being right a thoughtful sermon

cire perdue · 05-25-2011, 09:39 AM

If one who is in a power struggle with an institution could only become detached enough to see that the fuel that usually powers the struggle is worthless. That fuel is usually the issue about being right, "...but I'm right." I keep saying over and over that agruments are not enough to hold the reality of spiritual topics. We see challengers on the Forum who are
engrossed in winning arguments and being right. Of what worth is it to win an argument and lose one's soul. I and a family member mutually analyze each other at times. We can point out painful things and be rewarded with the response, "You're right!". Recently I laughed and said how useless it was to be right. Would it change the other person for whom you pointed this out? It could make them worse. Humans are in a spiritual process of growth. We are going to be absolutely right about things at times, yet be spiritually dead. The bridge in these gaps is love. It is the love Abdul'baha showed us.

We are going to fail in our spiritual progress, it shows us where we need work. I had a discussion with a Christian today and though I said I believed in Grace, I said salvation is not free. I was wrong. Though at the time I did not know it. What was not free at the time for me was that my salvation is not comprehensible to me. I wanted to use examples of the child molesters in churches that I know of. I could be right using those examples, but I would lose that argument in the long run. With some thought I found that salvation is free and I do not have the last word on this issue, God does. If I am power struggling with an institution I am wrong, there is more I need to know, it may take time. Westerners have such trouble with authority figures, we need to leave it behind. We have to solve our personal issues to do that and not repeat our issues with authority figures with our precious institutions.

LordOfGoblins · 05-25-2011, 10:27 PM

I think it is important to know that noone can really tell the station of another individual.
The story of the man on the cross who recognized Jesus at the last hour and ascended unto heaven is a good way of showing this.
Anyway Baha'u'llah says that does man think if he says I believe he shall not be put to the test. Is it enough to believe in Jesus to gain salavation? Well there is a problem in saying either yes or no to this question. The problem in saying 'no', although a Bahai might be quite certain that they are right, is that it presumes to judge how God can and will treat that person after they die. How can we know the station of the individual? It is Gods place to judge who gains salvation ultimately. All we can really know is that to turn to the manifestation of God for the day will be better for us. It shows we are detached from imitating our forfathers. Then to put into the practice his laws is a step futher.
But ultimately 'noone knows what his end shall be'...

"We are only human striving to become Gods..."

BlinkeyBill · 10-26-2011, 07:40 AM

I like what you say dear friend.

Baha'u'llah was once asked to judge between two groups of thought, as to who was right.
From what I understand He said if they both agreed they were right, if they disagreed they were wrong.

aidan · 10-26-2011, 10:18 AM

Very inspirational Cp thank you.All my life I have struggled with authority which often led to my physical and spiritual demise.None of you have any idea the magnitude of the work of The Master Craftsman in guiding me lovingly to the place where i accept whole heartedly the teachings of our wonderful Baha'i Faith

05-25-2011, 09:39 AM	#1
cire perdue Senior Member Joined: Sep 2010 From: Louisiana Posts: 1,618	being right a thoughtful sermon If one who is in a power struggle with an institution could only become detached enough to see that the fuel that usually powers the struggle is worthless. That fuel is usually the issue about being right, "...but I'm right." I keep saying over and over that agruments are not enough to hold the reality of spiritual topics. We see challengers on the Forum who are engrossed in winning arguments and being right. Of what worth is it to win an argument and lose one's soul. I and a family member mutually analyze each other at times. We can point out painful things and be rewarded with the response, "You're right!". Recently I laughed and said how useless it was to be right. Would it change the other person for whom you pointed this out? It could make them worse. Humans are in a spiritual process of growth. We are going to be absolutely right about things at times, yet be spiritually dead. The bridge in these gaps is love. It is the love Abdul'baha showed us. We are going to fail in our spiritual progress, it shows us where we need work. I had a discussion with a Christian today and though I said I believed in Grace, I said salvation is not free. I was wrong. Though at the time I did not know it. What was not free at the time for me was that my salvation is not comprehensible to me. I wanted to use examples of the child molesters in churches that I know of. I could be right using those examples, but I would lose that argument in the long run. With some thought I found that salvation is free and I do not have the last word on this issue, God does. If I am power struggling with an institution I am wrong, there is more I need to know, it may take time. Westerners have such trouble with authority figures, we need to leave it behind. We have to solve our personal issues to do that and not repeat our issues with authority figures with our precious institutions. Last edited by cire perdue; 05-25-2011 at 09:56 AM. Reason: hit enter

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05-25-2011, 10:27 PM	#2
LordOfGoblins Senior Member Joined: Dec 2010 From: Australia Posts: 1,318	I think it is important to know that noone can really tell the station of another individual. The story of the man on the cross who recognized Jesus at the last hour and ascended unto heaven is a good way of showing this. Anyway Baha'u'llah says that does man think if he says I believe he shall not be put to the test. Is it enough to believe in Jesus to gain salavation? Well there is a problem in saying either yes or no to this question. The problem in saying 'no', although a Bahai might be quite certain that they are right, is that it presumes to judge how God can and will treat that person after they die. How can we know the station of the individual? It is Gods place to judge who gains salvation ultimately. All we can really know is that to turn to the manifestation of God for the day will be better for us. It shows we are detached from imitating our forfathers. Then to put into the practice his laws is a step futher. But ultimately 'noone knows what his end shall be'... "We are only human striving to become Gods..."

10-26-2011, 07:40 AM	#3
BlinkeyBill Junior Member Joined: Oct 2011 From: Santiago,Chile Posts: 29	I like what you say dear friend. Baha'u'llah was once asked to judge between two groups of thought, as to who was right. From what I understand He said if they both agreed they were right, if they disagreed they were wrong.

10-26-2011, 10:18 AM	#4
aidan Senior Member Joined: Jul 2011 From: n ireland Posts: 413	Very inspirational Cp thank you.All my life I have struggled with authority which often led to my physical and spiritual demise.None of you have any idea the magnitude of the work of The Master Craftsman in guiding me lovingly to the place where i accept whole heartedly the teachings of our wonderful Baha'i Faith