There is no time more spiritually perilous than when you get what you want. In bad times you can more easily turn to God as the world is not offering you anything, but when the world does offer you something, whether that be money, fame, power or even the kind of political success that you believe will make the world a better place, then you need to watch out.
Religion exists to point us to the spiritual. The spiritual, by definition, is not the material even if you say that ultimately all is one. Ultimately, all is one, no doubt, but there is nothing ultimate about our life in a body in this world. Here, there very definitely is a split between the spiritual and the material. We have both within us, and when I say within I do mean that because thought, in the normal sense, is material even if it only exists because of the spiritual. It is possible because we are spiritual beings but in itself it is based on material processes and is incapable of discerning spiritual reality so it belongs to the material world. Thus, we have both the spiritual and the material within us but we are called to overcome the material and submit it to the spiritual, which means the spiritual on its own terms not as it may be viewed or interpreted by the material component of our being.
All true spiritual teachings tell us to renounce this world. Heaven is not here and is not meant to be here so political triumphs will never bring it about. Wasn't that Judas Iscariot's mistake? He thought Jesus was here to defeat the Romans and restore a Jewish kingdom in this world, but Jesus said that his followers would be hated by the world. He didn't say they would be hated by this world or that world but by the world meaning any kind of worldly society. That is because those that follow Jesus see that nothing in this world can lead to eternal life. The very nature of the world is against that, despite its many beauties.
To say there is no hope in this world does not mean there is no hope. In fact, it means just the opposite. There is great hope, wonderful cause for hope, but it is in heaven not here. If you get what you want you can become satisfied or content, but that means that your motivation for finding the true path to heaven is weakened.
So, when things seem to be going your way, be careful. It is hard for the rich to get to heaven, and riches are not just monetary.
4 comments:
Good post.
Historically, you seem obviously right - in that prosperity, comfort, convenience etc sees to be clearly associated with apostasy - and vice versa... It is not a coincidence that the last Christian revival in the UK was during WWII.
However, from where we now are, it seems that poverty, discomfort, suffering etc do Not lead to religion as they used to; but instead to a kind of ultra-selfish, live-for-today, attitude.
I conclude - as we so often find - that the way out must be forward to something new and unprecedented - not back to anything which used to be the case.
It could be that the level of suffering is still relatively low or else it could be that the degree of corruption is so high.
Beautifully said.
Many will be the excuses (well that may have been good enough for people in the past but WE certainly can't be expected to be uncomfortable, or - yes Jesus said you should give up your wealth but he couldn't possibly have REALLY meant that it's simply too crazy, you just have to use your wealth correctly, etc, etc).
Man's ingenuity is limitless when he doesn't want to face an uncomfortable truth.
But I'm more and more convinced you can't be religious without being uncomfortable and radical and being thought "crazy" by the comfortable bourgeois mass.
The funny thing is - we humans are so terrified of giving up our comforts and security but it is actually exhilarating and brings the joy of God. We just don't know this and are fearful. Each one of must discover this for ourselves.
That's why Jesus said his yoke is light even as he describes it as a "cross" - yet how can a cross, which is pain and suffering, be light? And yet anyone who tries giving up the "world" discovers that it is exactly so, a light and joyous thing despite its fearsome outer aspect.
But it's difficult.
I do hope in this coming age we will be seeing more and more people taking a more courageous and radical path in religion, which will inspire lazy asses such as myself to follow them better.
There is no proper religion without sacrifice. The very word means to make holy. But nowadays too many people want the spiritual and the material together which really means the spiritual on their own terms.
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