…and we still don’t get it!

          It’s unbelievable. 2,000+ years and we still don’t get it. It’s been 2,000+ years since Christ came to teach us, and we still don’t understand the message. 

          Christ came by the power of the Father to teach us there is but one true God, and to be kind to one another. That’s it. He came to teach us that our relationship with God is, as is, our relationship with each other. As we mistreat each other, we separate ourselves from God. 

          And we still don’t get it! 

          As we continue to tear each other apart, regardless of how we self-identify, we drive a larger and larger wedge between us and God. The word used in the New Testament, or Christian Bible, is Love. The “Love” used throughout, is from the Greek meaning “charity” 

          Charity in its simplest form is “kindness”. This is the key to heaven or hell. When we fail in kindness and excel in hate, we fail. We fail completely. There is no room in heaven for hate. As there is no room in hell for love. Christ taught us, “Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven”! 

And we still don’t get it! 

          The New Testament may the most nonracial book(s) ever written. It’s about faith. It’s about how to express that faith between we the people, and as a people, with God. This relationship is intertwined. Our interaction with one another is intertwined in our faith without exception. 

       It is without exception, in all functional relationships, there is one foundation. This foundation consists of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual care and mutual support. This is true regardless if the relationship is with the divine or with each other. For they are the same. 

          Mutual, not equal. I define it this way, “Equal can be written in law, mutual is expressed person to person”. Mutual kindness, it’s that simple. And it’s that hard. It’s been 2,000+ years and we still can’t or won’t do it. 

          We still insist in exalting ourselves one over another. We read the Bible to self-justify, instead of with a willingness to learn. We are indeed a “stiff necked people” [Acts 7:51-53] 

          We have been saved by Christ, but we can still condemn ourselves. We can throw away the sacrifice of Christ and the “place prepared for us”, [John 14- 2] or we can chose to live in our faith. We have the option to choose between good and evil, love and hate, kindness and cruelty.         

          Love nurtures love and hate nurtures hate. To me the options seem obvious.

And yet we still don’t seem to get it. 

May the peace of Christ fill your hearts and the love of God fill your souls. 

David E. Gonzales

Mutually Equal

          

        The law is written in equality, but is not exercised in equality. As imperfect humans, the best we can expect is to exercise the law, mutually.         

          We can be kind to each other. However, it is doubtful that we will be equally kind, but we most certainly can be mutually kind to each other.         

          Equality is a noble goal, mutuality is an obtainable goal. Hate begets hate, love begets love. In the New Testament “Love” is used quite often, and quite poorly. Love in the New Testament is better and more appropriately defined as “charity”. This is, to give without an expectation of a return. Kindness is the simplest form of this “charity” or love.         

          The Golden Rule (Matt 7:12) exemplifies this love. Although this also brings Karma into the equation. Be good, or else. 1 Cor. 13 expands upon The Golden Rule and brings it into better focus. The focus of kindness/charity.

          I think Matt 25:35-45 could be the best example of this kindness, love, charity. It rightly expresses, How you treat others is for the Glory of God, not for your Glory. This is a mutual kindness, not equal. Yet, this is the kind of kindness that can bring about equality. Not lawful equality, but, practiced equality. Real day to day equality.         

          Kindness is the simplest form of love. By being kind to one another we can bring about equality, a different kind of equality. The type of equality only we as a people can create. For equality isn’t a law brought down upon us from a government. It’s a law of God that must come from our hearts and souls and be extended to one another.         

          The laws have been written. And they help, but they don’t and can’t change the hearts of people. Acts of kindness, can and do. These acts of love bring about an internal change and a respect for others. Acts of kindness change an individual’s soul. A community’s soul, a state’s soul, a nation’s soul. 

       Hate is strong, but it has to be fed. Kindness is the fuel that feeds our souls and starves hatred. Hate begets hate, Love begets Love. Charity is the path of our salvation. Hate the path to our demise. 

May the peace of Christ fill you hearts and Love of God fill your soul. 

          David E. Gonzales