have no salvation.
Sheeple are ignorant of their ignorance. Jesus said so. "The first shall be last" and vice versa. The Kingdom is extremely elusive. Einstein said "God does not play dice". He may not, but He sure likes to play Hide and Seek. The Kingdom is not easily entered. Not because there are magical Foo Dogs limiting entry to only a select 144,000, but because so few Seek.
To me, you have confirmed your alignment with my idea that there are basically two "Christianities" - one for Sheeple (exoteric), and one for Seekers (esoteric).
And Seekers follow Spirit.
John 4:24 (Jesus says)God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
And this ain't easy to do...
Luke 19, Jesus entering Jerusalem, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace (I infer that this peace is more or less equivalent to the Kingdom. It is in the Beatitudes, which I think to be the best oration on the Kingdom that Jesus gave) —but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Because you were stupid. A Sheeple. Jesus said that.
Spirit ain't easy to see.
7.) OUTSTANDING observation that social context does in fact matter! Very good catch in separating them "me" and "gospel". I think you got a noun and a verb going here.
The Gospel is not about Jesus, it is the action that proceeds from the essence - the Logos - of God - who is Jesus. It is movement of the Spirit. It is the Creative Will of God. It is Jesus Christ the Messiah and the Christos. It is the verb of acting out the will of the essence.
The Gospel cannot be a Jesus-history/story if Jesus himself preached it, about himself, using the motive force of himself. (I know I am taking liberties with the Trinity and Logos, but you get the point...)It is all happening in real time as Jesus talks in the present tense about the gospel.
Jesus definitely taught the Gospel.
Luke 20:1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
Sheeple think that in Luke 20:1, Jesus is telling the story about himself (I guess - who knows - they probably never thought of it). He is not. He is telling them how to experience the Kingdom.
When I hear someone refer to "The Gospel" and hold up a New Testament and point to it and say "this is the Gospel", I want to puke. I get gut level impulses. It is not the program. The gospel cannot be written. it can only be acted.
THE DEFINITION OF GOSPEL CHANGES THROUGH THE NT
9.) In Acts Gospel seems to be the story about Jesus. In the Acts and the Epistles, nobody really defines it. We can infer that Jesus' definition is quite different, I think. In The Gospels, Jesus delivered the message of the gospel himself.
WHO DOES JESUS THINK HE IS?
I think "Jesus" is not a pronoun. It is a proper noun. When Jesus referred to "me" in the scripture, he clearly meant His creative, Logos essence - i.e. The Chritsos, The Messiah. I do not even think it is necessarily true that Jesus was referring to his personality, or his mind, or anything like that. I personally think Jesus cared not one whit for this physical plane on a personal level other than in how he could use it to connect folks with the Kingdom.
Could Jesus's "gospel" be the action one takes in connecting to the essence of the Logos? Could it be "being in the Spirit"? Could it be "being in accord with the Creative Essence (Logos) of God"? Could Jesus be refering to Himself as the it you need to be in? Could gospel be a verb, too? I think yes.
It is clear that Jesus is the essence. Jesus' gospel is what we "do" with His essence. It is a verb. The verb may manifest in various manners depending on the need, below, it manifests as "obey".
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."
Basically, Jesus says if you "obey my teaching" (I infer that that is equivalent to the gospel of Jesus), then we will have access to the Kingdom. Definite verb action happening here.
So, the gospel is the act of accessing the Kingdom. (I know I just made a mess of works vs. grace... :) I have no idea how to reconcile that. I actually have no idea how to treat this all. As I said above, it is stream of consciousness writing.
Jesus was all about experience. Not emotion. But experience. Being hooked into the Kingdom Experience 24x7. Praying without ceasing, Suiting up in the Armor, etc. That is experience. And ironically, when one does this pretty reliably (or most of the time, anyhow) suffering is transmuted to purposeful activity. It has a purpose. It satisfies. It rewards. It becomes a beautiful paradox of Pain=Pleasure. Turbulence = Rest. Occult = Revealed. (I could not resist that one...)
"My yoke is easy..." What??? You just told me "if you put a hand on the plow and look back, you are unworthy..." What gives? You tell me it is easy. You tell me it is impossible... What???
It is a matter of how you experience this. Another way of saying this is that Jesus taught us to transcend this plane by getting into "doing the gospel" of hooking into Him. He often called for actions that are simply impossible without the ability to at least transcend our nature to some degree. It is the mountain and the mustard seed. The impossible becomes possible. Another paradox. We will get to that discussion in time. I cannot wait! That is a favorite of mine!
Sheeple hate paradoxes. Seekers find them stunningly beautiful mysteries. A good paradox is better than Crystal Meth while having sex with Angelina to me...
I am not arguing that we can transcend in this lifetime to a point where we are no longer human - i.e to where we reach Divinity, but I am saying that Jesus taught us that our ability to transcend is light years above what we, especially Sheeple, understand. We CAN move mountains. Though we cannot be God, we can definitely kick a whole lotta ass. If we are willing to (back to our scripture of the day) Leave It All for Him and the Gospel.
So, the gospel is not a story about the flip of a light switch. It is a verb about hooking into the power source of the universe - the Logos... - and thereby accessing the Kingdom. This requires some degree of transcendence of our carnal nature. It requires pain and death. (Another paradox)
That is why it is perfectly OK for Jesus to speak in paradoxes. Both realities are true, depending on your perspective. And whether you are a Sheeple, or a Seeker.
Seekers focus on now. Sheeple focus on the hereafter. Seekers bliss out on the trouble of the now. Sheeple are miserable with the Effed up existence God placed them in (they think that but are afraid to say it).
Both Seekers and Sheeple know you gotta suffer. Just that Seekers dig it and Sheeple resist it. Seekers understand that when Jesus offered the Truth and Freedom, he meant now. And it happens in the minutes you surrender (i.e. you quit resisting your suffering - the moments when you accept Grace). Seekers understand that you need to suffer to create the motive force for resolution into grace. They see the Paradox. Sheeple just suffer needlessly.
This transcendence I speak of is not meditation, though I certainly think meditation has great value, just like contemlation, prayer, and worship. My transcendence is not new Age muck. It is simply rising above the plane of normal suffering human existence to catch a glimpse of the Kingdom at hand in the present. It is learning to perceive the reality God has placed you in as His will, to act on that, and find grace regardless. It is "doing the gospel".
I do not know the greek, but if gospel does not have an active voice verb connotation, I think it is an issue with language and cultural translation. Jesus' message is clearly about experiencing His essence in the Kingdom right now. Sure there is eternity, but Jesus is also very pragmatic and useful in this plane of existence.
So, to me, the Gospel is not a noun, it is a verb. And the Kingdom is a continuum. And the most important point on that continuum is right now.
A definition to begin with:
Sheeple = Sheep + People. Non-Seekers. Those that want to follow in a line behind some small pig chanting Baa-Raam-U (Did you see Babe?) Those that are too intellectually or spiritually lazy to seek earnestly. You will hear me speak derisively of them, but I do not hate them. I pity them. I used to be one. I was healed. There is a note of sarcasm intended, because hypocrisy is genetically implanted into Sheeple (it is into all of us, but Seekers tend to be aware of the fact whereas Sheeple do not). Sheeple see only black and white high contrast. They perceive no Gray.
I am not a Sheeple.
ON TO THE SCRIPTURE
1.) Using family and livelihood as the reference point for valuing Him and the gospel is significant. Infinite value - He implies.
2.) Agree strongly that "Me" and The Gospel are not the same thing... Are we going to get into esoteric vs. exoteric here? Yes, we are. My personal belief is that the true essence of of what Jesus teaches is in fact esoteric and highly, highly radical.
3.) LET ME DEFINE SOME WORDS: Please be very careful with the definitions. I will use the words esoteric and occult in non-traditional ways for very specific meanings. I may use them often going forward because I am accustomed to thinking in these terms, so it is imperative that you know what I mean when I say them. When I do this, do not be alarmed. If it really bugs you, let me know and I will refrain. I am NOT into Ouija boards. Let me define...
I use these words when I talk about that paradox of Hidden Visibility. (aka, The Spirit)
ex⋅o⋅ter⋅ic
–adjective 1. suitable for or communicated to the general public - i.e. Sheeple religion.
2. not belonging, limited, or pertaining to the inner or select circle, as of disciples or intimates. - i.e. those that did not seek it did not find it. It elusive only because Sheeple are unaware.3. popular; simple; commonplace.
4. pertaining to the outside; exterior; external.
es⋅o⋅ter⋅ic
–adjective 1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions. - I use this definition very often.
2. belonging to the select few. - i.e. because only the select few bothered to look. 3. private; secret; confidential. - for the same reasons as above.
4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras. - I rarely use the word in this sense. It is not a Black Mass I mean. It is not jealously guarding a secret. The secret guards itself.
oc⋅cult Very useful, but very dangerous word.
–adjective 1. of or pertaining to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies. - I rarely use occult in this way. This is the Sheeple meaning of the word.
2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious. - I use this all the time.
3. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated. - I do not use this one...
4. hidden from view. - I use this one all the time.
5. (in early science) a. not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation. - I use this one all the time.
b. of a nature not understood, as physical qualities. - I use this one all the time, especially for metaphysical issues.
ABOUT THE KINGDOM
4.) I think Jesus gives a strong hint at the Kingdom in this verse. There is definitely a "here and now" aspect. The Beatitudes tells me that the Kingdom exists in the present tense and in the future tense. It should be easy to prove that it has always existed as well. It is a continuum.
5.) The Kingdom necessarily is not time bound. Or else God could not exist there. He would be fundamentally limited, He would be trapped in Space-Time. He would be a planet. It is past, present, and future.
Most important to me, it is here and now.
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
That is certainly a message for the Present Tense. The Kingdom is here and now, and all is possible under certain conditions.
GOING TO YOUR FIRST COMMENT
6.) You understand Sheeple too. To me Sheeple follow exoteric religion. un-Sheeple do not necessarily follow a religion. To me, religion has strong corporate social structure ties to it. And that means that it has inherent dysfunction. Religion does not save me. Spirit does. Spirit is hidden to Sheeple. You have to look for it. It is intrinsically esoteric. If you are unaware, you do not sense the Holy Spirit, you do not respond to Jesus, and hence you do not perceive God. You have no salvation.
Sheeple are ignorant of their ignorance. Jesus said so. "The first shall be last" and vice versa. The Kingdom is extremely elusive. Einstein said "God does not play dice". He may not, but He sure likes to play Hide and Seek. The Kingdom is not easily entered. Not because there are magical Foo Dogs limiting entry to only a select 144,000, but because so few Seek.
To me, you have confirmed your alignment with my idea that there are basically two "Christianities" - one for Sheeple (exoteric), and one for Seekers (esoteric).
And Seekers follow Spirit.
John 4:24 (Jesus says)God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
And this ain't easy to do...
Luke 19, Jesus entering Jerusalem, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace (I infer that this peace is more or less equivalent to the Kingdom. It is in the Beatitudes, which I think to be the best oration on the Kingdom that Jesus gave) —but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Because you were stupid. A Sheeple. Jesus said that.
Spirit ain't easy to see.
7.) OUTSTANDING observation that social context does in fact matter! Very good catch in separating them "me" and "gospel". I think you got a noun and a verb going here.
The Gospel is not about Jesus, it is the action that proceeds from the essence - the Logos - of God - who is Jesus. It is movement of the Spirit. It is the Creative Will of God. It is Jesus Christ the Messiah and the Christos. It is the verb of acting out the will of the essence.
The Gospel cannot be a Jesus-history/story if Jesus himself preached it, about himself, using the motive force of himself. (I know I am taking liberties with the Trinity and Logos, but you get the point...)It is all happening in real time as Jesus talks in the present tense about the gospel.
Jesus definitely taught the Gospel.
Luke 20:1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
Sheeple think that in Luke 20:1, Jesus is telling the story about himself (I guess - who knows - they probably never thought of it). He is not. He is telling them how to experience the Kingdom.
When I hear someone refer to "The Gospel" and hold up a New Testament and point to it and say "this is the Gospel", I want to puke. I get gut level impulses. It is not the program. The gospel cannot be written. it can only be acted.
THE DEFINITION OF GOSPEL CHANGES THROUGH THE NT
9.) In Acts Gospel seems to be the story about Jesus. In the Acts and the Epistles, nobody really defines it. We can infer that Jesus' definition is quite different, I think. In The Gospels, Jesus delivered the message of the gospel himself.
WHO DOES JESUS THINK HE IS?
I think "Jesus" is not a pronoun. It is a proper noun. When Jesus referred to "me" in the scripture, he clearly meant His creative, Logos essence - i.e. The Chritsos, The Messiah. I do not even think it is necessarily true that Jesus was referring to his personality, or his mind, or anything like that. I personally think Jesus cared not one whit for this physical plane on a personal level other than in how he could use it to connect folks with the Kingdom.
Could Jesus's "gospel" be the action one takes in connecting to the essence of the Logos? Could it be "being in the Spirit"? Could it be "being in accord with the Creative Essence (Logos) of God"? Could Jesus be refering to Himself as the it you need to be in? Could gospel be a verb, too? I think yes.
It is clear that Jesus is the essence. Jesus' gospel is what we "do" with His essence. It is a verb. The verb may manifest in various manners depending on the need, below, it manifests as "obey".
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."
Basically, Jesus says if you "obey my teaching" (I infer that that is equivalent to the gospel of Jesus), then we will have access to the Kingdom. Definite verb action happening here.
So, the gospel is the act of accessing the Kingdom. (I know I just made a mess of works vs. grace... :) I have no idea how to reconcile that. I actually have no idea how to treat this all. As I said above, it is stream of consciousness writing.
Jesus was all about experience. Not emotion. But experience. Being hooked into the Kingdom Experience 24x7. Praying without ceasing, Suiting up in the Armor, etc. That is experience. And ironically, when one does this pretty reliably (or most of the time, anyhow) suffering is transmuted to purposeful activity. It has a purpose. It satisfies. It rewards. It becomes a beautiful paradox of Pain=Pleasure. Turbulence = Rest. Occult = Revealed. (I could not resist that one...)
"My yoke is easy..." What??? You just told me "if you put a hand on the plow and look back, you are unworthy..." What gives? You tell me it is easy. You tell me it is impossible... What???
It is a matter of how you experience this. Another way of saying this is that Jesus taught us to transcend this plane by getting into "doing the gospel" of hooking into Him. He often called for actions that are simply impossible without the ability to at least transcend our nature to some degree. It is the mountain and the mustard seed. The impossible becomes possible. Another paradox. We will get to that discussion in time. I cannot wait! That is a favorite of mine!
Sheeple hate paradoxes. Seekers find them stunningly beautiful mysteries. A good paradox is better than Crystal Meth while having sex with Angelina to me...
I am not arguing that we can transcend in this lifetime to a point where we are no longer human - i.e to where we reach Divinity, but I am saying that Jesus taught us that our ability to transcend is light years above what we, especially Sheeple, understand. We CAN move mountains. Though we cannot be God, we can definitely kick a whole lotta ass. If we are willing to (back to our scripture of the day) Leave It All for Him and the Gospel.
So, the gospel is not a story about the flip of a light switch. It is a verb about hooking into the power source of the universe - the Logos... - and thereby accessing the Kingdom. This requires some degree of transcendence of our carnal nature. It requires pain and death. (Another paradox)
That is why it is perfectly OK for Jesus to speak in paradoxes. Both realities are true, depending on your perspective. And whether you are a Sheeple, or a Seeker.
Seekers focus on now. Sheeple focus on the hereafter. Seekers bliss out on the trouble of the now. Sheeple are miserable with the Effed up existence God placed them in (they think that but are afraid to say it).
Both Seekers and Sheeple know you gotta suffer. Just that Seekers dig it and Sheeple resist it. Seekers understand that when Jesus offered the Truth and Freedom, he meant now. And it happens in the minutes you surrender (i.e. you quit resisting your suffering - the moments when you accept Grace). Seekers understand that you need to suffer to create the motive force for resolution into grace. They see the Paradox. Sheeple just suffer needlessly.
This transcendence I speak of is not meditation, though I certainly think meditation has great value, just like contemlation, prayer, and worship. My transcendence is not new Age muck. It is simply rising above the plane of normal suffering human existence to catch a glimpse of the Kingdom at hand in the present. It is learning to perceive the reality God has placed you in as His will, to act on that, and find grace regardless. It is "doing the gospel".
I do not know the greek, but if gospel does not have an active voice verb connotation, I think it is an issue with language and cultural translation. Jesus' message is clearly about experiencing His essence in the Kingdom right now. Sure there is eternity, but Jesus is also very pragmatic and useful in this plane of existence.
So, to me, the Gospel is not a noun, it is a verb. And the Kingdom is a continuum. And the most important point on that continuum is right now.
The begining
Awsome we now have the "ground" rules thrown out and are able to explore freely and without encumbrance. Let the journey begin
The first steps in the call to the kingdom...
Mark 10:29
29"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
It is interesting that Jesus separates the call to another path into 2 things here. A call to him self and a call to the "gospel" So what is the gospel? The sunday school answer in my brain is "The good news of Jesus Christ" Does that answer work in terms of when Jesus made the statement 2000 years ago.... I don't think so. It would be a double call like saying Network NIC Card.
The first of 91 results for search on "gospel" from the all knowing bible gateway get us these references:
Mathew 24
9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Bring on the gospel of the Kingdom
The first steps in the call to the kingdom...
Mark 10:29
29"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
It is interesting that Jesus separates the call to another path into 2 things here. A call to him self and a call to the "gospel" So what is the gospel? The sunday school answer in my brain is "The good news of Jesus Christ" Does that answer work in terms of when Jesus made the statement 2000 years ago.... I don't think so. It would be a double call like saying Network NIC Card.
The first of 91 results for search on "gospel" from the all knowing bible gateway get us these references:
- Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter) - Matthew 26:13
I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Matthew 26:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 26 (Whole Chapter) - Mark 1:1
[ John the Baptist Prepares the Way ] The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark 1:1-3 (in Context) Mark 1 (Whole Chapter) - Mark 8:35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 8:34-36 (in Context) Mark 8 (Whole Chapter) - Mark 10:29
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
Mark 10:28-30 (in Context) Mark 10 (Whole Chapter) - Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
Mark 13:9-11 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter) - Mark 14:9
I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Mark 14:8-10 (in Context) Mark 14 (Whole Chapter) - Luke 9:6
So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
Luke 9:5-7 (in Context) Luke 9 (Whole Chapter) - Luke 20:1
[ The Authority of Jesus Questioned ] One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
Luke 20:1-3 (in Context) Luke 20 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 8:25
When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Acts 8:24-26 (in Context) Acts 8 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 8:40
Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Acts 8:39-40 (in Context) Acts 8 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 15:7
After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
Acts 15:6-8 (in Context) Acts 15 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 16:10
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:9-11 (in Context) Acts 16 (Whole Chapter) - Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:23-25 (in Context) Acts 20 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
Romans 1:1-3 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:2
the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
Romans 1:1-3 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:9
God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
Romans 1:8-10 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:15
That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
Romans 1:14-16 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Romans 1:15-17 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 1:17
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 1:16-18 (in Context) Romans 1 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 2:16
This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Romans 2:15-17 (in Context) Romans 2 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 11:28
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,
Romans 11:27-29 (in Context) Romans 11 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 15:16
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:15-17 (in Context) Romans 15 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 15:19
by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
Romans 15:18-20 (in Context) Romans 15 (Whole Chapter) - Romans 15:20
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.
Romans 15:19-21 (in Context) Romans 15 (Whole Chapter)
Mathew 24
9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Bring on the gospel of the Kingdom
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