East Village Spirituality

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

If you want to know what’s going on in the world, just look at graffiti.

I swear, take a walk through the Lower East Side of New York, and you’ll get a better and more accurate depiction of the issues than even Buzzfeed will report.

And let’s be honest here: I love a good street art display. Banksy has taken the possibilities of a spray can from a crude gang tag, to a high concept art instillation. While all the while remaining anonymous…and dodging the law.

#goals…except the whole breaking the law part lol


But as I was heading out to meet up with my friends this past Friday night, I came across some graffiti that literally made me stop and take a picture.

Because it reflected, what I personally believe, is the most detrimental way of thinking, that frankly is F-ing a lot of things up.

And that, is spiritual relativism.

The graffiti read:


Peace is my religion. My god is love. Tolerance my shield. Acceptance my sword. Hate is my pain. Ignorance my enemy and forgiveness my salvation.

Now, let me just pause. Everything this is saying, is good. We should embrace peace. Love. Acceptance. Forgiveness. Those are good things. Things we should strive for.

But frankly, what makes this so damaging, is that it is taking all the things that Jesus came and died for, and just kind of putting those watered down themes under this blanket of vanilla “spirituality.”

Spirituality nonspecific.

Spiritual neutrality.

Spiritual realitivism.

What are we doing when we take God out of what we believe?

What happens when we accept and embrace some of the teachings, and tie it up in a bow, and forget to say that God was the one who bought the gift?

Because that’s what’s dangerous about this relative way of thinking.

That message this artist tagged, it sounds really good. Really right on. Like, of course. Who in their right mind would argue with that?

Who doesn’t want peace? Or love? Or forgiveness. – Only a bigot would be against that. Only a nincompoop. 

But by being “spiritual” and relative, leaving God out of the equation, what are you actually doing? Really?

Living that way because it makes you feel like a good person? Okay, sure. Yeah, I guess I could get on board with that whole, meditate-for-spirituality-and-center-my-mind thing. Relax for 5 minutes. Focus on being “zen” so that I don’t freak out when there’s a line out the door at Starbucks or I get behind a perpetual slow walker on the sidewalk. #MoveItOrLoseIt,Tourists


But frankly…those reasons, they just fall short.

Because when you take God out of spirituality…it becomes about the self.

It becomes about how it makes me feel. How it can improve my life. How I can grow. I’ll do this to see what I can get.

And that, is the wrong approach.


True spirituality is about God. And honoring what He did. It is a relationship. How I can serve Him? How I can live out His will and spread His love to others? How can I worship Him? Knowing the price He paid for my freedom, how will I respond?

That’s the difference.

That’s where this spiritual relativism does a face plant into a pile of poo.

Or gets hit by a bus, a la, Regina George.

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Spiritual relativism, it allows what you feel to be true. This is my truth. This is my religion. My salvation. My truth.

It’s that precise thinking that leads to destruction.

I can vouch for that…having lived through a period of anorexia where my body image was my religion.

But hey, it was my truth right?

Wrong.

200-2

 

God reminded me that His truth leads to freedom. To life. To healing.

There was nothing relative about it..

It was absolute.

The East Village, with all its vegan restaurants and hidden alternative music venues, makes you believe you’re taking in air that is progressive. Innovative. On the cutting edge. And graffiti like this just adds to the confusion we’re facing, navigating this life.

It’s a slippery slope, relativism. Because when we take God out of right and wrong, out of our thinking, out of our world view, we’re setting ourselves up to fail. We’re inviting vulnerability. We’re opening morality up for interpretation.

So what are we going to do about it?

Maybe I don’t have a spray can, or the balls to break the law with my spectacular tagging skills, but I do have a voice. I do have the way I live my life. The words I speak. The way I treat other people.

And so do you.


Faith doesn’t have to be tagged on the side of an East Village bakery-by-day-speakeasy-by-night building. It’s tagged in our hearts. And maybe, just maybe, if we all let that show, we can stop the slippery slope. We can keep God from getting “relative-ized”out of the picture.

Because keeping God in spirituality doesn’t make us close-minded, backward thinking cotton headed ninny muggins.

It makes us children of God.

And that’s a tag I’m okay with.

 

 

 

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

372 thoughts on “East Village Spirituality”

  1. Children of God. Right there. God is absolute in this world where people want to define truth as relative. And that is so precious. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

    Sister, I just am amazed at how God gives you the words filled with grace and love and truth.

    Truly praying Philippians 1:3-7 tonight, ‘I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

    4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

    5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

    6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:’

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hey Emily! Wow, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. Seriously you have touched my heart with this and that beautiful prayer. So very grateful for you and your loving spirit. Hugs and love xox

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      1. Your faith is so strong! I am not sure whether I believe in God or not so I don’t share your certainty. I am trying to work out where that leaves me but I know I want to make a difference.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea that because an idea came from a human mouth and hands how does it make the message less just because it doesn’t enforce the idea that there is a god? The content is still there and functioning? is it the virtue of gratitude, service and godliness that makes it more? I don’t want to sound deluded by saying God made my sandwich today because —– reasons like he made man, gave me a chance at life, gave me purpose, handed me my destiny, gave me a wife, children and an experience in life that brought forth the sandwich. Now i need to prove with evidence somehow that he was there for all those accounts.. and that’s just unfair.

    “Peace is my religion. My god is love. Tolerance my shield. Acceptance my sword. Hate is my pain. Ignorance my enemy and forgiveness my salvation.” It’s sound. And just to me.. just because it doesn’t fit the “god made the world” dialogue doesn’t mean it’s wrong. You know god has also caused a lot of problems in the middle east.. there is a dark side to him.

    Sort of rambling now.. sorry for all the confusion. I guess I have more to learn about myself and grow then i thought.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. How to start this.. Isis is man made as is religion but based on an idea of Islam. Which is religion based on god. If you believe in God you take the complete pie of religion which includes Islam christianity and semitism. They are all believers of the one god opposed to Agnostic and Atheist opinion. You don’t hear that “my spiritualism is god from anyone”. You hear “my religion is christianity”. Spiritualism is separate entity. It cannot be said it is hand in hand with religon because you can find spirituality without god this is fact it has been done by Buddhist they exist. It seems everyone wants to Mish mash terms when it is convenient for them. Isis before bombing something use god to empower their act by reading verses from the Koran and killing in gods name. That’s your god also.. it is establish that one true god under earth is the same god the jewish and middle east praise. If you are going to argue about gods existence you have to fight for the whole package and the injustices of Israel doing to the middle east included. All in gods name.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. What BBB didn’t emphasize in this post is that Jesus did not consider peace and tolerance to be sufficient. It was necessary to “pick up your cross” and follow him. The goal, as many reform Jews also testify, is to heal the world.

      You also reference spirituality below. I think that if you delve deeply into the soul of Christ, you will discover that he has nothing at all to do with the political opportunism of Daesch. That people use God’s name as a prop to justify destruction does not mean that they represent the avatar.

      Finally, if we love everyone, we should love Jesus, and we shouldn’t blame him for everything done in his name.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You heal the world with kind words, helpful tips, facilities of education, recovery and health. Not glory filled words of conqueroring and zeal of righteousness. If tolerance and peace is not enough for god when we suffer famine, domestic abuse and mistreatment of women.. what is he really after? Complete absolute obedience and submission to his Almighty power of god? We need compassion and careful accessing of loving hands not power trips of I’m in the right and you need a little bit of god in your recipe as if there’s not enough god in everything you need to label it to claim glory for it.

        I know what christ’s message is.. it’s very clear to me. His message is redemption through his gift of life. Love and compassion. Forgiveness and simple kindness. He fed the poor. Healed the sick and blind and lived with humility. He also said he was a sword and means of conquest. Though what does it mean to you? And they are doing it in allahs name not Christ’s. Allah is synonymous with god. God means he fights for those who believe in God. Whether they use it as a prop or not they are tied to the source of which is they fight in the religious name of the force which “god exists” category.

        I don’t blame christ. Christ is just one life of a grander macrocosm. He is a link.. but not the chain. The people who fabricated the bible and changed the message of christ and altered fixed the book throughout history. (Namely constantine and his political agenda) Who distorted christs image and name are the actual chain. At the ends of those chains are puppets who work for this man made idol and the puppeteer who rolls in the riches for a system that is parasitic to constructive society. Though it doesn’t matter because god can hear you through whatever medium even if the knowledges in the book are made for medieval conquest.

        I don’t have a solution for you for imanent knowledge can never know more than the material. And the immanent material cannot be transcendant because of paradoxes. Not because it’s convenient but because the process loops in circular logic. Let’s just leave it at love christ. And hail god, let his rein be absolute and supreme. The talk will be too complicated and you have a very luke warm and very dodgy safe perspective. Hard to tell what you really desire.. just open up with your beliefs so I don’t have to prod and poke every word and cranny.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Based upon very few words from me, you make some strong judgments of me as a thinker and a person of faith. If you wish to know what I actually think, and how I engage with realms both spiritual and material, I suggest that you check out my blog. I think that you’ll find that we’re not so very far apart.

        And in the end, words aren’t the true measure of faith. I am doing the work, and in the end that has led me to the humbling realization that people just aren’t that important. We have a role to play, but it is in facilitating the manifestation of a potential that surpasses our means alone.

        Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks David! I really appreciate it. Yeah, things are quite sad in our world at the moment. I’m just sitting here right now with a heavy heart reading about everything going on all over the country and the world, and now in Dallas. Praying. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 2 people

      2. Hi David, yes, your father sounds like a wise man. I know, things are in such dire condition right now. I’m on vacation right now in a very remote location where the cell/internet service is spotty at best, so I’m not able to use the Internet without going into town. So you can imagine the horror and sadness when I opened up the news app to read allll that has been going on at once. My heart broke with sadness.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Here’s a replenishing hug, precious sister. Your heart is held with great love, always kept strong for where you can make an uplifting difference. I appreciate you so much for never being indifferent to suffering, but sometimes it is better to let go of the news, allowing the Almighty to be cleansing us of all uncontainable pain, silently sending through us [p.e.a.c.e.] to everyone we touch. I pray your Light is always lovingly [shielded] and attractive of everything and everyone you need to keep up your beautiful work my dear. ❤ Leon

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  6. Wow as ever BBB such powerful words ❤ loving the use of the word nincompoop hehe and as for the slow walkers, grace has shown me such patience with those, I never rush anywhere now I take my time and reflect on God's creation around me

    Liked by 2 people

  7. OH MY GRACIOUS YES. AMEN. 🙌🏻🙌🏻 Lady, you are right on – I’ve literally been thinking about this recently and was like, “Oh man, she better not side with the graffiti’s message.” Because most people would.)
    Anyway. Keep up the good work, and God bless! ❤

    Liked by 3 people

  8. I like your thoughts on this, there’s a powerful message in it. I think perhaps it’s not anti God, but anti religion. I think that the view of many is that just as government has been failing the people over recent times so has religion, which despite claiming to be about God has dome things which are more about ‘self’
    What do you think?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes true, mistakes have been made at all levels. but that’s because of people and their choices. Sin is in the world. God never changes, God knew what He was doing at the time of creation. We have strayed from Him and because of free will and the choices we make, it affects everyone. God bless.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi Simon, this is definitely an interesting perspective. I think “religion” per se is a tricky topic, because people have such strong opinions about it. I think that there can also be misconception about religion and traditions and sacraments, that from the outside may look one way, when the true meaning is misunderstood. I don’t know, I’m not an expert on the topic. I do agree, however, that the government has dropped the ball in a lot of ways. Who knows, those are my thoughts:) thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

      1. People do have strong opinions about it. The thing I find is that people tie God with religion which is often ancient and full of traditions as you say. There is nothing wrong with that, but a religion to me (I was brought up in a Christian church) is something made from man – it is therefore flawed.
        The other problem I had was that many religions want to converts others from their religions because they are the ‘right’ ones. This attitude has caused so many wars that it’s terrible.
        In my stage in life I have nothing against those who choose to worship however they like, but I don’t feel I can support a religion and is can hold me back from God being the person he wanted me to be. I’m hoping he will help make me into that person without having to adhere to the religious traditions that I struggle with.
        It’s always good to have a discussion on this. To me Jesus preached love and acceptance, it’s not for me to judge anyone. So that’s the way I live now. It’s hard, because out own values often need me to judge. This isn’t to say I accept any behaviour of course.

        It was great stopping by – love and hugs back at ya xo

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I agree-I love the discussions on here! And I’m with you-everyone’s relationship with the Lord is different, and I’m not here to judge either:) have a beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much! You’re right, it’s one of the “big three” you’re “not supposed to talk about” at the dinner table: politics, money, and religion. Let’s bring it to the table:) Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 2 people

  10. WOW!!!!! The mouth speaks what overflows out of your heart my dear. SPOT ON!!!!!
    Definition of a relativist………”one who does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate standard consists solely of one’s own ego and desires.” Relativism aspires to….The way you see God is based on what you think for yourself, it’s a projection of your mind.” (Pope Benedict) What’s wrong with this? . A ‘Relativist’ makes of life something that works for them……….. that there is no definite truth……. you discover your own path …making life something that works for you …If it doesn’t hurt anyone it must be right?? WRONG!!! THIS HAS A PROBLEM because each would then live according to his/her own truth. How can a society function justly and equitably like this???? How can a government rule and democratically formulate laws using a relativist’s view of the world? Where’s the order and consensus if everyone would do as they pleased? Today, in fact, truth is regarded as far too subjective a concept for us to find therein a universally valid standard. Everything is to some extent negotiable, so then we face the risk of having no standards. Well, we all know where that may lead, just look at the world in chaos today. Relativism takes the meaning out of life!!!! LIFE HAS TO HAVE A PURPOSE AND ULTIMATE GOAL—TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION WITH FATHER GOD IN HEAVEN. The real truth comes from the Word of God AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. GOD BLESS YOU ❤

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    1. Hi friend! Thank you so much for this powerful reflection. You’re so right- there is one goal and purpose in life, and that is getting to heaven with our father. That is such a powerful thought when you think about it. It really makes you stop and reevaluate the decisions you’re making/have made. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and love xox

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  11. I have to admit, relativism scares me stiff. Why? Because it can seem so difficult to say exactly when it’s wrong.
    When it has The One And Only God excluded from it. Thankyou, BBB, this is an amazing post. 🙂

    This is a little off track from your post, but I’d love to know what your real name is! (So like, not BeautyBeyondBones!) I understand if you want to keep your name secret like you have been, so I won’t be offended if you say no. All the same, I would like to know! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi friend! Thank you so much. You’re so right-that’s some scary scary stuff! So it’s funny, I was just talking with my mom today about revealing my identity. I still haven’t worked up the courage to do so just yet-soon I’ll work up the courage, but until then it’s just BBB:) I hope that’s okay. You’ll be the first to know when that day comes:) hehe sending big hugs xox

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Rajiv, thank you for sharing this. As a fellow “block go-around-er” 🙂 I can definitely appreciate having to try to figure out where to turn, who to trust, what/who I can rely on. For me, the only way I stopped “going around the block” was with God’s help-otherwise I’d still be stuck in those ways. Just some food for thought. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Hi, Yes and no to this – which I like for its focus on your utter belief in God, and in Jesus (both on the Cross and in his teaching ministry. But, I would go a little easier of the spirituality without God people, who are at least attempting to line up with the good of the planet, and often are actually generous and decent and not totally self-obsessed. But, again, you are much younger than me, and I have been where you are. Now I think that we need to all walk a careful path which is neither non-religious nor religious in fundamentalist way, because the decline of ‘organised religion’ and the rise of secularism have combined to take away what we once had. Both ends are fundamentalist or can be. Balancing in the middle isn’t easy, but it means a person is more open to others, accepting of inclusion, and from that place can witness effectively to Christ and make links with others. Just my thoughts, and hoping to be constructive!

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    1. Hi Mari! Thank you for this. I hope I didn’t come off as being harsh on people who are in the “spiritual” camp. That was not my intent at all. Because you’re right-they are lovely people who are trying to put good into the world and practice love and tolerance and peace. Those are good things and those people good people. It’s just that what they believe is missing God. But the people themselves are good people. After all, we all were created by God and deserve love and have great worth. It’s just their belief in pushing God out of the picture that I disagree with. I hope that clears it up. But you’re right, perhaps I should have been a little easier on them:) so glad you stopped by and thanks again for this perspective. Hugs and love xox

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  16. Do you ever read something that someone writes and just KNOW there is a lot of truth in their words. That’s this post. 🙂

    Truth!

    Your message that God is GOD…there is no one and nothing else. He desires us to be free IN and THROUGH His Son, Jesus. No other way. No other path. No other process. That Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father and the ONLY way to true, absolute freedom hits the proverbial nail on the head!

    I’m so glad that I found your blog because you’re a breath of fresh air.

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  19. This post is one of the reasons why I get so excited to see the emails from WordPress saying BBB has published a new post. You are awesome.

    I was raised in the United Methodist Church, baptized in two different denominations (by accident, I guess my grandparents were so excited that they wanted me to be baptized in their church in Florida, as well as the one my parents attended on Governors Island), and have attended many different services in different denominations over many years.

    I respect those who are religious, and those who are not. My husband doesn’t go to church with me. It took me a long time to accept that I wasn’t going to change his thinking, and even longer to get over other people’s thoughts about him not coming with me. He does believe in God. He earned his bachelor’s degree from a Christian university. Frankly, he knows a lot more about the Bible and religion, in general, than I do.

    I have this one friend who is an atheist. Over the years, he and I have had the most amazing conversations about religion, God, spirituality, angels, demons, and more. I always value his word. It makes me think. It puts my thoughts into perspective.

    I attempt to share my faith through my blog and through my actions. One of my favorite mottoes is the theme from one summer’s Carolina Cross Connection mission work: “Faith in action. Love in person.”

    Keep doing amazing things, BBB!!

    Love,
    Laura Beth
    hotshotheadlines.wordpress.com

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Laura, wow thank you for these incredibly kind words! What an awesome motto. It is especially fitting given everything that is going on in the world right now. Thanks for sharing your heart this morning. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  20. There’s a song that goes”..and they will know we are Christians by our love.”
    I think that says it all. Thanks for your visits and likes on my two month old blog. Your kindness is noticed and does matter!

    Liked by 3 people

  23. Coming from a background that included both Christianity and Judaism (full disclosure: I chose Judaism), I’ve always been interested in the difference in emphasis the two closely related religions take. Both care about beliefs and deeds, but not, it seems, in the same ratio. Christianity cares passionately about what you believe. It’s developed creeds and deep theologies. Judaism seems, at best, um, well–only mildly interested in theology. Maimonides did come up with something like a creed, but everyone’s been arguing about it ever since. So, overall, our emphasis is on doing.

    For me, that’s the right emphasis. I look at that sign and, while I might take some slight theological issue with it–well, that’s my problem, not the writer’s. If the writer lives up to the words, that’s a person who does the right things. Can’t ask for more than that. (Unless they’re Jewish, in which case I might point out that we could really use some help making a minyan tonight–but I won’t push too hard, because I get where ardently secular Jews are coming from.)

    All that said, this was a pleasure to read, as always. I admire the way you always speak your truth, even when I find myself disagreeing.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Jenn! Thank you so much for this great reflection. I love to hear about different perspectives and have a good healthy dialogue on BBB! I definitely resonate with “doing” as well. There’s something about walking the talk that really moves in my heart. It’s putting action to faith when things start happening. So glad you stopped by! Hope you’re having a beautiful afternoon! Hugs and love xox

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  25. I would warn you though I think you should focus more on your grounds for christianity to work with society and “self” who look out for practical humanitarian needs not concerned with what is beyond the human world (high heavens and god) than make enemies with it. Agnostic people are not your enemies and you have other priorities like the Atheist front and those other amongst you who claim to do gods will but do the opposite. Your religion is on a slippery slope to extinction if you press too hard and decide that god is the only element to your soup. Religion is in a decline and I know I’m probably barking up the wrong tree but understand life is not black and white. We should work towards coming together.. Working together and sharing the world with less prejudice and pressure for an idea that may work for everyone. Collectivity of man kind is essential and not it’s divided kingdoms will unite us and allow us to thrive. The world is not black and white it’s many shades hints and hues of color and grey. I feel you live in a very secure and peaceful almost privileged background. With very first world problems. I feel the only reason to defend this topic is because you feel threatened that the non religious are creeping into territory that you consider god’s. I respect and still love your opinions.. There’s just a bit of naive and innocent soul that needs to consider the situation more critically. You don’t want to separate and be too hard on the relativist that’s not where you start.

    With love and concern.
    Nam

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  27. I am not religious but I enjoyed this post. I work for my family and my true friends. I always consider “How do I protect them?” “how do I bring my daughters up better?” “How can I contribute more to my family and make our relationships better?”

    Spirituality without God is possible, If you have love in your heart and understand that we are here for each other.

    Your love for Jesus is such a force.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. God is a person, and there is no person in that “religion.” Love demands an object of love, which must be a person: and there is no person there. As for what he means by “peace,” I think I’d rather not know.

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  30. Great post 🙂 Spiritual relativism is not the right way to go If one wants to get closer to God. If one wants to get closer to God is read a few passages of the Bible (not for the whole day because it is impossible) and go to church every Sunday and take into account everything Jesus taught. One can not equal God or Jesus because let’s face it that is literally impossible, but to learn the wisdom of the lessons that both God and Jesus teach us. Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂

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  31. “That’s where this spiritual relativism does a face plant into a pile of poo” Great line. And this culture of spirituality has be a detriment for a while. It has not been addressed. This culture combined with luke warm believers has left us with a major cleanup on our hands! Keep the faith and keep shining your light!

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  33. I saw this last night Beauty and I was so pleased. I also am going to reblog at some point this morning when I gather all of my thoughts around it. I have been thinking (and replying to many) about the lack of an anchor in people’s lives. It is like living without a working constitution which is clearly has to be something beyond us as our own definitions of good never suffice. Thank you very much for posting. And I hope you won’t mind a repost from me. God bless you child.

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  34. Reblogged this on thesixfootbonsai and commented:
    Spiritual nuetrality is non-committal and if you were the creator of this universe how would this sit with you? If your children denied your existence and the direction you provided; attributed what you said to some general feel good meme how would you take it? Humans were placed on the same boat with a diversity– physical diversity, circumstantial diversity and more. We were provided a cox with amazing leadership skills to help us row together. If we do not listen and trust Jesus Christ our rowing team will fall apart and our boat will turn in circles. Let’s not pussyfoot around the matter! There is an ultimate truth.

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  35. I do tend to forget God. Or in other words, forget that I am but a part of the Whole. And hence the desired result of my actions and words may not be what I want. But if it is what God wanted, I should be happy, because that means that it is what I need. I know that, but I do need reminders. Like your post, thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  43. I love that you see how telling street graffiti is. Remember that Simon and Garfunkel line, “And the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls.” I would argue that the words you encountered in the East Village are not merely relativism but hostile toward “traditional” (God-centered) spirituality. There is an undertone of my god is better than your God. I’m not sure it’s even as subtle as an undertone. That being said, I think there are cases in art and rhetoric and writing and graffiti where Christ IS in the story and in the details, wrapped up and breathing into and lording over the whole darn thing, even when the creator is not a believer. How He pursues us before we even know it. I know I have found Christ in the most secular of hiding places. But not, I don’t think, on your sign in NY. Sad.

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    1. Thanks for this, Laura. You bring up some great points. True: I definitely can find God is art and music especially. Forms of worship for sure. Thanks for stopping by and for your great perspective. Hugs and love xox

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  44. Well done Beauty. I love your insight and clarity. This kind of pseudo spirituality is exactly what you have described, a clever way of justifying a totally self centered life. Two other great examples of this pulp is Imagine by John Lennon and the Ode to a Grecian Urn by John Yeats. This is truly very powerful Satanic deception dressed up as Angels of Light . Keep up the fight. your doing a great service for the Kingdom

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  45. Thanks for dropping by and the blog like. 🙂

    it’s obvious to me you are doing well on your path to reunion with God and i do like your level of understanding on this topic.

    I would like to point out though that the world is full of many different souls; amazing ( to me) numbers of whom are nowhere near your level of understanding and would deride your comments as religious #@$% if they ever even bothered to read them at all.

    I think the thoughts you repeated from the bakery have a place in some people’s lives, particularly the ones who currently feel hurt by religion and blame God, or those who have little to no sense of their spirit at all.

    Sure God can convert whomsoever he wishes at the time of His chosing, but there are many people in this world who simply are not yet ready to give up their swollen and or hurt ego’s enough to make room for God in their lives and debunking what they might believe in, right or wrong, probably won’t move them much.

    Your words ring true for those of us who have faith in God, by all means continue growing and sharing your wisdom, just consider there may just be a worthwhile place for the graffiti you spotted in that it might reach out to someone who desperately needs something to believe in and which might make them more open to what you (& God) are saying in their near future.

    Love.

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  46. Do you know what you just did with this post? You took an amazingly complex philosophical issue and boiled it down to what either side can lead to. Spiritual relativism, and for that matter–moral relativism, are all about the self. Both these force the individual to do one thing–look at the self and if it feels right to you, then do it. I don’t know you at all, but from what I’ve read on your site thus far–you are not the one to look and care about yourself anymore–your heart is for Jesus.Then, you went and asked the same question that Pontius Pilate asked of Jesus:

    “Truth? What is Truth?”

    And with this exact post you responded the same way that Jesus did–“All those who belong to the truth hear my voice.”

    This post truly amazed me and I love it. All truth belongs to God and it can be summed up in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. People try to spiritualize everything in today’s world and make it more complicated than God intended it to be–people just can’t wrap their minds around a God who would willingly lay down His life for men and women and children.

    Keep up the amazing writings! I enjoy and love reading your thoughts on things!

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    1. Wow, thank you so much for this kind comment! I am so touched by your words. you’re right – it is truly amazing to really think about what Jesus did for us. It brings me to my knees! thanks for stopping by! hugs and love xox

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      1. You are most welcome. For believers, our faith doesn’t only get stronger by just reading the Bible or praying, but from the encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Christ 🙂 Hoping and praying that you have a fantastic week!

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  47. Yes, yes and more yes. I love how you articulate these sticky topics. Your comic relief has impeccable timing.

    This whole I’m spiritual, positive energy, good vibes era is honestly a pet peeve of mine. What’s even crazier is that people often times know that this new religion, if you will, is self serving. How can I justify doing every single thing I think makes me feel good, religion. It’s in a gray area. Luke warm. People won’t say their atheist because that’s too extreme, but they’ve replaced God with “spirituality.” This way, if we just pretend that God doesn’t exist, then we don’t have to obey his commandments. We can just run rampant doing whatever makes is feel free. So often, we look to each other for approval, and we’re giving it to one another based off of a made up belief. That’s why we are perpetually searching for our freedom through physical and material liberties. People who truly find freedom, need not search any longer. I just wish that people would just give God a good college try. Like, really open their hearts up to him. There is nothing more freeing than being a child of God.

    Thank you, thank you again for this post! I will definitely be reposting this to my page!

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  48. This was a good post today, BBB, even for your blog! Something else I thought of when I read that inscription. Without sin there can be no forgiveness. If we are unwilling to confess our sins and repent we cannot be forgiven because we claim there is nothing to forgive. Period. That’s why God won’t do it.

    Plus, according to John–the Apostle of Love–we’re making God out to be a liar and the truth is not in us.

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