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Here's an open ended listing of probable future posts in no particular order:

• True Love: what it is, and what we settle for

• The Chosen: who and why

• From the Gospel According to Willy Wonka: a new twist on Satan

• The Book of the Volcano god: Bible worship vs. God worship

• Salvation: few, most, all

• A Brief Autobiography: where I'm coming from

• No Cheap Grace: reaping what you sow

• Our Freedom is Absolute---ly limited

• Unveiled Glory: a revealing look at Christ

• The Body of Christ: work it out now... or work it out later

• Blocking the Door: the Christian Pharisee

• Responsibility and Glory: HIS and ours

• Good versus Evil: or God uses Devil

• I Am the Way: exclusively inclusive

• Useful Links, Books, etc.: recommended for further study

email comments to: foxjerry777@gmail.com

Though He Slay Me

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Though He Slay Me

Inscribed on the pedestal of Job shown above are the words, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” (Job 13:15)…. now why would anyone trust in someone who would slay them? Sounds crazy, unless the "slayer" were also known to be the Potter, who although first having marred the pot that He was shaping, proceeded to restore it to a state of healing and to a position of honor (Jeremiah 18:4, 30:1-24), thereby taking ultimate responsibility for the final outcome of the work of His hands - and a fine work indeed it is, “pottery with a soul”, as it were, that marvelous never before attempted mixture of spirit and flesh, of heaven and earth, created first lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:5-18), but for whom now all of creation eagerly awaits "the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:18-21). Furthermore, not content to remain in a position of insulated observation and external manipulation, this Potter fully identified with, and immersed Himself within the suffering clay, thus participating completely in the cost of redemption of that which He had so “recklessly” given life, for He had not only breathed into it life, but the awareness of life, thus actualizing "another" being entirely, individual, self-willed, and distinct from Himself. 

Such was the condition in which that mangled lump of clay named Job found himself to be, clearly having been marred repeatedly in the hand of the Potter, but through it all, being taught perfect trust in the One who had all but slain him, and when his story be fully told someday, it will no doubt recount of the lifting of the veil from his eyes, if only for a moment, to witness the unconditional loving presence of this One who would never leave him nor forsake him, the Potter-turned-Lamb, slain long before Job himself was fashioned or afflicted, even from the foundation of the world! (Revelation 13:8). Perhaps Job was shown that whatever suffering he may be asked to endure, God was already intimately involved in it Himself, and would remain at his side throughout its duration, as confirmed by the words of the Psalmist: "If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. (Psalms 139:8 KJV). Apparently He knew, and accepted up front, the cost of creating free willed "others". What else could have provoked Job's profound expression of undying hope in his Creator, even as his wife passionately implored him to curse God and thus gain relief, albeit in death, from his intense suffering? In the end, Job finally declares, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5) 

It is just such a lifting of the veil, while in the darkest hours of my own despair, which finally provoked my laying it all on the line in proclamation with Job that no matter what cross I am asked to bear, self-imposed or otherwise, He is my hope and I know that nothing can ever separate me from Him who is perfect love. I too, having been "marred in His hands" have perceived a glimpse of His transcendentally beautiful image as revealed in the life of the One sent by Him for that purpose, and have thus received the assurance that my marred image will ultimately be transformed to a reflection of His own. As Christ breathed His last, the veil in the temple, having previously obscured the face of God, was torn in two, its purpose now obsolete.

And so begins my putting to paper the culmination of years of intense personal searching and of struggling with that detestable distortion of the nature of our Creator which is almost universally espoused by those 'in charge' of The Book. The Grand Potter, we are emphatically implored, is perfectly justified in treating his pitiful 'pots' in any way that he sees fit, up to and including unspeakable cruelty and endless torture, far beyond anything ever imagined, let alone actually carried out, by any of the most infamous human tyrants that have ever lived. What's even worse, if that be possible, is that this 'treatment' is doled out upon the 'pots' for the crime of being found "marred in His hands" ((ie: by His hands).  

Thankfully, enough of His Spirit was granted to reside within this pot that even as a small child, first through tearful inquiries, and later, after years of tortuous introspection and contemplation, through moral wrestling matches with God Himself, what ultimately coalesced into my understanding was a glimpse of that very same Potter to which Job had no doubt become well acquainted.

What slowly emerged was the Grand Gospel of Jesus Christ, the granddaddy of all Good News, which surely has the power to accomplish God's ultimate purpose - that of the reconciliation all of mankind to Himself, and to each other.  Much to my surprise this message was nowhere else more effectively articulated than in the overriding theme of an amazing collection of writings that was written and compiled over many ancient centuries, known as the Holy Bible. Paradoxically, it's essence remains mostly hidden from 99.99% of its readers, and sad to say, it is especially concealed from those who claim the highest reverence for the “Word”, those who treat its contents as though it were a perfect incarnation of God Himself, ie: equivalent to the person of Jesus. Jesus himself had this to say about those who myopically read the Scriptures of His day: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39,40 NIV)

It is not my intention here to demean the tremendous expression of compassion and unselfish works performed daily and for centuries by Christians all over the world who have been inspired by the Gospel as it is traditionally understood, complete with the trappings of unending torment in Hell for most of mankind.  Yes, even with the backdrop of such a grotesque misconception of God’s nature, enough of the Spirit of Christ has prevailed throughout history, leaving an impressive record of the beneficial, life changing effect of the dissemination of even so limited an understanding of the incomparable Biblical revelation.

Be that as it may, I’d say it’s high time to see what would come of a full presentation of God’s Good News.  When first attempting to share this message, I was well prepared for a less than enthusiastic reception from church leadership, but remained convinced that at least the general membership would be ripe for a change of pace.  For despite the excesses produced by the “challenge authority” mantra of the ‘60’s, which in many cases ended up throwing out the baby with the bath water, a healthy questioning of the status quo had been set in motion during that tumultuous decade that was sure to bring a wave of fresh thinking in all areas of intellectual endeavor, religion included.  It seemed reasonable enough to expect that this generation, having witnessed the successful placement of a man on the moon, could no longer be expected to check their minds at the door of the chapel before occupying the pew…. boy was I in for a surprise.

What I encountered instead was a general acceptance of the status quo within the Christian churches on the whole, where clergy and laity alike were no more ready to entertain a Son-centric system of all people than were the Inquisition a sun-centric system of all planets.  In both cases it was claimed impossible to reconcile the heretical challenges with the word of God.  Often the knee-jerk reaction to an all-inclusive Gospel was that reminiscent of Paul’s day when they facetiously suggested that therefore we should just “sin that grace may abound”.   After all, why live a “good” life if a bad one will reap the same reward?

Granted there will always be those who will attempt to (ab)-use any expansion of grace as a means to water down the requirements of the Law and justify their sinful condition or lifestyle, but that is no reason to suspend its declaration.  And I will be eternally grateful to the Apostle Paul for not allowing such inherent risk to prevent him from boldly and articulately proclaiming and explaining, as well as living out, the scandalous Gospel of Christ with unmatched precision and clarity - in spite of those who might choose to twist it into a license for decadence, pretending it possible to fool God. 

Paul spoke of being “caught up to the third heaven, …to paradise”, where “He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). I would not here dogmatically speculate on just what it was that he saw and was not permitted to tell. The record is clear enough concerning that which he was allowed to convey, and much of what I intend to expound upon is based largely on his inspired declarations. While I make no claim to having received any direct revelation as did Paul on the road to Damascus in that flash of blinding light, I do now humbly submit for the reader’s consideration, the vision of my soul as one like unto you who still “sees but through a glass darkly”.

... Come, let us reason together, rightly dividing the word of truth.

…much, much more Good News to come! ....want to respond? email me at foxjerry777@gmail.com