tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030257666913290314.post8245223713858477865..comments2024-03-11T07:53:25.838-04:00Comments on Spirituality, Dreams and Prophecy: The Spiritual Meaning of Works in Scripture, and Why Protestants have it WrongDoug Webberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11071107950046910342noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030257666913290314.post-20603563646417311492016-09-22T17:05:42.962-04:002016-09-22T17:05:42.962-04:00Hello Martin, I noticed that too, at least in the ...Hello Martin, I noticed that too, at least in the sermons and books I have seen, not enough emphasis on the Lord. Experience may vary. However it is odd because in the New Church the Divine Human is the central doctrine of everything. Perhaps due to trying to give a more universal message? Not sure.<br /><br />As for works of self effort, Swedenborg says this:<br /><br />"Man must shun evils as sins, as if from himself, and yet know and believe that he does so from the Lord" (Doctrine of Life, n. 22). The important thing here is "as if." As long as we acknowledge all good we do is from the Lord alone, and done for the sake of being useful, it is not hypocritical or self-meritorious. It is important, as it is the Lord alone that allows us to resist evil.<br /><br />But you are right, once the Lord is removed, people start considering their own self ego as the purpose of all their actions.Doug Webberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071107950046910342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030257666913290314.post-62305392723386941152016-09-21T18:36:01.437-04:002016-09-21T18:36:01.437-04:00In some parts of the New Church it is clearly taug...In some parts of the New Church it is clearly taught that the way of salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ for as Swedenborge says we cannot overcome by our own power but only by The Lords power in our lives AC 3927<br />However in much of the New Church throughout the world both religion and as a consequence The Lord are at best down played at worst written out of Swedenborge and all that is left is a religion of self achieved good works.Martin Pennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02539688370288149250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030257666913290314.post-64515693193335602112016-09-01T09:27:19.200-04:002016-09-01T09:27:19.200-04:00You cannot simply be good and nice to all people. ...You cannot simply be good and nice to all people. In the New Church doctrines, love is always conjoined to truth. You are not being nice by doing good things to evil people who take advantage of others. The charity here is to reprove them, and if under the law, to punish. That is what doing good is to the evil means. This is known as the principle of "discriminate charity" - charity is exercised according to the quality and the need of the other person. This is the main mistake many religious teachers make.Doug Webberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071107950046910342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030257666913290314.post-90593717008595101492016-09-01T09:00:30.167-04:002016-09-01T09:00:30.167-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.NightFlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04353837222817533315noreply@blogger.com