What does Christianity pursue?
I happily, joyfully celebrate Yeshua’s civic influence
everywhere; especially at home, at University Baptist Church, at Perkins Road Community
Park, and shopping in Baton Rouge, LA.
Nothing stirs my intentions to
necessary goodness more than committing to fellow citizens, in order to aid
life – to aid mutual comprehension-of and intention-to pursue human being (the
practice).
UBC’s recent baby dedications
inspire ponder: What would I want UBC to
inform my grandchildren by their ages 11, encourage as they approach age 21,
and celebrate as each adult matures? My response is: comprehension, intention,
and choices to necessary goodness during their complete life.
The perfection I aspire to
I’m first prompted by John 1:38,
CJB: “Yeshua . . . asked them, ‘What
are you looking for?’” Although infants are born in the psychological image of
The God, they have not the words to respond, so UBC may act in their behalf.
But what is UBC’s response? Many there might hopefully think of Jesus’ miracles
or Christ’s blood or the church.
Matthew
writes, in 5:47-8, “[I]f you are friendly only to your
friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? . . . Therefore,
be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” But in my 82nd
year, I study – don’t know how to perfect my person. I often don’t know the
necessary good, so listen to fellow citizens.
John, in 1:1
tells me, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.”
Therefore, I look to Genesis and find in 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth. The earth was unformed and void . . . and the
Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water.” Is the Spirit of God the
Word? Then, in 1:26-8, “Let
us make humankind in our image . . . male and female he created them . . . God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth
and subdue it. Rule [living beings] on the earth.” Fruitfulness requires necessary goodness, in order to control
badness and annihilate evil. What if the Spirit of God is goodness?
In the very next
chapter, Genesis 2, the writer changed the authority from God to the Lord God, inspiring
various labels like Jehovah, Yahweh, and Adonai. They increased humankind’s
vain attempts to usurp their own
responsibility to The God, perhaps that which constrains the consequences of
human choice. History shows humankind attempts to avoid, change, or resist
Genesis 1:26-28 -- humankind rules on earth.
Because The God spoke,
“fill . . . subdue [and] Rule . . . on the earth”, humankind may and can choose
to do so. In appreciation and humility, I want to influence infants to accept
the authority, power, and responsibility to perfect their way of living then, into
adulthood, influence fellow citizens to pursue their unique perfection --
collaborate to perfect humankind. It seems The God did not create utopia, so constraining
the bad and annihilating the evil is humankind’s continuous, so far neglected,
duty.
While
I accept
The God and Yeshua is my civic influence, I do not
think I know the ineluctable* truth and therefore do not want to lessen even
one fellow-citizen’s motivation and inspiration to necessary goodness. I can
neither discern Yeshua’s civic influence nor accept other citizens’ trusts and
commitments, without listening.
[*Ineluctable means the
combination: not to be avoided, changed, or resisted.]
Humankind’s potential to rule on earth
What-is
always was and the past had to happen before the now can be considered. Two
research responsibilities are assigned to humankind: technology by which to fill and subdue the earth and psychology by which to choose benefits
to life. Research empowers humankind to discover benefits from the laws of
physics and its progeny, including psychology. So far, humankind seems focused
on adult satisfaction more than necessary goodness. But reform seems possible.
Primitive
humankind evolved from the hominids and through trial and error discovered how
to make tools to aid daily productivity. This was early development of economic
viability. By 200,000 years ago, much technology had been discovered, and
humankind evolved as Homo sapiens. Their brain, not the largest among hominids,
has synapses and neurons with increasing speed and capacity to processes
exponential information. Only 10 thousand years ago, Homo sapiens invented
writing and grammar by which individuals and societies may collaborate.
Today,
a team is rescuing two astronauts from the International Space Station, yet war
is raging in several geopolitical centers of dispute, including Ukraine,
Palestine, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Technology seems advanced but
psychology remains primitive. UBC can choose to lessen traditional waiting for
The God to replace war with necessary goodness by accepting Genesis 1:26-28.
Statistical variations
in psychology produce 3 value options: good, bad, and evil. Homo sapiens’
purpose is to increase goodness, lessen badness, and eliminate evil. So far,
adult Homo sapiens have not articulated that behaving in necessary goodness – continuously
constraining the bad and annihilating the evil, is both a self-interest and a
collaborative benefit. In other words, human being (the practice) is not being inculcated
to youth. Education departments, including churches, are failing. Church instills
trust and government provides commitment. Separation of church and state seems
a myth. The religion of necessary goodness could, should unite civic humankind.
Timeline of
psychological discovery
Humankind
as Homo sapiens increased awareness of necessary goodness yet neither discouraged passivity, dependency, and
crime nor lessened evil. No culture
teaches their young that they may and can comprehend human being (verb), intend
to perfect their person during a typical lifetime, and by example encourage
their children to pursue necessary goodness. Many cultures erroneously teach
that human-beings are naturally bad and must be constrained by a higher power,
neglecting education in necessary goodness. Often, the most powerful politician
partners with a doctrinal God to tyrannize the people. No doctrinal God reserves
humility to The God.
Pre-history-Homo-sapiens
were spiritual – pursued mystery, as evidenced by drawings in caves, statues, hand-held
carvings, and aboriginal spirituality. Some civilizations developed
mythological explanations for the unknowns. Polytheism developed. There were
many names for the sun god. Discovery that the sun is a natural nuclear reactor
eliminated the sun god without lessening the pursuits of Gods. Polytheism
transformed into competitive monotheisms – “my God is a powerful God”.
Consequently humankind now has perhaps 18 thousand Gods and 4 thousand
religions. Religions divide, and Christianity has about 45 thousand sects
within a 1/3 faction of humankind. Most people don’t admit that The God may not
share their opinions.
History
reports that in Mesopotamia, one civilization, polytheistic Sumer, developed
law codes that suggested humankind rules the earth to support the gods, who
rule the heavens. Cities housed, fed, and worshipped their patron God, hoping
to protect the people from alien invasion. The Babylonians conquered Sumer. Marduk, the chief god of
Babylon, defeated the Sumer God Tiamat. The suggestion that
humankind is in charge on earth was recorded by Sumerians and evidenced by
physics.
Competitive monotheism
About
4 thousand years ago, a Semitic-speaking scribe, writing Genesis 1, reflected thought
from Sumerian polytheism. In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. Earth
was the Spirit of God in darkness over water (V 1-2). In V 26-28, humankind, created
in God’s image -- male and female -- is to be fruitful on earth and rule the
living species.
But beginning at
Genesis 2:4, scribes report ancient Semites branching from God to their Lord God,
El or Allah. Semites were variously tormented by their view of sacrifice to their
Lord God versus desire for necessary goodness. Haunted by human sacrifice “to
the fire”, they pursued blood sacrifice supplied by lesser species, such as
oxen, or birds. A small branch, Israel, with 12 tribes, developed Moses’ law,
or the Torah, under YHWH-- variously interpreted Yahweh, Jehovah, Adonai, God,
etc., in order to promote their nation if not human being (verb). The majority
in the land, other Semites and non-Semitic-speakers (such as Indo-Iranian and Arabic),
continued their spiritual pursuits, whether polytheistic or not. None reserved
humility to The God.
About
2 thousand years ago, Yeshua, a descendant of an Israeli king and priest, David,
was born to Yosef and Miryam (Aramaic-speaking Jews in Nazareth, population 200).
Yeshua developed and shared political and religious philosophy that influenced
the people to reform both religion and politics -- church and state. Observing
the power of religion, various politicians created competitive representations
of Yeshua: rabbi and civil reformer, miracle-working Jesus, blood-sacrificing
Christ, and self-incarnated God, variously empowered by the Spirit of God
(Genesis 1). Yeshua valued both The God and the governor.
Judeo-Christian views
So
far, I am aware of 7 views that spawn today’s 45 thousand Christian sects: the
laws of physics, Yeshua’s civic influence, and 5 opinions, from, respectively:
Judaism, reflective-brother James, apostles Peter and John, and self-promoted
Paul. Paul’s letters were published before 60 CE. Books Mark, Matthew, and
Luke-Acts came before 76 CE, 85 CE, and 90 CE, respectively. John came in about
100 CE. In other words, most of the New Testament seems commentary on Paul’s
letters. (Compare modern competition: a viewer cannot monitor
Fox News without opinions from CNN, ABC, etc. The View seems to dominate Fox.)
Bible
characters attempt to defy rather than discover the laws of physics and ways to
benefit. For example, a person may choose sex to bond for life or for
promiscuity. Sexual “prowess” is a major theme in Bible stories. Consider King
and Priest David, murderously appreciating Bathsheba. And Abraham, hoping to save his life, risked claiming his
wife was his sister. Returning to the 7 views, below:
Yeshua
affirmed the laws of physics in his personal dialogues and in his preaching (e.g.,
Mark 12:17, Matthew 18:18, John 8:7, John 18:37, Matthew 18:15-17, Matthew 5:48).
Humankind affirms Yeshua’s reliability through research and discovery in each
generation. The living generation may recall and avoid the errors of past
generations, collaborate to necessary goodness in living, and share ineluctable
evidence with their children, grandchildren and beyond. Writing that casts
doubt on Yeshua may be attributed to passion (e.g., Matthew 5:29, 39, Luke 14:26).
The psychologically mature human-being approaches perfect behavior, in
Yeshua-like humility to The God.
Judaism
holds that YHWH granted them favor among nations, in return for obedience. Upon
repeated failure, successive patriarchs reported new YHWH-promises. Davidic
descendant Yeshua was a teacher, who improved the Torah, as all Jews intend.
Jews hope to behave perfectly yet await YHWH-favor, including restoration of
the Temple and its cermonies. Today’s Jews pray for and expect their Messiah,
perhaps neglecting humility to The God. Nevertheless, they pursue peace to life
on earth through YHWH.
James,
after his brother’s death, thought Yeshua was the Messiah intended to unite the
12 tribes of Israel as a kingdom at peace in the world. To prepare for the
imminent second coming, believers should perfect their behavior according to
the Torah. Yeshua meant it when he instructed: be perfect (I think, in the
psychological image of The God).
Peter
thought Jews were hypocrites to claim adherence to the Torah saves them,
including male circumcision. He thought Yeshua’s appreciation and mercy was
granted to all believers, not exclusively to Jews.
John
portrayed Yeshua as YHWH from the beginning of the heavens and the earth. In
other words, YHWH came to earth in order to establish a human body to carry
blood for sacrifice, as prescribed by the Torah. One death would redeem
humankind for the continuum of sin. But YHWH returned to heaven and is
therefore not dead.
Paul
changed believer’s intentions to salvation of souls during the afterdeath
rather than necessary goodness to life on earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Believers
were elected by YHWH for atonement by Christ’s blood. Gentiles could be joined
by believing Jews. In his letters, especially Romans (58 CE), Paul projects
the executed Yeshua onto quotations from Hebrew scripture, especially prophecies
selected for Chapters 10 and 11, thereby constructing Christ’s church and
obscuring Yeshua’s church.
A
triune divinity perhaps suggested in parts of the New Testament developed in
the 2nd century. Theophilus of
Antioch (d. 183 CE) first recorded “the Trinity” as God,
his Word, and his Wisdom. Tertullian (d. 183 CE) defined it as
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The fact that Christians usually do not
insist on “The Trinity” suggests an un-admitted humility to The God. I think I
perceive such humility at UBC.
While
I feel humble to The God and pursue Yeshua’s civic influence, I would not
change anyone’s motivation and inspiration to necessary goodness as they
perceive it. I defend-not my limited opinion and intend to continue pursuing
less ignorance. But I deeply regret that my father and mother did not share a
well-developed record of competitive monotheism during my ages 3 - 11 and
thereafter. The church that undertakes this task may be rewarded.
Psychological influences on earth
Diversity suggests
that humankind pursues mysterious hopes rather than necessary goodness on
earth. Many people develop a doctrinal God rather than establish and maintain
humility to The God. The world’s 8.2 billion people divide to Christianity,
Islam, Judaism, Indian religions, Chinese Folk ideology, ethnoreligious, and
non-religious: 29.7 %, 24.4, 0.18, 20.7,
4, 4, and 16.9 %, respectively. Christians divide Catholic, Protestant,
Independent, Eastern Orthodox, and unaffiliated: 47 %, 22, 15, 11, and 5 %,
respectively. Baptists represent 0.58% of the world’s humans. Religious
institutions don’t seem to accept authority, power, and responsibility to
pursue necessary goodness to the earth. Believers arrogantly brandish “atheist”,
never considering humility to The God, whatever it is.
The United Nations
lists 195 countries in the world. None educate their youth to comprehend and
intend human being (verb).
Educational tyranny
Accepting
that humankind has the power, authority, and responsibility to order life on
earth, we ponder: Why is humankind so
divided?
So
far, infants are so involved in bringing their awareness from zero to hope to
survive if not thrive. The world, meanwhile, exponentially expands technologies,
understanding, and attractions. In other words, the individual develops at
unguided or misguided pace while humankind zooms out of reach without humility
to The God. Social democracy has the world so enthralled it seems tyranny might
prevail. What can be done to establish order to the earth?
Civic cultures may and
can educate their youth to comprehend and intend human being (verb) for
complete living rather than to risk young death in accepted, worldly pursuits.
A sufficient education is grounded in Genesis 1:26-28: humankind is responsible
to rule on earth; each individual may and can acquire the comprehension and civic
intention to perfect their unique person. Where could reform of education
departments begin?
I know of only one
nation that accommodates (but does not facilitate and clearly promote) pursuit
of necessary goodness according to Genesis 1:26-28. That is the United States
republic. Its Constitution civilly accommodates a civic culture.
The civic faction of
We the People of the United States
The United States
Constitution establishes and ordains a nation that guarantees its states a
republican form of government. A republic requires an informed people. The
people in their states manage their state constitutions and have the means to
amend the United States Constitution. Civil governance of, by, and for civic
people was Abraham Lincoln’s hope and our opportunity.
By default, United
States citizens have intentions that are stated in the preamble to the
Constitution. Every citizen may and can choose to develop and maintain their
personal interpretation of the intentions sentence in the preamble. Mine, on
March 16, 2025 is as follows: “The civic faction, We the People
of the United States, proffer and practice six public pursuits: integrity,
justice, safety, strength, prosperity, and responsibility, “in order to” pursue
happiness “to ourselves and our Posterity”. Neither my adaption nor the
original preamble says one word about religion or human characteristics such as
eye color.
I think the preamble to the United States Constitution
accommodates Genesis 1:26-28 and is wholly collaborative to the goal: necessary
goodness on earth -- or better intentions, according to The God. Just as an
individual can pursue perfection in order to aid humankind, a nation can
continually improve its laws so as to develop statutory justice (perfect law)
among humankind. Just as humankind cannot separate from The God, churches
cannot separate from governance.
A noble service UBC may and can adopt
UBC maintains
statements and values yet creatively practices the means to inculcate better
understanding of the complete story to each of its youth and adults. Further,
UBC aids young adults in establishing their intentions to human being (verb).
What’s missing, to me, is a clear statement: no person can imagine the
excellence each infant may, can, and will achieve in their person’s maturity.
I think
this idea is consistent with Co-pastor Tanya Parks’ statement (last week in
Senior’s Luncheon): she envisions civic seminars and topics like “estate
planning”. I think her idea is Biblical, referencing Genesis 1:26-28, and much
needed. For example, each infant needs chosen guardians in case parents are
lost to one of the tragedies today’s citizens face.
The
world seems ready to appreciate and pursue the necessary goodness available to
civic citizens rather than utopia religions imagine. I think UBC pastors and
members are capable of developing necessary goodness in Baton Rouge and influencing
humankind. UBC youth will benefit from the practice.
Acknowledgements
First,
there is no way I would have these thoughts without my association with
University Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA. Second, without my family --
Cynthia, Holly, Stephen (d), and Rebekah, my ideas could not exist or develop.
My 45-year association with UBC touches briefer experience with Louisiana
French-Catholicism, including Bishop Stanley J. Ott explaining to me how
transubstantiation occurs. Pastor Andy Hale listened well to a brief
introduction of my non-Baptist, non-Christian pursuit of each: the metaphysical
Jesus (now Yeshua’s civic influence), the ineluctable truth, and acceptance of
Genesis 1:26-28. He suggested I try each Nomads and Courage classes, who taught
me more than I could have imagined. Ken Tipton listened and understood my
history. UBC sermons seem to dovetail with Nomads’ pursuits. Visitor, Rev.
Keith Holmes challenged me with Christ,
prompting recall that Dad taught me Jesus
(unaware of Yeshua). Thanks to the
divinity-school experiences in Nomads, I now believe I have always been under
the reliable influence of Yeshua, that precocious political and religious
leader from Aramaic-speaking, Jewish, Nazareth. I accept and celebrate The God,
whatever the actual-reality. I have no desire to change anyone’s trust and
commitment to their hopes and comforts and listen for fellow citizens to
express opportunity for me to improve my opinions. But I want infants to choose
from a leading-edge perspective of the unknowns.
Phil Beaver, March 18, 2025, updated
Copyright©2025
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.
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