If you concentrate on nothing else in social life, spend your heart’s gaze upon the story of the Samaritan woman by the well.
Don’t alert me that you love Jesus
…It only reveals your still unconscious pride. Instead, with a reserve approaching eloquence, perceive how we lack the heart and being to hoist that flag. It is a big sin to rob someone of their religion — so I cannot say much more, and must shut it down.
Don’t stipulate that you want a God-fearing man
…No bonafide Elohim craves such an indignity. Reflect instead ten years on Calvary, and how the Old Testament was demolished in the wake of it. When you can imagine away all the old commandments and melt them in the force of the One, you are almost ready for the real battlefield. Exert your wonder to its humble extremity, and puzzle out how it is, precisely, we are made in Divinity’s image.
Don’t pluck me your cherished shards of scripture with zeal
…Except to stand in their radiance with a solemnified awe. Never to make stark the egotism that you possess salvation or I might do. For if you proclaim yourself saved, then I apologize but you are not. Quest ever instead with a ferocious human empathy, and I will kiss you the kiss without lips, and companion you the comradery of truth, and help you architect the world’s next zodiac.
_______RS
[ Image : a snippet from album cover of Hot Tuna’s “Burgers”… click this to hear Jorma and Jack’s version of the old timey black blues spiritual “True Religion”. ]
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I think the Samaritan woman is you and me. Unaware or unwilling that Christ visits us in people that need a cup of cold water. ‘He that loses his life in me will find it.’
That is half of what I was alluding to, yes. But the other half concerns Christ’s willingness to socialize with her directly, against contemporary tradition. There is no such thing as an outsider. In our time the Christ influence reaches to athiests, devout Hindus, muslims, religious people, spiritual people, materialists, etc… The message of that scene is that a person is categorically wrong to judge someone with different beliefs, customs, or backgrounds. The Christ impulse is for everyone, regardless of their relationship to the Bible or other scriptures or not. It is incorrect to think you or I have a privileged handle upon it.
He’s my life, and knowing him is a lifelong process of believing him.
Yes, I know that about you, mon ami. š Here, try this if you have time for reading a longer piece some time. https://skirmisheswithreality.net/2021/11/28/a-i-t-s-5-hostile-takeover-bid/
I did read your aits 5 piece and think that, as briefly mentioned before, we’re both open to revelation. I know the Person I’m open to and will not look any further. Anyway, great narrative- you’re a hard worker.
I wish to understand what your words convey but having trouble because of my own fault. Iām sorry. It seems really profound, though.
Hello again. I wouldn’t sell yourself short, it is not like this is a crystal clear piece or anything š When I re-read it, I see that parts are open-ended on purpose to cause further reflecting, and like a kind of ‘irritation’ if I can say it that way. I think what was moving me mostly when I wrote it was the narrow-mindedness and self-satisfaction I sometimes detect when I run into people who broadcast their Christianity (in various flavors). “Know them by what they do, not by what they say…”. Especially the popular phrase “god-fearing” strikes me in this way when it is used, because the meaning of the phrase is not really thought about. It feels very Old Testament focused to me, and I do not think that fear is the appropriate relationship towards the Divine if one wishes to have one. Maybe all that helps… š
Thank you! Yes, I think of godly-fear for God as Respect and Reverence.
And I understand what you are saying about the self-righteousness mentality. Yes, we will know Christians by their fruit (deeds thru faith) and not their words.
Great post!