Book III/Chapter 02: The Christian Nation (Part 1)
Last Updated on Sunday, 13 July 2008 07:40
Categorization and Perception
I've observed in human nature a need...
...a desperate need to categorize everything...EVERYTHING. Categorization is the attempt to classify all of the elements in any particular context or frame of reference. Categorization is the soul's attempt to bring order out of chaos...to understand an object or realm by taking it apart and putting it back together again.
It is often the case however that there is a discrepancy between what we observe, and what is really there. In the process of categorization we often "color" or alter what we observe to fit our experience and philosophy. When an evolutionist looks at a rock he sees the result of a process spanning billions of years. When a Protestant or Catholic looks at a rock, they see an Act of God. When a spiritualist looks at a rock, they see God.
Hence we experience a well-known scientific principle: when we observe something, we change it. This is especially true when it comes to the esoteric/spiritual/religious sciences; and it is in these particular sciences that we find this principle to be the most fallacious and the cause of all kinds of trouble.
Chaos
For the fact is that the spiritual realm is simply beyond categorization. Not to say that God is the Author of confusion...but He is the Author of Chaos...and though Chaos is confusing to us, it is not confusing to Him. For you see: confusion is our reaction to Chaos, not Chaos itself. I may go so far as to say that Chaos exists only for creatures, and not the Creator at all.
Merriam-Webster defines Chaos as a state of things in which chance is supreme; the confused, unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms; the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a natural system (as the atmosphere, boiling water, or the beating heart); a state of utter confusion; a confused mass or mixture ("a chaos of television antennas").
We fear Chaos above little else and, consciously or subconsciously, are constantly trying to create order where there may actually be none. Understanding this to be true is important to what I'm going to deal with in this series of messages; for I am going to take something that God has created, and attempt to describe it using a metaphor that man has created in order to expand our minds to appreciate a very important truth. Jesus did this often in His parables: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..." This being said, let's dive into the subject of this series of messages: the Christian Nation...
Jesus And Christianity
As I've implied in previous messages of The Traveler's Oasis books, Jesus is always more that we think Him to be. Most people see Jesus as only a "religious" or "spiritual" figure (which, no doubt, is true). But to those of us who know Him better, it is accepted that He is so much more than this. In Message 25 of Book I ("SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!") I state that not only is Jesus' Authority spiritual, but political and economic as well. In this series of messages I want to take this truth a bit farther.
Most people see Christianity as a religion. Merriam-Webster defines "religion" as commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance; a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. In The Traveler's Oasis I've defined religion as man's attempt to categorize, understand, classify, know about (and therefore control) God. By this definition religion is USELESS, and is doomed to fail...because God is beyond definition or understanding (or our control, for that matter). This being said, you can understand why I have tried to persuade my readers that Christianity is not a religion AT ALL, because Christianity was not created by humanity, but by God Himself.
So what is Christianity? Jesus Christ, and all Truth concerning Him IS Christianity. So by saying that Jesus Christ is a political/economic figurehead as well as a spiritual figurehead I am implying that Christianity is a political/economic system as well...and will demonstrate this to be true in this series of messages.
I will now conclude this first part of the series by defining some necessary terms that will hopefully keep us all on the same page...
"Nation" is a psychological term used to describe peoples' attachment to an corporate "identity" rather than necessarily a geo-political entity such as a state or a country. A "nation" typically claims a particular territory as a homeland; and the "nation" claims the right to their own state (e.g., nationalism and national liberation).
By the term "State" I am referring to all individuals and institutions that make public policy for the nation, whether they are in the government or not.
" Politics" is the process through which a nation governs itself.
" Government" is the leadership in power over the nation at a given moment, roughly equivalent to the American notion of an administration.
In Part 2 I will enumerate how adherents to the Christian Faith qualify as a nation.
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