WHICH ART IN HEAVEN

WHICH ART IN HEAVEN

Before we delve into this topic, first let's look at the New Testament Christian Bible Book of Luke 11, and Book of Matthew 6; for the offering of the Lords Prayer:

The Lord's Prayer (King James Version)

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father WHICH is in secret; and thy Father WHICH seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: 

'Our Father WHICH art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.'"

Now, the King James Version of the Bible uses the word "which," rather than the many other translations that have chosen to use the word "who," or in some cases omit it all together. For example, in the Matthew 6:9 text, we have the following examples from various translations:

Our Father in heaven ... 

Our Father in the heavens ... 

Our Father, who is in heaven ...

Our Father who art in heaven ... 

Our Father who are in heaven ... 

Our Father who is in the heavens ... 

If you've made it this far, you're probably wondering "so what?" Is this just semantics or what? Grammar is an important element of translation, particularly from one language to another. In this particular case, we should look hard at the usage of "which" when referencing the "Our Father WHICH art in heaven." 

Proper grammar usage dictates: "which" is for things, and "who" is for people. We don't use 'which' for people. We use 'who' or 'that' for people. Further, we use 'which' or 'that' for things. We use relative clauses to make clear which person or thing we are talking about. 

Knowing this, the reference to "our Father," is a reference to a thing. Hence, the use of which. Thing you say? Yes. This "thing" is the indwelling Spirit within ALL of Life. The animating Source of all that is. The Life-force that IS God within. The Spirit of animation. This is the thing WHICH art in heaven. The Hebrew word for heaven is "shamayim" and can be translated as lofty, above, beyond. The Greek word is "ouranos" and can be translated as universe, world, sky, upper regions, encompass, high place, seat of order of things eternal. 

The Bible states: "And then Jesus said when they asked him, ‘Where is the kingdom of heaven and when is it going to come?’ he said, ‘The kingdom of heaven does not come with signs to be perceived. You cannot say, ah, it’s over here or look, it’s over there, for I tell you the kingdom of heaven is within you.’” When Jesus says “it is within you,” he is also quoting Moses from the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy:

"‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart (within you) so you may obey it.”

~Deuteronomy 30:11-14 

You may ask "is there a difference between Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven?" The Kingdom of God, also called Kingdom Of Heaven, in Christianity, is the spiritual realm over which God reigns, or the fulfillment on Earth of God’s will. This phrase occurs frequently in the New Testament, primarily used by Jesus in the first three Gospels. He clearly points to within mankind as the dwelling place of the Spirit of God/Heaven.

Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” (that is, here) and “at hand” (that is, now). It’s not later, but lighter ... a more subtle quality or dimension of experience accessible to you right in the moment. You don’t die into it; you awaken into it.

The Kingdom of Heaven is really a metaphor for a state of consciousness; it is not a place you go to, but a place you come from. It is a whole new way of looking at the world, a transformed awareness that literally turns this world into a different place. The hallmark of this awareness is that it sees no separation between God and humans, between humans and other humans. And these are indeed Jesus’s two core teachings, underlying everything he says and does.

When Jesus talks about this oneness, what he had in Mind is a complete, mutual indwelling: "I am in God, God is in you, you are in God, we are in each other." His most greatest symbol for this is in the teaching from John 15 where he says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Abide in me as I in you." A few verses later he says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love." Again, there is no separation between humans and God because of this mutual interabiding which expresses the indivisible reality of Divine Love.

Also in Jesus’s teachings he says: “Love your neighbor as yourself” in Matthew 22:39 ... as a continuation of your very own being. It’s a complete seeing/showing that your neighbor is YOU. There are not TWO individuals out there. It is a community of ONE ... a common-unity of the one great Life. We are as individual rays of the sun, each containing the entirety of the whole, and yet not being the whole. The whole (holy) is a collective emanation, not a separate and individual consciousness. 

So as we return to the original message of God WHICH art in heaven, we now have a much better understanding that this "God" is not some bearded king enthroned in the clouds, but a Spirit that indwells all of Life. This Source of all that is, is experiencing Life through us, with us, and AS US. The sooner we come to the understanding that all are one, and that I am you and you are me, we will complete the creation and manifestation of "Heaven on Earth." The completed intersection of Spirit and matter (the cross). 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

WIVES SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBANDS

WIVES SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBANDS

Please let me show you HOW this is necessary ... But NOT literally. This is a metaphor for a deeper message hidden beneath the surface story. The True message, is revealed under the veil, for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear.

EPHESIANS 5:22-24

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

When taken literally (incorrectly), this verse causes much friction. Now, are you interested in how this verse is perfect in every way ... Without offending anyone? 

Read on, stay with me.

Our BRIDE/WIFE (submissive feminine) is our subconscious Mind. The subconscious Mind is the female creative principle. This is Divine Mind as feminine ... the Mother. The one who brings forth from the womb of thought, whatever is implanted or impregnated into it. This creation will manifest from within, to without. This is the Perfect universal LAW (Christ/God) in action. We are to JOIN her in the bridal chamber ... Within our subconscious Mind, and procreate. The natural state for our subconscious Mind is sleep.

Keep reading ...

The HUSBAND/GROOM (dominant masculine) is our conscious Mind. Our awakened awareness. This is the Divine Father. The one who goes into the bridal chamber with the bride and impregnates the female subconscious Mind with thought/idea. This is LAW. The natural state for our conscious mind is to be awake. It is during sleep/meditation that the two become one. They are joined to bring forth all creation. 

Now read the following verse KNOWING the woman/feminine is the subconscious Mind and submissive Creator within. The man/masculine is the conscious Mind where thought originates before the female births the thought ... The child ... The SON/DAUGHTER of God ... The CHRIST. 

1 Timothy 2:11-12 

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet."

Let’s continue to see how this is actually a valid statement, esoterically:

Christ IS the Divine Principle ... The Divine Spark of God within ALL. This Christ (anointed one) is birthed when the TWO become ONE. The Christ is our Saviour from ignorance. The Divine will lead us through intuition into the Truth. 

"You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free." It is our Source, what we are ... An individualized essence of the entirety of the whole (holy). Each of us IS a Divine Spark of what we call God/Good. Once we understand the Truth of who and what we are - Eternal energy/Spirit having a physical/Matter experience - then we come to the understanding that ALL is ONE. There is no other, and what we do to someone/something else - we do to our Self. 

Scripture always has deeper meanings than just the surface stories. The parables are the surface stories ... The EXOTERIC OUTER MYSTERIES. The deeper Truth contained within the parables, are the ESOTERIC INNER MYSTERIES. THIS, is the Apocalypse of Revelation. Apocalypse means to uncover that which is hidden. To REVEAL the Truth. For those who have eyes to see, and ears to hear.

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE LORD

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE LORD

We see it throughout the Bible. Lord this, Lord that, Big "L" little “l” and presumably used to describe God and /or Jesus. But what is this word “LORD” all about anyway? 

From the Greek, we find it to be “Kyrios/Kurios,” a masculine noun meaning Master, Sir, and properly; a person exercising absolute ownership rights. A title of honour, expressive of respect and reverence with which servants would salute their Master. From the Greek Lexicon, we find “to whom a thing or person belongs to, the owner or controller of  person or thing.” When we look to the etymology of the word in English we find "”Master of a household, or ruler, superior.” We see a modern use on terms like “Landlord,” the owner of something that is being rented, etc.

So if we see the use of Lord in a Bible translation in reference to God or Jesus, what we are saying is that “they” own us. They rule us. They are our Masters, and that makes us their slaves. We are subjected to their household rule, and their rules. So, the question we have to ask is ... is this under our own willingness as a decision of our free will, or was it imposed on us with no choice in the matter? In actuality, it is both. Because in those days of early Christianity, Emperors, Priests, and Kings ruled over the people and made the decisions for them. And many of them considered themselves Gods, and even demanded to be worshipped as such. The rabble, or commoners; had no choice in the matters in a literal sense. But just as no one cannot prevent you from thinking, no one can prevent you from making an inner decision between Mind, heart, and Spirit, even if you must line up among the sheep and follow the Shepherd. 

We are told by words credited to Jesus in the New Testament, that “you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you FREE.” Yet, having a Lord ruling over you, in no way depicts freedom. Particularly, one who is your Master. It, instead, is captive enslavement. So either you are a willing slave, or an unwilling slave. Either way, you're a slave and far from free. This creates quite the dilemma. So then, how do we find the way to the intended path of so many references to Lord in Biblical scriptures?

While keeping in mind that the Bible was NOT originally written in English. It was Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Now, let’s look at one more thing: The noun and name of Lord and it's origins. In pre 7th century Britain, the word LORD actually meant “loaf-keeper.” It referred to a time in which the appointed village chief had among his responsibilities, to ensure that his tribe or village was being properly fed. A latter position was “Lord of The Harvest” which was in fact a managerial position of employing harvest workers and negotiating their wage rates. Now we're getting somewhere. 

So there is a "Lord" ... that is someone who is responsible for making sure all the people are being properly fed. This can be taken physically, and we can also take it metaphysically as in “The Bread from Heaven,” Remember the symbolism: Bethlehem (means House of Bread), Virgo (the Virgin), holding a wheat chaffe, the communion of bread and wine - the Eucharist (which means thanks in Greek).

So now we transition now from the MODERN use of the word LORD as in Master or Owner, and we see there is leadership and responsibility for sustenance both physically and spiritually. So if Jesus, or God, is Lord ... then those who follow (or eat) of the teachings are then under the guidance, responsibility, and leadership of this Lord. The same it was for every wise man, sage, hierophant, and shaman throughout history.

Whatever your decision has been in your religious preference, following the works of those who do good ... can't be bad. After all, would you rather work for Superman, or the Joker? Either way, it seems that this word Lord has a direct correlation to one who has influence over us ... whether voluntary, or involuntary. Perhaps ... that little piece of “curiosity” that makes all of us wonder about the existence or non-existence of a God whether within, or without ... sounds awful close to the word Kurios for good reason? Perhaps that “curiosity” (Kurios-ity) within us all, sparks a journey of discovery while we try and seek why we're here, and who or what put us here. You ever wonder why people say “I really went out on a limb for this” ... it's because that's where the fruit is.

Just a thought ...