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in which he understands it. That is why
Bible shows a consistent angry God that requires sacrifice. It was only way that God could be imagined to be, and so no matter what occurred, they wrote him in to fit outcome. If they were having problems, then God is punishing them. If they were having good times, then God must be rewarding them. If something was totally not understood, they made God architect of some event to explain it away. The bottom line is that whenever you do better things, better things then happen. When you do poor things, poor things happen. It's a consistent cycle of cause and effect. Punch him and get punched back. Love him and get love back. It's always a choice. It's never God punishing us.I remember a moment where a comedian made a joke about Passover with respect to how Jewish people celebrate day that their God didn't kill them. It sounded so strange to hear it that way, but how else would you say it? When you come right down to it, why would you even want to be with a God who would just as soon kill you if you look wrong way? Why would a God that created all that exists, use such odd and strange methods to kill and destroy? Why do we not continue to see these things in post Old Testament world? Has unchangeable God changed? Has God gotten over his anger? Has God undergone rehabilitation? No, God hasn't changed...we just stopped writing these kinds of stories about him.
Jesus's purpose on earth was to show that you we can live differently. His love for all men is what enabled him to heal and feed thousands. His total love of all of us was a testimony of how to live. His trial and crucifixion was a message to us that no matter what any man does to you, your true you, spirit that is you, cannot be touched. He proved this as he rose again.
Jesus's death wasn't a sacrifice. The only way it could have been a sacrifice would be if it was something he and God was not willing to do. It's possible that Jesus did not like what was going to happen to him, but he chose to accept his path and accepted his role. How then can you say that he sacrificed? He chose to show you that no matter what man can do, it doesn't matter. Man was one who described whole scenario as sacrifice, because they could only see scenario as an extension of Old Testament angry God, but it wasn't a sacrifice, it was an act of unconditional love.
Perhaps you say then that God was one who made sacrifice by allowing his son to be beaten and die...but God is a spirit, as was Jesus and as are we all. Jesus's spirit was never in danger, and that was whole point...to prove that real you can't be hurt. How then could God have sacrificed his son when there was no way for Jesus's spirit to die or be injured? The ancient writers of Bible constantly confused this physical reality with Gods spiritual reality and treat them as same, but they are not. God is spirit as are we. There is no physical thing that is required or can be done that can ever, ever, ever, ever have a spiritual effect...but spiritual things always make physical effects.
Besides, why would a loving God require blood sacrifices. These are physical things, and again, God is not physical. These concepts came from ancient and barbaric customs, practiced all over world by all different cultures. God is spiritual and requires no physical sacrifice. The only thing you can do for God is to be open and be willing to let Holy Spirit and Jesus work with you to open your eyes to truth. God is love. God is total absence of fear. God is peace. God is total absence of anger. God is forever giving and sharing. God is total absence of sacrifice.
Be open to hear him. Be willing to hear him. Choose to see differently...and you will. It's all about choice. Choose to see. Choose to forgive. Choose to be peaceful. Choose to see your brothers in love. Choose to share truth. Choose to be free from mans interpretations of God.
I choose to extend my love, peace, patience, wisdom and faith to all of you. Have a Joyous Christmas!
This article Copyright ©2004 David Nelmes - Reproduced with Permission.*Compliments of:
Dreams Alive Magazine - http://www.dreamsalivemagazine.com
Being Willing - http://www.beingwilling.com
David Nelmes provides opportunities for those around him to see things from perspectives they had not considered before. His desire is for himself and all men to pursue truth and be open and willing to see what God would have us see. His influences consist of being truly open and applying the truths in both "The Bible" and "A Course In Miracles". See more at: - BeingWilling.com
