https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jHsq36_NTU#t=12
For Harry...
When I was a boy in grade school, I was taught that the planets revolve around the sun- and so they do. However, as the second of the two pictures above points out, the Sun is also moving and so the concept of a Vortex is quite valid and technically, I suppose, more accurate than the old Heliocentric model. However, even though I find the Vortex concept to be a better understanding, I take issue with the concept of the Sun being like a comet. Sol does not exist by itself in the universe, but rather is part of a grander scheme of galaxies, local groups of galaxies, etc.. What is really important here is our thinking. Are we so "old school" that we cannot conceive of previously learned concepts in new ways (even if we have more than a few years under our belt)?...
Now, it is a good thing to rethink the things previously taught us, but, what about the practical lessons of life? You know, the day to day stuff- how we live, how we think and what do we actually do because of these two things. I probably shouldn't have, but nevertheless, I chose the title for today's post "Heliocentric Vortex Theology". Why? Because these words describe my thinking about the practical application of that subtle change in thinking from the Heliocentric to the vortex in regards to thinking about God and then applying that to our ordinary life. Lets begin with to seemingly unrelated passages from the Scriptures...
Matthew 5:1-16 NASB
(1) When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
(2) He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
(3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(5) "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
(6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
(7) "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(8) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(9) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(10) "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11) "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
(12) "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(13) "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
(14) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
(15) nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
(16) "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(1) When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
(2) He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
(3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(5) "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
(6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
(7) "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(8) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(9) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(10) "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11) "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
(12) "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(13) "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
(14) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
(15) nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
(16) "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
And
2 Peter 1:1-8 NASB
(1) Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
(3) seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
(4) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
(5) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
(6) and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
(7) and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
(8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1) Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
(3) seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
(4) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
(5) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
(6) and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
(7) and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
(8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus and Peter; two very different individuals!!! First, the passage from Jesus' "Sermon on the mount". Please notice the progression within the "Beatitudes". First his "Blessed" statements concern themselves with our thinking about ourselves and progress to our relationship with God, to others and finally the results of those things. So, the one who follows Jesus would change the focus of their life (one dimensional - everything is about me) to a more inclusive perspective (What would God [and of course, Jesus] wish me to do for him?). Secondly, Peter's writing. Notice, that everything pertaining to life and godliness is though the true knowledge of HIM who called us. That would be God and his prophet, priest and king- Jesus. Specifically, though his words- and that would include the "Beatitudes". Applying them would have been something Peter would have called discipleship.
The point of this entire post is that of change. Change from thinking as the world does, with its emphasis on self-gratification to discipleship of the God of Heaven. If we are willing to do this, then our lives will be enriched, empowered and molded by Jesus. Also, the words of growth penned by Peter will transform our brief existence into something wonderful. It is like our view of the Solar System changing from a Heliocentric to a Vortex concept, but applied to the Almighty. And that is life-changing!!!! You could almost call it a theology- Wait, I did that!!!