Sound bites
Over the last week or so, I’ve been keeping track of some things I’ve said in conversation with others. These are by no means original thought. They are sayings that have rattled around in my brain through the last few years, some coming from my friends, some from various books, and some from my heart. But, sometimes I write something, and find the resulting verbiage remarkable! Sometimes, I’m not really sure where it came from, but it was the perfect thing to say at that time. So, I jot them down so I can remember. And now, I share them with you. Use them freely in your own conversations, and please add you own through the comment section! Thanks!
- Freedom is only for the free.
- If your salvation is determined by "what you believe", doesn’t that make you responsible for your own salvation? And if only God can save someone… doesn’t that make you God?
- You can only know if your love for God is genuine if you understand that he loves you completely and deeply, and without expectation or requirement.
- Love is a response, not an action.
- If you think God doubts you, then you will doubt God.
- If you know that God loves you, then nothing else will matter. If you don’t know that, nothing else will make any difference.
- Is God’s love so fickle that he only loves those who love him first?
- God in me loves God in you.
- Only love can birth love.
- Christ was the greatest teacher of the Law. He expanded on the depths of its purpose to the point that everyone had to admit that complying with it was far outside their grasp. He pushed and pushed and let them fester in their fears. Why? Because he needed to set the stage for a redeeming event! He used their religion against them to show them their self-righteousness and cause them to cry out for a savior!
- The definition of "self-righteousness" is when we think we can influence God’s thoughts for us, or against us.
- The concept of Universal Reconciliation doesn’t imply that God forces everyone to choose him. It simply states that God chose us! Why? Because he created us in perfection, and loves what he created.
- God says that we should love others, even when they fail us. It is possible that he holds himself to the same standard?
- If you think God will hate you because you don’t believe the correct things, you will give yourself license to hate others because of their incorrect beliefs.
- True belief can only exist when the requirement to believe is removed.
Strong words my friend, especially this:
“If you think God will hate you because you don’t believe the correct things, you will give yourself license to hate others because of their incorrect beliefs. ”
Very very powerful.
To believe in a God of eternal torment is mind boggling, I see no love in a God that punishes infinitely for a finite “crime”. Though I may define the Higher Being differently, I do believe that we all return to the source of our very existence.
Keep doing what you are doing my brother.
Hi Bruce
So much of what you have written rings true to me and makes a lot of sense. I disagree with one of the sentences though, that being “Love is a response, not an action”. I think that love is an action, a doing word, not a response/feeling. Like, for example, say Mother Theresa before she died, picking up a dirty, dying beggar from the streets of Calcutta. Her first response might be one of the stench of wounds, the magnitude of the problem, the risk of disease to herself, etc – maybe a thought to turn her eyes away. But then instead she would act/do. Love in action. The same with marriage. Sometimes one spouse can be very hard to live with. But because of the decision/promise that has been made, or other practical considerations, the other spouse can choose to act/love the other person in spite of the way they are treated. Then often times, the feeling/response follows.
Julia
I really liked these thoughts a lot. The idea that God used man’s religion to set the stage for redemption…that really is an awesome thought. Do you suppose that is what is happening in the mideast right now?
I think that love existed before there was anything to respond to. In the beginning there was love, and so the world was created. Love exists.
Bruce,
I love all of your thoughts here. Many of them have bounced around in my head for years, too. Even when I was in organized christianity, most of what you’ve written here made more sense than what the church was trying to convince me of.
One thought I had; Perhaps God is using all of present day man’s religions to set the stage for redemption again, or perhaps the KNOWLEDGE of completed redemption, since redemption has already come by Christ. Or perhaps God isn’t doing anything of the sort. Wow, those are words of wisdom for you today, aren’t they?
Peace,
Jason
JP, I always look forward to your comments! I think somewhere, somehow, some way, we are connected!
I know what you mean, Julia. Surely, this is an idea that can be seen both ways. My original thought though, is that love comes from knowing that you are loved. It is a pure outpouring in response to something you have received. In effect, it does not originate with us, but flows through us. As love comes in, love goes out in response. I guess I’m looking as love as a noun, and you, as a verb. I understand completely and appreciate your thoughts.
Good thoughts, Debbie. Yes, I see religion as a dividing power. It divides us from God (as in, God is out there and we must somehow connect with him), and it divides us from each other. How can that be a good thing? I see a time coming when people of all types will see religion for what it is and begin to reject it. But, I’m not talking about “connectedness to God”, I’m talking about religion that promises to connect you to God, never admitting that you are already connected to God and just haven’t realized it!
I see what you’re saying, Jason. And maybe another way to look at it, instead of knowledge, is revelation. Thanks for helping think this through!
-perhaps redemption, in the context of doctrines, is nothing more than a religious creation. thinking of Jesus redeeming the world on a cross is a religious doctrine.
-perhaps our thinking of God as a male(referring to God as He) is nothing more than a projected image of ourselves, with the ancient tribal understanding of the male superior to the female (one can refer to the scriptures themselves for this ignorance). In Christ there being neither male nor female breaks down this tier system of superiority, without attaching doctrines to this understanding we can simply see that we are all equal. Is God a being, or Being itself? One thing is sure, it is not both.
-perhaps love is an action and a response, when “old man” (our ego-false sense of self based on form) is out of the way, our true nature -God(formless)- is manifest. The greatest manifestation of God (formless Being), in my opinion, is love, so much so this expression is as much of the root as the root itself. Perhaps that is why many consider Jesus to be the ideal reflection of God. In this same manner we are capable, the Being that is Christ, is us.
Perhaps one can forget all the mythology surrounding the Christ, the virgin birth, the miracles, the assension etc… are these nothing more than a developing tradition, created by men, incorporating their God perceptions of their time. Perhaps they are more, but just not it the manner we take them to be. They are very difficult to let go, as they are tied so tightly to our God expirence, which is tied so tightly to traditional God lanuage.
One will see no reason to let go, infact, one will feel their sense of self might collaspe if they were to let go, and there rests new beginning.
We want security so badly, we would rather rest in fables than to embrace the super unknown, the divine mystery. To find ourselves by losing ourselves. To Be.
grace and happiness to you all,
Marco
All good points, marco! I love the fresh perspective you bring to the conversation. Maybe a “newness of life” is more about abandoning what we think we know and starting afresh, instead of receiving something that creates a newness in us. Didn’t somebody in the bible say something about giving up everything you own? Maybe they were talking about abandoning all we think we know about God?
I like the “being” idea. I’ve often thought that myself. Without being, we don’t exist. And if the source is “being”, and all that be’s comes from that source, then we are all “being”. Think about it.
BTW, your point about security is well taken. Ben Franklin once said something like, “people who are willing to give up their freedom for security, deserve neither.” And that’s basically what they have. They give up their freedom, not realizing that the security they’ve received in exchange is nothing but a house of cards, ready to crumble and fall when things turn rough.
Well, back to the process of detoxifying…
Printed out my copy of these to chew on. NDW said in one of his books that God can’t really reveal himself to us (if that’s possible) until we throw out all we “think” we know about him. Pretty good……
My favorite is: “True belief can only exist when the requirement to believe is removed.”
Once I determined that Church wasn’t for me I found peace for the first time in my life.
Grace and peace in the beautiful name of Jesus.
Let’s say some trillionaire decides to open an account for your old brother and put a billion dollars in it. Is the billion there, whether I believe it or not? Yes. But I won’t enjoy it until I believe it.
Every verse that seems to require belief for redemption may be understood in this light, I think.
Have you seen our children playing with their sailboards in the surf? They know more of Father and his ways from playing in the wind than we were ever going to teach them in our pews.
Father reveals himself to the precise extent of my willingness and ability to bear his reality. Not how willing and able I think myself, mind. With infinite patience, from wonder into wonder, love unfolds my cramped and cringing smallness. Blessed is my light and life; my Jesus.
All my blessing in the bond of peace.
“God says that we should love others, even when they fail us. It is possible that he holds himself to the same standard? ”
If God does not hold himself to that standard then we are all to be most pitied. Either God is the Perfect Love that we speak so much about here at Boldgrace or he is the cruelest of superior beings and if I thought the latter I could not participate in that kind of a cruel creation. Thankfully for me I do believe he is the Perfect Love that passes all our understanding.
Thanks Bruce for reminding us all of so many great sound bites to think about.
Yes OK, I can see the idea both ways. And a person who ‘loves in action’ in a difficult situation has most likely experienced/received love previously from a different source.
Bruce,
Deep and profound truths made simple. I wonder why Christians stumble on the concept of unconditional love?
It is certainly there in the message. I wonder why they desire a God who hates those who fail to acknowledge Him?
I proclaim these truths from the other side of the pulpit, behind it. Yep, I am presently still a paid pastoral professional. Every time I hear that you and others had to leave the church to find the truth it makes me sad, but I agree. And I have to be very careful, and practice some wisdom to build bridges to the god they have created so they can see the God who is really there.
The odd thing is that the congregation limits the truth just as the pastors do. This type of unconditional love, this inclusive love, damages the traditional view of heaven and hell and must be silenced. It damages rewards from self denial and moral living. We can’t go there. They love the god who drives out the canaanites, and are pretty hopeful he is not still executing the idolators inside the camp, and somehow the cosmic message of redemption and God being all in all is diminished, and observers of this so called gospel would rather have their sundays free, and I don’t blame them.
Thanks for all the insights on this site.
Don in AZ
Don R… a friend once suggested that one of the most powerful aspects of the Cross was to “wipe the slate clean”. I am learning that God is often only revealed in an open heart. And religion seems to work against openness. Know what I mean?
Yes, Mindy… it wasn’t until I broke free from religion that I started to sense real peace.
bother alan… wonderful, beautiful thoughts! I love the analogies you offered and appreciate the wisdom they represent. Thank you for stopping by. I cherish your contributions to the discussion, and am looking forward to getting to know you!
Yes, Cliff… religion tells us that God is complex and mysterious. We’ll their God might be, but to me, God is simple and clear. They’ve allowed the views of others to cloud their view, and complicate things. May they all break free…
Julia, hang in there, sis! To coin a phrase from a wonderful friend of mine… “the best is yet to come!”
Don H… thank you for sharing that! Somehow, that detail about your life escaped me all this time. I appreciate your willingness to witness the Love of God to those who need to hear it the most… the religious! It seems that most churches I’ve been associated with carry one thing in common. That is, while they paint a surface of peace, contentment, and trust… deep down, fear, doubt and frustration run rampant. May your gentle heart reach into the fear and pull them out! May they see the truth for what it is, and truly arrive in the land of milk and honey!
I feel a revolution of love coming!
Blessings to all! Warm love and great joy to you!
Ok, here is one I have used…kinda crude but fits my mood right now.
The Cross was Gods eternal middle finger to the self-righteous, law-mongering religions of the world.
I dunno….never said I was classy.
G and P
T
“Because he needed to set the stage for a redeeming event! He used their religion against them to show them their self-righteousness and cause them to cry out for a savior!” (Bruce)
So Jesus – who upheld the law – uses the law against the people to show them their need for a savior? Isn’t that self righteous of Jesus? I mean, he could keep the whole of the law and all that – and we could not – so then he in turn uses what we cannot keep as proof of his ‘savior’ status?
I personally do not believe that at all. It makes no sense. Jesus teaches us things (from law) that cannot be done – which brings into question his teacher status for sure. I am not sure where this idea comes from at all – it’s not something Jesus as much infers from his teachings. As far as I can tell – this is an add-in to the teachings.
As for salvation – what is it Jesus is saving us from? The law? Ourselves? Death? Religion? Hell? At least with Moses we knew where we stood concerning salvation as an event – an exodus from slavery to build a community/society (specific) – all here and now stuff.
‘Used their religion against them’? Maybe so – but he also upheld that religion in his own practices. When Jesus calls people out – he does it with the authority of the Torah/Prophets as his proof-texts/teachings. So even if he is calling out some ‘hypocrites’ – which he does from time to time – he does it with their own faith – which oddly enough seems to be the same one he is a part of (Judaism).
“True belief can only exist when the requirement to believe is removed” (Bruce)
In order for this statement to be true – one must believe it (irony).
Todd, that pretty much sums it up! Good addition to the list!
SVS, that’s cool man. I’m not going to try to convince you of anything. Either you see it or you don’t. What you believe has to come from within you. You need to believe what makes sense to you, and I hope you continue to find peace in it. The journey is full of twists and turns, and there is wonderful stuff just around the bend!
“The journey is full of twists and turns, and there is wonderful stuff just around the bend!” (Bruce)
True. I actually ejoy reading about the focus on love and grace – I honestly do – it’s a perspective that kind of gets muddied from the conservative aspects of this faith…almost to make it non-existent at times – which I see you addressing quite often…I think there is a need for that. I enjoy the focus – although I raise questions concerning some of the reasoning – but what matters is what someone does what they believe – and I can’t truly see the harm in ‘love’.
You have a good heart, SVS, and though we don’t see eye to eye on some things (different cultures, different backgrounds, different perspectives), I always see a huge chunk of God in you. Keep moving forward and keep looking within. There’s a lot in there, you know. Perspective changes everything!
Another one to add to the list:
“Repenting” doesn’t mean that you should change what you’re doing (to win God’s approval), it means changing your mind about “who God is”, so you can become free of your fear of him, and enjoy life with him!
“Sons are led, slaves are driven”
“God is looking for lovers, not lawyers”
That’s just a couple of the ’soundbytes’ I cherish now. I will be savoring this list you’ve provided and the great comments. Bruce, I just stumbled on this site after reading your comment on divinenobodies.com re ‘Spiritual Subtraction’ (letting go). Your use of the term ‘house of cards’ struck a chord with me. When we truly realize how earnestly God has sought after us, how high of a price He paid to reach us in our condition, it becomes blatantly obvious there’s nothing we can do but trust in and live in this extravagant love He has poured out in Christ. I’m a newbie to this site but I’ve bookmarked it already. Good stuff!
Bruce – I really appreciate this post. It inspired me to do a similar thing on my blog. For weeks I have been keeping a private post called ‘ideas’ where I parked little thoughts and ideas for future blogs. Several of these were little phrases that had become touchstones to me over the past several months of this majorly transitional time in my life. I never could find any way to expand them into a post – they just were poignant and meaningful phrases unto themselves. After seeing your Sound Bites, I shamelessly copied you! My blog’s growing collection is posted on it’s own page called ‘Lovebytes’ and is presently linked from my sidebar. Thank you!
I love the idea, Toby. Maybe we’ll do something similar here. We can keep adding to the list as people are inspired to contribute.