Let’s get brutally Honest…
Now, I am going to put the cards on the table. These first communities were practicing the refusing to own property through a certain level. What was working for them was impossible for outsiders to even consider.
These communities had not the mentality of “what is better for the masses is better for us as well’’, No, they seemed like they were writing on their own new rules, all consequences of a new solid structure. And reasons for choosing this new lifestyle could be many; envy was strangled, the possibilities for greed were minimized, focus on the spiritual things was a priority, or it might was also the result of everyone simply willing to share with their fellow brethren and loving their neighbor as themselves.
‘‘…those who believe were of one heart and soul, and not even one said that any of his possessions are his own, but it was all theirs in common.’’ ‘‘… Now it was distributed to each, forasmuch as some would have had need.’’ Acts 4:32 & 35
(Concordant Literal New Testament)
What a sin this would be on the eyes of this present predominating society where we live in! Don’t you think so? What could be the outcome of this kind of atrocity?
‘‘In fact, there was not even anyone in persistent need (poverty-stricken; destitute; indigent) among them’’ Acts 2:44
(Jonathan Mitchell’s New Testament Translation)For believers who are marriage today, this is really not as radical as it might sounds. Think about it. If they both
don’t claim that their possessions are their own but rather that these are common for both, and find themselves in one heart and soul united by a true common unity by the life of Jesus Christ then, they also, can be following the way of living of these first communities. These are unusual thoughts, out of the frame of ordinary people of today, I know.
Sadly, as we said it before; persecution was and is inevitable when true community united by the life of Jesus Christ is being practiced:
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim. 3:11).
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his OWN HOUSEHOLD" (Matt. 10:34-36).However;
We cannot look back. We cannot fail to continue in Christ’s words and works. We must take up our cross. We must suffer persecution. We must "fight the good fight." We must "keep the faith." We must "pray without ceasing." And we must make it to the end,
"And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED" (Matt. 10:22).
Words and quotes by L. Ray SmithNow, just one point in between this talk, for clarification; the rules that shaped their material lifestyle of these first communities was not the cause for living together, this were simply the consequences, it was what the common sense and the physical circumstances allowed them to do.
The most critical aspect on all these was not the place, nor the houses or the sharing of food, but the significances behind each action!
Today we can be able to be part of online forum communities too; this leaves time, distances, off-line interaction and the reunions on physical houses out of the equation (I must tell that one of the positive things on it, is that possibilities for stereotyping, either age, class, sex, outlook, or ethnicity are diminished as well as certain misleading physical marks of authority), The main point is that
what constitute true community is not the physical territory or the online space but the nature and quality of the relations. For many dispersed believers, circumstance and life experiences have let them remain on their own with their beliefs, however, when they get online; it’s their time to interact! But whatever our present opportunities, we must have an attitude of gratefulness for everybody and for everything. Then, for a few other believers, this material style of living of the first communities could be possible.
Whatever our place on earth we should not depend on anything or anyone to be content, we should not get fooled by the excessive desire of physical wealth and we must try to see all material things for what they really are and probably choose for the less deceptive ones (when there is not many good choices around). On this ‘‘big world’’ there is way many things totally out of our control, so let’s pray to be able to work honestly with our own hands and lead a quiet life.
Regarding material things… the heart, intentions, motivations of the first true members of the first communities was on the right place, it’s for sure that they were
rationaland
intelligenton
their consumption decisions. Could we ever come to live today with moderation while we find ourselves on the middle of much excess?
The truth is that nobody can’t change their whole lifestyle instantly by just free willing it, we must keep trying and studying diligently and keep waiting patiently, since we can only work with what we have and do what we have left to do, as we always.
Living among Societies
Society and community are not synonymous.
Societies have to do more with a condition where
large groups of individuals (frequently feeling isolated)
live together primarily for mutual benefits. Societies are often bound by hierarchical organizations, institutions, certain types of cultures, etc. I don’t want to spend many lines on this, but I think that with the short remarks that I am about to tell, you can sympathize. So here I go:
Social ties are very frequently superficial, with selfish interests in between, places where many different kinds of exploitations are not an exception. In societies people just see to social groups to further their individual goals. On this present predominating society,
hedonism (a lifestyle searching mostly for pleasure),
individualism, vanity, certain
lies and a good amount of
greed are totally acceptable and encouraged. And of course that they will tell that ‘rational self-interest and competition can lead to economic prosperity and well-being’. But ‘‘well being’’ and ‘‘prosperity’’ according to whom?
Well, the answer is
‘according to what is the best way for the majority’.
AND WHEN THE MAJORITY STRUCTURES AND PATTERNS ARE THE RESULT OF A BUNCH OF EXTREMELY WEAK HEARTS LOOKING TO PLEASE THEMSELVES, THE OUTCOMES ARE NEVER A VERY NICE PICTURE.And here is where the persecution on a daily basis comes from: When people in society (even without noticing it) evaluate the acceptability of your behavior according with
‘‘their social norms’’. What these norms do is to inevitably act as a mean of control. Two big examples of negative social norms on this predominating society (that I don’t think that anyone reading this script could deny) are… Number one; that way very often,
persons are judged, more for what they can do economically than for who they really are (their main believes, aptitudes and wishes toward others, etc.) Isn’t usually one of the first’s questions that we get when introducing ourselves ‘What do we do’? The other example is;
a tendency for the desire to make A LOT of profit, with the most minimum effort (
no matter if the outcome is a shame for many others members of the society).
Jesus said that we must forsake it all to be able to follow him (it includes our social scenes, personal image, job and all physical objects) and that we should treat ourselves with no higher regard than we have for others. Jesus words are so contrary with what they call
‘‘ethical egoism’’ and
‘‘fair competition’’.
On this present predominating society
the classes and institutions in control are not only in charge of most of the means of production, manufacturing and services, they are also the ones who make and maintain the
main ideology in the surroundings (no wonder why subordinated classes, so often hold stupid ideas that are against from what is in convenience for them, like for example attempting economic life styles that are beyond their possibilities). And here is an important point on
how it works: Mass culture serves as a propaganda arm and bought priesthood among their social classes. Simpler said; the average mass media manufacture consent among the masses
–pure manipulation without sanction of the reason or the conscience of the obedient.So it’s important to know with whom we prefer to maintain personal interactions on a daily basis and what does this interactions would mean for us. Why? Because when people in a society interact, they do so with the understanding that their respective perceptions of reality are related and as they act upon this understanding their common knowledge is reinforced. So,
the more you interact (on a daily base)
the more they can realize how different and far away is your perception of reality from theirs, so much that they can even get scared,
(acts 5:13 ‘‘but none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem’’).
On the other side, your daily intimate interactions with members of a particular society could also influence your perception of reality to become more like them, if you are not strong enough to hold on and not be pulled by their main ideas. I know how deterministic this sounds, however it is the truth, and it’s deterministic; we have to choose (
by many causes that are influencing us, including this writing) which perception of reality we want to be our own objective reality; ours or theirs.
Because if you don’t step firm on your own, the waves are going to drag you along. And, in societies; the reassurance of belonging to a crowd often makes people act stupidly, since people become emotionally swept to join the group's atmosphere.Great powers that shape the perception of people are institutions.
Institutions are
structures and mechanism of social order governing the behavior of a set of individuals, they can transcend human lives and make and enforce rules governing human behavior. The term can apply for both, behavior patterns or organizations. If you put attention enough to institutions (
like the market, the corporations, the state, the family, and religions) of this predominating society, you will see that they tend to appear as part of the unchanging landscape of our lives; however, this is just a pervasive illusion. Institutions can limit and shape our tastes, expectations, habits, and world views, but we must see their real nature, we must see them as the social constructions that they really are, build on a particular time, culture and type of society.
If we are to overcome the world we are not to conform to ‘the wrong rules and beliefs systems’ prevailing in our local environment and we must look wider beyond their social structures.With new technologies, many institutions of today, for example many churches and certain corporations are invading people’s minds badly, manipulating and creating false needs and believes in consumers with deceptive advertising. This could bring risks to non-market activities, or in other words; all people will do is -market activities; so people could be easily compared with only numbers in statistics’ or with a massive machine that merely produce and consumes.
Obscenity on Church buildings
Since ages ago, the most deceptive institution of all aroused. This institution is the root of many wicked practices of today’s predominating society, and in fact, it is still around today, growing in number and mistakes.
Yes, I am talking about Christendom, Churchianity, the New Testament Church of God’s Babylonian practices. Would you be surprised if religion is one of the principal causes of murder on this unsafe world? Religion is so important because it shapes a person’s view of the world.
Paul did know about the coming corruption of many ‘called ones’ (not the ‘elect ones’) and how corrupted they would become,
Paul knew that much of his labor in the gospel would fail to bring most of the saints to spiritual maturity. Paul came out of the Great Whore Church, the Mother Church of Judaism. Paul knew that the Church of Jesus Christ would likewise become corrupted and commit spiritual fornication with the world.
Only a few years into Paul’s ministry, he told the Corinthian Congaregation of the corruption already in the Church:
"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (II Cor. 2:17).
Now I hope you all know that I love the King James, and it is true as stated in this verse that they "corrupted" the word of God, but this verse tells us much more than the King James translators present in this verse. Let’s read a few other translations of this same verse:
"For we are not as the MAJORITY, who are PEDDLING the word of God…" (Concordant Literal New Testament).
"For I seek not PROFIT [LIKE MOST] by setting the word of God TO SALE…" (The Epistles of Paul, By Conybeare).
"Unlike MANY PEOPLE, we are not in the habit of MAKING PROFIT out of God’s Message" (The Twentieth Century New Testament).
"For I am not like MOST, TRAFFICKING in the word of God"(The New Testament in Modern English, By Montgomery).
"For we do not, like SO MANY, PEDDLE [for profit] an adulterated message of God" (The Berkeley Version of the New Testament, By Gerrit Verkuyl).
Can you even begin to understand and believe what you are reading? Paul said that it was the MAJORITY that were retailing, selling, peddling, huckstering, an adulterated version of God’s word by overcharging improper profits far beyond rational living expenses for their own base gain and sordid personal advantage! Not only was this practice CORRUPT, but, it was being done by "THE MANY," "THE MAJORITY!" Tell me that you can’t see this being done in the church today?
L. Ray SmithAlso
Peter witnessed and prophesied of the same conditions in the Church. Listen to Peter’s powerful words of admonition in his last epistle for us:
"But there were false prophets[teachers] also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers AMONG YOU, who privately shall bring in DAMNABLE HERESIES, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And MANY shall follow their pernicious [lascivious, licentious, wanton] ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be EVIL spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU…" (II Pet. 2:1-3).
Words and quotes by L. Ray SmithIt seems like today church buildings are adopting the marketing techniques of many large corporations, but the truth is that they have used most of these techniques since long before. Most church buildings are greedy business that require the ‘non-scriptural recollection of tithes' to keep their institutions alive, many of them also make researches and respect the norm of:
the majorities people desires are in charge (2Tim. 4:3
‘‘…they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires,’’)
and all of them play with people emotions and are customer centered.I have said that there are ‘customers’ on church buildings because what people is trying to purchase is salvation, happiness, acceptability, a less dirty conscience and etc.
And even if many church buildings supposedly don’t agree with being materialistic, when they use certain deceptive marketing techniques they support the way that gross materialism works, by doing this rather than being subversive, they get more possibilities to turn into the ‘mainstream’ and whatever they can ‘positively say’ matters very little. Anyhow, as I heard once somewhere;
‘‘they are the best free advertising for everything that they supposedly hate.’’ The bigger the church building and lies get; the more sins are accumulated. And the more sponsored propaganda; the more dependency to the sponsors!And as the common denominator of almost all of them; they teach that humans posses something called ‘‘free will’’, and like to parrot that there is a literal hell when it is obvious that the word hell has been wrongly translated from the original Manuscripts. Many, many church buildings put God all powerful and mighty and loving as one that will burn the majority of His creation on an obscene hellhole, eternally! And for a purpose, that doesn’t even have any common sense!
IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT HOW DOES A MESSAGE IS DELIVERED AS THE MESSAGE ITSELF (1Tes. 2:5
‘‘you're guaranteed that both WE and THE MESSAGE are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas’’), when ordinary sponsored pastors quote the bible;
anything that this business man’s say means very little or nothing! They are like annoying noisy kids shooting words into the air that are too high for them to understand. As one of my favorite writers once said, It’s true that
‘‘you don’t serve a wedding cake on a dog plate’’ or as I have put it,
‘you never should sell loving personal letters to your friends’. A final Keepsake
If you have noticed, on this present predominating society there is the great ideology that
the whole is greater than the parts that form it, giving priority to
group goals over individual goals, often bringing its participants to a place where everything could look nice as a whole on the outside, while the members of the whole can be striving with depression and overwhelming monotony, sometimes locked on extremely simple or un-meaningful tasks from their own perception, which put their dignity down.
For this ideology to work requires a common social identity constructed by certain rules and norms, manifestos, speeches etc. that give incentives, strong suggestions, fear to do otherwise and great social pressure over the participants of the whole.
Then there is the opposite big ideology that put in high;
Individualism; The idea that
sacrificing self interests for others is not allowed, where your own relative tastes and feelings are your own rules and norms, and where all your life drives around trying
to persuade your own selfish goals while opposing anything that ostracize you from accomplishment.
Even when both ideologies are opposites, they can and do combine different aspects of society member lifestyles.
Both ideologies are grossly wrong. But since these are so huge, members come to believe that there are no more options and that you have to become part of one ideology or of both. But, do WE really?One of the principal points of this paper is to put clearly that there are many that God have called, and that there is a few elected persons inside this “called group” that have been predestinated to come out of the church system, along with all this wrong ideologies. On this internet age where we are meant to live, the two Churches of God are still alive!
…church is those whom God has CALLED OUT to be His "called out ones,"
During Jesus’ ministry, He spoke of "the" church and "My" church. There already existed "the church"(Matt. 18:17), at the very time that Jesus said He would build "MY CHURCH" (Matt. 16:18).
Words and quote by L. Ray SmithThe Church that Jesus build, started out with the apostles, kept on with the first communities talked about in the New Testament and it have survived until now; We must believe that it has survived! Why? Because Jesus doesn’t lie. He said that his Church would never be overpowered by death (Matt. 16:18) and so, His Church has never been overpowered by death and never will.When my head was stocked in the church ideologies, I remember one thing that used to get very sticky, it used to say pretty much;
‘‘It matters not what you have done or who you are, if you don’t believe as we you should go to hell’’. This puts down all levels or degrees of wrong or compassion, or evil and ignorance on the same category, because no matter what you lived or did if you don’t believe like them you deserve “eternal hell”. Obviously this was injustice, unmerciful and cruel.
On particular experiences, I have found myself experiencing great contrasts and personal trials inside of this predominating society and I can tell (as I am sure that you can tell)
that there is a visible difference of levels and degrees of compassion and mistakes, of evil and ignorance on their members. I must tell that I have received compassion and have been caused to admire others; I can appreciate many positive and good things, as well as despise many negatives and deceptive
ones.
This writing is just a short reminder of some important things that we must overcome. Meanwhile (right now) a few are being refined and are trying hard to overcome the world, millions of generations are meant to simply live controlled by the main ideologies of their surroundings.
The final purpose, for what seems like a huge mess in this world, is EVERYONE BEING PURIFIED, everyone coming to the full knowledge of our savior; Jesus Christ. And you know… little by little I have realized that IT’S OKAY, THAT NOT EVERYONE HAVE TO GET IT AT THIS TIME, just as not everyone is meant to be one of the best at certain
sport.
A
revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.
A CALL FOR A REVOLTION HAS ALREADY BEEN SOUND, We are to get self organized and keep changing the structures of old. Either on Meat Space (a physical place) or Virtual Space (across space and time, at any region of the world)
we can cooperate over common purposes, some can teach and refute those who contradict, everybody can learn, help and encourage each other. Maybe the ideal would be a balance between online and offline communication.
Part of the positives of ‘face to face off-line interaction’ is that we can aid our messages with body language, postures, facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, speaking style, hugs or kisses,
HOWEVER WHAT MATTERS THE MOST IS THE CONTENT OF THE WORDS SPOKEN AS WELL AS THE POSITION OF THE ONE TALKING, and this is why ‘online communication’ is just as real, since online messages can be delivered with high measure for compression too and one more positive thing on it is that you have even more time to think about what you are about to say and how to say it.
If we can understand the ‘discourse of the community’ of this paper, soon we will be lead to start re-thinking our basic necessities and a plethora of other subjects that we usually tent to take for granted, even our capacity for art appreciation (well, if you are reading this paper I am sure that you have already begun to re-think much on this things).
This short study is just a taste to cause us to farther studies that will hopefully help us to understand better our position on this time of history where God wanted us to breath and our position as a group of people trying hard to be good members of the church community that Jesus built.
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Topic: ''Assimilating Community'' - Living among societies... (short study) (Read 4973 times)