Can we pray for the dead?

I am sure many read the title to this post and immediately had a response to the question being asked. One’s individual response was most likely relevant to our denominational upbringing, or current beliefs. Some Christian groups or denominations have issues with the idea of praying for those who have passed on, and some do not. In this post, I am not going to discuss the theological foundation for any arguments whether in favor or opposing. However, I will share my own belief and argument, which has changed somewhat over time. I will ask the main the question I have asked myself with relevance to the subject.

Here is the question I ask. Is God affected or governed by time? My response is that I think God is outside of the time continuum and unaffected by time. So, yes, I believe one can pray for those who have passed on. If we do decide to pray, we may be praying for them, even if years later, during the time when they were still alive on Earth, and God can still answer the prayers during that time and our time. Past, present, or future most likely have all already taken place in the mind of God. The foregoing idea just may be my own slightly radical theological view but take it or leave it. I will share some New Testament texts that may or may not be relevant.

Jesus prayed after four days for a close friend who passed away and was buried, and his friend woke up (resurrected). Read the Gospel according to John 11: 1 to 44 to get the whole story. The Gospel of Matthew 27: 50-53 makes some interesting reading, as well. Allow me to share it?

50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.[a] 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many (NRSV, Bible).

The foregoing verses may seem to not be related to praying for the dead, but they do seem make the point that death is seemingly not a major obstacle for God, if one believes of course. Now, doubt and disbelief are an entirely different subject not discussed in this post, but not ignored in others. I just wanted to make a quick post to make us think on this subject. Blessings

 

 

 

Reference:

NRSV, Bible.

On the deep meaning of Christmas Carols

Christmas comes around every year. Every year can sometimes become a bit of a repetitive routine. We do the same things such as the decorations, Christmas trees, gifts, and so on. We tend to also hear the same music and carols repeatedly, again and again. Sometimes, we probably do not even focus on the depth and meaning of some of those carols. A perfect example of this is probably in the words of Edmund Hamilton Sears from 1849 in one of those carols which read as follows:

It came upon the midnight clear,

that glorious song of old,

from angels bending near the earth

to touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, good will to men,

from heaven's all-gracious King."

The world in solemn stillness lay,

to hear the angels sing.

 

Still through the cloven skies they come

with peaceful wings unfurled,

and still their heavenly music floats

o'er all the weary world;

above its sad and lowly plains,

they bend on hovering wing,

and ever o'er its Babel sounds

the blessed angels sing.

 

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,

whose forms are bending low,

who toil along the climbing way

with painful steps and slow,

look now! for glad and golden hours

come swiftly on the wing.

O rest beside the weary road,

and hear the angels sing!

 

For lo! the days are hastening on,

by prophet seen of old,

when with the ever-circling years

shall come the time foretold

when peace shall over all the earth

its ancient splendors fling,

and the whole world send back the song

which now the angels sing.

 

 

Hope you understood my point…lol. Merry Christmas!

 

 

References:

https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/it_came_upon_the_midnight_clear.htm

https://hymnary.org/person/Sears_EH

 

Words: Edmund Hamilton Sears, in the Christian Register (Boston, Massachusetts: December 29, 1849), Vol. 28, #52, p. 206.

Afterwards published in Sermons and Songs, 1875, 5 stanzas of 8 lines.

Source: Edmund H. Sears, Sermons and Songs of the Christian Life (Boston: Noyes, Holmes, and Company, 1875), pp. 17-18.

Higher power intervention?

Higher power: a spirit or being (such as God) that has great power, strength, knowledge, etc., and that can affect nature and the lives of people belief in a higher power (Merriam-Webster).

 

When I studied theology, I recall that some of the first readings we had before Old Testament Studies were from the Ancient Near East. For examples, Sumerian and Babylonian texts. Sure enough, Sumerian texts (Cuneiform) predate Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) texts, so it should not be unusual as a precursor. Indeed, Sumerian is the oldest known written language. I am sure Irving Finkel at the British Museum could fill us in on this stuff way better than I could. An extremely important note, however, is that only ten percent of the Sumerian tablets found have been translated. This post title may seem vague because there is a question mark after the phrase higher power intervention.

I obviously provided the common definition for higher power at the beginning of this post. The Enuma Elish , the Sumerian Creation Story, does say that gods who looked like humans ruled over Earth and came here from elsewhere. One can say they were a higher power which intervened here on Earth. Similarly, many other ancient texts all around the world such as the Bible are based on the belief in a Higher Power. The reason for the existence of many religions all over the world is also simply based on this belief. In the present day we do not see with physical eyes any gods that look human which we could call a Higher Power. Moreover, we cannot prove that they exist in an invisible form either. However, the fact that a Higher Power can intervene and affect nature and the lives of people also cannot be disproved. The foregoing raises many questions which probably cannot be answered easily.

I am not going to sit here and ask hundreds of relevant questions which I cannot answer. I will say that I would not be surprised if a Higher Power did manifest itself on our planet anytime soon. Why would I not be surprised? With so many ancient texts making claims to their existence, there obviously must be something there. Jesus spoke of the coming of the Son of Man. The Gospel according to Luke 21:25-27 reads as follows:

‘” There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory (NRSV).”’

Many people believe the foregoing text. To conclude, do not be surprised if one day a Higher Power like Jesus himself shows up on our planet and intervenes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Bible, New Revised Standard Version

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/higher%20power

On pride

Pride goeth before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.


- Proverbs 16: 18, JPS Tanakh 1917

On securing one's life

Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.

- Jesus





Source:

Gospel of Luke 17:33, New Revised Standard Version

Real empathy

On social media these days just about anything may be found. Social media is great for keeping us in touch with many all around the world. Just about any type of information may also be found there. Lately, many on there seem to think they are empaths. Wow! That is a loaded word. But many out there do seem to think they are empaths and seem to believe that they have more empathy than anyone. Somehow, I do not think people are really understanding what an empath really is, however. An empath is really a word more relevant to science fiction. In sci-fi an empath is a person that experiences or can strongly perceive the emotional and mental state of others. Of course, this is in a paranormal sort of way. Truthfully, many are confusing it for something completely different. The thing is many seem to think they are beyond good, and this might be a little concerning. Even Jesus said only God is good when someone called him good. I will try to explain my argument.

Many love to say that Jesus quote "love your neighbor.” Some might say something like, oh, you do not love your neighbor, for example. The reality is that love your neighbor is only half the quote. The full quote is about loving your neighbor as yourself. The thing is that it seems many want to follow about 1% of things Jesus may have said and ignore the other 99%. For instance, Jesus said take up your cross and follow me. Jesus even told one rich young man to sell all his possessions and give the money to poor, and he would have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:16-30). By the way, the young man walked away realizing he probably had little empathy. When one sees empathy with a different lens, the number of those who have real empathy seems to diminish. However, there are and have been real empaths throughout history, many who gave themselves for others selflessly.

Do you want to know who was a person with great empathy? Well, Mother Teresa was highly likely one. If you do not know her biography, I recommend that you pick up a copy of it. I am without a doubt convinced that you would agree with me.

Do you think you have great empathy? If you do, I recommend you do something about that calling. Serving others may be what you should be doing. Now, if you are judging others that you feel do not love their neighbor more than you, it is possible that you are just judgmental. Moreover, I hope you have not confused being judgmental for being an empath (a predominantly sci-fi term). If the shoe fits wear it, but please do not assume I am the one being judgmental for writing this piece. I just wanted to clarify what seems to be an error in our current society by explaining my view from a theological perspective. Also, I am done here. Peace, love, and blessings!

Can one chapter from a letter be insightful enough?

Imagine that you were someone who grew up on an island somewhere isolated from much of the world most of your life. You could read because you had been taught. You had heard Christianity was a religion but knew nothing about it. You just knew that Christianity was old. If you were able to read the first chapter of what is perhaps one of the oldest text from the New Testament, do you think that it alone might give you a good understanding of Christianity? Personally, I think it would certainly give one plenty of insight; however, it may also leave one with a whole lot of questions. Why don’t you give it a try using the same perspective I introduced in my opening? The text is the following.

 

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example

2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters[a] beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9 For the people of those regions[b] report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Gk brothers

1 Thessalonians 1:9 Gk For they

            New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

 

 

Reference:

Holy Bible, First Epistle to the Thessalonians (NRSV)