I've spent the last few days doing two things.
One's been wandering around the desert being a lone voice in the wilderness; which has given Me plenty of time to think but not much time to prophesy.
The other's been watching over humanity (and others) late at night, somewhat aghast at the turn the species has taken here on earth of late.
I'm not going to pretend this is a polished epistle, or is The Word or anything, but I do think it's maybe time to offer My two gold coins because those two gold coins just might be useful and, uh, heeded...
I'm going to keep this Divinely Inspired and to the point. I'm going to offer My admonitions all around. Yeah, that's Messianic, but, that's what My advice generally is.
My admonitions in no particular order.
To Martin Luther: Marty, you need to NOT post your 95 Theses on the church door any more. Take a leave. Not permanent, just a hiatus. Further, the theology of your excellent religion needs to leave off making any commentary regarding the Roman Catholic church. Enough is enough in this sect battle. If you do come back, it will be on new terms with the Vatican. It's time to leave the whole "I'm an Angry Reformer" thing behind.
To John Calvin:
I think it's time to lay off the tirades. The ones where you post twenty comments in the margins of Seneca's De Clementia. The ones where you start to mispell words and use insulting and hyperbolic language.
Those tirades aren't good for anyone, least of all, it would seem, an oratorically challenged dogmatist like yourself.
I'd like to make a point in that regard, as well. Calvin, have you so little trust for the other professors of this faith? There are smart believers here. We know heresy when we see it. We can, and should, make up our own minds. That's our right and our responsibility.
You write your tirades as if you are the only neo-Lutheran evangelist who can see/state the truth. That's just not the case.
To Aleister Crowley:
That goat piece was beneath you. Worst thing I've ever read from you if I understood it right...ie. the vituperation you've turned so often on the orthodox Christians came through almost stronger against occultists who, essentially, are totally into the Golden Dawn thing. I have to ask...why?
I don't know. I don't profess to know the whole story.
I left the Abbey of Thelema entirely impressed with your public speaking and thoughtful manner of approaching almost any topic that came up. You were one, among many heretics, who REALLY impressed me.
My admonition? Leave the goat sacrificer stuff already. It leaves a bad taste from a Voice of Universal Knowledge here. Worse, it just makes one ask...if Crowley is stooping to this...where does this lead?
To St. Paul:
I thought your First Letter to the Corinthians was strong. It showed leadership.
Whatever the bygones on this topic we may have had in the past, it is very clear that The Church is YOUR church, you lead it, you set the tone, and that has been your choice. You chose that path over what might have been other alternatives, like not getting knocked off your horse on the road to Damascus and staying Saul of Tarsus but, in doing so, you have also delivered the goods for your followers and acolytes. That means something both in terms of hard work and in terms of executing your vision for Christianity.
I think what you've done with Christianity since the Acts of the Apostles, especially since the Council of Jerusalem, has been nothing short of remarkable. The improved functionality and community here including the personal testaments...and the plans for improvements in the translations...impress. Parchment scroll rescue has upped the quality of epistles. The Council of Jerusalem was a smash. Roman Governors visit here without a hitch.
I may not agree with you on every point, Paul, or on every change you've made, but I respect that you are executing your vision for this religion in a thoughtful manner and are open to criticism. That's important, and shows leadership...
My final admonition for you, Paul, would be to think about how excommunications have gone down and how the Church has dealt with its sister and brother branches, especially where there's been disagreement.
Let me put it this way. It seems at times that you are stuck in an "us/them" mindset about Christianity when it's clear as day to the rest of us that you've already won many times over and have no need for this world view. Imo, you can't play a much-needed role in leading us out of these sectarian wars if you see the Church that way.
How about finding your own way, in your own voice, to change the tone? To reflect that reality? To give props, as you have from time to time, to evangelists who aren't your style or don't totally agree with you but who have done so much to build up the flock and the Church Universal at large?
I think a new spirit of magnanimity would go a long way to get over this Reformation/Anti-Reformation thing and help defeat this cycle of battles and Inquisitions that has really gotten tired and old and wears on exactly the folks we need the most: the hard core faithful.
So, there It is, those are My thoughts. Forgive My Teaching, please. Feel free to make fun of me ruthlessly below. I know lots of people do.
And for the love of God, let's all move on, appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses and each do what we do best...keep our eyes on the Kingdom of Heaven.
Happy Valentine's Day. That's all My Children!!