The word
sin evokes many reactions, mostly fear of which the other side is anger,
realized or not. If you buy into that concept, the most troublesome aspect is
that there’s no getting rid of it on a permanent basis through processes so far
attempted. Oh sure, you can “confess” it to the proper authority but it’s just
like a bad weed, it keeps coming back. I’d like to get rid of all of it; the
concept, the guilt, the fear, the anger and the whole caboodle. You can say
That’s the human condition and there’s nothing to do about it. I’ll agree that
it is the human condition, but we also have the potential of a human condition
that can change it. Is there a way?
In theory yes.
It’s a new concept to me so I’m still working on it. In theory, there is no
such thing as sin. The reasoning is that if God didn’t create it, how can it
exist? All indications are, we “created” it. I put the word created in quotes
because I like to distinguish between it and make. We create good, make what’s
bad. I don’t want to give creating a bad name. So, logically, if God didn’t
create it, and we made it, we should be able to abolish it. The word paradox is
in play because since God didn’t create it, in theory, it’s not “legal” but is
very much still around. The meaning of paradox is that you can answer a
question with both yes and no and they both apply. Can God create sin? No. Is
sin around? Yes. Does God recognize what he didn’t create? No. God
paradoxically permits what he doesn’t allow (didn’t create), namely our ability
to separate ourselves from him.
That dysfunction
leads to error; a better word for sin because, in theory, it gives us something
to work on that we can abolish. The word error appears in context in Scripture but is almost never quoted, as in 1 John 4:6
We are from God.
Whoever knows God listens to us,
and whoever is not from God does not listen to us.
From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Another perspective is from A Thomas Merton Reader (The Sign of Jonas):
I have forgiven the universe without end
because I have never known sin.
There
is an unreality in play that while sin is certainly all around us it isn’t part
of God’s game. God permits what he doesn’t allow but does not see what he has
not created, yet it is “real” (better unreal)
in the world. Sin is a state of denial on our part which retains the separation
humans created long ago, and from which our ancestors passed on to us. Sin is
not repairable but error via dysfunction is. Which game would you rather play?
The source of
dysfunction is ego; I want what I want. Taking the I out of play is a huge
undertaking for we use the word so freely. Our first discernment should be to
separate the ego-I from the pronoun-I so we can remain communicative. Ego fuels
desires, it prevents forgiving and forgiveness, and separates. It is really a
very bad actor (the word for hypocrite in Greek means “actor”). It is an error
that can be corrected.
Another aspect of
the issue: Where is God in all this? How does God allow such tragedy and
destruction? Theoretically, he won’t mess with our free will to prevent us from
doing bad things, even though he gave us the gift. If he did we’d be robots. Theoretically,
he doesn’t “see” the destruction (which is impossible to miss) because that
would give it power, a place in the universe. It deserves and has neither. The
destruction we see and do is misuse of our free will. Elsewhere on the blog I
talk about the proper use of free will; it is the choice to be aligned with
God’s will for us. It’s free alright, but it has a specific purpose, which if
used improperly, causes error. If error turns to separation via denial of God
and unity on a permanent basis, then I suppose the operative word is sin. Dealing
in sin is a tool of those who have brought the concept of hell-fire to control
of minds has been very effective. Decide today whether you want your mind guided
by unity or controlled by hell-fire.
The difference
between guidance and control, once understood, can allow unity to act. Unity’s
love is expressed through guidance. God doesn’t control us, he guides us if we
let him which closes the separation. He’ll do a bang-up job if we believe we
can move mountains through faith. Thought + faith + surrender = moving
mountains. To surrender is not to give up, it’s a positive move to allow your
free will to be aligned with God’s will for you. Metaphorically speaking if you
believe you can’t move a mountain, it means you haven’t accepted the concept of
unity. If you don’t want to move mountains you allay guilt for another day. Not
to want to move mountains is to sell out to fear; fear it isn’t possible, fear
that you can’t do it, fear that your faith is insufficient. This is where the
old mustard seed parable comes in. Remember?
Luke 17:6
"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed,
you could say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,'
and it would obey you.”
I used Luke’s version instead of Mark or Matthew because it
includes another plant of the Bible: mulberry. Not sure what the tree has to do
with it except that it can’t survive in the water, not to mention the strength
and faith it would take to move it.
All it takes is a
change of mind. To change your mind means to relieve yourself of your authority
in the drudgery of making decisions, and to place your mind at the disposal of true authority. Why settle for a 50-50
chance of being right when you can improve significantly on the percentage in
your favor. Really the only decision you have is to decide to let God guide
you. It’s so easy it’s hard (paradox).
Try this logic:
Perfect love casts out fear.
If fear exists then perfect love isn’t in place.
But, only perfect love exists,
So if there is fear,
It produces a state that does not exist.
The dysfunction that causes error is the place to start. The hardest part is to admit you have the affliction. The word dysfunction is relative. When you first heard the word a few years ago, it was in reference to people who had a bunch of problems that took charge of their lives, leaving the person uncontrollable. Today, I submit anything that separates you from God is a dysfunction, but something you can overcome once you’ll admit it and move into the process of its elimination. Once dysfunction is re-directed to function, the cycle of error (fear, sin, guilt) is broken. Receiving authoritative or institutional forgiveness apparently doesn’t work, for tomorrow (heck, today), I turn around and err again. What really works is forgiveness of and to each other. What really works is leaving all negative thoughts behind which include what I call the “Three Biggies”: being judgmental, critical and complaining. They are far more dangerous to our well-being than what are considered the three cardinal sins: adultery, murder and apostasy. Yes, they aren’t so hot and are to be avoided like the plague, but not everybody indulges whereas we all indulge in the Three Biggies all day long. And, worst of all, we don’t know it. We take it for granted we can whine and complain about this, that and whoever and that it doesn’t matter. It does matter. It matters because it causes a mindset of separation instead of a mindset of unity. It’s about separation from your fellow person such that you don’t recognize him/her; and if you don’t recognize your fellow person, you don’t recognize God. That’s how deadly the Three Biggies are. It matters because you are not in a vacuum as you make judgments about others. They are making corresponding judgments about you. Me? Why would anyone talk about me? Because you're currently imperfect and open to criticism because they see in you what they know of themselves. Even if you were perfect, they would still talk about you from a jealous perspective. Under which circumstance would you rather they talk about you: as imperfect, or perfect? When you can come to control your small-talk behind people's backs, then you are on the way to perfection (i.e. maturity).
Unless I become like a child
again, full of trust and willing to follow, I cannot come to know my complete and
comforting dependence on God and the incredibly wonderful relationship that
evolves between me, he and you.
Eliminating error
is a transformation, a change of mind. A change from what I was to what I can
be.
Transformation is:
being aligned with unity
realizing I’m not aligned with unity
being open to the notion that alignment is possible
seeking knowledge and know-how to become aligned
the process of alignment:
being open
surrendering free
will
self-examining
seeking knowledge
rejecting and ejecting
errors
giving and
forgiving
finding a quiet
place
making contact
with unity
listening
acting upon what
you hear
Lot
’s of –ing words, meaning, life is about verbs, action,
doing, in the present. God announced to Moses in Exodus 3:3 that he is YHWH which
is the Hebrew word-form of the verb “to be”. YHWH is the tetragrammon (four
letters) which when stretched by adding vowels is Yahweh. So, God is a verb.
But much more than that: love in action-now.
So what about it;
are you ready to reject and eject the dysfunction in your life that causes
error to the point you don’t recognize your neighbor, you don’t recognize
yourself and God doesn’t recognize you? That
is scary. If you want to reside on the planet of fear/guilt/sin, that’s the
route to go. But, if on the other hand, you’re ready for transformation into
unity, try the process above and enter a new orb. One that works. One that
brings peace, unity and love.
Forgiveness is an
empty gesture unless it entails correction of error. Jesus said from the cross in
Luke 23:24:
“Father forgive
them for they know not what they do.”
What exactly did Jesus mean. That they come to know what
they did was wrong? That God outright forgive them unconditionally on the spot?
Could very well be. It may have as much or more to do with healing the error of
their mindset than the outcome of the error. Jesus could have been appealing to
God to have his oppressor’s minds healed which would be a good answer to the
two questions I posed. Forgiveness and being forgiven is the heart of the transformation
and alignment theory for it accomplishes being treated as you would treat
others. Colossians has some advice on the matter,
3:12
-15:
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may
have against one another.
Forgive as you are forgiven by God.
And over all these virtues, put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of the messiah rule in your hearts
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Those are very
nice words, words we’ve heard a thousand times with another thousand lined up.
That’s the what, the problem is our teachers haven’t taught us the how; how do
I accomplish it? Unity can’t control your fear but you can. Fear prevents unity
from giving unity’s control to you. When you are afraid it is a sure sign you
have allowed your mind to mis-create therefore unity can’t guide you. If you
are aware you chose wrongly, fear arises and possibly you try to re-control the
outcome, hoping to correct the error. Error upon error. The only action that
can help in that case is to face the outcome and seek forgiveness from anyone
you have hurt.
The choice to
correct fear is your responsibility. Once chosen, unity can step in and guide
your mind. Check with unity first. Or, as I put it, I check with God first. I
choose, God guides. That takes away the context of being a robot.
So what do you
think of my theory?
Ya’ know what?
I’m beyond theory, I’m convicted. I’m convinced that we can lick this silly sin
thing, whether you call it error, dysfunction or whatever. I’m convinced that
even though we make our messes because of the gift of free will that God gave
us; we can change it, fix it, correct it. I’m not only convicted but dedicated
to eliminating the weeds of dysfunction from my garden so that I can come into
the harmony and unity of God’s realm where the lamb lays in the shade of a
mulberry tree next to the lion.
I’ve a couple
roots on that mulberry tree left to pull up, but I’m pulling as hard as I can.
Peace and Blessings,
Vern Schanilec
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