Just chuckling here...have never written about sex before; never ever crossed my mind to do so either. Nevertheless, here goes but I still don't intend to say much; more like a swift breeze through...
Actually I don't like to hear the word "sex" or "sexy". Those terms are publicly bantered about so casually and easily for an act that, in my humble opinion, should be more sacred, private and intimate and therefore not made common.
However, maybe those are public words. Words used casually for casual acts often not of commitment to another but of satisfying one's own lust. More private terminology for devoted acts of marital consummation may be "making love," or even better..."expressing love".
In a marriage between one man and one woman, who claim to love, honor and cherish each other until death do them part, the engaging in intercourse would be the outpouring thereof--thus, "expressing love".
No doubt there are one hundred and one other good and necessary ways of expressing love in action too. All the many little ways accumulate to something big and beautiful and escalate into that having 'sex'.
So let's get down to the focus of this topic in regards to that couple: sex and religion. For the Buddhist, sex within marriage is fine but Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, author of What Buddhists Believe, believes that even then there needs to be self-control. (Pages 313-316).
The whole idea in Buddhism is to control ones' desires in all areas, not just of the sexual nature, but this is the topic here. The best way for a Buddhist to...
"...develop their spiritual development for perfection" is "celibacy" (Page 313).
That's where a lot of rubber hits the road. Sri Dhammananda plows on to say,
"...it is not compulsory for each and every person to observe celibacy in order to practice Buddhism. The Buddha's advice is that observing celibacy is more congenial for a person who wants to cultivate his or her spiritual achievements. For ordinary Buddhist lay persons, the precept is to abstain from sexual misconduct. This means that a householder may indulge in legitimate sex" (Pages 313-314).
"The human sexual urge," continues Sri Dhammananda, "must be controlled properly otherwise people will behave worse than animals when they are intoxicated with lust" (Page 314).
Listen to the news or read the newspaper for just such examples.
What Sri Dhammananda is pointing out is self-control, and if an adherent to Buddhism wishes to attain the goal of Nirvana, he or she will do well to rein in their sexual impulses.
God's Word has a lot to say about immoral behavior in the line of sexual misconduct. Surprisingly, the bachelor apostle Paul said the bulk of it. Just read through the letters he wrote in the New Testament, to discover it. However, God's thoughts on this issue were revealed way back in the Old Testament where God gave Moses commands, rules and regulations for this human nature which often can become so degraded.
Take a look at Deuteronomy 22:13-30. This is about marriage violations and rape. Read Deuteronomy 23:17-18 in regards to "religious" prostitution (shrine prostitutes). Flip again to Deuteronomy 24:1-4 about those men who marry and then discover they don't like the woman they married after all. No doubt you can find further examples as you explore God's Word.
In the New Testament, sexually immoral brothers and sisters were excommunicated from the assembly of God's people. Case in point is the man we read about in 1 Corinthians 5. He had his father's wife! Praise the Lord, though, that man repented of his ways and Paul had to instruct the Corinthians in the second epistle of Corinthians, chapter 2:5-11, to reinstate the brother, to also...
"...forgive him, comfort him, reaffirm your love for him".
Reining in our sexual desires comes with help from the Holy Spirit of God. One of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Every believer in Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit indwelling him or her. There are no excuses to say, "Oh, I'm only human". Yes, you are, but you are also a child of God who has the Holy Spirit. When we choose to follow the Holy Spirit's leading we can exercise self-control. The more a person is led by the Holy Spirit, the more he or she will have greater self-control over lust of any kind, including in the sexual arena; whether married or unmarried.
There is a Sunday School song that goes,
"Say, "N-O, N-O" to everything that's wrong; and "Y-E-S" to the Savior Jesus, All day long."
Ever vigilant. Employ self-control.
"Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12 DBT)
Now lets get back to the idea of celibacy. For the unmarried brother or sister-in-Christ, that is a given. Paul wished that all men would remain single as he was (1 Corinthians 7:7) yet realized each person had their own gift. However, Paul's main reason was so he (and anyone else who was single) could focus on serving the Lord without having to think of and spend time (rightly so) with...
"...the affairs of the world"(1 Corinthians 7:33)
...with divided interests.
The married man or woman has to be concerned with their spouse and children and family living. So Paul, a single chap, was free to make his main concern the Lord's affairs (1 Corinthians 7:32). Being celibate was part of the unmarried singleness and what he called, "a gift".
For the husband and wife who wanted to seek God in prayer, Paul wrote,
"Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" (1 Corinthians 7:5).
For the husband and wife, the denial of that "expressing love" was to be for a specified time only. Why even have that "time-out"? It was for prayer. The spiritual needs must also be met. Seek God's will, then resume conjugal rights once more.
God in His wisdom knows the human heart well, so thank God for His Holy Spirit and self-control.
The Buddhist will deny himself in order to gain spiritual development towards earning his own salvation.
The single follower of Jesus Christ is celibate in order to concentrate on serving the Lord in spreading the message of Jesus and building up other Christians in their most holy faith. He does NOT gain salvation; rather, he or she does remain chaste in order to have time and focus to bring others to Christ, and to mature in their faith and sanctification.
The married Christian person controls his or her sexual urges so as not to commit adultery or other forms of sexual misconduct such as incest, engaging in intercourse only with his/her own spouse by mutual consent. The married person will deprive him/herself only to spend time in prayer and only for a specified time and only on consent of his/her spouse.
A married couple may also spread the message of Jesus, as the single child of God, yet will have more limited time to do so. Their 'audience' may well be their own children which they must take care to teach God's ways; this is of vital importance.
The injunction God gave to the Israelites so long ago, and that is still an essential endeavor for parents today, can be found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. The Israelites were to live out God's will and ways and teach them to their children every chance they got.
Read your Bible and pray every day in your own personal devotion time; read and pray with your family.
Then have private time expressing love with your own wife/husband.
Thus ends my oracle on sex and religion.
~ERC September 2018~
Betrayed!!
How awful is that!!?
Did you ever confide in anyone because you thought they were discreet and could be trusted to keep your secret? Then some time down the road, what you had told the person privately, came full swing back to you in exaggerated, adulterated gossip form. You knew exactly how that cat got out of the bag!
Or someone whom you thought was a very good friend, in the heat of a moment, would not stick up for you? How did you feel?
Betrayed?
How could he or she have done that to you!?
Most of you would be familiar with what Judas Iscariot did to Jesus. Judas had walked with Jesus for three years or so, living and breathing the same air with Him and the other disciples. He had been privy to all Jesus had taught; seen all the miracles Jesus performed: the bread-making and fish-multiplying, stretching the few loaves and fishes to feed thousands; the healing of the blind, lame, deaf, mute; the raising of people from the dead, and so on; he saw all Jesus's loving compassion blessing the teeming throngs of humanity; and for soothe, likely experienced it personally.
Judas Iscariot, disciple and supposed friend of Jesus Christ.
"Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him" (Matthew 26:14-16 ESV).
Jesus, betrayed! Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver!
Jesus sacrificed in exchange for money. But Jesus endured. He endured for you and for me. It was merciless what Jesus went through but again, He did so out of His undying love for you and for me in obedience to God, His Father.
Don't be like Judas, though. He went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). There was remorse but no repentance.
Despite the betrayal, Jesus went through with God's plan of salvation for one and all. Whether we ourselves have been a victim of betrayal or have been the betrayer, there is hope for us. There is forgiveness, mercy and compassion, and God's grace available to us through Jesus's death and resurrection. It is available for one and all.
On Lord's Day, when those of us who have accepted Jesus's forgiveness for our sins, and have His salvation and belong to God, remember Jesus's supreme act of mercy and grace of dying on that cross for us; Satan meant it for harm but God turned it into miraculous saving grace. When receiving the bread and wine symbols, let us never forget that all encompassing act of love.
Let us not betray our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now by how we live the rest of the week. Let us serve, honor and worship Him with our whole being and let our reputation be: "That person knows, loves and belongs to Jesus Christ."
His death and resurrection prove He did not betray us. Remember.
~ERC September 2018~
Song Worthy is the Lamb
"Although a human being has freedom to plan a family according to his or her own convenience, abortion is not justifiable." (Page 308 What Buddhists Believe by Dr. K. Sri. Dhammananda)
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda has summed up these issues of an individual's right to birth control and abortion most adroitly.
Let's see what God has to say...
Quite likely, uppermost in most Bible believers' minds is God's injunction to animals and mankind alike, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis), and they all did just that! God has never revoked that command, nor further stated it in the New Testament; per se.
Two Christian websites, Grace to You and DesiringGod, have complementary thoughts. Both indicate that the Bible does not prohibit birth control. They both warn, however, of contraceptives that have abortive properties.
Buddhists believe in the sanctity of life. God's people do too if they are following God's command to the children of Israel of long ago,
"Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13).
The above mentioned website authors, John McArthur and John Piper1, respectively, caution people about permanent birth control; i.e. vasectomies and tubal ligations. Think carefully on it. (Click on links to read their perspectives).
Although John McArthur believes that birth control is permissible, he states that if one or the other or both spouses violate their consciences, feeling birth control is wrong, yet they go ahead with it, then that is a sin to them (Romans 14:23).
The 'desiringgod' website explains there is a difference prior to, and post, The Fall. This in regards to the directive to "Be fruitful and multiply". John Piper believes that...
"There are realities that came into the world after The Fall that make life more complicated then it was before...if there were no sin, there would be no need for a world mission of sacrifice and martyrdom and suffering."
This angle of birth control leads, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, to the apostle Paul saying its better not to marry as one could spend more concentrated time and effort and energy towards ministry (1 Corinthians 7:7, 32-34) and bringing many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10) through salvation into God's family. This would also be the most effective form of birth control if one remained single and celibate.
As to the abortion aspect-it is always wrong. God is the giver of life and He has our days numbered. He will be the one to decide when your end will be, thus His imperative command, "Thou shalt not kill."
An alternative to "unwanted pregnancies" is to give the baby up for adoption. I have heard that Focus on the Family has things to say on this matter. Here are some of their web addresses in this regard: Adoption Options and Adopting Children
Focus on the Family has an international organization called Global Outreach. They run a program called "Wait No More" which is also a foster-adoption care agency. They may be able to help you. Contact them.
Here's another for those who wish to give their child up for adoption. What is best for the child?
First Mother Forum.
Look for Megan's Story (an adoptee)
There are many pros and cons between raising the child oneself, and giving the babe up for adoption. I still believe either one is the only option and rule out abortion; an absolutely 'no solution' to being 'rid' of the baby.
This brings us to suicide, murder of self. Although this is not exactly in the same category of birth control or abortion, there is the connection in that it still comes under the heading, "Thou shalt not kill" and related to the sanctity of life. You are wanted by God, if by no one else, and He cares for you.
I have written on this subject before, so suffice it to say, it is not a way out for a follower of Jesus Christ. I would like to also caution, nor for everyone else. The Buddhist belief is also against suicide.
To learn more about the Christian views please read some of my other blog entries:
On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter - Part 3*
On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter - Part 16
On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter - Part 33
For the above entries we learn that our troubles will not have gone away even with suicide. The example of a person who had had a near death experience reported that he had seen smokers, who had not accepted Christ as Savior, in a place of torment, and, among other things, devastated by craving for a cigarette.
I tell you this seriously. Find life with Jesus Christ. That will not necessarily magically wipe all your troubles away, but you would have a divine Someone, who would always be there for you. He would help you to get through even the darkest hours. Seek God. You will find Him.
Seeking God is seeking life. Jesus can give life "more abundantly." Look at what He says as recorded by John in John 10:10 (NKJV)...
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy, I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
Jesus is NOT the thief! He is the life-giver! Gracious words. Life giving words. Seek God.
Getting back on track it is noted, of course, that birth control measures can help minimize population growth. Better medical standards and folks being able to afford to pay the bills aided by health insurance and/or government intervention helps to extend life and keeps the numbers boosted.
For Buddhists, rebirth into human being form is desirable and good. It's good to have enough numbers of people available for this, so do not abort your baby. However, Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda author of What Buddhists Believe believes that the numbers should be controlled and that the...
"...medical facilities and other qualified authorities available today..."
should be the ones to control population increases (Page 312).
One author, John Warwick Montgomery, who wrote Slaughter of the Innocents, remarks that a married couple whether in India or America, could...
"...begin to constitute families by means of adopting the unwanted, the disinherited, the rejected children of the earth..." (Pages 26-27).
This does not negate Christian couples from having their own biological children where possible, as...
"...Christians must view children as central to the marital union..." (Page 26-27 [Montgomery])
However, Montgomery goes on to say...
"And since natural birth precedes spiritual birth, as creation precedes redemption, so the Christian home can be the greatest single agency for nature in the two-fold sense...The burden of proof, rests then, on the couple who wish to restrict the size of their family; to the extent possible and desirable, all Christian couples should seek "to bring many sons to glory".
"After all, as C. G. Darwin*2 pointed out...those who restrict their birth rate will ultimately be engulfed by those who do not...The Christian application of this principle is obvious..." (Page 24-25).
That sounds a bit like an oxymoron but here's what the guardian.com says on global-development...
"Continued population growth until 2050 is almost inevitable, even if the decline of fertility accelerates," says the report, World Populations Prospects: the 2015 revision.
Christians, our work is cut out for us. The message of Jesus has to reach all the billions of the world, whether you go yourself or send your children or adopt some to teach the message of God's love.
Seek God in regards to your own birth control/rate and even in contemplating adoption of some of the world's orphans and unwanted children. What is He asking you to do?
~ERC September 2018~
Note:
1. I do not always agree with John Piper but he's okay in this regard.
2. Also...although Darwin is mentioned in this blog, I do not, I repeat, DO NOT, condone his theories of evolution as far as the origin of mankind.
"Just a touch!" ... "Did you hear? Just a touch!"
One can just imagine this great news travelling like wild fire, by word of mouth advertising, among the teeming masses of humanity in Jesus' time on earth.
They had heard that "just a touch" on the fringe of Jesus' garment was enough to heal a person. They implored Him to allow it. You can read about that divine phenomenon in Matthew 14:34-35.
Jesus' compassion for them compelled Him to grant permission.
"And as many as touched it were made well" (Matthew 14:34-35).
What wonderful 'God is with us' moments, they had!!
It reminds me of the song penned by Gloria Gaither...
"God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He bled and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives"
The timid lady of great faith, slipped through the maze of jostling multitudes to claim her healing by "just a touch". She wouldn't bother Jesus. Slip in, touch, slip out. "Just a touch!" sweet music to her being. Sure enough, she was healed, in an instant! Her endless years of misery over! (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-35; Luke 8:43-48).
Yet, Jesus knew it! So many in the crowds were healed. So many of the crowds bumping into Him. Why would Jesus single out this one courageous woman and halt her in her get-away tracks?
She had had a desperate need and she knew it, loudly and clearly! Besides her physical ailment which may well have caused her anemia, was the fact that a woman with an issue of blood was "unclean". She would have had little to no social interaction and therefore felt the shame and loneliness of such stigma.
Jesus restored her health. Healed her ailments. 'Healed' her disgrace. Acknowledged her faith publicly. All that and more with "just a touch". What a merciful, compassionate Savior!
He is here for us too in our day. He is our all encompassing Lord and Savior. It is with "just a touch", so to speak, that we too can have great and deep cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed for us on the cross and which washes away our sins.
"The blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
All of us, as we gather together on Lord's Day to remember Jesus's death and resurrection by passing the emblems of the bread and cup of wine should ponder upon what He has done for us. Think about how much He has done for you! Remember your moment in time in which you "touched" Jesus and He touched you with His love and salvation. What a mighty touch!!
~ERC September 2018~
Marriage...even this sacred institution has been dragged through the dirt, become cloudy and murky and even irrelevant to many in today's world. What was once a uniting between a man and a woman "until death do them part" has become a common garden variety of mixes and so-called matches and that for as long as the spouses are "compatible" with no "irreconcilable differences". Certainly not up to God's original standard.
In a Buddhist setting, so says Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda in his book What Buddhists Believe (Page 306),
"It is wise and advisable to be faithful to one spouse and not to be sensual and to run after other partners."
When the couple is living according to Buddha's Dharma, there should be no need of separation or divorce. However, Sri Dhammananda asserts that separation and/or divorce are not prohibited and are...
"...preferable to living a miserable family life for a long period of time for both partners and innocent children" (Page 307).
Sri Dhammananda adds...
"The institution of marriage provides a fine basis for the development of culture, a delightful association of two individuals to be nurtured, and to be free from loneliness, deprivation and fear. In marriage, each partner develops a complementary role, giving strength and moral courage to one another, each manifesting a supportive and appreciative recognition of the others' skills. There must be no thought of either man or woman being superior; each is complementary to the other, in a partnership of equality, exuding gentleness, self-control, respect, generosity, calm and dedication" (Page 307-308).
Very well put. Reread it. Reread it especially if you are married. Reread it especially if you are contemplating marriage.
If you are married, pinpoint the areas that need attention. Attend to them.
If you are contemplating marriage examine your idea and beliefs in those areas mentioned. How is your understanding along those lines?
Do you think, I mean, really, really, think you have attained any of those aspects? Do you really think you can move towards those areas of complementing your 'to-be' husband or wife? If not, what will you do about it? Still rush in? Or reassess? Marriage is for a lifetime!
Let me inter-postulate here that for followers of Jesus Christ, marriage is until Jesus comes, or indeed until death do you part.
God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16).
Separation only if wife (or husband) and children are in danger from the other spouse.
Are you prepared to persevere until the end? To get right with God and with each other? By God's grace, you can. But can you with the person you are already contemplating on marrying? Think carefully. Assess and bring to God in prayer. See what HIS interests are for you. Don't persist in your own.
If that man or woman you contemplate marrying does not belong to Christ, but you do, then that is expressly against God's will.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)
Yes, he or she may be the sweetest, dearest person who wouldn't hurt a flea but when the rubber hits the road the individual's mindset comes from different perspectives. One would end up pulling from one direction and the other may compromise but would tend to pull according to God's way and very well may be the opposite direction.
Conflict. Yes there are so many issues in a marriage but this is a primal, foundational premise. From what ethos will you base your responses and conclusions? Will they be God-honoring? Or spouse pleasing? Or self-pleasing?
God did allow Moses of the Bible's Old Testament, to write a "bill of divorce" for the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 24; Mark 10:4-5). This was allowed due to the "hardness of the heart" of the one (s) wanting the divorce (Matthew 10:8).
Do you want a hard heart? May we be 'soft' before God. Forgiving. Not weak but meek. Submitting to God and then to each other.
Yes, it can be really tough at times. These are the times of challenge if you can get through then that "complementary role" will develop, deepen and sustain.
Truly see each other as equals!
Yet, for the Christian, the husband is to remember that the wife is the "weaker vessel" and he must not be harsh but show proper love. More on this subject was seen in Burning Quest - Part 36, Status of Women. Have a look. He must show love in action and she respect him and and yes, submit to him on top of the two submitting to each other (Ephesians 5:21, 33).
The root of the idea of marriage is essentially different between the Buddhist and the Christian concept.
The Buddhist views marriage as...
"...a social convention, an institution created by human beings, [emphasis mine] for their well-being and happiness...to maintain order and harmony in the process of procreation." (Page 305).
I want to highlight, "created by human beings". That is very much in contrast to "God instituted marriage". In Genesis we read God made Eve and gave her to Adam, Whom He had already created (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:19-25).
God created marriage. Jesus blessed a wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11).
As Buddhists, according to Sri Dhammananda, do not believe in God nor creation, then someone had to get the ball rolling; thus giving the credit to human beings for the institution of marriage for procreation. God brought Adam and Eve together, then told them to...
"...be fruitful and multiply" ( Genesis 1:28),
...which was something they did obey (Genesis 4:12).
It was noted by Sri Dhammananda that monks usually don't marry, not because it is forbidden, rather so they may concentrate on their attaining Nirvana without distraction and to help fellow human beings along the way in life (Page 306).
The apostle Paul said similar, not about monks or nuns, but about those who wish to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and spread His message of love and salvation, and to build others up in their most holy faith. This would allow a concentrated effort without having to think of how one needs to please his/her wife/husband and children. Paul didn't mean it to be all exclusive or forbidden, he did not forbid anyone to marry. Just easier to serve, if one had not 'tied the knot' (1 Corinthians 7).
He calls the relationship between a husband and wife a "profound mystery" (Ephesians 5:22-23). He says it reflects as to what the relationship of Christ with the church should be.
Paul also expressly remarked about those who forbid marriage (1 Timothy 4:1-5)...
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer."
We can be thankful for marriage which is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
Paul himself never married but he, directed by the Holy Spirit of God, never forbade it.
We know that the apostle Peter was a married man as there is indication his wife went with him on his mission work (1 Corinthians 9:5). She must have been a very supportive help-meet and an amazing woman of worth!
I want to interject here that in all my writings and comparisons of Buddhism with Christianity (followers of Jesus Christ) that I in no way mean to offend anyone. My hope and prayer is that any who read these words will be able to see the comparisons as well and be led to salvation through Jesus Christ.
There is a quotation that was sent to me by a friend and of which I do not know who the author is. It says,
"Salvation is a gift to be received, not a goal to be achieved."
That sums up the salvation question very adroitly, I believe. Humbly I pray and hope all can see this truth of God and also of the matter of the God-instituted institution of marriage.
May God bless you and your marriage!
~ERC September 2018~
"When religion is used to pander to political whims, it has to forego its high moral ideals and become debased by worldly political demands. It is in these circumstances that religion was used to justify wars and conquests, persecutions, atrocities, rebellions, destruction of works of art and culture."
So writes Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda in his book What Buddhists Believe (Page 295).
There is truth to those statements. When dogma of a religion is legalistically enforced, bad things happen and have happened. History repeated this scenario many times over. There were certainly horrendous wars such as the Crusades where people supposedly fought in the name of God. These eventually became free-for-all's to murder and loot at will what was actually perpetrated in the name of greed. Definitely NOT of God!
Followers of Jesus Christ have to remember that life in God's family is not about religiously following a set of rules; it is a relationship. It's a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When we live for Him out of love and gratitude, there will be peace in our hearts and minds spawning peaceful actions.
Any fighting done should not be...
"...against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12 ESV).
Before any misunderstanding raises it's head, by "rulers and authorities" mentioned here, I'm referring to the spiritual forces; there is hierarchy.
This fight requires the armor of God. Ephesians 6:14-20 marks out those pieces of armor for us:
"the belt of truth...the breastplate of righteousness...the shoes of the readiness ...of the gospel of peace...the shield of faith,...the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit...praying at all times in the Spirit..."
Satan, together with his minions, is ever the adversary of God, Jesus, and all His followers. Satan is ever ready to stir up trouble. Thus, Christians need to be ever ready to counter and resist the "fiery darts" of that evil one.
Let's step back to the literal political arena. Of course it is good to have high moral standards. God delineated the Ten Commandments and many rules and regulations for the children of Israel in the early ancient civilizations. At the dawn of the escape from Egypt, the children of Israel headed for the promised land; God's ideal for them.
They duly governed themselves by these, at least they were supposed to. When they did, it went well for them. When they didn't, it didn't. God gave them these holistic ways of conduct to bring the whole nation good success and health but mostly God wanted them to trust and rely on Him, to be God-conscious and to have a utopic relationship with Him. They blew it time and time again.
This is kind of the idea of church and state combined. If they had adhered to it, all would have been peace and harmony in the nation.
It can be seen in the New Testament how the Pharisees and teachers of the law demanded so much of the people. It had become legalistic and political and they bound "heavy and grievous burdens to be borne" upon the people (Matthew 23:4-5). If the people didn't mind their P's & Q's they got into trouble.
Jesus had so much to say to these religious leaders about these things (read the book of John). They didn't take it so well and it culminated in Jesus being hung on the cross.
Sri Dhammananda says on Page 296 of his book that...
"The Buddha Dharma is not directed at the creation of new political institutions and establishing political arrangements..."
It is directed at...
"...people who will have to look within their own minds and work towards freeing themselves from the chains of ignorance and craving. Freedom in the truest sense is only possible when a person uses the Dharma to develop character through good speech and action and to train the mind so as to expand the mental potential and achieve the ultimate aim of enlightenment" (Pages 296-297).
Yes, Jesus didn't come to overthrow the government of His time. However, He did mean to overthrow the hearts and minds of humanity. He did stir many up and His death and resurrection gave birth to these new hearts and renewal of minds.
When one and all would live for Jesus in all godliness and honesty, their very lives will be transformed through the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. They are not being coerced into this way of life at all by any political and/or religious agenda.
If all people lived this way, society would also be transformed for the better of itself. Nevertheless there will never be perfect perfection of governance nor society til Jesus takes His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords. I look forward to that day.
Sri Dhammananda did say that Buddha did encourage...
"...equality of all human beings...classes and castes are artificial barriers erected by society...the spirit of social co-operation and active participation in society; since no successor to Buddha, the members of the order were guided by the Dharma...or the Righteous Rule of Law...and the spirit of consultation and the democratic process...when a serious matter of concern demanded attention the issues were put to the monks and discussed in a similar manner to the democratic parliamentary system used today" (Page 297).
These were used to govern themselves and if most individuals were so doing, then society would be moral and responsible collectively.
Generally speaking, Buddhists are not encouraged to be involved in politics.
"The doctrine preached by the Buddha is not one based on 'Political Philosophy'. Nor is it a doctrine that encourages people to incline towards worldly interests. It sets out a way to attain Nirvana" (Page 303).
On the other hand, Sri Dhammananda does go on to say on Page 303...
"...if Buddhists wish to be involved in politics, they should not misuse religion to gain political powers, nor is it advisable for those who have renounced the worldly life in order to lead a pure, religious life to be actively involved in politics" (Page 304).
Basically, then, for the Buddhist, it's best not to be involved in politics. Instead they should stick to the business of improving themselves and learning to deny their cravings with the goal of Nirvana and Buddha-hood as their focus. However, should they get politically active, they need to keep in mind: peace, harmony, good thoughts activating good actions for the good of one and all, and not using their beliefs and political power to force others into their Buddhist way of life.
For Christians, this is often bitterly disputed; the pros and cons of being active, or not, in politics. Many people believe politicians to be a bunch of crooks and therefore, not a place for a believer in Jesus Christ to interact and stay "clean".
It certainly would be a tough call but if a follower of Jesus Christ of Nazareth feels God calling him or her to a political position, I don't believe the rest of God's children should criticize the individual. He or she may well have God-given mission complete with wisdom, gifts, talents and skills for the task. The rest of us should uphold them with much prayer support that they would stay true to God and His will and ways through the political maze.
As Queen Esther of the Bible was brought to her position for "such a time as this" (Esther 4:14), anyone of God's people could also exercise leadership within a God-honoring modus-operandi when living in submission to God and His Word in a dog-eat-dog political world.
Of course, the Christian's perspective will be Biblical and therefore the governance will be intrinsically, what some would label, "church." Resistant outcry may well be against not separating state and church. Regardless of how one looks at that, the real trouble comes, as the opening quotation expostulates, when the religious views of those in "state" authority positions, are used to justify religious-based wars, conquests, and persecutions, etc.
May we each pledge to pray for those believers working in politics that they will be granted much wisdom to govern justly and for those in authority who do not belong to Christ to also govern well. Ask God to keep the ones with political power from using religion to exploit or persecute or negatively effect anyone. This we know,
"...there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God..." (Romans 13:2 ESV).
May all uphold high moral standards so all may live,
"...a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty" (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV).
Pray for those in authority in whichever country you are living. They need it.
~ERC September 2018~
You just have to stand back in amazement and admire the younger generation. They can, click, click; tap, tap through the social media maze with a flick of a finger and in a blink of an eye. We older ones are left in the cyber dust, often bewildered and wondering what just happened.
"Ah-h, can you show me that again, please, son; this time in slow motion..."
The self-confidence they exhibit because "they've looked it up" or "read it on the internet" is almost cocky. Case in point, son going off to university...he's got bags and sport's gear piled up by the front door.
"Ah, son, that looks like too much. You'll have to pay extra for baggage."
"No," replies the self-assured lad, "it says, blah, blah, blah, on the airline's website and I come within those conditions."
"OK then, if you're sure," came the uncertain parental rebuttal.
Travel back in time to your parents' and even grand and great-grandparents' eras. Think of the phenomenal technological changes and advancements that barreled through their times.
Advancements such as: steam engines and motorcars; airplanes actually getting off the ground and staying up, for the most part til they are guided down in a sane man-controlled manner; television; computers that filled whole rooms, sized down to laptops and tablets; and the latest, as far as I know...the cell phone.
What a whirlwind of perplexing modernity. And that's only one facet of it all.
It's not because our forefathers (or ourselves) were/are bungling idiots as we may feel when we see our progeny in operation. NO! The ancestors were the ones to propel all this into reality. Visions and missions of the past are the "reactionary catalysts" of the present and future.
In fact, those revolutions of yesteryears have propelled and empowered this generation into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Ironic then, that we, the older generation are scrambling to keep up.
Yes, all these vast changes have had folks spinning and on their toes straining to keep up with the technological clouds that are difficult to pin down. However, I suppose, we ain't seen nothin' yet!
In the midst of these generational cyclones, its wonderful to know there is Someone who never changes and never needs updating, and therefore on whom we can rely.
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 KJV).
When we belong to Jesus we can make Him our anchor of stability. We have this privilege because of the salvation we have gained through Him It is part of the salvation blessing.
Let us thank Him and praise Him as we meditate upon and remember Jesus Christ's death and resurrection on Lord's Day as we break bread and drink of the cup of wine together.
Father, God, thank-You for being ever with us. All down throughout the ages of time You have been there. You are here with us today and we confidently trust, for all our tomorrows. You are the ever faithful One, steady and reliable and true.
Thank-You.
In Jesus Name we give You thanks.
~ERC September 2018~
Some lovely old pieces to listen to:
Rock of Ages
Will Your Anchor Hold?
Oh boy, here we go again! Hot topic...status of women...
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, who wrote What Buddhists Believe, declares that...
"The Buddha was the first religious teacher who gave religious freedom to women" (Page 293)
Women have the religious freedom to fully...
"...participate in a religious life."
Although Sri Dhammananda said women are equal to men in Buddhism, he taught that it was not necessarily practiced. Wikipedia says that one Bernard Faure said,
"ancient and medieval Buddhist texts and traditions, like other religions, were almost always unfavorable or discriminatory against women, in terms of their ability to pursue the noble Eightfold Path, attain Buddha-hood and Nirvana. They would have to be rebirthed into a man before they could..."
God always has wanted to connect with His human beings whom He created, and He included both the men and the women. I will not deny, however, that women often got put aside, thinking their intelligence (or lack thereof) wouldn't be able to cope with "man's world," and that, yes, their position was, most definitely, in the kitchen.
Adam and Eve were given equal opportunity to commune daily with God in the Garden of Eden. God often told Moses to call the men, women and children to collective assemblies, so we read in the Old Testament of the Bible, to hear what He wanted to tell them (Deuteronomy 31:12; Nehemiah 8:2).
Since ancient days there have been 'honorary' women. Moses sister Miriam played a pivotal role in keeping him alive (Exodus 2:1-10). She was also a leader among the women of Israel and even led them in song (Exodus 15:20-21 NIV). This upon the whole multitude of the Israelite's successful escape from Egypt, and Pharoah and his soldiers. Those Bible verses term her, "a prophetess".
There was Deborah whom we read was also a prophetess who even joined the men in a battle (Judges 4 & 5) and Huldah who was another prophetess (2 Kings 22:13-20 & 2 Chronicles 34:22-28).
A lethal tent wife (as opposed to housewife) was Jael who stepped out of her "kitchen" to sweet talk an exhausted, enemy army commander into coming into her tent and falling asleep. That was a fatal move for Commander Sisera as Jael gruesomely took a tent peg and hammered it into his temple, effectively killing him while he slept (Judges 4:17-22).
Other examples of women of influence were Ruth and Esther (see the respective books of the Bible of the same names). What about the woman who was above rubies in worth (Proverbs 31). What a woman she was!! She was an amazing person. Her greatest outstanding characteristic, however, was that...
"...She feared God" (Proverbs 31:30).
Every single last woman of God can attain to this too. Every woman in the world has this potential. So do the men. Proverbs 31 was a mother's advice and wisdom given to her son. He was to hopefully be guided by that in finding a woman of noble character to be his wife. If he was to look for such a one, then he himself would have had to be equally noble to desire such a help meet for life.
These were godly women. They could fully engage in a relationship with God whether they were in the kitchen or not. If this is what Sri Dhammananda is alluding to as far as Buddha allowing women opportunity to fully engage in religious life freely, God was actually ahead of him in such initiative.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead for all people no matter their gender. Since He did that, than that is saying God and Jesus give full sway to one and all to have full communion and full relationship with Him once they become His child. The only hindrance to this is in the human party in this equation. A person can have as much or as little of God as they wish. He stands steady and faithful, ready to hear from us.
We have learned in previous Burning Quest entries that the Buddhist engages on his or her path to enlightenment under his or her own steam. Any advancements are their own effort. They use their minds and control their desires, thoughts and actions making them as good as possible. This is their religious task in which they can have full freedom to participate, whether male or female. Furthermore, should either a man or a woman wish to, either may become a monk or a nun, respectively, and join the Sangha. There seem to be no restrictions.
Followers of Jesus Christ may serve their Savior; whether male or female. The Bible does say that women are "the weaker vessel" (1 Peter 3:7) BUT it does not say she is an inferior being. It is other human beings that squelch others.
The Bible also says that the husband is the head of the wife, but this still does not mean he is the superior person. NO. It is a role, God-given, at that. The general principle throughout the Bible is that the role of spiritual leadership belongs to the male, but we also read of women such as Priscilla (Acts 18:2, 16; Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19), Aquila's wife, who was very active in God's service. There are Phebe, Tryphena and Tryphosa (Romans 16); Anna (Luke 2:36-38); all devotedly serving the Lord out of gratitude and love for Him.
Even to this day a majority of mission or church workers are female. Notable ones such as Amy Carmichael who went to India; Gladys Aylward who went to China; Ann Judson who served with her husband Adoniram in Burma; Corrie ten Boom who helped heal Europe after WWII with her message of God's forgiveness; Darlene Deibler Rose, missionary to Papua, who survived a Japanese prisoner of war camp in New Guinea during WWII; Isobel Kuhn who served with her husband in China and then to the Lisu of Burma; Anne Graham Loetz, speaker and writer; Beth Moore, writer of in-depth Christian study guides; and many more. They have, and have had full freedom in Christ to serve Him through serving others.
Yet godly order in regards to the protective chain of authority and spiritual leadership is seen throughout Scripture, to be the man's responsibility. This, not because the male is superior to the female, but because it's God's order; His covering and blessing for His people:
God>husband>wife>children.
Yes, Women have had and still have hurdles to overcome. However, for the godly woman it is good and necessary to see and understand the role that God has given to her. Search the Scriptures to see His views on the matter.
~ERC September 2018~
Should you wish to pursue this subject further please read the following:
Dare We Question Authority?
Dad's Daily Devotional Duty
Sarahs' Daughters
