How to Serve the Word in Christianity

[Hermit Philosopher]

Countless individuals have received the Word, and yet, only a few are chosen.
Receiving the Word is not an essential aspect of salvation or evangelism, outside of the fact that '...one cannot believe, if they have not heard...'.
Point is, comprehension an conviction are the integral dispositions required in order to gain any benefit from being exposed to the Word.

In other words, I have absolutely no idea as to what you mean, or where it is to be found, that Jesus ever said 'in order to receive the Word, you must serve the least'.
You are incorrect on both accounts: you do not receive the word by serving anyone, and whether you serve the greatest or the least is incidental to the efficacy of the act of serving in and of itself. Making yourself the least is the point in the latter case.

Receiving the Word does not guarantee any benefit whatsoever - for those who reject it, are worse off than if they had never received it.
Understanding and accepting the Word is what counts.

Is ”what counts” for what…?

To “serve” in a Christian sense, is to selflessly be of service to whomever one comes across - it is to live purely for others. Servitude that stems from self-interest (like a desire for God) is something different.

In your comment here, you speak of things like “benefit” and [personal] salvation. That puts all focus on the self and focus on the self is precisely what the Christian Word is not about.

The Word may dwell within, but is never reached through self-focus.


Humbly,
Hermit

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Most of what we serve is ourselves.
We may think we are serving others, but in reality we are exercising our own work ethics, fine-tuning our talents, refining our own character - the greatest benefit is to ourselves.

Ultimately I’m speaking to how to navigate the journey through the world within.

 

[idea]

It depends on what page of the book you are focused on. The humbled / degraded will be exalted. Those who are exalted will be humbled. Etc.

"The fundamental attribution error refers to an individual's tendency to attribute another's actions to their character or personality, while attributing their behavior to external situational factors outside of their control."

we're our neighbors keeper, we are all connected and responsible for one another

their downfall is our fault.
another's success is also our success.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Is ”what counts” for what…?

To “serve” in a Christian sense, is to selflessly be of service to whomever one comes across - it is to live purely for others. Servitude that stems from self-interest (like a desire for God) is something different.

In your comment here, you speak of things like “benefit” and [personal] salvation. That puts all focus on the self and focus on the self is precisely what the Christian Word is not about.

The Word may dwell within, but is never reached through self-focus.


Humbly,
Hermit

Here you are making the self least. Are you not? Then, does it not follow that serving the least becomes serving the self? This is how it’s supposed to work.

 

[idea]

Ultimately I’m speaking to how to navigate the journey through the world within.

Who we are, is who we are with others.
Our interactions define us.

Where 2 or 3 are gathered... no within, without

 

[Treasure Hunter]

"The fundamental attribution error refers to an individual's tendency to attribute another's actions to their character or personality, while attributing their behavior to external situational factors outside of their control."

we're our neighbors keeper, we are all connected and responsible for one another

their downfall is our fault.
another's success is also our success.

Nobody gets left behind.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Who we are, is who we are with others.
Our interactions define us.

Where 2 or 3 are gathered... no within, without

Two or three gather within as well.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

An essential aspect of the Word has to include the way to receive the Word. If I don’t know how to receive the Word, then how can I keep and follow the Word?

Holy scriptures, teachings, and rituals are in service to this task. They assist in the question of how to receive the Word. Once you can receive the Word, what else do you need besides the Word? “In the beginning... ... and the Word is God.” Is the Bible God? Is liturgy God? Or do they assist in relating to God, relating to the Word?

Christianity can be simply understood as people looking to Christ and asking, “How do I receive your Word?” In the Bible, Christ is clear that in order to serve him you must serve the least. In other words, serve the least and then you will receive the Word.

If you still haven’t decoupled the Word from the Bible, from liturgy, from the words of your priest/pastor, then you have yet to figure out how to serve the least.

Does Christianity claim to serve the Word? Serve one’s brother, follow Christ and worship God, yes; but serve the Word…?

Christian mystics would at times describe the Word as the “fabric of worldliness”. It was spoken of as the essence of manifestation and not as a linguistic term.

I suppose one could perhaps say that we “serve” the Word by experiencing the unfolding of our lives and witnessing what it means. But I have not myself come across the concept of “serving the Word” within Christian writings.


Humbly,
Hermit

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Here you are making the self least. Are you not? Then, does it not follow that serving the least becomes serving the self? This is how it’s supposed to work.

That sounds to me very much like a different religion to Christianity.

Humbly,
Hermit

 

[Treasure Hunter]

That sounds to me very much like a different religion to Christianity.

Humbly,
Hermit

Is Christianity different than following Christ, who associates himself with the least? If they are different, which should we choose - to follow Christianity or to follow Christ?

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Is Christianity different than following Christ, who associates himself with the least? If they are different, which should we choose - to follow Christianity or to follow Christ?

My reply there was meant a little tongue-in-cheek, but I’d say that wanting to live by the example of Christ is certainly what Christianity is about, yes.

Yet, when you read the Gospels, is that how Jesus is portrayed to you; as a self interested individual serving himself…?

There is a biblical character who does do that, but he is more present in older scripture and he is not described as Christ.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[Apostle John]

I would say ‘serve the word’ is very different to ‘receive the Word’

An essential aspect of the Word has to include the way to receive the Word. If I don’t know how to receive the Word, then how can I keep and follow the Word?

Receiving the Word is put simply in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 :

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”

If anyone accepts this wholeheartedly, they then just live like a Christian in faith as described in the Bible.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

My reply there was meant a little tongue-in-cheek, but I’d say that wanting to live by the example of Christ is certainly what Christianity is about, yes.

Yet, when you read the Gospels, is that how Jesus is portrayed to you; as a self interested individual serving himself…?

There is a biblical character who does do that, but he is more present in older scripture and he is not described as Christ.


Humbly
Hermit

The idea is not to serve the self. It’s to serve the least even if that includes the self. It’s a moving target.

Christ commands to love your neighbor as yourself. The command is not to love your neighbor more than yourself. When we focus on one, we inevitably neglect the other. The one who is neglected becomes the least.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

I would say ‘serve the word’ is very different to ‘receive the Word’

Receiving the Word is put simply in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 :

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”

If anyone accepts this wholeheartedly, they then just live like a Christian in faith as described in the Bible.

You are assuming that is the Word. To make an assumption of the Word, one must already have some level of knowing. That knowing must come from within.

The best that scripture can do is to assist us in knowing the Word within, not give us the Word. We recognize the Word in scripture, but that recognition is derived from a level of already knowing.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

The idea is not to serve the self. It’s to serve the least even if that includes the self. It’s a moving target.

Christ commands to love your neighbor as yourself. The command is not to love your neighbor more than yourself. When we focus on one, we inevitably neglect the other. The one who is neglected becomes the least.

Does Christ in Scripture command, would you say? Is it not rather a matter of leading by example?

Commandments, in general, are more an O.T. thing, if you think about it. God too is far less commanding in N.T.

I don’t believe I share your view on how Christ is portrayed in Scripture.


Humbly,
Hermit

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Does Christ in Scripture command, would you say? Is it not rather a matter of leading by example?

Commandments, in general, are more an O.T. thing, if you think about it. God too is far less commanding in N.T.

I don’t believe I share your view on how Christ is portrayed in Scripture.


Humbly,
Hermit

No problem. I won’t push any harder since I’m just a random person on the internet.

 

[Apostle John]

You are assuming that is the Word. To make an assumption of the Word, one must already have some level of knowing. That knowing must come from within.

The best that scripture can do is to assist us in knowing the Word within, not give us the Word. We recognize the Word in scripture, but that recognition is derived from a level of already knowing.

Christianity is not about assuming anything. It’s all about acceptance. If you accept the Word and that Jesus Christ died for your sins you gain entrance to heaven, the kingdom of God. No prior knowledge is needed or involved.

Serving is about earning treasure in heaven, as the Bible states. That’s totally different to receiving the Word.

 

[Windwalker]

I was flippant in my description, but I have been there. You have described it very well. It is a chapter in the story.

Where you are is not the Kingdom of Heaven, which there is a part of you that still desires. No matter how at peace you think you are, you’re surrounded by a world full of suffering and death. Justice must be served and the Kingdom is to be established throughout the entirety of the Earth.

Who are you to judge where I am in my spiritual life, considering I've not really described anything about my experience to you? The fact you are still judging others, shows some development left for you yet to be exposed. I definitely hear ego in this, "I've been where you are, and I'm much more advanced that you are now", type commentary.

What do you understand the kingdom of heaven to be? I'm pretty sure you have a different idea in mind than the way I understand what that is.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

What do you understand the kingdom of heaven to be? I'm pretty sure you have a different idea in mind than the way I understand what that is.

Eternal life. Fulfillment. Death defeated. The union of heaven and earth. Oneness. Wholeness. Justice.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

Christianity is not about assuming anything. It’s all about acceptance. If you accept the Word and that Jesus Christ died for your sins you gain entrance to heaven, the kingdom of God. No prior knowledge is needed or involved.

Serving is about earning treasure in heaven, as the Bible states. That’s totally different to receiving the Word.

You don’t need to gain entrance into the Kingdom. It’s your birthright since you have a soul. It belongs to you. If something belongs to me, I’m not going to accept conditions in order to receive it. I’m going to demand it as soon as I desire it. Let’s start there.

Now, I recognize that I’ve been separated from it, but since it belongs to me, at the level of identity, it calls to me. THAT is the Word.