My Theological Snapshot for Metaphysical Theology 1 , HTS 551: John C. Beerman Fall 2013.

                                                                                       

I have a great deal of faith in God to be the anchor in my daily existence. I believe that God is the source of all of the good in the universe, and that God is the foundation for my life and also the lives of all fellow travelers in this world. Through the imagination of the enlightened beings, such as Jesus, God has demonstrated what is possible in our lives if we follow the spiritual path laid out in the Bible and other divinely inspired literature. Our souls are made in the image and likeness of God, and as we make good choices in our lives, that is, choices which are inspired by Spirit, we grow in God’s image each day.

God does not punish me or others when we make mistakes, however it is often difficult to override the theology which was embedded in my childhood, that if I get it right, I will be rewarded and if I get it wrong I will be punished. God is not a judge nor a jury, but a Source of love and support as we lead our daily lives. I still am tempted to try and do things that would please God, the Father, and gain favor with Him; however I know in my heart that God loves us unconditionally. I suppose that in my deepest recesses of consciousness, I make every effort to please God and to be a good son.

 I believe that Jesus is a role model and a good friend who teaches me and leads me in my daily walk with God. (For a long time, I felt guilty because Jesus had died for my sins, and I really didn't want him to do that.) "When I was a child, I thought like a child and believed like a child, however now that I am an  adult, I  see more clearly, and in that light, I know that Jesus ‘crucifixion and death was not about me, but was part of His own journey".

I look to Jesus for strength and as  a role model who can demonstrate the best and highest  behavioral choices which will lead me and others to freedom. It seems to me that Jesus is a part of who I am, because he lived a life just like I have, and he felt emotions and suffered from pain just like we do. He overcame this world that we live in and triumphed in a victory over the fear of death and ridicule. In that sense Jesus is my hero and my best friend and I know he loves me without conditions.

I do believe in the concept of right and wrong, however I also believe that God forgives me when I fall short and make poor choices. I believe that there is a God consciousness within me that senses when I make a poor choice or think about making a poor choice. Even if I choose to follow the wrong course, knowing that it is the wrong course, God forgives me, however it is much harder for me to forgive myself. When I fully recognize and realize my divine nature, then it becomes much easier to forgive myself .It was conveyed to me as a child that I am a sinner, and therefore as a sinner tend to make poor choices. My profession of faith in Jesus was to wash away my sins; however such a profession of faith never seemed to work with me. Now I know the truth, that I am a child of God in whom he is well pleased. I have been given the gift of “free will”, and my decisions are under my authority and discretion. Nevertheless, when I use the gift of free will to seek God’s direction in my life, everything works for my highest good and good of others as well.