“…the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.“– Luke 9:53-55
A common theme here has been how “the wind and the waves” don’t obey even the most pious of fake religions, humanistic governments, and especially not wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing “christians.” Even devout believers have faced fiery furnaces where God did not rescue them. Most of the disciples succumbed physically to the fires, stones, crosses, and blades of men. Yet when has evil had the capability to “call fire down from heaven” upon its enemies the way that Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt, Korah and so many others have learned of the judgement of God? Not until modern times have humans had this power.
In all but the most recent generations such events could not be manufactured. A fact that kept humans humble, and instilled in them a healthy respect for the forces of nature. That respect (fear) developed into many different religious observances (some not so healthy) in the futile hope of controlling the disasters that were all-to-familiar to them. What’s unique about the Bible, and specifically Jesus, is not the “fear” of nature that was common to all of mankind. What’s unique, especially with Jesus, is the rebuke of Luke 9 above. Throughout His life, Jesus very clearly exemplifies this theme. That the power of God in men is a tool of healing and of life. Even Moses, as he opposed Pharaoh, did not convey his own curses. Even David, who was nearly impaled by Saul who hunted by him like wild game, refused to take his life with force, even when it was put before him on a platter. Even when he confronted Goliath, and did take his life, he faced absurd odds. The themes of Jericho, Gideon, and in some form or another the entirety of the Bible is: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit…” – Zechariah 4:6
The theme of man-made religion is exactly the contrary. Overwhelming force. Overwhelming technology. Overwhelming science. “Shock and Awe.”
As rare as it is these days, because so few have knowingly faced the wonders of God, there are still those that don’t have to have faced a global flood to have the beginning of wisdom, which is “the fear of the Lord.” I say “knowingly” because all face the wonders of God on a daily basis; our mere existence. The intricacies of inorganic matter alone is enough to blow ones mind, but combine that with organic matter, biological matter, life. Still not done, because beyond life is sentience, and beyond sentience is spirituality. Beyond spirituality is deity and beyond deity is The Creator, our Heavenly Father. We should exist in a state of perpetual awe, yet we do not. The “smarter” we can convince ourselves we are, the worse this problem becomes.
“Shock and Awe” was an egotistical strategy from Operation Desert Storm. The strategy supposedly being one of “rapid dominance”. Well here were are 20+ years later, and still we have yet to see any dominance more-less rapid dominance. Our military technology is little more than yet another in a long history of human religious sacraments meant to give us an illusion of control. When “wormwood” approaches we can be sure that all of the nukes in the world aren’t going to help. In fact, they’ll most likely just make matters worse.
Since the apostles began building Jesus’ Church the evil among us have continued to assert their “rapid dominance” via violence and curses. The Roman Catholic Church has continuously sought and at times reached points of perceived physical dominance throughout history. As their perception of their own physical dominance grows, so does the body count.
In 1324 (nothing new under the sun) Marsiglio of Padua published the “Defensor Pacis.” From “The Pilgrim Church” by E.H. Broadbent:
“…it has become usual to apply the word Church to the ministers of the Church, bishops, priests and deacons. This is opposed to the Apostolic use of the word, according to which the Church is the assembly, or the total of those who believe in Christ.”
We’ve discussed the misuse of the word “Church” extensively in other posts. Here I want to shine light on the fact that human strength is no indicator of the will of God. If it were then Goliath would have been the one that pleased God and David would have been evil. Those “bishops, priests and deacons” above that amass for themselves a small army of followers and reach a critical mass whereby they feel empowered – though not of God – to force their views on others, become evil, irregardless of their previous good intentions and devout faith. Emboldened – even intoxicated – by what they perceive to be the power of God in their small army, they declare “anathema” anything they oppose. At different times in history, these declarations garnered varying degrees of murderous “shock & awe” upon the world. Even when not murderous in actuality still murderous in intent:
“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” – John 7:18-19
The crowd goes on to claim he’s crazy to think they want to kill Him, even though they did. At that moment they didn’t have the power to do it, but not long after they did. By chapter 10 they’re picking up stones to stone Him. Who is it that is “demon-possessed”?
Earlier in Broadbent’s great book about the practices of the remnant of The Church that existed in the face of so many different persecutions he describes the humble Waldenses’ belief:
“They considered that in all times and in all forms of churches there were enlightened men of God… not accepting, however, all they wrote, but only that which corresponded with the older, purer teaching of Scripture. The love of theological disputation and pamphlet war was not developed among them, as among so many others; yet they were ready to die for the truth, laid great stress on the value of practical piety and desired in quietness to serve God and to do good.”
Again, we’ve already discussed the enlightened men of God that may exist in many different “churches.” What I’d like to demonstrate in the above is that these people were not on the offensive against anyone. In fact, they cooperated in defense against the Crusades and the Inquisitors, with the Mohammedians as Muslims were once called. It’s revealing that the Roman Catholic Church was more obsessed with exterminating the true followers of Christ than they were with the early Muslims.
It’s almost overwhelming to realize that all of these same dynamics play out a thousand times over across this Country in large churches and small churches. It’s usually worse in the small churches, as the perception of physical dominance is not so secure as it is in a mega-church. Yet not an hour goes by that some “leader” somewhere is not declaring something or someone “anathema” for some reason or another (see gossip here).
Some of the often very-ironic reasons include: “I’m protecting the sheep from the wolves”, “It’s my responsibility – as an elder (pastor, bishop, big wig, donor, ex-stoner…) – to keep out the riff raff”, “just holding them accountable.” Yet in reality their impaled voodoo dolls and false-witness is no different than any witch-doctor or blood-thirsty pope that has ever done the same things supposedly in the name of God.
“…in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” – John 16:2
If they had the support, they would kill their victims. Instead, they assassinate their character, they ostracize them, and they declare them anathema. This brings the illusion of power. An illusion that false-religions know well. The idea that the Creator of the universe needs our help to defeat His enemies fits into any religion but Christianity. Since – for the Christian – God is real.