Though Jesus Christ came after most major characters in the Holy Scriptures, His impact to the Four Corners of the world is astoundingly immense, that could never, ever be equaled. Not being arbitrary in religion or any particular belief, but simply the teachings and advancements Jesus Christ shared, answer the call for absolute peace, harmony, and love. Not even Confucius, though immense serendipity is attributed to the man, his character falls short to acknowledging spirituality in life. Even though his ways to an end are all virtuous or godly. Then again, not having a God still is unacceptable and is vulnerable to pride and selfishness.
There might not be enough knowledge of men up to this time as to why Christianity became a focal point of humanity. People and government even have deemed Christ as a heretic at one point in history. But if you ask me, He only wanted to develop and encourage them by teaching the true meaning of love, which, I would now define and itemize in a way you never heard, read, or known before about Jesus Christ--whose character and personality significantly influenced society and marked an indelible spirituality to humanity. Christ prominence in the religious realm, in no doubt, shapes the course of human behavior in our daily living since His birth.
I have personally chosen the following category, namely: a.) Church; b.) Government; and c.) Society, to enable myself to somehow quantify the infinite, good-natured qualities and ever-auspicious contribution of Jesus Christ to humanity. And how the church and the state are co-equal, simultaneous in personality that impact society.
In Church: The converging point every church insinuates is to uphold welfare of its parish or denomination. Although diversity as we have discussed earlier, is apparent throughout the world, commonality of human comfort, satisfaction, peace, safety, and overall well being, are issues, churches impart into every parishioner. Even any species in the animal kingdom have its innate characteristics of letting their kind thrive, more so, human beings which have churches to even further rein and direct uprightness, morality, and the overall strengthening of the spirit--toward a better life in gathering together in both congregations, or simply affiliations.
Our discussions here coincide with religious protocol and hierarchy highlighted in the previous chapter where we enumerated and analyzed major religions’ rectifiable mediocrities--as Christ being our way, the truth, and the life http://bible.cc/john/14-6.htm (John 14:16).
His exceptional messianic edifice resounds and applies to all churches’ advocacies for a better and pleasant living--closer to God, which is, to love. The thrust of His teaching about our Heavenly Father is the very same spirit bridging the gap of paganism and the truth of conceding, that there is a God who governs all beings. Just like how the early Egyptians, the ancient sages of the eastern hemisphere, the Roman and Greek mythologies, arrived at associating men as figures of gods which are responsible in various respects of life. Examples of which are the gods of thunder, love, etc. However, since as much as they (their gods) are figures of men, so does both the consciousness and sub-consciousness of men be vindictive as they (people) are men. Christ on the other hand, is the ultimate conduit of peoples’ redemption from daily frustrations and struggles. His "death on the cross" or inflicted crucifixion from teaching God’s will, is major propellant combined with the divine plan to showcase both the Spirit of God and humanity merged together-with the deep message and profound redemption through love of one another. It is the reason by which He was born-to make people realize the impact of the love whom He shared even to His sacrifice on a cross, which is otherwise more popularly known to be His “death on the cross.”.
Speaking of “death,” I researched the Internet about a biblical word, “Hades”, meaning death, which is also found in Greek mythology. I found a website containing the word Hades under an article mainly involving the character "Woden." And for a moment, I was like in a time capsule together with vital subjects that link one major historical account to another, traveling through the fiber optics of the present. I was really spaced out, or should I say cyber-spaced out (hahaha.)
The Holy Scriptures mention Hades in several accounts, which makes me conclude that facts I have found were primal practices, which in time have been refined http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%8Dden . If the word Hades was used at the time Woden was acknowledged to be a god, and the word, Hades is also used in the holy scripture, then, therefore, a continuing level of spirituality have taken place, as men grew to refine their ways, as time progressed .
The bible is no exclusion being it written as a historical document. The reason why I mentioned Woden is because it was such, where you would see human sacrifices at an appalling rate as a means of collateral and/or assurance to one's claims or beliefs. For example, a person should be ready and willing to die or suffer any consequences for an idea that he believes to be effective before the people. It is like saying to a person, "can you die for what you are saying or believe;" or, "are you willing to give your arm or a leg for your conviction or statements? Deaths in the past constitute those practices as well as with criminals too. Again, as primate people were, so does its decisions which were rather brutal and raw but have made them quite assured of matters, at some degree (yeah, a third degree burn or an extremity or your life kind of degree).
Social maturity is always directly proportional to the ways of spirituality, affecting the kind of religious practice and belief people revere. Men have evolved to know and develop skills and fine-tuned ways and means to interact within the society, so does the respect given to one’s conscience that becomes a norm that everybody shares. The contemporary times is no exclusion either, or the time when Christ lived and died on the cross. His advocacies resounded that continually hone contriteness of our souls to love and respect.
No other church than that which inculcates the beauty of love to one another shall equal the teachings and advancements of Christ for a life of everlasting peace, unity and prosperity-this is none other than about the Christ. Though, it is just sad to note that it was also the cause of His crucifixion. I am already "sick and tired" of seeing faithful people in church--devout affiliate to religious causes, and whose ways are contrite and true, yet struggle to live happily, comfortably, and peaceably. It saddens me to see people pray fervently in places of worship to the God of their youth, seeing how they lay prostrate in submission, yet assault their neighbors and neighboring countries without any sense of love but love for themselves or love for their “own.” But if you come to think of it, the God whom we, the human race share, is the one God whom all acknowledge who created the heavens and earth and all that is in them. The God whom we know is of L-O-V-E!
One good example of disheartening causal effect is that of the Palestinians and the Israelis. They share a common religious law. They both acknowledge Abraham, Moses, David, Isaac, Jacob, et. al. Constant oblivion, reluctance, and ignorance to Christ’s teachings represent casualties at an ever-alarming rate. It is sometimes odd to think and feel, though true as it could get, that these conflicting factions are representation of the world falling short because of lack of absolute life in Christ. I’m NOT saying that they should shift from their religion to any Christian group. But simply understanding and putting to heart what Christ have shared. And this book, the Iron Scepter is what it is trying to accomplish.
Sometimes, I just think of it as an automatic curse among people who do not acknowledge Christ and uphold Christianity. Same follows to all Christian denominations as well. However, as much as we acknowledge the soul of our mortal being, so is the everlasting holiness of the spirit of Christ who shared men how to live in harmony can see us all through. All these have happened to show how God of the heavens and the earth can put harmony together for His Kingdom's sakes.
In Government: Social culture in general, is relative to the evolution of spiritual dynamism and vise versa, of any given community. People have learned and acquired knowledge in age and integrate ways and means that are beneficial for survival, happiness, and sustainable comfort. Promulgation of these beneficial ways are governed by what we are commonly familiar with-the government. The phrase, “by the people, of the people, and for the people,” simply is transparent. The sentiments, thoughts, and aspirations favorable to the governed-the government promulgate. A unison of matrix conjured by a common desire to live satisfactorily, comfortably-is what the representation of the elect/dubbed/anointed is all about.
If we look up the time-line in history where an era of governance is at its vibrancy, the Roman Empire was superlative. Not only because the empire had a glimpse of the life of Christ but also how they have mustered spiritual mythologies together with those of the Greeks whom with which they have teemed. The Hun Dynasty on the other hand, of the other side of the globe as its contemporary period, however, embraces what is of Confucius, which asserts a rather less attribution to spiritual force but more on humanity‘s will and power in order to rule well and live right. Though, these principles were an outcome of grace, however, all the bearings for a spiritual discussion evolve in the Roman Empire. Why is this so, for the simple reason that even if they hold myths as a guiding norm, we may conclude how they acknowledge a greater being.
Even though at that time, they come no lesser than how the Egyptians were pagans, they embraced the idea of a higher being than that of mere men . Also, even if the Greco-Roman mythology personifies supernatural beings as gods, still, they have the idea of supreme being.
According to Encyclopedia Deluxe 2001 on Roman Mythology: "The religious beliefs and practices of the people of ancient Rome. At first, the Romans envisioned their gods more as powers than as persons, and as a result there is little mythology that is purely Roman. According to Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro, only after the Romans came into contact with Greek culture in the 6th century BC did they begin to represent their gods in human form."
I conclude that when the Magi determined messianic profile from birth, and when Christ Himself professed to be the son of God in later episodes of His life, it didn’t take much effort for the Greco-Roman Empire to take a closer look at the issue on hand. Since their spiritual conviction was personification of a higher being and Christ is as close to what they may have imagined-an incarnate spiritual being.
By which, in the account of Christ's verdict of crucifixion, no less than Pontious Pilate can not pass a guilty verdict, and the Romans could only participate so much. The Empire had to arrive at a compromise with the priests representing the locales, who wanted Christ crucified. Remember, we discussed how Pontious Pilate could not totally alienate Christ from the clamor of his subjects. However, despite of the empire renowned practice of manslaughter as form of eliciting peace and order and respect from the governed, it did not deter or intimidate Christ to go forward and preach the kingdom of God.
Even then and today, Christ became a fundamental edifice of peace, order, and spiritual vigilance toward goodwill-a spiritual Ambassador, if I may add. Not only is He a beholding example of a good subject of government but also a member of the community worth emulating. He did not balk nor retaliate to the orders of His arrest and agony set upon Him. Christ submitted as what a good law abiding citizen would.
In Society: Religious orientations and forms of government establish and refine its components that evolve in time. Basically, it includes broad factors from education to acquired skills and intelligence--either through experience and earliest science known to men. It is as vast as the expanse of the earth. But belonging to the human race is the common denominator which gives us distinction in participating to what is livable for all.
Society is always culled and cultured by a governing body. Through the ages, religions and forms of government have always invested time and resources to protect its own--in being able to maintain sustainable peace, order, and productivity. The role of religion/spirituality propels individuals in what positive growth brings forth. The transformation of faith into action is what we might like to term as "civility." And the grace we benefit from being civil, the church has a primary function in establishing so, in people’s lives. Also, by which we would see now, how citizens of the earth have come to a better understanding of goodwill toward one another because of the impact religion has caused in peoples’ lives.
Most of the churches around the world, especially Christianity, advance the groundwork of Jesus Christ. Not to mention all the various Christian denominations, but as well as the Moslems, who, in their Holy Scripture acknowledge Christ as the Son of God http://quran.com/search?q=jesus+christ. The Messiah, as otherwise known about Christ, is absolute. Not only because He professed so, but if we would recall how the three wise men have qualified His birth through celestial orientation this gives as an idea that he was long determined to be a "special child." By which at that time, the spiteful King Herod was deeply challenged by the presence of the baby Jesus who was known to be the Messiah. A manifestation that Christ’s presence have turned heads of both good and evil even at the onset of His life-as early as His birth.
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