A Higher Level of Being, Part 2

A Higher Level of Being, Part 2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

The typical “Christian” view of life’s realms, illustrated at left, is of three separate kingdoms where “we” might exist:

1. Earth: a physical realm where we spend our days as physical beings. At our physical death we are transported to a non-physical realm for eternity:
2. Heaven: a paradise for those who lived a good, Christian life; OR
3. Hell: a punishment for those who have not lived a good, Christian life, those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, or those guilty of some other variously-defined character-defect identified by a church leader or denomination.

I will reserve my qualms about this view, except to say I find it unrealistic, unsupported by biblical, scientific, or experiential evidence, and inconsistent with the God modeled by the life and teachings of Jesus the Christ. [1]

Below is an alternative illustration of how we might imagine life’s realms as a continuum of life, meaning the nature of the environment(s) of which we can be consciously aware. It shows an unbroken continuum between and beyond physical and spiritual experience

where our attention may be directed along a broad perceptual range of expression. A higher level of experience does not refer to focusing more of one’s attention on the more spiritual areas of life but to widening the scope of one’s conscious awareness to include more of both physical and spiritual aspects. This is why worshiping Jesus as divine does not carry us very far in our journey toward Oneness with God. We must also follow Jesus in his physical expression. The cross to which he leads – our suffering – is at the lower end of physical reality. God’s creation encompasses the entire continuum. Following Jesus leads us higher into the spiritual and deeper into the physical.

As one’s conscious awareness travels higher on this continuum, the perceived world becomes less tangible and more ethereal. The certainty commonly believed to exist in physical reality becomes hazier and more ambiguous. It is the realm of ideas and dreams. New possibilities, images, and ways of being emerge as one grows in spiritual awareness. As one’s awareness travels deeper into physicality, reality appears to solidify and become less malleable. Although change, evolution, and growth are constantly occurring everywhere along the continuum, change seemingly occurs more slowly in the deeper physical areas. For example, mountains and oceans undergo constant change, but that change is largely imperceptible when viewed from our time-perspective. Those focused in the lower, physical realms of life worship what is higher because it appears to them as intangible, indefinable, and uncontrollable. In addition, facts and truths appear to change based on where one is engaged on the continuum.

When our eternal essence embodies as a life on earth, the focus of our awareness is drawn from the spiritual expressions of life into the physical. When our life on earth ends, our focus is drawn back toward the spiritual. Expressing more of both aspects of being is the Way of Jesus. Our consciousness is drawn toward Oneness with God as it aligns with greater portions of God’s awareness. The physical nature of everything is just as holy as its spiritual aspect because everything is an unbroken manifestation of both – and more. This is symbolized in the Eucharist, with the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. Only our conscious perception, or lack thereof, separates physical from spiritual.

A higher level of being means we are more aware of more of God’s nature. That allows us to more clearly reflect God’s nature and for God to work through us, as Jesus did so masterfully. From our standpoint, God is a Spirit which can most effectively act in physical ways through physical beings like us. Jesus’ life and teaching encourage us to draw inspiration and guidance from our connection to the spiritual realm as we manifest good works in the physical world. Others learn of God’s nature most effectively from spiritually-guided, physical beings. John 1:18 says God is made known through God’s children, which is us in our expanding awareness and growing Oneness with God.

The Son of Man, or Child of Humankind, is the consummated human being, fully human and fully divine, equally fluent in both physical and spiritual expressions of life. It is the higher level of being we were created to become.

This is the 8^thin a series titled Crucifying Christianity, Resurrecting the Way. The opinions expressed here are mine. To engage with me or to explore contemplative spiritual direction, my email is ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

The New/Old Social Pandemic:

Homelessness, Marginalization, and Immigration

By Greg Hildenbrand

The New/Old Social Pandemic is an in-depth exploration of the social issues of homelessness, marginalization, and immigration as the predictable products of outdated, underfunded, and unjust social systems maintained by the privileged of society.

Now available from Greg or any major bookseller.

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[1] For a broader consideration of heaven and hell, see my 2022 book, Churchianity vs Christianity, available at www.ContemplatingGrace.com or any major bookseller.