The Essence of Biblical Spirituality: A Journey of Balance, Wisdom, and Inner Peace

Concerning the BIble’s philosophy, I am often asked about the essence of its significance. There are real seekers out there, seekers not merely curious about the Christian theory or its preconceived notions; they yearn to grasp the meaning behind the Bible's spiritual understanding. This exploration reveals a fascinating shift in human comprehension, where traditional views of spiritual intelligence and devotional beauty are giving way to deeper inquiries into the fundamental counsel and wisdom embedded within the Bible.

The core of the BIble’s philosophy is about achieving balance within the devotional and the natural self. Consider that the ultimate goal of the Bible is to harmonize the human condition through the personal discovery and application of its wisdom. This can be perfectly encapsulated in one powerful sentence from Psalm 119:165: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Possessing the law (in context, philosophy) of the living God bestows a unique peace that fosters balance. But what is this law? While it might seem natural to link David's words to the Mosaic law and its associated religious practices, doing so would be a misinterpretation. The law given by Moses did not inherently increase peace.

True peace is added to our minds when we exercise the Bible’s words. The peace that is given from such an act arises from a desire to know the intention within those words, leading to our edification. Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes, "Without faith it is impossible to please him," while Galatians 3:12 reminds us, "The law is not of faith." Relying on written religious laws, which is the standard religious experience, to find peace ultimately leads to disappointment and spiritual unrest, as it fails to fulfill the promise of edification through self-regulated learning.

David, the psalmist, understood this profound truth. He speaks of a deeper law that brings peace to the inner self, as seen in Psalm 51:6: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom," and Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

It's crucial to remember that "the law (religious law) is not of faith" (Galatians 3:12) and that "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23); to the Bible’s mind, all religious law is defined as “sin.” The law David speaks of is a principle of mental creation and renewal, a counsel that nurtures personal faith, affecting the inward parts of our devotional life, fostering wisdom, and adding peace when we fully embrace it.

Paul's illustration of the living God's chief apostle suffering on the cross serves as an allegory for our personal spiritual journey. In Galatians 3:13, Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us," echoing Deuteronomy 21:23: "He that is hanged is accursed of God." This crucifixion symbolizes the rejection of the belief that adherence to written religious laws justifies and satisfies the experience.

Understanding this allegory means recognizing that sincere justification and peace with the living God, ourselves, and others is through a different path than a traditional religious experience. Romans 3:20 asserts, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight." Instead, peace is achieved through a wisdom that fosters inner creation and renewal, as Paul describes in Romans 8:2: "The law of the Spirit of life…hath made me free..."

The law that adds peace is the law of the Bible’s life. When we engage with this law or principle, we move beyond the prescriptions of Moses, embracing the healing character within the Bible’s words. David connects this wisdom to creation and renewal because true peace emerges when our minds are refreshed by the Bible's philosophy, as Ephesians 4:23 advises: "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

David's prayer reveals the mission of achieving balance through spiritual renewal. By cultivating a new devotional mind, we instruct our inner self to regenerate and reform. Handling the Bible's words personally allows us to move beyond the general human and religious state, described in Romans 7:15: "That which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

This imbalance is corrected through mental regeneration, freeing our minds from "philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men" (Colossians 2:8). In doing so, we can focus on the Bible's words, gaining knowledge and applying it to our lives.

In this pursuit of balance and renewal, we find the true essence of biblical spirituality—a journey of balance, wisdom, and inner peace.

The Myth of the Virgin Birth and Its Allegory Explained

Scene from the Temple of Luxor at ancient Thebes in Egypt, built by Amenhotep III

In the age-old tale of a virgin conceiving a child, lies a captivating allegory transcending popular theology. The Bible (originally Genesis to Malachi) doesn’t talk about or support a miraculous virgin birth. It talks about a profound journey of mental conception through acquiring wisdom. I’ve actually detailed this subject in a presentation.

The origin for the virgin birth is clearly stated, in four separate scenes, within the temple of Luxor built by Amenhotep III, a Pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty. I will quote a passage from Gerald Massey’s book to give you an idea of what this scene depicts:

“The first scene on the left hand shows the god Talit, the lunar Mercury, the divine Word or Logos. in the act of hailing the virgin queen, announcing to her that she is to give birth to the coming son.

“In the next scene the god Kneph (in conjunction with Hathor) gives life to her. This is the Holy Ghost or Spirit that causes conception; Kneph being the spirit. Impregnation and conception are made apparent in the virgin's fuller form.

“Next the mother is seated on the midwife's stool, and the child is supported in the hands of one of the nurses.

“The fourth scene is that of the adoration. Here the child is enthroned, receiving homage from the gods and gifts from men. Behind the deity Kneph, on the right three men are kneeling and offering gifts with the right hand and life with the left. The child thus announced, incarnated, born, and worshipped was the Pharaonic representative of the Aten sun, the Adon of Syria, and Hebrew Adonai, the child-Christ of the Aten cult, the miraculous conception of the ever-virgin mother personated by Mut-em-Ua.” Massey, G. (1886). The historical Jesus and the mythical Christ, or, Natural genesis and typology of equinoctial Christolatry. (32/33)

In Egypt, before a Pharaoh would impregnate his wife, he would leave the bedroom and go into a secret room. He would wash in “holy water” and anoint his entire body with “holy oil.” After doing so, he would exit this secret chamber, return to his wife, and have intercourse with her.

Pharaoh does this routine because, by washing and anointing himself in the “holy ordinance,” his body becomes a “vessel for God.” “God” now inhabits his body. The seed shooting out of him and into his wife becomes the “seed of God,” hence the wife of Pharaoh is impregnated by “God” and “their child” immaculately conceived. This is the scene depicted at Luxor. The tradition of this mythology was inevitably passed down and adopted by the writers of the gospels.

The Bible doesn’t discuss such a concept of birth, but rather highlights a birth as found in the saying, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Jn.3:6). This is a concept transcending realms of superstition and religion, representing a deep union of the mind with the scriptures and with its self. The Dawn of Devotion tackles the Bible’s concept of birth, further answering the question: “What exactly does it mean for a ‘virgin’ to ‘conceive’?”

The issue of birth and of conception are issues having to do with the growth and the development of the mind. Only by introducing acquired wisdom and understanding into the mind can one know the intended “birth.” The child of the “Holy Ghost” isn't a mythological product. These terms need to be understood in their philosophical context to grasp the learning experience our belief should have.

Terms mean much to the narrative within the Bible, and concerning this particular subject, The Dawn of Devotion, calling the Bible into action, makes sense of them. Through its narrative, we're invited, as we look at not the experience of the fiction character called “Jesus,” but at the real man, to ponder the nature of mental conception. What is learned is that true understanding emanates from the heart of the mind. The folklore written within Matthew and Luke is supposed to assist their readers in understanding the allegory therein.

Jesus: The Son of Joseph or The Son of David?

With my book, The Dawn of Devotion, hitting shelves this week, I am still wanting to touch on certain subjects that it brings out. The Bible is full of wisdom, where every verse holds layers of meaning waiting to be uncovered. One such puzzle lies in the relationship between Jesus and Joseph, as highlighted in the book of Luke. It is here that we will look into this intriguing narrative, shedding light on how the Bible, above mere biological ties, emphasizes deeper philosophical and spiritual bonds between individuals.

Deciphering “Son” and “Father” in Biblical Context

The Bible often employs symbolic language, inviting readers to look beyond surface meanings to find the reality. In Luke, Jesus is described as being the “supposed” son of Joseph, and yet David is later referred to as his “father.” This weird situation sparks a journey of understanding, where “son” and “father” transcend their literal definitions.

Philosophical Bonds Over Biological Ties

Within the Bible, “son” and “father” often symbolize spiritual relationships rather than biological ones. The scriptures speak of individuals as a "son in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2), emphasizing a mentorship or stewardship dynamic rather than a blood connection. Again, the wife of Isaac, Rebekah, was also told that the two sons within her shouldn’t honestly be thought of as literal boys, but as denominations. This sheds light on the nuanced nature of familial terminology within the Bible .

Adam as a Precedent

The genealogy presented in Luke traces Jesus' lineage back to Adam, the first man. Adam, created from the dust of the earth and infused with a certain breath, serves as a precedent for biblical “sons” who represent spiritual successors rather than direct descendants. This spiritual lineage underscores the profound connection between what is human and what is devotional.

The Breath of God and Spiritual Activation

Adam, as the first son of God, received a certain breath that animated his being. However, his failure highlighted the need for a deeper spiritual connection beyond mere existence. The Bible teaches that true strength comes from being strengthened within the inner man, emphasizing the importance of spiritual enlightenment for true vitality. It is in Ephesians where the counsel to be strengthened with Spirit, with even the same Spirit that animated that Adam, within the inner man is given. If it is the inner man that is to awaken, this again allows us to know that Adam’s sonship wasn’t literal, but philosophical, making him not the first “man,” but rather the first “mind.”

Jesus, the Chief Apostle

In contrast to Adam, Jesus is heralded as the living God's chief apostle, imbued with that same transcendent and omnipotent breath. His words emphasize the transformative power of spiritual enlightenment, offering a path to wellbeing beyond natural or routine religious confines. Jesus' designation as the Holy Ghost’s “child” does not highlight his origin as being otherworldly, but highlights his mind as being aligned with what is inwardly well.

Creation of a Clean Heart

The cleansing and renewal of the devotional conversation’s heart is the Bible’s central theme. The psalm, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), underscores the transformative power of the Bible’s words, leading to spiritual renewal and enlightenment.

David's Lineage and Spiritual Legacy

Jesus' connection to David extends beyond biological lineage to embody a spiritual inheritance of understanding. The saying, that Jesus should be of the "house of David," symbolizes a philosophical lineage passed down through generations, ultimately culminating in continual spiritual culture.

A Wise Continuation

From Adam to the prophets, the blessing and commandment of the scriptures have been passed down through faithful individuals, culminating in Jesus as the highlighted messenger of what has been passed down. His ministry embodied the wisdom and teachings of his spiritual predecessors.

Building the Inner Temple

The wisdom that was passed down to the real Jesus focused on building the inner devotional temple, where the Bible’s wisdom should reside. Hearers are advised to honor the Creator from out of the spirit of their mind, undergoing spiritual renewal and transformation through diligently studying and applying what is retained.

Conclusion: Embracing the Divine Name

The topic of the meaning of the terms “son” and “father,” in relation to the nature of Jesus, is a complex and intricate subject that Dawn of Devotion covers. Sonship and lineage ultimately transcend biological ties to refer to a relationship similar to one mentally or spiritually being the product of another. Joseph wasn’t the literal father of Jesus, but was his religious father. David wasn’t the literal father of Jesus, but because Jesus adopted the philosophical mindset of David, David became his father in thought, in act, and in feeling. By understanding how the Bible speaks, we can easily follow the Bible’s narrative, being able to better align our learning experience with its intention.

I have a powerpoint presentation on understanding the nature of Jesus’ life and birth.