Beyond The Four Spiritual Laws

[Beetow]

• Jas 5:9 . . Do not complain against one another, brethren, that you yourselves
may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

If there’s a personality clash between you and a fellow believer; God forbid you
should drag other people into the middle of it! And keep in mind that God is an
eavesdropper. He hears and sees everything we do, think, or say. Don't let Him
catch you maliciously shredding a fellow believer's reputation, assassinating their
character and/or running them into the ground behind their back. (cf. Matt 18:15)
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:10 . . For an example of suffering and patience, brethren; take the prophets
who spoke in The Lord's name.

The days of Israel, wherein many of the prophets resided, were not ideal, Much of
the time, their country was largely dystopian.

There's an era looming on the horizon wherein the world will be governed by a man
of honor; and justice and stability will be the rule rather than the exception. But for
now, we here in America, and many folks abroad, are stuck in a world where
commerce and government are in the hands of men and women gone mad with
evil. The year 2020 was especially discouraging in America when a man was
elevated the office of President by illegal means and unscrupulous methods.

In times like these, it's helpful to keep in mind that God has not been overthrown,
nor has He abdicated. The Lord is still on God's throne; and His plan, purpose, and
program for us has neither been altered nor thwarted. It will go forward even when
all 'round us are fear, anxiety, pessimism, despair, and insecurity.
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:12 . . Above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or
with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no be no; so that you may
not fall under judgment.

Christ took an oath. (Matt 26:62-64, Mark 14:61-62)

God takes oaths. (Gen 22:15-18, Heb 6:13-18, Heb 7:20-21)

Angels swear (Rev 10:5-6)

Paul swore. (Rom 1:9)

Israel's covenanted law, which Christ came to defend (Matt 5:17-19) requires oaths
on special occasions. (e.g. Ex 22:10-11, Lev 5:1, Num 5:19, Deut 29:10-15)

So then, not all oaths are wrong.

The problem is, people are too careless with their oaths. They’re wont to say “I
swear to God” and/or "Hand to God" for just about everything. And they make
promises sealed with the same words.

Those promises are a snare because like Jesus said “you cannot make one hair
white or black”. Sure enough, when you seal a promise by God's name, the forces
of heaven and hell, the stars in their courses, dumb luck, brute force,
circumstances beyond your control, and the neighbor's dog are going to make it
impossible for you to keep that promise.

Will God grant you an excuse? Probably not because In order to grant you an
excuse, He would have to compromise not only His integrity; but also the dignity of
the name by which you swore; and that He will never do.

So, it's okay to give your word on a matter, but if at all possible; avoid attaching
God's name into it.

"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold
anyone guiltless who misuses His name." (Ex 20:7)
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:13a . . Is anyone among you undergoing hardship? Let him pray.

Though Jesus' followers weren't experiencing difficulty while he was getting ready
for his destiny on the cross (Luke 22:39-46) he no doubt knew that they were soon
to undergo a stress test that would cause them to do something really stupid if they
failed to seek God's providence in what lay ahead.

Most any kind of "hardship" can cause us to become irrational, lose our composure,
and do something contrary to our better judgment, e.g. layoff, illness, death in the
family, old age, betrayal, divorce, legal problems, student debt, traffic incidents,
crime, political events; etc.
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:13b . . Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

It's not impossible to sing when sad and depressed. A man named Horatio P.
Spafford composed a very moving hymn while recovering from the deaths of his
four daughters whose lives were lost aboard the S.S. Ville du Havre when it sank
during a transatlantic voyage in 1873.

However, I recommend not asking the ones undergoing hardship to sing. They're
very likely not in the mood.
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:14 . . Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church,
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of The Lord

Religious fanatics here and there are allowing their underage children to suffer and
even die from treatable medical conditions on the basis of that verse. Where do we
draw the line with the so-called "freedom of religion" guaranteed in the US
Constitution's first amendment? Answer: We draw the line at the child's inalienable
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; which, according to America's
Declaration of Independence; are not only God-given rights, but also a self evident
truth that men were created with those rights.

The DOI goes on to say that all men are created equal. It doesn't say grown-up
men; it says all men, which means that women and children have just as much
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as anybody else. Parents who
deny the truth of those rights are nothing in the world but wicked despots; and in
point of fact the very kinds of twisted monarchs the DOI targets.

Christ addressed this issue indirectly by means of his teachings at Mark 2:27 which,
in a nutshell, says that the seventh day was made for man, not the other way
around.

Also:

"And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one
sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it
out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do
good on the sabbath days." (Matt 12:11-12)

The sanctity of human life trumps the sanctity of the Sabbath. So then, hospitals,
doctors, nurses, firemen, law enforcement, soup kitchens, rescue missions, Red
Cross, Haiti emergency workers, etc. who are busy on the Sabbath do not sin. Do
they break the Sabbath? Yes; but the sanctity of the Sabbath is secondary to the
sanctity of human life.

So then, I would have to say, in accordance with Matt 12:11-12, that people who
deny their children adequate medical care in the name of religion regard the value
of their own flesh and blood as something less than that of a beast.

It's okay to have elders pray for your child, and it's okay to anoint them with oil as
per James 5:14. But after that, parents really should take their children to a doctor
because the sanctity of human life is far more important than strict observance of
one's religious rituals.

There used to be an old saying going around in Christian circles that went
something like this: When a farmer prays for a crop, he should say amen with a
hoe. In other words, don't just sit back and wait for a miracle when it's in your
power to take some action; and if you don't, then in my opinion, you deserve to be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law when a child in your care dies from a
treatable condition.

"If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has
denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1Tim 5:8)

note: Christianity is a consensual religion, In other words; Christianity was never
meant to be forced on people against their will; most especially underage children.
If parents want to entrust their own care to a ritual, fine; but forcing an underage
child to follow their religious practices without the child first being old enough to
fully understand the risks, and given other options, is just downright pagan.
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:16 . . Confess your sins to one another

The word "sins" is an arbitrary editorial insertion rather than a translation; viz: it
isn't in the Greek manuscripts; somebody penciled it in. So we could safely re
translate that verse to read "Confess to one another".

There's quite a number of key words in the Bible that sometimes trigger a knee
jerk reflex in people's minds and "confess" is one of them.

It would seem to me that James isn't commanding Christians to confess their sins
to one another as Father Confessors for the purpose of absolution; but rather: to
simply man-up and admit when they're wrong; and to do so without recriminations,
without rejoinders, and without feigned indignity. (cf. Matt 18:15-17)
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[Beetow]

• Jas 5:19-20 . . My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one
turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way
will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.

Not all sins are worthy of death (1John 5:16-17). And a sin that's fatal for one
believer may not be lethal for another. I mean, look at David; he committed the
awful sins of premeditated murder and adultery, yet God allowed him to live (2Sam
11:1-2Sam 12:14). But when Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied about the
proceeds from the sale of their property, they were summarily executed. (Acts 5:1
10). And in Corinth, the health of only some was struck after desecrating The Lord's
supper; while others were executed for the same reason (1Cor 11:17-30).

Some kids are easily corrected simply by a cross glare and a stern scolding; while
other kids require a stronger hand.

I once heard a cute story of a man who would whack his mule upside the head with
a wooden stake prior to getting up on the seat of his buckboard. Someone asked
him why he hit the animal. The man replied: That was to get his attention,
otherwise he won't budge when I snap the reins and yell giddy-up.

"I wish to instruct you, and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you
and watch over you. Don't be like the horse or the mule, which have no
discernment, but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not obey you." (Ps
32:8-9)

For some believers, a whack up alongside the head is all it takes to motivate them
to straighten up and fly right. Others are so incorrigible that only a brush with
death finally convinces them that God is serious.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 1:13-18 . . Gird up your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope
completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Greek word translated "hope" means anticipation; which is quite a bit different
than crossing one's fingers; viz; praying for the best while in the back of one's mind
dreading the worst.

The grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ is of course a
glorious, superhuman, immortal body. That's good to know for those of us
undergoing the damage being done to our appearance, and the loss of our vitality,
due to the aging process. I can only imagine how unbelievers must feel knowing
that once the youth they have now withers and deteriorates; it's permanently lost,
never to be regained.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 1:14-16. . As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts
which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy
yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: You shall be holy, for I
am holy.

"conformed" is speaking of habits. Take for example alcoholism. The popular
diagnosis these days is that it's a disease. Well; it if is, then it's the only disease I
know of practiced by fools.

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise." (Prov 20:1)

Alcoholism isn't a disease; it's a habit, and one of the habits that Christ's believing
followers are commanded to make a habit of avoiding. (Eph 5:18)

"You shall be holy, for I am holy" speaks of the old proverb: Birds of a feather, flock
together. So if people wish to cultivate a rapport with God; they have to work on
becoming heavenly rather than earthly because He tends to avoid mingling with
invasive species; so to speak.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 1:17-18 . . And if you address as "Father" the one who impartially judges
according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in reverential fear during the
time of your stay upon earth

Addressing God as "Father" is the proper meaning of an Aramaic word for father
found in Rom 8:15 and Gal 4:16. In other words: Abba is a filial vocative.

I once heard of a preacher complain that he wished his congregation were as afraid
of the Devil as they are of holiness. (chuckle). Well, obviously his congregation
lacked purpose; their attitude was that of drifters and vagabonds. They were all
believers; they had that much going for them. They just needed somebody to throw
cold water in their faces and wake them up to getting their eyes off the ground and
getting their eyes up on the brass ring.

"So then, since you have been resurrected with Christ, set your hearts on things
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ
in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then will you also appear with him in
glory." (Col 3:1-4)

People in heaven no doubt make a habit of treating God with reverential fear; that
is: they respect both Him and His expectations. Down here, people make a habit of
insolence and rebellion; even some of the people wearing a Christian ID tag.
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[Beetow]

PENDING
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 1:22b . . See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently

A pure heart is one that's honest and sincere rather than pretentious, deceitful,
and/or dissembling.

The Greek word translated "love" in that passage is agapao (ag-ap-ah'-o) which is
actually a very easy love to practice because it doesn't consist of sentiments like
affection and fondness; which are components of the other love in the New
Testament translated from the Greek word phileo (fil-eh'-o).

Agapao is impersonal; commonly expressed in things like charity, kindness,
sympathy, lenience, and tolerance; viz: agapao isn't expressed by liking people;
rather, it's expressed by being nice to people, i.e. civil; defined by Webster's as
adequate in courtesy and politeness: mannerly.

Phileo, on the other hand, is personal and not as common as agapao because phileo
is felt rather than expressed; viz: phileo refers to emotional attachments.

An excellent contrast between the two loves is seen by comparing John 3:16 and
John 16:27.

In the first; God is shown sympathetic.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

In the latter, God is shown affectionate.

"The Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I
came from God."

Obtaining God's sympathy is very easy because that's on Him; whereas winning His
affections is not so easy because that's on us.

"If you obey my commands, you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my
Father's commands and abide in His love." (John 15:10)

Anyway; 1Pet 1:22b only requires Christians to be civil, which I'm convinced is
within everyone's capabilities; even for Christians whose sensitivities are those of a
catcher's mitt or a wooden nickel.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:1a . . Lay aside all malice

The Greek word for "malice" is kakia (kak-ee'-ah) which basically refers to badness,
i.e. depravity, malignity, and trouble.

Malignity commonly describes aggressive cancers, which tend to spread and
produce death or deterioration, viz: malignant people are passionately and
relentlessly malevolent; defined by Webster's as having, showing, or arising from
intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred.

Seeing as how malice is controllable; then I think it safe to conclude that there are
some people whose mean-spirited behavior is by choice, i.e. deliberate.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:1b . . Lay aside all deceit (a.k.a. guile, cunning, and duplicity)

The Greek word for "deceit" is dolos (dol'-os) which basically refers to a decoy;
defined by Webster's as someone or something used to lure or lead another into a
trap.

Decoys can also be used as diversions, e.g. red herrings.

Dolos also refers to trickery; defined by Webster's as the practice of crafty
underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat, for example Gen 3:1.

A very common form of deceit is something called dissembling; which basically
means to conceal one's true feelings with pretense. I think it's pretty safe to say
that everybody at one time or another practices dissembling; it's pretty much a
natural propensity.

Peter's instructions don't say to avoid deceit, they say to lay it aside; viz: stop it.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:1c . . Lay aside all hypocrisy

The Greek word for "hypocrisy" is hupokrisis (hoop-ok'-ree-sis) which is a mite
ambiguous. It basically refers to acting under a feigned part.

Not all hypocrisy is bad; quite a few people earn an honest living by accepting parts
in movies and plays. That we can live with.

But hypocrisy in religion is insufferable; for example Mark 12:13-15, which reads
like this:

"Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his
words. They came to him and said: Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity.
You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you
teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar
or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we? But Jesus knew their hypocrisy."

Their inquiry was reasonable; but it was based upon a hidden agenda. They didn't
care one whit about the taxes; they were only looking for a legitimate excuse to
have Jesus arrested and put away where he could no longer influence public
opinion.

Hypocrisy is also exemplified in double standards, for example Luke 6:41-42 and
Matt 23:2-4

"And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice
the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother: Brother, let
me take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the log
that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and
then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."

"The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their
deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. And they tie up heavy loads, and
lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with
so much as a finger."
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:1d. . Lay aside all envy

Webster's defines envy as painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed
by another, coupled with a desire to possess the same advantage

There are musicians that I greatly admire for their talent and their creativity. But I
don't hate them for it; no, I truly love their work, i.e. I'm a fan rather than a rival.
For example; famed sessions musician Carol Kaye can lay down smooth jazz lines
with an electric bass using nothing more than a flat guitar pick. I wish I could do
what Carol does; at the same time wish her all the best and would sincerely like for
her to continue playing and teaching forever.

But when admiration is mixed with pain and resentment, it can become ugly and
extremely dangerous.

For example, it was the ugly kind of envy that motivated Cain to murder his kid
brother, and it was the ugly kind of envy that motivated Joseph's brothers to sell
him into slavery, and it was the ugly kind of envy that motivated Jesus' opponents
to have him arrested and put to death.

People prone to envy share a very common denominator: they simply must be
either equal to, or better than, others. It's that simple. And if they cannot be equal
to, or better than others, then nothing would make them happier than to see those
others failed, maimed, silenced, disfigured, dishonored, disgraced, humiliated,
handicapped for life and/or deceased.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:1e . . Lay aside all evil speaking

The Greek word for "evil speaking" is katalalia (kat-al-al-ee'-ah) which basically
means defamation; defined by Webster's as the act of communicating false
statements about a person that injures their reputation, i.e. slander.

Talking about someone behind their back counts as defamation only when the
statements are untrue; especially if the statements are deliberately untrue and
calculated to assassinate someone's character and/or question their good name.

"As newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."
(1Pet 2:2)

When Christians neglect to study Peter's epistles to learn what is, and what is not,
appropriate behavior for Christ's followers, they are certain to end up stunting their
spiritual growth; and quite naturally retain and practice all five of the ugly
behaviors listed above; viz: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:11 . . Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly
lusts, which wage war against the soul.

The words "fleshly lusts" are derived from 1) sarkikos (sar-kee-kos') which pertains
to the base nature, and, 2) from epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) which means: a
longing.

What Peter is talking about there is giving in to whatever comes natural: viz: doing
what's instinctive and reactive as opposed to one's better judgment.

Webster's defines instinct as: 1) a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or
capacity, 2) a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make
a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason,
and 3) behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level.

Fleshly lusts are not what you might call "reasonable behavior" because they are
basically gut passions and impulses that require no thinking. When people fly off
the handle, sleep with somebody on the first date, utter an epithet, make a smart
aleck remark, and/or act on impulse and such; they are only doing what comes
natural to the beast residing within themselves. People are, in the final analysis,
little more than human wildlife; just naked apes ruled by the drives of an ape.
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[Beetow]

• 1Pet 2:12 . . Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the
thing in which they slander you as malefactors, they may on account of your good
deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The Greek word for "malefactors" is somewhat ambiguous. It can refer to a criminal
or to someone regarded as an all-around bad person or bad influence; viz: toxic i.e.
harmful: hazardous.

Curiously, some of the principles and core values held dear by Christians are
sometimes regarded by non Christians as detrimental to the so-called greater good;
especially in communist and/or totalitarian societies.

The Greek word for "visitation" is: episcope (ep-is-kop-ay') which is an ambiguous
word that means, among other things, inspection and/or evaluation.

Webster’s defines "inspection" as a checking or testing of an individual against
established standards; for example: the avoirdupois ounce is a standard, the meter
is a standard, and the inch is a standard.

In the old days, merchants used a balance to count out monies like gold and silver.
They would put a "standard" weight in one of the balance's pans and then begin
placing gold and/or silver in the other pan until the pans balanced; viz: until the
pans were at the same elevation on either side of the scales' fulcrum point. Justice
is often depicted as a blindfolded woman holding a balance in one hand, and a
sword in the other. The law is in one pan, and the defendant's conduct is in the
other; for example:

"You have been weighed on the balances; and came up short." (Dan 5:27)

If it turns out that the criticism that the outside hurled at believers was unjustified,
then they will have to pay. In so doing, how will they glorify God? Well, the
slanderers themselves may not pay their respects to God, but their retribution will
certainly honor His standards.
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