Remembrance

Others,

The apostles had commissioned Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles with one condition: Remember the poor. He had already been eager to do this. (Gal.2:10)

Paul was from Tarsus. His father was a Greek (Acts 16:3) Tarsus was a center for trade in Asia Minor. Education was promoted in public. He had been exposed to the ideas contained in the dialog called “Timaeus” during the course of his education.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_ancient_Greece#Athenian_System

The “Timaeus” associated elemental spirits with the destructiveness in nature. This destructiveness was viewed as a justification for tyranny in the use of political power. The king or leader of the polis was expected to select a “suitable war.” People were not regarded as suitable for participation in politics or philosophy.

Timaeus
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/timaeus.html

Socrates
(elitism) “…people of your class are the only ones remaining who are fitted by nature and education to take part at once both in politics and philosophy…therefore yesterday when I saw that you wanted me to describe the formation of the State I readily assented, being very well aware that if you only would, none were better qualified to carry the discussion further; and  when you had engaged our city in a suitable war, you of all men living could best exhibit her playing a fitting part.”

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Critias,
“There have been, and will be again, many destructions of mankind arising out of many causes; the greatest have been brought about by the agencies of fire and water, and other lesser ones by innumerable other causes.”

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Timaeus
“As I said at first, when all things were in disorder God created in each thing in relation to itself, and in all things in relation to each other, all the measures and harmonies which they could possibly receive. For in those days nothing had any proportion except by accident; nor did any of the things which now have names deserve to be named at all as, for example, fire, water, and the rest of the elements. All these the creator first set in order, and out of them he constructed the universe, which was a single animal comprehending in itself all other animals, mortal and immortal. Now of the divine, he himself was the creator, but the creation of the mortal he committed to his offspring.”

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Paul saw this philosophy as the basis for deception in imperial politics. “Civilization” was being built with belief that the cult of death ruled over the law.

Colossians 2.8
http://bible.cc/colossians/2-8.htm
Don’t let anyone take you captive with philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men; according to the elemental spirits of the world; not according to Christ.

Paul had been a Pharisee for the law. (Phil.3:5)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees#A_Kingdom_of_Priests  

His zeal for persecuting Christians as apostates was grounded in the belief that enslavement to the law justifies the use of destructive power. There was some common ground between imperial polytheism and monotheism in this regard. The emperor was called the “high priest” insofar as he was believed to hold the power to call for the torture or the sacrifice of human life.

Paul maintained respect for the value of debate after his conversion to Christianity and his commission as an apostle when he expressed his disagreement with those among the apostles who would have the Gentiles subjected to the rite of circumcision. (Gal.3:20) His zeal for the law was converted to devotion to grace by virtue of his conversion.

Galatians 4:3
http://bible.cc/galatians/4-3.htm
When we were children, we were in slavery to the elemental spirits of the world.

Gal.4:9
http://bible.cc/galatians/4-9.htm
Now that you know God, do you wish to be enslaved to those elemental spirits?

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The elemental spirits in the elitist philosophy are identified with the destructiveness of nature. This destructiveness is used to justify investment in the political philosophy that promotes the industry of war and pre-occupation with oppression. This philosophy promotes increase in the elitist advantage. The wealthiest are given license to put their money into campaigns and lobbies that determine political outcomes.

The association of the destructiveness of the elemental spirits with the offspring of God was the basis for calling the emperor, the son of the god of war. This was to become the primary principle for Arian (Aryan) theology.

The Son was not co-equal in power with the Father according to Arius. He was the demi-urge of creation. Destruction was necessary for creation, correction and construction in this view. The Father was perfect by virtue of his detachment from destruction in creation. The emperor as high priest was called to expand the empire with human sacrifice in the exercise of military aggression and the use of the death penalty for criminals within the state (of conquered territories).

The emperor that accepted this calling was regarded as Christ by elitists. This was the ultimate corruption of faith in Jesus as Christ. Now the Son of God was not willing to sacrifice his own life as the servant of salvation from evil (homicide, genocide, zealotry [terrorism], violent crime), he was the agent who had sacrificed his life so he could kill others to oppress and expand the empire.

Elitist “science” is used to serve this agency for oppression and expansion. It doesn’t need to be “scientific” in regards to natural law. It needs to endorse and promote aggression as the primary principle for survival in life.

This political philosophy was not just an exercise in theory for discussion. It was used by every emperor who was seeking to “conquer the world” particularly in the history of western civilization.

The Nazi regime actively advocated Aryan theology as the basis for the “master race.” The ‘Aryan’ kind of theology is also being used by sectarian agents for state religion in any single party government on the globe. The “atavism” of the “avatars” is not limited to western society. Sectarian theology is often used as the basis for the philosophy of partisan partiality.

People of faith do not believe that war, oppression and violence are necessary for building civilization.

http://bible.cc/mark/13-6.htm  (fm. Mark 13:6-9)
There are those who claim to be the One, the offspring, the Christ; saying, “You must keep up with me.” Some will be deceived. You will hear of wars and natural disasters, but it is not a proof that the end is here. Be careful. There are those who promote discrimination for the offspring. When they are partisan or sectarian, they are for partiality. They are not for liberty with justice in the law. They seek only to punish or destroy those who do not support the elitist advantage for the One.

Protection
Fm. Psalm 16

I have said to God,
“You are my LORD;
my good above all other.
Protect me. I take refuge in you.”

My delight is with those who
live for goodness with liberty
and justice in the law.

Those who make false gods;
who make individual benefit
the only good;
will multiply their troubles.

Libations of blood will not be offered.
Incense will not be burned for destruction.
Declarations of support for elitism
will not be made.

You provide the portion for my cup, LORD.
You uphold the kindness of our kind.

The boundaries of a pleasant land
are the heritage of goodness.

I will bless the LORD for direction with counsel.
My heart teaches me to watch day and night.

I have set the justice of the law before me.
I will not fail to remember the poor.
I will promote liberty with justice
in the rule of the law.

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Remember the poor.

Billy Joel – New York State of Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFlsXgw_SFE&feature=g-vrec

I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.
Cause I'm in a, I'm in a New York state of mind

Have faith.
Live a good life.

Steve K.

Weakness

Others,

The first "Christ" in the bible was Cyrus, an Achaemenid (Persian/Iranian) emperor. Cyrus II liberated the Jews and other captives from Babylon. There is archaeological evidence however that the Achaemenids had a policy for destroying the enemy. If making a god out of stone was bad, making God into a tyrant by destruction is worse.

The whole apocalyptic battle between Christ and the anti-Christ is about this policy of destruction. Empire changed hands based upon a different method for killing the "terrorists" who threatened the empire. The Bush administration had resurrected the beast with their "official story." We are charged with the task of restoring constitutional democracy with the bill of rights.

This said, the US is not the only country that struggles with authoritarian elitism. Syria has had a dictatorship under the minority Alawite control for over forty years. They are on record as promoters of torture. More than 200 Syrians have defected.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/03/world/meast/syria-unrest/

Alawites are associated with the Shiites (Iran). Assad's father imposed cronies on the government after his rise to power (1970).
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-syria-alawites-sect-idUSTRE8110Q720120202

Paul had been using the law to punish Christians. He believed that the power of destruction was the path to power. He was on the road to Damascus to report more Christians to Roman authorities when he encountered Christ. It was there that he found that power is made perfect in weakness.

The situation in Syria shows that sectarian motives often underlie tyranny. This is the reason that freedom of religion is so important as a principle for civil government. It prohibits establishment and allows for the free exercise of religion.

Weakness

2Corinth12 Mk6 Ps123 Ps48

I know someone
who was on the road
to Damascus.
He was using the law
to persecute and punish.
He was devoted to destruction.

I know someone
who was caught up
in the experience of Christ
on that imperial road.
The person felt paradise.
The feeling transcended
perception without leaving it.
It expanded perspective
without destroying it.

The experience was so wonderful
that the person felt all experience
prior to Christ was wrong.

Pain was gone.
Competition had no meaning.
Joy in life made sense.
The request was made
to dwell in paradise indefinitely.

The LORD said,
“Grace is sufficient for you.
Power is perfected in weakness.”

Whenever I feel weak in Christ,
then I am strong in the call
to increase strength in leadership.
Love your enemy.
Do not destroy opposition.

Walk with Jesus as he teaches.
The law is for liberty.
It is not for destruction.
Your authority will cast out
false or harmful precedents.
You will promote truth for
liberty with justice and equity.
Happiness will meet your success.

If you are not welcomed
remember that devotion to destruction
has been attempting to control the world
from before the beginning of civilization.
Shake the dust from your sleeves
against those who support those
that are so devoted.

I lift my eyes to the light in the skies.
As hunger looks for satisfaction;
as thirst seeks refreshment;
we look to God as our provider.

Have mercy on us, O LORD.
Have mercy. We have had
more than enough contempt.

We have suffered unfair treatment
from the advantage given to the elite.
There has been too much derision
handed down from indolent pride.

Safety and health are guidelines
for godliness. God is our guide
forever.

Praise the LORD!

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The statement, “Power is made perfect in weakness” has strong implications for education. When someone works on improving areas of performance that are regarded as weak, he or she has a lifelong relationship with personal and social development.

What happens though when someone else is defined as the weakness?

The Wanted - My Weakness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWbAuAsRZNY&feature=related

Socrates argued for choosing the lover rather than the non-lover in the dialog called “Phaedrus.” He felt that while choosing the non-lover contributes to dispassion in social relations, it is also the basis for slavery. The property owner will choose a non-lover because that person can be controlled. When a provider chooses someone whom he loves however, shared passion is the basis for managing the relationship.

The argument has merit, but if the chooser chooses someone who doesn’t want to be controlled or doesn’t share passion, then both options are undermined. Slavery has been outlawed but de facto enslavement still happens in abusive relations. People who share passion are in such a hurry to consummate their sexual relations legally that they don’t give enough thought to how they will work together to manage a household.

The entanglement of romantic love is not easy to untangle, nevertheless it factors into the consideration of long term relations, whether one is for or against passion. It is possible that a couple who doesn’t feel passion can discuss fairness in management issues, while a passionate couple needs to slow down the mad rush of hormones long enough to decide if they can manage a household together. If so, what’s the plan?

Power is made perfect in weakness,

Steve K.