SHOCK and AWE versus Fright and Terror; or Which is easier, to give Life… or to give death?

(Matt, heads-up this is another reason for my belief that:

1. There is a creator,
2. The bible is inspired by Him,
3. Jesus is the Creator,
4. And the Son of God the Father.
5. And His Holy Spirit is the power that carries His Church, who are His saints, His chosen people, His beautiful bride, His royal priesthood, His holy nation, His kingdom of heaven, His holy city, His new Jerusalem, His home among His people.)
   

I desire thoughtful dialogue concerning the issues of which I write.
My preference is that people always agree with me, except with one small caveat, i.e. when I am in error.

If people agree with me when I am wrong, misguided or otherwise in error, then I will still crash on the theological rocks or become grounded in a philosophical sand bar.
I will have only one consolation in such an event, that consolation being an entire boat-load of friends and family slamming into my stern.

That’s not a pleasant thought; the idea of my dearest friends, family, and I being marooned on an isolated island called hell or hades, for all eternity.

There is no glory for my Lord or me if I am teaching error about God and His inspired words.

I am human. I like being thought intelligent, wise, perceptive etc. But, I am not so foolish, as to prefer being thought of as intelligent, wise, and perceptive, while I am wrong, and this, only to maintain my pride.

The web log, to me, allows for an enduring power of humility, which might otherwise be overcome by a brash impetuousness of pride.

I tend to respond reflexively, and foolishly, in oral discussions and then regret that I have perhaps negated a philosophy that I maintain in my mind, simply to hold my ground on a faulty principle.

Therefore, when people see something that I may have neglected or may have been incorrect about, in an issue, I hope that they will present it. Actually, integrity demands that it be offered, especially if one believes that the matter concerns Truth and Life.
Obviously, the stuff that I say on a blog doesn’t carry so much weight, but it could possibly in my teaching others.

I believe that God is not paradoxical, but rather, we who are limited by the carnal, see only a small segment of reality.

Further, I believe that the minuscule visible portion of reality is used to deceive us, in our understanding.

Thus, the adversary provides us, an appearance of God being a “Paradox”, because we don’t have eyes to see.

• 2Kings 6:17, Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened his servant’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

I believe that God’s apparent paradoxes are integral to His nature, and that they reveal Truth about who He is and who we (disciples of Jesus) are, e.g. the weak will show God’s power, the humble will be honored, the proud will be brought low, the meek shall inherit the earth, etc.

I believe that God uses subtlety or “nuance” like a hammer on a drum, in order to make us take notice of the carnal filter that Satan holds in front of our eyes, which masks God’s infinitely loving and humble nature.

• (EXAMPLE: 1Kings 19:11-13 “11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.)
• God speaks to us, just as He does to Elijah, through “gentle whispers” of subtle nuance. Don’t get all worked up or distracted over such things as earthquakes, fires, cyclones, guns, & bombs. Remember how Elijah responded. Elijah was not shaken by the melodrama of the world. He didn’t rage at the wind when the cyclone broke over the mountains. He didn’t collapse when the earth shook him to his knees. He didn’t whimper as the fire scorched his face. Elijah knew God, as we too should know Him, so that when the gentle whisper comes to us, even as we are thinking that all is lost and the world has literally crashed down around our very feet, yet we hear our name spoken as if from a supple breeze, we should know that our Creator is here. Our great & glorious God, of the demure and gentle whisper will speak your name. He’s not like anything the world has to offer.
• God does not come in a big flashy, pimped out ride, that is what the world does.
• God does not shout & yell to get our attention, that’s the carnal way.
• When God wants to get our attention, He will employ that which is demure. The subtle theology of nuance from God seems like a paradox in a world where ‘The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease’. Because idom and cliché simply don’t apply to a True & Living God.

Please follow the theme.

The old self/carnal/worldly interpretation of “Shock and Awe” comes from laser-guided cruise missiles raining down on buildings and vehicles and IEDs carefully placed in a crowded business district, to maximize dramatic displays of death and destruction.

• But, God’s vision of “Shock and Awe” comes from His Son stepping down from the throne of heaven.
• And being born as a humble baby (single mom conceived Him out-of-wedlock) Very demure.
• Training at the hands of His Master Carpenter Step-dad (This is the equivalent of “Sensei”. You should be thinking Joseph as Sun Tsu.) Very demure.
• Courageously, He begins blessing infants, Very demure.
• Raising a vast army of;

1. Valiant Fishermen (Very demure.)
2. Daring Tax collectors (Very demure.)
3. Epic Zealots (Very demure.)
4. And Countless (no fewer than twelve, but not exceeding thirty) Mighty Warriors of Zion…Who stand abreast, each of them carrying the holy armaments of heaven; cut leafy palm branches, which they thrust out and drop in the street. (Very demure.)

• Gallantly He enters the gates of Jerusalem astride His donkey colt (actually the colt belonged to a neighbor and was just borrowed for the event. And, He didn’t storm the gates. He…, well…, He wept when He reached the gates.) Very demure.
• After this, the Creator of heaven and earth began to conclude His “Shock and Awe” campaign; naked, beaten, bloody, bruised and unceremoniously executed on a Roman cross between two convicted criminals. (Very demure.)
• As God, the Host of heaven, concludes His glorious time on earth, He, while alone, is quitely raised from death (Very demure), while resting in repose in another man’s tomb (Very demure), in the wee-hours of a workday morning (Very demure), with His initial wittnesses being ladies (Very demure), whom at first see Him as a groundskeeper (Very demure), and then after some time, He finally, while standing with the disciples on a remote hill outside of the city (Very demure), slowly floats back to heaven until He is received and covered by a cloud, (Very demure.)

Do you see…?

This is a story that no one could imagine. Not in a million generations, could this very demure story have been conceived in the carnal mind of man. It’s just too demure!

God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, LORD of Lords, KING of Kings, looks at the world’s “Shock and Awe” in utter revulsion and heartrending disdain.

Therefore, we must not miss the point of the cross.

Shock and Awe, for sure, but not worldly terror and dread…, no, No, NO,

Shock and Awe to Jesus Christ our Lord and God means ASTOUNDINGLY demure and BEWILDERINGLY humble, because that is what love truly is.

God bless,

DSM