“At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.” Luke 2.14 The Message
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” KJV
“…they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,God with us.” Matt. 1:23 KJV
Purpose. What is the purpose of the writings in this world which attempt to show us God? What would be the purpose of someone who is thought of as God by those closest to him or her?
What is probably the greatest need this world has at the present moment and not just this moment but every moment throughout the history of the ages past and the future.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor:
He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
2 Cor. 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
There will never ever be any Peace with out liberty. What is the greatest freedom humans have? Freedom the THINK, freedom to believe what they want, Freedom to act as they want because all action comes from thinking. And yes there are many actions that lead to slavery and bondage but if their freedom to make up their own minds is taken away how can they ever be free. God will never demand anyone to submit and give up their freedom to another human or even Himself. Ever.
Rom 12: 17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
Acts 10.38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, for God was with him.
Do we really need another spiritual book? Aren’t the originals enough? Well yes they are and if they were getting thru to us they would be. I have read that if we could internalize and live just four lines, one small paragraph we would not need all the rest of the spiritual teachings because those four would illuminate all the others. These four wold become our life verse, life lesson, a transformation verse the depths of which would take us right thru the gates of heaven.
I was walking the dog one morning and I saw a man whose shirt read; “God is always talking.”
An infinite God with infinite means of expression always wanting us to listen: “Go everywhere doing good”
But it seems the human race is hard of hearing.
I struggled for many years with the idea that Jesus had spoken to a university professor who even refused to believe the message she heard. But for 10 years she took dictation from Jesus and after her colleague had transcribed the shorthand The Course of Miracles was born. Even though I had a difficult time accepting the authorship I kept reading. And every time I opened its pages it spoke to my heart, so for me began my journey with The Course In Miracles [The Course]. Have I left my love of the Bible absolutely not? Have I left my love for all the other writings given by God and angels, no I have not. The Course has opened my understanding to the meaning of the Bible and and all other vehicles God has used throughout the centuries to speak to mankind.
God is always talking to us.
The branch of Christianity I was involved with known as the Charismatic Movement is very invested in hearing a “Word from God” through a person or persons having the Gift of prophesy, tongues and or interpretation of tongues, where God would speak through them to the congregation every Sunday [this was not the sermon]. I don’t think any service went without this happening. This would not necessarily be the preacher but usually someone from the congregation in “heavenly tongues” then translated by someone else in the congregation. What I don’t recall is anyone recording what was said as a permanent record. Many of these message from beyond began with the OT phrase: “Thus saith the Lord….” What I do remember was I was told and repeated to others these utterances had to agree with the Bible. What was really meant was that the prophesy had to agree with the interpretation of the Bible as the Charismatic movement understood it.
And yet the witness of history is full of different interpretations of the Bible. Many of which would not have been allowed in that congregation.
I’m not saying this is a negative practice, if people are helped in their spiritual journey to God—to help us going about doing Good—then all the better. God has a place for everyone to learn and grow that best fits where they are on the road to God. If Jesus ever wants you in a different classroom you will end up there.
The Course points out in Clarification of Terms Intro: “2 All terms are potentially controversial, and those who seek controversy will find it. Yet those who seek clarification will find it as well. They must, however, be willing to overlook controversy, recognizing that it is a defense against truth in the form of a delaying maneuver. Theological considerations as such are necessarily controversial, since they depend on belief and can therefore be accepted or rejected. A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary. It is this experience toward which the course is directed. Here alone consistency becomes possible because here alone uncertainty ends. [Italics mine]
Hence following Jesus’ example: “He went about doing Good” and thereby demonstrating what God is really like. God is with us doing Good thru us if we let Her.
Jesus is taking us back to Genesis Chapter 1 where everything He created is very Good. This “very Good” God made mankind in Her image and nothing God made can ever be defiled in any way.
The theology of the Course is different than the many Biblical theologies however the experiential goal remains the same.
God is Good 