1 Corinthians 14:33 … The God of Harmony (04/10/17)
“God is a God not of disorder but of harmony.”
~ Paul (1 Corinthians 14:33)
This verse is actually ladled with quite a bit of irony, seeing as how Paul himself was actually a powerful agent of disorder & conflict, and a potent enemy of Harmony & Peace (see Acts 13:9-11, Acts 15:39, Romans 1:32, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 10:20-21, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 1 Corinthians 15:23-25, 1 Corinthians 16:22, 2 Corinthians 10:6, 2 Corinthians 11:4-5, Galatians 1:9, Galatians 2:11, Galatians 3:1, Galatians 5:12, Colossians 2:8, Philippians 1:28, Philippians 3:2, Philippians 3:18-19 & 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16) …
Whereas the Way of Jesus Christ was indeed a teaching that would have brought harmony amongst all peoples were it to have been furthered & adopted, the “unway” of Paul (the theology of exclusivist Atonement that he created out of thin air) has indeed already led both to the creation & the spread of the modern-day Christian church — one of the greatest forces for disorder & discord & denigration in the history of the human race.
*Indeed, where Paul preached that we are to blindly obey human political authorities (Romans 13:1-6), Jesus taught that we are to heed the moral Law of the Divine over all man-made competitors thereto (Mark 12:17); …
*Where Paul preached that the “Good News” was Jesus’ resurrection and immortality for all who worshipped him (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 & Romans 10:9), Jesus taught that his “Gospel” was A) that Heaven was already Here&Now (Matthew 10:7) and B) that entry thereto was granted to all who chose to selflessly Care for others (Matthew 24:12-14); …
*Where Paul preached that Jesus was the only Son of God and must be worshipped accordingly (Romans 3:21-24), Jesus taught that we was not to be worshipped at all – that he was to be followed instead (Mark 10:18 + Matthew 16:24); …
*Where Paul preached that the goal was one’s own salvation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), Jesus taught that the goal was self-sacrifice for others’ benefit – a goal which inadvertently granted one access to the “Kingdom of God” in this lifetime (Mark 9:35 + Luke 17:20-21 + John 13:15-17 et al); …
*And where Paul preached that humans are innately & unalterably sinful beings (Romans 3:23), Jesus taught that humans are innately Children of God, and that we can be reborn to this holy status in any moment we choose to act accordingly (John 14:16-17 & John 3:3-9).
[May the former teachings soon fade & perish, and may the latter ones come to blossom and thrive.]
Of course, if God is indeed a God worth worshiping (i.e. a God of unconditional Love – Matthew 5:48, a God of limitless Grace – Luke 6:36, and a God of unending Forgiveness – Matthew 8:21-22), then Paul is inadvertently correct in his assessment here. And if Paul is indeed correct in this verse, then we should – quite ironically – disregard the vast majority of his other teachings and follow The Way of Jesus Christ instead!
Amen … Let it be so.
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