Who Knows "The Truth"? What is Truth? Where is Truth Found?

[Richard E Warren]

One memorable line in the UB suggests to truly know a thing, being or concept, then origin, history and destiny must be considered. Truth comes from God, circulates, and returns, like all else–except evil.

Truth’s history here on Urantia surely began after Andon and Fonta were Adjustered. No doubt truth, beauty and goodness were taught in the first epoch, at Dalamatia, since they are universal standards.

…When the Planetary Prince arrives on a primitive world, the evolved religion of fear and ignorance prevails. The prince and his staff make the first revelations of higher truth and universe organization…. 52:2:3

 .

Of course Adam and Eve taught truth to their children, and they taught it to humans.

 .

…The children of Adam, except for four years’ attendance at the western schools, lived and worked in the “east of Eden.” They were trained intellectually until they were sixteen in accordance with the methods of the Jerusem schools. From sixteen to twenty they were taught in the Urantia schools at the other end of the Garden, serving there also as teachers in the lower grades….74:7:1

 .

Then came Melchizedek. The Melchizedeks are the wise ones in Nebadon. It was them who oversaw the writing of Part 4 of UB. These are just some of the rich, eloquent, piercing statements on truth in the Melchizedek Papers. I tried to condense them so the post isn’t overly long:

 .

…with approaching maturity, mankind is ripening for the appreciation of real religion, even a beginning of the revelation of truth itself…. (1003:7) 92:1.2

 

…the power of any idea lies, not in its certainty or truth, but rather in the vividness of its human appeal…. (1005:5) 92:3.3

 

…The future of Urantia will doubtless be characterized by the appearance of teachers of religious truth–the Fatherhood of God and the fraternity of all creatures…. (1010:4) 92:5.16

 

…It is always difficult to induce evolutionary minds suddenly to accept advanced revealed truth…. (1011:17) 92:6.19

 

…It is a fallacy for any group of religionists to conceive of their creed as The Truth…. (1012:4) 92:7.3

 

…There is not a Urantia religion that could not profitably study and assimilate the best of the truths contained in every other faith, for all contain truth…. (1012:4) 92:7.3

 

…religion is genuine and worth while if it fosters in the individual an experience in which the sovereignty of truth, beauty, and goodness prevails, for such is the true spiritual concept of supreme reality…. (1089:12) 99:4.4

 

…Truth is always a revelation: autorevelation when it emerges as a result of the work of the indwelling Adjuster; epochal revelation when it is presented by the function of some other celestial agency, group, or personality…. (1109:4) 101:4.3

 

…Truth may be but relatively inspired, even though revelation is invariably a spiritual phenomenon…. (1109:6) 101:4.5

 

…Personally revealed religions are sponsored by the bestowal spirits representing the three persons of the Paradise Trinity and are especially concerned with the expansion of truth…. (1111:1) 101:5.11

 

…Truth is made accessible to the wisdom-endowed individual by the bestowal on such a mind of the spirits of the Father and the Sons, the Thought Adjuster and the Spirit of Truth…. (1111:8) 101:6.4

 

…the revelation of truth on Urantia has all too often been mixed up with the statements of partial and transient cosmologies…. (1119:2) 102:1.3

 

…Truth remains unchanged from generation to generation, but the associated teachings about the physical world vary from day to day and from year to year…. (1119:2) 102:1.3

 

…Knowledge is an eternal quest; always are you learning, but never are you able to arrive at the full knowledge of absolute truth…. (1120:1) 102:2.4

 

…God is the first truth and the last fact; therefore does all truth take origin in him, while all facts exist relative to him…. (1125:1) 102:6.6

 

…Intelligent men should cease to reason like children and should attempt to use the consistent logic of  adulthood, logic which tolerates the concept of truth alongside the observation of fact…. (1125:4) 102:6.9

 

…The higher any scientist progresses in his chosen science, the more will he abandon the theories of materialistic fact in favor of the cosmic truth of the dominance of the Supreme Mind…. (1125:5) 102:6.10

 

…Of God, the most inescapable of all presences, the most real of all facts, the most living of all truths, the most loving of all friends, and the most divine of all values, we have the right to be the most certain of all universe experiences…. (1127:4) 102:7.10

 

…Never, then, can either science or religion, in and of themselves, standing alone, hope to gain an adequate understanding of universal truths and relationships without the guidance of human philosophy and the illumination of divine revelation…. (1135:7) 103:6.5

 

…Without the insight of mota, mortal man cannot discern goodness, love, and truth in the phenomena of the material world…. (1137:3) 103:6.13

 

…Metaphysics has proved a failure; mota, man cannot perceive. Revelation is the only technique which can compensate for the absence of the truth sensitivity of mota in a material world…. (1136:3) 103:6.8

 

…The truth–an understanding of cosmic relationships, universe facts, and spiritual values–can best be had through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth and can best be criticized by revelation…. (1138:6) 103:7.8

 

…The pursuit of knowledge constitutes science; the search for wisdom is philosophy; the love for God is religion; the hunger for truth is a revelation…. (1122:8) 102:3.12

 

…Faith most willingly carries reason along as far as reason can go and then goes on with wisdom to the full philosophic limit; and then it dares to launch out upon the limitless and never-ending universe journey in the sole company of TRUTH…. (1141:5) 103:9.7

 

…No matter how remote from Paradise, how deep in space, a material survival personality may take origin, God the Sevenfold will be found there present and engaged in the loving and merciful ministry of truth, beauty, and goodness to such an incomplete, struggling, and evolutionary creature…. (1164:2) 106:1.3

 .

Up next, a bit of Jesus’ Truth teachings.

..

Richard E Warren

[Gene]

Thanks Bonita, your very gracious

i did go back to the May 29 post and re-read, more than once.  Acting out the truth that I crave to experience is indeed something that may very well be an obsession with me, and it is no easy task.

reading through Zumion outpouring and the responses got me going back there as well.

there is only so much book learning I can take, doing something with it is why it was revealed to us IMHO.

[Bonita]

Gene wrote:

there is only so much book learning I can take, doing something with it is why it was revealed to us IMHO.

Yeah. I get what you’re saying.  But it’s not about doing any old thing.  Doing things that make you feel good, or what you feel is good, might not be what they intended when writing it.  Doing anything worthwhile (with true meaning and value) has to originate from the inner life.  But I agree, you don’t need to study TUB to have a robust inner life, that’s for sure.  I find that study helps me in both my inner and outer life.  It works for me.  It helps me think deeply, reflect, ask the universe questions and look for answers.  Recognizing the reality of answers is entirely a personal experience, and acting them out is the only way to verify their reality. It’s all about the elliptic symmetry of reality.  At least that’s how it is in my world.

p1220:1 111:4.2 Meanings are derived from a combination of recognition and understanding. Meanings are nonexistent in a wholly sensory or material world. Meanings and values are only perceived in the inner or supermaterial spheres of human experience. 

 

[Angela]

Thanks for this interesting list, Rick. Your first extract really resonates with me.

Rick Warren wrote:

One memorable line in the UB suggests to truly know a thing, being or concept, then origin, history and destiny must be considered. 

The finite mind can never know a thing, being or concept. Even with revelation “reality totality” cannot be grasped. In their delivery TUB has to subject “reality totality” to “profound distortion”. ^{105:0.3 (1152.3)}

This is really humbling. But on the other hand, why would we want to. It is enough to grasp one idea, ideal and its meaning at a time and hope we get it right.

^{19:1.6 (215.3)} Even in the study of man’s biologic evolution on Urantia, there are grave objections to the exclusive historic approach to his present-day status and his current problems. The true perspective of any reality problem — human or divine, terrestrial or cosmic — can be had only by the full and unprejudiced study and correlation of three phases of universe reality: origin, history, and destiny. The proper understanding of these three experiential realities affords the basis for a wise estimate of the current status.

The more closely man approaches God through love, the greater the reality — actuality — of that man. 117:4.14 (1285.3)

[Richard E Warren]

Angela wrote:

Thanks for this interesting list, Rick. Your first extract really resonates with me.

Rick Warren wrote:

One memorable line in the UB suggests to truly know a thing, being or concept, then origin, history and destiny must be considered.

The finite mind can never know a thing, being or concept. Even with revelation “reality totality” cannot be grasped. In their delivery TUB has to subject “reality totality” to “profound distortion”. ^{105:0.3 (1152.3)} This is really humbling. But on the other hand, why would we want to. It is enough to grasp one idea, ideal and its meaning at a time and hope we get it right.

^{19:1.6 (215.3)} Even in the study of man’s biologic evolution on Urantia, there are grave objections to the exclusive historic approach to his present-day status and his current problems. The true perspective of any reality problem — human or divine, terrestrial or cosmic — can be had only by the full and unprejudiced study and correlation of three phases of universe reality: origin, history, and destiny. The proper understanding of these three experiential realities affords the basis for a wise estimate of the current status.

You’re welcome Angela, thanks for the enlightening reply. Evidently distortion comes with the (time/space) territory. We can only have approximations of truth by pasteing ideas, ideals and meanings together, creating a values collage that reflects some measure of truth.

We know Truth’s origin–God. We know some of its history, at least here on Urantia, but we know so little of its destination. It begs the questions: Is God’s truth the same as Michael’s bestowed Spirit of Truth? Do they at some point combine, and later culminate in the Supreme Being, that living repository of all time/space value experience? If truth is a person, can we, as a planet, eventually feel, even return, truth’s full embrace? And how could that ever come about on our confused planet?

 

.

Richard E Warren

[Angela]

Rick Warren wrote:

Is God’s truth the same as Michael’s bestowed Spirit of Truth? Do they at some point combine, and later culminate in the Supreme Being, that living repository of all time/space value experience? If truth is a person, can we, as a planet, eventually feel, even return, truth’s full embrace?

I think we have to distinguish between the personalities of the Spirit of Truth and the Holy Spirit. God’s truth is not the person of the Spirit of Truth. Paradoxically they do “liaison”.  But personalities do not “combine”. Also experiences are distinguishable from the truth which inspires them.

Your next question is really rather interesting. Truth isn’t “felt”. Can we embrace the Spirit of Truth? — To what extent is the Spirit of Truth manifested in the material world?   Even the Spirit of truth could probably do with a good hug once in a millennium.

Secondly, we are not capable of a “full” embrace given our limited/finite intellect. But yes, I think the relationship lends itself to affectionate embrace, even if only in the mind-consciousness sense. Finally, confusion rather disqualifies us from embracing truth en masse.

Enjoyed this immensely — more mind riddles please.

^{56:10.13 (647.4)} The recognition of true relations implies a mind competent to discriminate between truth and error. The bestowal Spirit of Truth which invests the human minds of Urantia is unerringly responsive to truth—the living spirit relationship of all things and all beings as they are co-ordinated in the eternal ascent Godward.

^{34:5.4 (379.4)} The Spirit of Truth works as one with the presence of the spirit of the Divine Minister. This dual spirit liaison hovers over the worlds, seeking to teach truth and to spiritually enlighten the minds of men, to inspire the souls of the creatures of the ascending races, and to lead the peoples dwelling on the evolutionary planets ever towards their Paradise goal of divine destiny.

The more closely man approaches God through love, the greater the reality — actuality — of that man. 117:4.14 (1285.3)

[Bonita]

Rick Warren wrote: It begs the questions: Is God’s truth the same as Michael’s bestowed Spirit of Truth?

Why wouldn’t they be?

194:3.1 The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father’s spirit nature and the Son’s moral character.

[Bonita]

Angela wrote: Your next question is really rather interesting. Truth isn’t “felt”. Can we embrace the Spirit of Truth? — To what extent is the Spirit of Truth manifested in the material world?   Even the Spirit of truth could probably do with a good hug once in a millennium.

More than once a millennium, like every day, several times a day, anytime you want.  Actually, you don’t really embrace the Spirit of Truth, you embrace Michael (Jesus if you prefer).  The Spirit of Truth creates a consciousness of the presence of Michael in your soul.  You can fellowship all you like with Michael, embrace him too if you want.  It’s a real thrill by the way.

194:2.4  Do not make the mistake of expecting to become strongly intellectually conscious of the outpoured Spirit of Truth. The spirit never creates a consciousness of himself, only a consciousness of Michael, the Son. From the beginning Jesus taught that the spirit would not speak of himself. The proof, therefore, of your fellowship with the Spirit of Truth is not to be found in your consciousness of this spirit but rather in your experience of enhanced fellowship with Michael.

And I disagree that truth isn’t felt, or sensed.  Truth is an experience on the soul level, not the material mind level.  Unless you’ve reached a high level of soul consciousness, I doubt you can do anything other than sense the presence of truth as an experience.  That’s why they say knowledge is a demonstrable possession of the mind and truth is experience of the soul. Truth is not an intellectual event, it’s really a pre-morontia event, when you boil it down, and the morontia level can only be felt or sensed through spiritual insight and spiritual senses.  Although, first circlers do get a superimposition of some level of morontia mind upon the adjutant mind that might allow for more than just a sense, maybe a conscious understanding of some kind.  Not sure because I’m nowhere near there and can only surmise by what’s written:

112:6.9 The soul of survival value faithfully reflects both the qualitative and the quantitative actions and motivations of the material intellect, the former seat of the identity of selfhood. In the choosing of truth, beauty, and goodness, the mortal mind enters upon its premorontia universe career under the tutelage of the seven adjutant mind-spirits unified under the direction of the spirit of wisdom. Subsequently, upon the completion of the seven circles of premorontia attainment, the superimposition of the endowment of morontia mind upon adjutant mind initiates the prespiritual or morontia career of local universe progression.

[Richard E Warren]

Bonita wrote:

Rick Warren wrote: It begs the questions: Is God’s truth the same as Michael’s bestowed Spirit of Truth?

Why wouldn’t they be?

194:3.1 The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father’s spirit nature and the Son’s moral character.

Hmm…if they are the same, then there’s no need for different names. It suggests to me, God’s truth is somehow attenuated until Michael bestows the SofT. Maybe Michael is a truth enabler, he and his Mate, our ‘local’ father and mother.

Interesting to note “Father’s spiritual nature” (from your quote above) is often described using the words truth, beauty and goodness. Love gets in on this one:

…By the nature of God, especially by his infinite love, by truth, beauty, and goodness…. (48.3) 3:2.11

 .

So, is truth love? Is love truth? God is truth. God is love. God has to be both, and so much more we are told. And we are also told the Spirit of Truth moves us to love:

 .

…the Spirit of Truth, who directs the loving contact of one human being with another…. (1950:6) 180:5.11

.

Richard E Warren

[Bonita]

Rick Warren wrote:  Hmm…if they are the same, then there’s no need for different names.

The Spirit of Truth is a dual spirit, the spirit of both the Son and the Father.  For us creatures, they are one and the same. You cannot get to the Father but through the Son.  The Spirit of Truth reveals the Father’s love and the Son’s mercy.

194:2.3 In a certain sense, this Spirit of Truth is the spirit of both the Universal Father and the Creator Son.

p2062:11 194:3.1 The chief mission of this outpoured spirit of the Father and the Son is to teach men about the truths of the Father’s love and the Son’s mercy. These are the truths of divinity which men can comprehend more fully than all the other divine traits of character. The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father’s spirit nature and the Son’s moral character. The Creator Son, in the flesh, revealed God to men; the Spirit of Truth, in the heart, reveals the Creator Son to men.

169:4.2  His teaching regarding the Father all centered in the declaration that he and the Father are one; that he who has seen the Son has seen the Father; that the Father, like the Son, knows all things; that only the Son really knows the Father, and he to whom the Son will reveal him; that he who knows the Son knows also the Father; and that the Father sent him into the world to reveal their combined natures and to show forth their conjoint work.

166:3.3  And the Son will never refuse entrance to any child of the universe who, by faith, seeks to find the Father through the Son.

7.7.4The Father comes down to you as a personality only through the divine Sons of the Eternal Son. And you attain the Father by this same living way; you ascend to the Father by the guidance of this group of divine Sons. And this remains true notwithstanding that your very personality is a direct bestowal of the Universal Father.

Rick Warren wrote: It suggests to me, God’s truth is somehow attenuated until Michael bestows the SofT. Maybe Michael is a truth enabler, he and his Mate, our ‘local’ father and mother.

I don’t think truth can be attenuated; it is inconcussible.  I think what you mean is that, like love, the quantity of truth is different from the quality of truth. Quantity is limited by human capacity; quality is not.  Quality is value.  Quantity is meaning.  The quality of love and truth do not change, but the receptive ability of each individual to recognize the meanings of values does.  The Spirit of Truth assists each individual to reach the pinnacle of their capacity of reception; he is the soul’s philosopher who deciphers meanings and values and makes them comprehensible to the soul and actionable to the mind.  He is the Father’s translator, the Word of God.  When the love of God passes through the Son, it is with loving mercy that he makes it real and tangible to his creatures.

10:3.3 The divine Sons are indeed the “Word of God,” but the children of the Spirit are truly the “Act of God.” God speaks through the Son and, with the Son, acts through the Infinite Spirit, while in all universe activities the Son and the Spirit are exquisitely fraternal, working as two equal brothers with admiration and love for an honored and divinely respected common Father.

Rick Warren wrote: So, is truth love? Is love truth? God is truth. God is love. God has to be both, and so much more we are told. And we are also told the Spirit of Truth moves us to love:

Love is a relationship, the greatest relationship in existence and truth is its proclamation, its living assertion in reality. Love is a relationship and truth, the Spirit of Truth, is a revelation of that relationship.  Truth is always a revelation. Divine love is manifested to us by a growing recognition of and choice for truth, beauty and goodness.

  p1615:5  143:6.4 And again and again he impressed upon them that love is the greatest relationship in the world—in the universe—just as truth is the greatest pronouncement of the observation of these divine relationships.

1:4.5 The God of universal love unfailingly manifests himself to every one of his creatures up to the fullness of that creature’s capacity to spiritually grasp the qualities of divine truth, beauty, and goodness.

110:3.7 Choosing to respond to divine leading; sincerely basing the human life on the highest consciousness of truth, beauty, and goodness, and then co-ordinating these qualities of divinity through wisdom, worship, faith, and love.

2:6.5 Truth exhibits God as a revealer, as a teacher. But love gives and craves affection, seeks understanding fellowship such as exists between parent and child. Righteousness may be the divine thought, but love is a father’s attitude.

196:3.29 But love, divested of truth, beauty, and goodness, is only a sentiment, a philosophic distortion, a psychic illusion, a spiritual deception.

143:1.4  Truth is a liberating revelation, but love is the supreme relationship.

56:10.20 To finite man truth, beauty, and goodness embrace the full revelation of divinity reality. As this love-comprehension of Deity finds spiritual expression in the lives of God-knowing mortals, there are yielded the fruits of divinity: intellectual peace, social progress, moral satisfaction, spiritual joy, and cosmic wisdom. The advanced mortals on a world in the seventh stage of light and life have learned that love is the greatest thing in the universe — and they know that God is love.

[Richard E Warren]

Bonita wrote:

Rick Warren wrote: Hmm…if they are the same, then there’s no need for different names.

The Spirit of Truth is a dual spirit, the spirit of both the Son and the Father. For us creatures, they are one and the same. You cannot get to the Father but through the Son. The Spirit of Truth reveals the Father’s love and the Son’s mercy.

194:2.3 In a certain sense, this Spirit of Truth is the spirit of both the Universal Father and the Creator Son. p2062:11 194:3.1 The chief mission of this outpoured spirit of the Father and the Son is to teach men about the truths of the Father’s love and the Son’s mercy. These are the truths of divinity which men can comprehend more fully than all the other divine traits of character. The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father’s spirit nature and the Son’s moral character. The Creator Son, in the flesh, revealed God to men; the Spirit of Truth, in the heart, reveals the Creator Son to men. 169:4.2 His teaching regarding the Father all centered in the declaration that he and the Father are one; that he who has seen the Son has seen the Father; that the Father, like the Son, knows all things; that only the Son really knows the Father, and he to whom the Son will reveal him; that he who knows the Son knows also the Father; and that the Father sent him into the world to reveal their combined natures and to show forth their conjoint work. 166:3.3 And the Son will never refuse entrance to any child of the universe who, by faith, seeks to find the Father through the Son. 7.7.4The Father comes down to you as a personality only through the divine Sons of the Eternal Son. And you attain the Father by this same living way; you ascend to the Father by the guidance of this group of divine Sons. And this remains true notwithstanding that your very personality is a direct bestowal of the Universal Father.

Rick Warren wrote: It suggests to me, God’s truth is somehow attenuated until Michael bestows the SofT. Maybe Michael is a truth enabler, he and his Mate, our ‘local’ father and mother.

I don’t think truth can be attenuated; it is inconcussible. I think what you mean is that, like love, the quantity of truth is different from the quality of truth. Quantity is limited by human capacity; quality is not. Quality is value. Quantity is meaning. The quality of love and truth do not change, but the receptive ability of each individual to recognize the meanings of values does. The Spirit of Truth assists each individual to reach the pinnacle of their capacity of reception; he is the soul’s philosopher who deciphers meanings and values and makes them comprehensible to the soul and actionable to the mind. He is the Father’s translator, the Word of God. When the love of God passes through the Son, it is with loving mercy that he makes it real and tangible to his creatures.

10:3.3 The divine Sons are indeed the “Word of God,” but the children of the Spirit are truly the “Act of God.” God speaks through the Son and, with the Son, acts through the Infinite Spirit, while in all universe activities the Son and the Spirit are exquisitely fraternal, working as two equal brothers with admiration and love for an honored and divinely respected common Father.

Rick Warren wrote: So, is truth love? Is love truth? God is truth. God is love. God has to be both, and so much more we are told. And we are also told the Spirit of Truth moves us to love:

Love is a relationship, the greatest relationship in existence and truth is its proclamation, its living assertion in reality. Love is a relationship and truth, the Spirit of Truth, is a revelation of that relationship. Truth is always a revelation. Divine love is manifested to us by a growing recognition of and choice for truth, beauty and goodness.

p1615:5 143:6.4 And again and again he impressed upon them that love is the greatest relationship in the world—in the universe—just as truth is the greatest pronouncement of the observation of these divine relationships. 1:4.5 The God of universal love unfailingly manifests himself to every one of his creatures up to the fullness of that creature’s capacity to spiritually grasp the qualities of divine truth, beauty, and goodness. 110:3.7 Choosing to respond to divine leading; sincerely basing the human life on the highest consciousness of truth, beauty, and goodness, and then co-ordinating these qualities of divinity through wisdom, worship, faith, and love. 2:6.5 Truth exhibits God as a revealer, as a teacher. But love gives and craves affection, seeks understanding fellowship such as exists between parent and child. Righteousness may be the divine thought, but love is a father’s attitude. 196:3.29 But love, divested of truth, beauty, and goodness, is only a sentiment, a philosophic distortion, a psychic illusion, a spiritual deception. 143:1.4 Truth is a liberating revelation, but love is the supreme relationship. 56:10.20 To finite man truth, beauty, and goodness embrace the full revelation of divinity reality. As this love-comprehension of Deity finds spiritual expression in the lives of God-knowing mortals, there are yielded the fruits of divinity: intellectual peace, social progress, moral satisfaction, spiritual joy, and cosmic wisdom. The advanced mortals on a world in the seventh stage of light and life have learned that love is the greatest thing in the universe — and they know that God is love.

 

Thank you Bonita, your clarity, and back up quotes, are inspiring and appreciated. You appear to have that “conviction of truth” that comes with the Spirit of Truth:

…The new teacher is the conviction of truth, the consciousness and assurance of true meanings on real spirit levels. And this new teacher is the spirit of living and growing truth, expanding, unfolding, and adaptative truth…. ^{180:5.1 (1949.3)}

The Spirit of Truth’s work is to lead us into greater spiritual realities and loving service. Following this lead causes us to reveal new beauties of living and teaching, to ourselves and others. As Bonita pointed out, when we teach and live truth, we immediately grow in understanding and capacity for even greater truths and more refined expressions of beauty and goodness. The Spirit of Truth multiplies our effectiveness as teachers and it augments our comprehension of the central message Jesus brought to Urantia–that God is everyone’s Father, that all are family. Said Jesus:

“…and they will follow after the Spirit of Truth which they see in your lives, to the finding of eternal salvation….” ^{191:6.2 (2044.3)}

Cosmic love always grows, adapts and changes, even on a world like ours where evil has taken root. We must choose love–truth, goodness and beauty–no matter what world we are on, no matter what circumstances we find. This is the ascender’s challenge. But this choice will not, cannot, be forced on us. When we do choose the Spirit of Truth as our guide, it becomes a light and comfort forever, but most especially when conflict and trouble comes. From this choice comes our growth in spiritual reality.

When the Spirit of Truth descended on Urantia on the Day of Pentecost the apostles knew it. Peter declared it and they all went to the temple at Jerusalem to spread the good news with new vigor and fearless conviction. Everyone since then has had access to the Spirit of Truth because it is never out-of-date. The Spirit of Truth is always more than sufficient to guide us through each new difficulty with certain conviction. And it was designed so each generation will be led to restate the saving truth of the gospel that declares God is our Ultimate Father.

The authors give new and greater meaning to the word conviction.

***

Richard E Warren

[Bonita]

Nicely written Rick.  I think genuine religious experience creates conviction because it is the experience of having a relationship with reality.  Truth is a spiritual level of reality.  When the mind recognizes reality there is a solid response. Which reminds me of a discussion begun long, long ago and never finished, with someone named Nigel.  Have you heard of him? Is he still alive? Does anyone know?

[Nigel Nunn]

Hi Bonita – following along closely!  Busy preparing for scientific symposium, June 2-5.

PS: great work with Soul thread

Nigel

[Richard E Warren]

Bonita wrote:

Nicely written Rick. I think genuine religious experience creates conviction because it is the experience of having a relationship with reality. Truth is a spiritual level of reality. When the mind recognizes reality there is a solid response. Which reminds me of a discussion begun long, long ago and never finished, with someone named Nigel. Have you heard of him? Is he still alive? Does anyone know?

Nigel Nunn wrote:

Hi Bonita – following along closely! Busy preparing for scientific symposium, June 2-5.

PS: great work with Soul thread

Nigel

He lives! We are comforted by yours and his life, faithful teachers and students of our new revelation, WHICH, several times mentions the Spirit of Truth is a real and present spiritual comforter. This is one place where we find differences between the two indwellers of our minds. In the Adjuster Papers, Melchizedek says straight out, the Adjuster is not in us to give comfort:

…It is not the mission of the Mystery Monitor to smooth your ruffled feelings or to minister to your injured pride; it is the preparation of your soul for the long ascending career that engages the attention and occupies the time of the Adjuster…. ^{(1192.1) 108:5.6}

The SofT is here, at our center, to offer comfort, but under what circumstances?

 …This bestowed Comforter is the spiritual force which ever draws all truth seekers towards Him who is the personification of truth in the local universe…. ^{(377.9) 34:4.5}

But what exactly does the Comforter do? Sooth feelings? Minister to pride? Probably not.

Can comfort actually be felt within? How? When? Have you experienced this?

.

Richard E Warren

[Bonita]

Rick Warren wrote:

Can comfort actually be felt within? How? When? Have you experienced this?

Oh for sure!  Many times daily.  I inherited some of my mother’s anxieties, which I intellectually know are a waste of time, but they creep in from time to time.  Every time they do, I hand them over, yell “help!” and feel immediate comfort, a genuine release of fear, a sense of security and a little bit of whimsy, meaning: don’t take yourself so seriously, this is not a worthwhile activity, there are answers to every problem, and you know where to find them.  It always calms me down knowing that I am being looked after and that the universe is a positive and friendly place, that effort applied in the right way will definitely pay off.  It hits home every time.

It’s what I call my personality assurance . . . I know I’m gonna make it and there’s hope everyone else will too.  It’s about confidence, courage and strength, no second guessing because I know with certainty the direction I’m supposed to go. For me, it’s the direction pointing that helps the most.  It’s like the coach saying, “keep your eyes on the ball, it’s over here.”  It takes the burden off the brain running around in circles looking for a clue.

Jesus said, “Come to me.”  I truly think he meant that.  It may seem silly, but I go to him with everything, even though I’m sure he’s not really interested in everything.  I let him decide what’s worth thinking about.  I decide what to act on, but I let him guide the thinking.  How?  I turned my life into a prayer long ago.  I don’t remember how or when it happened, so I think it was gradual.  But I ain’t ever goin’ back no matter how crazy people think I am.  It’s the only way to live.  At least it’s the only way for me.  My brain was fried in that awful accident 20 years ago.  Without him helping me, I’d be a total mess.  I truly believe these words with all my heart:

“If your own mind does not serve you well, you can exchange it for the mind of Jesus of Nazareth, who always serves you well.” (48:6.26)

“If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. From the Father above I bring to this world the water of life.” (162:6.1)

“I always stand near, and my invitation-call is, and ever shall be, Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am true and loyal, and you shall find spiritual rest for your souls.” (163:6.7)

 

 

[Author]

Posts