The Intolerable flippancy of the saved
Please listen very carefully, for I shall say this only once......(with apologies to Allo Allo!)
Something that I have to say. The many posts - not just here but on many other forums - by the self-proclaimed "saved" that constantly quote from the Bible about "false prophets", the power of the devil to deceive, of those who come in sheep's clothing etc etc etc. Each and every post reeking of the PURE PRESUMPTION that they themselves are totally "of the truth", of having dodged the wiles of the "deceiver", of being of the TRUE understanding of scripture.
Thomas Merton:-
But the magicians keep turning the Cross to their own purpose. Yes, it is for them too a sign of contradiction: the awful blasphemy of the religious magician who makes the Cross contradict mercy. This of course is the ultimate temptation of Christianity. To say that Christ has locked all doors, has given one answer, settled everything and departed, leaving all life enclosed in the frightful consistency of a system outside of which there is seriousness and damnation, inside of which there is the intolerable flippancy of the saved - while nowhere is there any place left for the mystery of the freedom of divine mercy which alone is truly serious, and worthy of being taken seriously.
Of course, should any such "believer" stray onto any section but their own, seeing this, will possibly cry:- Merton! A Catholic! A false prophet! Beware!
So be it. I've said it, just the once.
May true Dharma continue.
No blame. Be kind. Love everything
(Yes, I'm well aware of straying here from such words - but then, I actually have trust/faith in the pure mercy and grace of Reality-as-is)
Something that I have to say. The many posts - not just here but on many other forums - by the self-proclaimed "saved" that constantly quote from the Bible about "false prophets", the power of the devil to deceive, of those who come in sheep's clothing etc etc etc. Each and every post reeking of the PURE PRESUMPTION that they themselves are totally "of the truth", of having dodged the wiles of the "deceiver", of being of the TRUE understanding of scripture.
Thomas Merton:-
But the magicians keep turning the Cross to their own purpose. Yes, it is for them too a sign of contradiction: the awful blasphemy of the religious magician who makes the Cross contradict mercy. This of course is the ultimate temptation of Christianity. To say that Christ has locked all doors, has given one answer, settled everything and departed, leaving all life enclosed in the frightful consistency of a system outside of which there is seriousness and damnation, inside of which there is the intolerable flippancy of the saved - while nowhere is there any place left for the mystery of the freedom of divine mercy which alone is truly serious, and worthy of being taken seriously.
Of course, should any such "believer" stray onto any section but their own, seeing this, will possibly cry:- Merton! A Catholic! A false prophet! Beware!
So be it. I've said it, just the once.
May true Dharma continue.
No blame. Be kind. Love everything
(Yes, I'm well aware of straying here from such words - but then, I actually have trust/faith in the pure mercy and grace of Reality-as-is)