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SOME ERRORS OF LITERALIST, PEDANTIC, DOGMATIC AND FUNDAMENTALIST RELIGION
(perspective by T. Bisson)

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Earthbound spirits

There are disembodied souls who do not know God or who do not have consciousness of the Higher Power which is responsible for the Essence of Life within. Many are earthbound and are simply wandering around confused, often not even realising at first that they have left the body of flesh (perhaps even thinking they should be "asleep"). Such as these could be depressed and when they draw near to one in the flesh who is sensitive, a great sadness might come over that one not knowing from whence it has come. If it was a suicide case, for instance, that case might be seeking some kind of comfort from a relative, and this explains much as to why there appears to be depression in certain families.

"Seducing" spirits

But worse, there are those who have fallen so far, that they only seek to bring down anyone else. They know only hatred and jealousy, and because of their own chained condition, they wish others to be like them. These often have the ability to know something of what is going on in the mind of the person in a body of flesh, and can be very subtle and cunning, and by their thoughts, can influence or "seduce" the individual in the physical body, to the extent of making him or her think that he or she is doing the right thing, when the disembodied spirit knows very well that it will cause trouble for the one in the earth body.

A fallen spirit will always be found around those who have materialistic power because most damage can be done there, and some of those wicked souls are bent on destruction. That is why a person should always try to link to God, and pray for direction in everything, when he or she can receive inspiration from God and His host, thereby never allowing the material influence of the fallen spirits to gain a foothold in the heart and mind.

These dark souls thrive on people who harbour the baser emotions such as desire for unnecessary materialistic possessions and power, vanity, conceit, selfishness, jealousy, hatred, sexual immorality, and anger. It seems more than clear why it is essential to follow the principles and example laid down by Christ when He walked the earth, in the light of these facts.

"Familiar" spirits

It should also be very apparent to anyone who has understood the last few paragraphs, why God prohibited the ignorant and backward people of the Old Testament from allowing anyone to use their abilities to link up with those spirits who possessed similar characters to their own immoral and wicked characters - spirits that were familiar by nature with the characters and attitudes of those in the flesh, and who would find it very easy to control them - "familiar spirits".

New Testament Christians are led by the Spirit not Mosaic Law

"If you follow the law of Moses, Christ has become of no effect to you" (Gal.5:3,4)

A large number of people who might call themselves Biblical Christians, sometimes quote from the Israelite law of the Old Testament (the Law of Moses) saying that this is "God's law", presumably expecting others to accept that the six hundred and thirteen pre-Christ Israelite laws are applicable to the present day society we find ourselves in. Sometimes a person may quote from the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament), perhaps from Deuteronomy or Leviticus saying: "God says you must do this!" or "God says you must not do that!"

This is particularly pertinent for a Christian Spiritualist who may be told by Fundamentalists that Christian Spiritualism is 'an abomination' to God and apparently "backing it up" by quoting from Leviticus 19:31 or Deuteronomy 18:10-12. The Christian Spiritualist is thus shunned by some so-named mainstream Christian authorities, even being denied entry to Bible study courses.

However, such Fundamentalists have been led astray. Firstly, they do not understand the gift of Spirit Communion and the dangers that were involved to such a debased people who were regularly capable of child-sacrifice (Jer. 7:31) and were of such a low moral character that they were inviting to themselves very degrading spiritual powers indeed. Secondly, people naming themselves Christians who quote allegiance to the law of Moses have been led astray because they have misinterpreted the meaning of Jesus Christ's accomplishments and His purpose.

Quite simply, the Bible states that Mosaic Law ended with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Followers of Christ are not under the Law of Moses: "He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations" (Eph. 2:15), and to this can also be added the fact that Gentiles do not have to follow the Law of Moses: "I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Gal. 2:14). It is manifestly bizarre that people calling themselves Biblical Christians make a point of preaching the absolute opposite of strong and clear Biblical statements.

If we are being asked to live by such a moral code, then we are also being asked to accept some highly undesirable practices (ignoring for now the possibility that Mosaic laws have not been altered during the course of time by unscrupulous Levites with their own power-agenda). For instance, one such law states that people could own other people as property (being their "money"), and, moreover, the owners could legally beat those poor slaves with "a rod", and not have to face any legal consequences whatsoever if the "servant" or "maid" did not die within "a day or two". The only punishment for the owner would occur if the life is literally beaten out of the physical body of the so-called maid or servant "under his hand" producing instant death (Exodus 21:20,21). One wonders how battered partners regard this notion.

A Fundamentalist who claims that others must adhere to even one regulation stated in Mosaic Law is bound by the whole of Mosaic Law: "For I testify again to every man that is circumcised (a stipulation of one of the Mosaic laws), that he is a debtor to do the whole law" (Gal. 5:3). Someone cannot just choose to adhere to one (or some) law and not adhere strictly to all the others, or this would literally demonstrate Pharisaical hypocrisy.

Mosaic Law was there for those not yet in a position to follow the Christ Way - the Way laid down by Christ, the way of the Spirit. Prior to Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection, a chosen people singled out for example would have to submit to a written Law. This was instead of a Law written into the hearts and minds (Heb. 8:10; Jer. 31:33) of those that could now follow the Christ Way and the law of the Spirit because of the accomplishments of Jesus the Christ.

Indeed, it is impossible to keep the whole Law of Moses anyway, for should one of the most insignificant laws be breached then the whole of the Law of Moses was breached: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Gal. 3:10). Something else was needed and that was Christ Himself and a New Covenant establishing the Law of the Spirit: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13) .

Christ came to fulfil the written Law of Moses and the prophets, and in so doing, ended the written Law of Moses: "Christ is the end of the law" (Romans 10:4). The Christ Law of the Spirit is: "written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God; not in the tablets of stone, but in the fleshly tablets of the heart" (11 Cor. 3:3). That Law is based on love for God instead of fear of God; love for God because of the love that God has for His children which was demonstrated so wonderfully and perfectly through God's own Christ when He subjected Himself to the laws of His own creation, living as man lives yet overcoming all weakness and temptation, and finally achieving all He set out to do.

With the New Covenant there was a new spiritual law - the law of the Spirit - Old Testament law was abrogated by Christ 2,000 years ago through a new testament. There should be little doubt about this fact as there are numerous references to it in the Bible: (Rom.13:8,9 & 3:21 & 7:6 & 13:8 & 13:10 - 2Cor.3:5,6 & 3:13,16 - Gal.2:12 & 3:2,3 & 3:5 & 3:10 & 3:11 & 3:19 & 3:23 & 3:24,25 & 4:31 & 5:2 - Eph.2:15 & 3:4,5 - Phil.3:8,9 - Col.2:14 & 2:16 & 2:20 - Heb.8:7,8 & 10:20).

Whatever may be said about the Law of Moses, it cannot be denied that Jesus Himself prepared the way by traversing the boundaries of (Old Testament) traditional religious thought e.g. talking with women in public (John 4); justifying of disciples not observing purification laws (Matthew 15:1); commanding the carrying of a bed on the Sabbath (John 5:8 & 10); picking and grinding grain by hand and by example encouraged others to do so (Mark 2:23) and perhaps more tellingly He quoted an instance of transgression of Mosaic Law as justification for His own actions: "(David) did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him" (Mark 2:26).

Just as tellingly, Christ gives a practical demonstration of the substitution of an old Mosaic law (which demanded the stoning of adulteresses) with a new compassionate law of forgiveness with contrition when He saved an adulteress from certain death and instead told her to mend her ways, and that He, in God's Name, did not condemn her (John 8:1-11).

As if further explanation was needed, Christ Jesus tells us in plain words that no longer is anyone to follow the vengeful Mosaic law of "an eye for an eye" (Levit. 24:19,20) stating that it is replaced with a new Christian Spiritual law of compassion and forgiveness instead of retaliating to the evil deed: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matt. 5:38)".

Jesus also ensured that Spirit Communion is shown to be God ordained by example when He communicated with the "dead" regarding highly important spiritual matters, which certainly violated the Mosaic injunction, Jesus Himself being the Medium (Matt. 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36). The fact that it was Moses (lawmaker) and Elias (prophet) with whom Jesus communicated (communed) is significant because it symbolises the fulfilling of the old Mosaic Law and Biblical prophecies with the new Law of the Spirit (Christian Spiritual Law) which was to be accomplished with the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

Thus, we clearly see the introduction of moral compassion for these people who had been shaped and disciplined over the centuries by a Law which was to vanish and be replaced by a new Law: "In that he saith, a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away" (Heb. 8:13). The preparation for a massive change in attitude towards the Law of Moses which would soon come about was being laid so skilfully by Christ Jesus. Words can say many things to man, but actions do indeed speak louder than words, and Christ knew that although many of the words that He spoke would not be written down and some would not be recorded in the manner that He spoke them, His actions would be a living testimony and example.

The New Christ Law, the Law of the Spirit, abrogated the Old Law of Moses. Indeed, "whoever is justified by the (Israelite) law, Christ has become of no effect to you, and ye are fallen from grace" (Gal.5:3,4); "For all the (Israelite) law is fulfilled in one word, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal.5:14); "If righteousness comes by the (Israelite) law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Gal.2:21); "But if you be led by the Spirit, you are not under the (Israelite) law" (Gal.5:18).

Yet in spite of the overwhelming amount of Biblical statements to the contrary, many Fundamentalists are still able to quote Mosaic Law as if we must adhere to it and are bound by it. One of the greatest mistakes of such followers of Fundamental Literalism comes from something Jesus Christ is reported as saying: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). The Literalist might say: "There, you see, straight from the mouth of Jesus, we are to obey the injunctions of Mosaic Law! We must obey it even to the smallest full stop!"

Putting aside the fact that Jesus was addressing the descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel, we need to look at the much larger picture because it is very instructive. The Literalist in this instance is taking something completely out of context and ignoring the intended meaning and reason for this saying of Christ Jesus.

In short, God's Plan included taking a people and making them an example for all time. These very wayward and spiritually backward people were inviting to themselves, as well as being unprotected from, the influence of low and debased spirits, due to their lack of moral and spiritual standards. To these people God gave a set of strict laws for their own benefit and disciplining, i.e. Mosaic Law, which He gave to spiritual beings to pass on to a mediating human (Gal. 3:19). Also to these people He sent messages and instructions through dedicated and disciplined mediums or prophets. These messages were for various reasons, the most vital reason being the foretelling of the birth of Christ, His life, His death, His resurrection, and what He would achieve by all of this: demonstration of God's love for His children and their ultimate salvation.

God's Christ, as the Man Jesus, knew only too well what His Mission was. He had left His Godhead and proceeded forth from the Father and in doing so He had relinquished His power (John 8:42) and subjected Himself to everything a human being is subject to; in short, to incarnate (become flesh) as a human being in order to fulfil His Mission. And His Mission included fulfilling the prophecies about Himself. Thus the Cross had to be, there was no other course, it had been preordained from the Godhead. The Cross was an essential part of the Mission because of the unimaginable power and essential influence it would bring to a world which was in a state of almost unsalvageable spiritual degradation.

Thus, the Law of Moses was in force for the descendants of the first Israelites until the prophecies were fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Jesus made absolutely certain that He fulfilled every word, every full stop of the Law and prophecies, to complete the preordained Plan in its entirety and to perfection: "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). A stumbling block for the Literalist with his or her limited concept of salvation has been the wording used by Jesus. Christ was emphasising how the Israelites could not escape the effects of the law of Moses unless they had the love of Christ written into their hearts, the type of law which would have to last for all time, for eternity even, without the Spirit of Christ in the heart and mind which would only be possible when He had fulfilled the prophecies about Himself. The love of Christ would be in their hearts because of His accomplishments which were laid down by the prophets, but "till" then they would have to follow the law.

It perhaps needs to be pointed out for the benefit of the Fundamentalist who claims allegiance to any law of Moses, that Jesus used the word: "until", meaning that Mosaic Law and its binding status for the Israelite descendants would change when "all is fulfilled". And of course every sincere seeker of truth should know that Jesus did in fact make sure that "all is fulfilled" and said so Himself: "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (Luke 24:44). Indeed, "He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures...Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day" (Luke 24:45,46). Christ was to remain through the Mosaic epoch and with the Cross and Resurrection a new Christian spiritual era would start.

There must also be a further consideration with regard to the end of the Mosaic era, and that is concerning a word which has been mistranslated for centuries in order to bolster and preserve dogmatic tenets. The subject is too complex to deal with here but it concerns the word "aión" which is often mistranslated as "eternity" instead of "age". The noun "aión" is also mistranslated as the word "world" when in fact "world" should really be the word "kosmos" if that was what Christ and His disciples wished to refer to, because "kosmos" was the commonly employed word for "world". The reason that translators twist this word and its derivatives is usually so that it does not contradict and therefore disturb one or more of the following dogmatic teachings:
i) A belief that the end of the world shall come (second coming) when Christ appears with His legion of angels to destroy all those who do not follow their particular "Christian teaching".
ii) A tenet of being 'saved' (receiving salvation) on the basis of the acceptance of a mere belief instead of correctly basing Christian teaching on the spiritual evolution or involution of the actual character (degree of purity) of the soul.
iii) A monstrous doctrine of everlasting and infinite punishment for finite offences which grotesquely misrepresents the Love of God.

But, in reality, where this word appears it should be "age" or "era" as this is the common usage of the word at the time, hence when the disciples asked Jesus when the 'aión' would end, they did not mean 'world' at all, they were actually talking about the present 'epoch', the Mosaic era. And Jesus told them that it would end before their own generation had passed - meaning with His death and resurrection i.e. when He had fulfilled His accomplishments. So, from the mouth of Jesus Himself, He has said that Mosaic dispensation was to be over in that very generation: "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled".

If a person wishes to follow Mosaic Law and call it Christianity, then they are welcome, and may be sincere, and God recognises what is in the heart. But many other people from other systems of thought are also sincere and God recognises them equally. It is when the Literalist begins to say that their concept is the only method to salvation that the follower of Mosaic Law becomes elitist, and ignores the many strong statements in the Bible instructing that Mosaic Law cannot save the Israelites (Romans 8:3)and that indeed it has been repealed (Eph. 2:15, Gal. 3:13, Rom.10:4, Heb. 8:13, Gal.5:3,4, Gal.2:21).

This clearly and plainly explains why the Fundamentalist's claim that all are subject to the Law of Moses (or even one of the laws (Gal. 5:3)) is erroneous and greatly misleading. When a person quotes from Deuteronomy or Leviticus saying: "God says you must do this" or "God says you must not do that", then that person is demonstrating that he or she has misunderstood the true meaning of Christ's accomplishments. Christ's instructive statement: "I did not come to destroy but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17) is so full of beautiful meaning now that all things are indeed: "fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning" Jesus the Christ; namely, His birth, His life, His trial, His nailing to a tree and His reappearance three days after death. Thus, with that accomplishment, the fulfilment of Mosaic Law was achieved, and "the old (law) was ready to vanish away" (Heb. 8:13) and be replaced by a New Covenant, the Christ Law, the Law of the Spirit.

The new Law of the Spirit is truly spiritual because it now encompassed the law of the heart as a law-keeper with its conscience and contrition, compassion and forgiveness and most importantly, love. The true Christ Spirit produces fruits "against which there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23). Moreover, "he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery', 'Do not murder', 'Do not steal', 'Do not covet', and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law (Rom. 13:8-10)". "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbour as yourself'" (Gal. 5:13).

Putting aside the Law of Moses and adopting Christ's commandment to love God and one another (Matt. 22:37), we are doing the Will of Christ: "let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God (1 John 4:7)". It is not the Will of Christ to follow the law of Moses; a final reiteration for clarity: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Gal.5:3,4).

The uninformed and ignorant assume mediumship is witchcraft

Some so-named "Biblical Christians" claim Christian mediumship to be witchcraft, but these people are thinking from an uninformed position. Such people are bereft of any realization of the immense demonstration of mediumistic powers in the Bible.

The Bible would not exist in its present form were it not for the gifts of mediumship. The Old Testament consists of large passages of messages given directly by spirit agency through the prophets of old. Bearing in mind the attitude of the ignorant who were prohibited from contacting fallen souls due to their own ignorance and for their own safety, it is hardly surprising that the majority of recorders of spiritual messages found in the Bible - which is filled to the brim with spirit messages - mainly report their messages rather than explicitly state the method of reception, although there are numerous mentions of direct spirit intervention which the Literalists choose to ignore. A cursory glance at Revelations reveals a number of such occurrences for instance.

Spiritual gifts do not always come to everyone at once. The growth of mediumistic powers is portrayed by Paul, who having had a number of experiences of spiritual phenomena with the release of his mediumistic powers which began on his way to Damascus while on a mission to persecute Christians, was now in the position to recognize that his enlightenment was only partial. Indeed, the more these experiences went on, the more he realized how little he was able to actually see, and so he could confidently state: "Now, I see through a glass darkly". Paul was beginning to realize that Christian mediumship was an integral and essential part of God's great Plan, and his (Paul's) weighty religious indoctrination was beginning to lessen as shown by his mentioning in Galatians of idolatry, witchcraft (black magic and Satanism), hatred, murders, drunkenness and the such like, and not mentioning "mediumship" along with these commonly quoted forbidden evils from the Old Testament. Paul knew that the prohibition placed upon the ignorant Israelites with regard to contact with the departed was for the benefit of all because they would have only attracted extremely debased souls because of their own selfishness and wickedness. It was becoming so very clear to Paul.

Paul then contrasted these things with the fruits of the Spirit - those which a true Christian Spiritualist seeks to acquire, develop and follow, i.e. love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. One who truly wishes to follow Christ, knows that any power used to hurt or harm another will return to the one who uses it and pierce himself through the heart, so to speak, and so the Christ teaching of forgiveness is of colossal importance as well as being unparalleled in wisdom.

However, there, in the Bible, for every one to see plainly, is the "taking control" of the voices of men in the flesh by beings in Spirit. People gave themselves over to God's Spirit which enabled their vocal chords to be used by spiritual powers to do God's work. These people did not speak themselves but were used by others in Spirit. This is the real meaning of the gift of "tongues" which has been incorrectly interpreted by many of the so-named charismatic Christians who seem so impressed with their excursion into the supernatural that they overlook the obvious. Who were these people who allowed other tongues to use their physical bodies? Evil and debased tricksters? Witches? No. They were the first disciples of Jesus the Christ: "They spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2: 1-11). The first disciples did not utter strange incomprehensible sounds (which some people think is the meaning of "tongues") but actually conversed fluently in foreign languages which were unknown to them because language is no barrier at all to the Messengers of the Spirit, who spoke for them.

The main principle should be simple to understand: Moses and the prophets of old were used by messengers of Spirit to receive and pass on messages ("...Who have received the law by the disposition of angels" Acts 7: 53; "...and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator" Gal. 3:19), and the disciples of Christ were also used by messengers of Spirit. Purblind and superstitious Christians who oppose God's gift of Spirit Communion are indeed acting as enemies of Christ Himself and of His mighty Purpose.

"Cursed" for "adding" to Scripture?

A common misconception of the Fundamentalists is that the revelation by the Holy Spirit as shown through the gifts of Spirit Communion, is in fact "adding" to the Bible. This, they assume, contravenes John's injunction that a "curse" should fall upon the one who should add or take away anything from the "book". But these people need to consider a few things first before they dismiss God's revealed Truth through His Holy Spirit so quickly.

To begin with, when John wrote those words, the New Testament as we know it today was not in existence. John wrote those words in the first century, but the books which compose the New Testament almost as it stands today, were put in that form in AD 400, by a council of Christian Bishops, presided over by Augustine. These people accepted and rejected scripts and narratives which were to form the Canon (even the Epistles, 2 Peter, and James, and the book of Revelation were placed outside the Canon at this time), and finally an agreed version was authorized. Were these people "adding" or "taking away" from the "book" spoken of by John? If so, a "curse" is upon them according to the Fundamentalist viewpoint.

However, when John received his visions and underwent his spirit travels (many times he was taken by an angel on journeys in his spiritual body), he was only too aware of the importance of these Divine inspirations and realizations, and he was determined to preserve (as nearly as he was able) these revelations as they were given. The book which John referred to when he gave his warning, was not the Book which mankind on Earth today calls the Bible, but it was the book which he, John, had written himself which was composed of various scripts of revealed truths - truths revealed by the gifts of Spirit Communion to himself; truths revealed by spiritual trance, clairaudience, clairvoyance (internal visions and external visions), and spirit travel, among other "diverse manners" utilized by communicating spirits or messengers (Spirit Agency).

The overview is that Truth, Divine Truth, is limited by the limitations imposed upon it by the physical mind of man in the flesh with his dogmas, doctrines and theories - which he calls "Truth". The movement of the Holy Spirit is choked and suffocated by traditional thought as well as a somewhat misplaced self-satisfaction with what has been given out as absolute Truth by man throughout the generations.

Yes, of course, Truth is inherent in the Bible - it is all there. But for the sake of understanding, consider the following analogy: That all words are also to be found in the 26 letters of the English alphabet, and that all words are constructed from the 26 letters of the alphabet (the alphabet, in this analogy, being the core of truth). Explanation, learning and instruction are all necessary to unfold the truth contained within the letters of the alphabet. A certain development of knowledge of the alphabet comes at primary school, then again further progress is made at secondary level, and again the advancement of the revelation of the knowledge inherent in the letters of the alphabet is furthered during a literary degree, and so on.

And so it is where unlimited Divine Truth is concerned. The Bible contains spiritual teachings and illuminations, but their explanation and unfoldment come to each individual according to the stage of spiritual development to which he or she has attained at that same time. Unfortunately, many have dogmatized what in essence cannot be captured by the physical mind in temporal existence, and such people refuse to depart from what they themselves have considered to be unalterable. They are satisfied with a teaching which is limited and even cruel in relation to unlimited Divine love.

The Sacred Record has within its pages unlimited Divine Truth, and the consciousness of humankind must be prepared and developed to receive the higher truths of spiritual revelation which are gradually unfolded by decree of the Master Christ, through His ordained gift of Communion through the power of the Holy Spirit - Spirit communication or Spirit-Return.

Do not ever "fear" God

The stalwarts of the letter may dogmatically claim something along the lines of: "God may be love, but He is also to be feared!". This attitude is another leftover from a bygone age of deeply entrenched traditional thought which needs to be addressed. Where the word "fear" appears in the New Testament, it is either pointing out that we should be very careful with regard to the Law of Consequences ('as you sow so shall you reap'); or it is perhaps used in connection with those not yet quite developed enough in a spiritual sense to receive the higher spiritual education and teachings of a God Who is Absolute Love.

The references to fear God Himself are generally part of the inherited idea from the pre-Christ era, where the Lord Jehovah required strict adherence from an ignorant, very lost and primitive people - to a set of rules and regulations to bring them into line, or at least, make them violate Divine Law less. Such people were only capable of seeing God as possessing human characteristics. That is the only way they could possibly understand anything remotely like a Supreme Being.

All this changed with His Christ's Manifestation. A new Law was brought into being - a Christian Spiritual Law - and those who followed even one law of the Law of Moses (the law of circumcision for instance) are told in the New Testament records a score of times, that they are without knowledge, understanding, the blessing of the freedom in Christ, and the greater awareness of the overwhelming love of God.

To such as these, Christ had really become of "none effect", and they were therefore only capable of following a written law which was not of the Christ-Spirit in itself. If they could not follow the Christ-Law as exemplified by Jesus or if they did not understand how the Christ-Spirit was to lead them, then they would continue to follow a strict written Law. Anyone who was led by the Spirit did the Father's Will, and knew the doctrine, which was the Christ Way, the way He laid down.

How the disciples of Christ tried to put into words their feelings about the love of God! Nothing could separate them from the love of God - not death, powers of darkness, angels, height, depth nor breadth - nothing. "God is love" says one disciple. "There is no fear in God" he informs us. How different to the earlier ideas of God. God's love was overwhelming, it was unfailing, and yet, it took many years for the old ideas of a God of wrath used to reshape a fallen people, to fade. This can be seen with a careful study of the sacred Record.

But what would Paul write today if he had the chance now that he no longer "sees through a glass darkly"? Now Paul is no longer in the half-light, he might change a few things. Where he wrote: "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling", he might write: "work out your own salvation with faith and trust in God".

Of course, one has to be very careful when working out ones own salvation, but one should do this not as a cringing slave under a cruel and vicious dictator, but with full knowledge that God's love is unbounded and will never be taken away. Never fear God, just be careful not to oppose Divine Law, which was brought into being for humanity's own good, so that man could evolve and finally achieve that likeness to Christ which the Bible tells us is our goal. God and Divine Law are separate. Divine Law is not God, and God is not Divine Law. And God is Love.

If someone says that God must be feared then he or she has not known or experienced the love of God in a fuller measure, for they would simply know that in Love there is no fear; nor have they realised the truth as seen in Christ which He came to bring, namely, that "in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily", that Jesus was Love made flesh, and that God is Love (and that, incidentally, is, or should be, one of the most enlightening statements in that most holy and precious sacred Book, the Bible). Do not ever fear God because 'God is Love' and 'there is no fear in God'. Indeed, 'God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him' (1 John 4:16) and 'he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love' (1 John 4:8).

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven"

This sentence is taken out of context of the whole of Mathhew 7 by the Fundamentalist to enforce a limited salvation dogma, i.e. only those who accept the limited doctrine will receive salvation while all others go to Hell.

However, the whole of this chapter is so clearly about something else. It is about hypocrisy and acting according to God's Will. And God's Will was shown by Jesus the Christ in His teachings and His life. He even tells us in this chapter: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" and that "this is the law and the prophets (v.12)". It is about doing God's Will but it is not about a form of salvation which instantly comes from harbouring within ones heart and mind a particular facet of a religious belief alone.

"Doing unto others as one would have done unto oneself" includes more than just acts, it involves compassionate understanding and sympathy, unconditional forgiveness, loving God and ones neighbour (and seeking to love ones enemies), sacrifice and suffering for others, praying for the healing of others, making an extra effort, practising self-denial, and being charitable in heart and mind - among other principles.

Matthew 7 opens with warnings about hypocrisy and tellingly ends with the mention of the religionists of the day and how different their teachings were to the teachings Jesus had been talking about in this passage. Jesus even mentions the hypocrisy of the religionists who claim to be revealing God's desires but who are really thinking of themselves deep down (v.15).

This chapter is about being honest with oneself, realising ones own limitations and failings, and not judging others. It is about doing and acting out in ones own life God's Will. This chapter is not about being like selfish religionists, nor is it about having a particular belief which brings about salvation without works.

Also contained within this chapter is another contentious saying "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way" which has been dealt with elsewhere on this website and which further explains and reinforces what has been said here.