Christ's Law

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● Phil 3:2c . . Beware of mutilation.

Mutilation in this particular instance isn't criminal mischief, rather; it refers to
voluntary ritual circumcision; viz: initiation into the covenant that Moses' people
agreed upon with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. There
were Jews in various cities back in the apostles' era telling Christians that
protection from the sum of all fears depends upon circumcision.

"And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said,
Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." (Acts
15:1)

The apostles disagreed.

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled
you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep
the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" (Acts 15:24)

The primary reason the apostles disagreed is simply because Christians don't
associate with God via Moses' covenant, rather; they associate with God via a
covenant whose language is very different, and its conditions far more agreeable.
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● Phil 3:17 . . Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of
those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you
before, and now say, again even with tears: many live as enemies of the cross of
Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their appetites, and their glory is in
their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

* The Greek word translated "brothers" technically pertains to one's male kin or to
one's fellow members of a college fraternity or an outlaw biker club like The
Mongols. However, when Paul wrote to congregations, his use of the word
commonly pertained to both genders sort of like how "man" pertains to both
genders as they are defined in the early chapters of Genesis. (e.g. Gen 5:1-2)

The Greek word translated "appetites" not only refers to one's tummy, but also the
natural urges everyone experiences due to human nature. Natural urges are a force
to be reckoned with. For example: libido is just as strong a motivation for marriage
as it is for adultery. Hunger is just as strong a motivation for nourishment as it is
for gluttony. Ambition is just as strong a motivation for legitimate success as it is
for fraud.

"glory" is somewhat ambiguous. It can indicate illumination and it can also indicate
accolades where accolades are due. For example the universe proclaims the glory of
God, i.e. it speaks of intelligence and abilities without equal. But when a cheap
politician throws scruples to the wind and achieves office by dishonest means, they
have nothing to brag about, i.e. they're disgusting, and sometimes even downright
criminal.
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● Phil 4:4 . . Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!

Now the thing is: rejoicing in the Lord is not the same as rejoicing in life. In point of
fact, there's really not all that much to be perpetually happy about in life on earth.

● Ecc 1:2-3 . . Utter futility! --said Koheleth-- Utter futility! All is futile! What real
value is there for a man in all the gains he makes beneath the sun?

We can name lots of things in life that bring us happiness and satisfaction, but it's
all fleeting, i.e. it's all temporary, viz: transient. There's very little that brings us
lasting happiness and satisfaction. And then on top of that, there's the specter of
death; viz: it's only a matter of time when our life on earth-- everything we've
accomplished, everything we've accumulated, and everyone we've ever known --is
separated from us like a young military recruit's hair falling to the floor in a Marine
Corps barber shop.

The negativity of life on earth can be greatly moderated by always keeping one's
eye on the future as it's revealed in the teachings of Christianity's lord and master.

● John 15:11 . .These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your own joy might be full.

● John 16:33 . . I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.

For example: the current political situation in my country is rapidly approaching
critical mass, so to speak. It's as if The Lord has sent a myriad of evil spirits into
the minds of many of America's movers and shakers similar to what He did with
Saul in the book of 1Samuel. How our situation eventually plays out is anybody's
guess but at least we are assured that no matter how much worse things become,
none of it will indicate that God is out to harm folks unified with His son. No; we are
but collateral damage forced to endure strong winds of change thru no fault of our
own. (Rom 8:35-39)
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● Phil 4:5 . . Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Greek word translated "gentleness" basically means mild.

Webster's defines "mild" as gentle in nature or behavior, moderate in action or
effect; not sharp or bitter, i.e. mellow; which is just the opposite of fierce, harsh,
rough, scathing, mean, abrasive, stormy, intemperate, strict, reactive and/or
severe.

Though a mild/mellow person is affable, they aren't necessarily a wimp; no, they're
just not easy to provoke. The quite opposite would be a thin skinned, defensive
personality that goes to war at the drop of a hat.

Mild people don't threaten, nor come at you with bared teeth and narrowed eyes.
They're reasonable and rational, rather than emotional and frightening. Assertive,
confrontational people have no clue what it is to be mild; and those are the very
ones losing sleep with evil thoughts as they obsessively re-wind and re-play a
conflict with somebody in their heads over, and over, and over again rehearsing
things they should've said, and would've said, had they thought of them.

● Matt 5:5 . . Blessed are the meek.

Moses was meek (Num 12:3) and Christ was meek (Matt 11:29, Matt 21:5).
Personally I wouldn't categorize either of those two men as meek. So then, what
really is meekness?

Primarily, to be meek, in the Biblical sense of the word, is to be temperate; yet firm
when necessary. A temperate person isn't eo ipso a cowering milk toast. Anybody
who's studied the life of Moses and Jesus can easily testify that neither of those
men were timid; no, they walked softly but carried a big stick, so to speak. Never
mistake true meekness for a yellow streak.

Jacob and his dad Isaac were temperate men; but could be very strong when the
situation called for it. Temperate people pick their battles carefully, and never
waste anger and energy on trifles.

There are Christians in this world who're simply implacable. They just cannot live
and let live. Turning the other cheek is to them a worn-out cliché that no one takes
seriously anymore. For them rivalry, conflict, revenge, competition, retaliation,
recriminations, and grudging are a way of life: every disagreement is an act of war
- they're peevish, emotional, bitter, harsh, unloving, cruel, thoughtless, and
reactive; and they thrive on complaining, criticizing, chafing, carping, finding fault,
tattling, bickering, retort upon retort, rejoinder upon rejoinder, sarcasm, endless
debate, dredging up old unresolved conflicts, gainsaying, and getting in people's
faces and giving them a piece of their mind.

It seems like those people are always getting indignant about some petty outrage
or another. Well; those kinds of Christians are definitely not in the "gentle"
category. They're hellish, toxic demons who relish letting their wrath be evident to
all instead of gentleness because when they're upset; they want everybody to know
it.
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● Phil 4:6-7 . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.

I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer Nov 2022. At the time, I was devastated;
so much so that I feared a nervous breakdown and seriously considered suicide by
drowning myself in the bathtub.

Well; as it turned out Phil 4:6-7 was my safety net. I obtained freedom from a
severe case of anxiety by telling God in my own words exactly how I felt: straight
from the shoulder, man to man.

Mother Teresa complained in her private letters written to spiritual counselors that
she felt not the slightest glimmer of the Lord's presence during virtually the entire
five decades she was a missionary in India; plus lamented that her prayers
returned to her like sharp knives, cutting her soul. I'm not talking about sporadic
returns; it was always that way with her, and it was very discouraging-- so
discouraging that after a while Teresa began to seriously question whether there's
really a God out there.

Well; I would hazard to guess that as a good Catholic girl, Teresa didn't practice
conversational prayer, instead she practiced rosary prayer; and she likely expected
God to read her thoughts so she wouldn't have to spell them out.

God's IQ is at least equal to that of our loved ones, our associates, our BFF, and the
drivers that deliver pizza. Well; if we don't talk them in rote lest we appear to them
as mental cases, then why in God's name are Christians talking to the supernatural
genius who created the universe-- all of its life, matter, and energy --as if He were
one of those stone heads on Easter Island?
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