SHOULD WE SERVE, AND HOPE TO PLEASE GOD AS A GROUP?
Does God judge us as individuals, or a group?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
Do you see any indication that our Lord and savior is seeking a group, or groups to come to him?
In verse 16 we read that because of God’s love for the world, (or all people,) He sent His son, for the purpose of saving those people from the wages of their sin. How are they to achieve this salvation? Are we told to join a group of the, “saved?” No, we are told that, “whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, (or salvation.)” In verse 18 we are told that if we don’t believe, we are, “condemned already, because he (we) have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
With this in mind, how then are we to treat beliefs that continually confront us, propounded in media, and taught in schools, challenging our notion of individual sovereignty, rights, and responsibilities? Are we to respect, or reject them, on the basis of how delightful we find the presence, or the popularity of their of their purveyors? Might we ignore the discord and division caused by these assertions when implemented, which strike at the heart of the Gospel, the salvation of the individual?
In the book, American Marxism, we read, “in mass movements “[t]he individual is inconsequential as a person and useful only as an insignificant part of an agglomeration of insignificant parts.”
“He is a worker, part of a mass; nothing more, nothing less. His existence is soulless. Absolute obedience is the highest virtue.’ the French philosopher and essayist Julien Benda.” (*source below.)
So if we aspire to please God, eschew evil, and enjoy the liberty and benefits of God’s infinite mercy and grace, how are we to address the intellectually verbose meanderings, such as,
"Since the late twentieth century, philosophers and scientists have identified deep relationality as the core of reality and, more specifically, the entangled nature of reality. To be entangled is not simply to be intertwined with another, as in the joining of separate entities, but to lack an independent, self-contained existence. Existence is not an individual affair. Yet, our western systems, including religion and education, are based on the self-thinking individual. Unless our basic understanding of the human person aligns with the new science, our systems are bound to fail."
Sr. Ilia Delio, Physicists and Franciscan Nun.
What is this, “new science?” Is it not the rejection of the knowledge, and wisdom accumulated over thousands of years through the study of scripture, and scientific observation, and the adherence to the musings of irresponsible deceivers?
As we can see, Sr. Ilia Delio, while presenting themself as a scientific, and spiritual authority, directly opposes the direct words of the HOLY GOSPEL. While God appeals to the individual to enroll themself in the Church of Christ, (the only group suggested by God,) this Franciscan Nun rejects the importance of each individual, and flatly states, in direct opposition to God’s word, that, “Unless our basic understanding of the human person aligns with the new science, our systems are bound to fail.”
This premise is heresy, and antithetical to the message of truth, found in the Gospel. I implore anyone that is tempted to entertain this nonsense to prayerfully reconsider.
God bless you, Dave
*Levin, Mark R.. American Marxism (p. 15). Threshold Editions. Kindle Edition.