What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
–Romans 8:31-39 RSV
An internet disagreement went well. That might be enough of a story to hit Publish right now and be done with it. However, it got more interesting as my conversation partner direct messaged me because his next thoughts might be construed as pagan or occult and he didn’t want the potential backlash.
There’s a narrowness to allowable Christian discourse that doesn’t help our messy search for truth. Certain precepts are not to be questioned and wisdom from non-Christian religious teachings is all but outlawed.
In this video, Jonathan Pageau addresses some of the knee-jerk reactions that Christians have to symbols they don’t understand.
Kabbalah, Occultism, Freemasonry and Jordan Peterson – Stop Being Silly
My understanding is that God uses all things to His good. I also understand that symbols can be powerful and one shouldn’t be lackadaisical when engaging with them. The answer is to intentionally focus on God. If you stay in His love, you will receive wisdom and remain in a good place.
Learning is fun for me, I play with ideas and try to remain aware that I might be wrong about everything. That keeps Ego in check and prepares me to change course when truth is revealed.
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