Post by phantasman on Jun 12, 2014 8:14:59 GMT -5
I finally bid CF farewell. But not without a lesson in spiritual understanding.
In prayer this morning, I sit outside in the silence of my back deck overlooking the mountains as I do every morning. I had had some harsh words said to me last night on the site, and that I was promoting gnostic beliefs. I responded humbly, and then made a post clear that I had enough. I felt frustrated somewhat, yet I was shown this morning this image, which I wish to share to see if it agrees with what you all may interpret as Spiritual understanding.
I got the image that many of the people I have been conversing with are like people reading a map to get to a destination. They argue over the best way to get there, they even argue over whether they have even arrived or not. They don't have a clear image of where they are going, only that others have been there and spoken of their experiences. They put more value into the map and what others say, rather than to look around and see where they are, and see what is in the foreseeable distance.
I saw them as using the Bible from Genesis to Revelations to find the destination of spiritual understanding. As I believe it was Christ who taught this to us, I see them taking steps backward (in reverse) following church creeds that find it in the OT. On a map, it's like moving away from the destination to try to arrive at it. This back and forth assuredly gives one the impression the destination will never be reached this way.
I see the Canon NT scriptures containing parts of this map (left by Christ). Enough to set us on the path to the final destination. At this point let me say, that it is a spiritual destination and not a physical one. I see the Orthodox Church as a place that is set up on the map as a waypoint before the destination. It acts as a welcome center, toll booth and border crossing. It makes it's attempt at extracting it's portion from each person and promising a clear path to the destination. They make it clear that only THEY know how to reach it. Yet they have been no further than the people they cater to.
The idea of the gnostics preceded the waypoint. The knowledge of the destination was experienced by many. And they wrote their own maps. It was freely offered to anyone who so chose to seek it. As best as possible, each gnostic writer tried to warn others of the pitfalls which came in taking our eyes off of the spiritual destination by physical pitfalls. "Our map is spiritual" they cried. Not for physical eyes.
I have learned that no matter how much one argues over at CF, we talk two different languages. They see the spiritual through physical eyes. We see the physical through spiritual eyes. They hear the spirit through words. We hear words (in images) through the spirit. And that is the difference.
I actually feel sorry for the many who are caught in a quagmire of ignorance, argue which one is smarter in it. I don't feel I am better, or above them. I just feel a feeling of being more informed through opening myself to accept the truth on a spiritual level than a physical one.
And after all of this, I see the map. I am beyond the waypoint. I refuse to reverse and go backward, yet it doesn't hurt to see where I came FROM, as I continue towards my destination. Once the gnostic understanding removed the waypoint, I could feel my spirit become elated as the destination became clearer and closer, and the Spirit shows me a clearer map with the words "You are here".
I have learned that understanding the gnostic way is something that you pursue, seek. It is not something you go out an teach for others to become.
In prayer this morning, I sit outside in the silence of my back deck overlooking the mountains as I do every morning. I had had some harsh words said to me last night on the site, and that I was promoting gnostic beliefs. I responded humbly, and then made a post clear that I had enough. I felt frustrated somewhat, yet I was shown this morning this image, which I wish to share to see if it agrees with what you all may interpret as Spiritual understanding.
I got the image that many of the people I have been conversing with are like people reading a map to get to a destination. They argue over the best way to get there, they even argue over whether they have even arrived or not. They don't have a clear image of where they are going, only that others have been there and spoken of their experiences. They put more value into the map and what others say, rather than to look around and see where they are, and see what is in the foreseeable distance.
I saw them as using the Bible from Genesis to Revelations to find the destination of spiritual understanding. As I believe it was Christ who taught this to us, I see them taking steps backward (in reverse) following church creeds that find it in the OT. On a map, it's like moving away from the destination to try to arrive at it. This back and forth assuredly gives one the impression the destination will never be reached this way.
I see the Canon NT scriptures containing parts of this map (left by Christ). Enough to set us on the path to the final destination. At this point let me say, that it is a spiritual destination and not a physical one. I see the Orthodox Church as a place that is set up on the map as a waypoint before the destination. It acts as a welcome center, toll booth and border crossing. It makes it's attempt at extracting it's portion from each person and promising a clear path to the destination. They make it clear that only THEY know how to reach it. Yet they have been no further than the people they cater to.
The idea of the gnostics preceded the waypoint. The knowledge of the destination was experienced by many. And they wrote their own maps. It was freely offered to anyone who so chose to seek it. As best as possible, each gnostic writer tried to warn others of the pitfalls which came in taking our eyes off of the spiritual destination by physical pitfalls. "Our map is spiritual" they cried. Not for physical eyes.
I have learned that no matter how much one argues over at CF, we talk two different languages. They see the spiritual through physical eyes. We see the physical through spiritual eyes. They hear the spirit through words. We hear words (in images) through the spirit. And that is the difference.
I actually feel sorry for the many who are caught in a quagmire of ignorance, argue which one is smarter in it. I don't feel I am better, or above them. I just feel a feeling of being more informed through opening myself to accept the truth on a spiritual level than a physical one.
And after all of this, I see the map. I am beyond the waypoint. I refuse to reverse and go backward, yet it doesn't hurt to see where I came FROM, as I continue towards my destination. Once the gnostic understanding removed the waypoint, I could feel my spirit become elated as the destination became clearer and closer, and the Spirit shows me a clearer map with the words "You are here".
I have learned that understanding the gnostic way is something that you pursue, seek. It is not something you go out an teach for others to become.
