Some notable differences between NTI and what I lovingly refer to as the Old New Testament: The New Testament as we know it today has gone through many translations, and historically, even the earliest of books were written long after Jesus was in physical form. Each evangelist had his own particular focus on what he was writing since each one wrote for a different “audience.”
It also seems to me that what we call Christianity today is much more the religion of Paul rather than Jesus.
Anyway, the message many of us received was that we are broken, unworthy sinners and that God sent His Son to redeem us, even though we are not worth it, and we should be ever groveling grateful, and at the same time live in fear that God is going to get you.
All of this greatly conflicts with the Truth that God is Love, but since many of us have grown up in an atmosphere of fear, we are much more used to being afraid than being loved.
NTI brings us the message of the Holy Spirit which tells us over and over, WE ARE ONE. There is no separateness, therefore there is no sin (you did nothing wrong/you could not), therefore there is no guilt, therefore there is nothing to fear.
The Holy Spirit cannot fail in bringing you home.(Well, you already are home, so let me put it this way, The Holy Spirit cannot fail in convincing you that you never left home in the first place).
OK onto chap. 15
(1-9) 1 ...it is not what you do that is important, but why you do it.” see also Mt. 5(33-37); 23(25,26)
You might also want to check the index in the back under the topic of Guidance.
Very consoling thought. Many of us grew up with the mistaken notion that, “Hell is paved with good intentions.” That one screwed me up for a long time. There were many things I did with loving intentions that turned out pretty crappy, and because the results were not productive that seemed to negate any of the love that might have been involved.
This statement in Matthew corrects that false idea.
I was reminded of a quote from the early Christian mystic Augustine, “Love God and do as you please.” (Notice that the ego can run wild with that one, but if you sit with it in the quiet of your heart you can see that it is not saying, “Go ahead and do anything you damn well please.” It is saying, “Go ahead and do anything and everything from Love, which is God and all things.”
I still need to chew on that one for a while.
Added to our list of distinctions is a new one Eternal and temporal, that which exists forever and is unchangeable and that which exists within time and therefore is changing all the time.
The temporal is not bad, we are simply cautioned not to become attached to it or make it more important than it is.
(If you are interested in following the story of the Canaanite woman, you can read the original in the Old New Testament Mt. 15; 21-28 and Mark 7 24-30, AND you can also check out a more detailed story in NTI Mark 7(24-30).
The continuing message through out the chapter is to focus on the Spirit, focus on the eternal, that which never changes, and the last paragraph is also quiet consoling (29-39).
I Believe when the Spirit speaks of focusing on Him, He is also saying, “Focus on Love.”
There were a couple of times during our reading when I was reminded of that beautiful prayer of Thomas Merton in Thoughts in Solitude:
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Next week, Chap. 16ff
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