Recognition, acceptance, belonging, encouragement ...then what follows?? Are we seeking a higher degree of recognition involving status??

 We are to recognize the truth about Jesus, and accept that truth. Jesus invites us to belong and encourages us. God the Father recognizes us as sinners, but by acknowledging that we are sinners, and accepting His forgiveness of our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus ...God has established for us the status of being with Him for eternity in Heaven.

Those truths are not conditional (that's saying, not conditional as to our sin) ...yet, it seems often much different with us accepting each other. And sadly we often don't even see the conditional nature of our own judging ...and the extent to which we often will follow it for the validation we so readily seek in elevating that which drives us in our self-perception. (Yes, God's love is unconditional, yet there is the condition of needing to accept the One who loves us unconditionally. How can love be realized by us if we don'r acknowledge or accept it?)

Recognition, acceptance, belonging, and encouragement are all things we seek ...and we can say they are good (if in fact they are good). But, I am not considering here the category of those who are recognized for the bad things that they do, the acceptance of their wayward peers, the belonging to that group by their willingness or commitment to do certain things ...and the continual encouragement to do those things (often with rewards and status).

But, the 'good' of it is when we recognize not just shared belief in God, but also acknowledge that we are all still struggling in some way or another whether we acknowledge it or not. I find it difficult to relate to someone who acts like they have it all together. And to reach out in friendship, we can accept someone with all their shortcomings ...after all, God accepts us with all of ours (and He certainly knows what they are). And we are to encourage one another to endure ...while reminding each other of God's love. Yet, with that love, we are also to correctly glorify God, not elevate our wrongdoings.

And when others do not elevate themselves, yet still glorify God for who He is ...there can be a slight misrepresentation if we put ourselves down too much, because God does not want us to overly beat ourselves up, but to just see the truth of Him and His love for us. It can make a world of difference when we see ourselves as God sees us.

It has been frequently said that a person often views our Heavenly Father somewhat through a lens influenced by an impression built by how our earthy father has portrayed our value and worth. And those influences don't easily disappear, and we often don't realize how they are clinging to us ...not always knowing they are there, but they can ambush us as they can emerge at circumstantial moments. 

Other times we shove feelings down deep, and we move on ...because we have to, and it is not healthy not to. We still need those things like recognition, acceptance, belonging, and encouragement ...yet, we need to abandon the old detrimental thoughts that drag us down and replace those thoughts with new healthier thoughts. We need to relearn some things.

Yet again, any time we learn or relearn ...there are imperfections in every bit of learning, unless the Holy Spirit teaches us. And us humans often take over that teaching also. Often we are told that our 'status' can be improved if we only do certain things, and those teachers define what those things are. Yet, who wouldn't want to have more of the Holy Spirit's influence in their life? So, yes, we aspire to things. I don't quite know how to say this ---well, I may know how to say it, but I want to say it not just to say it, or to be solely trusted for what I say ---rather I would hope you'd understand. 

So, let me approach it this way: 

'Are you familiar with episode VIII of Star Wars where Rey is to be trained by Luke?' (She had just found him at the end of episode VII.)

In that episode Luke asks Rey to reach out. We are asked to reach out to the Holy Spirit ...but, of course in the movie it is called 'the force'. Rey reaches out with her hand, and Luke tickles her hand with a leaf ...to which Rey says she can feel it. Luke says it is 'the force' but then slaps her hand. She immediately realizes she is supposed to reach out with her heart. 

(https://www.google.com/search?q=episode+of+Star+Wars+where+Luke+is+training+Rey+and+tickles+her+arm+with+a+leaf&sca_esv=ada4534496032d39&rlz=1CAWPBA_enUS939&sxsrf=AE3TifOdZjgCn1ucpdV-x7ZPPWvMOMNx8w%3A1755385006529&ei=rgyhaIuLIOSV5OMPzZvXkAI&ved=0ahUKEwiLmojetpCPAxXkCnkGHc3NFSIQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=episode+of+Star+Wars+where+Luke+is+training+Rey+and+tickles+her+arm+with+a+leaf&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiT2VwaXNvZGUgb2YgU3RhciBXYXJzIHdoZXJlIEx1a2UgaXMgdHJhaW5pbmcgUmV5IGFuZCB0aWNrbGVzIGhlciBhcm0gd2l0aCBhIGxlYWZIrcUCULYPWOK-AnAEeAGQAQCYAcwCoAGWOqoBCTM4LjI5LjEuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCNqACxTXCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIEECMYJ8ICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICCBAAGKIEGIkFwgIIEAAYFhgKGB7CAgUQIRigAcICBRAhGKsCwgIHECEYoAEYCpgDAIgGAZAGCJIHCDYuNDYuMS4xoAfomQKyBwgyLjQ2LjEuMbgH4zTCBwkyLTQuMzIuMTjIB-oG&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:7ce24563,vid:DUH-aABi1I4,st:0) 

...and yet sometimes we can make it too difficult. 

Just try this link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUH-aABi1I4)

Yes, Rey touches her heart, and says "You meant reach out, right? I'll try again ..."

I think trying again is good, but not always in the same way.

But, sometimes it is not immediately so simple. If we are told our life is not fulfilling enough, and we are told how it can be ---well, there may be more instruction involved than heart. And the teaching my have so much authority that we do the good thing ---we trust. Yet, it may be claimed to come from authority, that the Holy Spirit is teaching. Is it possible that there may be some similarity in the way that any person can be taught, but none of us can be totally 'filled' because our authority cannot be equal in knowledge and understanding and wisdom to that of God. Our human state (or condition) is not without error ---and we agree, saying that's why we turn to the Holy Spirit who is without error. But, I think for the most part that we cannot fully separate our humanness from the equation ...and by equation, I mean there is always going to be a certain percentage of 'us' involved that is not fully distinguishable from what we feel is not at all any part of 'us'. Again, we are all human who claim to be human, and similarly as an earthly Father influences our heavenly perception, we all do have some influence of heavenly perception by others who we accept as leaders in wisdom or teaching. But, we say this is different because we are being taught spiritual things by a spirit-filled person. Can any one us contain all truths? I do not hesitate to say, "None of us can truly claim we have the corner on all wisdom. And we should seek out conversation and study ...to share even with those we disagree with, as both of us can learn. But, in saying that ...I am saying that with the hope that both of us have the steadfast belief that the Bible was given to us as true, and we should always humbly extends our hearts to one another in committing to the study of His Word.

This is so very difficult to communicate, but if you have lived through the 'Faith Movement' with headliners of "Name it, claim it!" teaching ...well, it caused much grief with some friends of mine. But, before I tell you how that was, let me give some background statistics:

• Kenneth E. Hagin (1917–2003) is widely recognized as the individual who further developed and popularized teachings leading to the rise of the modern Word of Faith movement and its focus on "Name it and claim it" theology. He is often referred to as the "father" of the movement.

Now, some friends of mine (two brothers) attended a church that followed this philosophy. They told me their Grandma was sick, and when prayer requests were offered, my friends asked for prayer for their Grandma ...and of course, those who prayed also claimed she would get well. Then the following week they asked about how Grandma was doing. When my friends reported that she had not improved ---of course, they were not going to change their claim and the faith of their prayer, yet they had to somehow explain why their prayer did not work ---so, they said that my friends had to also pray for Grandma's healing, which they did. When she didn't improve, they were told they were using the wrong words, and told them the exact words that needed to be prayed. My friends were obedient to do that, yet Grandma did not get better. They were then told that they needed to have more 'faith' in their prayer when they claimed for her healing. They tried so hard to pray with confidence and faith, but them Grandma died. And they were told that Grandma died because of their lack of faith. When they told me all of this, I told them that what they were told was a form of spiritual abuse.

And it you will so kindly note in the paragraph above the long one I just typed, yes, above that I've included the fact that Kenneth Hagin died in 2003, at the age of 86. My own Dad passed away late last year at the age of 89 ...so, does that mean my Dad had more faith than Kenneth Hagin, or does it mean I have more faith than him because of my prayers for my Dad?? No, I claim neither of those statements. And I always prayed for Dad, but I prayed (how is it said) from the bottom of my heart.

So, when we say we follow Jesus ...are we following what Jesus would want us to do, or someone else's program of belief on what that should be?? When God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff, it provided water for the people. But, God made it clear that after Moses did it a second time ...that God had not instructed him to do it again. It was not a formula that could then be copied, perhaps forming a 'rock striking' church.

In First Corinthians, Chapter 3, Paul also includes himself: 

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.  You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?  For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings?"

          

It sort of appears to me that there is much evidence through the letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to churches that people were already beginning to follow individuals, mostly confident and charismatic leaders, who did not deny foundational truths ...yet, those truths seemed to become secondary, and it appeared that individuals were elevating their group, which in turn also elevated them. Centering around a set group of selected verses, doctrines, or practices ...and presenting them merely as guideposts to an agenda their followers were encouraged to follow, well, it seems to draw the trust of many seeking out truth. And it sort of seems like that tendency sort of ushered in the beginnings of 'denominations'.

In summary, I don't believe the most disturbing aspect (of what my friends had to go through while grieving for the loss of Grandma) is that there are those extending false teaching while elevating themselves, but the worse part is when others who are not accepting or experiencing that elevated status are influenced to feel less of themselves, lowering their own perception of themselves. And of course, the remedy is sadly claimed to be simply to accept the elevated status and aspire to it. And though we should all aspire to do better, if the success in achieving that goal is narrowed down to seeking to attain that status, it not only creates a diversion of sorts through focusing a bit more on ourselves instead of Jesus ---it also anchors us within set standards that hold us fast to striving to attain that which isn't really making us lacking (if we do not adhere to or experience them) ---yet the perception is that we are lacking (in an area that should not concern us) and the overwhelming feeling is to be a part of something supposedly greater, so we more readily embrace another's ideas. And that was shown in the example of my friends who were told they were lacking in faith ...or another could be told they perhaps have the Holy Spirit within them, but they are not 'filled with the Holy Spirit'. And the goal then is to subscribe to one interpretation of what is 'best', and to often shut out any input that may challenge that thinking.

And I've been told that I am just saying these things because I don't have the 'gift' and that is why I am making my 'claims', or I simply cannot understand because I am not 'spirit-filled'. 

List of fallacious arguments:

Appeal to authority, appeal to ignorance, appeal to emotion, bandwagon fallacy, hasty generalization fallacy, fallacy fallacy ...but, of course there are over a hundred of these fallacies and I could make up some myself ....but again, anyone could say the other person is guilty of fallacious reasoning or claims.

So, focus on Jesus ...and on the Bible, and when we get to Heaven we can all see where we stand corrected.