Christian Philosopher

Must be praxis, the application or use of knowledge. Primary action is to practice poverty. The practice of poverty produces non-desire of material gain. No longer is one consumed with the action of aquiring wealth but spiritual gratification. First, seek the kingdom of God, then seek wisdom. To have the kingdom of God is suffecient, but to the philosopher it is not enough. Why am I doing the things that I am doing. For instance, corporate creed produced by organized religion. Corporate creeds are good and bad. The good is that it gives those without ime to have something to think about. The bad is that it stops one from seeking the King of heaven for themselve. Christianity is a self=centered religion that spreads out ward. I must get right with the creator!The way of the creator is manifested throught Christ. One must practice the truth they have recieved. The truth is the knowledge of God' true way.

To practice poverty does not mean to remain poor. Once, a person practices poverty, a new understanding of the words of Christ is unvieled to the seeker. The condition of poverty is a reality for many people, so they are not practicing but living it. However, it is not practiced, once one has the means to not be impoverised, then return to poverty a very different prespective is achieved. This develops a concept for the Christian and many that God does provide without us striving for material gains. In the post modern world we are consumed with the aquisition of wealth. The aquisiton of wealth has many reasons, primarily it provides a since of security to the individual. God provides this security.

Our free will as humans we want to accomplish things on our own, a since of independence, but none is truly independent. We rely on community and our community should rely on God. We desire to boast "I did this," but one truly has done nothing when seeing the natural beauty of the world around them. The aquisition of wealth has a blinding affect on the individual. No matter where an indiviual stands the are in the natural world. Many, tend to think the natural world is a place densly pack with plant life and animals. Humanity is the measurement of all things on earth, so looking at our community and our relationship with the community in a city is just as valid as watching earth worms and ants, more so. The relationship of humanity to nature, and self to nature and humantiy becomes easier when not consummed with getting money.

Poverty gives one the time to think. Just let yourself depend on God and see what happens. I know there is security.

Matthew 6 v 25 Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they are?

Poverty allows the Christian Philosopher to know the truth. Deminishing the desire for material increases the abundance of spiritual gain. I learn that submission to God one loses his self to find himself. All Christians do not have to do this, but the Christian philosopher must. We rely on faith and works. What we believe is true so we must do. We do the things we believe and we gain understanding. Christ governs our minds and actions. Overtime, we are moved by the entire trinity. We govern ourselves within the trinity.

To know ourselves we must discover the truth with time and guidance from Christ. Any one born in a Christian country is blessed.

The Christian philosopher is torn. The Christian philospher wants to do for God and do for humanity. It is being torn that makes a philosopher become a philosopher. The Christian philosopher is torn between service to God and service to humanity and searches for means to accomplish the two. To serve God is serving humanity but not all of humanity desire the Christian path so to help is difficult. To know God, one will know the institutions of humanity. The Christian philospher looks for means to put the institution of humanity in accordance with God.

Poverty gives the Christian philospher time to view the problem. Wealth gives a person the time to view the problem, but the wealth aquirred creates a torn position, because the person with wealth desires to preserve there wealth while trying to help. The ladder creates the condition of serving two masters wealth and God at one time. However, looking at the problem will give on the answers but frustration at the same time. To help humanity for God can become a meaningless endeavor. The world looks to be unsavable, so the Christian philosopher goes into isolation. For instance, a monk in a monastery. However, this is counter to the Christian way:

Matthew 5 v 14: You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it gives light to all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I ponder this parable alot. I have noted it before. In a world of darkness the darkness is the light and to see the light is darkness that must be prevented. The light among light causes competition who is the brightest light. Among the good and the evil I find despair, which encourages isolation and contemplation. The spirit puts me into action which I do not know until the last. I am learning not to complain, because I sought and found but did not know what I sought to be found.