Building the Tower

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

What is becoming evident is that the tower is being built strong and tall, the foundations have been laid and another level of interpretation of reality has been developed, taught and accepted as truth.

Let us review what we have learned so far.

We started with the awareness of self and the belief in our own inherent value and right to survive and flourish.
We built on that an awareness of an unfriendly and even dangerous world of nature and other “wills” that may or may not value our right to survive and flourish as much as we do.
Yet we need this world and we need the “others” in this world. We are dependent on nature (and others) when we desperately want to be independent and in control. We are unavoidably social (and corporate) by nature and necessity.
Therefore, we have an obligation, an “ought,” towards others, again by nature and necessity.
That “ought” has been grounded in a naturalistic, utilitarian social contractualism on the one hand, or systematized into religious belief in a transcendent ground for morality on the other.
In either case, society or religion (or a combination of both) has attempted to provide a necessary motivation for morality (and the social contract and law) through a system of rewards and punishments and a belief (in the case of religion) in a just universe despite appearances.
We have even considered the suggestion that the problem is within us, within our very natures, but we shy away from that bit of truth like a nervous filly on a frosty morning.

We have not yet reached the pinnacle of the tower, nor have we tried to open the gates of heaven. The workers are still busy with their labors and the architects are still pouring over their plans.

To change the image for a moment, the participants around the table are still discussing the nature and interpretation of reality and how we can deal with our differences.

Yes, no doubt. There is certainly more to be said.

*****

Click here to read more……

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net https://desertwarriornet.wordpress.com/

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

Is Freud for Real?

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

≈ Leave a comment

In the meantime, Freud would suggest that this “illusion” called religion may be a necessary evil but it certainly isn’t true.

What is interesting is that his perspective is more rooted in his “predisposition against the supernatural” than because of any philosophical or metaphysical argumentation (of which he makes none at all).

Freud makes it clear that he believes that “science fully reflects what is real.” There is nothing else. There is no God to go to and find your answers. It is all an illusion, a necessary illusion perhaps, but an illusion nonetheless.

Yet his “positivism” about the scientific metaphysics of reality is out of fashion today, especially in light of recent scientific and cosmological advances, even though many people still believe that his opinions about religion stand the test of scientific and philosophical inquiry.

That is not necessarily true. There is still more to be said.

*****

Click here to read more……

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net https://desertwarriornet.wordpress.com/

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

Weekly Update No. 7 (Crowdfunding Campaign)

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Adventure of Grace, Short Stories

≈ Leave a comment

The Anointing

This is probably my favorite story. Perhaps because it touches close to home and reflects some aspects of my own life. It is also the most clear exposition of what I believe the church to be all about and how to live in the anointing of God.

This is a story of a Pastor who was walking downtown near the soup kitchen with a fellow parishoner from his church and they were held up by a drugged up young person with a gun. His friend is killed and the story starts with the Pastor trying to get his act together on the morning of the funeral. Peter, his friend, was a businessman who lost a lot of money for himself and his partner, Frank, who killed himself when the bottom fell out of the market. A lot of people in the church had invested their life savings with Peter and Frank and so the entire community was upset and hurting. What would the Pastor say about Peter and this situtation now that Peter and Frank were both dead?

Six years. Six months. Six minutes. That´s what it all came down to. Six years of work in the church. Six months of putting up with Peter who claims to have found the key to the abundant life even though he lost the life savings of most of the congregation. No one wanted to listen to him and he was creating problems and division in the church. And then, six minutes. From the moment they were confronted in the street by the druggie until Peter was dead. Six lousy minutes. And it changed everything. The seventh minute. The seventh month. The seventh year. The time of anointing.

This is a story about the importance of the anointing of God in the life of the church. It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to read out loud so it´s a bit long – the longest story in the book. But it probably most accurately tells the story of what I believe about the Chrisitan life and the fellowship of the saints in the life of the church. There is some music involved near the end so the audio version should be great and I am looking forward to putting an audio book together for Jesus was an Alien.

This story about the Anointing is not on the website. It is only available for those who buy the book. I hope you enjoy it and that you learn how to live in the anointing of God as a community of faith.

The Desert Warrior

An Adventure of Grace – Our Crowdfunding Journey by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net info@desertwarrior.net

The Evil Within

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

≈ Leave a comment

But that is the essence of the ongoing debate.

If it isn’t true, then how can it be comforting? We have to believe the illusion.

And if it is true, if we do live in a just universe, then how will it affect us? How will we fare in the face of the kind of implacable justice that sees all and knows all and shows no mercy?

That truth is dangerous.

For there is one other, last reality that we all must face which is rooted deeply in our very natures – a reality that many would recognize (even if they try to explain and interpret it in different ways). That is the reality of “evil” in our own natures.

The concept of “evil” here is a value judgment based on our experience that this “lack” or “incompleteness” or “perversion” within us (however defined) is not in our own best interest.

Peter Byrne speaks of “evils afflicting the pursuit of the good” in the world around us (suffering, pain and death) but he also speaks of “imperfect wills” and a “self (that) is enmeshed in evil.” At one point, he speaks of the “cussedness of the human will” and the fact that we are “prone to choose evil over good.”

This is a mystery.

Why would that be the case? Is it related to the defense mechanisms that we all develop to protect ourselves in a dangerous world? Perhaps. Perhaps it is more than that. But in the end, the reality of it is there and some sort of answer must be given to account for it.

*****

Click here to read more…….

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net info@desertwarrior.net

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

The Moral Gap

26 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

≈ Leave a comment

Yet, here also, we find a “gap” – the moral gap.

We experience a world in which “good” is not always rewarded and “evil” is not always punished. In fact, quite the opposite is often true.

There is a gap between moral action and the expected and appropriate results of those actions. What are we to make of a world in which there is no apparent ground (and therefore motivation) for our moral efforts?

Freud suggests that this, too, is part of the “illusion” of religion. We want to live in a just universe and so we create “gods” or, especially in this case, “a God” who is the supreme justice over all of reality and who will bring order out of the chaos of our existence.

Finally, when all is said and done (religion would claim), there will be justice – good will be rewarded and evil will be punished. We live in a just universe.

A comforting thought, most would say – whether true or not.

*****

Click here to read more……

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net info@desertwarrior.net

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

Morality as a Limit to our Wills

25 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

≈ Leave a comment

Morality is the “ought” that relates the self to others (although we will come to see that there is a fundamental “ought” that also relates us to our own “self” and the role of our ego in determining what is good or bad for us).

In any event, the moral expectation is that we must strive for good and avoid, or fight, evil.

Good and evil are not only defined individually but also socially. Morality is more than a social contract, it captures our highest values and instincts for what our lives could be and should be (at least according to the majority).

Our highest good is inevitably bound up with the highest good of the others most closely connected to us. Morality is unavoidable if for no other reason than it is a necessary limit to our “wills” in the pursuit of our own “good” (as well as the “good” of others). We are, whether we like it or not, corporate (as well as, social) creatures.

The social contract is practical and necessary and immediate. It is sometimes (and to a degree) backed by common law and justice and is punished and rewarded accordingly. Often social expectations have an unwritten system of rewards and punishments that may or may not affect our ability to relate economically or socially with others.

Morality is deeper still and is oriented toward those attitudes and actions that go beyond the social contract and, in fact, under gird the way that we deal with each other. “Honesty is a good policy.” “Keep your promises.” “Every person is valuable and deserves our respect and care.”

These are not things that can be legislated for or against.

*****

Click here to read more……

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net https://desertwarriornet.wordpress.com/

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

Corporate Defense Mechanisms

24 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

≈ Leave a comment

In that sense, both of these men would postulate that one of the key “corporate” defense mechanisms developed by society over time is the concept of religion.

Both Feuerbach, in his Lectures on the Essence of Religion and Freud, in his The Future of an Illusion, give a grounding for theistic religion as a way for the “self” to deal with the “not-self” (others and the world) by creating “gods” or even “a God” who can deal with others and nature on our behalf.

Of course, the underlying assumption is that our “gods” are not only able but willing to act on our behalf to give us what we want or need. When that doesn’t happen (as is so often the case), we develop manners and means to entice, please, or obligate “God” to do something for us either through ritual and sacrifice or, in more refined cases, through moral effort (however defined).

Because religion is, according to Freud, a social “illusion,” the motivation for moral effort becomes a central issue. If religion is the ground for moral effort, but religion is an illusion, then why bother?

On the other hand, morality appears to be unavoidable. Some form of morality is necessary but it has no basis for motivation in religion since (in this view) religion is an illusion.

What kind of morality can exist in that kind of vacuum?

Morality is more than practical self-interest. It must go beyond the self to engage the intrinsic value of others.

*****

Click here to read more…….

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net info@desertwarrior.net

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

Individual Defense Mechanisms

23 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in 1. Tears of the Desert Warrior, b) The Essence of Religion, Desert Warrior Series

≈ Leave a comment

It would appear that the “self” in that context needs to develop some self-protection from others, some self-justification for the pursuit of his or her own desires and needs or, at the very least, to develop a plausible self-understanding in order to deal with the dynamics and social norms necessary to accomplish the goals of his or her own self-interest.

This “self” will necessarily develop defense mechanisms for its own protection as it interacts with the world around it. The final result, with all of the defense mechanisms, inferiority complexes, anxieties, beliefs and values in place, may be seen as a necessary evil.

What do we mean by a necessary “evil”? That is a value judgment. It is, paradoxically, both a necessity in a world which lacks proper protection as well as an impediment to necessary social integration.

In other words, this concern about our self-interest (and the need to protect our ego in a dangerous world) is often not in our own self (or best) interest – not just in terms of our relationship with others, but also in terms of our relationship with ourselves.

Much has been written about the effects of this “estrangement-dependency” on the development of the self, but it is good to keep in mind that the “egoism” which normally develops is the root of all kinds of problems.

*****

Click here to read more……

Tears of the Desert Warrior by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net https://desertwarriornet.wordpress.com/

Footnotes and references included in the original manuscript.

Sacred Romance

22 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

This is a recent Facebook discussion that I had with someone I had never met before. For some reason I sent him a friend request. Don´t remember why but this is the conversation that came out of that “mistake.” Let me know what you think.

CBL: I am pleased to receive your friend request. My goal is to bring interesting, educational discussions and images from ******* and around the world to my FB pages. I would love to find out how we know each other or if not, the reason you’d like to be my friend. Maybe we share a belief or have something in common. I sometimes get requests from “bots”. If I get such requests without reply, of course I ignore those. I love to hear from you. Welcome!

Bert: Yes, I am a fellow ****** now living in Argentina. I am also an educator and writer. I am trying to connect with people again in *****. I would like to get to know you and be part of your connections. I´m looking forward to getting to know you better. Thanks. Bert

CBL: I friended you and then looked at the things you had on your wall. No one besides yourself posted anything (you have that blocked) and it was all rather one-sided. Things in thousand year old books, from a time when people thought that the world was flat have no interest to me. You are welcome to visit my pages as they are open to anyone. Welcome.

Bert: Wow, limited info and a bias against history. Flat world theory of the Middle Ages is now the litmus test of intelligence of ancient civilizations. That´s a novel approach to knowledge. My pages are also open to anyone. Even you. Welcome.

CBL: Even me? LOL Thank you Bert. By the way, what exactly do you mean by “Flat world theory of the Middle Ages is now the litmus test of intelligence of ancient civilizations.”

Bert: You said, “Things in thousand year old books, from a time when people thought that the world was flat have no interest to me.” I assumed you were talking about the Bible (which is far more than a 1000 years old and was NOT written during the Middle Ages when the flat world theory was dominant). Forgive me if I made the wrong assumption. But leaving aside the Bible, I am fascinated that ancient knowledge of any sort seems not to be of interest to you. That is worthy of discussion in and of itself.

Are you of the opinion that science (in Frued´s famous words) fully reveals reality? Even if that were so, which I doubt, the “science” or knowledge of anthropology and sociology (not to dismiss literature or history in it´s own right) benefits tremendously, even today, from the insights of ancient civilizations. Anyway, that´s what I think. I would not advise equating flat world theory (or any scientific position) with the value of ancient knowledge.

Value is a fluid concept and is often utilitarian as well as rooted in basic beliefs of a person´s worldview. My suggestion is not to dismiss alternate views of the world too quickly. You might miss some very interesting points of view. Hope that helps. Bert

CBL: Good point Bert. I’d love to have a great discussion over coffee on that topic with you someday. LOL

Bert: That would be great. A little difficult (about the coffee part) since I live in Argentina, but still something to look forward to someday. LOL

CBL: Alright Bert… Who knows when you are in ****** next, or we in Argentina. I will tell you that I went to bible school in ******, read extensively, holy books etc. My father was a priest….. I just find that old books and religions cause more harm (judgement, hatred, devision, wars etc.) than they solve.

Bert: That´s too bad. In the battle between idealistic romance and harsh reality, I choose the real God of happy endings. The harsh reality of judgment, hatred, division and wars (often started by or perpetuated by religion) can only be overcome first of all in our own hearts and then, by extension, in the world, when the God of the “old books” is loved and followed rather than trying to control him (and others). That is a step of faith that is a miracle in and of itself but always results in love and peace and joy and hope (idealistic, sacred romance). There is a vast difference between religion and a loving relationship with the God who loved us enough to die for us showing us the way of love (much tougher) rather than the way of power (much easier). But, that´s my take on the “old books” and their impact on people (not just institutions)….would love to have that coffee….maybe in Mexico….half way….what do you think?

CBL: Hi Bert, we have a completely different view of the world. I love parts of Mexico. Maybe one day… LOL God who died for us? Give me a break. Many people give their lives for causes and that is not that special. Mothers die for their children, soldiers for silly ideas and for stupid leaders. The Japanese died for their country in Kamikaze situations. I live from the heart in love for all things. Everything you need to know is inside you.

Bert: Really? You think that dying for your children or your country is the same as dying for your sworn enemy? If it´s so easy, why don´t we all do it. That would solve a lot of problems, wouldn´t it. Instead of killing, arguing, fighting allow yourself to be killed, defeated, hurt by someone who hates you, or is indifferent towards you, or simply someone who has no respect or care for you. I wonder how that would work in divorce situations or in the courtroom or on the battlefield, or in religion. Instead of trying to control others, allow yourself to be controlled. Not so common. In fact, Jesus said that to find your life you need to give it up. Crazy talk. Of course, that´s only possible if you actually believe that God exists, that he loves you (even though you want nothing to do with his authority in your life), and that his eternal life and, more importantly, his eternal pleasure with us, is reward enough for a life of sacrifice – just like Jesus Christ did.

Yes, you´re right. Crazy talk. Idealistic romantic baldarash…..dangerous, in fact, in the harsh realities of our world….but when you do it, God can use you to transform lives (e.g. Mother Teresa among many, many others). Yes, it takes faith. Of course it takes faith. Faith in God, in his goodness, in his care for us, is the one thing that is in short supply for whatever reason. Maybe that´s why things happen the way they do. Maybe the development of faith in the hearts of man, together with hope and love, especially love, is the point…..is the only thing that can last into eternity….is the only thing worth dying for…..the love of your enemy turned friend……..unrealistic horse shit, of course….or maybe not.

Yes, we have two very different views of the world…..but it´s still fun to talk about…..and is probably a bit more important than the latest hockey game or World Cup……at least it is from my point of view…..by the way, I´m drinking my coffee already…..how´s yours?

CBL: Hi Bert, I am glad that you have good coffee. Praise the Lord. LOL In my years, I studied auto suggestion, hypnosis, voodoo and the power of the mind. “Faith” and “belief” fit nicely into those categories. If you want to “believe” something hard enough your mind will co-operate.

Faith and belief are blind, a kind of hypnosis and has no basis in fact or science.
Did you study or at least read a bit about current quantum physics, string theory and the latest, “W” (wave) theory?

It’s magnificent and so much more meaningful, fascinating and utterly awesome than a few thousand year old story of a guy on a cross whom none of us met.
The bible has been written and re-written so many times by people who like to control others and proves nothing. It baffles me how it continues to ‘suck’ people in. It must be that scary thing called the “unknown”. Safer and easier to make up a story about afterlife etc.

And this thing about ‘eternity’ and a ‘loving God’… none of us can know that Bert. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional or lying. “Love is good” and “We are One” and “Life is Magic” – I can say with certainty. Amen.

Bert: Yes, I agree….you have to want to believe…..and yes, it is blind in the sense that it does not have the certainty of scientific fact…at least, not yet…..I guess, once you are dead, you´ll know one way or the other….or not know anything at all anymore….a very real possibility…..

But I do think that you are a bit extreme to say that faith and belief have no basis in fact or science…..really? I hope that you are only talking about faith and belief in God and not in the act of having faith or believing in something without scientific proof….what a poor world we would be if science fully revealed reality or was the final arbitrer of truth or of what was worthy of our faith and belief….

Yes, I have studied quantum physics, string theory, chaos theory and wave theory etc…..at least enough to know the general idea….interesting stuff….

Life is magnificent and meaningful and fascinating and utterly awesome as you say….the question is why? I´m not sure where you get your meaning from since you are a collection of chance happenings in a random universe…..but certainly you can create your own meaning in life…..the question is whether your meaning in life can handle the realities of life, such as pain, and suffering and finally death…..

Yes, I want to believe in God. William James said that we need to have a will to believe….and I think that is true….but where does that wanting come from…..is it, as Frued said, a need for a father figure….an authority, hopefully loving, that we can appeal to in order to control the chaos of a dangerous and uncertain world….perhaps…..is it, as Fuerebach said, a need for meaning and significance in a meaningless world, or a need for identity and purpose…..all of those things are true….we have needs and believing in God can fulfill them…..

I need the intimacy of love with a woman….my wife gives that to me…but our relationship is more than that….in fact, any of us would say that a relationship of love has to be more than a question of what you need….it has to be rooted in giving rather than receiving….even if receiving is a natural part of the interactive nature of love….we give without thought to receiving…that is love….even though we hope and need that love to be returned…..it cannot be the focus of our motivation or it will spoil the very thing it needs…..we all know that….love for God is the same…..

Love is transcendent…..it takes us out of ourselves and our own needs and focus us on the other…..it is a limit to our will but a voluntary limit…..we don´t just desire to be limited by love (the old ball and chain)…..love doesn´t even consider it´s slavery a limit but rather an opportunity….a freedom…..even if it costs us everything we have….and are…..

Yes, I know….romantic balderdash…..too idealistic for the harsh reality of this dangerous world….but most people think that it is the only thing that makes this world worthwhile…the only meaning that makes sense….the one desire…the one wanting that is its own reward…..and yet, can our human love overcome pain, and suffering and death…..it can certainly help….but overcome it….that is an unrealistic expectation of love…….

Unless of course, God exists …..and he loves us….and his view of the world is the true reality…..and that the evil within each of us can be overcome….and therefore pain and suffering can be given new meaning….and death can be overcome by life…..maybe….but only if God exists….if that old book is true….if dying in order to live really works….what a risk, what a terrible, incredible risk, to sacrifice everything in this life, the good and the bad, for something better…..to make God the center of your life….to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength…and your neighbor as yourself….even if you don´t like your neighbor….even if he is out to get you….he is your sworn enemy….or just a pain in the neck….to get involved in the problems and disasters and dangers of someone else´s life…..just because God asked you to…..just because you want to please this God whom you believe loves you and will take care of you into eternity…..because he takes care of you, you don´t have to follow the principle of prudent self-interest but rather the imprudence of extravegant love…..yes, that old book is a terrible thing….making people take that kind of risk on romantic, full on, no bars hold kind of love for a God we aren´t even scientifically sure is there…..but our hearts say that he is …..

At the same time, there is a lot of evidence, even if it isn´t total scientific proof….after all, if God is there, he created the universe….he was behind the Big Bang…..he made this universe for a reason….I have a hard time believing that something can come from nothing without intelligence behind it…..and intelligence implies a person……I have a hard time believing that chaos can become order without intelligence…..we have no experience anywhere in life for these three truths…..that something can come from nothing by chance….that there is creative intelligence that is not a person…..and that order can come from chaos by a combination of chance over time….a cosmic lottery game….just be happy, we say, after all we won, didn´t we? We are here after all….so even neo-darwinism and atheistic secular humanism are also a worldview that takes faith and belief…..interesting that we can´t escape it…..

I want to believe in God…..I want to love Him and recieve His love back….I want to please him and I am willing to pay a practical, everyday price to follow Him no matter what…..why? Who knows….I am in love…..and love is always a mystery….could I be wrong….sure…..but love is its own reward…..and the mystery of happiness and meaning in life and true significance is bound up with a love that can overcome death and evil …..within me first of all…but also finally in the world…..

You are right…..Love is good…..We are one….and Life is Magic…..those are value statements…..and beliefs…and you have faith in those certainties….good for you…..the question is why? Why is love good…..why is oneness good but so illusive…a fact of life that we seldom live by…..and especially, why is life magical….what is the name of the magician….and why don´t you trust the God of beauty and joy and awesome space and time to love you enough to face yourself and the evil within…..

The why questions are the hardest ones….but love is the answer to them all…..still, I don´t blame you for not WANTING to love God….your vision of God, and your vision of truth and the nature of reality aren´t the same as mine….who is right? Will we ever know? In the end, faith (like love) is a gift but you have to want to receive the gift in order to get it…..

Someone once said that if you believe, you need no proof. If you don´t believe, no proof will ever be enough…..I agree….the problem is that there is never sufficient scientific proof for things like love and faith and hope…..and yet life would be much poorer without them…..

Hope that helps…..yes, the coffee is great……lol….

Bert: Many people believe that Christians live in a fantasy that cannot face reality but Christians believe that their so called fantasy is the true reality.

So, the question is….would you rather live out the fantasy of good overcoming evil and the triumph of love and the reality of eternity, meaning and ultimate relational significance or the reality of evil and ultimate despair and death?

Yes, many would say that reality is always better than fantasy but we live in a post-modern world that recognizes that we have no access to reality as it truly is.

As Nietche said, there is no truth only interpretation. And that is true for mankind, no doubt. But what if there really is a God?

He would be the ultimate reality and the object of our longing for a love that overcomes the evil within….or have we justified, rationalized, ignored that fundamental truth of life….that evil is within before it is without and that we do not love, we are not one, and the magic of life is more often black magic…..What if there really is a God who fulfills our sighing after beauty and joy and “happily ever after” endings, that turns our fantasies into a deeper, more abiding reality that lasts beyond life into eternity with the lover of our soul.

Sure it´s idealistic romanticism but if it is true, if it corresponds too reality as it really is…..beyond our ability to determine on our own, of course, but what if He showed up, revealed Himself, got involved in our history and had an “old book” written about it, which he controlled to make sure that it reached us whole and sure….what if its true?

It changes everything…..yes, the question is how do you and I KNOW it´s true….how do we ever know if love is true….it takes faith….evidence as well, but not proof…that defeats the very goal of the exercise…to trust, to believe despite appearances, to know the other and trust in the love that binds you to each other….yes, maybe that is too much to ask of human love…that´s why we think romance is unrealistic because we only think of human romance…what about the sacred romance…His romance of us….not our romance of him….I don´t even trust my own love for Him, my own loyalty, my own commitment to respond in kind to the unconditional love of God for me….too true….but He loves me….that is the reality on which I stand….in faith, I believe…..

Now everything makes sense, the evidence of my self-awareneness and natural craving for eternal significance in the hands of my heavenly Father who is the only one who can handle and mold and fashion a true reality out of this evil world full of wonder and disaster in unequal measure.

He is the only one who can fashion a true reality, according to his vision for the universe, that takes this human fantasy that we are in charge, that we are the molders of our own destiny, our own meaning and significance, and turn that evil and desperate fantasy into the true reality of love, unconditional love and favor to those who don´t deserve it.

That is his glory and we can participate in that very glory, the glory of a character, a person, who is willing to sacrifice everything for his enemy in order to please his God….against all odds….against all explanation…..against all sense….love tends to be that way.

The true reality is a fantasy world of love and faith and hope in a God we aren´t sure is there and an eternal happily ever after we aren´t sure will happen except by faith, which is a deep way of knowing truths that are not scientific but rather relational.

And we WANT it, not just need it….and that is the mystery of love….even love for God. Faith, hope and love are the only things that make this life worthwhile. It makes sense that they are the foundation stones of a new reality…. that is a fantasy that is true, was always true and will come to pass.

Yes, be realistic, even scientific, look for evidence but don´t deny the intuition of your heart that believes that this reality will become a fantasy, that good will overcome evil and that God will have the final say.

CBL: You wrote “we have needs and believing in God can fulfill that”. I do not have such a need to believe in something that we cannot know. Life is awesome and mysterious in its splendor. Yet, I have suffered and still one of the happiest people you will ever meet. I used to believe in Santa Klaus and the Tooth Fairy too.

CBL: God will have the final say??? Will come to pass? OMG. You know it all. LOL If that is true, why even talk about it? Silly man…

Bert: Did I ever tell you that I was Dutch, too? At least Dutch Canadian….my parents are from Drente and Friesland and came over after the war…..my Dad started a Dutch Store and brought all kinds of things over from Holland (or bought from a distribution company that imported things from Holland). I´ve never been there myself, but my wife has visited Amsterdam…..She is also Dutch but from Argentina…..we met here…..

CBL: You ain´t much if you aint Dutch! LOL The ‘God’ particle was found just recently. Wow, THAT is fascinating and so much more interesting than an old book about a dead guy with a beard. LOL

Bert: How do you know that he had a beard? LOL

Bert: You say that you have suffered…..care to share?

CBL: I am writing a book. Too long a story. lol I am setting up a fundraiser for children in need right now. Expecting over 200 people at my place tomorrow… 🙂

Bert: Hope that goes well……Let me know when your book is ready. Would love to buy a copy….

Bert: I have a book of short stories called Jesus was an Alien (and other stories of faith) as well as a full length historical novel called The Temptations of the Cross. The first one I hope to publish this year and the second one needs a bit more work in the editing process and hopefully will be published next year.

Bert: I am also writing a series called The Desert Warrior……What is the title of your book and what is it all about?

CBL: If you like, send me your email and I can send you a few chapters. Too busy here to go into details…Chao!

Bert: Don´t worry about it right now….of course, do it later when you have time…..my email address is bamsing@yahoo.com

The Desert Warrior

A Conversation about Hell

22 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

These are some Tweets that I posted on my Twitter account a month or so ago together with some comments made by someone who believes in Islam. I also added my own discussion at the end.

1. Hell is simply living eternally in the presence of God without the protection of the cross or the providence of the Father.

2. Hell is relational. It is a final, terrible rejection of sin and evil within us which is who we are without God in our very natures. Alone. Isolated from life and love and the source of ultimate reality.

Ahmed: There is a philosophy about punishment in the hereafter which is not set forth perfectly by any religion except Islam.

Bert: Perfect philosophy is not of interest to those who believe in the reality of forgiveness through the cross.

Ahmed: Islam is the only religion which says there is hope: Hell Is Not Everlasting.

Bert: Actually, Christianity is the religion of hope not by denying hell but by overcoming it through the cross.

Ahmed: ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtani?’—which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ why was Jesus so unwilling on thiscross!

Bert: because the cross was separation from God and he loved God with all his heart, so it was difficult… but he did it anyway.

Ahmed: My father if it is possible, may this cup (of death) be taken from me… is this the unwilling Sacrifice u refer 2 for forgiveness

Bert: He became sin for us, of course he hated it, but he did it out of obedience to his father. He trusted him completely.

Ahmed: As far as the effect of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in relation to the punishment of sin is concerned…..all human mothers still bear their kids with the pains of labour and it is still with labour that man earns his bread….. so question is what did attonement change if christians continue to suffer like the non christians?

Bert: If we have special priviledges, no pain or suffering, people would turn to God for the benefits not the relationship.

Bert: Our suffering now has a purpose…..to show the power and character of God in our lives even without benefits in this life.

3. Only in this life can we turn to God in faith, hope and love. Once we see God´s terrible majesty, there is only fear which is not enough for God (or any other relationship).

4. Who can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning? Isaiah 33:14b

5. Hell is a necessary evil which is the direct result of the nature of God. To sin and evil, He is a consuming fire always and forever (as He should be).

6. The cross is not love overcoming justice but rather fulfilling it. Justice matters. The cross was, and is hell for sin and evil.

7. Hell is not torture but rather justice. Without it, as the ultimate necessary justice of God on sin and evil, the cross was unnecessary.

8. Hell reminds us that sin and evil are more terrible in their very nature than we are inclined to believe.

9. This in-between place that we call life is a great, but necessary, deception. A truce of sorts, but a dangerous one. The great delusion.

10. We believe that sin and evil are about morality rather than about our necessary and conscious relationship with our Creator God in faith.

11. We get away with sin and evil for the most part in this world. It begs the question whether there is ultimate justice for good and evil.

12. The centrality, value and necessity of the cross is established by the justice of God. Only His sacrificial love can fulfill that justice.

Every rejection is a picture of Hell but the rejection only becomes permanent once we die. After death, there is only fearful judgment, not love, faith or hope. There is no possibility of protection although there is an awareness of God that will burn and continue to burn because we reject and continue to reject (i.e. not love) the God who cannot deny who and what He is (thank God).

So Hell is eternal rejection not of the truth of His existence but of a relationship of love through the cross precisely because fear cannot become love. After all, even the devil´s believe (and know) that God exists….and tremble as the Bible says. Agustine makes the point that we will be confirmed in our evil or righteousness like the angels or demons because they live in the reality of God´s presence. There is no room for faith and/or transformation.

So Hell is eternal rejection rather than the destruction of the soul or some sort of annihilation because of the nature of God (His justice cannot allow sin and rebellion to go unchallenged), because of the nature of the relationship (fear leaves no room for the development of love), because of the nature of the soul (for everyone) as immortal, because of the nature of human existence as a body-soul entity (and therefore a resurrected body for everyone).

Hell exists if the God of the Bible exists. If His nature is what the Bible says it is. If we are the way the Bible says that He created us. If not, no problem. But if so, then we have a big problem.

Will there be flames and burning in Hell? The Bible tells us that there will be eternal pain and suffering. How could it be otherwise? If joy and beauty and happiness are gifts from God, then their opposities would be the necessary result of not having a relationship with God. Even if you want to “spiritualize” the pain and suffering and talk about eternal “burning” as the eternal awareness of rejection by God, how is that better than physical pain and suffering. The psychic suffering in this world is often much worse and much more difficult to bear than physical suffering. In any case, both of them together would seem to be the case since we recieve from God both “creational – physical” benefits as well as “redemptive – psychic – relational” ones. For me, at least, the eternal burning of rejection by God would be much worse than anything physical.

Will Christians in Heaven say that Hell is just? Yes. They will. In fact, everyone in Hell will also admit that Hell is just (for them, not just for others). No one will be happy about hell and the majority of people who will end up there. In fact, it was, is and continues to be a source of great sorrow to God. It is a necessary evil. No one will rejoice in the fate of others but everyone will admit that it is just and necessary once we finally realize the truth of the nature of God and the truth about the nature of our rebellion.

Hell is a fearful reality that puts the lie to all of our pretensions about human moral goodness. The Last Judgment will clearly demonstrate the myth of human morality much less the myth of human moral autonomy and self-authority. There is no escape for any of us from the reality of hell except through the cross.

Those in heaven will also admit that they do not deserve heaven and that the only reason that they are there at all is because , on earth, they came to the realization that they are full of evil and deserve only the justice of God and threw themselves on the merecy of God in the cross as their only hope and dedicated their lives to following Christ at any cost. It was a relationship started on earth and dependent on the cross expressed through complete identification with Christ.

The point of the Last Judgment is to show each one of us that none of us can stand before God based on our own merits or morality. It is only a new relationship with God through Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit started in this life and expressed through faith, hope and love that will save us from what we deserve.

Will Christians in heaven be happy that God is who He is and that His justice and love – his goodness – were clearly demonstrated in the Last Judgment both in terms of heaven as well as hell? Yes. Will Christians in heaven rejoice that God´s glory and nature and character won the war against evil and rebellion and sin? Of course. Will Christians in heaven be relieved that they are in heaven and not in hell? Of course. But will they be “happy” about those who went to hell? Not at all. There but for the grace of God, go I – will be their attitude. It is rooted in humility, not pride, and no one, in that sense, will be happy about hell, including God. It may be necessary. It may be right in an ultimate sense. But no one will be happy about it.

Will Christians in heaven be eternally aware of those who are in hell, especially if they are loved ones? I don´t know. I hope not. The Bible promises us that God will wipe every tear from our eyes. I hope that it includes wiping out the memory of our loved ones in hell. On the other hand, those who are in hell will be eternally aware of the rejection of God and they will suffer the knowing. The real question is whether or not we will live in the reality of heaven and hell for ourself and our loved ones in this life when it matters, when something can still be done about it.

The truth is that, at the end of the day, everyone believes that Hell is overkill, it is unfair, it is unjust, it even makes God look bad. And the reason we believe that is because we are NOT convinced that our own evil (in terms of our behaviour, intentions and motivations) in this life, is worthy of eternal punishment.

That is because we are still thinking in terms of behaviour, in terms of morality and NOT in terms of the relationship. Morality cannot create a relationship with God. A relationship with God creates morality. We are not condemned to hell simply by our behaviour (or lack of behaviour) but because of our lack of a relationship of loving obedience to our God (expressed in our behaviour). That relationship cannot begin or flourish in the context of the reality of fear but only in the reality of faith, hope and love. That is the nature of the case. It is the nature of God. The nature of man. The nature of relationships.

Perhaps we need to take Hell (and sin and a lack of relationship with Him) far more seriously than we generally do. In fact, all of God´s work in sanctification in the lives of His people is dedicated to deepening and sharpening our understanding and realization of the sin and rebellion in our hearts.

God will show us the depths of our rebellion and willfulness and drive us to the cross in desperate need until we learn that without Him we are nothing but that in Him we are all that we can be.

Our desire for moral authonomy and self-authority is so deep and strong that God can only cast down every idol in our lives by destroying us with the conviction of His Spirit as we see ourselves in the mirror of His Word.

And I, for one, hate the process even though I know it is absolutely necessary. I hate the realization that I am polluted with sin and that it has such power over me. But I love the realization, so difficult for me to accept, that despite my sin and rebellion, God loves me in Christ and has a wonderful life and future planned for me.

The result of those two truths is love and gratitude and the indwelling Holy Spirit who is training me to live by faith, hope and love as I count on His providence and protection in the context of His promises to me. The more I walk with Him, the more I realize how deep and strong the sin within me really is and how much deeper and stronger is His love for me in Christ.

Like any addict, I need to learn to hate my life when I wallow in my addictive behaviour and love my life when I am free from the addiction. That is the reality of life in this in-between place. God is creating a new type of person and this radical surgery is necessary precisely because the cancer of sin is much more dangerous and devastating to our relationship with God than we realize.

We are weak in our awareness of the horror of sin and the glory of the character and righteousness of God. That is the truth from God´s perspective. Living in denial may be part of the grieving process but that only shows us that we feel that we are losing something when, in fact, God has a cure for our cancer and we should be giddy with happiness rather than grieving for what we have lost.

That perspective will change everything. Hell is real. Sin is real. God is real. If it were not so, why did God think that the problem of sin and rebellion was so bad as to motivate Him to send His only begotten son to die on the cross. At the end of the day, the horror and hell of the cross, the necessity of the cross is the clearest indication that Hell exists and that it is an eternal rejection by God in every way. It is the reality of Hell that makes the cross necessary. The centrality and value of the cross is because of who died there but the necessity of the cross is established on the basis of the reality of hell and sin and rebellion.

The cross proves the existence of Hell and the resurrection proves that God has a cure but the solution does not avoid the reality of Hell and sin and rebellion it looks Hell in the eye and overcomes it by fulfilling the justice of God and thereby making Hell unnecessary for those who are in Christ.

That is the ultimate reality of the cross which triumphs over that reality of Hell. Hell is a necessary evil which is the direct result of the nature of God and the horror of our rebellion. The cross is good overcoming evil and is also a direct result of the nature of God. God is both just and loving. His love does not excuse our rebellion or violates His justice but rather fulfills it. Hell makes the cross necessary. The cross makes hell unnecessary. In this purgatory of life, this in-between place, we must embrace the cross to avoid hell rather than to avoid the humiliation and the shame of the cross and embrace the moral autonomy and self-authority of hell.

The Desert Warrior