I think that the best way to "worship" God is just being grateful recognizing everything that He does for us with love, accepting who we are, and sharing the best with others so we can co-create and learn how to build love.
That is exactly my feelings and beliefs too. They say the virtue of gratefulness is the common denominator of all other virtues. So I start my day by being grateful to God for all my blessings and to pay it forward. Simplicity is the key, which can be found in nature everywhere. Such a great show, thank you Curtis and staff!!
@@mach1gtx150 What a wonderful way to start each day mach1! I love it. I too keep a gratitude list and add to it often. It does turn life from black and white to color for me.
@@offTheLeftEye My son and I discussed this show and allowing the love of God to flow to each of us, pay it forward and try to live a virtuous life each day. It is a struggle some days, but the day gets better if you allow it. Such a good way to live ones life these days with so many disharmonizing events 'out there' vying for our attention. It all starts from 'within'. Thank you!
By doing what is right, we worship God. By being fair to ourselves and to others, by offering of ourselves to those in need, by respecting ourselves and others, we worship God. The heavenly mindset is the result; as well as the beauties of Heaven we built for ourselves. Always a pleasure to listen to Curtis' rational explanations. Thanks again.
We are indeed trying to spread a little love and happiness and peace, Pamela, for those who find these ideas helpful. Thanks for the encouragement, and you're welcome!
Yip, Curtis you and your staff teaching style is brilliant! Love the props the cool chillhop beats the humour what a blessing you and the crew are to humanity. May there be financial abundance for you guys to continue to do what you do
@@kalaphobian Thanks for the encouragement, Kalaphobian. We are grateful for the people who support our work, emotionally and or financially. We are having fun trying to spread these ideas which have truly helped our lives.
Until now I always thought that God wanted us to worship Him because He cannot exist without us and vice versa. Now I understand that when we worship Him we become humble and thus allow God's light to shine upon us! Thanks Curtis!🔆
Nah, in spirit and in truth is how he wants to be worshipped. Otherwise he would be no different than a dictator and a narcissist. Also he wouldn't tell us to be kind and love one another if it wasn't something he already is.
Worship really draws our attention away from ourselves and our troubles and onto the Lord, who helps us in so many ways... that is what He wants, to help and for us to also become helpful
I just had the same revelation yesterday. God wants us to acknowledge that he’s the giver because that makes us like him. when we give him that acknowledgment. We too are givers.
Whenever I express thankfulness for the riches I have received in life from God, I feel his unconditional love overwheming me and I am so thankful and humbled. Then I experience such joy!!
Wow,, I love your analysis of explaining how about worshiping God ❤ So so true I always believed in God all my life talk to him now and then but ever since this world has turned to crap. I've been talked to him a lot more and I totally feel the difference that I want to spread love happiness health and cheer throughout the world and that's what God wants for us ❤
That's beautiful, Lucille. What a gift that you were able to rise up through the difficulties of this world and re-establish your relationship with God!
Hey Curtis, just wanted to say thanks. I've been watching your videos for a year or so now and have learned a lot. I love and appreciate you and your content creators. You're making a bigger difference than you could ever know. Keep up the good work
Thanks so much for this shout out, Jeremy! I'm not Curtis, but rather one of the Comment Response Team. We rejoice that you have found meaning and support here, and we appreciate your opinion that our work here is helping people! Thanks for taking the time to comment, and blessings to you!
Thanks for the affirmation, Chris. Appreciate your reaching out to tell us so! We figure the size of our platform is in God's hands, even as we work to figure out the best ways of sharing it.
This answers my question. I have heard and read information that we should worship God 24/7. We need to praise him and sing his praises, “ without ceasing ..” St. Paul. I have done this, but one day I thought .. is God a narcissistic .. if any human expected this praise an admiration most people would think that human was very self-centered. This is the first explanation that makes sense and opens up our hearts to love God in a healthy and appropriate relationship.
So happy to hear that this approach makes sense to you, Camille. God is not concerned with his own happiness, but with OURS! And finding something higher than our own self-centeredness is a key to a healthier and happier life. Thanks for responding!
I don’t know honestly if Swedenborg was really having these visions of and visits to heaven or not, but after many, many of hours of watching Curtis talk about him, not once have I heard anything sound remotely harmful or dangerous. I’m still trying to find God even while He continues to wear a disguise, and find a lot of practical spiritual advice from this channel. It really would be amazing if Swedenborg really was the real deal though.
There's a video evaluating Swedenborg's reliability and veracity. S.'s reports were not simply accepted at face value or because he sounded great. OTLE can direct you.
Much love to you in your pursuit, Roger! That's a powerful and touching statement that you have not found anything harmful or dangerous here -- we hope that is true! You can't really prove any system of faith, can you? I guess that's why it's called "faith." But for us, the measure is whether an idea feels useful or leads to an improvement or some kind of growing goodness in our lives. There's a quote from Swedenborg that I (Chara) love: "Read the Word, and believe in the Lord... and you will see the truths that are to be a part of your faith and your life." (TC 621) -- sounds like a very individual thing! You might replace those first two phrases with "Keep trying to find God....." Sounds like you're on the path toward a growing faith of your own. If you've spent many, many hours watching Curtis, you've probably seen "Was Swedenborg Crazy?" and "How to Test a Spiritual Idea" -- among others. Happy to provide links if you want them, but mostly I want to send love and encouragement for your continuing journey! I hear you in your doubt and wondering... God is with you in the wondering, and speaking to you from inside via what touches your heart. Learning to trust that is a process. Blessings to you!
Swedernborg was inspired to reveal , the doctrine in a clear and modern way ...since if you read and truly try to understand his message ...its the closest and simplest explanation of the divine ... he gave the idea of correspondence in which its the base of all reality
This is brilliantly explained. Thank you so much. The topic of organized, ritualistic worship has been very heavy on my mind just the past few days, because I don't think many people (in history and today) have understood this very concept of God not requiring that kind of worship. The video clarifies it for me in a profound way. I personally do not like rituals and things like "guided meditation." I prefer to serve God as described in the video--naturally, like a flowing river of love and abundance, being grateful and in awe of His power, love, creativity, and abundance. I don't always succeed, but it is my intention, and I keep working on it. The angelic teachers (which people often have worshiped as gods) also do not want to be worshiped. To worship them is putting other gods before God, a violation of His first commandment.
So glad this video could clarify your thoughts, Soferia. Great points here. And be patient with yourself -- our spiritual journey is a lifelong process!
Living a life of usefulness reducing suffering in others in wisdom love goodness and truth makes others happy and you too will be happy support one another love is giving, God wants us to happy he has good plans for us and nothing separate us from his love
This is the same truth God has brought me to recently, which is a sign this video was for me, to remind me it’s true. Thanks for posting. You helped me if only by reminding me I’m on the right path here in my new understanding.
That is a good one, Andrew. Similar to the primary message of John the Baptist, Jesus, and you might even add Swedenborg to that list: Repent! In Swedenborg's book "Divine Providence," almost every kind of blessing you can think of is associated with "shunning evils...."
@@offTheLeftEye Absolutely! I remember someone illustrating “repentance” by holding a cup upside down and pouring water onto it. It was only when we turn our cup right side up that we can experience the blessing of repentance. Basically, repentance is really just saying, “Lord, I’m thirsty!”
You touched on a major issue in the church and maybe THE most important one. It seems Christians use the Bible to make this an utmost thing...that 'God demands worship' but probably the focus is in the Old Testament for the most part. From what I have studied there is another issue as to who the character is that is demanding worship. It seems that there was an entity, possibly even a Nephilim or Archon who was demanding worship at that time and this is who was demanding the worship. Of course, Christians will do their best to tear this idea to shreds. But it is interesting to note that those who don't think or study outside the box will vehemently defend what they think if the 'truth.' This is one reason I have learned to change my thinking and ideas to look outside the box and usually keep those ideas to myself without any discussion with fundamentalists. I don't like argument...so I observe and learn. Thanks for your own clearing up this matter from the Swedenborg references. It behooves one to pay attention to this issue and look at those who have experienced Near Death Experiences to crystallize one's own belief system and not be hardened by fundamentalist theology taught ideologies.
The NDE's are interesting; and, in my mind, the most important breakthrough in modern spirituality apart from these discussions on Swedenborg's writings.
"I observe and learn" -- a wonderful way to approach spiritual ideas and spiritual growth, Steve. We don't like argument either, but we wish God's blessings for all. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
It's definitely a major issue for religions. I enjoy learning from different spiritual traditions, but I literally cringe over some of the rituals, in fact most of them. They don't feel genuine and spontaneous. While I am sure people are well-intentioned with their rituals, my thoughts are something like, "God is not impressed." lol. I am laughing at myself, although there is a verse in the Bible where He basically condemned people for their animal sacrifices and articulated that He hated them. Isaiah 1:11 "What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?" says the LORD. "I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." Hosea 6:6, which says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” This verse highlights that God values a person’s genuine devotion and ethical behavior more than formal religious rituals. Another relevant verse is 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel says, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” This passage emphasizes that following God’s will is more important than offering sacrifices. And why follow His will? Because He loves us and will guide us to being and doing good. We can't really do this successfully on our own. The Sermon on the Mount provides guidance for people to follow which is the best way we can worship God. As Jessus conveyed, when we serve the least in society, we are serving Him. In relation to "argument," I truly wish we could redefine the word in more of an academic sense. I have had many long and interesting "arguments" before the Internet became highly censored. The most interesting thing about them is that when people hang in there and engage in multiple strands of discussion, the end result is that most often they find they are describing similar concepts in different ways and that they agree on what's important. This is a major reason social networks curtail discussions and are set up to make discussions difficult. Heaven forbid should people find out they actually agree with each other, lol. In Heaven we have debates that are like a game and are great fun. No one is offended because ideas are just ideas.
Worship is the 2 way expression of love between us and God. We say, “I love you” and God says, “I love you.” The confusion comes from words “love” and “worship” whose meaning has been corrupted by an “enemy”
It's true that both those words have wide semantic fields, Joe, and different people understand and use them differently. I hope they don't get in the way of anyone interested in having that two-way expression of love with God.
The term ‘worship’ means to ‘give worth’. We cannot give God His worth because He already has that. However through worship we can recognise and reflect that worth God already has.
Indeed, Christopher. The worship gives US a chance to appreciate God's precious worth! And thanks for the etymology lesson. I've never thought about the etymology of "worship" before -- so interesting!
I think it is more about semantics. Worship may as well be just contemplation of what is. But indeed, worshipping humans requires appealing to ego or praise, and God is beyond that.
For a delightful change, we've much good thinking and intending going on here. Good-going!!! For my own part however I've found it as some rough-going alright, any attempting to come to know (specifically as "KNOWLEDGE certain and true") just what IT -- The CREATOR of all that is and Is to be and has been from since forever -- IS and requires of us, if anything at all. Presuming it the case-actual, then logically (and eschewing of the mere mystical tho not of the apparent-miraculous) ANSWERS as accessible are to be had from old Mother Nature, being obviously (no imputed devilry now!) a direct manifesting of IT which, within our necessary requirement for fair comprehending, we style and term God, the Father, and thus avoiding being thankful to an amorphous, utterly incomprehensible SWIRLING PRIMORDIAL MASS! (Here we find ourselves in company with the ancient Greeks' Ananke and later, the Romans' Necessitas. Why, Necessity we all invoke every single day, excepting for that which is NOT necessary of-doing!) In perfect conformance with-and-to the above is -- DEISM -- for the thinking-worshipful with no thing whatever of the "mere mystical' to it being necessary.
@@offTheLeftEye you know what I have discovered lately…many people, older people who still go to “church”(I stopped doing that decades ago-I do not believe in organized religion), aren’t sure if He exists or if there is a ‘Heaven’! It baffles me-really blows my mind! I so firmly believe in an afterlife with Our Father, that I am not afraid of dying-which will be sooner than later in my case(I only have 1 kidney running at 20% & I don’t believe in dialysis nor do I believe in getting on a transplant list at my age{65}). It just goes to show what little organized religion does for the soul-I’ll take having personal ‘conversations’ with my blessed ‘Father’ any day over going to a church and repeating the same mantra!…in addition, most religions teach to ‘fear’ Our Father’ which is HORRIBLE!
@@catherineeckstein2705 Bless you as you ease into your own transition Catherine. It sounds like you are at peace with your coming death. I agree there is no reason to fear God, He says to "fear not " hundreds of times in the bible.
Ive been saying this for years. And it always gets a "how dare you" reaction. Like if YOU want to, that's perfectly fine. If I was the creator of everything there is, I wouldnt want to be worshiped. So if I, a measly human have the capacity to not need or desire worship, why wouldn't God? Id say loving others, love, wonder, gratitude for life and its beautiful and tragic tapestry would suffice.
As a cradle Episcopalian... I've never been "caged" in by religious-ness. Like most folks, I've waffled around in my life, and when life would get stinky (because of some poor choices)... I would run back to the Black & White comfort of DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT Christianity. Trouble is, I've often been conflicted about much of the Us/Them ideology. And I could never really get behind the idea that all we're gonna do heaven is stand around and tell God how great he is... forever & ever & ever. Is God worthy of praise? Of course! HOWEVER, the idea of doing this "forever" makes Source sound like one HUGE EGO driven diva! Your words, and I guess Swedenboug's confirm my suspicions. Thank you.
I want nothing more than to be happy. But how do you do this when you have so much trauma? Especially when ptsd/anxiety is involved? These are real things that block happiness. It’s not arrogance or ego.
Thank you, Nafize, for wanting to donate! If you go to swedenborg.com/donate, you'll see the options for making payment. "Ideal" isn't a platform I recognize, but hope you can find another method on the website. Click around a bit to find the options.
I'd like if you can clarify something for me. What is the meaning behind Ecclesiastics 9:5-6 please because I don't understand why people that have these NDEs say we go straight to heaven when we die and the Bible says this. I'm just confuse?? 5:37
We happen to have two videos on that very subject, user-en3. One is not quite 8 minutes long, three of our team members answering a live question -- th-cam.com/video/tNQNrQDofGY/w-d-xo.html; and the other is a 50-minute full explanation by Curtis: th-cam.com/users/live2GNzmofUnxM. Hope you can find some answers to your question in there!
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:2 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:6-7 Shall we go on? Or is it easier to put more faith in the doctrines of demons than the unshakable, unchanging perfect word of God. Beware all of these deceptions! They will lead you away from the narrow path The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2
Those are all lovely scriptures, Asher. Interesting that none of them are Jesus telling people to worship him. We're not saying don't worship God, we're saying that God doesn't NEED us to worship him out of some kind of egotistical desire. Did you watch the video? No need to, of course.
@@offTheLeftEye Jesus is God , He humbled Himself and was born into flesh , taking on the role of servant. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33 ..did He stop them? “Very truly I tell you, . . . before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58) “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) 31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:31-33) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1) So A=B=C And about the ego of God , He does have an ego , there are many verses about his jelous desire to be worshipped alone Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14) For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24) He even saved the Israelites numerous times , only for His own names sake For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. (Samuel 2:22) For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,that I may not cut you off. (Isaiah 48:9) But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. (Ezekiel 28:9) God’s jealousy is different from human jealousy. But we often feel confused because there are so many negative, sinful connotations regarding human jealousy. Human jealousy is selfish; it is fueled by envy and narcissism.We, humans, are stained by sin. I understand the need to create a click bait title such as you have , but It is not good to attempt to speak for God or try to see Him through the lens of our own flawed understanding. For many who don’t watch the video may be deceived into believing such a lie as to think God doesn’t want to be worshipped and this will lead them into spiritual darkness There is a danger in doing this , Jesus himself claims in Luke 17:1-4 “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones (those who believe in Him) to sin.
Thank you for these beautiful quotes, Asher Solomon. Yes we need to worship and praise God. The video is about how it changes us, as compared to God needing our praise. By all means let us praise the Lord!
Great explanation thanks a lot! One thing I wonder if you have your own personal " one to one" experience with God who you are so surely, accurately talking about? What makes you different than the others who preaches and comments about Holly Scriptures and asks for donations? With best wishes and love💝
Glad this explanation was meaningful for you, tdmmnrdrk. The mission of our channel is to share the ideas in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, who claimed to have been called by God and taught by heaven about the nature of God, the Bible, the afterlife. Curtis is open about NOT having spiritual experiences or one-on-ones himself, but he shares these ideas because they WORK for him, and he thinks they can be helpful for others on their spiritual path. Does that answer your question? Thanks for the love, and we wish you God's blessings, too!
@@offTheLeftEye Thanks a lot for the nice reply in the name of Curtis. I went through a similar mission too. I also answered some others' questions in the name of my teacher. I do care about reciprocation if I follow some path with full of applications and advices for recognizing and reaching Love of God. It has to work at one point. And there must be some realized souls among the followers too. And I expect the propagator walks his talk. That is why I asked him and I am really curious if it works for him. Otherwise it is a mere one of those countless love propagating movements. It is a very limited space to discuss further anyway. At the end of the day we are all free to chose our own directions. Thank you for the blessings and love. The same to you. 🥰🍀🌼💐
@@tdmmnrdrk2830 We strive pretty fully to live these ideas with sincere hearts tdmmnrdrk. We are the first to admit that we fail, and yet the effort to live these ideas has been important to each of us at OTLE. Thanks for being part of the conversation, friend.
@@kathleenwharton2139 We can thank King James for the word command in the Bible. Ask any Jew and they will tell you it says, and God spoke. That's why the book of John and Jesus being the word made flesh was a book the Jews would understand. Pointing them back to the word and not the law. Otherwise it would have had to been interpreted in the beginning was the command. Nope, the book of John is correct.
@@dw3403 I will stay with Jesus! He brought me The Living Bible by Tyndale and obeying the commandments is the whole purpose. They have brought me much Peace. Jesus Said..”If You Love Me..Obey My Commandments.” He wouldn’t have Given them without Purpose.
@@kathleenwharton2139 The living bible is a good translation. I don't remember if they kept command. Now lets look at Jesus. We do see he raised his voice to speak to the people. He had too, they did not have speaker systems back then. Its Jesus who shows us the true character of the living God. The one he sent to testify of him. He said, if you have seen me you have seen the father. He tells us to love one another even as he has loved us.What is love? Corinthians 13 4-7
Hey! :) In regards to donating to Off the Left Eye, what's the difference between a recurring monthly donation and the membership? I'd like to help, even if just a little, but don't know which of the two to pick.
Whatever works for you, 36Kite36. The membership fee is its own thing. If you'd like to donate more than that, a recurring monthly donation is a generous and easy way for our bookkeepers to manage your donations. There's also the "Community Membership" platform on the website, which (I think) is $10/month or $100/year, and gives you access to book groups, group discussions, special content. I'm a commenter, though, and not part of the Development Team, so I'm not closely connected to the process. If you can't figure out the website donation page, you can contact tbilger@swedenborg.com, our director of development. Thank you for caring!
Worship God in spirit and in truth.... Can you describe what that means to you, Jo, or how you go about doing that? I'm with you, but I'm suddenly wondering how one might put that into practice?
@@offTheLeftEye IT ADDS UP to having a personal relationship with GOD ....repenting and then seeking the TRUTH ..starting wiith both Literal ....english /\ hebrew /greek seeking .....and Spiritual guidance >>>taking up one's cross as being a new creation ...a moment that the Love of GOD reveals the cross and rssurrection of Jesus the Christ >>> one knows it is THE Truth -=AS IT MAKES ONE free>>>>>AND GOD Loves and shares HOPE of forgiveness and eternal Peace ans bliss in a new Eden >>thE nEW JeruSALEM >>>iVE LEARNED that one cant convert >>>only the Holy Spirit >>>can Draw >>>>and present one as spotless >>>>AS Jesus will say >>welcome my good and FAITHFUL Servant ..TO KNOW THE TRUTH as Jesus is the TRUTH IS THAT Obeying is better this is A GIFT of reBirth and thus No one can boast>>>> . @MANDOLINJO
Self-love pleasures like chemicals, sex, video games, food, and gambling are cut off from mutual love and real internal happiness. Selfish loves to devour heavenly loves like the thin cows devoured the fat cows and the parched corn swallowed the healthy corn in Genesis 41. Their self-sensory pleasures reject heavenly perceptions and affections. Great job Off the Left Eye and team
Rev 22 18 and 19: 18: I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19: and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book
Makes sense. However since everyone on this planet , almost, has an ego that runs/ruins their life,we must conclude that ego is the rule and the rules were put in place by God. No ego no individualized life. So why did God put us in this position? Or did we ask for it initially? Is it perhaps just a great game or Lila as the Hindu scriptures say?
A sense of self, a selfhood, is crucial in order to be an individual person who is able to interact with God and with others. Human life can't be real or happy without that, and so yes, that is part of God's design! Swedenborg learned that in the original design of creation, with the earliest humans, this selfhood was not evil. It was not something that ruined people's lives, but just something that allowed people to have the joy of freely choosing what to do with their God-given life. Over time, humans gradually began to want to focus more and more on external life, and the outer self, the selfhood, gradually become less aware of the inner connection with God and others, and more isolated and competitive. That's how we've gotten to the lower ego of today, which tends toward self-absorption and self-centeredness. But God provides the process of regeneration, or spiritual rebirth, which can bring our egos back into alignment with the inner self and heaven. And then the ego will serve the inner self, rather than be in charge, allowing for happiness and harmony rather than ruin. That's what I (Karin) gain from Swedenborg's explanations, and I hope that can be helpful!
That's not a bad way of putting it, Eunice. Whatever our inner spirit is, here, will determine the location of our afterlife experience. Of course there's room for repentance, and after death we go through a time of self-reflection, sorting, purification, and education, so we will come to a clarity that leads us to our heavenly (or otherwise) home.
The One word that describes Love Is Sacrifice and the reason we as Human Beings are in a Physical Created Body is to Give resurrection to Love and Good Works starting with thoughts, words and actions moment by moment daily that causes either Heaven or Hell to be a reality. The Bible is about two States of Consciousness, two Covenants, two personalities as seen in the story's of Cain and Able, Abram and Abraham, Jacob and Esau, king Saul and King David yes and even John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ. Example = Cain and Able One Man with two personalities: Cain a man who had the right to choose to live a positive life and receive blessings but choose a defiance disorder life stile and created for Himself Curses. Could it be that is why the name Cain contains a I for EGO to show He can but was not willing because of the Proud conscious reprobate mind set to do thing his own way for self pleasure. On the other side was able a man who not only could but was willing in every respect to Love His Creator, fellow Man and every thing else in order to Be A Character Witness of Love and Devotion for the Good of All things. God is not a He or A Person but a Atomic Electromagnetic Life Force Energy that produces Life to the Cosmic Universe and at the same time Holds all thing together. Your Video is the Best I have ever watch because it in detail simplifies it all. Blessings to you AMEN
We do, John! (I composed and posted a response that said we didn't, but I was wrong!) Here's a helpful video called "How to Donate Online." th-cam.com/video/ARCrXc47usc/w-d-xo.html Thanks for asking and for wanting to contribute!
Basically, you go to swedenborg.com and click the red button that says "Donate Now." Then when it comes to "Choose Payment Method," you click "Use a credit card or wallet," and that takes you to a page that includes the PayPal option.
God doesn't want to be worshipped? Oh my goodness! What Bible translation have you been reading? 😅 Because there's an absolute ton of verses about God being worshipped in every Bible I've read.
@tomy8339 I am not sure if you watched the video in which we explore this idea. God wants us to worship because it is good for us to be humble and grateful.
we are born to enjoy worshipping our creator and our Creator does command us to name Him as the One who Is good and responsible for all creation and all good. He is not mocked nor shares His glory with anyone. Love has boundaries and standards, Stick to the bible.
Upon examination I would ask if this is the whole truth. Yes, God can give in return as an exchange. But to say that God is like a zero who doesn't want to be valued, revered, respected and loved? No. You can love a person, but if you want a personal relationship, you expect the other person to give. What becomes of the person who is always giving and does not ask for anything in return? That person is not given proper value; is taken for granted. God suffers because He's not valued; He's not a zero. The problem is with people who want to receive anything they want, but don't want to give or sacrifice anything. If He doesn't demand anything, people would treat Him even more like He's nothing. Many already do that.
God cannot suffer. He is a god. You are attributing human need, desire, want and the frailty and problems of ego and human limitation to a god, to perfection. It doesn't work that way; it's not correct or straight thinking. Perhaps OTLE can better explain it to you than I can.
Love is a two-way street, as they say. God's love is like a feedback loop....it is true that His unconditional love is always there for us to experience if we choose. The more we feel His love, the more we love Him, the more we feel His love.... You are right. It's important that we love Him. Otherwise, Jesus would not have given us the commandment to do so. Jesus said unto him, “‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ Matthew 22:37. Similar to the worship issue, it turns out to be very fruitful in many ways when we love Him.
Interesting perspective, Marvin. As we understand it, God does want a partnership with us. He's already 1000% in, so it's up to us to opt in as much as we want. It would never occur to me to say that God is like a zero. God is the all-in-all.
@@offTheLeftEye In Jesus's words as experienced by Anna Rountree: "The pursuer wants to be pursued also." I mean, He told her Himself. Of course God wants to receive as well. He wants to be valued. I also know by experience. There is a love that can give without expecting anything; that can happen if you don't really have a close relationship with the people you're giving. But I've seen that you can keep giving to the point that your value will decrease because you will be taken for granted. Doesn't this happen to God? It's why He uses suffering to bring people back to Him. When people suffer, they remember Him because they want help. When everything is going well, they forget God. And if you notice in the gospels, Jesus reserved the mysteries of the kingdom only for His disciples. He also said not to cast pearls to swine; I have seen this many times already how He is right. Because many claim to want answers to mysteries, but when they are given those answers, they reject them or they are not interested. So, does God give everything all the time? No. If He did, many of the things that are valuable would be slighted or despised.
@@carolynnorton9552 Doesn't Genesis 6:6 say that God was grieved in His heart? Love suffers the pain of rejection. Love includes vulnerability. Love also desires to be with the people that are loved. How does God have compassion and mercy if He does not have a heart that can be moved, touched and softened? How does God understand pain if He Himself doesn't suffer? Haven't you seen how people learn compassion by having experienced suffering themselves? Why does God weep for the people in hell? Because of their pain and the consequence of their rejection. Of course, you will not see His suffering facet all the time, but He does feel pain. You may think that a god does not suffer, but it depends on the heart of such god.
You are 100% wrong about this. God wants us to worship him, but it's not for him.He is holy on his own.It's for us so we know the God we serve. It's so we look upon holiness and understand what holiness actually is because if we don't look upon holiness we will keep becoming more and more depraved like humanity is becoming. God isn't here to make people happy.God is here to make humanity holy. Eventually our happiness will stem from abiding in holiness and in a relationship with Him.... His first priority for us is holiness.
Did you watch the video, Tressa? The title on this thumbnail is definitely somewhat agitating. But I don't think we're 100% on opposite sides of the topic. As you say, "God wants us to worship him, but it's not for him." That's our point. Worshiping God will put us in the right mindset for accessing the path to heaven, which in my view is the source/root of true happiness.
Sure but there is an opposing force you're forgetting there is a bad guy called the devil while you're in the sunshine and rainbows running around through daisies he's in the bushes with a machine gun waiting for the right time to fire. You get blinded by the light you forget there's a shadow that leaves you in the night.
@@1MNUTZ Micheal Heiser here on TH-cam has studied the old testament and helps us to understand it from the Jews point of view. The Jews thought there were 2 powers in heaven. Good and evil. Jesus taught a good tree cannot bring forth evil. If you have come across any history of ancient times you would understand that those times could be very evil. As far as wrath goes. Remember Jesus saying. Whatever is done unto you is done unto me. Also not how wrath coincides with harvests as in reaping what has been sown.
@@dw3403 i'm not sure if I follow what you are saying what's the definition of good fruit ? If you're successful ? You have a good job? A family with kids? If Jesus says whatever has been done to you has been to him what does that mean ? It's vague it could mean that he suffered the same or it could mean Jesus takes revenge for me ? Doesn't correlate with the Jesus of the new testament who blesses his enemies turns the other cheek and forgives 77 times
@@dw3403 if the god of the old testament claims he does not change and Jesus is the same God of the old testament then why would Jesus change from being Jealous wrathful eye for an eye into blessing your enemies turning the other cheek and forgiving 77 times. Look up Marcion of Sinope he published the first record of the new testament canon books and he believed that the Father Jesus spoke of was completely different from the vengeful old testament deity "Yahweh"
@@dw3403 - Hundred of thousands of Churches across the land, preaching on the topic of a cheerful giver but look at the homeless and worst of all, look at the mansions and luxury cars and jet own by Christian preachers. If one can't see, why bother to read the words of God, let alone teach them.
Hello, John Piper would teach exactly the opposite. God made us for worship and it is the best thing one could ever dream of, wondering, delighting, bathing, basking in God's glory! You really seem to miss the true Gospel and be led away by deceptive views and spirits. Especially not recognizing how a literal reading of Scripture is valid, right next to the spiritual readings that are so many, Genesis 1-11 is literal history and many New Testament writers teach that, like Jesus Himself, talking about literal people with literal events and vital consequences for all mankind down to this day. And more than that, you really seem to ignore and reject the fear of the Lord and the consuming fire, the wrath of the Lamb and the terrifying judgment coming. Consider such passages as Psalm 2, Rev. 2 and Acts among others where the Lord is described as frightening for the ungodly, killing unfaithful Church people, the passage in Acts validates a literal reading of Revelation 2, also 1 Cor. 11. Consider also what is said in Acts 1, Jesus never tells the disciples that there is no literal kingdom coming when they ask about it, after 40 days of teachings! Think of John the Baptist or Peter's fiery speeches where the soft-hearted Christians of Laodicea will turn away in fear and disgust if they still read them at all. Also think of Samuel's mother and Mary praying for quite frightening judgments and recognizing the hand of God in terrible events, just like Lamentations confirms it also. May God grant you the fear and awe part of reverence and love for God without losing the most tender aspects. Consider the goodness and severity of our God! Romans 11:22.
Not familiar with John Piper, raptusjulius. I guess we all have to follow God's leading in our heart to a faith that rings true for us. Blessings to you on your spiritual path.
@@offTheLeftEye Hello, does that mean that if God's severity does not resonate with you, it doesn't apply or is not even true? I know the Word is multilayered and that subjective realities are real and powerful and that God speaks and relates to us in a personal way, even creating an individual world for each of us to a certain extent but there is also the common and objective world that may well pop our personal bubbles and reveal God's different faces though He is one. Aren't there universal truths, indeed? Didn't Ananiah and Sapphira die and send shockwaves through the church? Let there be liht and may you grow n the knowledge of Christ who comes to reign as prophesied because prophesies are being fulfilled literally, left and right, these days. Read Zephaniah 2 and Obadiah and others about the war in Israel to understand this point, with the help of the Essenes and Church Fathers, God willing.
@@offTheLeftEye Hello again, John Piper is an evangelical darling as someone put it, his DesiringGod ministry channel has almost 1 million subscribers, he's closely related to John MacArthur who may be even more reknowned, having been on national TV many times and lately, fighting the state of California over covid oppression.
Thank you for sharing your strong faith, Raptusjulius. I do have a much more loving picture of God, like the one I had with my earthly father, who never got angry with me. I see that we can each have our own concept of God and how He interacts with His people. Thank you for the well wishes.
People who speak for God baffle me. As if you know what "god" thinks. You only know your perception. No ones else's. Certainly not god. This is arrogant absolutely. You talk of God as if it's a physical entity when it's a force.
Well, you can get an idea from studying the Bible, and of course note certain things that universally are recognized as positive. Among other things love, compassion, charity, etc etc.
Man was Gods thought at the lowest conscious awareness. This awareness was to learn about God and mirror God's thought from the lowest to the highest awareness. To see God at our level we would have to share the image of God by looking at God from all angles and points of view. Each person shares his point of view so that a collective image is made. The self cannot do this. God got exasperated when Eve took over and created her own man. So worship is not being distracted by self. It is the job of looking at God so that you can take on a little piece of God's image and join it to all the other pieces around you. If someone is selfish, they hoard energy by stealing it from others and deprive them of their sustenance from God. This is the crux. If you shine and open up and display God. Others will take from you because they believe that the Messiah will do everything for them. They feel great and that one person dies because he is stripped of life. Ring a bell. Jesus said in the crowd, who touched me. Moses had to go back to God with new tablets. So if I reflect God to others it is asking you to follow suit. If I give, I flow away to others and do not return. The Hebrew word for death. If I share by showing my connection, I invite you to share your connection. This is where the church goes wrong.
Curtis here is speaking from the perspective of the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg (18th century), who claims to have been called to receive a further revelation about the nature of God, the Bible, the life after death. We do see God as Human, but a Divine Human, which is indeed the Force behind and the Source of everything.
No one ever suffers in the afterlife. Hell is a choice evil people make. God is love. That is why He can't cast anyone into Hell. I hope you choose to read Swedenborg's "Heaven and Hell."
@@reginasmith-m8j It doesn't really matter what influences you to become a better person. Becoming a person with charity and goodness in your heart is the only thing God looks for. All sacred books point you in that direction. God is not in mind to cast you into Hell; it is your choice if all you can think of is to do evil. Good that you've read the Bible. Now, try "Heaven and Hell." May you find peace, and trust in God's eternal love for you, not some sort of wrath with which He has been so horribly maligned.
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I think that the best way to "worship" God is just being grateful recognizing everything that He does for us with love, accepting who we are, and sharing the best with others so we can co-create and learn how to build love.
Beautiful "religion", c.inesr -- the way you live your life with the goal of goodness and love! Thanks for stating it just this way!
That is exactly my feelings and beliefs too. They say the virtue of gratefulness is the common denominator of all other virtues. So I start my day by being grateful to God for all my blessings and to pay it forward. Simplicity is the key, which can be found in nature everywhere. Such a great show, thank you Curtis and staff!!
@@mach1gtx150 What a wonderful way to start each day mach1! I love it. I too keep a gratitude list and add to it often. It does turn life from black and white to color for me.
@@offTheLeftEye My son and I discussed this show and allowing the love of God to flow to each of us, pay it forward and try to live a virtuous life each day. It is a struggle some days, but the day gets better if you allow it. Such a good way to live ones life these days with so many disharmonizing events 'out there' vying for our attention. It all starts from 'within'. Thank you!
Goodness to me even more important than grateful. You can be grateful and still be mean. No good😊
By doing what is right, we worship God. By being fair to ourselves and to others, by offering of ourselves to those in need, by respecting ourselves and others, we worship God. The heavenly mindset is the result; as well as the beauties of Heaven we built for ourselves. Always a pleasure to listen to Curtis' rational explanations. Thanks again.
Yes, Carolyn -- real worship is in the way we live our lives! Thanks for your input here.
God is happiness, and you, Curtis and staff are sending happiness (and knowledge) to the world. Thank you!
We are indeed trying to spread a little love and happiness and peace, Pamela, for those who find these ideas helpful. Thanks for the encouragement, and you're welcome!
and dont forget to add love , for the whole .....
@@davidmandixy7954 Yep and amazingly there is enough love to go around! An inexhaustible supply.
I love how you explain things with props. It makes it all come together and be alive.
So glad Curtis's approach is working for you, timecapsule! Thanks for letting us know!
Yip, Curtis you and your staff teaching style is brilliant! Love the props the cool chillhop beats the humour what a blessing you and the crew are to humanity. May there be financial abundance for you guys to continue to do what you do
@@kalaphobian Thanks for the encouragement, Kalaphobian. We are grateful for the people who support our work, emotionally and or financially. We are having fun trying to spread these ideas which have truly helped our lives.
Love you Curtis. ... And everyone creating the channel. You are an awesome group of people. Thank you ❤❤❤
Thanks for the kind words, suiwong, and thanks for being part of our community here!
Until now I always thought that God wanted us to worship Him because He cannot exist without us and vice versa. Now I understand that when we worship Him we become humble and thus allow God's light to shine upon us! Thanks Curtis!🔆
You're welcome, Haroldolino! So glad this idea could shed some light on your conception on it, in a helpful way!
Nah, in spirit and in truth is how he wants to be worshipped. Otherwise he would be no different than a dictator and a narcissist. Also he wouldn't tell us to be kind and love one another if it wasn't something he already is.
Not only to have the light of God to shine in us but through us and thereby speading God into the earth.
Worship really draws our attention away from ourselves and our troubles and onto the Lord, who helps us in so many ways... that is what He wants, to help and for us to also become helpful
Great way of putting it, Jason -- thank you!
I just had the same revelation yesterday. God wants us to acknowledge that he’s the giver because that makes us like him. when we give him that acknowledgment. We too are givers.
Beautiful, clergh.
Thank you, Curtis!
You're welcome, Alex! (Not Curtis here, just one of the Comment Response team, as you probably already know....)
Whenever I express thankfulness for the riches I have received in life from God, I feel his unconditional love overwheming me and I am so thankful and humbled. Then I experience such joy!!
Your cup runs over, eh Stephanie? Mine too.
Excellent.
Glad it resonated, Martin!
❤Thank you so much for explaining this! Love, love, love!
Love, love, love, hs!
Great video Curtis. Spot on and very helpful. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thanks for the affirmation, sibyl! Glad you found it meaningful!
Amen, Thank you Curtis! A lot of people don't get this! Love and blessings🪽🤍🕊️
Thanks, Pamelyn! Aloha love to you!
Wow,, I love your analysis of explaining how about worshiping God ❤
So so true I always believed in God all my life talk to him now and then but ever since this world has turned to crap. I've been talked to him a lot more and I totally feel the difference that I want to spread love happiness health and cheer throughout the world and that's what God wants for us ❤
That's beautiful, Lucille. What a gift that you were able to rise up through the difficulties of this world and re-establish your relationship with God!
Hey Curtis, just wanted to say thanks. I've been watching your videos for a year or so now and have learned a lot. I love and appreciate you and your content creators. You're making a bigger difference than you could ever know. Keep up the good work
Thanks so much for this shout out, Jeremy! I'm not Curtis, but rather one of the Comment Response Team. We rejoice that you have found meaning and support here, and we appreciate your opinion that our work here is helping people! Thanks for taking the time to comment, and blessings to you!
The title is what I tell everyone all the time
Interesting, Flo! For the same kinds of reasons?
I think you are doing great. Wish you had a bigger platform.
Thanks for the affirmation, Chris. Appreciate your reaching out to tell us so! We figure the size of our platform is in God's hands, even as we work to figure out the best ways of sharing it.
Now we’re getting somewhere . Happiness itself . Wonderful work and channel .
Glad it's aligning with your perceptions, Aum!
It is not worship God wants... It is just an open, honest, humble connection. (In my opinion) I totally agree. ❤
Lovely, HannoverDaz!
This answers my question. I have heard and read information that we should worship God 24/7. We need to praise him and sing his praises, “ without ceasing ..” St. Paul. I have done this, but one day I thought .. is God a narcissistic .. if any human expected this praise an admiration most people would think that human was very self-centered. This is the first explanation that makes sense and opens up our hearts to love God in a healthy and appropriate relationship.
So happy to hear that this approach makes sense to you, Camille. God is not concerned with his own happiness, but with OURS! And finding something higher than our own self-centeredness is a key to a healthier and happier life. Thanks for responding!
I don’t know honestly if Swedenborg was really having these visions of and visits to heaven or not, but after many, many of hours of watching Curtis talk about him, not once have I heard anything sound remotely harmful or dangerous. I’m still trying to find God even while He continues to wear a disguise, and find a lot of practical spiritual advice from this channel. It really would be amazing if Swedenborg really was the real deal though.
There's a video evaluating Swedenborg's reliability and veracity. S.'s reports were not simply accepted at face value or because he sounded great. OTLE can direct you.
Thank you for your perspective, Roger. "By their fruits you shall know them" comes to mind, when figuring out if something is true.
Here is a video about how God leads you to the truth Carolyn and Roger. th-cam.com/users/shortsgMRRELLAU4g
Much love to you in your pursuit, Roger! That's a powerful and touching statement that you have not found anything harmful or dangerous here -- we hope that is true!
You can't really prove any system of faith, can you? I guess that's why it's called "faith." But for us, the measure is whether an idea feels useful or leads to an improvement or some kind of growing goodness in our lives.
There's a quote from Swedenborg that I (Chara) love:
"Read the Word, and believe in the Lord... and you will see the truths that are to be a part of your faith and your life." (TC 621) -- sounds like a very individual thing! You might replace those first two phrases with "Keep trying to find God....." Sounds like you're on the path toward a growing faith of your own.
If you've spent many, many hours watching Curtis, you've probably seen "Was Swedenborg Crazy?" and "How to Test a Spiritual Idea" -- among others. Happy to provide links if you want them, but mostly I want to send love and encouragement for your continuing journey! I hear you in your doubt and wondering... God is with you in the wondering, and speaking to you from inside via what touches your heart. Learning to trust that is a process. Blessings to you!
Swedernborg was inspired to reveal , the doctrine in a clear and modern way ...since if you read and truly try to understand his message ...its the closest and simplest explanation of the divine ... he gave the idea of correspondence in which its the base of all reality
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us ❤
We are blessed to be able to do so, Elizabeth! Thank you for being here!
This is brilliantly explained. Thank you so much. The topic of organized, ritualistic worship has been very heavy on my mind just the past few days, because I don't think many people (in history and today) have understood this very concept of God not requiring that kind of worship. The video clarifies it for me in a profound way. I personally do not like rituals and things like "guided meditation." I prefer to serve God as described in the video--naturally, like a flowing river of love and abundance, being grateful and in awe of His power, love, creativity, and abundance. I don't always succeed, but it is my intention, and I keep working on it. The angelic teachers (which people often have worshiped as gods) also do not want to be worshiped. To worship them is putting other gods before God, a violation of His first commandment.
So glad this video could clarify your thoughts, Soferia. Great points here. And be patient with yourself -- our spiritual journey is a lifelong process!
Living a life of usefulness reducing suffering in others in wisdom love goodness and truth makes others happy and you too will be happy support one another love is giving, God wants us to happy he has good plans for us and nothing separate us from his love
God has good plans for us -- love that, Betty!
This is the same truth God has brought me to recently, which is a sign this video was for me, to remind me it’s true. Thanks for posting. You helped me if only by reminding me I’m on the right path here in my new understanding.
Glad you could find affirmation for something God has already led you to, jondeik. It's a whole different outlook!
Thank you so much- I needed to hear this!☀️☀️☀️
Glad it feels helpful, dmswam -- blessings to you!
Just awesome!
So glad it touches your mind/heart/spirit, Darby!
"The only thing required of us is to clean house"---I love that as a definition for "worship."
That is a good one, Andrew. Similar to the primary message of John the Baptist, Jesus, and you might even add Swedenborg to that list: Repent! In Swedenborg's book "Divine Providence," almost every kind of blessing you can think of is associated with "shunning evils...."
@@offTheLeftEye Absolutely! I remember someone illustrating “repentance” by holding a cup upside down and pouring water onto it. It was only when we turn our cup right side up that we can experience the blessing of repentance. Basically, repentance is really just saying, “Lord, I’m thirsty!”
Wow you are blessing me today! I love that cup illustration and the "I am thirsty message. Thank you Andrew!
You touched on a major issue in the church and maybe THE most important one. It seems Christians use the Bible to make this an utmost thing...that 'God demands worship' but probably the focus is in the Old Testament for the most part. From what I have studied there is another issue as to who the character is that is demanding worship. It seems that there was an entity, possibly even a Nephilim or Archon who was demanding worship at that time and this is who was demanding the worship. Of course, Christians will do their best to tear this idea to shreds. But it is interesting to note that those who don't think or study outside the box will vehemently defend what they think if the 'truth.' This is one reason I have learned to change my thinking and ideas to look outside the box and usually keep those ideas to myself without any discussion with fundamentalists. I don't like argument...so I observe and learn. Thanks for your own clearing up this matter from the Swedenborg references. It behooves one to pay attention to this issue and look at those who have experienced Near Death Experiences to crystallize one's own belief system and not be hardened by fundamentalist theology taught ideologies.
The NDE's are interesting; and, in my mind, the most important breakthrough in modern spirituality apart from these discussions on Swedenborg's writings.
"I observe and learn" -- a wonderful way to approach spiritual ideas and spiritual growth, Steve. We don't like argument either, but we wish God's blessings for all. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
It's definitely a major issue for religions. I enjoy learning from different spiritual traditions, but I literally cringe over some of the rituals, in fact most of them. They don't feel genuine and spontaneous. While I am sure people are well-intentioned with their rituals, my thoughts are something like, "God is not impressed." lol. I am laughing at myself, although there is a verse in the Bible where He basically condemned people for their animal sacrifices and articulated that He hated them. Isaiah 1:11 "What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?" says the LORD. "I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." Hosea 6:6, which says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” This verse highlights that God values a person’s genuine devotion and ethical behavior more than formal religious rituals.
Another relevant verse is 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel says, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” This passage emphasizes that following God’s will is more important than offering sacrifices.
And why follow His will? Because He loves us and will guide us to being and doing good. We can't really do this successfully on our own.
The Sermon on the Mount provides guidance for people to follow which is the best way we can worship God. As Jessus conveyed, when we serve the least in society, we are serving Him.
In relation to "argument," I truly wish we could redefine the word in more of an academic sense. I have had many long and interesting "arguments" before the Internet became highly censored. The most interesting thing about them is that when people hang in there and engage in multiple strands of discussion, the end result is that most often they find they are describing similar concepts in different ways and that they agree on what's important. This is a major reason social networks curtail discussions and are set up to make discussions difficult. Heaven forbid should people find out they actually agree with each other, lol. In Heaven we have debates that are like a game and are great fun. No one is offended because ideas are just ideas.
@@carolynnorton9552 They sure are riveting, Carolyn!! I enjoy them too.
@@SoferiaNebruin I hear you Soferia. They began as meaningful rituals, but as the meaning was forgotten, they were like empty vessels.
Worship is the 2 way expression of love between us and God. We say, “I love you” and God says, “I love you.” The confusion comes from words “love” and “worship” whose meaning has been corrupted by an “enemy”
It's true that both those words have wide semantic fields, Joe, and different people understand and use them differently. I hope they don't get in the way of anyone interested in having that two-way expression of love with God.
The term ‘worship’ means to ‘give worth’. We cannot give God His worth because He already has that. However through worship we can recognise and reflect that worth God already has.
Indeed, Christopher. The worship gives US a chance to appreciate God's precious worth!
And thanks for the etymology lesson. I've never thought about the etymology of "worship" before -- so interesting!
Thanks
Thanks so much for your contribution, keitha!
I love this♥️♥️…thank you🙏♥️🙏♥️
You're welcome, Mary! Glad is resonates!
I think it is more about semantics. Worship may as well be just contemplation of what is. But indeed, worshipping humans requires appealing to ego or praise, and God is beyond that.
Always good to think about semantics, Joseph. Contemplation, reverence, mindfulness, gratitude -- it could be so many things!
For a delightful change, we've much good thinking and intending going on here.
Good-going!!!
For my own part however I've found it as some rough-going alright, any attempting to come to know (specifically as "KNOWLEDGE certain and true") just what IT
-- The CREATOR of all that is and Is to be and has been from since forever --
IS and requires of us, if anything at all.
Presuming it the case-actual, then logically (and eschewing of the mere mystical tho not of the apparent-miraculous) ANSWERS as accessible are to be had from old Mother Nature, being obviously (no imputed devilry now!) a direct manifesting of IT which, within our necessary requirement for fair comprehending, we style and term God, the Father, and thus avoiding being thankful to an amorphous, utterly incomprehensible SWIRLING PRIMORDIAL MASS!
(Here we find ourselves in company with the ancient Greeks' Ananke and later, the Romans' Necessitas. Why, Necessity we all invoke every single day, excepting for that which is NOT necessary of-doing!)
In perfect conformance with-and-to the above is -- DEISM -- for the thinking-worshipful with no thing whatever of the "mere mystical' to it being necessary.
Interesting points, James! Thanks for sharing the perspective you've come to, and thanks for the kind words!
There’s not a selfish bone in the body of god - it’s strange to think of god having a fibula. Good show!❤
Haha, Nina! God's Fibula might be a great band name! But yes -- not a selfish Divine bone. Glad you enjoyed this one!
He is our Father…He just wants to be loved….just as He gives us His unconditional Love…it’s really quite simple.
Yes, Catherine -- He wants to be in relationship with us!
@@offTheLeftEye you know what I have discovered lately…many people, older people who still go to “church”(I stopped doing that decades ago-I do not believe in organized religion), aren’t sure if He exists or if there is a ‘Heaven’! It baffles me-really blows my mind! I so firmly believe in an afterlife with Our Father, that I am not afraid of dying-which will be sooner than later in my case(I only have 1 kidney running at 20% & I don’t believe in dialysis nor do I believe in getting on a transplant list at my age{65}). It just goes to show what little organized religion does for the soul-I’ll take having personal ‘conversations’ with my blessed ‘Father’ any day over going to a church and repeating the same mantra!…in addition, most religions teach to ‘fear’ Our Father’ which is HORRIBLE!
@@catherineeckstein2705 Bless you as you ease into your own transition Catherine. It sounds like you are at peace with your coming death. I agree there is no reason to fear God, He says to "fear not " hundreds of times in the bible.
That is what I have always said. He doesn't want to be worshiped and I wouldn't either.
Glad it resonates, starlight!
Ive been saying this for years. And it always gets a "how dare you" reaction. Like if YOU want to, that's perfectly fine. If I was the creator of everything there is, I wouldnt want to be worshiped. So if I, a measly human have the capacity to not need or desire worship, why wouldn't God? Id say loving others, love, wonder, gratitude for life and its beautiful and tragic tapestry would suffice.
Nice summary at the end there, Dadu. Love, wonder, gratitude, and embracing the paradox of beauty and tragedy -- a "Godly" formula!
As a cradle Episcopalian... I've never been "caged" in by religious-ness. Like most folks, I've waffled around in my life, and when life would get stinky (because of some poor choices)... I would run back to the Black & White comfort of DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT Christianity. Trouble is, I've often been conflicted about much of the Us/Them ideology. And I could never really get behind the idea that all we're gonna do heaven is stand around and tell God how great he is... forever & ever & ever. Is God worthy of praise? Of course! HOWEVER, the idea of doing this "forever" makes Source sound like one HUGE EGO driven diva! Your words, and I guess Swedenboug's confirm my suspicions. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your story and your developing thought process, Leann. So glad the ideas here resonate with you!
I want nothing more than to be happy. But how do you do this when you have so much trauma? Especially when ptsd/anxiety is involved? These are real things that block happiness. It’s not arrogance or ego.
@JamesDirette I am so sorry that you have anxiety and trauma. Here is one video about that problem. th-cam.com/users/liveA-4ZUelTlvI minute 28
I want to donate from amsterdam i can do with ideal
Thank you, Nafize, for wanting to donate! If you go to swedenborg.com/donate, you'll see the options for making payment. "Ideal" isn't a platform I recognize, but hope you can find another method on the website. Click around a bit to find the options.
I'd like if you can clarify something for me. What is the meaning behind Ecclesiastics 9:5-6 please because I don't understand why people that have these NDEs say we go straight to heaven when we die and the Bible says this. I'm just confuse?? 5:37
We happen to have two videos on that very subject, user-en3. One is not quite 8 minutes long, three of our team members answering a live question -- th-cam.com/video/tNQNrQDofGY/w-d-xo.html;
and the other is a 50-minute full explanation by Curtis: th-cam.com/users/live2GNzmofUnxM.
Hope you can find some answers to your question in there!
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Psalm 86:2
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Hebrews 12:28
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Psalm 95:6-7
Shall we go on? Or is it easier to put more faith in the doctrines of demons than the unshakable, unchanging perfect word of God.
Beware all of these deceptions! They will lead you away from the narrow path
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
Ecclesiastes 10:2
Those are all lovely scriptures, Asher. Interesting that none of them are Jesus telling people to worship him. We're not saying don't worship God, we're saying that God doesn't NEED us to worship him out of some kind of egotistical desire. Did you watch the video? No need to, of course.
@@offTheLeftEye Jesus is God , He humbled Himself and was born into flesh , taking on the role of servant.
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33
..did He stop them?
“Very truly I tell you, . . . before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:31-33)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
(John 1:1)
So A=B=C
And about the ego of God , He does have an ego , there are many verses about his jelous desire to be worshipped alone
Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)
For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)
He even saved the Israelites numerous times , only for His own names sake
For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. (Samuel 2:22)
For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,that I may not cut you off. (Isaiah 48:9)
But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. (Ezekiel 28:9)
God’s jealousy is different from human jealousy. But we often feel confused because there are so many negative, sinful connotations regarding human jealousy. Human jealousy is selfish; it is fueled by envy and narcissism.We, humans, are stained by sin.
I understand the need to create a click bait title such as you have , but It is not good to attempt to speak for God or try to see Him through the lens of our own flawed understanding. For many who don’t watch the video may be deceived into believing such a lie as to think God doesn’t want to be worshipped and this will lead them into spiritual darkness
There is a danger in doing this , Jesus himself claims in Luke 17:1-4
“Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones (those who believe in Him) to sin.
Thank you for these beautiful quotes, Asher Solomon. Yes we need to worship and praise God. The video is about how it changes us, as compared to God needing our praise. By all means let us praise the Lord!
Great explanation thanks a lot! One thing I wonder if you have your own personal " one to one" experience with God who you are so surely, accurately talking about? What makes you different than the others who preaches and comments about Holly Scriptures and asks for donations? With best wishes and love💝
Glad this explanation was meaningful for you, tdmmnrdrk.
The mission of our channel is to share the ideas in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, who claimed to have been called by God and taught by heaven about the nature of God, the Bible, the afterlife. Curtis is open about NOT having spiritual experiences or one-on-ones himself, but he shares these ideas because they WORK for him, and he thinks they can be helpful for others on their spiritual path. Does that answer your question? Thanks for the love, and we wish you God's blessings, too!
@@offTheLeftEye Thanks a lot for the nice reply in the name of Curtis. I went through a similar mission too. I also answered some others' questions in the name of my teacher. I do care about reciprocation if I follow some path with full of applications and advices for recognizing and reaching Love of God. It has to work at one point. And there must be some realized souls among the followers too. And I expect the propagator walks his talk. That is why I asked him and I am really curious if it works for him. Otherwise it is a mere one of those countless love propagating movements. It is a very limited space to discuss further anyway. At the end of the day we are all free to chose our own directions. Thank you for the blessings and love. The same to you. 🥰🍀🌼💐
@@tdmmnrdrk2830 We strive pretty fully to live these ideas with sincere hearts tdmmnrdrk. We are the first to admit that we fail, and yet the effort to live these ideas has been important to each of us at OTLE. Thanks for being part of the conversation, friend.
God Wants Obedience. 😊❤
But again, kathleen -- Not so he can be the Big Boss of Everyone, but for the sake of us being happier if we follow Divine "rules."
@@offTheLeftEye
Exactly! God Commandments keep US in Peace..the healthiest and happiest way to be. They are For Us. Not to prove anything to Him.
@@kathleenwharton2139
We can thank King James for the word command in the Bible. Ask any Jew and they will tell you it says, and God spoke.
That's why the book of John and Jesus being the word made flesh was a book the Jews would understand. Pointing them back to the word and not the law. Otherwise it would have had to been interpreted in the beginning was the command. Nope, the book of John is correct.
@@dw3403
I will stay with Jesus! He brought me The Living Bible by Tyndale and obeying the commandments is the whole purpose. They have brought me much Peace. Jesus Said..”If You Love Me..Obey My Commandments.” He wouldn’t have Given them without Purpose.
@@kathleenwharton2139
The living bible is a good translation. I don't remember if they kept command. Now lets look at Jesus. We do see he raised his voice to speak to the people. He had too, they did not have speaker systems back then. Its Jesus who shows us the true character of the living God. The one he sent to testify of him. He said, if you have seen me you have seen the father.
He tells us to love one another even as he has loved us.What is love?
Corinthians 13 4-7
☮️💜
Hey! :) In regards to donating to Off the Left Eye, what's the difference between a recurring monthly donation and the membership? I'd like to help, even if just a little, but don't know which of the two to pick.
Whatever works for you, 36Kite36. The membership fee is its own thing. If you'd like to donate more than that, a recurring monthly donation is a generous and easy way for our bookkeepers to manage your donations. There's also the "Community Membership" platform on the website, which (I think) is $10/month or $100/year, and gives you access to book groups, group discussions, special content. I'm a commenter, though, and not part of the Development Team, so I'm not closely connected to the process. If you can't figure out the website donation page, you can contact tbilger@swedenborg.com, our director of development. Thank you for caring!
"how can you say you love God, whom you have not seen, when you do not love your brother whom you have seen?".Jesus.
That is a great question, Lisa.
I'm trying daily
We're with you on that, D!
John 4:24 >>>>God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Worship God in spirit and in truth.... Can you describe what that means to you, Jo, or how you go about doing that? I'm with you, but I'm suddenly wondering how one might put that into practice?
@@offTheLeftEye IT ADDS UP to having a personal relationship with GOD ....repenting and then seeking the TRUTH ..starting wiith both Literal ....english /\ hebrew /greek seeking .....and Spiritual guidance >>>taking up one's cross as being a new creation ...a moment that the Love of GOD reveals the cross and rssurrection of Jesus the Christ >>>
one knows it is THE Truth -=AS IT MAKES ONE free>>>>>AND GOD Loves and shares HOPE of forgiveness and eternal Peace ans bliss in a new Eden >>thE nEW JeruSALEM >>>iVE LEARNED that one cant convert >>>only the Holy Spirit >>>can Draw >>>>and present one as spotless >>>>AS Jesus will say >>welcome my good and FAITHFUL Servant ..TO KNOW THE TRUTH as Jesus is the TRUTH IS THAT Obeying is better
this is A GIFT of reBirth and thus No one can boast>>>>
.
@MANDOLINJO
Self-love pleasures like chemicals, sex, video games, food, and gambling are cut off from mutual love and real internal happiness. Selfish loves to devour heavenly loves like the thin cows devoured the fat cows and the parched corn swallowed the healthy corn in Genesis 41. Their self-sensory pleasures reject heavenly perceptions and affections. Great job Off the Left Eye and team
Thanks for the affirmation, and for adding to the convo, Thomas!
Donate!
Thanks, friend....
Rev 22 18 and 19:
18: I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
19: and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book
Thankyou for sharing what matters deeply to yu MrOhemaa.
By the way the bible says we will live with jesus how does that work out. If he do not come the second time to end sin.
It'll be in the spiritual world, Eunice. Heaven is sin-free.
just give yourself to God, no talk and speech. ie let God live with-in you. thats not the people who want you to serve them.
Let God live within you. Lovely goal, gsestream.
Makes sense. However since everyone on this planet , almost, has an ego that runs/ruins their life,we must conclude that ego is the rule and the rules were put in place by God. No ego no individualized life. So why did God put us in this position? Or did we ask for it initially? Is it perhaps just a great game or Lila as the Hindu scriptures say?
A sense of self, a selfhood, is crucial in order to be an individual person who is able to interact with God and with others. Human life can't be real or happy without that, and so yes, that is part of God's design!
Swedenborg learned that in the original design of creation, with the earliest humans, this selfhood was not evil. It was not something that ruined people's lives, but just something that allowed people to have the joy of freely choosing what to do with their God-given life.
Over time, humans gradually began to want to focus more and more on external life, and the outer self, the selfhood, gradually become less aware of the inner connection with God and others, and more isolated and competitive. That's how we've gotten to the lower ego of today, which tends toward self-absorption and self-centeredness.
But God provides the process of regeneration, or spiritual rebirth, which can bring our egos back into alignment with the inner self and heaven. And then the ego will serve the inner self, rather than be in charge, allowing for happiness and harmony rather than ruin. That's what I (Karin) gain from Swedenborg's explanations, and I hope that can be helpful!
So that means we now have to be transform to be ready to live like we will in Heaven?
That's not a bad way of putting it, Eunice. Whatever our inner spirit is, here, will determine the location of our afterlife experience. Of course there's room for repentance, and after death we go through a time of self-reflection, sorting, purification, and education, so we will come to a clarity that leads us to our heavenly (or otherwise) home.
The One word that describes Love Is Sacrifice and the reason we as Human Beings are in a Physical Created Body is to Give resurrection to Love and Good Works starting with thoughts, words and actions moment by moment daily that causes either Heaven or Hell to be a reality. The Bible is about two States of Consciousness, two Covenants, two personalities as seen in the story's of Cain and Able, Abram and Abraham, Jacob and Esau, king Saul and King David yes and even John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ. Example = Cain and Able One Man with two personalities: Cain a man who had the right to choose to live a positive life and receive blessings but choose a defiance disorder life stile and created for Himself Curses. Could it be that is why the name Cain contains a I for EGO to show He can but was not willing because of the Proud conscious reprobate mind set to do thing his own way for self pleasure. On the other side was able a man who not only could but was willing in every respect to Love His Creator, fellow Man and every thing else in order to Be A Character Witness of Love and Devotion for the Good of All things. God is not a He or A Person but a Atomic Electromagnetic Life Force Energy that produces Life to the Cosmic Universe and at the same time Holds all thing together. Your Video is the Best I have ever watch because it in detail simplifies it all. Blessings to you AMEN
Interesting thoughts here, James. So glad you feel our video captured so much meaning for you! Blessings to you, too.
Curtis. Do you accept donations by PayPal ?
We do, John! (I composed and posted a response that said we didn't, but I was wrong!) Here's a helpful video called "How to Donate Online." th-cam.com/video/ARCrXc47usc/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for asking and for wanting to contribute!
Basically, you go to swedenborg.com and click the red button that says "Donate Now." Then when it comes to "Choose Payment Method," you click "Use a credit card or wallet," and that takes you to a page that includes the PayPal option.
@@offTheLeftEyeThanks very much for that information. I’m sure that I’m not the only one that was wondering about PayPal. 👍🏴
Paul washer said God wants everyone depress?
Don't know that Paul, Pearl, and it doesn't make sense to me...
God doesn't want to be worshipped? Oh my goodness! What Bible translation have you been reading? 😅 Because there's an absolute ton of verses about God being worshipped in every Bible I've read.
@tomy8339 I am not sure if you watched the video in which we explore this idea. God wants us to worship because it is good for us to be humble and grateful.
we are born to enjoy worshipping our creator and our Creator does command us to name Him as the One who Is good and responsible for all creation and all good. He is not mocked nor shares His glory with anyone. Love has boundaries and standards, Stick to the bible.
Swedenborg absolutely did stick to the bible as his source, Als. We do too!
Upon examination I would ask if this is the whole truth. Yes, God can give in return as an exchange. But to say that God is like a zero who doesn't want to be valued, revered, respected and loved? No. You can love a person, but if you want a personal relationship, you expect the other person to give. What becomes of the person who is always giving and does not ask for anything in return? That person is not given proper value; is taken for granted. God suffers because He's not valued; He's not a zero. The problem is with people who want to receive anything they want, but don't want to give or sacrifice anything. If He doesn't demand anything, people would treat Him even more like He's nothing. Many already do that.
God cannot suffer. He is a god. You are attributing human need, desire, want and the frailty and problems of ego and human limitation to a god, to perfection. It doesn't work that way; it's not correct or straight thinking. Perhaps OTLE can better explain it to you than I can.
Love is a two-way street, as they say. God's love is like a feedback loop....it is true that His unconditional love is always there for us to experience if we choose. The more we feel His love, the more we love Him, the more we feel His love.... You are right. It's important that we love Him. Otherwise, Jesus would not have given us the commandment to do so. Jesus said unto him, “‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ Matthew 22:37. Similar to the worship issue, it turns out to be very fruitful in many ways when we love Him.
Interesting perspective, Marvin. As we understand it, God does want a partnership with us. He's already 1000% in, so it's up to us to opt in as much as we want. It would never occur to me to say that God is like a zero. God is the all-in-all.
@@offTheLeftEye In Jesus's words as experienced by Anna Rountree: "The pursuer wants to be pursued also." I mean, He told her Himself. Of course God wants to receive as well. He wants to be valued. I also know by experience. There is a love that can give without expecting anything; that can happen if you don't really have a close relationship with the people you're giving. But I've seen that you can keep giving to the point that your value will decrease because you will be taken for granted. Doesn't this happen to God? It's why He uses suffering to bring people back to Him. When people suffer, they remember Him because they want help. When everything is going well, they forget God. And if you notice in the gospels, Jesus reserved the mysteries of the kingdom only for His disciples. He also said not to cast pearls to swine; I have seen this many times already how He is right. Because many claim to want answers to mysteries, but when they are given those answers, they reject them or they are not interested. So, does God give everything all the time? No. If He did, many of the things that are valuable would be slighted or despised.
@@carolynnorton9552 Doesn't Genesis 6:6 say that God was grieved in His heart? Love suffers the pain of rejection. Love includes vulnerability. Love also desires to be with the people that are loved. How does God have compassion and mercy if He does not have a heart that can be moved, touched and softened? How does God understand pain if He Himself doesn't suffer? Haven't you seen how people learn compassion by having experienced suffering themselves? Why does God weep for the people in hell? Because of their pain and the consequence of their rejection. Of course, you will not see His suffering facet all the time, but He does feel pain. You may think that a god does not suffer, but it depends on the heart of such god.
You are 100% wrong about this. God wants us to worship him, but it's not for him.He is holy on his own.It's for us so we know the God we serve. It's so we look upon holiness and understand what holiness actually is because if we don't look upon holiness we will keep becoming more and more depraved like humanity is becoming. God isn't here to make people happy.God is here to make humanity holy. Eventually our happiness will stem from abiding in holiness and in a relationship with Him.... His first priority for us is holiness.
Did you watch the video, Tressa? The title on this thumbnail is definitely somewhat agitating. But I don't think we're 100% on opposite sides of the topic. As you say, "God wants us to worship him, but it's not for him." That's our point. Worshiping God will put us in the right mindset for accessing the path to heaven, which in my view is the source/root of true happiness.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth..
I don’t get in to the show before the sermon labeled praise and worship. Don’t like singing.
To each his own, right, staller?
Sure but there is an opposing force you're forgetting there is a bad guy called the devil while you're in the sunshine and rainbows running around through daisies he's in the bushes with a machine gun waiting for the right time to fire. You get blinded by the light you forget there's a shadow that leaves you in the night.
We are in equilibrium between heaven/goodness and hell/evil, 1MNUTZ. May we all learn how to identify and reject "the bad guy."
@@offTheLeftEye In the old testament who is the wrathful jealous God ?
@@1MNUTZ
Micheal Heiser here on TH-cam has studied the old testament and helps us to understand it from the Jews point of view. The Jews thought there were 2 powers in heaven. Good and evil. Jesus taught a good tree cannot bring forth evil. If you have come across any history of ancient times you would understand that those times could be very evil. As far as wrath goes. Remember Jesus saying. Whatever is done unto you is done unto me. Also not how wrath coincides with harvests as in reaping what has been sown.
@@dw3403 i'm not sure if I follow what you are saying what's the definition of good fruit ? If you're successful ? You have a good job? A family with kids? If Jesus says whatever has been done to you has been to him what does that mean ? It's vague it could mean that he suffered the same or it could mean Jesus takes revenge for me ? Doesn't correlate with the Jesus of the new testament who blesses his enemies turns the other cheek and forgives 77 times
@@dw3403 if the god of the old testament claims he does not change and Jesus is the same God of the old testament then why would Jesus change from being Jealous wrathful eye for an eye into blessing your enemies turning the other cheek and forgiving 77 times.
Look up Marcion of Sinope he published the first record of the new testament canon books and he believed that the Father Jesus spoke of was completely different from the vengeful old testament deity "Yahweh"
Everyone like money for sure.
There's a lot of financial motivation in this world, for sure, gojohnnygo.
@@offTheLeftEye - Including churches of this world also.
Sheep and cattle don't fit in wallets.
@@dw3403 - Hundred of thousands of Churches across the land, preaching on the topic of a cheerful giver but look at the homeless and worst of all, look at the mansions and luxury cars and jet own by Christian preachers.
If one can't see, why bother to read the words of God, let alone teach them.
I pray that some churches are not in it for the money. My husband is a minister and money had no bearing on his life goals, gojohnny.
Hello, John Piper would teach exactly the opposite. God made us for worship and it is the best thing one could ever dream of, wondering, delighting, bathing, basking in God's glory! You really seem to miss the true Gospel and be led away by deceptive views and spirits. Especially not recognizing how a literal reading of Scripture is valid, right next to the spiritual readings that are so many, Genesis 1-11 is literal history and many New Testament writers teach that, like Jesus Himself, talking about literal people with literal events and vital consequences for all mankind down to this day. And more than that, you really seem to ignore and reject the fear of the Lord and the consuming fire, the wrath of the Lamb and the terrifying judgment coming. Consider such passages as Psalm 2, Rev. 2 and Acts among others where the Lord is described as frightening for the ungodly, killing unfaithful Church people, the passage in Acts validates a literal reading of Revelation 2, also 1 Cor. 11. Consider also what is said in Acts 1, Jesus never tells the disciples that there is no literal kingdom coming when they ask about it, after 40 days of teachings! Think of John the Baptist or Peter's fiery speeches where the soft-hearted Christians of Laodicea will turn away in fear and disgust if they still read them at all. Also think of Samuel's mother and Mary praying for quite frightening judgments and recognizing the hand of God in terrible events, just like Lamentations confirms it also. May God grant you the fear and awe part of reverence and love for God without losing the most tender aspects. Consider the goodness and severity of our God! Romans 11:22.
Not familiar with John Piper, raptusjulius. I guess we all have to follow God's leading in our heart to a faith that rings true for us. Blessings to you on your spiritual path.
@@offTheLeftEye Hello, does that mean that if God's severity does not resonate with you, it doesn't apply or is not even true? I know the Word is multilayered and that subjective realities are real and powerful and that God speaks and relates to us in a personal way, even creating an individual world for each of us to a certain extent but there is also the common and objective world that may well pop our personal bubbles and reveal God's different faces though He is one. Aren't there universal truths, indeed? Didn't Ananiah and Sapphira die and send shockwaves through the church? Let there be liht and may you grow n the knowledge of Christ who comes to reign as prophesied because prophesies are being fulfilled literally, left and right, these days. Read Zephaniah 2 and Obadiah and others about the war in Israel to understand this point, with the help of the Essenes and Church Fathers, God willing.
@@offTheLeftEye Hello again, John Piper is an evangelical darling as someone put it, his DesiringGod ministry channel has almost 1 million subscribers, he's closely related to John MacArthur who may be even more reknowned, having been on national TV many times and lately, fighting the state of California over covid oppression.
@@offTheLeftEye Are you part of the New Church, the Swedenborgian movement?
Thank you for sharing your strong faith, Raptusjulius. I do have a much more loving picture of God, like the one I had with my earthly father, who never got angry with me. I see that we can each have our own concept of God and how He interacts with His people. Thank you for the well wishes.
Julius Ceasar as every man.
J.C. was a tactical genius.
Haha, Will!
People who speak for God baffle me. As if you know what "god" thinks. You only know your perception. No ones else's. Certainly not god. This is arrogant absolutely. You talk of God as if it's a physical entity when it's a force.
Well, you can get an idea from studying the Bible, and of course note certain things that universally are recognized as positive. Among other things love, compassion, charity, etc etc.
Man was Gods thought at the lowest conscious awareness.
This awareness was to learn about God and mirror God's thought from the lowest to the highest awareness.
To see God at our level we would have to share the image of God by looking at God from all angles and points of view.
Each person shares his point of view so that a collective image is made.
The self cannot do this.
God got exasperated when Eve took over and created her own man.
So worship is not being distracted by self. It is the job of looking at God so that you can take on a little piece of God's image and join it to all the other pieces around you.
If someone is selfish, they hoard energy by stealing it from others and deprive them of their sustenance from God.
This is the crux.
If you shine and open up and display God. Others will take from you because they believe that the Messiah will do everything for them. They feel great and that one person dies because he is stripped of life.
Ring a bell. Jesus said in the crowd, who touched me.
Moses had to go back to God with new tablets.
So if I reflect God to others it is asking you to follow suit.
If I give, I flow away to others and do not return. The Hebrew word for death.
If I share by showing my connection, I invite you to share your connection.
This is where the church goes wrong.
Yes tdninternet. God does want us to know Him and have a relationship with Him.
Hoarding energy and credit for ourselves does hurt all of us Mark, yes.
Curtis here is speaking from the perspective of the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg (18th century), who claims to have been called to receive a further revelation about the nature of God, the Bible, the life after death. We do see God as Human, but a Divine Human, which is indeed the Force behind and the Source of everything.
This is ridiculous please repent or suffer consequences
We appreciate your concern for us. We do strongly support the practice of repentance. Blessings to you.
No one ever suffers in the afterlife. Hell is a choice evil people make. God is love. That is why He can't cast anyone into Hell. I hope you choose to read Swedenborg's "Heaven and Hell."
@@carolynnorton9552 that is not what the Holy Bible says.
@@carolynnorton9552 It is a book full of wonders, Carolyn! I am grateful to know many things about the afterlife as well. Thanks for recommending it
@@reginasmith-m8j It doesn't really matter what influences you to become a better person. Becoming a person with charity and goodness in your heart is the only thing God looks for. All sacred books point you in that direction. God is not in mind to cast you into Hell; it is your choice if all you can think of is to do evil. Good that you've read the Bible. Now, try "Heaven and Hell." May you find peace, and trust in God's eternal love for you, not some sort of wrath with which He has been so horribly maligned.