Persecuted For Being Like God
The Bible states that God created us in his image. Since most of
us no longer think of God as an old man with a long flowing
beard, we realize he is a spirit being and that if we were
created in his image, this is a direct reference to our
spiritual essence and abilities. We are like him spiritually
because he created us spiritually, just as our children are like
us physically because we create them physically.
So, I pose the question...why has the world, past and present,
chosen to kill and attack individuals who act a lot like our
Biblical God and demonstrate many of the traits associated with
God? Why are people and leaders of the world hated and destroyed
when they act like the Biblical God? Christians are expected to
act like Jesus who is also God, so why do we continue to
chastise many of those God-like prophets that have been brought
into the world these past few centuries? We really need to take
a closer look at the people we choose to persecute if we are
also choosing to model our lives after God.
More recently, let's look at Saddam. Saddam dictated his people
follow certain rules under penalty of punishment or death...just
like God. Saddam killed thousands or millions who would not bow
to him and follow his rules...just like God. Saddam desired to
be revered and even worshipped...just like God. Saddam was
nervous and had anxiety about what would happen to him if his
people were allowed to interact without him...just like God.
Saddam did not want his people to look at or be exposed to other
beliefs unlike his...just like God. Saddam released a mist of
fear that all should obey him without question...just like God.
Saddam provided just enough to eat and exist on and said you
should just be grateful he didn't kill you, because he
can...just like God.
So, the question is this...if we are created in the image of God
and are told to desire to be like God...why do we attack and
kill those leaders and individuals...those prophets that
actually achieve this goal and act like God? Like all ancient
concepts of God and gods, bloodshed is expected and required, so
what's the basis for us having issue with world leaders that
require this as well? Why the double standard? Why doesn't
Saddam deserve our admiration and respect?
If you say we are not allowed to be like that part of God that
has the right to be vengeful, angry and murderous since this is
what makes him holy and worthy of our worship (? Hmmm )...then
we are not created in his image and we are created simply as
toys...somewhat like the concept of Zeus and his earthling
amusements. We are nothing but things to play with...to be
tossed aside and destroyed at will. If that is the case, we are
not created in Gods image...and even then, not even created as a
shadow of his image, but as a slave to the whims of his image.
If this were the case, everybody would eventually be tortured
for the pleasure and amusement of this God, no matter how well
they behaved, because only a sadistic being would create such a
condition for life.
When looking at the regime of Saddam or any dictatorship...why
doesn't forced allegiance under penalty of punishment and death
work? Think about this. What is the inevitable end result of
this kind of rule? What is wrong with Saddam or any dictator
demanding obedience...or else? What is wrong with using fear and
punishment as a means to gain something? When is it OK to
threaten a life to get what you don't need, but simply want? Why
are we upset at Saddam for acting like God?
Hmmm, for a moment, let's say the Biblical version of God is
true and that God does eventually massacre all non-believers on
earth in a battle more bloody than ever recorded (because he is
YHWH, the god of war...currently at war with Satan and all
non-believers) and let's say he sets up a kingdom on earth and
lays down the new rules. He cannot change and so he will still
say ..."Do this or I will Kill You...Do that and I will kill
you...think differently of me tomorrow and I will kill
you...disobey me and I will send you to a place where you will
feel like your entire body is on fire forever and ever. Look
down when I say look up and I will torture you"....I think I
would rather take my chances with Saddam.
If you can answer or explain the reasons why Saddam was not a
good leader and why it would not be a natural thing for people
to love him and follow him and why he should not have done the
things he did, then apply this to the Biblical God as well
because we are created in his image. We do know better than to
act in the way that Saddam, Hitler, Napoleon and Caesar
acted.....and So Does God! If we can so easily see that this
kind of behavior is unacceptable, how can you even begin to
fathom that God does not already know this?
We know there is never any good that comes out of forcing people
to do things they don't want to do...and so does God. We know
that using fear to motivate people might show some initial
results, but that the final effect will be disastrous...and so
does God. We know that threatening somebody with death and
punishment is not motivation enough for people to choose to
change....and so does God. We know that using guilt to get what
we want ends up with sad and unhappy people that don't want to
be with us...and so does God.
We know that being patient and being loving is the only way for
an individual to truly love....and so does God. We know that our
children will eventually listen to us if we be patient and
remain there always for them as they need help...and so does
God. We know that the only real love is the love freely given,
without condition and without threat...and so does God.
We have yet to learn we have no reason to defend that which is
perfect and true...but God already knows this. We have yet to
learn that the rules and sacrifices we demand within this
physical world are neither needed nor required to please
God...but God already knows this.
We have yet to conceive that more than one book or one set of
guidelines was created to follow as steps towards knowing who
God really is...but God already knows this and has been leaving
bits and pieces of truth with millions upon millions of people
since time began.
I was prompted to write this article after hearing a story of a
young Christian woman who was depressed and considering suicide
because of her churches teachings about the End Times...and I
can't say I blame her. If you believe your God is like
Saddam....and even worse, what would be the reason for joy? What
else but confusion could arise in your heart when told your
loving God is going to kill millions of people and feel totally
justified in doing so? What would be your motivation to want to
live? Why would you want to spend eternity with a God like that?
For you, young woman, God is not like the God the churches
describe to you and he is not going to end the world. Man has so
totally misunderstood God and is still acting like primitive
tribes, worshipping their God of Bloodshed, of which YHWH
originally was king.
YHWH was one of many worshipped Gods in ancient times. YHWH was
the God of War and the Israelites chose him as their sole God at
times to ensure the destruction of their enemies, but would
revert back to Baal for help with their harvests. The Israelites
eventually focused in on one primary god, so they may have the
distinction of perhaps being the race to first embrace the
concept of worshipping one god, but it was the God of War they
chose to worship and that has nothing to do with my God, the God
of love, peace, patience and eternal blessings.
Any attempt you make to rationalize why God has the right to act
in the murderous, jealous and paranoid way as described in the
Bible, is only further preventing you from letting go of these
misconceptions and preventing you from seeing God more clearly
as he really is....a God who is not angry at you, does not
require or desire bloodshed, does not want your sacrifice and
does not want your worship. All those traits are indications of
a very sick, insecure, ungrounded and warped individual and God
is not like that.
Most religions go right out the window if you eliminate the
concept of a God that requires sacrifice...and this is finally
starting to become more and more clear to the people of the
earth. All it takes to see this more clearly is to think of God
as having UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. That means no condition for
you...no expectations about you...no demands from you....no
rules to break......no magic words to say...no specific actions
to perform...no specific thing required to believe...no
conditions of any kind. He just loves us. He has not left you
nor set any obstacles in your way to be one with him again.
Since it is "WE" who have freely created the mess in this world
and "WE" who have turned our eyes away from his guidance, "HE"
is not responsible for the state of the world nor would "HE" be
involved with bringing about its destruction. "HE" is just
patiently and lovingly walking besides us, helping us whenever
"WE" truly decide to be open to be helped, but otherwise "HE" is
allowing us to experience this world situation "WE" created
while endlessly teaching us how to be more open and more willing
to listen to his truths and guidance.
We are created in the image of God. We are powerful spiritual
beings and we have a tendency to bring about things in this
world that we believe are inevitable...and so if you choose to
believe the world is going to have wars and famines and terrible
cataclysmic events, you are part of why they occur.
Stop wanting them. Stop believing they have a purpose. Stop
believing God is using them to punish. Stop believing God wants
them or is endorsing their existence.
We are created in Gods image and collectively we have the power
to change the world for better or worse. Do you believe the
world can improve? If not, you can change your mind and choose
to believe the world will improve. Choose to believe peace is
stronger than war. Choose to believe forgiveness can enter every
heart.
If you choose to believe the world has a bright future with a
glorious awakening of spirit, you will be helping the world move
in that direction. If you choose to believe the world is doomed
and headed for destruction, you will have helped the world move
in that direction. What would you prefer? What would a genuinely
loving God prefer? It will help you to see that God is not doing
this to the world or playing us like puppets with some grand
plan or scheme where this one single planet earth will determine
the fate of the universe...we are doing this. Let's choose to do
this differently.
We are not alone and the earth is not a battleground between God
and Satan. You really need to step back a moment from this type
of thinking and let yourself see how primitive this concept is.
This is based solely upon fear of what we think cannot be
understood....but our understanding is not being suppressed by
God. We are denying our own ability to see the truth that we did
this to ourselves. There is no devil to blame, but there is also
no angry God looking to punish us. Our whole concept of God is
mired and needs to be looked at again with a fresh new
perspective.
Our beliefs about God are about as far off from the truth as you
can possibly attempt to go. Stop trying to rationalize all the
conflicting issues that represent a loving, but murdering god
and simply see that it does not make sense and there is nothing
to rationalize because it simply is not true. The longer you
believe the lie, you longer you will have to constantly try to
find ways to explain it and rationalize it...adapting it as time
passes...as the ages pass. Just stop. Stop defending the Bible
and your churches beliefs and let God truthfully speak to you.
Stop believing the lie. Stop believing God ever has or ever
would kill. Stop believing God ever has or ever will be angry.
Stop believing the lessons taught by the fear of men and hold
onto this one thought....anything that teaches through fear or
uses fear in any way, is not from God.
Choose peace. Peace will guide you. Embrace peace and then
listen to who peace would have you be.
Choose love. Love will guide you. Embrace love and then listen
to who love would have you be.
Choose God. God will guide you. Embrace God and then listen to
who God would have you be.
There is nothing to do except to be open to hear and to be
willing to be peace, be love and be what God would have you be.
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