Share the-Secular-Jesus by Accepting the-Mystery as Mystery

Share the-Secular-Jesus by Accepting the-Mystery as Mystery I think vision for a future, better, United States church (possible-UBC) is emerging, thanks to conversations with previous Senior Pastor Andy Hale, Nomads SS class, Vaughn-Crombie-Friday-coffee participants, Courage class, the 4 ministers now serving, and UBC members who freely, kindly dialogue. I especially appreciate UBC “Formations”, so far, covering 2 topics: “Faith after doubt” and “Christian Nationalism”, both touching U.S. civic-integrity. I think the key to all these discussions is the combination: open mind and open heart toward whatever constrains the consequences of human being (verb). Key accommodations-by future, possible-UBC include: appreciating the-mysterious-God in-order-to share the-secular-Jesus ; pursuing the-ineluctable-truth rather than preserving rationalizations; and developing civic-integrity through accepting human being; and nurturing unique-maturity rather than preserving tradition. The human-being can& may constrain chaos in his/her way of living. Possible-UBC includes: an expanded Bible canon that benefits from human being during the earliest recorded civilizations on earth; church independence from both Baptist conventions and Christianity, in order to appreciate the-secular-Jesus; and gratitude to every person who pursues& practices civic-integrity, whether they claim Jesus’ guidance or not. Civic-integrity is essential to comprehensive-safety& security, and no person can or may either effect or constrain Jesus’ influence on an individual’s choices& actions. Some people study Jesus for guidance in self-interested, responsible behavior. The above concepts are grounded in interpretation of Sumerian political philosophy, expressed in Hebrew vernacular in Genesis 1:26-28, NIV. The word “may” in that passage infers that humankind can pursue comprehensive-safety& security to life on earth and to the earth. Humans divide on awareness and appreciation of that Genesis-1 principle. The civic-citizens pursue statutory-justice by which to facilitate& encourage reform to fellow-citizens who neither perceive nor accept the Genesis-1-can& may-principle. I think this principle can be discovered in ancient literature from other parts of the world. There’s no reason to think civic-integrity was recognized only in Sumerian culture. Expected consequences: UBC advocates pursuit of the-secular-Jesus as separation of state and church and flourishes; the-secular-Jesus begins to influence the community; our district council-person gets involved; Baton Rouge begins to promote the-secular-Jesus without lessening the divine mystery; our state representative and state senator join; guidance from the-secular-Jesus rises to state government; our U.S. Representative and 2 Senators are supportive; other states create their variations; an improved civic-process emerges; the U.S. reforms to civic-integrity, attributing U.S. improvement to Jesus’ example, if that is so. Accomplishment time frame: 10 years. We are 60 years from the civil rights movement, itself a divisive Christian struggle over appreciating 12% of the population. Episcopalian Bishop Curry cited a survey that suggests 84% of a diverse public is interested in Jesus. Perhaps the-secular-Jesus can accomplish what neither fire nor love did in 2000 years. The world is hungry for an achievable better future. A church with U.S. civic-integrity can initiate the journey: sharing the-secular-Jesus while accepting the-mystery as mystery. Copyright©2022 by Phillip R. Beaver. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the publication of all or portions of this paper as long as this complete copyright notice is included.

The perpetually competitive capitalization of black lives

The perpetually competitive capitalization of black lives [could& should be politically constrained by human being (verb)].

(This is a response to recent impositions onto me. Church, I think erroneously, responded to my appreciation to black parishioners with capital “B”. My comments on selected political thoughts are in brackets and yellow highlight.)

(In this work, I discovered a major objection to KJV-Bible politics, recently corrected. This 411 year-old British imposition on Anglo-American tradition is at least egregious.)

At the recent edge of 300,000 years’ homo sapiens’ development, humankind can manage life on earth. However, so far, the civic-citizens do not accept the responsibility to constrain errant fellow-citizens. “Civic” herein refers to reliability in human connections& transactions more than to cooperation with the magistrates. Biologists suggest that migration from Africa perhaps 100,000 years ago led to the mutations that produced the myriad skin colors of our time, starting perhaps 50,000 years ago; see an understandable review at Why Did People Become White? | Live Science. But what does actual-reality suggest about promising political philosophy for managing life on earth?

Here’s the Sumerian perspective (5,500 years ago), in Hebrew vernacular (3,000) years ago), NIV Bible (1973):

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

(Emphasis mine. The RSVCE and OJB have “and let them have dominion”. KJV (1611) omits the phrase: NKJV (1979) restored it. [Did that Old Testament omission favor King James? Has it influenced American failure to pursue Genesis-1 responsible-human-independence (RHI)?] The Message Bible has “so they can be responsible for”. Wycliffe has “be he sovereign to”. Vulgate translates “and let him rule”.) [I prefer NIV, because it clarifies, to me, that man& woman has God-like ability to rule and may choose to do so -- can& may. Each person can& may constrain chaos in their way of living. Self-interest in constraint is so obvious, a negative-choice seems arrogance rather than free-will.]

AP says it will capitalize Black but not white

AP says it will capitalize Black but not white

[It seems obvious:  If any characterization offers civic-integrity, society should capitalize Human Being; in its current status, homo sapiens.]

July 20, 2020

By DAVID BAUDER, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — After changing its usage rules last month to capitalize the word “Black” when used in the context of race and culture, The Associated Press on Monday said it would not do the same for “white.”

The AP said white people in general have much less shared history and culture, and don’t have the experience of being discriminated against because of skin color. [This sentence is blatantly ignorant. We understand from mitochondrial-DNA that everyone alive evolved from one woman. Perhaps from another time and location Y-chromosome studies suggest one man was her ancestor and ours. And white slavery by blacks is a historical fact.]

Protests following the death of George Floyd, which led to discussions of policing and Confederate symbols, also prompted many news organizations to examine their own practices and staffing. The Associated Press, whose Stylebook is widely influential in the industry, announced June 19 it would make Black uppercase.

In some ways, the decision over “white” has been more ticklish [how about stupid?]. The National Association of Black Journalists [NABJ] and some Black scholars have said white should be capitalized, too. [Subscribers can stop paying for AP stupidity. I did.]

“We agree that white people’s skin color [Who has seen skin color make a decision or take action? Only a body, mind, and person acts.] plays into systemic inequalities and injustices, and we want our journalism to robustly explore these problems [Faulty media-workers are the problem.],” John Daniszewski, the AP’s vice president for standards, said in a memo to staff Monday. “But capitalizing the term white, as is done by white supremacists [Do some capitalize “supremacist”, too?], risks subtly conveying legitimacy to such beliefs.” [By analogy, Daniszewski labels himself “Journalist” and NABJ “journalists”. Daniszewski happily expresses arrogance the public can& may observe.]

Columbia Journalism Review, the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, NBC News and Chicago Tribune are among the organizations that have recently said they would capitalize Black but have not done so for white.

“White doesn’t represent a shared culture and history in the way Black does,” The New York Times said on July 5 in explaining its decision. [How did NYT miss Genesis 1:26-28? It’s only 3,000 years old.]

CNN, Fox News and The San Diego Union-Tribune said they will give white the uppercase, noting it was consistent with Black, Asian, Latino and other ethnic groups. Fox cited NABJ’s advice. [Is there no place for Brown? Is intermarriage racism?]

CBS News said it would capitalize white, although not when referring to white supremacists, white nationalists or white privilege. [The 1787 U.S. Constitution accommodates every person who accepts that they are of We the People of the United States as specified therein. It’s proffered intentions satisfy Genesis 1:26-28, respecting RHI.]

Some proponents believe that keeping white lowercase is actually anti-Black, saying it perpetuates the idea that whites are the default race. [Furthermore, capital B argues that blacks either deny or exclusively claim “in God’s image” per Genesis 1:26-28.]

“Whiteness remains invisible [Invisibility, or stonewalling, deprives my human being (verb). It is censure. I have experienced stonewalling in civic forums as well as at church.], and as is the case with all power structures, its invisibility does crucial work to maintain its power,” wrote Eve Ewing, a sociologist of race and education at the University of Chicago who said she’s changed her mind on the issue over the past two years.

“In maintaining the pretense of its invisibility, whiteness maintains the pretense of its inevitability, and its innocence,” she wrote on the website Nora. [The actually-real pretense is that skin color determines human being (verb). Ewing is just as capable of writing that thought as I am.]

Kwame Anthony Appiah, a philosophy professor at New York University, wrote in the Atlantic that capitalizing white would take power away from racists, since their similar use “would no longer be a provocative defiance of the norm.” [I see that point. However, it projects White Supremacist on all racists. On a harder analogy, it’s like saying hunters use their guns to kill people, because many killers employ guns. However, skin color can be altogether discounted in the practice, facilitation, and encouragement toward each individual pursuing human being (verb). Preserve White Supremacists’ will to emphasize their resistance to human being (verb).]

The AP checked with a variety of experts and sources in making its decision. [Democracy is no substitute for RHI, which humankind expects from both journalists and media workers.]

“We will closely watch how usage and thought evolves, and will periodically review our decision,” Daniszewski said. [How much harm will occur for how long? Standards for reviewing stupidity seem destined for repetition.]

[Some people choose to capitalize capital-B rather than comprehend, practice, facilitate, and encourage Human Being (verb). I employ HB for affect, rather than to recommend.]

[Returning to my introduction if "man& woman has God-like ability to rule and may choose to do so", why is the humankind that is on the verge of colonizing the moon/Mars perpetuating the commercialization of black skin?

Is it that every newborn who has white skin is racist? Is the newborn with white skin privileged?

Some nations train "the workers we need". What if every Education Department in the world reformed its curricula, in order to inculcate the comprehension& intention to aid each the newborn, the child, the adolescent, the young adult, and the practicing citizen to develop their unique Human Being (verb) to the civic integrity that is required for RHI? What if the world decided that the meaning of life is for each person to reliably pursue the happiness they perceive, at each stage in their life, rather than subjugate to the common good or another human construct? The student would still have to learn on their own, but at least they’d have better chance to discover& accept civic-integrity.]

Copyright©2022 by Phillip R. Beaver. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the publication of all or portions of this paper as long as this complete copyright notice is included. Updated December 23, 2022

Christian opinion against Christian opinion about Jan 6, 2021

Presiding Bishop joins call for Christians to counter Christian nationalism during webinar – Episcopal News Service, Jan 28, 2021

Bishop Curry speaks at 23 minutes into the video. In my paraphrase: anytime Christianity strays from Jesus of Nazareth, the cause is suppression by Christ, an ambiguous figure someone uses for immoral purpose. Apartheid, Nazism, and white supremacy are examples. These are violations of Christianity based on Jesus Christ as Lord.

In my view, the good bishop is himself astray from the-metaphysical-Jesus-message (MJM). By MJM, I mean the-good which the continuum “ourselves and our Posterity”* can& may gain by discovering, accepting, practicing, facilitating, and encouraging behavior according to Jesus’ principles and their extensions.

Christ is an entity of dispute with the Jews, a faction of whom predicted a messiah (anointed one) to establish a kingdom. “Christ” evolved from English translations of the Greek Χριστού, which in turn is from the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (Mašíaḥ, messiah), meaning "⁠[one who is] anointed" (Wikipedia). The evolution to “Christ” happened long after Jesus died.

To Christians, Christ indisputably titles Jesus. Applying the title is a risk I would not take, for at least 3 reasons.

First, Matthew shares the hearsay that Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Just as I never liked someone saying “Phil: horse lover!”, or someone laughing about “beaver” for their reasons, I doubt Jesus accepts commentary on his name.

Second, given the chance to speak for himself before being sentenced to death, John reports that Jesus said, “ . . . the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Jesus could have accepted Pontius Pilot deciding not to kill an innocent man. Jesus, facing death, neither admitted kingship nor claimed fulfilling Hebrew prophesy. To me, the Bible presents, perhaps misrepresents, a mysterious Jesus, and I think collaborating to discover MJM empowers pursuit of the-ineluctable-truth.

Third, I choose to discover MJM to benefit my way of living. I serenely perceive that if I changed my quid for the Christian pro quo (everlasting life to defeat death) MJM would be aware of my duplicity – lack of integrity.

I share my concerns, because I appreciate fellow citizens, as they are where they are. If my choices-for-me seem worthy of consideration, I do not want to change one person’s mind, because I do not know the-ineluctable-truth. Let people who read my concerns make their own choices. I want responsibility for only one person’s actions: my person’s life. I can& must caution, with appreciation, anyone’s attempt to force me to falsify my trust-in and commitment-to MJM.

*[Quoting the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.]

Matthew 5: correcting Moses’ law

Matthew 5: correcting Moses’ law

[Note: I apply Genesis-1 perspective to Bible interpretation. I think Genesis 1:26-28, in the-metaphysical-Jesus-messages (MJM), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) MJM’s “my peace”, suggests that:  Male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood pursues comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, MJM-my-peace& SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. A few human-beings throughout history seemed to practice, facilitate, and encourage RHI; for example, Albert Einstein. From the past, RHI-individuals guide us and the others warn of error. I think the authentic-Jesus practiced, facilitated& encouraged RHI.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted: I can& must choose.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the MJM I advocate. In other words, I attribute to MJM the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. “Civic” means reliable-in human connections& transactions more than compliant-to civil/legal rules. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response, “I don’t know, yet value MJM”, seems sufficient& complete to my person.

Perhaps MJM always was the-good human being (verb). That potential was present at the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility.

It seems the-laws-of-physics (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. I choose to accept mysterious-God’s appreciation and pursue Jesus’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for an entity to usurp RHI.]

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [This is good start for a study of what “image of God” might mean.]

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [The person who sincerely considers and shares with willing contemporaries mutual pursuit of MJM, can trust Jesus’ reliability.]

Salt and Light

¹³ “You [because of me] are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness [trust-in and commitment-to], how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. [To the serenely-confident civic-student, MJM overcomes the mysteries accumulated in past pursuits of comprehension, and discovery should be mutually shared.]

The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. [For example, in Matthew 19:3-8 Jesus corrected Moses’ law about divorce.]

Murder

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, [Exodus 20:13] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister [who pursues MJM; without cause?] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ [contempt] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister [who pursues MJM] has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. [Jesus seems to express high regard for government.] 

Adultery

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [Exodus 20:14] ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [I suggest “to” rather than “with”, relying on Matthew 19:5.] ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. [These penalties like offenses may reference The Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonian update on Sumerian codes.]

Divorce

³¹ “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ [Deut. 24:1] ³² But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [This seems inconsistent with Jesus’ instruction, “Go and sin no more.” It may be erroneous reasoning by Matthew. I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth.]

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from evil. [Or from the evil one.]

Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’

[Code of Hammurabi; Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21] ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. [I think if you fail to appreciatively caution a civic-citizen, you are treating them as an evil person. See V 13-16, above.]

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, [Five times, this chapter uses “You have heard that it was said”. Perhaps the phrase introduces correction of Moses’ law.] ‘Love your neighbor [Lev. 19:18] and hate your enemy.’ [Hate enemy does not seem to be a Moses’s law.] ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies [What does MJM instruct on this? First, since everyone is of humankind, we are all fellow-citizens: there are no “enemies”, excepting someone who is about to kill/injure you if you don’t act. Second, I assert that “love” is practiced by constraining erroneous fellow-citizens and facilitating their reform. Allowing offenses to continue leads to ruin, probably yours.] and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven [Matthew’s witness to this quid pro quo does not impress me, and I caution civic-citizens who believe Matthew]. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? [I doubt quid pro quo propositions are of MJM; the Bible? Yes; MJM? No.] Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [I strive for perfection and encourage others to accept that they can& may. Genesis 1:26-28 assesses humankind in God’s image and assigns to them responsibility for comprehensive-safety& security to life on earth. The assignment alone is a statement that they can& may succeed. Matthew 5:48 reaffirms Genesis-1. Accepting God, as God is, and pursuing Jesus’ “my peace”, whatever that is, I am working to perfect my behavior.]

John 14 "Jesus" rather than "Christ"

 

John Chapter 14

[Note: I apply Genesis-1 perspective to Bible interpretation. I think Genesis 1:28, in the-metaphysical-Jesus-messages (JESUS), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) JESUS, offering “my peace”, suggests that:  Male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood pursues comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, JESUS-my-peace& SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. A few human-beings throughout history seemed to practice, facilitate, and encourage RHI; for example, Albert Einstein. The RHI-individuals from the past guide us and the others warn of error. I think the authentic-Jesus practiced, facilitated& encouraged RHI.

But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the-JESUS I advocate. In other words, I attribute to JESUS the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. “Civic” means reliable-in human connections& transactions more than compliant-to civil/legal rules. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response, “I don’t know, yet value JESUS”, seems sufficient& complete to my person. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility.

It seems the-laws-of-physics (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. I choose to accept mysterious-God’s appreciation and pursue JESUS’ “my-peace”, in-order-to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for human-responsibility usurpation.]

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” [This may suggest a second coming, but I doubt it will happen. Doubt does not suggest knowledge: I don’t know.]

Jesus the Way to the Father

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” [See Jesus, see the Father.]

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father [Jesus is God.], and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these [Jesus expresses an important principle: once you practice Jesus’ messages, you will mimic them in new circumstances.], because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. [In light of this promise, does it make sense to call Jesus “Christ” or “Christ Jesus” or “Jesus Christ”? I don’t think so and am grateful to Rev. Keith Holmes for giving me a puzzle that opened my mind to the issue. This makes me more comfortable saying that I am not a Christian, in-order-to advocate the-metaphysical-Jesus’-messages.]

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth [I like this sentiment – pursuit of truth.]. The world cannot accept [I never lost Jesus’ guidance during my life so far.] him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”[I prefer “appreciate” rather than “love”, because love is often unwanted.]

²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. [Here, John seems to contradict John 6:38-40 “I shall lose none of all those he has given me”. That is, it is not a matter of God coming to those who love Jesus.]

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. [I have no idea what “my peace” means. I am wrestles to comprehend, practice, facilitate, and encourage Jesus’ messages.] Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I [and the same]. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

Psalm 77: faulty-influence unto dependency

[Note: To Bible passages, I apply Genesis-1 perspective. I think Genesis 1:28, in the-metaphysical-Jesus perspective (JESUS), given each 1) mysterious-God, offering appreciation to human being (verb) and 2) JESUS, offering “my peace”, suggests that:  Male unites-to female human-being (noun) and their spouse-hood pursues comprehensive-safety& security to the living species and to the earth (SECURITY). Every person can& may accept personal duty to SECURITY. Some persons neglect, partially or wholly, God-appreciation, JESUS-my-peace& SECURITY.

I call Genesis-1’s message, “responsible-human-independence” or RHI. A few human-beings throughout history seemed to practice, facilitate, and encourage RHI; for example, Albert Einstein. The RHI-individuals from the past are our friends and the others, not so much. I think the authentic-Jesus practiced, facilitated, and encouraged RHI. But I don’t know the-ineluctable-truth. “Ineluctable” means: not to be avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, or resisted.

Persons appreciating contemporary human being (verb), during each generation, develop the-metaphysical-Jesus I advocate. In other words, I attribute to JESUS the civic-appreciation that human being (verb) applied “before Abraham was born” and since then. “Civic” means reliable-in human connections& transactions more than compliant-to municipal rules. Given the question, “Was Jesus a man?”, my response, “I don’t know, yet value JESUS”, seems sufficient& complete to my person. There’s joy in accepting that I don’t know, seeking ineluctable-evidence, and reserving humility.

It seems the-laws-of-physics (PHYSICS) constrains the consequences of each person’s choices. I choose to accept God’s appreciation and pursue JESUS’ “my-peace”, in order to commit-to and trust-in PHYSICS. For example, I work for food& shelter rather than accept what a bureaucrat might provide. I work to aid SECURITY rather than pray for human-duty usurpation.]

¹ I cried out to God [not “the Lord God” of Genesis 2?] for help;
    I cried out to God to hear me.
² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
    at night I stretched out untiring hands,
    and I would not be comforted.

³ I remembered [I doubt the-God responds with favor to lapses in appreciation. In other words, the Psalmist offers bad influence, including the “groan”. If a person views consequences of the-laws-of-physics as the object of choice& action, all the while accepting the-God’s appreciation of human being (verb), they may find appreciation in their self-interest.] you, God, and I groaned;
    I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
⁴ You kept my eyes from closing [It’s up to the-God-psychology to open them?];
    I was too troubled to speak.
⁵ I thought about the former days,
    the years of long ago;
⁶ I remembered my songs in the night.
    My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

⁷ “Will the Lord reject forever?
    Will he never show his favor again?
⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
    Has his promise failed for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

¹³ Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God? [This seems an argument in the transition from polytheism to atheism. However, the tribal competitiveness leads to chaos within monotheism. There’s further chaos due to factions within each monotheistic culture.]
¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
    you display your power among the peoples.
¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph [The divisiveness is counter to the laws of physics.].

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God,
    the waters saw you and writhed;
    the very depths were convulsed.
¹⁷ The clouds poured down water,
    the heavens resounded with thunder;
    your arrows flashed back and forth.
¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
    your lightning lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and quaked.
¹⁹ Your path led through the sea,
    your way through the mighty waters,
    though your footprints were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

[I won’t try to refute miracle claims, except to say that, for example, rather than pray for relief from the U.S. west’s many fires, citizens would do well to manage dead-wood fuel and tree-density within the forests.]