Suffering is a gift from God

The Lord did not create us to suffer, but rather to tend to others, as shown when Jesus said the last will be first, and that he had come to serve. (Matthew 20.27-8) We know that Jesus is the Messiah, because he fulfilled  the prophecies in Isaiah, including what is written about he who will proclaim the good news: the injured wounds' will be bound, and the captives will be set free. (Isaiah 61:1) Jesus told us that if we do not love our neighbour, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 22.36) Paul reiterates Christ's purpose to alleviate other's pain, when he says that we will fulfill the law of Christ when we carry each other's burdens. (Galatians 6.2)

It is in our pain that we grow sympathetic, and so then become a ready vessel to be filled with the Spirit, in which we may alleviate the suffering of others. Hardship is natural, and is therefore good.

But to be depressed, wrapped in a spell of perpetual suffering, is not normal: it is a defect of character which causes resistance to recover from the initial shock of the distress, where we then forfeit our purpose. It is the inability to be grateful for what we do not suffer for, though it is in gratitude whilst suffering that we may receive God's grace, for this prepares us a way through which to serve.

To refuse inspiration is the opposite of service, and is contradictory to our instincts. But more seriously, it is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit: the rejection of God's healing love, and this is the one unforgivable sin. (Mark 3.28-9)

When we are victimized, we are not being helpful; instead we are denying life itself, which is the Lord's gift to us. This transgression against God's will, which is to serve in his excellence, is poison to us for it is in our composition to build from hardship, and then to help others, and it is in our compassion where we may enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 22.36-39)

On Hell

Hell has been thought to be a place of fire and brimstone, because of the verse where Jesus says that the wheat will be separated from the tares during the harvest, and the bad will be thrown into the fire.

This has been misused fire itself, and has caused much pain between brethren, even though Christ came to comfort us. I assert that those substantially different, purgatory is also a fire, and can feel like our understanding of hell. Yet we all experience purgatory: it is the trials that hurt us deeply, but then we rise from them and become stronger and more efficient. Fire refines us, and this can be shown in numerous Bible passages.

We are taught that there is one act that can keep us in an eternal fire, and this is called "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit": the rejection of God. To follow through with God's laws and commandments, are not enough - if we do not love one another, then our works are dead: we are not saved.

John warns us that he who does not love one another remains in death. Jesus is love, so to reject love and compassion, is to reject the Christ.

"Sin" means "Missing". To be in sin, is to be away from God. To be away from God is to be in hell. When we are in purgatory, we feel as though God has abandoned us, but he has not; this is where hell differs from purgatory. In hell, God is truly absent.

Though this might sound dire, it is not, for God so loved the world that he came down to Earth to die on a tree and take up our collective curse. Therefore, acceptance, and the repentance that follows, is all that is needed to be back in God's love. In essence, God simply wants to be loved, just as we all do.

Jesus tells us that he provides the living water. Jesus ministered in the desert, where water was scarce. In the desert, people burn. Christ came to offer us hope and comfort. With Christ, we no longer burn, we are quenched with peace and love. Amen.

A just God

I am in an online community where we discuss and debate faith. The group took a hit about a month and a half ago, when a bad seed was let in, and not only my own feelings and actions took a downturn, but morale is now at an all time low, even though this person left the group weeks ago. One person questioned God's unpalatable truths recorded in the Old Testament, and started a snowball. There are several posters who years ago rejected God, but who now call him Satan. They are forming allegiances and are feeding from each other. 

An unjust God, who condones the murder of alleged innocents, most notably women and children, is the topic of every thread, and there are only a few people who are able to defend the God of Israel, the God who became the Father of the Western world.

This is my response to one the the posters who will defend Yahweh, a poster whom in the spiral down I attacked, but whom in strife I have seen my fault, and who have reunited with. This is my message to all.

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The belligerent here forget that no one is innocent.

Every last person causes harm, and only the saints, the handful who are absolutely loathed, live thoughtful lives where they care about others, and do no, or minuscule, harm.

Women are of the most treacherous in society. There is a lesson in why Eve fell and then corrupted Adam in turn. This might sound harsh, but I believe that this is a very real and true assessment, and after all that is said and done, I personally could never let a vengeful God drive me from my faith or my duty.

People genuinely hurt others. Greed, envy, sloth - these are called deadly sins for a reason. They destroy communities. Children are called innocent, but they are not. Once they begin to walk, and make mistakes, they lie to cover them up. They manipulate their caregivers to get what they want. There is no "course" for jealousy toward other children, or for coveting. .

I do not fear judgement, nor do I fear the last day when I stand before the Lord. I know that I will be spared, because I have not only accepted my cross and in turn carry it, but I LEARN to neutralize my sins that would verily cause me much pain in this life and in the next. My only fear is that I might test the Lord.

But I know that my pain is finished, it died on the Cross with the Christ. I believe with all of the discernment that the Lord has given me, that in my time on Earth, I will surely drink poison, and yet live.

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Let it be known that the obliterated cultures were abominable not because they did not love the Lord, but because they loved only themselves, thereby showing pure disrespect toward his creation: an ecosystem that is symbiotic, and as such needs to be recognized thereby.

The societies that were destroyed committed incest with children, virgin sacrifice, and was ruled by the law of the jungle. Would it not be better to destroy the wicked, than to have let the wicked destroy those who lived by proportional justice?

Who is innocent. Who deserves the life that they have.

The joy of the 12 Step fellowship

Being in Alcoholics Anonymous has yielded so many results for me. It's a constant work in progress though, of course.

1) Desire to stop fighting with people, and to find some serenity

2) Recognition that I need to protect my serenity, and do what is necessary to achieve that

3) Confidence to stand up for myself and also to stick with people who are not detrimental to me

4) A sense of unity and protection, even though there are naturally some members who are predators

5) Ability to remain sober, without much peer pressure, which shows that my efforts are genuine, and are not fear-based of needing to do something on account of what others will think or say of me

6) In sobriety, my confidence has grown, my complexion has improved, I am more organized, and I am able to do a better job at work, without even making much effort to do so

7) Better relationships, and less anxiety. I also make plans and commitments and keep them, even if I do not want to follow through

8) A place to go and to be excited about. Even when I am not at my best, I look forward to going to my home group, and my unofficial home group

9) Following through with the Steps gives me a sense of purpose, and spiritual growth that is directly related to the works that the saints accomplish

10) The desire to do service and to help other people where ever possible

11) Public speaking skills, from reading in closed meetings when it is my turn, and from going up in front of the audience in open meetings and citing the selected readings as well

12) A sponsor who helps me to not only remain sober, but who also helps guide me through non-related AA concerns as well.

Solomon's Temple and the Whore

Work in progress:

The Whore resembles the Temple, covered in purple, scarlet, glittering with gold and precious stones, and holding a cup of blood (animal sacrifice, which were only allowed at the Temple) (Revelation 17.4-6)

The Whore (Can also be referred to as the Idolatress) is a city (Revelation 17.18) - Jerusalem. 

The Whore of Babylon was a dwelling place for idolatry (Revelation 18.1-4). Solomon built altars to false gods (1 Kings 11.1-6)

Babylon became a dwelling place for demons (Revelation 18.2-3). Manasseh built altars to foreign gods (arguably who became known as demons)  (2 Chronicles 33:5)

The people were intoxicated by her adulteries. Solomon's commitment to false gods could be interpreted to adultery against God. (1 Kings 11.1-5)

The Temple was to be destroyed, never to be rebuilt (Revelation 18.21-4)

Carry your cross

Something that needs to be recognized, is that the devil is in reality an angel. He was made in pure spirit, and he is older and craftier than man. Satan is almost impossible to detect, because even though he fell, he did not lose his angelic properties. Therefore, we do not see him, we see only what he seduces us with.

It is just to celebrate in life. Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding; he turned water into wine, so that the guests could continue to have a good time, and so that the bride and groom would not feel embarrassed when they discovered that there was no alcohol left to drink. Not only was Jesus blessing man and wife, he was also blessing celebration.

However there are two definitions of celebration. One is to be full of joy and to attend a party; the other is to be full of repentance and to attend communion. (See note 6)

There are also two ways to go through life: hedonistically, or ascetically. Which way did Jesus show us how to live in his examples? He healed the sick, comforted the widow, inspired the impoverished, gave hope to the downtrodden, visited the prisoner, and fed the hungry.

Jesus said that anyone who wants to follow him must take up his cross everyday. Jesus lifted up his cross and said to never fear, because he would always go before us. He walked the narrow path, and he made his way straight, so it is easy and uncomplicated to follow him.

How St. Ignatius introduced the 12 Step program

First published June 2012, notwithstanding the Forward.

Forward

Ignatius of Loyola, canonized into sainthood in the 17th century, founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in the preceding century. The Jesuits are a military order within the Catholic Church, and in fact the Church's first Jesuit Pope was elected last year. The Jesuits started out as a counteraction to the Reformation, a movement which tore the Church in half, birthing the Protestant sects, most notably Anglican in England and Lutheran in Germany.

St. Ignatius was a soldier for the Spanish army. After being severely wounded in battle, he had a spiritual conversion whilst in recovery. From there it is said that Ignatius went from being a soldier to a priest. While this is not actually true, in that he became the commanding officer in the Order (the "Superior General"), the same principle of a spiritual remedy for a hopeless physical condition is the foundation of Alcoholic's Anonymous. Ignatius also had an affinity toward St. Francis of Assisi, who authored a prayer that we read in our Twelve Step literature. The first Jesuit Pope also took the name of Francis of Assisi, and not only is Pope Francis the first Jesuit Pope, he is also Francis, the first.

Introduction

My own points are in brackets, noting the parallels of how the book that St. Ignatius wrote,The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, seems to have influenced, possibly only through divine archetypology, the Twelve Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Part I is is a copy and paste from Wikipedia, that shows the birth of a sponsorship, linking the site at the end of the section. Part II is a historical account taken from the "Chronology of the Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola" in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, also linked at the end of the section, which describes the foundation of a program that aids in recovery of addiction. A list of the Twelve Steps is linked at the bottom of this article. Part III is a comparison of The Society of Jesus to the Twelve Step Program.

Part I

"For St. Ignatius of Loyola, the discernment of spirits is part of everyone's spiritual journey. 

No one who is trying to make spiritual progress should attempt to do so alone - a spiritual director is required. (A sponsor).

A director assists a Christian in examining the motives, desires, consolations, and desolations in one's life. (Step Four - Take a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves).

Objectively, one can know what is right from looking at the Ten Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins (Step Six - We ask God to remove our character defects.) in a thorough examination of conscience. (Step Ten - "We continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear").

A Christian should, according to St. Ignatius, share everything with a director who can see things objectively, without being swayed by the emotions or passion. (Step Five - "Admit to ourselves, to another human being [mostly the sponsor, but some choose their doctor or pastor], and to God, the exact nature of our wrongs").  Discerning whether the good spirit - the influence of God, the Church, one's soul - or the bad spirit - the influence of Satan, the world, the flesh - is at work requires calm, rational reflection. The good spirit brings us to peaceful, joyful decisions. The bad spirit often brings us to make quick, emotional, conflicted decisions. A spiritual director can assist both by personal experience, listening with care, and giving an objective analysis. (What a sponsor does)"

Ignatius of Loyola

Discernment

Part II

Taken from the chronology in his exercise book.

In 1526,  Ignatius' exercise book is completed. With a few companions (fellowship), he teaches others how to find peace of soul. He leads them though an examination of consciousness based on the Ten Commandments (Step s Six and Ten), followed by a fervent Our Father (How we end every meeting, usually holding hands). The exercise ends with a few moments of conversation with God to ask for help to do better in the future. (The fellowship begins each meeting with a moment of silence, followed by the Serenity Prayer, "God, grant me the serenity, to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.")

PART III

Pope Paul III gives Ignatius formal approval of his new order, through his papal bull, Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae, which is a group of Christians who struggle against sin, the devil, and the forces of darkness*, alongside "Church Suffering", which is the state of Purgatory: a place of cleansing in preparation for unification with God. (The Twelve Steps are an act of purifying, after a career of corruption while drinking).

Note: Alcoholics Anonymous started off as a religious Christian fellowship, where the Bible was the literature that was used.

*Church militant/triumphant

Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola

The Twelve Steps