"Love is the answer." People have been saying this forever, and yet I don't think it's quite understood.
Humanity has separated itself into two overarching categories: good and evil. Each individual human has been told they have a "good self" and a "bad self." Whether it's Christians saying they have an Adamic nature that needs to be saved and a Christian nature that is due to the blood of the Lamb or it's the Native American proverb about the two wolves inside of you fighting for dominance, most cultures have a concept of good and evil, right and wrong.
This separated interpretation of the world leads us to cut ourselves in two. I am "good" when I help others, have enough faith, intercede regularly, eat kale, etc. I am "bad" when I choose my own comfort over that of another, eat hamburgers, or even do drugs or hurt someone deliberately. My actions shift constantly and so my two natures must be warring within me.
Naturally, we want the "good" guy to win. All the religions, stories, and history lessons of humanity say so. Therefore, we align our will with the "good" self and attempt to beat our "bad" self into submission. Christianity and Islam both have practiced this literally by hitting themselves with whips out of penance for sins and other religious reasons. Most modern Christians have mellowed in this, and now only practice self-punishment mentally, verbally, or with strictures.
For example, in an attempt to eat healthier, most people put themselves on strict diets. There are more and less healthy ways to do this, with the worst being actual eating disorders (anorexia, bulemia, and orthorexia) and body image issues. I know when I was younger, I would put pictures of myself at a skinnier time on the fridge in order to "motivate" myself not to eat snacks. I've also looked at myself in the mirror and called myself names because I didn't like the way I look. This self-flagellation and self-loathing are as unhealthy as if I only ate pasta, cheese, and sugar for meals, and yet I think I am helping my "good" self conquer my "sinful, fleshly lusts" by doing so.
Other examples of attempting to punish and destroy our "bad self" include negative self-talk, guilt, recrimination, and anxiety. "I shouldn't have_____" played over and over in the mind. "Next time I will ________" coupled with strict guidelines on what will happen next time I encounter that situation. "I am so ____ (negative name here)."
The problem with this is that our "bad self" is still part of who we are. In fact, our "bad self" is not actually separate from our "good self" because we are only one self! Therefore, attempting to destroy, degrade, or punish our "bad self" actually destroys, degrades, and punishes our "good self." Self-loathing is not the answer! It never could be.
In fact, Yahshua never loathed anyone. He never looked at the part of humanity that we have deemed "bad/evil/sinful" and said that He wanted to destroy us. He only ever loved us. He only ever wanted to remind us of this Love and our Oneness in Him.
But wait! What was the point of the cross, then? Wasn't the whole purpose of the crucifixion to kill the "sinful nature" so that when He was resurrected (with us in Him) only the "good nature" would remain? No! See, the resurrection and the crucifixion didn't separate and destroy a part of who we are. It integrated us. We again were One. Not "good self" and "bad self," just self. As We were, are, and always have been before the foundations of the world.
But what about all those bad things "bad self" did? If I integrate with "bad self," then I will never stop doing those bad things! I can't love "bad self." That's enabling, greasy grace. That's saying Yahweh doesn't care if you do bad things. That's saying that we can do whatever horrible, sinful, evil thing we want and still be loved and accepted by Yahweh.
Yes, but no. First of all, "bad self" isn't doing bad things because of an inherent flaw in his or her being. "Bad self" is doing bad things because he or she doesn't have a full grasp of love. He or she has forgotten what the bigger picture of love is, has forgotten how to love and be loved. The way to stop "bad self" from doing bad things is, therefore, to show him or her more love. As your "good self" loves "bad self," they become one self. And your Integrated Self can continue to grow in Love infinitely, becoming more and more loving. Able to give and receive Love infinitely, we can now express infinite goodness, and all the bad things fall away. They are no longer desires because now Integrated Self has greater vision and understanding of Love and does not want anything less than the fullest understanding that he or she has.
But we must then be as Yahweh, loving all that we are no matter what.
Take a concrete example. I have known some drug addicts very, very closely. They took the drugs they did because of deep internal mental, emotional, and physical pain. They hated themselves for doing so. They felt guilty for taking the drugs, and so they attempted to stop taking the drugs by that self-flagellation. They tried to kill "bad self," which only added more pain on top of the original pain that caused them to feel like they needed the drugs in the first place. This cycle spiraled downward until it ultimately led to destruction of their whole self. It would have helped them more if they had been taught to love themselves and taught it was okay to love even the self that wanted desperately to be out of pain and took drugs to do so. As it is, society, religion, and culture taught them to fight their "bad self" and hate themselves. This cannot lead to permanent healing. This cannot lead to continuous growth with Yahweh.
Nobody wants to take drugs, overeat, hurt others, or do any type of "bad" thing. I have never known one addict who loved themselves. I have never known an obese person who was proud of their bodies deep down. I have never known someone who didn't feel incredibly guilty for doing any "bad" thing. I believe that people who truly love themselves will not need some external set of rules and regulations to keep them doing the "right" thing. They will not constantly be fighting their "bad self" and trying to hurt or destroy a part of themselves because they aren't on the "right" path. Instead, they Integrated Self will walk freely with Yahweh in paths of righteousness, led by the Spirit, full of health. Love for self and then love for others will abound.
Humanity has separated itself into two overarching categories: good and evil. Each individual human has been told they have a "good self" and a "bad self." Whether it's Christians saying they have an Adamic nature that needs to be saved and a Christian nature that is due to the blood of the Lamb or it's the Native American proverb about the two wolves inside of you fighting for dominance, most cultures have a concept of good and evil, right and wrong.
This separated interpretation of the world leads us to cut ourselves in two. I am "good" when I help others, have enough faith, intercede regularly, eat kale, etc. I am "bad" when I choose my own comfort over that of another, eat hamburgers, or even do drugs or hurt someone deliberately. My actions shift constantly and so my two natures must be warring within me.
Naturally, we want the "good" guy to win. All the religions, stories, and history lessons of humanity say so. Therefore, we align our will with the "good" self and attempt to beat our "bad" self into submission. Christianity and Islam both have practiced this literally by hitting themselves with whips out of penance for sins and other religious reasons. Most modern Christians have mellowed in this, and now only practice self-punishment mentally, verbally, or with strictures.
For example, in an attempt to eat healthier, most people put themselves on strict diets. There are more and less healthy ways to do this, with the worst being actual eating disorders (anorexia, bulemia, and orthorexia) and body image issues. I know when I was younger, I would put pictures of myself at a skinnier time on the fridge in order to "motivate" myself not to eat snacks. I've also looked at myself in the mirror and called myself names because I didn't like the way I look. This self-flagellation and self-loathing are as unhealthy as if I only ate pasta, cheese, and sugar for meals, and yet I think I am helping my "good" self conquer my "sinful, fleshly lusts" by doing so.
Other examples of attempting to punish and destroy our "bad self" include negative self-talk, guilt, recrimination, and anxiety. "I shouldn't have_____" played over and over in the mind. "Next time I will ________" coupled with strict guidelines on what will happen next time I encounter that situation. "I am so ____ (negative name here)."
The problem with this is that our "bad self" is still part of who we are. In fact, our "bad self" is not actually separate from our "good self" because we are only one self! Therefore, attempting to destroy, degrade, or punish our "bad self" actually destroys, degrades, and punishes our "good self." Self-loathing is not the answer! It never could be.
In fact, Yahshua never loathed anyone. He never looked at the part of humanity that we have deemed "bad/evil/sinful" and said that He wanted to destroy us. He only ever loved us. He only ever wanted to remind us of this Love and our Oneness in Him.
But wait! What was the point of the cross, then? Wasn't the whole purpose of the crucifixion to kill the "sinful nature" so that when He was resurrected (with us in Him) only the "good nature" would remain? No! See, the resurrection and the crucifixion didn't separate and destroy a part of who we are. It integrated us. We again were One. Not "good self" and "bad self," just self. As We were, are, and always have been before the foundations of the world.
But what about all those bad things "bad self" did? If I integrate with "bad self," then I will never stop doing those bad things! I can't love "bad self." That's enabling, greasy grace. That's saying Yahweh doesn't care if you do bad things. That's saying that we can do whatever horrible, sinful, evil thing we want and still be loved and accepted by Yahweh.
Yes, but no. First of all, "bad self" isn't doing bad things because of an inherent flaw in his or her being. "Bad self" is doing bad things because he or she doesn't have a full grasp of love. He or she has forgotten what the bigger picture of love is, has forgotten how to love and be loved. The way to stop "bad self" from doing bad things is, therefore, to show him or her more love. As your "good self" loves "bad self," they become one self. And your Integrated Self can continue to grow in Love infinitely, becoming more and more loving. Able to give and receive Love infinitely, we can now express infinite goodness, and all the bad things fall away. They are no longer desires because now Integrated Self has greater vision and understanding of Love and does not want anything less than the fullest understanding that he or she has.
But we must then be as Yahweh, loving all that we are no matter what.
Take a concrete example. I have known some drug addicts very, very closely. They took the drugs they did because of deep internal mental, emotional, and physical pain. They hated themselves for doing so. They felt guilty for taking the drugs, and so they attempted to stop taking the drugs by that self-flagellation. They tried to kill "bad self," which only added more pain on top of the original pain that caused them to feel like they needed the drugs in the first place. This cycle spiraled downward until it ultimately led to destruction of their whole self. It would have helped them more if they had been taught to love themselves and taught it was okay to love even the self that wanted desperately to be out of pain and took drugs to do so. As it is, society, religion, and culture taught them to fight their "bad self" and hate themselves. This cannot lead to permanent healing. This cannot lead to continuous growth with Yahweh.
Nobody wants to take drugs, overeat, hurt others, or do any type of "bad" thing. I have never known one addict who loved themselves. I have never known an obese person who was proud of their bodies deep down. I have never known someone who didn't feel incredibly guilty for doing any "bad" thing. I believe that people who truly love themselves will not need some external set of rules and regulations to keep them doing the "right" thing. They will not constantly be fighting their "bad self" and trying to hurt or destroy a part of themselves because they aren't on the "right" path. Instead, they Integrated Self will walk freely with Yahweh in paths of righteousness, led by the Spirit, full of health. Love for self and then love for others will abound.
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