“The Lees Under the
Wine”
cji
9/28/13
Are
we happy or are we bitter? Do we improve with age or do we destroy? Are we
obedient to the laws, statutes and commandments of Father or not? What kind of
‘lees’ are we found to be? It would be my guess few in the world even know what
‘lees’ are – and therefore if one is lacking in this understanding it becomes
more difficult to comprehend the Scriptures.
Terry
Ball and Nathan Winn in their book, “Making Sense of Isaiah” describes it this
way: “Lees are the sediments of yeast and pulp that settle to the bottom of the
wine vat during processing, after the grapes have been trampled.” They go
on to state that the ‘lees’ then either add to the aging and quality of some
wine – while being left in other wine causes bitterness and ruins the
wine. Thus the question, ‘What kind of lees are we individually?’
Isaiah
is speaking not only to the people of his day – but also to those of our day.
Whenever a Temple of the Lord is established on earth by the proper Priesthood
Authority under the direction of God – then covenants which are eternal are
made by individuals and married couples. Indeed, even in the performance of
baptism by one having authority certain eternal covenants are made with God and
the individual. When one has made these covenants and they keep them – their
quality increases; if one has made these covenants and then they do not keep
they ruin the validity of their person. (Note: remember we’re talking of
eternal principles and not worldly principles or understandings.)
When
speaking only of those who’ve gone to the Temple (with authority) of the Lord –
can they understand the covenants made therein. For the rest of the world
they’ve neither taken these covenants – for no one without Priesthood Authority
from God through his living Prophet and those called can administer in any
ordinances or covenants with the Lord. (Note: always throughout the history of
men and women since the time of Adam and Eve has there ever been but one Church
which holds these keys and authority.)
Thus
all of the churches of Christendom may claim these keys and authority – and
even portend to administer them – they’ve only authority from governments and
not God – and can only exercise earthly things and not eternal things.
Thus most are led in confusing and the misinterpretation of the Scriptures –
and in fact much of the known Scriptures are ignored completely by the churches
of Christendom.
Why
is this so – and how can I make such a blatant statement as to the churches of
Christendom? First and foremost is common sense! Anyone who can read the
Scriptures (in their many and revised context over the past fifty years – maybe
even the last 1700 years) and accept them literally as for the most part no
many how many changes men and women have made to them certain unalienable truths
stand out! However, once more most will just go along with their various creeds
and those whom they pay to preach to them.
We’ll
start with the Gnostics who followed in the footsteps of the Apostles of Jesus
Christ during the meridian of time – and changed even what Peter had taught or
spoken. In a letter from Peter to James he states (paraphrased), “If they
change what I’ve said while I’m alive what will they do after I’m dead?” And he
was indeed correct as almost all of the original teachings during Christ’s
ministry – and those teachings of the Old Testament have either been changed,
deleted (over 3400 books/letters are missing – including many Prophets),
revised or simply misrepresented. Sadly the lay person has no interest or
knowledge of this – while all of it is there for those who earnestly seek the
truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Next
we’ll look at the new fathers of the Catholic/Greek Orthodox churches – i.e.
Augustine and Origen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen)
. Both were raised and taught in the schools of rhetoric – and both taught in
these schools. (Note: it is highly recommended that everyone understands the
definition and actual meaning of this word. One reason for this is that it is
being bantered about in the daily news.) King Alfred the Great (of England –
then Anglo-Saxton) said this one simple and clarifying statement about the
teachings of Augustine, “God had appointed freedom to be given to men … If they
sin in anything through this freedom, they shall, by penitence, compensate for
it., to recover that freedom: and if any of them will be so hard-hearted that
he will do no repentance … he shall then have a just punishment.” (Turner, The
History of the Anglo-Saxons, p.2:66-67. What he was referring to was the
teaching by Augustine of ‘original sin’ which is still taught today and
requires infant baptism. And as to the teaching of ‘predestination’ by
Augustine he had this to say, “He seeth all our works, both good and evil, before
they are done … But he compels us not to … necessarily do the good; nor
prevents us from doing evil; because he has given us freedom,” (ibid. p.69).
(Note: this ‘freedom’ is easily inter-changeable with ‘agency.’)
Quickly
and not slightingly to address Origen – his teachings were out of line with
Augustine with one caveat that he declared what he knew to be true, what he
didn’t know – and what he had no clue about. However, one must remember he was
basically ‘post excommunicated’ from the church in 553AD for his teachings
which were too controversial and thus rejected. While he taught many truths –
much of his teachings were confusing (even to him). He tried to use the
reasoning of his time and place to put in order how things occurred in regards
to God and men/women. The Greek Orthodox rejected much of his teachings.
One
must remember religion after the 2nd Century was mostly based on the
sword and not the truth as found literally in the Bible or Scriptures. This
continued well into the 17th and
18th
Centuries. This is one of reasons the east coast of North America was so
quickly populated. Those seeking religious ‘freedoms’ were some of the first to
leave. (Note: the religious ‘freedoms’ of many of the early colonies were no
freer than what they had in England – however, it was to practice their own
form of religion freely. Many were burned at the stake – or thrown out of their
communities for teaching doctrines deviant from the church leaders in the
colonies.)
Next
we’ll take a look at the Age of Reformation – which was the period where many
started to question the political/church relationship as it pertained to
‘doctrine.’ Again, almost everyone today who’s thought of as a reformer never
said they were starting another church – but only they were seeking to get
closer to what was taught in the Scriptures. Yet each of these reformers were
already the heads of the churches in their communities – therefore – men/women
being what they are – high jacked their thoughts and teachings to form a new
church. This in turn led to the new paid clergy of these churches teaching the
doctrines of those who paid their salaries. Indeed even further to develop
schools to train the pastors/ministers to have the correct doctrines to teach
as dictated by the one’s footing the bills.
This
period of reformation had some very definite plus’ toward the bringing forth of
what is commonly known as the Holy Bible today. One of the biggest reasons to
be burned at the stake was to have any of the writings of the reformers on your
person or in your home. Hundreds of thousands were murdered throughout mainland
Europe (to include Denmark, Great Britain and other nations). Yet as
early at the 15th Century translations of the Bible began to appear
in printed form. (Note: as early as the 9th Century forms of
printing using movable metal type had occurred in China; in Korea in the early
13th Century and in Germany 1450 – we have the Gutenberg Press.)
Thus the earliest printed materials in the European area were the Bible. (Note:
we must remember also much of the population of Europe at this time were
illiterate due to the fact that there was nothing available to read except
manuscripts which were limited to nobility or the most wealthy.)
By
the 16th Century multiple editions of the Bible began to appear
throughout Europe – and thus those who could read – would read to their
communities at great risk. William Tyndale (Tynsdale sometimes spelled) brought
forth the most accurate translation as he could read and write in multiple
languages including; Greek and Hebrew. He spent time first on the New Testament
– and then on the Old Testament. Today over 80% of the KJV (to about 1769 –
when other revisions started to occur) comes from his efforts in the Bible. For
his efforts he was strangled (while at the stake and then burned at the stake,
where he revived from the strangulation, and said, “Lord, open the King of
England’s eyes.” Tyndale was able to accomplish the translation from the Greek
and the Hebrew because when moving to Germany – he learned Hebrew (this was
forbidden in England – and all Jews had been expelled) and that another great
scholar – Desiderius Erasmus had translated and edited the Greek Scriptures and
these were available to Tyndale in Germany. One of the concluding statements of
Tyndale was, “…that the common laborer, the plowboy in England could read and
understand the Bible.”
Above
I mentioned Desiderius Erasmus as both a translator and editor in the Greek and
other languages. He, in and of himself, was quite a person! His most famous
writing was one entitled, “In Praise of Folly,” which while written in jest and
in a very quick window of time – stated as had Alfred the Great – some very
important truths about the teachings of religion and the literal truths of the
Bible and their conflicting presentations. The ‘Praise of Folly’ was written as
a letter to his friend, Thomas More (latter beheaded by Henry VIII). In this
essay or letter – he addresses many of the teachings of the churches of the day
and their utter foolishness when looked at with common sense. Erasmus was
considered one of the earliest of the ‘humanist’s’ but to me this would be
stretching the point to the extreme. He did nothing more than what Alfred had
already done in the 10th Century – look at what was being preached
or taught – with the literalness of the Scriptures.
Thus
even through the Age of Reformation – we find confusion, misdirection,
political correctness involvement, and otherwise a lack of common sense which
comes from one reading the Scriptures on their own (which was the purpose for
Tyndale doing his translations). One must also remember the Age of Reformation
referred to by historians is of their own make-up in that ever since the death
of the Apostles and Disciples of the Savior – reformation had been taking place
within the world of religion.
Thus,
in providing wine for the table what do we find when departing from the
Scriptures but bad wine! The ‘lees’ instead of increasing the quality of the
wine have ruined it or caused it to be bitter. Think of it this way, the
contention found in all of the various churches – either against each other or against
one collectively is not of the Savior! Contention only comes from the adversary
or better known as Satan (see 3rd Nephi 11:29)! When anyone departs
from the Scriptures they are treading on bitter wine – and thus to partake of
this wine – leads one to become even the same as the wine – bitter – ruined in
their path to eternal salvation – and unable to comprehend truth of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ!
However,
when partakes of the Scriptures literally – they partake of good wine – where
the ‘lees’ have done their proper function – finding peace in the covenants and
ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This leads and is the only path or
road to Zion – in returning with our family – past and present into the
presence of the Father and the Son! We then as the Savior taught, (see Matthew
5:48) – for why would the Savior teach something if it were not possible?
(Note: some call this blasphemy – in that one can never become like God –
however there are multiple Scriptures which refer to this being possible by the
Savior.) Granted most of us being mortal know we will have great difficulty in
becoming perfect – but none the less we should be striving to become as we’ve
been commanded to become. (Note: in my life I’ve learned you can do this one
thing at a time – and it will take a very long time to accomplish all things.
Yet if one does not start on the path one will never reach Zion.)
Being
on the path or road to Zion requires one to be of the good ‘lees’ – for
anything else is to be on the path or road to Babylon. Two things to remember
here regardless of which road you’re on – you will act accordingly. However –
one can repent, turn-around and start towards Zion. And one who’s on the road
to Zion can reject the truth and find themselves in Babylon. Babylon’s road is
much easier – because once one is on it – they are already there! While Zion’s
road is a journey – with the trials and tribulations, the scorn of the world,
and other persecutions found coming from those who’ve chosen Babylon.
It
all comes down to the ‘freedom’ addressed above from King Alfred – we’ve the
agency (or the ‘lees’) to make our own choices. Once we allow others to make
our choices – we become part and parcel of the decision-making which they
discern for us. There is a limit on our ‘freedom’ or ‘agency’ while it can
never be taken away from us – we can give it away! We do this by the commission
of sin, breaking the law, not being obedient to the Commandments – and
otherwise in rejecting truth and accepting rhetoric or outright lies in truth’s
place. Remember if you break a law – you can go to jail or prison – while in
jail or prison what freedom’s do you have?
Are
we found to be bitter or happy – this is our choice – to be good ‘lees’ or bad
‘lees’ – one helping and the other destroying. Only each individual can answer
this question – and they must do it for themselves. One can be as Peggy Lee
sang in her torch song, ‘Is That All There Is?’ – and find themselves
spiritually empty at the end of the day – looking around – and wondering why am
I here, where am I going and where did I come from – with no answers gained
from the ‘lees’ of the worldly. Or one can be like the children’s song, “I Am A
Child of God” and know the answer with a surety of where you came from – what
you must be doing – and if you do what you’re supposed to be doing and learn
what you need to learn where you will be going someday.
We
are the ‘lees’ to our family and to our friends and neighbors. Indeed we are
the ‘lees’ to all we meet and whoever look at us for an example. There is no
exclusion to our being ‘lees’ in every aspect of our lives – and the effect we
have on both ourselves and others. As King Alfred we have the freedom to decide
– to be obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or not!
In
the name of Jesus Christ – amen – c/ork
“The Lees Under
Ourselves”
cji
9/28/13
Going through the
refiners fire
each day addressing
growth
knowing through
adversity
we can grow and be
blessed
trials and
tribulations needed
much as heat to
strengthen
seeking the vanadium
of life
bonding our mortal to
immortal
the lees under
ourselves found
increasing our
quality for good
or destroying our
value or virtue
cladding us to the
adversary
much as heat which
destroys
lacking trials and
tribulations
becoming as simply a
peer
shrinking from all
responsibility
each day remaining
the same
grasping falsehoods
in Babylon!
Copyright © 2013 –
cji
