September 7, 2014

20140908 Choices to be Made (or not) (short essay)

“The Law of Liberty and Us” cji 9/8/14


(“Yes or no are decisions, choices or answers – anything else is not!” cji 9/7/14)


“In his refutation of the Gnostics, Irenaeus in the middle of the second century set forth what he called the "Ancient Law of Liberty." Plainly, it does not originate with him. The law is illustrated, he says, by the scripture "How often would I have gathered thy children together ... and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37.) God wants men to do right, but he does not coerce them to it. "For," says Irenaeus, "God made man free from the beginning. . . . For God never uses force. . . . He placed in man the power of election even as in the angels. . . . Glory and honor, he says, to all who do good, and it is due them because they could have done evil. . . . Now if God made some men good and some bad simply by nature, there would be nothing praiseworthy in their virtue or blameworthy in their vice, for that being their nature they could not do otherwise. But since to all is given equally the power of doing good or bad exactly as they choose, they are rightly praised or blamed for what they do. . . . That is why the prophets appeal to men to do good and eschew evil."1 Irenaeus further explains that "God wants men to do good, but even the Gospel allows anyone who does not want to do good to do evil. To obey or disobey is in every man's power. . . . God forcing no man. . . . There is a godlike power of judgment in all men, making them envied by angels."2 The ancient law of liberty is that God trusts men while on this earth to make their own choices, while they trust him alone to judge whether those choices have been good or bad.
1. Irenaeus, Contra Haereses IV, 37, 1, in PG 7:1099—1100.
2.   Ibid., 37, 3—6, in PG 7:1101—3.
” Hugh W. Nibley “Time Vindicates the Prophets, Chapter 21” 1954

It is mindful to consider that throughout all of recorded history that this single law has been refuted, pushed aside, ignored and abused by those minions of the adversary seeking to malign God and his eternal wisdom! Man and woman – Kings and Queens – Dictators and Demi-gods all seek to explain away this law in their decrees, writings, and demands through unrighteous dominion upon the masses of humanity. Unwittingly or maybe in collusion those who proclaim to be priests, ministers, deacons, rabbis, clerics, and any other name by which a teacher of religion professes to be without authority teach in accordance with political correctness the philosophy of the day in which they can gain the most and lose the least.

While men and women go to confession, rituals of cleansing or other means to justify the demands of men – believing that to repeats this endless cycle permits sinning or justification for not following the various commandments (of which there are many more than 10) presented by the Father, Savior and their Prophets and Apostles over the similar generations of recorded history. Introduced in the philosophies of men/women are ideas both strange and diffused to be unrecognizable by any common sense when applied.

To be very clear there is only right and wrong! As referenced by Dr. Nibley – two ways – one to choose right and the other to choose wrong. This is called the ‘two ways’ in which men and women live out their lives. Too many are found playing the role of Simon Magnus to the Apostle Peter in denouncing God as cruel to allow evil or too weak to do away with it. Neither is the case for in the eternities men/women choose for themselves to do wickedly or not.
Wickedness is not of God – but it is of men/women for they’ve the choice given and too many succumb to the enticing’s of the adversary to choose wrong – for the wrong reason – believing two wrongs makes a right. And by the worldly reasoning soon the wrongs become the accepted and thus justified by ‘others are doing the same thing’ and no harm is done and therefore it is okay or even right to do.

What is the result is that the first two commandments become violated and thus making meaningless all of the others. Blame is then put upon the Father and the Son – even the Apostles and Prophets for teaching one must stay on the straight and narrow way or be damned. How easy to disregard such teachings and revelations – and therefore most of the worldly population is in lockstep with those who choose to ignore the commandments. When one understands not the literal meaning of the Scriptures they have chosen not too. This is their right under the ‘law of liberty’ to ignore truth. They choose to be disobedient rather than obedient to Heavenly Father or his Only Begotten Son. Let there be no misunderstanding each man/woman choose of their own accord – they can blame no one else. They cannot blame those they pay to teach or those who they choose blindly to follow. They choose their friends over truth in its simplest forms because it is easier.

Peer pressure becomes the byword and nations fall and many lose their eternal progressions to the moments of only today. Blaming others is easy to do – having been learned well as children who go uncorrected for their own choices or wrongs. Our society (which we’re most concerned with) those with the most influence: media, television, games, Internet, movies and politicians – have all chosen to go for the wealth, fame, power and fulfilling the lusts of the world rather than to engage in teaching or presenting truth unsullied by their filthy hands and minds.

If it is found everyone else is doing what they want – why not then they (men/women) to do the same? Sex, drugs, drinking, profanity, immodest dress, lack of integrity, lack of honor, lack of virtue and of any sanity to do the right thing for the right reason at the right time is not in keeping with the presentation of how things really are. Evil then begins to rule the roost and since evil is present it must be Father’s fault and not those who are found as the partakers, presenters and gaining from the evil.

It in reality takes a most unique person to turn away from the worldly and be found in full obedience to the Commandments, Statutes, Laws and teachings of the Apostles and Prophets – indeed doing what is right and choosing willingly to do the right thing for the right reason all of the time (even when none else are watching). Therefore very few are found – and since so few are found most feel all alone and laughed at by those found to be around them on a daily basis.

This then is the understanding of the ‘law of liberty’ which is the law of God! The Founding Fathers of the United States full well understood this law as did and do all of the Prophets and Apostles. Alfred the Great understood it – as did many since the recorded history of Adam and Eve. One might only review the Scriptures to glean the importance of this ‘law of liberty’ as found in James.

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Over recorded history of which has been written and is being written are going to be the judgments of God – for silently taking notes are the angels on high regardless of what we write – what they write will be the evidence submitted when we each stand in front of the judgment bar. (see Hymn 239 ‘Choose the Right’ and Hymn 237 ‘Do What is Right’ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Hymn Book. One might also review the Father and the Son’s comments on the ‘least amount of sin’ and other references to the differences between what is right and wrong.

We must each understand there is no tolerance when making choices while in our mortal probation – while we’ve the choice to make on our own – excuses with be of no avail when our probation is over – either we’ve learned to obey willingly or we’ve not!
2 Nephi 33: 13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.
 14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.
 15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.

I leave these thoughts with each of you and myself – for all will be found accountable and responsible for their own choices – in the name of Jesus Christ – amen – c/ork

“Choices to be Made”
(or not)

cji
9/8/14

What should I choose to do
what are my eternal goals
what brings me closer to them
what diminishes by wisdom
what holds me back from light
what truths are going to be lost
choices to be made or not
clearly only mind to make or not
excuses unacceptable nor blame
for given the ‘law of liberty’
clearly there is right or wrong
I’ve to always to choose right
when asking within myself
what should I choose to do!

Copyright © 2014 – cji


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