What would Jesus do… part II

I have simmered down a bit. Yes, it’s taken me awhile; Life is what happens while I’m busy trying to contemplate the Universe… Email text in bold black below and my remarks continue…

If you believe in God (yes – in all the names The Almighty may ever be called) and in Jesus Christ (Absolutely – He was/is someone worthy of the utmost respect and reverence. In doing what we are told was God’s will, he lived the life of suffering and acceptance spoken of not only in the Bible (Job) but in Buddhism and Existentialism as well.) His Son. Define Son. Was he God Incarnate, Man & God or a Man who had become fully one with Divine Spirit (Careful how you answer… you could be a Heretic)? send this to all your buddy list, if not just ignore... I can’t ignore it. Some of my "buddies" are Christian, some Pagan, some Buddhist and my dearest, an atheist I love still... Good people all – I think Christ would think so too. My Great Grandfather – a Methodist minister – once said "Wherever one finds God is fine with Him" . An opinion? Yes. But I can’t imagine Christ so narrow or the Divine so merciless as to cast out good folk according to the differing beliefs of humanity.

In the Holy Bible, Jesus says... "If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven.." Define deny. Besides, if Jesus was/is all that is set down in this email, how could he be as self-centered and punitive as that statement implies. It's too bad Jesus had such poor editors.

May God Bless you always. Even when what it is isn’t recognized as a blessing.

Don't complain because you don't have what you want. Be thankful you don't get what you deserve, which is death. According to whose judgement? Sounds to me like Paul’s… who put him charge?

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Okay, defining sin not withstanding, we are imperfect; whether one believes that it is because we are physically manifested, or because early representatives of the species "ate of the forbidden fruit". If our Creator is Omniscient and Omnipotent, surely the Almighty knew that physical manifestation is limited and that was part of the plan. Or knew that Adam & Eve (so-called) would eat of the tree and could have prevented it.

No. I think that God recognizes the power in choice. Which one of us would that people were good and true and loving to us because they had no choice… they knew nothing else? How much more is one’s love and devotion worth when the alternative is known and, perhaps easier, yet our Spirit chooses the Beauty Way. The Creator’s greatest and most loving gift to us is knowledge, choice, our own free will; we are given not only life but the opportunity to live it as we will. I cannot imagine The Divine bestowing such a gift and then punishing for it’s use – I believe the intent was that we learn from our mistakes rather than make none, live in perpetual stasis and learn nothing. How kind and loving is your Creator? The Creator I know does not punish for mistakes, poor choices, lifestyles or beliefs – really, He/She doesn't have to - if we choose to, we can punish ourselves and allow other people to do so as well.