The Beauty of God

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

"One  thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple." 

(Psalm 27:4) 

Aesthetics is that branch of philosophy which deals with theories of beauty. At the beginning of 2014 I want to try and paint a picture of God's unspeakably infinite beauty.

I think it is safe to say that we all know beauty when we see or hear it, but it is a bit more of a challenge explaining what beauty IS. For example a beautiful sunset, a beautiful song, a beautiful woman, a beautiful novel, and so on. What is it that all representations of beauty seem to have in common?

When our children were young, we took great delight in the simple beauty of their stick figures. They somehow learned instinctively that symmetry was part of their goal to make the picture "pretty for mommy". I remember my children's stick figure drawings with much fondness, as I'm sure you do.

Consider other expressions of beauty. Normally, the more complex the beauty, the more intense it is. There is simple beauty and their is complex beauty...the more complex, the more beautiful it appears. For example, we marvel at the extraordinary wonderment of Michelangelo's "David".  Or we think of Rembrandt and how his balancing of light with dark was genius and the result was complex, intense beauty.

Think of music...in a symphony, the more instruments you have playing in sync with each other, the more extraordinary the beauty. Personally, I am more into classic rock. My favorite band is the Allman Brothers. Most bands have one lead guitarist and one drummer (in addition to a bassist and others), but they were blessed with two of the best guitarists--the late Duane Allman and Dickie Betts. Their guitar inter-play was almost transcendental at times--to me anyway! Have you ever had the experience of listening to music that affected you so profoundly, that you forgot you were listening, and were transported up into the music itself?

The key is taking all the disparate elements and bringing them ultimately together--resolution. A simple but beautiful floral design is made more intensely beautiful by adding more color and intricacy to the design. A really good  movie (the Hebrew word for good and beauty are from same root) or beautiful play or novel is where all these sub-plots are intricately woven together and resolved by the end....leaving no loose threads or irresolution.Symphony and not cacophony!  Twice in the Song of Solomon the same Hebrew word for beauty is used that is in Psalm 27:4 for God....and both lovers describe the traits that make the other so beautiful and desirable. Notice the focus on symmetry in their descriptions.

Asymmetry sticks out like a sore thumb.I am thinking of Satan now as "pure ugly"...his soul is misshapen and assymetrized.

What happens when you  have infinite complexity and symmetry? This where it gets exciting--there is INFINITE BEAUTY. That kind of beauty would certainly blur the distinction between sight and sensation!

Some of God's attributes seem so polar opposite,making Him appear at first glance, as asymmetrical. (e.g. wrath/hatred and mercy/love) "Note then the kindness and severity of God..." (Rom.11:22) However, when put together, there is infinite,complex beauty! Like a rainbow, here is a list of some God's attributes...which taken together are astonishingly beautiful!

God is transcendent and immanent
infinity and immensity (all of God is everywhere)
immutability and His emotions.
unity (one God) and His tri-personality as Trinity
omniscience, omnipotence, wisdom, truth
goodness, love, grace, mercy, hesed, holiness, righteousness, justice, and glory
sovereignty of God and our moral responsibility
heaven and hell....blessing and cursing.

All these traits are in perfect balance...symphonic symmetry in infinite complexity and intensity.God's beauty is primary and all human beauty is derivitive from Him.

ON THE CROSS, JUSTICE AND MERCY KISSED
In Rev. 4--5  Jesus is revealed as a Victorious Lamb, but who has the scars of having been slain. We blink, and this Lamb is now the mighty Lion of the tribe of Judah. Such is the incredible complexity of the Person and Work of Christ.

So that is why the beatific vision has always been considered the most wonderful experience of heaven...seeing Jesus face to face. It seems that human language is not adequate to convey the infinitely complex, infinitely intense beauty of our ascended Savior!

Every experience of beauty here on earth is momentary, and reflects a longing for heaven. As we gaze upon the infinitely complex  intense beauty of God, every pore of our being will dance with sheer pleasure and delight. It will be ravishing and unending delight.

The next time you experience the pleasure of beauty, let it turn your heart in contemplation of the beauty of God...and worship Him!

Fifty Shades of Mommy Porn and Demonic Sex

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

What does it mean that the fastest selling paperback in history is a trilogy of soft-porn novels that wallow in sadomasochism? Erika Leonard--aka E.L. James--is British author of The Fifty Shades of Grey trio of novels. This unholy literary trinity is defiling the consciences and imaginations of millions of women, including many professing Christians. So  many young woman are reading Fifty Shades, these books have been dubbed "mommy porn". Very sad...

As with many cultural phenomenon, the popularity of these novels is both symptom and cause of the status of our culture. It is symptom in that, the author expresses the spiritual/moral collapse of Western Civilization (similar to dynamics of the decline of the Roman Empire--moral rot from within). Moral/ethical relativity is at the core of Ms. Leonard's worldview as expressed in these books. On the other hand, its incredible popularity is effecting many millions of women in a deleterious way.This book is not merely being read, it is  being experienced--in a variety of ways, but the minds/imaginations (which is where the spiritual battle normally begins) of its readers are being defiled. That can be a gateway to the demonic.

My purpose is not to write a book review, nor an in-depth discussion of demonic sex, but to think aloud with you as to what is happening in our country. The explosion of interest in the paranormal is not happening in a cultural vacuum, and I am passionate about understanding the dynamics of what is feeding into this continuing fascination with the paranormal.

Two simultaneous trends, both of which are experiencing explosive growth: fascination with all things paranormal, and popular"art"  expressing graphic sex. The common denominator of these two trends is the primacy of experience over reason and God's revealed truth. Whether it be erotic or the spirit realm (or both), lusting for direct experience is what I see as the link between these two phenomena.The desire behind experience is the idolatrous quest for happiness.

It was Francis Schaeffer who commented that personal peace (happiness) and affluence have become the dominant life values of most people. This is tragic in light of the fact that glorifying and loving God is our purpose, and happiness will often (but not always) follow. Certainly joy will...

Another connection we must note is that this mass defilement of minds and imaginations is a cause for the increase of cases of incubii and succubii....demonic sex.

I have no doubt that demonic sex is increasing in frequency.

However, there are many women (and some men) who are ashamed to admit their diabolical sexual encounters to a pastor or priest. And as horrible as it may sound, some folks do not want the encounters to stop, because of how pleasurable it is.They are addicted... Personally, I have spoken to perhaps 3 dozen women and men who were/are in agony over this horrific reality. Make no mistake--people are really being sexually aroused and assaulted by demonic entities. The folks I talked to were mostly wide awake when the episodes take place...and they ranged from exquisite sexual arousal/orgasm to violent demonic rape....ripping,and tearing of genital flesh. Some are being touched and diabolically pleasured while walking down the sidewalk.

If this blog helps one person to commit to living a disciplined, holy life, or encourages them to overcome their fear and seek help, then it will been a "success."

Please keep this in mind as I discuss the sexual component--I have written of how our country has seemed to have reached a critical mass of interest in the paranormal. I THINK this has simultaneously removed (to some degree) God's restraining common grace protection, and unleashed an unprecedented amount of overt demonic activity in the US. Please don't lose track of that as we discuss this other.It has become more dangerous because fascination with the paranormal has opened the floodgates to spiritual darkness/oppression.

The "Twilight" series (which had a major impact on (E.L. James), "Being Human" and scores of other TV shows and books, have replaced the "old bad boy" with a vampiric bad boy. He's a lot badder...This interest in vampirism and/or the pornographic Fifty Shades are a step towards creating an invitation to the demonic, because the daydreaming/lust may include the desire for an illicit supernatural encounter.Combine that with a super-heated paranormal atmosphere (demonized), then we have a potent brew.

Often moving progressively,  it starts with sexually explicit dreams....moves to sleep paralysis episodes....and finally one night they see the footsteps on their bed. and the touching begins. And a wide-awake nightmare ensues...

Now, here is the problem--reading a book like Fifty Shades of Grey primes the woman for adultery/fornication by proxy ( I am not picking on women, because everyone knows that many men have terrible problems with pornography....and this book is being read primarily by women).Their imaginations are being corrupted by the antics of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

Not long into the book, they are going at it, in graphic detail. The plot is not even worth mentioning because it boils down to this sequence, which repeats itself over and over--two pages of various characters interacting, and then 3 pages of wild, S&M sex. Over, and over, and over....Christian (curious choice of name) is a 27-year-old billionaire who makes Brad Pitt look like an ugly nerd. Her constant, breathless descriptions throughout the book of Mr Grey makes any living man/husband/boyfriend look hopelessly inadequate.

The demon cannot read their mind, but it knows what they are reading has put them in a spiritually compromised position. Some are then tempted to lust for a midnight "visitor" .In other words, reading pornographic trash is a door-opener because it can give them the "legal right" to attach and attack. Some readers or viewers of pornography may even yearn aloud, "If only I had..." Any demon within earshot will be eager to surprise them one night with an experience that is other-worldly pleasurable.

I am having trouble knowing which direction to take this (maybe because I am in the midst of the chaos of moving). Let me say two things.

First, please...I beg of you to get the help that you need. You can always contact me and I will find someone to help if you are too far away. Please do not remain silent out of embarrassment. And if addicted to demonic sex--it happens--you must look beyond the pleasure and see that you are being used and destroyed. Demons are incapable of loving humans...they hate you.

Second, as I pondered this issue, I was reminded of the Song of Solomon in the bible. It contains beautiful and sensuous poetry expressing erotic love between a man and a woman in the covenant commitment of marriage. Eros was created by God, as were all the lawful pleasures. The Word of God is not prudish, and a proper appreciation of the attractiveness of the of the opposite sex, of both form and face, is explicitly celebrated in the The Song of Solomon. It is amazing to me that this part of the inspired bible can be so "earthy", but without a hint of the pornographic.

Here are the key themes in that amazing book.

1. God's covenant, which commands sexual purity, provides just the right framework (marriage) within which His people may properly enjoy the gift of sexual intimacy (Gen. 2:23-24) Thus God's people honor Him and commend Him to the world when they demonstrate with their lives that obedience in such matters brings genuine delight.

2. Marriage is a gift of God, and is to be founded on loyalty and commitment which allows delight to flourish. As such, it is a fitting image for God's relationship with His people, in both the OT and the NT.

The fall of mankind damaged every aspect of human lives, and God's work of redemption aims to restore every aspect  to its proper functioning. God's goal is that romantic love, with all its potential pain and degradation, should be an arena of enjoyment for His redeemed people. (ESV Study Bible, pg 1213)  Amen.