Update: New Blog Site

As of September 24th 2012, the New Thought Ministries blog has been moved to our website www.newthoughtministries.org.  Come visit us!

Dr. T.

Living The Paschal Mystery In Divine Wisdom

Reference Scripture: James 3:13-4:3, 7-8, 'Two kinds of wisdom'

Key Verse: 'But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy' (James 3:17).

Introduction

In today's Epistle, James discusses how witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, could live their lives in harmony with God's plan and will for their lives. The unifying faith needed, to fulfill God's design and plan for mankind and all creation, was revealed, taught and modeled in Jesus Christ as Messiah. Unifying mindsets are revealed in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit. Proper Christ-centered mindsets produce harmonious relationships. Proper behavior and good works are produced as witness follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit (John 10:14-21, Mark 8:31-34, Romans 8:12-17).

Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based conduct produces good works

To James Christ-centered, spiritual mindedness produces true faith. In the context of the Gospel of Christ as revealed in Jesus Christ, true faith brings self-effacement, humility, meekness, compassion, surrender and obedience to God's will. True faith provided the proper mental alignment for the descent and incarnation of the divine wisdom, which is from above. Divine wisdom bring spiritual understanding, virtues, spiritual fruit and good works in human lives and relationships (James 3:13-14).

Worldly wisdom produces works of the flesh

In contrast to divine wisdom, worldly wisdom is human wisdom. To James, human wisdom is flawed, because it is grounded and established in the inappropriate, left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. Human wisdom produces competition, conflict, envy, strife and bitterness, hypocrisy, and envy within witnessing paschal faith communities.  Out of evil human hearts proceed not only false professions of faith, but also evil mindsets, destructive human relationships and the devastating works of the flesh (Romans 8:1-11, Galatians 5:19-21, James 3:15-16).

Divine wisdom produces spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit

When witnesses follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit, purity and impartiality prevail in their witnessing paschal faith communities. Agape love, gentleness, loving kindness, sincerity and peacefulness are characteristic of relationships in these faith communities. In true wisdom, seeds of peace, righteousness and spiritual formation and maturity and sown. Spiritual gifts and discerned and used to not just build up the body of Christ, but to also bear the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-26, James 3:17-18).

Evil desire is the source of conflicts and strife

The inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh is the source and perpetuation of mankind's alienation and separation from the Godhead and one another here on earth. The mortal, carnal and worldly mindsets of the mind of the flesh, do not please God and cannot fulfill God's plan and will for human lives and God's creation, here on earth. The mind of the flesh impedes and destroys the prayer life of witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities. Contentiousness, evil desires and strife arise from the inappropriate dominion of the mid of the flesh, within witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout our planet earth (James 4:1-3).

Submit yourselves to the Godhead's plan and will for your lives

James ends his discussion about divine wisdom and worldly wisdom by admonishing witness and all witnessing paschal faith communities to repent and submit to God's will and plan for their lives, as revealed in Jesus Christ. He advises them to resist evil and embrace the spiritual cleansing of the Word and the Holy Spirit. He assures them if they steadfastly follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit, they will not only avoid double mindedness, they will also purify their hearts and fulfill God's will and plan for their lives (James 4:7-8).

Conclusion

Are you willing to be an iconoclast and intrapreneur within your witnessing paschal faith community?
Will you follow Jesus Christ and lay down living your life in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion and human wisdom, of the mind of the flesh? Are you ready and willing to steadfastly follow Jesus Christ and take up living you life in the right-brain hemisphere dominion and divine wisdom, of the mind of the spirit? James assures every witness that if the do these things, they like Jesus Christ will be called beloved Sons and Daughters of God, in Christ. They will fulfill God's will and plan for their lives in divine wisdom (Mark 8:31-34, 9:30-32; John 10:14-21).

Related Articles:

Season of Pentecost, Proper 20

http://prayerbookguide.wordpress.com/

Your Brain-Are You In Your Right Mind by Beverly Golden