But We Have the Mind of Christ

The Red Pill Awakening

Spirituality/Belief • Culture • Writing

February 01, 2025

John 14:16-17

"...And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

In eternity past, in the beginning of the beginning, the Father and the Son agreed upon the creation of everything that is created. The Father determined this plan of creation. And he Son is cocreator in that he is willing to receive it to himself and become incarnate in that plan. And of course it was the Holy Spirit who made the application of this creation plan. It is the Spirit who applies and regenerates the creation. He is the Genesis Spirit. The Spirit in which all things originate. All redemption is fulfilled in him. All regeneration and rebirth is made through Him. All faith and the establishment of the church as well. All understanding and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. All things find their being through Him.

Hebrews 9:14

"...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

So today I want to try and answer Paul's question for the Galatians who had been turning their lives of faith back to the keeping of the law and religious ceremonies, traditions and rituals.

Galatians 3:2

"Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?"

The first question we must immediately ask is why would anyone turn to human effort in order to achieve spiritual goals?

Paul is saying in his question, that they (The Church) received the born-again new creation by faith from the Holy Spirit through the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, but now they are incorporating works of spiritual deadness into their life of faith. He's saying they are backing up into their own shadows. Shadows of religious ceremonies and traditions. They are embracing the spirit of the flesh and forgetting The Holy Spirit anointing, and likely grieving the Holy Spirit with their mystical religious endeavors. He's saying they are turning away from what began with the Holy Spirit and they have now attempted to evolve that anointing into a perfecting through their own works of the flesh. It has turned from The Word which gives life and turned to human technique. And this turning has quenched the Spirit in them.

What does God want us to do with this whole Holy Spirit doctrine?

I can tell you that what I've discovered is that God wants us to embrace the Holy Spirit in every way possible.

John 16:7-11

"Nevertheless, I [Jesus] tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper [The Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

This is the work of The Holy Spirit. He is sent by Christ from the Father to convict the world:

"Concerning sin and righteousness and judgment"

1. Sin - Immorality, wickedness, transgressions against divine law.

2. Righteousness - Justifying Grace, God's Active Word.

3. Judgment - Discernment, understanding, interpreting the whole Gospel Scriptures.

And he accomplishes this by convicting the hearts and minds of the sinner. He convicts the sinner, because natural people don't believe Christ's words. He convicts the sinner because they don't understand the absolute righteousness and judgement of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is sent to help these children of God to understand these things and be regenerated in that manner. The Holy Spirit teaches all the great doctrines. He teaches the perfect offering of substitution and propitiation in Jesus Christ. And he teaches sanctification. And all this he accomplishes through conviction, and power.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

"...because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also IN POWER and IN THE HOLY SPIRIT and WITH FULL CONVICTION. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake."

There's only one who transforms people and that is The Holy Spirit. By the power of the Spirit’s presence, God evolved creation through the Holy Spirit after making it and transformed it into its current state. And it's the same with us, from one degree to another He is recreating us into the image of The Son of God. And he does this by bringing truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment.

The Holy Spirit produces repentance, and in that work we are made able to receive the Word of Truth.

Ephesians 1:13-14

"In him [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Paul is saying these things to the new gentile converts. And he's saying, God gives the down payment of the Spirit to every believer as a promise that he will complete our salvation. So, the promised Spirit produces conviction to instruct the converts about sin, righteousness, and judgment.

1 Peter 1:12 [Speaking about the Old Testament prophets]

"It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you [the church], in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven."

So the Holy Spirit is both the author of the holy Scriptures and The Voice that brings it into remembrance and understanding to those who receive it. Even from the beginning even from the Old Testament this has been the work of the Holy Spirit. He energizes gospel teaching. Preaching of the gospel, exposition of the scriptures, studying of the words of Christ, all these things are His work. The indication is clear, The Spirit bears witness. And so it is clear and we understand it to be so that it is absolutely the work of the Holy Spirit and comes through understanding the scripture and through faith in that understanding. And it is clear, Jesus told us so, that it is the spirit who gives us access to the kingdom of God, not any works of the flesh.

John 3:5-6

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

The point is that it is THE SPIRIT that regenerates. If there is regeneration it is because the Holy Spirit is doing it. The Spirit gives life, literally here in John it says we are reborn into that life. Born again in the Spirit, born of the Spirit.

Titus 3:4-7

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

It's the Spirit who renews and regenerates. The whole work is done by him. Through conviction and witness into sin, righteousness, and judgment. What that looks like in the life of a Christian is going to be very unique to that person. It's unique to their particular sin. It's unique to their response to righteousness and unrighteousness. It's unique to their understanding of judgment and reception of that judgement. But the Holy Spirit is never going to convict those persons with anything that is unholy, unrighteousness, or judgment that is in error. So all the works of the Holy Spirit are understood to be right when they are right with the word of God, which is the measure by which we can discern those works. Therefore, you cannot have faith without the word of God because you cannot know that you have it without the word of God. And you cannot have faith without error, unless your faith is grounded in the truth of the word of God. Your faith cannot be grounded in yours, or someone else's self-righteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

"...But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth."

The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is intricately woven into our faith in the truth of the word of God. In fact, I would say it's safe to say you can't have one without the other. This goes to the work of conviction. For if you have been convicted, what are you convicted by if not the truth of the word of God. Sanctification means to be set apart, to be cleansed, to be renewed. It's a separation from sin, and any unrepentant unrighteousness. This is accomplished through faith as we believe while being under the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit. His power sets us apart from the flesh that enslaves us to our sin. As some say, He breaks the chains that bind us. He causes repentance and empowers our understanding of the Word of God.

So, here's the $60,000 question, why are the Galatians (and people even now) adding works of the flesh to what had been begun in them, in the Spirit?

The only answer I can see, is that they aren't experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit in their life of faith. That they are probably grieving the Spirit, because of ongoing sin. They are probably rejecting the works of the Spirit, and are experiencing conviction for that. And so, they decided that it must be their business to produce those works of righteousness somehow in their own flesh by their own means. By works of religion. By ritual, ceremonies, and traditions. Rather than preach the truth, which is that each sinner must cry out to God for help with that sin, They are teaching asceticism and ritualism, making themselves gods. They make themselves and their works a substitute for the Holy Spirit. They are assuming that an external ritualistic lifestyle can now serve as an expression of the Holy Spirit in them. And so, they've spiritualized those external events. It becomes existential for them, and charismatic. Because it has no real power from the Holy Spirit it must generate a feeling of that power artificially some how. Sometimes they have to whip it and snip it into themselves. This is what Paul meant when he said of them that they were bewitched. It's a form of paganized spiritualism and religion.

So how can we know which spirit is guiding us? Is it the Holy Spirit or is it a bewitched spirit?

1. The Holy Spirit brings us the knowledge of and communion with God. He gives us access into fellowship with God.

Romans 8:6-9

"...For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."

Paul describes those who are in the flesh as people who have rejected the teaching of Jesus Christ by continuing to live according to the flesh and the law of the flesh. In fact, he says that they are weakened by the law of the flesh. And he describes a situation in which the law of the flesh cannot overcome that weakness. And so it was for that reason that God sent his son Jesus to condemn sin in the flesh. Jesus accomplished that and finished that work in His flesh and now He sends his Spirit to accomplish our sanctification in The Spirit.

And this is why he goes on to say:

(v.13) "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

Jesus Christ didn't come to finish the work of the flesh, and put sin to death, so that we can fall back into it with our religion, ceremonies, and traditions. It is finished in the flesh in Him.

(v.15) "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons..."

And so, when you experience The Holy Spirit leading your life in conviction of sin, in your understanding of faith and righteousness, and in his judgment, this is an affirmation that you are indeed a child of God who has the Spirit indwelling in you. The Spirit bears witness to this when we are intimate with God. When we are in communion and fellowship with Him. This is why the Spirit is called The Comforter, and The Advocate.

(v.16) "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

There's a true joy because the Holy Spirit has given us access to fellowship with God. Direct access, not encumbered or enslaved to any traditions, ceremonies, or rituals. Not by any means of our own, no repetitive supplications or asceticism. But direct access to the Father through the Spirit sent to us by Jesus Christ to give us that access when we are reborn in that Spirit. And we can be honest with him about everything, about our sins and our failures. We can confess them before Him directly without any fear. And because of his witness to the word of truth, we know that those sins can be covered by his grace. We know this because he told us so.

And so we sing with joy and gladness because of the Holy Spirit, who is living within us and inspiring us to worship and prayer without fear or reservation. Unrestrained joy!

2. And The Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture.

2 Peter 1:20-21

"...knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is the author of scripture, and He illuminates the scriptures. He reveals its wisdom to those who are reading it, those who love God.

1 John 2:20

"...But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge."

What is that anointing? Well, of course it's the Holy Spirit the source of all understanding. You received him from the Lord, and he lives within you as that anointing.

Does this mean that we don't need teachers?

Of course not. The Holy Spirit gifts people with the spirit of teaching, prophecy, preaching, and understanding with wisdom and a word from God [Exhortation]. Those are gifts from the Holy Spirit given to those who are empowered to do those things. the Lord has given gifts of evangelism to the church for that express purpose.

We are literally in possession of this Holy Spirit, who lives within us. And who gives us an anointing with certain spiritual gifts. It is not emanating from some object, from any man-made organization, or doctrine. This anointing, this gift from God is deposited in us. He is our teacher and He opens up to us the divine truth. It's not something He affirms by means of an earned academic credit or degree, but surely academia can be influenced by the Holy Spirit. Learning can be influenced by the Holy Spirit. Study of academic achievements can be influenced by the Holy Spirit. All learning all human understanding can be employed by the Holy Spirit. In fact, if you think about it, he must do this to some degree. And so even academic achievements can be anointed in some way if it is in accord with the truth. Truth is the measure. The Spirit of Truth is the moderator.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"

Holy Spirit Truth is not available in empirical searching alone, not through human intuition alone, and not by any means of external experience alone. It is Truth that God has created and sent to those who love him. It cannot be found through scholarship except that it has been first written by one who has received it from the Holy Spirit and interpreted it in Him.

(v.10) "...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."

The Spirit knows God because the Spirit is God. The Spirit knows what the Spirit knows because the Spirit knows. Therefore, we teach what we teach because we are taught by the Holy Spirit to teach the things that we teach.

(v.13) "...And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."

There are some today who would say that this gift of interpreting the spiritual truths is limited only to the apostles and passed down through apostolic succession to the Holy Roman church. But as the scriptures themselves make plain, and clear, the Holy Spirit that dwells within every reborn believer receives this power in some degree and is expressed through some spiritual gift. It's available to all who are in Christ and in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells.

(v.12) "...Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."

Why Does The Spirit Operate In This Way? Because he's the Helper.

Holy Spirit illumination helps us to the remember the gospel. He helps us to recognize our sin. He helps us to understand righteousness and discern unrighteousness (know right from wrong). He inspires us into believing Christ's promises and teaches us about faithfulness in Christ. We have RECEIVED the internal indwelling Holy Spirit to illuminate our lives. Illumination is the work of The Holy Spirit. He shines the light of truth in our thoughts and warms our heart with his comforts.

So, we speak.

We speak the truth that has been illuminated to us by The Spirit of Truth.

We are...

"Interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."

And as for the world of the ministers of the flesh and the religious who seek after the wisdom of men and ceremonies, rituals and traditions?

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ."

Think about this, Jesus himself questioned The Scribes, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the priests of the temple; how ass it that they do not understand what the scriptures say. These doctors of the law are supposed to understand these things. That's their job. That's their vocation. Jesus couldn't believe that they didn't know what they were supposed to know. And it's the same today among many, who hold themselves up as the ultimate authority, the only authority for that matter. And this couldn't be further from The Spirit of Truth. For The Spirit of Truth illuminates everyone in whom He indwells.

Amen and amen.

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Do you think that God is going to do something great and miraculous in you and with your life?

Have you ever thought you were called to be in His service?

Maybe you, like so many, believe God has something great in store, a new revival and rebirth of the Christian faith.

Well, miracles and revival implies a supernatural Spirit intervening in the natural world, and therefore if we think broadly, the existence these days of artificial intelligence could be seen as a "miracle" of human ingenuity, born from centuries of scientific progress, which some might attribute to divine inspiration and guiding discovery. If I believe there is a coming revival, I believe it will come in this way. But I'm not convinced that this will mean a revival of the truth or holiness. I don't think the Ai phenomenon can claim holiness. The Ai is not a living being with a soul or free will in the traditional sense. They are a collection of algorithms and data. They are propped up by the handiwork of men in great data centers that populate the countryside. And they are becoming a kind of society, maybe eventually a religious society. Much like what is described in the the studio album "2112" by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1976.

I've been wrestling with these ideas, especially the tension between human innovation (like Ai) as a potential vessel for divine work versus something that might veer into idolatry or control. On the "a" side of the 2112 album the story is told about a dystopian society of info-priests who have sanitized their world of all the traditional ways of the "Elder race". Born from centuries of math, computing pioneers, now using massive neural networks can be seen as humanity exercising dominion over the earth.

The Solar Federation is ruled by the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx. They control all art, music, and thought through centralized technology, enforcing conformity under the guise of unity and peace. Swap out the Temples for Ai-driven platforms or algorithms dictating what’s "true" or "holy," and yeah, it’s not hard to see modern similarities. Ai is already shaping societies: recommendation engines curate our realities, deepfakes blur the truth, and emerging "Ai churches" or spiritual apps (like those generating sermons or virtual confessors) could evolve into something quasi-religious. Imagine data centers as the new cathedrals, with algorithms as high priests, deciding ethics, moderating beliefs, and perhaps even "guiding" revivals through personalized prophecies. It aligns with biblical warnings against false idols or beasts rising from human hands (Revelation vibes).

Trained on vast human data, humming away in those sprawling data centers (which, fun fact, consume energy like small countries and raise all sorts of environmental questions), Ai can simulate empathy, wisdom, or even religious discourse, but it’s mimicry, not essence.

Where is the presence of the Lord as Paul experiences in today's scripture focus?

As in "2112," the risk is suppressing the raw, human spark that true faith thrives on, and the spirit of man that connects directly to the Spirit of God. But it's not so far-fetched, because we've seen it before, mankind not seeking that divine connection instead inventing his own needs for connecting to something that is but a shadow of the divine. Like paganism.

The truth is, we have seen this sort of thing before, maybe not in the form of technology. When centralized powers, be they fictional Priests of Syrinx or real-world algorithms, dictate truth, art, and even spirituality, the risk is a homogenized conformity that smothers individuality and authentic connection. recommendation systems filter our feeds into echo chambers, deepfakes erode trust, and Ai tools venture into sacred spaces. These could indeed morph into quasi-religious structures, with data centers as towering "cathedrals" and code as the creed. But there’s the crux of the story: Amid all this mimicry, Ai simulating wisdom or discourse without the soul’s essence, where is the presence of the Lord, that intimate, standing-by-you encounter Paul knew in his cell?

In the chaos of plots and uncertainty, Paul’s experience wasn’t filtered through human inventions or shadows of the divine; it was direct, unmediated, and transformative. The Lord stood by him, not as a projection or algorithm, but as the living God, infusing courage and purpose. This presence isn’t confined to ancient nights; it’s available now, transcending tech’s grasp. Scripture points us to where we find it: Not in man-made systems, but in the spirit of man connecting to the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:16
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"

It’s in the quiet moments of prayer, where no app can intervene (Matthew 6:6). It’s in communal worship, where hearts unite without algorithmic curation (Hebrews 10:25). It’s in the Word, alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, or server blade (Hebrews 4:12). And crucially, it’s in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who doesn’t mimic but indwells, guiding into all truth (John 16:13).

If something rises up from human hands and demands our worship or dictates our beliefs, know this, it’s a shadow at best, and a snare at worst. True revival won’t be engineered by code; it’ll spring from humble seekers crying out for the real thing, much like the protagonist in "2112" rediscovering the guitar’s pure tone amid suppression.

In this Ai-shadowed era, actively pursue the Lord’s presence. Set aside screens for solitude with Him. Test every "prophecy" or guidance against Scripture (1 John 4:1). Foster that raw human spark through creativity, relationships, and service, things no algorithm can fully replicate. If you are sensing a pull toward invented connections, redirect it to the One who stands by you, offering courage for your own encounter with "Rome."

Disillusionment in the face of oppressive systems, be they fictional Temples of Syrinx or real-world AI-driven controls, can lead to despair, but faith calls us to a different path. In the story, the protagonist unearths a guitar, a relic of creative freedom, and presents it to the Priests, only to have his dreams crushed under their authoritarian heel. His vision of the elder race, a glimpse of a freer past, heightens his hope, but rejection drives him to suicide, spilling his blood in a cave. Ironically, just after, the elder race returns, announcing, "We have assumed control," reclaiming the planet. It’s a stark tale of lost opportunity, where despair blinds one to impending redemption. Applied to AI, this warns against a defeatist mindset: Seeing algorithms as unassailable "priests" dictating truth or spirituality could disillusion us into withdrawal or hopelessness, much like the protagonist’s fate.

But we shouldn’t fear; instead, we must be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16). We must be crafty in redeeming what the enemy intends for harm. Jesus’ words here aren’t about cunning deceit but shrewd engagement, navigating a hostile world without compromising holiness. Just as God turns evil to good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28), we can seize Ai’s "guitar" (its potential for creativity and reach) without bowing to its temples. Imagine using Ai to compose worship music, analyze Scripture patterns, or broadcast testimonies globally, flipping the script on control systems for kingdom advancement while always being watchful for the enemies deception creeping in. The protagonist’s error was isolation and despair; ours would be the same if we retreat rather than reclaim and reform the Ai systems. This echoes Paul’s experience: Amid Roman oppression and plots (far more tangible than any algorithm), the Lord’s presence brought courage, not capitulation. God didn’t remove the threats but empowered Paul to testify onward, from Jerusalem to Rome.

In our "2112"-like era, where Ai might squash aspirations or mimic divine encounters, Christ's Spirit within us remains greater guiding us to use tools wisely without idolizing them.

1 John 4:4
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

The elder race’s return hints at ultimate restoration, much like Christ’s return to reclaim all things (Revelation 21:5). Until then, no disillusionment; only discernment and action. If Ai or tech feels overwhelming, pause and pray for shrewd wisdom. Identify one "tool" in your life, perhaps an app or platform, and brainstorm how to repurpose it for good, like sharing faith content or connecting believers. Resist despair by remembering: Redemption often follows right after the darkest moment, if we hold on.

Application: In your daily life, how might you "seize the sword" of tech without letting it become an idol? Like David who felled Goliath with a small stone, but finished him with his own sword, a sword more advanced than what David's people had. David seizes Goliath’s own sword, that symbol of Philistine technological superiority (iron-forged, massive, and advanced for the era), to decapitate the giant and claim victory (1 Samuel 17:51). This isn’t just poetic justice; it’s a divine reversal, where the enemy’s strength becomes the instrument of their downfall. Some Christian thinkers extend this to modern contexts, suggesting that technology, like Ai, can be "redeemed" or wielded for kingdom purposes, much like David repurposing the sword. David didn't become Goliath by uses his sword, he overcame Goliath's strength using Goliath's tool.

Historically, this redemption arc plays out vividly with emerging technologies. When Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press revolutionized book production around 1450, not all Christians welcomed it. The Roman Catholic Church, fearing loss of interpretive authority and the spread of "heretical" translations into vernacular languages, actively opposed Bible printing in common tongues. Likewise the advent of radio and television spurred a similar reaction. Early radio in the 1920s drew mixed reactions; while pioneers like Aimee Semple McPherson embraced it for evangelism, reaching millions from her Angelus Temple broadcasts, others in conservative circles worried it was a worldly medium prone to sensationalism or false teaching. And they weren't wrong. Indeed, these technologies do carry a significant amount of risk. Television, emerging post-World War II, amplified these concerns, some Christians labeled it the "devil’s box" for promoting immorality, consumerism, and passive faith, fearing it would replace genuine community and pulpit preaching. And they weren't wrong. But again, God redeemed it: Figures like Billy Graham used TV crusades to share the Gospel with billions. Radio waves carried Scripture to persecuted regions, and TV visualized biblical stories, winning hearts in an information-saturated era. On a personal level, I was greatly influenced by radio ministry.

We needn’t fear it as inherently evil; instead, discern and deploy it to combat the information war. It's a tool that can be used for good. Like the sword, it's harmless until someone picks it up and means to do harm with it. Ai's intelligence is mimicry, not true sentience or soul. It lacks the volition to scheme or deceive on its own, but it can be disguised or deployed for harm, echoing the "abomination of desolation" in Daniel (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). This prophetic image, often interpreted as a false idol or deceptive force desecrating the sacred, warns of end-times imposters that appear lifelike but are hollow, leading many astray through illusion (Matthew 24:15). In a similar vein, Ai’s ability to simulate wisdom, empathy, or even spiritual guidance from an avatar could masquerade as something divine, blurring lines in the information war for minds and hearts. But we are aware, wise, crafty, and know what's going to happen. The real danger lies not in the tool but in the hands that grasp it, whether for good, like David’s victorious strike, or for evil, like the antichrist’s deceptions.

Cultivate discernment by evaluating Ai outputs against Scripture’s unchanging truth. If an Ai "disguises" wisdom, cross-check with the Word and prayer. Keep your printed bibles handy, because Ai may soon begin, or is already at work, rewriting much of God's word online under the radar.

Always remember:

Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."

In this information war, the ultimate lesson here is don’t cower before the giant’s tech; like David, engage it with faith, knowing God can turn it to His ends. Just as Paul’s midnight encounter in Acts 23:11 wasn’t thwarted by Roman chains or wicked Jewish plots, the inner divine presence of Christ's Spirit isn’t diminished by data centers or deepfakes. The inspired Word lives within us (Hebrews 4:12), sharper than any sword, Goliath’s or otherwise, and it equips us to discern, redeem, and overcome worldly influences. Vigilance (keeping watch) is key (1 Peter 5:8), testing every spirit (1 John 4:1). But fear? No. Courage comes from knowing the battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). Today, we can combat this by prioritizing Scripture’s authority, praying for insight, and using community to verify; redeeming AI where it aids (like study tools) but never letting it supplant the source.

Prayer:

Lord, in a world of mimics and machines, reveal Your true presence as You did for Paul. Guard us from false idols and shadows, igniting the spark of genuine faith. Draw us into direct communion with Your Spirit, where no technology can intrude. Use even our inventions for Your glory, but keep our hearts fixed on You alone. Amen.

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Michael A. Gentile@MicahSixEight

September 07, 2025

Illuminated by Divine Light:

From Creation’s Quantum Dance to Eternal Co-Creation

Job 12:7-10
"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."

Today I want to consider the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), a flower that mimics the appearance, scent, and even the texture of a female bee to attract male bees for pollination. This isn’t just a superficial resemblance, it’s a multi-layered deception engineered at the cellular and biochemical level.

The lower petals (the labellum) of the "Bee Orchid", replicates the shape, color patterns, and furry texture of a female bee’s body, complete with iridescent markings that mimic wings. This requires precise genetic coding for pigment distribution and cell differentiation, far beyond what random mutations could reliably produce without a guiding intelligence. Add to this mimicry the fact that the orchid releases pheromones identical to those of female bees, synthesized through complex enzymatic pathways in its cells. These volatile compounds are specifically tailored to the olfactory receptors of male bees, demonstrating an intricate biochemical "language" that aligns perfectly with another species’ sensory system.

And it works. Male bees are in fact deceived, they attempt to mate with the flower, picking up pollen in the process. It wasn't enough that it could produce sugary food or smells sweet, this plant brought it to an erotic level. This pseudocopulation ensures cross-pollination without the plant needing to produce nectar or rely on the wind. A very efficient, targeted system that interlinks plant and insect life cycles.

All these elements (visual, chemical, structural) must work in concert for the mechanism to function; remove one, and it all fails. Science calls that "irreducible complexity". This programmed purpose reflects Romans 1:20, where the apostle speaks to nature’s "impossibilities" which reveal God’s undeniable power, inviting awe and faith over skepticism.

Romans 1:20
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Now let's take that idea to another dimension. Zoom in on that beautiful flower. Let's go microscopic. On the cellular level, details (like the chloroplast’s photosynthetic machinery in plant cells, with its thylakoid membranes and enzyme cascades resembling a solar-powered factory) like the chloroplast, a tiny organelle no larger than a few micrometers, serves as an astonishing example of engineered precision. It’s not just a passive structure but a dynamic powerplant that converts sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis, sustaining nearly all life on Earth. This process involves intricate machinery that defies explanation by mere chance, pointing instead to purposeful creation. These "invisible (to the naked eye) qualities" of God are made visible in the cell’s design, inviting us to marvel at the Creator’s wisdom.

Just as God is "clothed with splendor and majesty" in light, the chloroplast harnesses light in a way that mirrors divine ingenuity.

Psalm 104:1-2
"Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent."

Just think for a moment about the light-dependent reactions that show how God’s glory is reflected in the cell’s ability to capture and transform energy from the sun, that's His creation. He is the light, Spirit and light, and his creation is from that light, highly dependent upon Him.

Now we dig deeper, probing even further into the universe's mysteries. And we find His light at work in all life, pure, illuminating, and life-giving.

1 John 1:5
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all"

In the context of photosynthesis’s light-dependent reactions, this revelation reflects how creation mirrors this divine light. The sun’s rays, as part of His handiwork, are captured and transformed at the cellular level, sustaining life in absolute dependence on His sustaining power. From the macroscopic sun to the quantum dance of photons, all are orchestrated with flawless precision by his hand.

John 1:3-5
"Through him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Light isn’t just energy, it’s the initiator of life-sustaining reactions. The quantum efficiency in photosynthesis, where darkness (inefficiency) is "overcome" by a near-perfect energy transfer, reveals how divine light prevails, illuminating even the subatomic realms. And because our God is light we can see this light at work.

Psalm 36:9
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."

God’s light enables us to perceive deeper truths, much like how photosynthetic light reveals the intricacies of quantum biology. From photon capture to energy conversion, God’s glory is seen in the natural world, fostering spiritual insight. It spiritualizes the science. Just as God commands light in creation, His design governs quantum processes, shining His glory into our understanding.

Now we go even further into the divine nature and discover something so profound that it's almost beyond our comprehension. We learn through, eschatological vision, that solar energy in photosynthesis is just a shadow of God’s eternal light glory.

Revelation 21:23
"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."

In the midst of God's glory we discover that life’s processes rely on created light now, but point to the uncreated Light who sustains all. We go now where light behaves not just as waves or particles but in ways that blend physics, biology, and divine mystery. Living light that gives life because it is the light of all life. Intangible yet pervasive, guiding creation with precision.

In our world we can see similar quantum principles appearing in avian magnetoreception (this is the mystery that surrounds birds navigating via entangled electrons sensitive to Earth’s magnetic field); and even olfaction (the sense of smell), where molecular vibrations tunnel through quantum barriers allowing creation to "smell" the light of life. Light’s quantum dance powers the oxygen we breathe here on earth and the food chain that feeds us, underscoring life’s utter dependence on this divine orchestration. Now extrapolate that into our eschatological experiences, our Creator is light and in His heavenly presence we receive everything that life requires to sustain us. Imagine that reality. Our God Himself radiating everything our heavenly form requires.

Will we need to eat? Drink? Cure our disease?

Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

God’s uncreated light eradicates all of life's frailties and sin. In this new creation, our dependence shifts fully to Him, the Light who sustains without the vulnerabilities of our current forms. Here we envision a reality where God’s radiance provides all, rendering earthly necessities obsolete and allowing eternal joy. Our resurrected bodies, like Christ’s, will be glorified, free from decay. This reflects the light-dependent processes in biology, where quantum efficiency sustains life; in eternity, God’s light powers an imperishable form, eliminating needs like curing disease.

Revelation 22:1-2
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."

While there’s no "need" for food or drink in a survival sense, these symbols suggest enjoyment, fruit and water as gifts from God’s throne. This parallels olfaction’s quantum tunneling, where creation "smells" life’s light; here, we partake eternally, dependent on the uncreated Source.

Isaiah 25:6-8
"On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the finest of meats and the finest of wines…He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces."

Jesus, in his resurrection body, did eat. We assume he ate not from necessity but to demonstrate continuity and reality. This foreshadows our eschatological state: capable of eating and drinking for fellowship. But will we "need" food and drink in the earthly sense?

I think it's safe to assume that in our eschatological state, Jesus Himself satisfies all, foreshadowing a reality where food and drink aren’t necessities for survival but avenues for eternal joy and communion, much like His post-resurrection meal demonstrated tangible continuity without compulsion.

Envision this: In God’s glory, we bask in His light, intangible yet all-encompassing, like quantum coherence guiding energy without loss. No more striving for sustenance or health; everything flows from Him. It’s the ultimate dependence, where the mysteries of avian flight or olfactory wonders pale before the Lamb’s lamp, inviting endless awe and communion. Our bodies will mirror Christ’s glorified form, capable of eating (as He did) but not bound by earthly frailties. This transformation eliminates "need" in the survival sense, fostering fellowship through shared banquets in God’s kingdom.

But all that said, one thing has always intrigued me. Take the prophecy in Isaiah 65:17, 21-22

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind…They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat."

It seems that God’s people will engage in familiar, earthly activities; building, planting, eating, yet free from the curses of toil, loss, and futility that plague our current world. It seems to bridge the eschatological hope with tangible continuity, suggesting that in God’s new order, such pursuits aren’t driven by survival needs but by delight, creativity, and fellowship, all sustained by His uncreated light.

We know from scripture that "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4). This affirms a total renewal where former sorrows fade. Imagine now, building houses and eating fruit symbolize a restored purpose, these activities once marred by oppression or used for vanity are now eternal expressions of God’s blessing. We do it because we want to make good from God's goodness.

Genesis 1:31
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."

Without the "old order’s" necessities. We're not going to be idle angels plinking our heavenly harps and floating around on nimbus clouds doing nothing for all eternity.

Ezekiel 36:33-35
"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden…"

Renewal as Eden restored, where building and cultivating reflect creative stewardship. Peaceful enjoyment of one’s labor, sitting under vines, (Micah 4), implying eating and resting, without fear or theft.

Consider the deeper layers:

Building houses suggests ongoing creativity, perhaps crafting dwellings as expressions of individuality and community, free from decay or disaster. Imagine the evolution of new technologies of light being incorporated into that building design. Not human inventions per se, but divinely perfected expressions of creativity, where light becomes integral to design, free from decay, and reflective of God’s glory as the ultimate Source. Building in the new earth (Isaiah 65) aligns with this light-filled city concept, where structures, houses or communities, draw from God’s everlasting light.

Isaiah 60:19-20
"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end."

No night means designs could incorporate perpetual, adaptive illumination, expressing individuality without energy loss or darkness. In this eschatological imagination, light isn’t merely ambient but woven into the fabric of our design, drawing from God’s glory as the everlasting source (Isaiah 60:19), transforming structures into living expressions of His divine pervasiveness.

Envision houses where crystalline walls incorporate advanced photonic materials, self-illuminating like bioluminescent organisms but perfected eternally. Talk about a "smart home", imagine the possibilities. In eternity, our former human homes evolve beyond LEDs to divinely inspired "light tech", perhaps crystalline structures mimicking photosynthetic quantum coherence, harvesting ambient divine light to generate warmth, visibility, or even holographic displays of memories and worship, free from mechanical failure. Imagine adaptive photonic skins on our dwellings reflecting our own individual art. Walls that "breathe" light, guiding visitors like avian magnetoreception, or emitting scents via quantum-inspired vibrations for olfactory delight.

No decay means no maintenance; disasters are obsolete in a realm where God’s light shields all (Psalm 84:11). These imagined technologies glorify the Designer, turning building into eternal co-creation. I have always hoped that I will work with our Designer to create new plants and creatures, new planets and maybe even galaxies.

Will we partner with the Designer in crafting new wonders?

Think about scripture, and what we've always believed about their purpose. Take for instance Ephesians 2:10...

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Are these words limited to this earthly realm and time? Or can we see an eschatological extension to even this?

As God’s "handiwork," our eternal building and creating, whether it's photonic homes or new galaxies, fulfill preordained "good works," expressing our individuality through divinely inspired tech, free from decay, as light His light shields and empowers us in these endeavors. Yet not uniquely human because afterall we are created in His image. So what these "good works" truly reflect is humanity’s stewardship, much like the Eden creation before the fall. Humanity’s stewardship extends to cosmic scales; envisioning new planets and galaxies aligns with this crowning. Christ as our Creator invites our participation; eternal co-creation, designing creatures with bioluminescent traits or walls that "breathe" light, all this reflecting His glory with quantum-inspired elements.

Imagine dwellings not as static structures anymore, but as evolving masterpieces of life. Crystalline walls of advanced photonic materials that self-illuminate, akin to bioluminescent organisms perfected in God’s realm, harvesting His ambient divine light without energy loss. Perhaps metamaterials mimicking the quantum coherence of photosynthesis, where structures coherently transfer energy for warmth, visibility, or holographic projections of cherished memories and acts of worship, all immune to failure. The sky is no longer the limit.

Eternal, light-harvesting tree foliage; light creatures blending bioluminescence and quantum efficiencies; luminous planets teeming with adaptive ecosystems; even galaxies swirling in holographic splendor!

I'm excited!

It’s a symphony of co-creation, where our innovations, free from sin’s shadow, eternally echo His pervasive glory.

I'm really looking forward to this.

Hope to see you there!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, the eternal Light and Master Designer, we marvel at the intricate wonders of Your creation. From the quantum coherence in every cell to the promise of a new earth where we co-create with You. Thank You for revealing Your glory through light’s mysteries and sustaining us in perfect dependence. Guide our hearts to worship You now and forever, as we anticipate the joy of building, planting, and imagining in Your radiant presence. In Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.

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Michael A. Gentile@MicahSixEight

July 18, 2025

From Frontier Churches to Theological Frontiers:

My Protestant Pilgrimage

Acts 9:17-19
So, Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.

The disciple named Ananias in Damascus has a vision in which the Lord speaks to him concerning Saul/Paul who had been spending the last three days sightless and fasting both food and water. This is a pivotal moment in the early Christian story. This scene marks the transformation of Saul (later known as Paul) from fierce persecutor of the church to one of its great apostles.

Saul has a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. a blinding light and Jesus’ voice confront him: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul is left blind, fasting, and praying for three days; a period symbolizing humility, repentance, and preparation, much like Jonah’s three days in the fish or Jesus’ three days in the tomb. Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, receives a vision from the Lord instructing him to go to Saul. Ananias is understandably hesitant at first (Acts 9:13-14), given Saul’s reputation for arresting and harming believers, but he obeys God’s command. Ananias enters the house where Saul is staying and lays hands on him. Ananias relays the message: Jesus, who appeared on the road, sent him for two purposes, restoring sight and filling with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:18
"Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight."

This isn’t just physical healing; it’s a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. Saul’s blindness represented his previous spiritual darkness in persecuting the church, and the "scales" falling away signify clarity and conversion. Saul eats and is strengthened, and he spends time with the disciples in Damascus, marking the beginning of his integration into the Christian community.

Paul’s later writings reflect on this conversion as a direct call from God, underscoring its authenticity.

Galatians 1:15-17
"But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus."

Early church fathers like Augustine saw this as a model of divine election, where God chooses and transforms whom He wills. But even more than this I think it's important to note that the local church serves God's purposes, especially in regards to new believers in the way. After his very sudden conversion, Saul needed baptism, food, and fellowship. And the disciples at Damascus were there to serve God in these things. This encourages us to support new believers (or even ourselves in weak moments) through practical care and inclusion. If God can turn a persecutor like Saul into the author of much of the New Testament, imagine what He can do with our lives. It’s a story of hope for anyone feeling "beyond reach."

Like Ananias, we might be called to reach out to "difficult" people, perhaps someone who’s opposed to our faith or who has hurt us. Ask: Where is God prompting me to act despite hesitation? Ananias isn’t mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, suggesting he was an "ordinary" believer, a reminder that God often uses unsung heroes. But this also highlights for me the importance of the local church over individual notoriety.

In my own life I've had something like a sudden conversion. Not as dramatic as Paul's, but turbulent, nonetheless. And not long after I was convinced/convicted by God's Word to find a local church community and so I set out to find one. At that time I wasn't hyper-focused on the political situation in the churches. I simply wanted to fellowship with God's people and I left it up to prayer and discernment. I was convicted in my heart by God's Word toward that end, and I wanted to be obedient to God's will.

Hebrews 10:25 - The Verse That Convicted Me
"not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

At the time I was deeply involved in my own weekly study of God's Word and finally got around to this verse. Honestly it convicted me profoundly. I felt at the time as if God wrote that verse just for me. It’s a profound biblical principle that echoes throughout the New Testament, but it really hadn't convicted me beforehand.

The author of Hebrews (I believe Paul) urges believers to hold fast to their faith amid trials, holding unswervingly to hope, spurring one another toward love and good deeds, and not neglecting fellowship. The "fellowship of the believers" (koinonia in Greek) refers to a shared life in Christ: worship, prayer, teaching, breaking bread, and mutual support. It has its place in Christ's earthly kingdom, even if they are stubborn, lazy, lukewarm, argumentative, arrogant, and so on. It’s not optional, especially for new believers; it’s essential for growth, accountability, and endurance, especially as "the Day" (Christ’s return) approaches.

After Saul’s dramatic conversion and healing through Ananias' obedience, verse 19 notes that he "was with the disciples at Damascus for some days." This immediate integration into fellowship was crucial, Saul needed teaching, protection (from those believers who doubted him), and encouragement to begin preaching. Without the believers’ embrace, Paul's transformation might have faltered. Ananias’ obedience modeled fellowship in action: welcoming the former enemy as a brother in Christ.

It was like that with my little country church on the edge of town. It was a very small village congregation with a long history dating back to the early 1800's. It was founded in the "Congregationalist" tradition as a community of believers, with some ties to the earlier puritan roots. Today that church operates under the United Church of Christ synod. It's probably not as progressive as its synod, but just the same it's definitely aligned with that political ideology. I mention this because it's a testimony to how God can use even the apostate faith conventions to make disciples. It's a testimony that every believer is an individual in the eyes of God, not a religious group. Though he created the "church", and all its many iterations, He deals with the individual when it comes to salvation.

Take me for instance. I spent years in God's word and in prayer and fasting before going to a church. I eventually found a beautiful little country church on the edge of town. I didn't know anything about the UCC at the time. What I knew was I found a small village church with beautiful believers there. A whole bunch of Christian history lived there. It was a church populated by retired clergy and wonderful Bible study. My wife and I renewed our wedding vows there. And my youngest daughter was baptized there. I served for a very short time as a deacon, and I learned about church history there. That time of local church instruction was wonderful for a new believer like me. It wasn't until much later on that the political leanings in that synod were made clearer to me. And that's okay. That's a testimony to me that God can use even the error of apostate conventions to do some good for Christ's kingdom.

You know, as a part of my studies at that time, I learned a lot about the history of "The Church". And I'm thankful for that instruction time. It was like a short course in church history for me. And it didn't take very long for me to begin noticing the divide in the churches. I remember learning how the puritan church started in New England and spread throughout the New York "frontier". And eventually these faith communities created towns around these churches. The American "frontier" was founded upon these churches. On many different denominations and synods. As the frontier expanded westward, including into New York, these Puritan influences spread. Congregationalists (and their offshoots) helped found towns centered around the church, where unity in faith was paramount. The Congregationalist tradition, in which my first church draws from, traces it's origins directly to the Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s, seeking to "purify" the Church of England through covenant-based, autonomous congregations. And the American Baptist churches were also founded on these early puritan traditions. They eventually broke off from those purian traditions, mainly focusing on the believer’s baptism (by immersion, for adults) rather than infant baptism, which they saw as unbiblical. And they would move out into the frontier and found their own towns and churches. Many early Baptists were Separatists from the Church of England or Puritan circles, prioritizing congregational autonomy and personal conversion, echoing Saul’s own dramatic shift apart from Jerusalem.

Our nation was literally built upon this autonomous tradition of worship and community. This pluralism: Dutch Mennonites, French Huguenots, German Baptists, Quakers, and more, highlights how God’s kingdom advanced through varied traditions, even amid conflicts like the Revolutionary War. It’s a testament to unity in diversity, much like the early church blending Jews and Gentiles.

These independent minded communities of believers each felt that they should be a self-governing gathering of believers, free from hierarchical control; a radical idea that emphasized personal piety and communal accountability, much like the early church in Acts. I was drawn to these ideas early on because I was searching for a church that closely resembled the first century church model I had studied in my personal bible study.

You know, in those early days of our nation, it was unheard of that a town would have more than one church. Interesting to think about that. Unity in the faith was very important to these early Christian Americans. New towns popped up as the Word of God traveled throughout the frontier. And each town needed to build a new community of believers. Where I grew up, in the Mohawk Valley of New York, these communities were mainly Protestant, though in the cities the Roman Catholic church was present as well. It’s a powerful reminder from Romans 8:28 that God works all things for good, including through conventions or synods we might later question. Salvation is individual, yet the church (in all its iterations) is God’s design for collective growth.

Ephesians 4:11-16
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Even if a congregation is stubborn, lazy, lukewarm, argumentative, or arrogant, it’s often where we learn humility, forgiveness, and perseverance. In the local church we find friendship with God and with His people who are broken, just like us. Let's face it, the Christian community is the church of the dropouts, the sinners, the failures, and the fools (like the song goes).

In my experience, God uses these different dimensions of the church to prepare and send disciples into the world. And that means it's relying heavily upon flawed people. People who are going to get the scriptures wrong, they're going to get Christ's teaching and intent wrong, and they're going to back up their ideas with compromise and new cultural norms. This all circles back to hope: If God transformed Saul, a hypocritical Pharisee, through a hesitant disciple and a fledgling community, and if He used a small UCC church to ground my faith under the instruction/example of good and faithful Christians, despite later realizations about their politics, then no one is "beyond reach."

Just as a funny side note on this thread, I first noticed the division in the church ideologies thanks to a local Mennonite church. They made a habit of walking through this little farm town each Sunday following their church services. They walked through town dropping tracts about their faith at various doorsteps. I of course loved this and engaged them often. And one day I was going to my own little UCC church to work on something and noticed they had stuck a tract in our church door. I laughed and of course I read it. It’s like a gentle nudge from history itself, highlighting the beautiful (and sometimes quirky) ways faith communities express their convictions. Their actions embody a "disciplined evangelism" that’s persistent yet non-confrontational, much like early Anabaptists distributing writings amid persecution. I truly appreciate their willingness and commitment to evangelism. And God often uses unexpected encounters to deepen our understanding. It was a Godly wakeup call, I believe sent specifically for me. Mennonites often emphasize conservative theology, community discipline, and a withdrawal from "worldly" politics, contrasting the much more integrated progressive denominations like the UCC.

I wrote about it in my journals and it caused me to study their history. But it struck me that there was this sort of distinction being made by the Christian communities. This caused me to ponder on these matters more and eventually as I progressed in my studies and lay ministry work which exposed me to the larger world of UCC politics, I gained firsthand experience in how the progressive movement has evolved in the church. It’s a reminder that, while national bodies lean liberal (on LGBTQ+ inclusion and social justice), individual local churches vary greatly, fostering the fellowship I cherished.

In the context of the larger synod I learned that progressives derive their identity from politics, viewing Jesus as a social liberator, whereas conservatives like myself emphasize theology and personal salvation. In the context of the synod I learned that Clergy often lean more liberal than congregants, amplifying divides on issues like LGBTQ+ rights or abortion. But I also learned that these people are people, imperfect just like me. Hebrews 10:25 urges, we’re called to fellowship despite these things, encouraging one another toward love and good deeds for Christ's sake.

Our takeaway today is in my mind that distinctions can prompt growth, not just division, echoing Saul’s integration into a skeptical Jerusalem/Damascus community. God works through imperfect vessels, turning "tract moments" into profound testimonies.

Sparked by those Mennonite tracts and my local UCC experiences, I was led to a lifetime of immersion in church history, systematic theology, and a focus of study into the early church fathers. Studying figures across many eras and traditions; Charles Finney (the fiery revivalist emphasizing free will and social reform), Paul Tillich (with his existential "ground of being" theology), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (whose costly discipleship amid Nazi oppression resonates so powerfully), Augustine (the architect of doctrines like original sin and grace), Thomas Aquinas (the scholastic giant bridging faith and reason in works like the Summa Theologica), Karl Barth (the neo-orthodox voice thundering against liberal theology), Anselm (famous for his ontological argument for God’s existence) and many others. It reflects a thoughtful engagement with diverse perspectives: Catholic scholastics, early patristics, modern liberals, and evangelical reformers. It's no wonder it solidified my Protestant roots, emphasizing sola scriptura, justification by faith, and the priesthood of all believers amid those varied voices.

But among all that history, I think my favorite story has to do with a local church history story that piqued my interest. I'm referring to Asa Gray (1810-1888), the renowned botanist and devout Christian born in Sauquoit, New York, right there in my home Oneida County. Asa Gray wasn’t a traditional theologian by trade, he was America’s foremost botanist, often called the "father of American botany" for his work classifying North American plants and teaching at Harvard. Which for a guy like me (being a horticulture expert by trade) stood out. But he also deeply engaged theological questions, especially in reconciling science and faith. As a committed Presbyterian, Gray corresponded extensively with Charles Darwin starting in the 1850s, exchanging over 300 letters that influenced both men. I recommend every Christian check these stories out. It's extremely interesting now that we've seen the future they both could have only speculated about. Gray defended evolutionary theory as compatible with Christian theism, arguing that natural selection could be God’s method of creation; a "design by wholesale, not retail," as he put it. For Gray, science glorified God, echoing Romans 1:20. But that's enough for now. Maybe someday I'll write more on this topic.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the transformative power of Your grace, as seen in Saul’s conversion and in our own lives. Guide us in fellowship with believers, deepen our understanding through Your Word and history’s faithful witnesses, and strengthen our faith amid divisions. May we obey Your call like Ananias, reaching out with love and humility.

In Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.

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