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The other month, I returned from a seminar called "Working the Word," run by (the now Rev.) Jon O. Nessle, whose life and wife, I used to know years ago, in Chicago -- because I lived with them.
Before the full-scale "background," let me share the verse that prompted this blog, which is what I saw when I "deleted" a theological insertion I'd known about for years. But, having recently come from a variety of churches in which the basics of receiving this gift of holy spirit are NOT taught, nor is the manifestation of them generally welcome -- resulting in more dependent populations than I think Jesus Christ ever would've intended -- it sank home, that the Bible speaks of holy spirit in several terms, none of which resembles the "communal behavioral modification as evidence of presence" which I have come to see, at least locally.
Please accept this is a blog in process, imperfect, but I will work towards the straightforward format envisioned from its start:
- CENTER: POSTS -- presenting More scripture, Less commentary.
- SIDE: Narrative -- personally narration, hopefuly with a sense of humor and irreverence
- LINKS & other Gadges -- books and background I have read, to keep us all aware that for large parts of this present earth population, the lands and struggles and themes and politics of the religions of this book ARE duking it out globally, and quite likely may produce an Armageddon, whether of the kind described in Revelation, or of the product of human nature itself, and it is of primary importance to understand this Book, as well as of to some extent, how other institutions view it.
- Even today, being aware of one site that claims The "Beast" of Revelation is Rome / Catholicism, another one claims ("The Beast from the Mideast") is Islam.
- I think perspective from NON-theologians on these things are likely to be more interesting, and possibly accurate, that the preachers and doctrinalists. I am interested in so many aspects -- history of the texts, canonization, evolution of doctrines -- I just like to read.
- I have experienced -- not like Tyndale, or others who sacrificed their own blood to translate, or affirm, their faith -- but within the Western culture, the heavy butt-kick of oppression based on dogma, in my own life. I have also had to note how poorly any institutionalized form of religion (including the "home-based fellowship" style) had the spiritual moxy or balls to confront that oppression within its own ranks. Yet, for personal reasons, I have no intention of denying "Christ" (which points to the anointing, linguistically), as I cannot deny my own "witness within" which has been there for my entire adult life, and is so simply as to be insulting to the theologians, who typically miss it.
- I have of recent come to the conclusion that this not-telling is thematic of the profession. Like teaching to read, it's NOT the hardest thing in the book, where motivation exists to learn. Making it hard is good business. Making it simple, though in parables, is a sign of the Master Teacher, who was not for hire, and in fact it says was offered the world in exchange for worship (of the devil), shortly after his own "anointing."
I ramble. However, here is a start . . ..
In the KJV (King James Version) of the Bible, I John 5.
If you are not yet familiar with I John, there is a lot of repetition, and it sounds almost liturgical, sing-song almost. That's OK, and not the point here:
I will give you 8 verses for a running start, but am only referring to what happened to verses 7 & 8 in translation.
Next question, what quality do all 3 share in common? Answer, to me seems obvious: They are all "liquid."
Spirit, water, blood.
Now if you were raised in the church and became "Christian" under significant indoctrination of the typical sort, you very likely were told that the Holy Spirt is 1/3 of a triangle called the Trinity, and as such has to be called down (from heaven) during worship, with such aids as music, proper mood, and so forth. This is not what I see in scripture -- it is absolutely clear (to my non-indoctrinated mind, which has been inhaling and studying and attempting to live by, the Bible for about 35 years now, and not under one teaching only. As a musician, that's simply too limiting, and as a person. I prefer the other perspectives, mixed with LOTS of observation.
I see the image and references to "Holy Spirit" (which FYI, is in Greek two words, one of which relates to BREATH, or WIND and the other simply to HOLY) referred to in metaphors of pouring and being washed (baptized) in.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In this blog, I will simply show this from the Bible. The Bible posted will typically be "Strong's KJV" because, on-line, this version allows you to click on any single word, and be taken immediately to which Greek (or I suppose Hebrew) word it is, and from there compare usage of similar words in the Bible. This is where the tapestry, and expert weaving, of the scriptures comes to light. I have for years done word studies via the hardcopy Concordance, Lexicon, Interlinear, and a great process it was. Then for years, I lost interest in HEARING a sermon, having rather to see one at the time. I was a mother, and a single divorcing mother during some of these years, as well as rotating through a series of profession and jobs both in and outside of marriage. I have, not all by choice, been through a very WIDE sampling of some major US institutions (government and nonprofit, and NO, so far, not prison), as well as by virtue of being a pianist/singer, lots of churches too. Not til recently did I take an ongoing mercenary post in one, which was a move from an urgent need for predictable income. That worked out quite well, and is now over with.
Added to this, my father was a research metallurgist, I have always respected the questions "Why?" and "Says Who?" and acted on them. As well as the "Prove it!" My mother was a technical librarian, but I do not see the curiosity in her soul: Maybe it's inherited, I don't really know.
Moreover, of recent, I've had more exposure than even during the marriage to the "women should be seen, not heard, except serving cookies" version of nondenominational academically correct theology, which basically was an open invite to speak up, and blog too. No one asked me, therefore I seek opportunity to do so. Because the current stumbling and bumbling and pingponging around of scripture doesn't cut the mustard. It interrupts the flow of the thing
It will take me time also to get in the groove of posting on-line what was working in my soul off-line. I hope you will not walk away thirsty, because, as Jesus said in John 7, water IS available and will be within those who believe on him, a well, springing up into eternal life. This is not the trickle-down method, or the start and stop (Isaiah 28/29) discipleship, but an integration of Bible, spirit, and a certain flow that will sustain understanding and action -- and from day to day. Hopefully enough to overflow into manifestation and declaration. Daily.
And that pace, dynamic, and flow, is where life really is.
