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Free Will
June 6, 2015 at 4:43pm
All of a sudden tonight, out of the blue, I was given a message about Free Will. This message is coming from Archangel Gabrielle, God's Messenger and one of my angelic guides.
Gabrielle wanted me to share the concept of Free Will with you tonight. The Bible and other religious texts tell us that we have been given Free Will by God. This means that while there is a Divine Plan for each of us, we have the opportunity to choose whether or not we want to follow it, along with how we want to do it. Think about this... we get to choose what we want to do, without judgment from God or the Angels. BUT... if we ask for their assistance, they will jump in immediately and help us in whatever way is necessary.
What a loving and beautiful concept. As parents, we try to do this with our children to help teach them right from wrong. But, being human, we judge and oftentimes coerce them into doing what we feel that they should do. God doesn't really do this. He allows us to choose our own way.
A VERY simple example: There are millions of colors in the world and we have the ability to choose those that we really like. My favorite is aquamarine blue. It touches my soul. It is the most loving, peaceful, nurturing, and spiritual color there is. If you doubt this, look-up the waters of the Caribbean - they are the scope of this shade of blue and it is magnificent... in my opinion. Others may not agree. They may think that another color is equally as stunning and touches their soul. Does it make them right and me wrong? No! We each are responding to what touches us - what inspires us - and there really is no wrong choice. We can each like our respective color and be good, loving, spiritual people - right?
Let's take it further. There are literally 1,000's if not more of different religions, spiritual practices, etc. Some derived out of indigenous cultures, while others were established because someone didn't like another's policies and decided to create their own religion. One might perfectly suit the needs of one group of people, while another serves a different group. Just like colors, no one shade will perfectly suit the needs of everyone and God gives us the choice to choose what best suits our needs.
Assuming that we have Free Will and God allows us to make our own choices, then he doesn't judge us for the ones that we make.
Therein lies the problem... people choose to step-in for God and judge each other for having different beliefs. Now we all know that aquamarine blue is the superior color and everyone who doesn't have it as their favorite is wrong... condemned to hell for eternity. Why? Because it's my favorite and I said so! Seriously... how stupid was that statement? Does it mean that anyone who likes red, green, pink, purple, yellow or any other color is just flat wrong and deserves to suffer for eternity? Give me a break! They chose a color that speaks to them. It's good for them. It suits their personality and touches their soul. Is their color choice really that wrong? Absolutely not!
Back to religion now. Not every religious or spiritual belief is right for everyone. I was raised with one, found it to be lacking (for me personally) at a very young age, so I began studying religions and have continued to do so for nearly 40 years. I know my beliefs and am comfortable in them, but I also have an insatiable appetite for learning about all forms of spirituality, so I continue to explore. Some people are raised with a particular religion/spiritual belief and stay with it their entire life, because it feeds their soul. That's wonderful, but it doesn't mean that it has to be my belief system - or anyone elses.
In all my studies, I can honestly say that I've learned some beautiful things in each and every religious belief. I also take into consideration that each religion was created by human beings, therefore they are fallible and have some egotistical issues of their own. ALL OF THEM! Let's face it, not one religion in the world says, "You can believe as we do or as someone else does, it's ok with us, because we're all going to heaven together." Of course not! They each have their 'ego' voice telling followers that theirs is the only religion that matters - it is the only one that is true? Seriously, would God ever really say that although others may believe in and worship him, they're wrong and you're right? That is purely man's ego at work, trying to get you to stick with their team and hate all the others. Again, this is humanity judging each other - not God.
Most belief systems are very similar in that they serve one God. He/She may have different names, but the concept is the same. Wouldn't it be great if everyone just decided to stop trying to compete for their team and just stay with Team God? That would really mess some judgmental people up, wouldn't it?
Before everyone gets excited, let me state that this isn't about radical or extremist groups who like to attack others. That's just a bunch of bullies who are so fanatical that they feel that they must force everyone to their way of believing or kill/destroy them. We've had it with every religion throughout history... they've all done it, with the exception of Buddhists, as far as I know. I put these hate-filled crazies in a different category and they have nothing to do with this conversation.
So, if Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others believe in the same God (with different names), why do they have to hate each other? Each one serves the belief systems of their members and still worship God. I don't see one as being better than the others, they each serve the people who practice them.
Who are we to say which one is right and which one is wrong?
If God gives us Free Will to choose the belief system that best suits us, then who am I to say that mine is right and yours is wrong? This has really turned me off of organized religion. Everyone is so adamant that theirs is the ONLY true religion, they judge and attack others, which is in direct opposition of the loving others and not judging that their religion teaches. The religions teach about a loving and powerful God, but the individuals start getting really mean, while trying to convert others to their way of thinking. That's a great way to inspire me to follow your lead... insult me, judge me, tell me I'm wrong and that I'm going to hell.
If God gives us Free Will to choose... why are his followers so judgmental and flat-out mean to those who don't follow their beliefs?
Gabrielle tells us that it's wonderful to share our belief systems with others in a loving way. But, we are to follow God's lead and allow each individual to have Free Will without judgment.
God loves and supports all of us unconditionally AND without judgment, regardless of our choices.
From what I've learned, God has not yet appointed any human being with the responsibility or authority to judge another for their choices. That is part of Free Will and part of God's plan.
If you like any other color than my favorite, I will not insult you, I will not judge you, I will not slander you, I will not threaten you, and I will not belittle you.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if 'religious' people did the same?
Namaste'
Teri Van Horn
June 6, 2015 at 4:43pm
All of a sudden tonight, out of the blue, I was given a message about Free Will. This message is coming from Archangel Gabrielle, God's Messenger and one of my angelic guides.
Gabrielle wanted me to share the concept of Free Will with you tonight. The Bible and other religious texts tell us that we have been given Free Will by God. This means that while there is a Divine Plan for each of us, we have the opportunity to choose whether or not we want to follow it, along with how we want to do it. Think about this... we get to choose what we want to do, without judgment from God or the Angels. BUT... if we ask for their assistance, they will jump in immediately and help us in whatever way is necessary.
What a loving and beautiful concept. As parents, we try to do this with our children to help teach them right from wrong. But, being human, we judge and oftentimes coerce them into doing what we feel that they should do. God doesn't really do this. He allows us to choose our own way.
A VERY simple example: There are millions of colors in the world and we have the ability to choose those that we really like. My favorite is aquamarine blue. It touches my soul. It is the most loving, peaceful, nurturing, and spiritual color there is. If you doubt this, look-up the waters of the Caribbean - they are the scope of this shade of blue and it is magnificent... in my opinion. Others may not agree. They may think that another color is equally as stunning and touches their soul. Does it make them right and me wrong? No! We each are responding to what touches us - what inspires us - and there really is no wrong choice. We can each like our respective color and be good, loving, spiritual people - right?
Let's take it further. There are literally 1,000's if not more of different religions, spiritual practices, etc. Some derived out of indigenous cultures, while others were established because someone didn't like another's policies and decided to create their own religion. One might perfectly suit the needs of one group of people, while another serves a different group. Just like colors, no one shade will perfectly suit the needs of everyone and God gives us the choice to choose what best suits our needs.
Assuming that we have Free Will and God allows us to make our own choices, then he doesn't judge us for the ones that we make.
Therein lies the problem... people choose to step-in for God and judge each other for having different beliefs. Now we all know that aquamarine blue is the superior color and everyone who doesn't have it as their favorite is wrong... condemned to hell for eternity. Why? Because it's my favorite and I said so! Seriously... how stupid was that statement? Does it mean that anyone who likes red, green, pink, purple, yellow or any other color is just flat wrong and deserves to suffer for eternity? Give me a break! They chose a color that speaks to them. It's good for them. It suits their personality and touches their soul. Is their color choice really that wrong? Absolutely not!
Back to religion now. Not every religious or spiritual belief is right for everyone. I was raised with one, found it to be lacking (for me personally) at a very young age, so I began studying religions and have continued to do so for nearly 40 years. I know my beliefs and am comfortable in them, but I also have an insatiable appetite for learning about all forms of spirituality, so I continue to explore. Some people are raised with a particular religion/spiritual belief and stay with it their entire life, because it feeds their soul. That's wonderful, but it doesn't mean that it has to be my belief system - or anyone elses.
In all my studies, I can honestly say that I've learned some beautiful things in each and every religious belief. I also take into consideration that each religion was created by human beings, therefore they are fallible and have some egotistical issues of their own. ALL OF THEM! Let's face it, not one religion in the world says, "You can believe as we do or as someone else does, it's ok with us, because we're all going to heaven together." Of course not! They each have their 'ego' voice telling followers that theirs is the only religion that matters - it is the only one that is true? Seriously, would God ever really say that although others may believe in and worship him, they're wrong and you're right? That is purely man's ego at work, trying to get you to stick with their team and hate all the others. Again, this is humanity judging each other - not God.
Most belief systems are very similar in that they serve one God. He/She may have different names, but the concept is the same. Wouldn't it be great if everyone just decided to stop trying to compete for their team and just stay with Team God? That would really mess some judgmental people up, wouldn't it?
Before everyone gets excited, let me state that this isn't about radical or extremist groups who like to attack others. That's just a bunch of bullies who are so fanatical that they feel that they must force everyone to their way of believing or kill/destroy them. We've had it with every religion throughout history... they've all done it, with the exception of Buddhists, as far as I know. I put these hate-filled crazies in a different category and they have nothing to do with this conversation.
So, if Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others believe in the same God (with different names), why do they have to hate each other? Each one serves the belief systems of their members and still worship God. I don't see one as being better than the others, they each serve the people who practice them.
Who are we to say which one is right and which one is wrong?
If God gives us Free Will to choose the belief system that best suits us, then who am I to say that mine is right and yours is wrong? This has really turned me off of organized religion. Everyone is so adamant that theirs is the ONLY true religion, they judge and attack others, which is in direct opposition of the loving others and not judging that their religion teaches. The religions teach about a loving and powerful God, but the individuals start getting really mean, while trying to convert others to their way of thinking. That's a great way to inspire me to follow your lead... insult me, judge me, tell me I'm wrong and that I'm going to hell.
If God gives us Free Will to choose... why are his followers so judgmental and flat-out mean to those who don't follow their beliefs?
Gabrielle tells us that it's wonderful to share our belief systems with others in a loving way. But, we are to follow God's lead and allow each individual to have Free Will without judgment.
God loves and supports all of us unconditionally AND without judgment, regardless of our choices.
From what I've learned, God has not yet appointed any human being with the responsibility or authority to judge another for their choices. That is part of Free Will and part of God's plan.
If you like any other color than my favorite, I will not insult you, I will not judge you, I will not slander you, I will not threaten you, and I will not belittle you.
Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if 'religious' people did the same?
Namaste'
Teri Van Horn
