Burning Quest - Part 3

Here is a summary of sorts of Buddhism and how it has trickled down to what it is today.

At the time of Gautama Buddha's teachings there had not been an organized system of Buddhist religion (pages 75-77 of What Buddhists Believe by Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda).  As these ideas grew and were taken on by others and dispersed out to other cultures (from India outwards), those cultures gave the Buddhists' teachings their respective cultural tweak.

Because of that, although there are the basic characteristics of the original teachings, much has deviated therefrom and many other practices have 'adulterated' the original.  Instead of practicing the pure original teaching:  

"self-discipline, self-restraint, cultivation of morality and spiritual development...attention and effort were put into protection from evil spirits...black magic...sickness...the human intelligence...and has...polluted the sublime teaching of the Buddha" (page 76).

As Steve Cioccolanti, Thai author of From Buddha to Jesus remarks, Gautama Buddha's words were not written down until years  later (possibly 300 yrs later).  They were then written on palm leaves which eventually disintegrated, so much was lost.  Through ensuing years there have been symposiums where leading Buddhists gathered to document a more organized collection of those teachings.  Later versions thereof did lose major portions of the more original versions.  If I remember correctly, one of those more original versions is kept by Cambodians (it's been a while since reading this book so that precise detail many be debatable).

Sri Dhammananda says...

"...one must go back and study and investigate the original teachings"(page 77)

Originally they were passed down orally and memorized and some even feel that it is the spirit of the words and not the text that needs preserving yet having things written down can solidify the teachings and help others read and learn of the teachings.

As followers of Jesus Christ who read God's Word the Bible, we learn from the sixty-six books within the one Good Book.  The teachings of Jesus Christ and all He did while walking the earth in His human form were recorded faithfully by His servants, who were eyewitnesses, as they were taught by the Holy Spirit of God.  Some say that as early as twelve years after Jesus ascended back to Heaven that some of the Gospels were written and that definitely before 70 AD.  There would have been those still living who could verify what was written; in so doing the accuracy of the words, works and events were preserved.

The Tripitaka is one of the Buddhist's sacred texts which comes in three sections (or baskets):  Disciple (Vinaya Pitaka) showing how to live ones life among the Sangha delineating major and minor offenses; Discourse (Sutra Pitaka) which are mostly by Buddha but from others as well; Absolute Doctrine (Abhidarma Pitaka) which gives...

 "the analytical doctrine of mental faculties and elements containing moral and psychology and philosophy of Buddha's teaching as opposed to his moral discourses" (page 84-85; 89).

There are two main schools of Buddhist thought:  Theravada (established in Sri Lanka about the 3rd century BC) and Mahayana.  These schools have some differences but do have areas of agreement.  Some of those areas of agreement are the Four Noble Truths; The Eight-Fold Path; they reject the idea of a supreme being who created and governed this world; they accept the karma taught by Gautama Buddha; reject the belief in the eternal soul; accept rebirth after death; and that Nirvana is the final goal or salvation; among others (pages 77-79).

Theravada Buddhism is seen mostly in Sri Lanka, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thailand and "customized" to the respective locale while China, Japan and Korea have greater leanings towards Mahayana Buddhism.

There is a third major sect of Buddhism, incidentally many Westerners are attracted to this, called Vajrayana *1 which is practiced in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan and Nepal.  This is the "most mystical and esoteric of the schools" *2  You've heard of the Dalai Lama?  This is where he hails from.

Interestingly, according to Sri Dhammananda,

 "there have been no wars of one school against another"! (page 81). 

 At least not with guns or weapons; perhaps with the tongue?  Verbal war?

The book What Do Buddhists Believe, written by Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, explains mostly the Theravada persuasion as seen in the country of Malaysia, from whence Sri Dhammananda hails.  From this book, as well as from internet articles, come my gleanings and perspectives.  I know full well, I'm just scratching the surfaces of knowledge regarding Buddhism in general but as said before, this is my quest to have some idea of this religion and compare with those of the followers of Jesus Christ.  There may be times I need to stand to be corrected, and I apologize for any misinformation.  What gets written in this Burning Quest series is meant for general knowledge and hopefully kindle a quest of your own in seeking God's truth.

The major area which an individual needs to address is the mind, so says Sri Dhammananda and that according to Gautama Buddha.  He asks the question in regards to mind and matter on page 95 of his book...

"What is mind?  No matter.  What is matter?  Never mind."

The physical body refers to 'matter' while the mental forces refer to the 'mind'.  He goes on to say on page 96...

"...the greatest scientists have accepted that mind precedes matter in order for life to originate.  In Buddhism, this concept is called 'relinking consciousness'."

I'm not going to elaborate on that, except to say that it was God who created us human beings; that is 'matter'.  THEN He breathed into man and made him a living being (Genesis 2:7).  So matter came first in that sense.  However the mind of God was there before any of creation came into being; God's is the greatest mind ever and so the greatest scientists, made by God, are correct in that order.  Just mind that now.

God's mind is a marvel.  Here's some verses about God's mind from Isaiah 55:8-9...

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

For more Bible verses about God's mind, click on the link. 

As we move forward throughout this Burning Quest series take note that much of Buddhist teachings will be about the mind while God's Word directs us to the heart as well as the mind.  As we move along, note that the Buddhist does not believe that God exists; note also that it will be assumed that from God's Word's standpoint, God is.  Followers of Jesus Christ firmly believe that God exists and that He is.

                                                      ~ERC  2018~

References:  Please click on link to see respective reference.

*1.  Vajrayana Buddhism
*2.  Mystical & Esoteric

The page numbers seen in parentheses are from the book What Buddhists Believe by author Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda.   For other references please click on the links provided.

Burning Quest - Part 2

In some ways Gautama Buddha had his heart in the right place.  He wanted to show others "the correct Path"; so said Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda in his book What Buddhists Believe (page 21).  Sri Dhammananda goes on to say that Gautama Buddha had "love for the suffering multitudes".

By comparison, writes Sri Dhammananda, other "philosophers and great thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, lacked that love." (page 21).  In another part of the world about that time, in China, roamed the ancient sage Confucius.  He too gave the masses a way of life to live honorably, and to honor the Heavenly Ruler (Shang Di).  I don't recall reading anything about love but there was a deep concern that others would live according to his teachings and in which another wise guy, Mencius, wrote those teachings down as accurately and meticulously as possible for posterity.  Confucius wanted subsequent generations to live in a correct way.  (Reference book God and the Ancient Chinese by Samuel Wang and Ethel R. Nelson)

A major difference between Confucius' teachings and Gautama Buddha's was that belief in a Supreme Being.  Most unfortunately neither man had opportunity to have met Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ was born about 500-600 years after these gentlemen.  He is the Supreme Being and Heavenly Ruler as well as the loving Savior Redeemer He came to Earth to be.

Back to Gautama Buddha.  He then never learned of God's grace.  God's grace out-poured upon humankind through His Son Jesus Christ's death and resurrection securing salvation for one and all.  It is still an age of grace and God's offer is still being held out to one and all who will put their faith and trust in Him. 

The first hurdle in this for the Buddhist, then, would be to even accept the fact that there is a Supreme Being.  Second, that He loves them and wants to help them.  Third hurdle,  that they can rely on Him; a Person outside of themselves.  Fourth, that He came to offer them salvation and righteousness and that they do not have to earn it themselves.

Jesus came...

"...that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 KJV).

And now we come to a strange sort of thing.  One of Gautama Buddha's concerns was to eradicate suffering.  According to Sri Dhammananda, he wanted to ...

"...show the world how to get rid of suffering and disease, decay, and death and all the worries and miseries of living beings." (page 20).

Isn't that a good thing?  Yes!  Why else would we have doctors and nurses and the whole medical profession in operation?  They're supposed to help one and all get better and to alleviate mankinds' physical, mental, emotional ills.  There are social workers helping other types of distress and miseries.  They alleviate but often don't eradicate.

Is it possible to eradicate?  Buddha felt so with his way of life.  He taught others those ways yet still 2500 years later there is still much suffering.  Buddha's aim was for the individual to work on their own personal behavior to make it better for themselves but also to encourage others along that path too.  The better the behavior, initially generated by governing the mind (will read more about this in subsequent entries), the lesser one would suffer.  It is an ongoing battle but one Gautama Buddha felt could be attained if one worked at it long and hard enough.

Then onto life's stage comes Jesus.  Jesus took upon Himself all that suffering of all people, the consequences of The Fall of man:  all the sin and bad behavior. 

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).

Jesus took it all to buy our pardon; that all might have life and that abundantly.  This is such a positive note for mankind.

Jesus suffered.  The suffering did others good.  That's a strange thing.  Another strange thing is, that when a person accepts God's gift of salvation, we are told to expect suffering.  Expect suffering, not the eradication thereof!?

Our Master Jesus suffered, not for His own wrong deeds (He had NONE-He is perfect), but for ours.  If our Leader suffered, so will His followers (John 15:18).

That is, the suffering of persecution.  There is the suffering of sickness and other trials and tribulations.  "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." (Romans 12:14).  If a follower of Jesus Christ can do that, they show out God's grace to others as Jesus did to mankind.  He too had compassion on the multitudes.  Look what Matthew 9:36 NIV says about how Jesus felt...

"When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed, and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

The followers of Jesus Christ have some responsibility to have compassion too and are directed, even, to ask for it as James 5:14 says...

"Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord."

But there is another aspect about suffering, not to go looking for it, but embracing it should it come to you.  Isn't that strange?

James chapter 2:2-12 talks about trials and temptations that they are a testing of one's faith.  That sets off a chain reaction of good things:  perseverance; maturity, completeness.  A person won't lack anything.

Here's something else from 1 Peter 4:1...

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin..."

It seems suffering can "burn off" the sin, like dross from a silversmith's work.  Proverbs 25:4 remarks...

"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel."

God, the Heavenly Silversmith, produces 'vessels' out of His children through the suffering.  Look what else suffering can teach:  patience (James 5:7)-the dross in this case could be impatience; to "stand firm" (James 5:8)-dross of wishy washiness; self-control; holiness, obedience to God and His ways (1 Peter 1:13-15); and living in harmony and love with the brothers in Christ; and riddance of malice and slander and grumbling (1 Peter 3:8-11; 4:9).  The list could go on...

These can accomplish what is needful in our life.  Please find this link Morning Musings - Suffering Helps to see more.

This is radical thinking to be sure.  You'll find throughout this Burning Quest series, that Gautama Buddha aimed for perfection in the mind's thinking en route to Nirvana (achieving ceasing of suffering).  That is his salvation.

In Jesus Christ there is justification.  The making of a person to be righteous in God's eyes.  Yet there is another side to the coin.  That is progressive sanctification, that aiming for perfection by living according to the teachings found in God's Word; that is often attained through suffering, not the eradication thereof.  Strange, but true.

It is time to discuss a suffering that is not necessary.  Life brings people much suffering through the bad deeds others perpetrate upon their victims.  The victims suffer.  That is real and not their fault when someone else sexually, physically, emotional &/or spiritually abuses them.  Those evil things are totally devastating.  I will not minimize that one iota!!

As the years go by a victim may well have great difficulty forgiving the perpetrator especially if the abuse had been an ongoing daily nightmare.  A great accumulation of wrongs against them, stored in a person's inmost being.  This is very understandable.

Deep in that inner being a harmed person often ends up with suppressed anger and unforgiveness.  As the years go by that can fester into bitterness and hate.  Holding all that may well one day manifest in the form of varying diseases.  Thus victimized again.

Yet there is hope.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 (NIV)...

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

And more hope.  Look what 1 Peter 5:7 says...

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

Someone with ages and ages worth of grief from abuse or even from other wrongs done to a person over the years (false accusations; bullying) can bring all the whole kit and caboodle to Jesus.  Give it all to Him.  He cares for you.  Find rest.

An extension to that is to release the anger, the bitterness and the unforgiveness to Him too.  All those pent up emotions given to Him.  And as the layers of emotion are released and released, maybe not in one day but over time will be sweet release.  Another layer would be to forgive the perpetrator.  Yes.  For fuller, more complete healing, forgiveness to the one (s) who've injured you is imperative.   This won't allow the perpetrator off the hook.  He/She will still have to be responsible for his/her own actions.  Yet, you, the victim, will be set free; free from the suffering of the soul and spirit that need not be.

There is one author by the name of Henry W. Wright who wrote Be In Health.  Wright writes that many health issues stem from spiritual issues such as unforgiveness.  God's Word also asks us to forgive and  "to rid yourselves of every root of bitterness" (Ephesians 4:31).  When we do so we "obtain the grace of God" (Hebrews 12:15); sweet release and replacement.  We would not want to fail to receive His grace.

God created us and knows well what will happen to our health if we don't forgive and relinquish the anger, hurt and bitterness to Him.  Let us keep NO record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5), multiply grace upon grace; in so doing we do what is right in God's eyes and lessen that type of suffering we do not need to endure.  

Strange, but true.

When followers of Jesus Christ get to Heaven, God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

"There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  (Revelation 21:4 NIV)

All those things will pass away.  We will live together, with Christ, suffer-free for all eternity.  

Praise the name of Jesus.

                                                       ~ERC  2018~

Burning Quest - Part 1

When you read the Bible, you'll see that Jesus has many names.  The names reflect the various aspects of who He is and of His character, His attributes.  Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

Yet, searching for the truth can certainly be a challenging pursuit.  There are times when two or more things may look or sound like the real things.  How does one discern that truth that does set a person free?

Speaking of the names of the Lord Jesus and comparing with some of the terms used for Gautama Buddha one would discover some very similar connotations.

Jesus is the Light of the world who gives us life (John 8:12)...

``When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, `I am the Light of the world, whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.`` (NIV)

Jesus can help us shed His light for us on such a quest.

From the book What Buddhists Believe written by Dr. K. Sri. Dhammananda we read,

"The Buddha was born to dispel the darkness of ignorance..."(page 20).

Sri. Dhammananda also claims that Buddha was...

"the most compassionate one who illuminated this world with loving-kindness." (page 20).

Again he refers to Gautama Buddha as...

``Lokavidu`-the knower of the world"(page 14).

We know that Jesus is God and it was God`s love and compassion that sent Him to the world on behalf of the human race.  We learn from God`s Word that Jesus is omniscient.  There are verses that read...

"For He knew who was betraying Him..." (John 13`11); "You know all things..." (spoken by others about Jesus-John 16:30); "Jesus perceived their malice..." (Matthew 22:18); "And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them..." (Matthew 12:25); and another, "But He knew what they were thinking..." (Luke 6:8).  

Yes, even at times even we human beings can guess what others are thinking but those are more guesses and assumptions.  Jesus KNEW all things.  His compassions fail not.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed; for His compassions never fail." (Lamentations 3:22 NIV)

So we have the Lord Jesus Christ and there is Gautama Buddha listed with similar virtues.  How can a person discern to whom to turn?

1 John 4:1 NIV, gives investigative advice...

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God..."

At this juncture with this idea of testing, please check out this link with the title Morning Musings-The Real Thing.

Other advice comes from Deuteronomy 18:22 (NIV)...

"If what a prophet claims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken..."

Throughout this Burning Quest series, I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you and draw you to God through Jesus Christ as you follow your own investigation on who is the light showing you the right path to life.

Dr. K. Sri. Dhammananda says that Buddha told of...

"the way by which one could conquer one's own world-...that the whole world was within us and it is led by the mind and that mind must be trained and cleansed properly..." (page 14)

Gautama Buddha's way is to live by the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path to Enlightenment.  Living according to these help one "conquer one's own world" and this is something to do for yourself; self-reliance.  Much of those "truths" are good; but are living them out, enough?

He gave out those teachings and it's up to the individual to take hold of for themselves.  Since then many people have chosen this way.

Jesus tells us that He is "The Way" (John 14:6).  He left His Father's (God), Home in Heaven to come to Earth to be The Way.  He came to be the Conqueror.  To get the victory over sin, death and Hell and to earn salvation for all who have faith to accept this gift.  He came because He desires us to rely on Him.  To rely on Him for salvation.  To rely on Him to conquer the thoughts in our minds; to train them to do what's right and good; to give us the new heart and the Holy Spirit to empower us to get the victory over ourselves in day to day living.  With life in Christ this is possible.

The burden of the challenge is not solely upon the individual.  Jesus walks with us in our struggles.  We walk in tandem with Him.  He will...

"Never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).

"The Lord our God" (who can be your God) "will walk with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

Gautama Buddha became a well-known figure in his day and down throughout the ages.  Jesus, too, created pivotal marks upon the world, then and now.  In our hearts and minds let's allow Jesus to be preeminent (Colossians 1:18).  In Jesus Christ the Savior of the world we can have salvation that brings everlasting life.  We aim for perfection because of Jesus who was born perfect; lived a perfect life; died and rose again to make the perfect way, to be The Perfect Way to relationship with God our Heavenly Father.

While reading various articles from the internet it would seem that many have made a god out of Gautama Buddha.  However, according to Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, Buddha...

"never agreed to be regarded as a god or a reincarnation of a god..." (page 16).

Sri Dhammananda quotes Anguttara Nikaya, and I quote him where it is said that Gautama Buddha said...

"I am not a deva nor any other divine being; neither am I an ordinary human being...He belonged to...a special class of enlightened beings, all of who are Buddhas" (pages 16-17).

It can be deduced then, that one need not worship such, nor treat him as a god;  perhaps someone to venerate but not to worship.

Jesus Himself tells us He and God His Father are one.  John 10:30, 34-38 (NIV)...

"I and the Father are one..."

Jesus is fully man and fully God.  

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity (God) lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9 NIV/NLT).

Consider that.

Now consider this:

Either Jesus was who He said He was or He was a big liar.

If an individual believes that Jesus is who He said He is, then come to Him now and accept His salvation.  There will come a time when that choice is no longer viable.  I plead and pray with you so that you will do so before it is too late.  

See this from Romans 14:11...

"'As surely as I live', says the Lord, "every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will acknowledge God."

Jesus the Way is Truth and His Way is Truth.

Here is a hymn that comes to mind,

"Decide for Christ today,                                          
And God's salvation see;                                        
Yield soul and body, heart and will,                      
To Him who died for thee!  

Christ alone can save-Break the power of sin;Christ doth fully satisfy The heart that cleaves to Him." 

                                    

 We can then give praise and adoration and worship to Jesus Christ Who is God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the sea and all that are in them.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  He is..

"The Way and the Truth and the Life, No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus said  (John 14:6). 

His name is the name to know.  Jesus, blessed Redeemer.

                                                         ~ERC  2018~

NB.   
Please note the reason for this Burning Quest series by reading the Burning Quest Preface & Introductary.  TQ.

Burning Quest-Preface and Introductory

Preface:  IN this upcoming Burning Quest series you will see many points of comparison of Buddhism measured against God's Word, the Holy Bible.  I will not use the phrase, 'measured up to Christianity'.  Christianity, if you look at some pie charts of the world religions, encompasses those who claim to be Christian but often add to or take away from God's Word.  

Measuring up to God's Word are followers of Jesus Christ who, according to God's Word, have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and that not of themselves but as a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).  

Thus the preference to say, "followers of Jesus Christ" who live by the standard of God's Word.

Although many references for my discoveries come from various articles from the internet (links will be interspersed as reference made), this work is based largely on a book written by author Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, called What Buddhists Believe.  Page numbers given beside quotes will reflect this book.

You'll discover, as according to one pastor in his sermon some years ago,  that the major religions are superficially the same but fundamentally different to the message of Jesus.

I hope you'll stick with me over the many upcoming entries in this series and be able to see, know, and understand God's love, care, grace and sure hope of salvation.  I pray you too, will have that burning quest to recognize and accept for yourself just how you, an individual, can be saved through the suffering of Jesus Christ.  That's God's paradox for you.

Strange, but true.

                                                               ~erc~



And now begins Buddha and His Burning Quest...

There is the story of a chieftain's son who was sheltered from the outside world by said chieftain, the father.  This chieftain's son was given the handle "Siddhartha Gautama".  This Gautama is more well known, the world over, by the name, Buddha.

Gautama Buddha, a highly intelligent fellow, instituted a world pivotal philosophy by which to live.   He taught that it was a "Middle Path" that he walked on and encouraged one and all to tread it for themselves.

The story continues and is that Gautama was kept from seeing  life outside the home confines; what life was really like:  the old, the misery, the sick and diseased and death; kept from seeing suffering in general.  Some say his Dad also kept him from religious teachings of the times, I suppose to allow him to make up his own mind about spiritual issues.

Gautama was cooped up until about the age of 16, then that sheltered bubble burst (page 4 of What Buddhists Believe) as Gautama took forays into the outside world.  About the age of 29, he, after having been married at a younger age to his cousin Yasodhara who gave birth to their son Rahula, renounced all his luxurious living, and family, and struck out to find the answer to his burning question.  That question was, why did all the suffering and misery happen to mankind and how can one eradicate it.

Coming from great affluence in the home in which Gautama's family lived, he swung the pendulum way over to asceticism for his personal way of life but eventually swung back to a more moderate approach which, as you read above, got dubbed, "The Middle Path" (page 4).

It is said that at one point Gautama went and sat under a tree and declared he wouldn't get up until he got enlightened with the truth; that is, the answer to the question as to why suffering, and, to how to eradicate it.  He sat there until he got enlightened with his answer.  That is the point in time he became Buddha (the Sanskrit word meaning "enlightened" or know").

Up he got and is said to have had a 45 year ministry of teaching to any who would listen to his words of enlightenment.  From that time which was roughly 500-600 years before Jesus was born, until this present day in the year 2018, these teachings have persisted and give the adherents, of which there are about 500 million, their way of life (pages 2-11).

On this point of the number of adherents, I need to note that from a small pamphlet titled, One Billion Wait, put out by OMF International, they make that number even higher.  They say that...

"Today one billion people live in the shadow of Buddha..."

The following many blog entries of this Burning Quest will deal with his teachings as they compare to what God has to say in His.  This has been a quest of my own for many, many months, perhaps even for more than a year.  I'm not trying to earn a Ph.D or any such thing.  Just a seeking and a trying to understand another's beliefs and how they line up to what I believe, based on the Bible's teaching.

No offense is meant against any of the adherents of Buddhism or of any other religion.  The intention and prayer is that as an individual seeks truth and enlightenment, there will be an honest evaluation and comparison of the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I pray that one and all will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

                                               ~ERC  January 2018~

Sheep-ly

"Did you think of yourself more sheep-ly today?" asked a Crossway devotional I read today.

Good question.  God's Word tells us...

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way;..."  (Isaiah 53:6)

Followers of Jesus Christ could be compared to sheep.  In Bible times, and maybe even now in Middle Eastern culture, sheep followed a shepherd.  The shepherd kept  the  sheep safe from the dangers of wolves, lions, snakes and the like.  The shepherd found green pastures and still waters for his sheep.  The sheep knew their shepherd's voice.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."  John 20:27-28

Yet as sheep nibble grass, they do go astray.  If one sheep exits through a hole in the fence (western sheep herding), chances are many of the others will follow suit.

They need to stay close to the shepherd to be kept safe, and well-fed and watered, to survive.

Jesus is pictured as the Good Shepherd.  The apostle John writes Jesus' Words in John 10:11,

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

I'm thinking of that.  What a very good kind of shepherd to have.  Safety.  Security.  The sheep willing to follow such a shepherd is a good kind of "sheep-ly"; a following "sheep-ly", not a straying "sheep-ly".

I love my Good Shepherd Jesus.  I want to be  good and "sheep-ly".

"What type of "sheep-ly" are you?"  I ask sheepishly.

                                               ~ERC  December 2017~

Merry and Bright

Many religions of the world have a god, &/or a plethora of gods.  For example, First Nation people of Canada have their "Great Spirit" or "Transformers", one of whom was Glooscap of the Mi'kmaq; the people of the Islamic belief have Allah; the Hindus have Brahma, Sarswati, Vishnu, Shiva and many others; Judaism has several different names for their one God:  Adonai; El; Eloah; Shaddai and others while the followers of Jesus Christ, have God.   This shows that human beings believe that there is someone (or many someones) they feel they need to look up to.  There is someone in control.

The great King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV),

"He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart..."

The human spirit has a natural god-conscious 'setting' within them.

This is a huge difference compared to the Buddhist belief that an individual does not need a god or gods to help them.  In fact, there is no god, they say.  An individual can be in control of their self through training their mind to do what is right and good, and needs no help from anyone, especially not from a god outside of their self.

Of note, however, they meditate along a fine line.  The fine line meaning, to onlookers it may really seem  like they have Buddha as their god.  It is encouraged that the meditator sit in front of a statue or picture of Buddha, thinking of their Four Noble Truths and Eight-Fold Path of Enlightenment as to how they can be applied to their lives.  It is said that this is done to show respect to the man who gave them their way of life through his teachings. (pages 262-264 What Buddhists Believe by Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda)

They do not need a Supreme Being to save or help them.  They do believe in the existence, of 'Devas' (deities) with whom they can...

"share their merits or remember them whenever they do some meritorious deeds" (page 391 of What Buddhists Believe by author Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada).

By self-sufficiency one can earn one's own salvation and even share merits with deities.    One could say, they are their own god.

Please don't get me wrong here; I'm not holding anyone's belief in contempt.  My hope and prayer is that these thoughts will trigger some soul searching of your own, for your good and benefit, for a more excellent way.  It is that way in which we can bring the burden of our salvation and hope of righteousness to God and His Son Jesus Christ who has already taken upon Himself that burden.

So who or what are we to believe?

It is the Christmas season as I type.  The reason for the season, the coming of Jesus as a babe in a manger.  I believe in this one true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.  Buddhists declare they investigate in scientific ways.  Please do also.  Examine what all other gods do or do not do for the human race.  Are they 'giving' gods or 'taking' gods?

The Judeo-Christian God, who made heaven and earth, the sky and sea and all that in them are, the Almighty Creator God; He gives and gives and gives (Psalm 144:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6).  He is the ever faithful one.

Remember John 3:16...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son..." (emphasis mine)

He loved.  He gave.

There is a belief that if one can do enough good deeds, there will hopefully be enough merit to outweigh the bad deeds; that these equal enough merit to attain righteousness and salvation.  But how does one ever know when there is enough?

I introduce God who loves, who gives and who is righteous.  He is righteous!  Jesus came to 

"declare His righteousness for the remission of sins..." (Romans 3:25)

He came to 

"declare...His righteousness; that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).

Jesus was born into this world, righteous.  Thus He did not have to attain righteousness.  That is why He can be the "justifier" of every single last human being in the world:  past, present and future.  He came into the world with the purpose to die for the atonement of the sins of the human race (some want to call sin, bad or unwholesome deeds).  He died so we human beings could be justified and God could impute His righteousness to each and every human being who, of their own free will, will believe and accept this wonderful gift of God's love.  This gift God offers through Jesus death and resurrection.  What a mighty God He is!

He loves.  He gives.  He makes righteous.  Look at what 2 Corinthians 5:21 relates...

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Read Romans 4:6 (KJV)...

"Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works."

Take note of the remaining of the John 3:16 verse (NIV) for what else God gave along with righteousness...

"...that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life."

Isn't that amazing!  The believer will live for ever with eternal life and eternal God-given righteousness.  No one has to earn it or stock up merits in the hope that God will accept them.  He accepts each one as they are.

Oh person who believes in any other god or who only believes in their self, can you match your god or yourself to Elohim (Hebrew connoting God as the Creator and Judge of the universe [Genesis 1:1-2:4a])?

Or to Hannoten Teshuah, Hebrew, meaning "The Giver of Salvation" (Psalm 144:10).  Jesus is that "Giver of Salvation", the Deliverer of the human race; our God and Savior.

"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Savior" (Isaiah 43:11).

Jesus delivers the believer from the deadly wages of sin.  For the Buddhist, suffering, death and hell are the results of bad and unwholesome deeds (pages 189-190 What Buddhists Believe).  Jesus rescues one and all from that pit of eternal damnation.

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."  (Romans 6:23 NIV).

Again in Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)...

"By grace are you saved, through faith (NOT WORKS)-and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

God's gifts are always "good and perfect" (James 1:17 NIV).

Won't you accept that this God is, and receive His gift of salvation and righteousness through Jesus Christ?

Then you can truly celebrate His birth, death and resurrection; Christmas and Easter all bundled into one.  Your days, months, years and eternity ahead will indeed be merry and bright as you put your faith and trust in Him for daily living despite any situation you may be experiencing.  And this all because of what God has given through Jesus Christ.

                                               ~ERC  December 2017~

P.S.  It is very good to read the whole book of Romans in the Bible.  It is in this book that we see how God sees those who have accepted His gift of salvation.  He sees us as if we had never sinned.  He has made us righteous in HIS sight.  Justified us through Jesus Christ and our belief in Him.  

Yet as we also read the book of James, we will learn that how we are seen through man's eyes, that with our faith in Jesus Christ, we must also do works.  Works NOT to earn our own salvation rather as a proof of our faith.  An example of an Old Testament figure, that of Abraham and his faith in God prompted him to act upon his faith in God.  

Therefore we read such verses as follows from James 2:22-24 (ESV)...

"You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness"-and he was called a friend of God.  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

It is after we have put our faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation that we then learn that He prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  We do well to put our faith into action out of our love and relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ.   ~erc~

Stay On His Altar

About sacrifice...giving so it hurts.  They say if it doesn't hurt its not sacrifice.  God gave His all in Jesus and that cost Him dearly.  Costly grace.

The thought came as I was reading Romans 12:1 what a sacrifice it is to actually live out purity in this day and age; "presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice".

It's so easy to start with one little kiss. One little kiss can ignite great flames of passion.

Keeping marriage pure may well be a sacrifice for some.  Forsaking all others for your "one and only".  Ironically, that should be more of a pleasure and honor.

I'd encourage young people especially, in this type of sacrifice, to honor God with their bodies.

Christian young people (but marrieds too), your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit of the Almighty Living God.  STOP!  Consider that a minute.  You, your body, is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  When we can get a grip on this miraculous phenomenon, there's a lot more we will do and not do in the way of honoring God our ever-loving Heavenly Father.

Out of that reciprocal love, honor and respect, the sacrifices we make will no longer be so burdensome or painful; rather that out-pouring of "holy and acceptable to God....spiritual worship" (ESV).  In turn will be the blessing of a guided life into the purity God so desires for us all.

Romans 12:2 commands,

"Do not be conformed to this world..."

This world throws out and tramples all that "holy, holy stuff".

When the rubber hits the road of conforming to Christ instead of the world, that will truly be sacrifice.  It may cost you friendship with that handsome boy or sweet girl; or friendships with others who do not see it God's way; you may be scoffed at and/or humiliated.  That's part of the price of sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 calls it a "living sacrifice".  If you put a live animal on an altar, do you suppose it will stay there? When things start to get hot, it definitely won't.  Thus, it is a choice to stay up there (metaphorically speaking) and live God's way.

Praise the Lord we do not have to do it alone though.  Christians, we each have the Holy Spirit indwelling us.  Recall one of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-24; "self-control". 

I really like what I read from another devotional about the Ministry of the Holy Spirit written by Julie Gossack (produced by Crossway [a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers]).  Gossack said...

"Self-control...which is often translated "sober," is a sober-mindedness that gives thought before acting.  Self-control, which is produced by the Holy Spirit, gives way to godly desires rather than sinful desires.  A person with self-control looks to future and eternal realities rather than indulging immediate sinful impulses."

We do not have to do this kind of daily sacrificing on our own.  We can work in tandem with the Lord's help.  Yet we need to make that choice to allow Him to work in us.\

Recently a preacher gave the illustration of getting into your vehicle and putting the key in the ignition but not turning the key to start the car.  You've got the key; you've got to "turn it on".  Actually not "it" but HIM.  We have the Holy Spirit indwelling, we need to allow Him to work.

Some folks call it "exercising the Spirit".  Yes, we need to let Him get some exercise; the more we do, the greater He can influence our lives for good.  Stay on His altar as a "living sacrifice" in all areas of our life and certainly in the area of purity.  Keep yourselves pure for your spouse no matter the cost.  It is "good...acceptable and perfect" in God's sight.

A further Bible verse to ponder from Galatians...

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."  (Galatians 5:20 NIV)

May you each, "by God's mercies and grace", be a "living sacrifice" for Him.

Stay on His altar.

                                     ~ERC  December 2017~