Humbly, I was raised without religion - lots of love and Ethics, but no religion. I have studied many religions, grateful that I could approach them all unbiasedly. I found gems of truth in mountains of dogma in them all...
I am spiritual, however. I offer My write-up of the spiritual experience I had:
My, I hardly know where to begin! I just read your post at the link you provided, and quite a few things "lit up" as I went. We have traveled down similar paths. It may be better, though, if I comment about that over there, to keep it all together.
There was something about this particular sermon that struck me as special, and as I outlined it I saw more and more clearly (not that I had never noticed it before). This is not a message designed to make "believers" feel good about all they are doing. That’s not Ryan's style anyway. It's a message about complete commitment.
The statement "Some think the Christian life is a moment rather than a movement'" bring out a key point. I would be tempted to say "many" or "most" rather than "some", although there are other problems and this one has to be viewed in perspective. Elsewhere he says something to the effect of "not just about a moment -- a walk with God", which is the whole subject of the message.
"Moment" suggests "the hour I first believed", from the hymn _Amazing Grace_. It's not unimportant. Scripture, however, quotes Jesus as saying things like "Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt. 24:12-13 and elsewhere). There are other examples that are not coming to me at this moment. There is, however, Luke 14:25-35 that, while spoken to some of those who might have sought to become his disciples at that time, at the beginning of the movement, offers much upon which to reflect today. (It's a bit long to quote here.)
If indeed many or most Christian "believers" are not living with complete commitment to the walk (to their relationship with God), other people's impressions of the movement will reflect that lack of commitment, leaning toward ineffectiveness at best and hypocrisy at worst. The movement becomes easy to dismiss, and this has been happening for a very long time.
"Believers" need to hear this kind of sermon. It is not redundant. It is not "preaching to the choir". "Following Jesus" -- "walking with God" -- is a total commitment, beyond all earthly concerns.
I fully respect Your beliefs. I don't have a "god..." Or "God..." But I am an Ethical One, and beyond that have a profound Betterment Ethic, which has taken Me on the path I am now, aiming to solve for the psychopaths in control.
And for Me it is not what We believe, but the behaviors We choose that matter, as We co-create the Now. For it is with Our behaviors that We do Our creating. As long as any given One chooses Their behaviors Ethically, I will accept whatever/whoever They are.
Yes, I have explored along those lines. I never settled in there, but because I kept going and chose another path, that doesn't mean I think you have to. I have no calling or license to attempt to persuade others to believe and practice as I do. Share, yes, with those that show interest but persuade, no. I might ask questions.
Some of my peers might frown at this, but they may not know the scriptures as well as they know their human traditions, and those traditions can be the source of much trouble. I steer away from those and toward various facets of the gospel (good news). Here in this message the focus is upon commitment to walking with God, as opposed to a "simple" gospel of "only believe and be saved" -- the moment, minus mention of the movement that must ensue.
Similarly, I would suggest that this week Ryan had a target audience for his message that was those listening who say they follow Jesus but don't demonstrate the actions that go with that. Anyone else interested is welcome to listen, laugh, cry, whatever.
I take the view now that we lack the capacity to raise ourselves above where we are, that higher order must come from without -- from our source. This comes mostly from looking around and noticing how things work. Also, from looking at religious movements ancient and modern and noticing how well they work.
The tendency is for things to degrade. Some might call this "entropy", or something to that effect. Biblically, it is called "corruption". Living things deteriorate and die. Non-living things degrade. Life cycles around, but the cycle is driven by an obvious outside source, the sun, and possibly other less obvious ones. Perhaps a creator who is also a sustainer.
But there are other possibilities. I explore them when I am of a mind to do so, but I do not ordinarily share them. They primarily serve to remind me that I don't know everything.
🙏🏻💜🙏🏻 Should We all choose Our behavior Ethically, this world would be "heaven." Sadly, We have one, presently vital, motivation to break the three Laws, and that is money.
My definition of money: anything We use to account for the energy We input into a system. What I call money is surely that, and that is what matters in choosing to put down that VERY dangerous tool, and archaic at that.
And Humanity created money where We lived in scarcity, and wanted to ensure We all were adding Our fair share...of energy. Where We lived in abundance, such energy accounting never arose.
When We can create abundance - like today - We do not need that tool and can All live richly on Our planet, without psychopaths in control.
And so, irrespective of religious aspects, I work to end that archaic and dangerous practice of accounting for the energy We add (accounting to whom...?). Then, We all will live richly, and the psychopaths amongst Us will have no tool but charisma for widespread control - and charisma will not get Them very far in an Ethical world.
For whether there is a God or not, if We so not act, and act Now, the psychopaths on this planet will "win." They count on Us waiting for some Other - be it God, Q, some politician, ET, whatever - to "fix it" for Us. We win if We do not wait...
You're welcome. This is a young pastor with children, not yet finished with his seminary work, that stepped up to the role of interim teaching pastor (from middle school pastor I believe) when the senior pastor left for Texas on rather short notice in 2022. We're all amazed.
Humbly, I was raised without religion - lots of love and Ethics, but no religion. I have studied many religions, grateful that I could approach them all unbiasedly. I found gems of truth in mountains of dogma in them all...
I am spiritual, however. I offer My write-up of the spiritual experience I had:
My Spiritual Experience (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/my-spiritual-experience
Love always!
My, I hardly know where to begin! I just read your post at the link you provided, and quite a few things "lit up" as I went. We have traveled down similar paths. It may be better, though, if I comment about that over there, to keep it all together.
There was something about this particular sermon that struck me as special, and as I outlined it I saw more and more clearly (not that I had never noticed it before). This is not a message designed to make "believers" feel good about all they are doing. That’s not Ryan's style anyway. It's a message about complete commitment.
The statement "Some think the Christian life is a moment rather than a movement'" bring out a key point. I would be tempted to say "many" or "most" rather than "some", although there are other problems and this one has to be viewed in perspective. Elsewhere he says something to the effect of "not just about a moment -- a walk with God", which is the whole subject of the message.
"Moment" suggests "the hour I first believed", from the hymn _Amazing Grace_. It's not unimportant. Scripture, however, quotes Jesus as saying things like "Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt. 24:12-13 and elsewhere). There are other examples that are not coming to me at this moment. There is, however, Luke 14:25-35 that, while spoken to some of those who might have sought to become his disciples at that time, at the beginning of the movement, offers much upon which to reflect today. (It's a bit long to quote here.)
If indeed many or most Christian "believers" are not living with complete commitment to the walk (to their relationship with God), other people's impressions of the movement will reflect that lack of commitment, leaning toward ineffectiveness at best and hypocrisy at worst. The movement becomes easy to dismiss, and this has been happening for a very long time.
"Believers" need to hear this kind of sermon. It is not redundant. It is not "preaching to the choir". "Following Jesus" -- "walking with God" -- is a total commitment, beyond all earthly concerns.
I fully respect Your beliefs. I don't have a "god..." Or "God..." But I am an Ethical One, and beyond that have a profound Betterment Ethic, which has taken Me on the path I am now, aiming to solve for the psychopaths in control.
And for Me it is not what We believe, but the behaviors We choose that matter, as We co-create the Now. For it is with Our behaviors that We do Our creating. As long as any given One chooses Their behaviors Ethically, I will accept whatever/whoever They are.
Love always!
Yes, I have explored along those lines. I never settled in there, but because I kept going and chose another path, that doesn't mean I think you have to. I have no calling or license to attempt to persuade others to believe and practice as I do. Share, yes, with those that show interest but persuade, no. I might ask questions.
Some of my peers might frown at this, but they may not know the scriptures as well as they know their human traditions, and those traditions can be the source of much trouble. I steer away from those and toward various facets of the gospel (good news). Here in this message the focus is upon commitment to walking with God, as opposed to a "simple" gospel of "only believe and be saved" -- the moment, minus mention of the movement that must ensue.
(There is, however, a simple view, which was the subject of an earlier sermon that was my 'pilot' post in this section -- https://open.substack.com/pub/clearmiddle/p/good-news-you-just-need-faith?r=kck7s)
Similarly, I would suggest that this week Ryan had a target audience for his message that was those listening who say they follow Jesus but don't demonstrate the actions that go with that. Anyone else interested is welcome to listen, laugh, cry, whatever.
I take the view now that we lack the capacity to raise ourselves above where we are, that higher order must come from without -- from our source. This comes mostly from looking around and noticing how things work. Also, from looking at religious movements ancient and modern and noticing how well they work.
The tendency is for things to degrade. Some might call this "entropy", or something to that effect. Biblically, it is called "corruption". Living things deteriorate and die. Non-living things degrade. Life cycles around, but the cycle is driven by an obvious outside source, the sun, and possibly other less obvious ones. Perhaps a creator who is also a sustainer.
But there are other possibilities. I explore them when I am of a mind to do so, but I do not ordinarily share them. They primarily serve to remind me that I don't know everything.
🙏🏻💜🙏🏻 Should We all choose Our behavior Ethically, this world would be "heaven." Sadly, We have one, presently vital, motivation to break the three Laws, and that is money.
My definition of money: anything We use to account for the energy We input into a system. What I call money is surely that, and that is what matters in choosing to put down that VERY dangerous tool, and archaic at that.
And Humanity created money where We lived in scarcity, and wanted to ensure We all were adding Our fair share...of energy. Where We lived in abundance, such energy accounting never arose.
When We can create abundance - like today - We do not need that tool and can All live richly on Our planet, without psychopaths in control.
And so, irrespective of religious aspects, I work to end that archaic and dangerous practice of accounting for the energy We add (accounting to whom...?). Then, We all will live richly, and the psychopaths amongst Us will have no tool but charisma for widespread control - and charisma will not get Them very far in an Ethical world.
For whether there is a God or not, if We so not act, and act Now, the psychopaths on this planet will "win." They count on Us waiting for some Other - be it God, Q, some politician, ET, whatever - to "fix it" for Us. We win if We do not wait...
Blueprint for a Society of Ethical Sovereigns (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/blueprint-for-a-society-of-ethical
Why Does Money Promote Psychopaths? (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/why-does-money-promote-psychopaths
Thanks for sharing this talk. I like how it is easy to follow and so uplifting.
You're welcome. This is a young pastor with children, not yet finished with his seminary work, that stepped up to the role of interim teaching pastor (from middle school pastor I believe) when the senior pastor left for Texas on rather short notice in 2022. We're all amazed.