On conformity to popular idealisms of the world

English: Jesus Christ – detail from Deesis mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Beware of those who are paranoid, whose primary interest is to conform to what is familiar, to hide in the herd, to attract social approval, to follow the crowd, to be average to blend in with the majority of shy people, and to live according to the world and the idealism of the world. They neglect the ways of the divine to instead worship human traditions in idolatry, in vanity, in futility. It is the same issue as what the Prophet Isaiah taught about:

 Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is based on merely human rules they have been taught.^b

– Jesus Christ, quoting the Old Testament verse of Isaiah 29:13 http://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/29.htm

(as recorded in Mark 7 and Matthew 15).

See Romans 12:2

“Do not imitate this world [with paranoid conformity to what is familiar or popular], but be transformed by the renovation of your minds, and you shall distinguish what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Jesus Christ Crucifix (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

See also Colosssians 3:

11…The Messiah is all and in every person. [The Messiah or Christ is omnipresent, omnipotent, eternal- like a vine that is within every branch of the vine, forming each branch as an aspect of the vine itself… which still lives in the underworld during the winter, even when the green fades and the leaves dry out, fall and crumble in to the soil.]

& Colossians 2:

8 Beware lest any man rob you by philosophy, or by empty deception, according to the teaching of men and according to the principles of the world and not according to The Messiah, [to direct revelation]….

20 For if you have died with The Messiah to the principles of the world, why are you just as if you live in the world, 21 Namely, “Do not touch”, “Do not taste”, “Do not handle”?  22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual [worldly] indulgence.

>>>>

 

So, as we review ancient warnings like these, we are directed to be humble in regard to making presumptions about things like science. When the rulers give instructions to the masses to keep the human resources productive and free from symptoms, that is not instruction for health, but for sterility. (Note that the word sterility can mean the inability to reproduce.)

Are there poisons and toxins that it is best not to touch? That is a different issue from what the author of Colossians raises.

Outside the Conformity Office (Photo credit: cote)

Conformity to rules of hygiene is simply not the same as the refinement of spiritual clarity (logical discernment). To mistake conformity to rules of hygiene as anything other than conformity to rules of hygiene is indeed an obstacle to spiritual clarity and logical discernment.

Further, repeating some words from some traditional scripture is also not spiritual clarity. That is discipline and concentration, which have their value, but it is not spiritual clarity.

Finally, many without clarity take the repetition of certain phrases to be a sign of their own superiority over others who do not repeat that particular phrase. They can gather in to crowds to chant and to wave their signs painted with their favorite magic words. That is their full reward.

English: Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson depicted as a crucified messiah. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They are like spectators at a sporting event. “My team is the best because our slogan is the most holy!”

Let them enjoy the momentary comradery of conforming to a crowd. These parades and circuses do not develop inner clarity, but merely social cohesion, which has it’s value.

The congregations can gather every weekend for their social ritual.  They are like innocent, excited children bragging of their latest discovery. Let them sing in choirs and form parades and marches.  

That is not a sign of spiritual clarity. Those are rituals of social cohesion.

 

Those rituals have their purpose, just as all other things under heaven have their proper purpose and time. If you are interested in the spiritual clarity that comes from discipline, introspection, and revelation, then do not concern yourself too much with those things. Let the masses practice their religion of arguing the politics of what other people should do or should not do.

There will always be a portion of the population that is primarily focused on conforming to whatever is already most popular, even defending it desperately. There will always be a portion of the population which condemns those who are primarily focused on conforming to whatever is already most popular.

They will argue over whether people should sing Christmas carols or not. “Which songs? What uniforms should we wear?” It is one thing to discuss alternatives, but have you heard the distress with which some people argue?

Beware of condemning the root for not being a fruit. Beware of condemning the fruit for not being a root.

Those with spiritual clarity (AKA logical discernment) are focused on perceiving things as they actually are. This means being open to changing your perception of something, for instance, a tree… by occasionally looking at it again.

Green leaves may change color. Those who put a label on the color of a tree’s leaves and then never look at the leaves again are being presumptive. To worship the old, familiar label instead of actually looking at the tree again is the pinnacle of foolish, paranoid idolatry.

Listen to the fools talk about a “leafless tree with green leaves.” If it has green leaves, then how can it be leafless? Hear the passion and terror of their arguing and their animosity and their paranoia.

They may distress over how the tree was possessed by the demon of winter. They may agonize about how to prevent the precious seeds from falling off of the tree. “What if the seeds are lost in to the ground?!?!?” Yes, indeed, what if…!

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Tags: Christ, conformity, idealism, Messiah