Christ's Instructions

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214) Phil 3:17 . . Join with others in following my example, brothers, and
take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I
have often told you before, and now say, again even with tears: many live
as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is
their appetites, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly
things.

* The Greek word translated "brothers" technically pertains to one's male kin
or to one's fellow members of a college fraternity or an outlaw biker club like
The Mongols. However, when Paul wrote to congregations, his use of the
word commonly pertained to both genders sort of like how "man" pertains to
both genders as they are defined in the early chapters of Genesis. (e.g. Gen
5:1-2)

The Greek word translated "appetites" not only refers to one's tummy, but
also the natural urges everyone experiences due to human nature. Natural
urges are a force to be reckoned with. For example: libido is just as strong
a motivation for marriage as it is for adultery. Hunger is just as strong a
motivation for nourishment as it is for gluttony. Ambition is just as strong a
motivation for legitimate success as it is for fraud.

"glory" is somewhat ambiguous. It can indicate illumination and it can also
indicate accolades where accolades are due. For example the universe proclaims
the glory of God, i.e. it speaks of intelligence and abilities without equal. But when
a cheap politician throws scruples to the wind and achieves office by dishonest
means, they have nothing to brag about, i.e. they're disgusting, and sometimes
even downright criminal.
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215) Phil 4:4 . . Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!

Now the thing is: rejoicing in the Lord is not the same as rejoicing in life. In
point of fact, there's really not all that much to be perpetually happy about
relative to life on earth.

● Ecc 1:2-3 . . Utter futility! --said Koheleth-- Utter futility! All is futile! What
real value is there for a man in all the gains he makes beneath the sun?

We can name lots of things in life that bring us happiness and satisfaction,
but it's all fleeting, i.e. it's all temporary, viz: transient. There's very little
that brings us lasting happiness and satisfaction. And then on top of that,
there's the specter of death; viz: it's only a matter of time when our life on
earth-- everything we've accomplished, everything we've accumulated, and
everyone we've ever known --is separated from us like a young military
recruit's hair falling to the floor in a Marine Corps barber shop.

The negativity of life on earth can be greatly moderated by always keeping
one's eye on the future as it's revealed in the teachings of Christianity's lord
and master.

● John 15:11 . .These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might
remain in you, and that your own joy might be full.

● John 16:33 . . I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world.

For example: the current political situation in my country is rapidly
approaching critical mass, so to speak. It's as if The Lord has sent a myriad
of evil spirits into the minds of many of America's movers and shakers
similar to what He did with Saul in the book of 1Samuel. How our situation
eventually plays out is anybody's guess but at least we are assured that no
matter how much worse things become, none of it will indicate that God is
out to harm folks unified with His son. No; we are but collateral damage
forced to endure strong winds of change thru no fault of our own. (Rom
8:35-39)
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216) Phil 4:5 . . Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Greek word translated "gentleness" basically means mild.

Webster's defines "mild" as gentle in nature or behavior, moderate in action
or effect; not sharp or bitter, i.e. mellow; which is just the opposite of fierce,
harsh, rough, scathing, mean, abrasive, stormy, intemperate, strict, reactive
and/or severe.

Though a mild/mellow person is affable, they aren't necessarily a wimp; no,
they're just not easy to provoke. The quite opposite would be a thin skinned,
defensive personality that goes to war at the drop of a hat.

Mild people don't threaten, nor come at you with bared teeth and narrowed
eyes. They're reasonable and rational, rather than emotional and
frightening. Assertive, confrontational people have no clue what it is to be
mild; and those are the very ones losing sleep with evil thoughts as they
obsessively re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody in their heads
over, and over, and over again rehearsing things they should've said, and
would've said, had they thought of them.

● Matt 5:5 . . Blessed are the meek.

Moses was meek (Num 12:3) and Christ was meek (Matt 11:29, Matt 21:5).
Personally I wouldn't categorize either of those two men as meek. So then,
what really is meekness?

Primarily, to be meek, in the Biblical sense of the word, is to be temperate;
yet firm when necessary. A temperate person isn't eo ipso a cowering milk
toast. Anybody who's studied the life of Moses and Jesus can easily testify
that neither of those men were timid; no, they walked softly but carried a
big stick, so to speak. Never mistake true meekness for a yellow streak.

Jacob and his dad Isaac were temperate men; but could be very strong
when the situation called for it. Temperate people pick their battles carefully,
and never waste anger and energy on trifles.

There are Christians in this world who're simply implacable. They just cannot
live and let live. Turning the other cheek is to them a worn-out cliché that no
one takes seriously anymore. For them rivalry, conflict, revenge,
competition, retaliation, recriminations, and grudging are a way of life: every
disagreement is an act of war-- they're peevish, emotional, bitter, harsh,
unloving, cruel, thoughtless, and reactive; and they thrive on complaining,
criticizing, chafing, carping, finding fault, tattling, bickering, retort upon
retort, rejoinder upon rejoinder, sarcasm, endless debate, dredging up old
unresolved conflicts, gainsaying, and getting in people's faces and giving
them a piece of their mind.

It seems like those people are always getting indignant about some petty
outrage or another. Well; those kinds of Christians are definitely not in the
"gentle" category. They're hellish, toxic demons who relish letting their
wrath be evident to all instead of gentleness because when they're upset;
they want everybody to know it.
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217) Phil 4:6-7 . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer Nov 2022. At the time, I was
devastated; so much so that I feared a nervous breakdown and seriously
considered suicide by drowning myself in the bathtub.

Well; as it turned out Phil 4:6-7 was my safety net-- not by reciting scripted
prayers. I obtained freedom from a severe case of anxiety by telling God in
my own words exactly how I felt: straight from the shoulder, man to man.

Mother Teresa complained in her private letters written to spiritual
counselors that she felt not the slightest glimmer of the Lord's presence
during virtually the entire five decades she was a missionary in India; plus
lamented that her prayers returned to her like sharp knives, cutting her soul.
I'm not talking about sporadic returns; it was always that way with her, and
it was very discouraging-- so discouraging that after a while Teresa began to
seriously question whether there's really a God out there.

Well; I would hazard to guess that as a good Catholic girl, Teresa didn't
practice conversational prayer, instead she practiced rosary prayer; and she
likely expected God to read her thoughts so she wouldn't have to spell them
out.

God's IQ is at least equal to that of our loved ones, our associates, our BFF,
and the drivers that deliver pizza. Well; if we don't talk them in rote lest we
appear to them as mental cases, then why in God's name are Christians
talking to the supernatural genius who created the universe-- all of its life,
matter, and energy --as if He were a totem pole?

● 1Cor 13:11 . .When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a
child, and I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways
behind me.

Honestly: some Christians really need to grow up.
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218) Phil 4:8 . . Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such
things.

I think we may take Phil 4:8 to mean that Christ's followers should make an
effort to remember the Bible's values and its principles, i.e. not let them go
in one ear and out the other; which is somewhat similar to Deut 11:18-20
where Moses' people were urged to make use of every opportunity to
meditate upon God's ways so as not to forget them and thus neglect their
practice.
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219) Phil 4:9 . . Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I think Paul often spoke from experience. In other words; he didn't just
believe what he taught, but he knew what he talking about as someone who
tasted the goods.

Sometimes I think that too many Christians are somehow under the
impression that the New Testament's epistles are not all that important in
matters related to faith and practice. They've made the Sermon On The
Mount their religion and they think that's all they need. But if they want the
God of peace to be with them instead of off in the distance; then they are
simply going to have to revise their estimate. Compliance with the epistles is
not optional; no, it's essential.

● 1Cor 14:37 . . If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of The Lord.

● 1Thess 4:1-2 . .We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by The Lord
Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please
God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments
we gave you by The Lord Jesus.

● Jas 1:22-25 . . And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen
to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and
don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to
improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you
look like. But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law
that sets you free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you
heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
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220) Col 2:6-7 . . So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith
as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

Those instructions are restricted to the faith as you were taught by Paul and
his contemporaries. He and they taught only one faith rather than a buffet of
faiths to choose from.

● Eph 4:4-5 . . There is one faith

It's neither wise nor humane to encourage somebody rooted and built up in
one of Christianity's offshoots to continue in those faiths: e.g. Moonies,
Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventism, Herbert W. Armstrong, LDS,
and/or the Watchtower Society, et al.

Paul emphasized receiving Christ Jesus as "lord". The Greek word means
supreme in authority. Curiously there are a number of Christians out there
who regard Jesus' authority no different than they regard the authority of
the prophets. But when the Old Testament seems to oppose Christ's
teachings; Christians have to go with Christ.

"I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the
darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

And besides: Christ comes highly recommended.

● Matt 17:5 . . Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice out
of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased;
listen to him.
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221) Col 2:8 . . See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic
principles of this world rather than on Christ.

That's likely talking about versions of Christianity adjusted to appease one's
culture-- viz: compromising --which are insidious because they're typically a
clever product of divine instruction moderated by natural logic, i.e.
sophistry; thus the command to Christianity's leaders:

"Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when they will no longer listen to right teaching. They
will follow their own desires and seek teachers who will tell them what it is
they wish to hear. They will reject the truth and heed fantasies." (2Tim 4:2-4)

The olde adage to "strike while the iron is hot" certainly applies in this
situation, i.e. Christianity's leaders need to be teaching their people God's
ways and means while they have their ear instead of waiting to chase after
them after they've lost their attention. Calling folks to repentance is always
harder because it's easier to influence folks when they're close to home than
when their minds are afar off.
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222) Col 2:16-17 . .Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink,
or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath
day.

Some liturgical versions of Christianity incorporate diets, rituals, rites, holy
days of obligation, and even special dress codes in their practices. According
to the principles stipulated in the 14th chapter of Romans, those things are
optional rather than mandatory. To insist otherwise is to play God and to
usurp Christ's sovereign right to make the rules for his own church.
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223) Col 2:18a . . Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial.

Now we're getting into the sphere of asceticism; which describes a life-style
characterized by abstinence from materialism and various sorts of worldly
pleasures (e.g. carnal intimacy, cosmetics, movies, dancing, alcohol,
romance novels, soaps, gambling, and the accumulation of material wealth)
often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

Ascetics think themselves to possess a superior spirituality over and above
conventional Christians; but Paul popped that bubble soundly.

● Col 2:18c-19 . .These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds
have made them conceited. They are not connected to Christ, the head of
the body.

(chuckle) Paul depicted ascetics as sort of like the headless horseman in the
Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.

NOTE: Webster's defines conceit as an excessive appreciation for one's own
worth or virtue; viz: a superiority complex. Conceited folk typically regard
themselves infallible, smarter than you, and holier too.
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224) Col 2:18b . . And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even
though they say they have had visions about this.

That passage is a good one to keep paired with the one below.

● Rev 22:8 . . I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And
when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel
who showed them to me, but he said to me: You must not do that! I am a
fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who
keep the words of this book. Worship God. (cf. Acts 10:25-26)
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225) Col 3:1-2 . . Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your
hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set
your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your
life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Christianity is a lethal religion. It puts Christ's followers to death on the
cross with him as joint principals in the purpose of his crucifixion. They are
encouraged to think of that as a reality; and not only that, but also to
account their resurrection to immortality is in the bag because they were
joint principals with Christ in that too. (Rom 6:3-11, Gal 2:20)
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226) Col 3:5a . . Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly
nature

The earthly nature of Christ's believing followers was judged, sentenced, and
executed on his cross, but they won't be rid of their mind and body's natural
impulses, propensities, and predilections till they pass on.

However, if Christ's followers want to take full advantage of God's kindly
patronage and providence, they have got to take the bull by the horns and
make an effort to suppress the "nothing good" that's been in them from
birth. (Rom 7:18) This has been a mandate since the very beginning, before
even a Judaism or a Christianity.

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what
is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must
master it." (Gen 4:6-7)

* At this point, the Colossian epistle lists a catalogue of behaviors that aren't
practiced in Heaven; and since Christ's sheep are destined for that place,
they need to start living now like they'll be living then because that life is
permanent whereas the now is only temporary.
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227) Col 3:8 . . Put off all these: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil
desires and greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from
your lips.

Webster's defines "malice" as desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to
another. Behaviors like deliberate chafing, needling, ridicule, mockery,
taunts, demeaning comments, ugly words that tear people down rather than
build them up, denigrating labels, biting sarcasm, fault-finding, carping
criticism, thoughtless remarks, petty ill will, spite, vindictiveness, and
stalking are all malicious behaviors that no one in Heaven ever practices
because Heaven is a sphere of harmony and kindness where the Sermon On
The Mount is actually practiced instead of only discussed.

The Greek word translated "filthy language" means vile conversation.

Webster's defines "vile" as (1) morally despicable or abhorrent, (2)
physically repulsive; viz: foul and/or odious, (3) of little worth or account;
viz: common, vulgar, (4) tending to degrade, demean, and/or denigrate, (5)
disgustingly and/or utterly bad; viz: obnoxious, contemptible, unacceptable,
disagreeable, and (6) base; viz: crude, churlish, and/or unrefined.
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228) Col 3:9-10 . . Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old
self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge in the image of its creator.

Humanity began its created existence in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). In
other words; Adam started off as an honest man. Clearly then; dishonesty
doesn't reflect the image of God, rather, it reflects the Devil's image. (John
8:44)

It's interesting that the Colossian believers were lying to each other, and no
doubt would've continued had not Paul instructed them to stop it.

NOTE: The Greek word translated "renewed" basically means to renovate;
defined by Webster's as: (1) to restore to a former better state (as by
cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding), and (2) to restore to life, vigor, or
activity, i.e. revive, regenerate.

The word appears in only one other place in the entire New Testament
where it says:

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day." (2Cor 4:16)

Sometimes renovation requires demolition and beginning all over again from
scratch, In other words: total reconstruction.

Reconstruction of one's innermost being-- especially the conscience --is
essential because humanity's intuitive knowledge of what's acceptable and
what's unacceptable is unreliable due to the forbidden fruit incident
portrayed in the third chapter of Genesis.

This relates to one of the tragedies of Hell. People down there never gave
God an opportunity to overhaul their spiritual condition; so now they're no
better as persons in the afterlife than they were in this life. After all is said
and done-- after the big judgment of Rev 20:11-15 is completed, and the
new cosmos of Rev 21:1 is up and running --Christ wraps it all by
announcing:

"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue
to be vile." (Rev 22:10)

In other words: people who end up in the lake of fire will remain just as
much in need of renovation there as they did here.
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229) Col 3:12 . .Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience.

Apparently the Colossian believers were neither compassionate, nor kind,
nor humble, nor gentle, nor patient; and would have continued to be that
way had not the apostle Paul spoken up.

His basis was the Colossians' standing as "God's chosen people, holy and
dearly beloved" I mean: is it appropriate for people in a favored position
with God to behave as devils?

You know; judging from the descriptions of some of the first century
churches, I get the impression that were we to go back in time to visit one,
we'd be walking into a snake pit!

NOTE: The virtues listed above are detrimental to the governing methods of
the Chinese Communist Party; which easily tells why the Party seeks to
eradicate harmless ideologies like Falun Gong, a.k.a. Falun Dafa. Its
philosophy encourages truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance which of
course runs counter to the Party's practices of dishonesty, deception,
murder, Orwellian thought control, brutality, theft, kidnapping, harassment,
coercion, injustice, unreasonable searches and seizures, political
imprisonment, and involuntary organ harvesting.
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230) Col 3:13a . . Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you
may have against one another.

The Greek word for "grievance" appears in only one place in the entire New
Testament and that's right here. It likely refers to complaints in the petty
category; viz: trivial, negligible, insignificant, and piddling, etc.

"Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Col 3:13b)

I don't know how the superior of all superior judges is able to overlook many
of the things we do and/or say, but He does have that capability. (Acts
17:30) So then: seeing as how God doesn't get up in arms over every little
thing about us that rubs Him the wrong way, then maybe we shouldn't be
losing our composure over every little thing too, i.e. look to God as a role
model. (Eph 5:1)

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in
perfect unity." (Col 3:14)

Love is inclined towards good will rather than ill will.
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231) Col 3:15 . . Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as
members of one body you were called to peace.

I first began chemo therapy in a very large space with numerous La-Z-Boy
recliners and chemo stations spaced around the perimeter up against the
walls.

During treatment it occurred to me that in that large space, nobody was a
stranger. We were a tight community bonded together by one unique
common denominator. All of us-- regardless of age, race, gender politics,
economic status, and/or religious preference --were there fighting to survive
cancer. The feelings of comfort, and the sense of belonging I experienced in
that valley of the shadow of death was profound.

The peace of Christ is like that. All of us under God's wing are under it
because of Christ's crucifixion; and when we meet together, it should be our
one unique common denominator binding us into a tight community where
the focus is upon Christ instead of ourselves. (cf. Eph 4:1-3)
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232) Col 3:15b . . And be thankful.

You know "thank you" is neither profanity nor hate speech; and Christ's
people should never take the attitude that just because somebody is doing
their job that they don't deserve recognition.

One of my favorite romantic comedies is "No Reservations" starring
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Prior to filming, Catherine took a
job waiting tables to get a feel for working in a restaurant.

On several occasions, patrons didn't even look up at her nor speak in a
cordial, courteous tone when they ordered. It struck her as remarkable that
some of the people whom she was serving totally took her for granted and
displayed not the slightest inclination to even so much as acknowledge her
as a fellow human being, let alone express their satisfaction with the quality
of her service.
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233) Col 3:16 . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom

Before attempting to teach and admonish one another, it's essential that the
word of Christ first dwell in one's own self richly; which is from a Greek word
that means copious: defined by Webster's as yielding something abundantly.
In other words: fruitful.

The wisdom we're talking about here is gained by life experience wherein a
quantity of Christ's teachings have been put into actual practice rather than
only memorized.

* As of today, I've been active on Christian forums all across the internet for
the better part of 27 years and can say from experience that much of the
"teaching and admonishing" going on typically turns hostile with quarreling,
debating, and unkind remarks; and that's because those folks lack the
common courtesies of patience, tact, diplomacy, lenience, tolerance, and
gentleness, et al.

Apparently Jesus' teaching about turning the other cheek, going the extra mile,
and the golden rule, have gone out of vogue and no longer apply to modern
Christian conduct; especially online where, for some folks, every disagreement
is an act of war to be won at any cost.
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