Deluded, confused, distracted and confouded

The power, persistence and intensity of the Prayers of St. Patrick remind us that Patrick came to Ireland when it was ruled by the Celtic peoples when Ireland was full pagan and under the domination of the Druidic priesthood.

Patrick and his communities came under full spiritual attack from the spiritual leaders of the Celtic peoples who were not about to surrender Ireland or give up their longstanding cultural position of power without a fight.  There was warfare.  Clearly every form of curse, witchcraft, spells and works of iniquity were hurled against Patrick and his fledgling communities.

That he not only survived this onslaught but that his initial community grew to be two and then three until Ireland was eventually converted attests boldly to the victory of Christ over witchcraft.  We need this testimony today when we are ignorant both of the evil powers of witches and wizards and of how to mobilize the strength spoke of in this prayer.

We have lost the knowledge of the reality behind this prayer.  Things have been forgotten that should not have been forgotten.  We live deluded, confused, distracted and confouded - as aliens to the things of God and prayer.

In all other times of history men have used spiritual powers to gain victory in war and for other purposes.  The war continues, the battles is engaged.  Many Christians of the scientific culture of today are in a delusion of denial of the reality of this battle.  Christians who come under attack from curses are slow to acknowledge it, get confused opinions from their spiritual leaders and are not equipped or protected against the attacks.

We need to remember those things that have been forgotten and learn to enter into the victory stance of St. Patrick.

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

___________________________________

Knowing him - the narrow way that leads to life.

A pastor trained at Westminster Theological Seminary  felt called by God to “contend for the gospel,” which is sort of code for pursuing debate with fellow pastors, elders, and congregants to make sure the appropriate level of precise theological orthodoxy was being maintained.

His professor, Peter Enns, questioned whether  contending and debating without ceasing was the best way to spend one’s life in service to God’s people.  Enns believed that to live in a near constant state of theological vigilance, ready to strike down a brother or sister for (perceived) theological failings seemed not only a colossal waste of the one life God has given us, but at odds with what the Bible makes a big deal of.

I agree with Enns that something is wrong.  In fact, I believe that much is wrong.  That it is seriously wrong.  That we not only miss love but do not get to 'know' Jesus.

The 'church' when its focus is getting the 'right' theology is wrong --- because God wants a personal face to face relationship with his people.  

Jesus is God's ultimatum to 'head-knowledge-religion' that God is fed up with  'head-knowledge-religion.' IN the now we can only know him personally and not through moral behaviour, doctrinal purity, religious observance and the 'law.'  Such without the Spirit, without grace, without love all leads to death.  

Sometimes we can see and feel the death in our 'church' experience.  One observer: " the pulpit ministry was heavy-handed, the “counseling” was a spiritual version of corporate micromanaging, and the church discipline was all-too frequent. In retrospect, it was like the Bible was used as a spiritual “anvil” that people were laid upon in order to beat them into conformity to it versus trusting the Spirit to do it in his time."

Only intimate knowing of Jesus leads to life.  

Jesus is God's "No!" to the old way.  Enough is enough.  The door to God through right knowledge, right behavior, religious performance, attending the right church,  is now closed.
We must know him as well as his disciples knew him.  That is the narrow way that leads to life.  The secret to that knowing is not shared from 'church' pulpits.