I feel like copying today’s letter onto parchment and gluing it onto my door so I will read it each time I come into the house. That - at our final breath - we should each experience God as individuals, as His unique creation, is so powerful and intimate. Like in the Bible when it talks about God knowing each of us in the womb and how he calls us by name. It really takes one’s breath away. This is so profound. What a beautiful thought to contemplate and pray over. Thank you.
The statement that doesn't seem quite right to me is your friend Larry's: "What we need is a secular government of religious men." So-called secular governments are not made up of nothing. They are one of the lies of our age. The nations rage and refuse to kiss the Son at their peril. When "secular" governments institute unholy laws, it is the duty of those who worship Christ to disobey them. The martyrs are a great company around the Throne. The ultimate question for your friend Larry is: Is Caesar Lord or is Jesus Christ Lord? All that you say about the tension between the individual and the universal seems to me exactly right. Loving God who loved us first, and loving our neighbor as ourselves is the best we can do in this sin-encrusted world, and by this act of faith, the kingdom of heaven becomes visible. Sometimes that will involve disobeying "secular" governments who pretend to be God and will be allowed to go on thinking that to the extent that we who worship the risen Lord don't bear witness to any other reality. We do so lovingly, calling them to join us, but we don't go in for calling good evil and good evil. That's what a "secular" government is wont to do in the cause of its own power.
My take is that a “secular government of religious men” would be a government of, for, and by people who acknowledge God and prioritize the greater good of His creation, especially human flourishing, who therefore create and uphold laws that serve for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Trying to govern the spiritual lives of people is exactly what results in division and chaos because it is not the purview of humans to take on that role. It belongs to God in His relationship with each individual. A secular government of religious people will provide the optimal ground for individuals to be supported on the spiritual paths.
Thank you for that clarification, Leah. I didn't understand the "of" in the way that you describe, and I agree that is likely what Andrew intended: secular government made up of religious people, not a secular government ruling over religious people according to some other non-religious authority. I still am very skeptical of what we mean by "secular." The whole earth is full of God's glory. Our current paradigm of secularity seems very flimsy and leaves people vulnerable to being manipulated by a state which has been operating as though it were not answerable to God.
And how, pray tell, are we ever going to see eye to eye and be of one heart and one mind, which is the sign of Zion if everyone walks after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol?. (I Quoting D and C 1: 16) In the New Jerusalem God will reign and Christ will be king of kings. That is something we are creating here and now, right? Not to wait to pass beyond the veil, but to seek revelation and truth today. To build the kingdom on earth. Yes, God’s image in everyone but no to everyone’s own private image of god. Don’t mean to be contentious, just saying... Bless you all to keep alive.
I feel like copying today’s letter onto parchment and gluing it onto my door so I will read it each time I come into the house. That - at our final breath - we should each experience God as individuals, as His unique creation, is so powerful and intimate. Like in the Bible when it talks about God knowing each of us in the womb and how he calls us by name. It really takes one’s breath away. This is so profound. What a beautiful thought to contemplate and pray over. Thank you.
I copied it into my journal this morning! :)
Here-here!
I like to collect quotes, and this letter delivered the goods thrice over.
Great thoughts! I'm often startled by your insights, because after contemplating them, they seem obvious. 🤔
The statement that doesn't seem quite right to me is your friend Larry's: "What we need is a secular government of religious men." So-called secular governments are not made up of nothing. They are one of the lies of our age. The nations rage and refuse to kiss the Son at their peril. When "secular" governments institute unholy laws, it is the duty of those who worship Christ to disobey them. The martyrs are a great company around the Throne. The ultimate question for your friend Larry is: Is Caesar Lord or is Jesus Christ Lord? All that you say about the tension between the individual and the universal seems to me exactly right. Loving God who loved us first, and loving our neighbor as ourselves is the best we can do in this sin-encrusted world, and by this act of faith, the kingdom of heaven becomes visible. Sometimes that will involve disobeying "secular" governments who pretend to be God and will be allowed to go on thinking that to the extent that we who worship the risen Lord don't bear witness to any other reality. We do so lovingly, calling them to join us, but we don't go in for calling good evil and good evil. That's what a "secular" government is wont to do in the cause of its own power.
My take is that a “secular government of religious men” would be a government of, for, and by people who acknowledge God and prioritize the greater good of His creation, especially human flourishing, who therefore create and uphold laws that serve for the peace and prosperity of the nation. Trying to govern the spiritual lives of people is exactly what results in division and chaos because it is not the purview of humans to take on that role. It belongs to God in His relationship with each individual. A secular government of religious people will provide the optimal ground for individuals to be supported on the spiritual paths.
Thank you for that clarification, Leah. I didn't understand the "of" in the way that you describe, and I agree that is likely what Andrew intended: secular government made up of religious people, not a secular government ruling over religious people according to some other non-religious authority. I still am very skeptical of what we mean by "secular." The whole earth is full of God's glory. Our current paradigm of secularity seems very flimsy and leaves people vulnerable to being manipulated by a state which has been operating as though it were not answerable to God.
And how, pray tell, are we ever going to see eye to eye and be of one heart and one mind, which is the sign of Zion if everyone walks after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol?. (I Quoting D and C 1: 16) In the New Jerusalem God will reign and Christ will be king of kings. That is something we are creating here and now, right? Not to wait to pass beyond the veil, but to seek revelation and truth today. To build the kingdom on earth. Yes, God’s image in everyone but no to everyone’s own private image of god. Don’t mean to be contentious, just saying... Bless you all to keep alive.
Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed this missive.
I have written about a topic you touched upon in this letter, which I believe you and your readers might find interesting: The Color of God (https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-color-of-god/)