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Reflections: A Spiritual Journey

Moment

Apologetic Number “Nth”

As I study, and as I add knowledge, I find that it is not as important to me to “be right” as it is to not be wrong. Being right has an element of pride, arrogance and full of oneself. Not being wrong, on the other hand, at least in my mind, has more to do with being mistaken, potentially hurting others, offending God. Though I am not sure those of us with a true to heart to please God can really offend Him. Offense is more of a deliberate act, being wrong in an attempt to discover the truth is more of correction activity.

For example, I have had push back from good, long time friends, who take exception with my attention to the Gnostic Gospels. No matter how much I explain that I am neither a devotee nor critic of the Gnostics. That I love Jesus, believe the canonized scriptures and the true historical incarnation of the Son of God who lived among us, who died for my sins and rose again on the third day after death, ascended in to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God and lives today on earth through the Holy Spirit which emanated from Him, they fear I am going the way of the heretic. I am not.

My apologetic above notwithstanding, I find it difficult to dismiss out of hand the agenda of Irenaeus and Athanasius who feared the Gnostics would deplete their following, so declared them heretics. Indeed, there are some sects, denominations or churches that have been ascribed the label of Gnostic that indeed use the maverick tendency the Gnostics are known for to exploit a worldview that smacks of their agenda, not that of Christ. I do not find it so far fetched that Jesus would not have even returned for period of years, only to be with those He mentored in His public life here on earth, to complete the lessons at a “graduate” level, asked them to write the knowledge He imparted, and thus give a source for deepening the knowledge of God of those in the world, those chosen to be messengers (or “called”, if you will)

We need to look at extra scripture, not canonized at the councils of the Catholic Church in the 4^th Century C.E., as further information. There is no refutation on my part of the accepted canon, that began the process around 250 C.E.. However, isn’t interesting that the process took almost 150 years to complete, and then declared as the only information trustworthy enough to be called the Word of God, no more additions are being accepted at this time. I hear, “we’re tired, let’s just call it a day”.

Look, God is not that simple. We are, He is not. We need to have things broken down to the point where can understand the most complex thing in the Universe, creation, salvation, for goodness love. If you really understand how to explain love more power to you. Sure, we have many ways to express it, observe it and feel it, but really – how in the world (pardon the expression) did it really come about other than God Himself? Too complex in its entirety, yet simple to experience. Wow. So, given all that, why would God, Jesus NOT come back to give further information to those He knew could handle it because they knew Him in the context of being the Son of God.

In my way of thinking it is man’s arrogance to say “that’s it folks, no more”. Now, we must check that further information and use the canonized scripture as the measuring stick, the standard by which we test it. We are to test the Spirits,

1 John 4: 1- 3A

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God…”

You see, this is what Irenaeus and Athanasius refused to acknowledge, in my opinion. When you read the Gospels of Thomas, of Mary, of Truth, of Jesus Christ (Himself). When you read the Apocryphon of John (why wasn’t this included, his Gospel was?) or the Pistis Sophia to name but a few, all of those writing agree with the canon that it is Jesus, the Son – no other name above His.

Yes, there are some of those in the Gnostic denomination who say salvation is from the secret knowledge passed down from Jesus to a few believers. But we all know

• John 3:16

• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Romans 10:9
• Titus 3:5
• Acts 4:12 

And if proof is needed for authority simply go to John 10:30 and 14:6. So, this is where the testing comes in, and from that we must reject the Knowledge equals, or is a requisite for, salvation of our souls.

On the other hand, reading much of those gospels I cited earlier from the uncanonized scripture called “gnostic” they do pass the test. Why wouldn’t God give us more? Is it simple? Some of it is. Again, John 14:6 is pretty straightforward. Then we have Paul (who had been accused of being in the gnostic camp) who says in Philippians 2:12 – 13:

“ ¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Well, I suppose I am a bit stuck on the topic, and if it is necessary – sorry. But, the above verse is a good one to end my latest diatribe on since it is exactly what I am doing. I am working out that salvation with fear and trembling, because as I started this out – I find that it is not as important to me to “be right” as it is to not be wrong. I could have added thorough in there as well.  Blessings