“Unwillingness;
Unbelief; Unrighteousness!” cji 1/7/13
“If We Reject the Lord –
He’ll Reject Us!”
(Isaiah 65)
What
causes the Lord to withhold blessings from each of His children? If the Lord be just and fair – exercising
both mercy and justice – the same yesterday, today and forever why would he
withhold anything from His children?
Throughout history it has been the pattern of men and women to blame the
Lord for all of their misfortunes.
Denying anything on their parts which have caused the destruction,
death, fear, and sorrow of which they partake.
The general question is always the same, ‘Why did God let this happen?’
‘Were Heavenly Father a loving God he would’ve prevented all of the ugly of
this life – why hasn’t he?’
Thus
men/women blame God – not themselves – not the adversary – only they find value
in blaming God! Why would anyone find value in blaming God for the actions of
those who choose to do evil; for those who murder; for those who violate laws
the nature; for those who indeed act as beasts? The answer is quite simple for
it allows them to rebel against God – deny or find loopholes in the Commandments,
Laws and Statutes of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To blame God allows them to deny the
truthfulness of the Bible and all Scriptures.
To
blame God allows men/women to become unbelievers, disassociated, evolutionists,
in short to fully associate with the world and worldly.
With
having excuses validated by the worldly then there is no reason for anyone
individual to read, study and ponder the Scriptures. There is no value in a
dead book – one which have been translated so many times – revised so many times
and in fact used to exercise dominion and power over any who profess to believe
or be saved. Even their ministers,
preachers, priests, rabbi’s, evangelists, nuns, sisters, and clergy of any sort
don’t believe in the Bible totally and literally! The mixture of philosophy and some scripture
makes for a good sermon – and the rhetorical mixture of truth, dreams, fiction
and outright denial makes for good entertainment. And then of course if it was
good enough for their parents it’s good enough for them.
What
indeed has occurred is that while many profess to believe in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ in reality is only a small fraction of what this Gospel
contains. By not reading, studying and
pondering the Scriptures on their own – they are missing the substance of the
Gospel. By allowing another to read and
tell them what is being taught – in a mixture of rhetorical interpretation is
to be found without truth. How can anyone with such teachings and without
having done their own homework ask a question of merit? For when one asks a question with merit –
those being asked will turn on them! When asking a question without merit and
milk and toast answer will appease. Yet
it is the merit questions which one asks knowing what they’ve heard to date is
wrong and what’s been given as an answer does not make common sense.
The
situation then spirals rapidly away from the truthfulness of doctrine so that
when real truth is being taught it is rejection of the hearer. Truth will always make common sense – it’ll
feel good and yet be rejected as it is found unfamiliar to those who’ve not
read, studied and pondered. With this rejection – comes anger at why it makes
sense – and therefore the instinct to believe has to be subdued. This is like a
triple negative – two negative’s makes a truth – the third negative rejects the
truth. The third negative is the rebellion point that it goes against all that
the worldly have taught you to this point in time. For if it is indeed truth
then you’ve been beguiled by loved ones – trust figures and worse you allowed
it to happen – thus the anger and rejection.
Thus
one can see and understand the confusion and contention which exist by those
who’ve had years to implant rhetorical thoughts in place of truthful thoughts.
In doing so they’ve iced the landscape so it is easy for all to fall down and
not want to get back up. To bring everyone to being average – the worst of the
best and the best of the worst. Without any permanent reality we’re left as was
Basil trying to comfort his best friends at the loss of a child – that there
was no hope for the child! For in the creeds, doctrines, teachings of religion
with one sole exception not only is there no physical body after death but
those who die without some sort of baptism there is no hope of anything after
death except outer darkness or what most call hell.
Many
churches teach a double doctrine – one which pacifies their members and then
always returning to their creeds or doctrines. One can say to a member – you
want to be married for all time and eternity then that’s what I’ll say in
performing the wedding ceremony. While in their state issued license they’ve no
authority and from their various denomination they’ve no authority. However,
their followers unless they’ve asked the merit questions have only confidence
in what the clergy tell them.
Mohamed
was the closest to a better understanding of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ –
during the centuries of 100AD to 1830AD but this was all lost at his
death. What was left behind by Mohamed
was a governmental power – loosely called a religion without keys or authority.
It wasn’t until almost two hundred years after his death that the Qur’an was
organized into a written document – and declared the only copy with anything
else being burnt.
None
of the major religious leaders from the 2nd Century on had the
fullness of the Gospel left to teach. What remained were various Bishops of
whom none had general authority to act in the name of the Church as organized
by the Savior. The Apostasy had occurred! Any claims to the keys from the time
of Peter were long disputed and unproved until given new life after the 17th
Century. However, all of the documents
and historical writings show conclusively that there was no one bishop with
absolute authority.
(Note:
for those who want to learn more on this subject they might review the various
lessons of four of the leading bishops of the time – who argued – wrote back
and forth – advised and had to vote on anything of importance which led to the
1st Council of Nicea. Remembering
there had been multiple councils beginning with the earliest in 155AC of the
bishops with no Apostles still alive. The Council of Jerusalem (c.50AD) was
held and notes kept while most of the Apostles were still alive and where some
had been murdered others put in their stead.)
In
the title of this short essay we find the three most important reasons for
men/women to go astray; unwillingness, unbelieving and unrighteousness. Too
many too often make the choices on their own to be rejected by the Father and
the Son – only after they’ve rejected them – or their servants the
Prophets.
(Note:
for those not familiar with the Book of Isaiah it is highly recommended that
one read, study and ponder all of Isaiah – this was given as a commandment by
the Savior to those he taught outside of Jerusalem when he told the Apostles he
had other sheep to feed. If one doesn’t feel the need to do this, at least read
Chapter 65 of Isaiah. “Ancient Israel was
rejected for rejecting the Lord—The Lord’s people will rejoice and triumph
during the Millennium.”)
The rejection of those of the House
of Israel is not unlike the rejection found today. To reject means not to be
found obedient to all of the teachings involved in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One can still be a good person – even a very good person – but if they are
unwilling and unbelieving of the teachings literally of the Scriptures and the
Prophets and Apostles – then they’ve made the choice to surrender any attention
of the Father and the Son. The Scriptures repeat this over and over – until one
cannot deny they’ve been taught this principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is accepted and understood anyone
acting in unrighteousness have forfeited their rights to the companionship of
the Father and/or the Son – and indeed the Holy Ghost for those who’ve received
this gift by one having authority to bestow it upon another. (Note: no one with
a state license of within the creeds has this authority.) The Father and the
Son have repeatedly stated that they can tolerate no semblance of sin. Thus one
can see those who act in unrighteousness have rejected the teachings and the
Father and the Son.
Looking
first then at what are people unwilling to do? Most are unwilling to change –
they’d rather stay comfortable and unmoving than to change. Change requires one
to become uncomfortable by doing something either new or changing the way they
once did something. This is shown over and over again by those who are willing
to stay in an abusive situation because at least they know what they have
presently. It is the unknown future that scares them more than the abuse. Many
of the world’s finest athletes are afraid to change what got them to where they
are – thinking to change now might take it all away from them.
However,
to learn and understand what one reads, studies and ponders most often requires
a change to their individual thinking. A change in thinking or the way one
looks at something requires a change of attitude. One must be willing to be
responsible for their motivation which is always internal and long lasting.
Most
have been conditioned since childhood with fear and incentive motivation – both
of which are external and short lived. With the fear the source of fear must be
present or very close by one. Whereas incentives must continue to get
bigger/more and are always from someone else who wants you to give something to
them. Or indeed do something for them. Thus each requires outside intervention which
most likely will contradict what ones reads, studies or ponders.
When
one takes a course in school there’s the old saying, “Garbage in – garbage
out!” It doesn’t matter is what is taught is right – partially right – wrong or
completely wrong! If a student wants a good grade they’ve to repeat what the
instructor taught them mostly word for word. One of the reasons they spend so
much time on math is to condition students (human beings) there is only one
correct answer and that was taught to them by an instructor. Schools have no
special interest in putting loose ‘free thinkers’ who are trained to ask
questions of merit.
Therefore
seldom is ones attitude considered in the educational process. Only for the
good of the desires of those paying the wages of the instructors is important.
From early on in the US this was the whole idea behind the Dewey System –
humanism. The educational system was to train as many as possible with the
least required skills – to do the minimal wage jobs effectively. The second desire
was the break-up of the family unit. In fact it was a large social babysitting
center to keep young people under their collective control until the age of
sixteen.
While
taking the young people out of the work force – their ultraistic reason – meant
that someone else had to enter the workplace – for families to keep from
starving. The educational system of the schools where no parental interference
was tolerated was bland and unappealing except for those of the privileged
classes. It remains so today. Every now
and then an exceptional student cannot be held down or otherwise destroyed.
This is the exception and not the rule! While those with wealth and power gain
special privilege will their children be given special educational
opportunities.
Father’s
had to start working two and three jobs – and mothers had to leave the home to
help support the family. (Note: we’re talking more of the urban areas of the
nation in the early years – but now this destruction of the family is gaining a
foothold in rural America. This is done through the advertising, music, tv,
movies and magazines.) Today those
seeking further educations on their own are finding themselves further in debt
and struggling while our social programs pay special privilege to various
groups who will play the party line and dance to their tunes.
Next
we’ll look at the understanding of being unbelieving of truth. Using the guise
of racism, fiction, guile, and social class distinctions we find that so much
being presented as fact is actually misrepresentation of a deliberate nature.
There
are many examples of this but here I’m only going to deal with two. Both
involve religion and while one deals with both men and women the other only
involves women. Both involve the same Church – The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (the Church). One
involves the those who were not given the Priesthood and both involve the
Temple.
For
years the professional intellects attacked the Church over and over for
allowing the Blacks to have the Priesthood or to be able to go to the Temple.
In addition, they also attacked the Church for not allowing women to go by
themselves to the Temple.
We
can discuss these both simultaneously. Basically it is the world crying
discrimination about something they knew very little about. For one to
understand that very few men or women hold the priesthood or have Temple
recommends and will never have that opportunity to ever hold either. When the
Savior organized His Church upon the earth in any of its seven dispensations there
were very few who held the Priesthood or were able to go to the Temple. For
most of the dispensation of the Savior there was no Temple (the one at
Jerusalem) was compromised) and there were none others. Then in most churches
even found today most members hold no Priesthood and none have a Temple to
which to attend.
So
why was there a hue and cry against the Church? Why the big issue of racism? Or
even that of equal rights? And if these were indeed problems why did Blacks and
single women join the Church? Or those women who were married by their spouse
who was unworthy to go to the Temple stay in the Church? Of course these
questions were never asked – only the accusing finger of racism and of
discrimination was always presented. Wouldn’t one find it interesting that
those within the Church didn’t seem overly aroused by these accusations? Yet
none bothered to ask – unless the person was an apostate from the Church. This
is always a good out – find someone who has left an organization to get all of
the local dirt.
Let’s
consider the fact that only very few members in any of the dispensations of the
Saviors true Church being upon the earth since Adam to today ever had access to
a Temple or the Priesthood. Secondly that having the Priesthood is not a
requirement to earn eternal life – worthiness is the only requirement after
first baptism (by one having authority – see the example of the Savior) and
then confirmation and receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost (by one having
authority – see Paul and other of the Apostles in the New Testament). Thus the only requirements to earn eternal
life (the ability to return to the Father and the Son with a physical body of
flesh and bone and with our family and loved ones are; baptism, confirmation,
gift of the Holy Ghost (each done by proper authority) and then to remain
worthy.
Therefore
this would be the place for those who’ve been so outwardly critical of the
Church to have started. (Note: having been a member of the Church for almost 40
years – having the Priesthood has been doing a lot of work (smile) – while with
certain exceptions could and was done by those not holding the Priesthood. No
one in the Church seeks out a calling of leadership – (some do but learn to
regret it and often times end up either inactive or apostatizing from the
Church). Leadership places tremendous pressures on the individual and their
families.
Thus
those unwilling to believe the truth – seek not to learn the truth and thus
seldom ask questions of merit – such as what was lost by not having either the
Priesthood or a Temple Recommend. In addition, if so many indeed refuse to
believe the revelations received – the additional Scriptures translated – then
why are they so concerned. Could it be the minions of Satan have gotten them
worked up and disturbed? Remember when Joseph Smith, Jr. was murdered it was
those in the clergy throughout the US who praised the mobs and damned the
remaining members of the Church!
Finally
we’ll discuss very briefly the unrighteous. Basically, if God will not tolerate
the least amount of sin – then those who are found unrighteous have no claim on
anything from the Lord – let alone to blame him for anything worldly. The
unrighteous commit the crimes of hate, murder, mass slaughter, sorrow, grief,
robbery, cheating, stealing or the violations of many if not most of the
Commandments, Laws or Statutes of Heavenly Father and His Son. Yes we find
above the big ones – but how many spread rumors – murmur – lie a little – cheat
a little – steal a little? Over 70% of High School and College students admit
to cheating and how many engage in sex outside of marriage? How many show up at
the sporting events or other events on the Sabbath Day?
Casting
no pointing fingers for we’ve each choices to make and to be accountable and responsible
for – and we all being humans in mortal probations have bad days – but how many
willingly seek to repent and return to Heavenly Father? How many feel they’ve
done wrong?
We’ve
each to seek to learn the questions of merit – and to stick with it until we
find the truthful answers of common sense which support the Scriptures
literally. If we don’t – that is okay as well as we’ve each the agency to
choose as we do. As Paul has explained the various degrees of glory which await
all born into this mortality on this earth – all of these various kingdoms will
be inherited! Those reading this have the ability to read, study and ponder.
Understand those who cannot read this – will never hear of Jesus Christ in
their mortal probation will also have the opportunity to hear, study and ponder
in the millennium. For all who’ve lived on this earth will hear the fullness of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be found no excuses – see Matthew.
The
initial question was asked: “What causes the Lord to withhold blessings from
each of His children?” The answer is simple: men and women reject Him! They do
this by being unwilling, unbelieving and unrighteous. The adversary knows this
and encourages all three to be used by those in their earthly mortal
probations. Ancient Israel was rejected for
rejecting the Lord—The Lord’s people will rejoice and triumph during the
Millennium. Will
this not also apply to us?
Can
we understand and appreciate the needfulness of asking merit questions? It is my hope that we can each strive to
continue asking questions of merit until we get the truthful common sense
answer which is in full agreement with the Scriptures. c/ork
“If We
Reject the Lord –
He’ll
Reject Us!”
(Isaiah
65)
cji
1/7/13
When we’re
found unwilling to obey
or unwilling
to strive to understand
or
unwilling to seek the literal truth
or found
in unbelief of all that is true
or in
unbelief of what we know is true
or in
unbelief of common sense known
or
acting in unrighteousness in life
being
unrighteous in our behaviors
following
not the Commandments all
we’ll be
found in rejecting the Lord
then as
those in the past discerned
in our
rejection of Him will he reject us
for we’ve
made the choice for both!
Copyright © 2012 – cji