The Precursor
March 2001
Religion & the Word
ALL RELIGION IS OF THE LIFE, and the life of religion is to do what is good" (Life 1). This opening statement from The Doctrine of Life has, perhaps, been quoted more times than any other sentence in the Writings. Like any quotation, though, the danger is that, taken out of context, it can be misunderstood. Indeed, at times people have seriously misunderstood this statement about the life of religion, using it to argue that what a person believes and thinks is not of any particular importance. This is not what the Doctrine of Life teaches. Just a few words later, it is said that "the man who lives aright thinks aright, not only about God but also about his neighbor" (Life 1).
To separate religion from what we believe and think is to misunderstand the very nature of religion. Religion has to do with our relationship with God. Indeed, the very word "religion" is, most likely, derived from a Latin word, religare, meaning "to bind back." Through religion we are joined re-joined to the God who created us.
Religion goes right to the very purpose of life itself. The Lord created us so that He can lead us to Himself in heaven. He wants us to become angels, and to live in heaven one day, because there He can dwell with us, dwell within our hearts and minds, forever and ever. The very purpose of religion is to "promote and accomplish this end" (Coro. 40).
The Lord wants to come close to us. More to the point, the Lord wants us to come close to Him. He wants us to be joined to Him in a relationship, a relationship in which we love Him and open our hearts to Him, and walk with Him along the path of life. Religion is this relationship:
"...what else is religion than walking with God?" (Coro. 40).
This is why revelation is of fundamental importance to the life of religion. Religion is not simply a matter of muddling your way through life on your own, trying to live the best life that you can. The life of religion is to walk with God. And we cannot walk with Him unless we know Him, think about Him, learn about Him, and acknowledge and have faith in Him.
For this reason, throughout history the Lord has appeared and revealed Himself, and taught people about Himself. "The Lord Jehovih has appeared at the beginning of each of the four churches of this earth. This is because God is the All in all of the church and its religion" (Coro. 47). He appeared in visions to the peoples of the Most Ancient and Ancient Churches. He appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai. Eventually He appeared fully here on earth, assuming for Himself a body of flesh and bones. Finally, in the fullness of time, the Lord appeared to Swedenborg, and, through him, revealed His love and His wisdom revealed His Divine Humanity in all its glory. Each time that the Lord appeared, He taught people about Himself. He instructed them, telling them how to walk with Him along the path to heaven:
. . . it is an abolute necessity that God should manifest Himself, and thereby cause Himself to be acknowledged, and after acknowledgement should inspire man with His Divine influence, and by this, received in the heart, lead him at length even to Himself in heaven; all which cannot possibly be effected except by instruction. (Coro. 48)
For us this instruction from the Lord is to be found within the pages of His written Word. When we turn to the Old Testament, to the New Testament, to the Heavenly Doctrines, what are we doing? We are learning about the Lord. We are, in a very real sense, receiving a vision of Him. He comes to us and shows Himself to us through His Word. " . . . it is through the Word that the Lord is present with a man and is conjoined with him, for the Lord is the Word, and as it were speaks with man in it" (SS 78).
To put it simply, the Word is how you see the Lord. Pick it up. Read it -- read it every day. Read from the Old Testament. Read from the New Testament. Read from the Heavenly Doctrines. Think about what the Lord says. Study it. Cherish it. Enjoy it. Love it. Within the pages of the Word you will find the Lord. He will show Himself to you. You will get to know Him. And then you can walk with Him. You can live your life knowing that He is with you every step of the way. You can live your life knowing how it is that He wants you to live.
When you have the Word and read it every day, you can live your life by letting the Lord hold your hand and letting Him lead you further along the path to heaven every single day, closer and closer and closer to Himself. This is the life of religion.
Our tendency is, of course, to think of uses in terms of external things. This is because, when we do something useful, we do something in the external world. But a use is only a use if it serves a purpose. And there is no purpose unless it fulfills a desire, or a love.
Even if you wash the dishes, one of the more mundane of worldly chores, you are doing it for a purpose. You are doing it partly so that things will look tidy, and tidy surroundings are pleasing to the mind. You also wash the dishes so that people can eat off them, and be nourished. In either case, you are washing the dishes from a love of helping and pleasing other human beings.
This doesn't mean that when someone is washing the dishes, he or she is necessarily filled with feelings of charity and love. Ultimately, though, the things we do are motivated by love. And if within what we do there is a desire to serve others, then, deep down, the uses we perform in this world are not really natural things at all. They are spiritual. They are things that come forth from a love of helping others, a love that is an image of the Divine love. We are doing what the Lord wants to be done. The work we are performing, the uses we are performing, are His uses. In performing these uses from a sincere heart, our love touches the source of all love, the Lord Himself. Our lives, our actions, have become part of the Divine purpose -- that people should serve one another.
Therefore, if we are to find the Lord and draw close to Him, we must be of use. In heaven we will all be assigned our uses. And on earth, during most of our lives, we have jobs which should be our primary way of serving our fellow human beings. But usefulness must extend beyond this. Our whole philosophy of life must be a search to be useful to others. Before we start work, when in school, we should strive to learn so that we can be of greater service as adults. When we have finished work, after we retire, we must continue to seek for ways to be of service to others. If we should lose our jobs, we still must strive towards the same goal -- to be helpful to others in some way. Even when we are sick, and can do very little, there are still some things we can do, which will bring happiness to others.
Where is the Lord? He is everywhere. He is with you when you worship, for in worship you learn from His Word, focus your mind upon Him, and gain the knowledge and determination to do His will. But you cannot find the Lord in such worship alone. You will only find Him if you go out and determine to do what you can, do as much as you can, to serve, not yourself, but those around you. It is in uses that the Lord is present, with His love and with His wisdom.
The Lord is everywhere, for His love is universal. He is with you wherever you are. But if you, in turn, are to be with the Lord, if you are to turn to Him, then you must live a life of love. You must live a life of use.
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
Editorial (c) 2001 by Patrick A. Rose.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the church building. Classes for those in high school and for younger children are available upon request.
The Reading Discussion group meets normally twice a month. We are currently reading from the Old and New Testaments during our sessions. There is no advance reading, but please bring a Bible with you.
If you are scheduled for a specific job and are unable to be there, please could you find a substitute, and, if possible, notify the pastor in advance. Thank you.
Trustees please note the later meeting date this month.
Sat. Mar. 10 General Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: "The First Four Sons of Jacob." Suggested reading is AC 3854-3882 [Arcana Coelestia]. Refreshments: Jane.
Sun. Mar. 11 Divine Worship. 11:00am. Usher: Harris. Sunday School: Shirley. Sunday School Subject: See Jane. Flowers: Jane.
Tues. Mar. 13 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible. No advance reading.
Sat. Mar. 17 Privately sponsored event. Homeopathic Study Group. 10:00am. All welcome.
Sat. Mar. 24 General Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: "Internal Sense of Exodus." Suggested reading is AC AC 6627-6671 [Arcana Coelestia]. Refreshments: Jane.
Sun. Mar. 25 Divine Worship. 11:00am. Usher: Max. Sunday School: Gillian. Sunday School Subject: See Jane. Flowers: Jane.
Tues. Mar. 27 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible. No advance reading.
Wed. Mar. 28 Trustees. 7:30pm.
Sat. Mar. 31 Women’s Guild Rummage Sale. 9:00am.
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Engagement
Patrick and Gillian Mayer of Cincinnati Ohio are happy to announce the engagement of their son Hylton to Patty Seo, daughter of Dr. Youn and Sung Seo of Lima Ohio. Hylton and Patty met at the Medical College of Ohio. A November wedding is planned.
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