Introduction

Emcee19 said:

Hello, I’m Emcee. As I conceive it, Christianity is a broad, diverse tradition and has likely been diverse from the earliest days after Jesus’ death. I’m interested to learn about the conceptual frameworks, pertaining to Christianity, that others have, and about how they influence others’ day to day lives.

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Welcome! Happy to answer your questions!

Emcee19 said:

Hello, I’m Emcee. As I conceive it, Christianity is a broad, diverse tradition and has likely been diverse from the earliest days after Jesus’ death. I’m interested to learn about the conceptual frameworks, pertaining to Christianity, that others have, and about how they influence others’ day to day lives.

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Beloved one, Christianity I would not describe as a concept.

This is what Jesus said to His disciples:

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:10-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So those whom Jesus spoke that have not been given, the Lord spoke in parables but those whom Jesus spoke that have been given the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.

So Christianity to those who didn’t understand, they consider only as parables. But to those who understand Christianity, we know that we have been given the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

Welcome

Emcee19 said:

Thanks for your feedback.

When I say that Christianity is a conception, I don’t mean to say that it is necessarily my fictional concept or any other’s fictional concept. Even the realest thing to you (say, an emotion of peace or joy) can be called to mind as a concept at a later time (when you’re no longer feeling the peace or joy, you can still be aware that there is such a concept as peace or joy).

So, no matter how real it is to “have been given the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven,” it doesn’t mean that you can’t also share it, as a concept, with me, even if I haven’t experienced whatever it is you(‘ve) experience(d), which you call “the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven” (which I do understand is a scriptural term, not your own coinage — my use of quotation marks isn’t meant to indicate sarcasm or doubt).

While it’s understandable that I cannot (at least in my current state of awareness) experience another’s experience, and so cannot verify their “[having] been given the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven,” I will simply say that I don’t often enough witness (the best way I know of judging anything to be ultimately true or at least coherent) Christians acting out of such a state in a way that would evidence it. Unfortunately, with rare exception, they are mostly as vice-laden as anyone else who doesn’t claim to be Christian.

So then, to me, your criterion of what ‘Christian’ means is, Having been given the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, and it is only one possible conception of Christian/Christianity among others, with mine being one of those others.

I feel it important to let you know that I mean no snark or any ill-will in my response. I know that the nuances of verbal communication are lost when reading, and it’s easy to take something not meant as an insult as an insult. Rather, I mean what I say when I wrote that I am interested to know how any one’s conception of Christianity influences how s/he lives his/her day to day life.

I accept that you experience whatever is meant by ‘having been given the mysteries of the kingdom of God’, and would welcome any way that you can articulate that experience, even as I believe that some experiences are ineffable and cannot be articulated.

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Let me share with you,
Parable of “a city set on a hill”- from Matthew 5:14-15, that you may perceive the mystery of the kingdom of Heaven.

This is what we have heard:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. -Matthew 5:14

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. -Matthew 5:15

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

We heard the Lord “in the same way” that means our Lord told us there is a parallel relevancy by what He said in regard to Matthew 5:16 and what He previously has said in Matthew 5:14 and 5:15.

Since the Lord testified that we are the light of the world, so we should let our light shine before others.

Since the Lord testified that we, city set on a hill that cannot be hidden so those who dwell in a city set on a hill should let our light shine before others.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house
so that others may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven.

In this same way, we can draw understanding the parallel relevance that the Lord wants to understand.

Despite that, if paused for a moment when the Lord said,”You are the light of the world.” Won’t we be amazed at His testimony of us !

In the same way, the Lord have said this :

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -John 8:12

So, the Lord is saying that we are like Him who is the light of the world. For whoever follow the teaching of our Lord
will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

How does the Lord able to believe that we are the light of the world?

This is what we have heard:

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
-Psalms 36:9

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, -Proverbs 6:23

In the Lord’s light, we perceive His teaching that His reproofs of discipline are the way of life.

That is why He asks to deny ourselves, take cross and follow His teaching.

Considering what He said next in the parable : “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. “

Let us consider the meaning of a city : From Psalm 107:4-9, we find a city where man dwell in, where the Lord satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.

For a city set on a hill. This is what we have heard:

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? -Psalms 121:1
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. -Psalms 121:2

So, we ascertain those who dwell in a city who get their help from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

So, “the city set on a hill cannot be hidden” could be paraphrased:
those who dwell in a city cannot hide that they get their help from the Lord.

Matthew 5:14 that says:
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. “
When paraphrase for clarity:
Those who dwell in a city who are enlightened by the word of kingdom. They cannot hide that they get their help from the Lord.

Matthew 5:15 that says:
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. -Matthew 5:15

When paraphrase for clarity:
“Nor do people who are enlightened with the word of the kingdom hide it under a fruit basket but as a witness and its witness give understanding to all in the house.”

Or for more clarity:
Every people who are enlightened with the word of the kingdom manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
For they will stand as witnesses that gives understanding to all in the house.”

Matthew 5:16 that says:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

When paraphrase for clarity:
In the same way, let our good works shine before others, so that others may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

Welcome!

Emcee19 said:

Hello, I’m Emcee. As I conceive it, Christianity is a broad, diverse tradition and has likely been diverse from the earliest days after Jesus’ death. I’m interested to learn about the conceptual frameworks, pertaining to Christianity, that others have, and about how they influence others’ day to day lives.

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Welcome to CF, Emcee. Thankful you are here!

Emcee19 said:

SANTOSO, I appreciate the connections of the scripture passages that you’ve laid out, all the more so if those are your own discovered connections. I acknowledge that it can take careful reading and study — and devotion — to do so.

I try to be careful to make a distinction between, on the one hand, whether any given New Testament author/editor had certain scriptures (e.g., of the Hebrew Scriptures) that I may well think he/they had in mind when he/they are using certain words, phrases, clauses, and/or constructions, and, on the other hand, whether I myself am the one who is reading those connections into the New Testament authors’ texts (called eisegesis). In this way, I am careful not to limit the possibilities of what the author might have meant by using a word, phrase, clause, or construction by committing myself to only understand it in the light of a similar reference in another text (as, for instance, similar words/themes between The Gospel according to Matthew, The Gospel according to John, Psalms, and Proverbs).

Nonetheless, if I understand you correctly, I agree with you that Christianity is essentially (and not merely as an aside!) meant to be lived out, and lived out in such a way that others are influenced to glorify God as the one who prompts such acts. I think that acts of love, and at the very least justice, evoke such glorification of God, much more so than mere words alone; these acts shine the light of God.

I’m not sure whether or not you meant your response to remain on the topic of “distinct conceptions of Christianity”, (and even if not, please know that I accept your characterization of Christianity, at least in the summary form that you’ve presented it, as legitimate), but with regard to distinct conceptions of Christianity, I will say that there are denominations within Christianity for whom witnessing to God by good actions of love, justice, and other virtues, is not essential.

For me, such a conception as this would make it quite a different conception of Christianity than you and I would present (even if we come to find that, in other ways, your conception and mine differ). And the fact of this difference accords with the outlook that I posted in my introduction that there are a variety of conceptions of Christianity, and there likely have been such a variety since the time of Jesus’ ministry and/or death.

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Beloved one, though there are many denominations and non denominations, I still would not describe Christianity as concept.

Christianity is based on the person and the teaching of Jesus Christ. And Jesus is not a concept.

Despite there are many denominations and non denominations, this is what we heard still stand :

But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." -2 Timothy 2:19

So regardless any denominations or non denominations, everyone who call Jesus Christ as Lord, should depart from iniquity.

May God’s peace be with you.

Welcome to CF. If you wish to discuss with me, you can post directly via conversation. If you want to invite more people to discuss on what you are concerned or you share, you can create a thread.

I do enjoy talking to you.

Hi and welcome here.

Emcee19 said:

SANTOSO, I appreciate your focus on the importance of upright action/behavior and abstaining from harmful actions/behavior (iniquity) as essential to Christianity, as evidenced by your choice of scripture quotes.

By your saying, “Jesus is not a concept,” I get the sense that your are still misunderstanding what I mean by a concept, but I get the sense that it truly is a semantic difference, and that the Christianity that you live according to is very similar to the Christianity that I live according to.

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Beloved one, since Christianity is about the teachings of Jesus. This is what we have heard:

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Teaching has been Jesus’ ministry, that He has been ministering to us His covenant, which was established on better promises.

Let us hear again what Jesus has taught:

“He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So Christianity to those whom have been given, they know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.

As Jesus continued that He said:

“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So whosoever have the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, to him
more will be given, and he will have abundance of the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.

Why Jesus was concerned that He taught, that we have these mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven ?

For we heard thereafter Jesus said:

“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:13-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If we have the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven and continue to have abundance of the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, the eye and ear of our hearts will understand and perceive, that our hearts turn so that Jesus should heal us.

So we perceive and understand that the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven is not for intellectual edification but for our healing.

Let us have these mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, that the Lord gave, for the abundance of the mysteries of kingdom of Heaven bring healing to our hearts, that we may be blessed.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

Emcee19 said:

SANTOSO, it seems fairly clear to me that the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven is crucial to your understanding of Christianity.

How would you describe what these mysteries are? Are they the metaphors by which Jesus describes the value of the kingdom? Are they the behaviors and dispositions of those who will be worthy of the kingdom? Or are they something else, in your opinion?

Also, how, would you say, could one verify that s/he has the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven? What would this ‘having’ be like?

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Beloved one, the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beloved one, having the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven or having the gospel is to have Jesus Christ or to belong to Him.

For we heard :
“Let a man so account of us,
as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For we are stewards of the mysteries of God, or we can also say that we are stewards of Christ.

As apostle Paul have said :
“by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

Beloved one, let me share a parable that Jesus have spoken, that you may understand the mystery of the kingdom of Heaven.

Parable of the Hidden treasure
Matthew 13:44

This is the parable we heard :

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. -Matthew 13:44

The kingdom of Heaven like treasure hidden in a field -
neither our Lord speaks about treasure in Heaven nor the treasure in your heart. But He speaks about the treasure hidden in a field, where in the parable of the wheat and weeds in Matthew 13:38, He had explained the field is the world.

Likewise, we have heard in the parable of the wheat and weeds:

He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, -Matthew 13:24

He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. -Matthew 13:37

Likewise, when our Lord speaks about the parable of hidden treasure, the man that found the treasure hidden in the field and covered up is the Son of Man.

Since when we know the Son of Man who found the treasure hidden in the world and covered up, the most likely thing we would like to know what treasure the Son of Man have it hidden and covered up in the world ! ?

This is what we have heard:

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; -Exodus 19:5

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His name. -Malachi 3:16

"They shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares His son who serves Him. -Malachi 3:17

So, the treasure that the Son of Man find are those who obey His voice and keep His covenant and who feared the LORD and esteem His name.

Why is this treasure considered hidden in the field ?

This is what we have heard:

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:3

Therefore, those who obey His voice and keep His covenant and who feared the LORD and esteem His name - their life is hidden with Christ in God. For they have put to death their old nature, and they are new creations in Christ Jesus.

This is what the Lord spoke about whom the Father has given Him :

I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. -John 17:14

That is why the world do not recognize us who belong to Christ because we are hidden with Christ in God.

Then we heard the Son of Man goes in joy and sells all that He has and buys that field in Matthew 13:44.

How He goes in joy and sells that He has and buys that field ?

This is what we have heard:

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:2

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. -1 Corinthians 6:20

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, -Revelation 5:9

For the Lord Jesus Christ, who for the joy set before Him, give His life that He has as a ransom, in order to buy that treasure hidden in the field.

Why the kingdom of Heaven is like
treasure hidden in a field ?

The kingdom of Heaven signifies the heavenly work of Christ through His church to make known the word of His kingdom.

For Christ is doing the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven.

So, remember that those who obey His voice and keep His covenant and who feared the LORD and esteem His name are the treasure in a field that the Son of Man found and covered up. Then in His joy He goes and sells all that He has and buys that field.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.