My mother had a major influence on my thinking (even today) and her experiences were very meaningful (to me) when I think of reality in the NOW. Mother, Elsa, came to America from Sweden in 1938 and then got married in 1939. She went back to Sweden (with my family) when I was 4.5 years old (1947) and I returned with mother Elsa in August of 1948 to Roseau, Minnesota. At the point of return a major event happened. This event was key to the theology of my mother.
What happened is that my younger brother died on August 10, 1948 (soon after returning from Sweden). The diagnosis by our doctor (at the time) was diphtheria. Within a couple of years (after her son's death) my mother got so depressed (mentally) from this ordeal that she had a major mental breakdown and nearly died. The death of Richard (her youngest son) was dramatic/crucial...as she thought the doctor had mis-diagnosed his health situation. Richard's diagnosis of diphtheria turned out to be negative (but this result emerged AFTER his death).
So did Richard die from diphtheria or was her diagnosis of a severe cold the correct diagnosis (after the fact)? Elsa was absolutely convinced (in her mind) that Richard had died from a reaction to the penicillin shot (he must have been allergic to penicillin) is my conclusion as of today. She rejected the doctor's diagnosis of diphtheria as the throat swaps ended up being 'negative' when they finally arrived (after the death of Richard). This situation gradually produced her MENTAL depression and near death experience around 1950 (Elsa was 39 or 40 years of age at the time).
The confusion (over this family ordeal) created this mental depression and near death experience for my mother. But what happened during this mental depression? Elsa had a visionary experience with the 'glorified' Jesus/Yeshua (so it seems). My mother claimed that this visionary experience (with the glorified Jesus) saved her life and helped her recover from her mental depression (amazing situation). Mother Elsa used this experience as her core belief while I was a young child. This experience produced her love for gospel singing and her love for Jesus (the glorified Jesus) and this spiritual reality within our heavenly realm.
So what does all this history suggest for me? My sense is that the 'glorified' Jesus was a reality which produced her salvation from death. As she recovered over the years her theology emerged strongly. Elsa was not doctrinaire in her beliefs but she was convinced of her experience with Jesus. Yes, the 'glorified' Jesus was her core belief. But she also believed in the reality of Father God. She sang gospel songs regularly and her favorite was the Lord's Prayer (our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name). This song represented her strong belief in BOTH the glorified Jesus and Father God.
The idea of a Trinity or the idea of the Hypostatic Union (concepts within Christian theology) were not part of her theology. She just recognized the 'glorified' Jesus as real and the God of this 'glorified' Jesus as also real. When I talked to her about the God of Jesus (whom she viewed as God's son) she acknowledged my view that the Father was God (she never viewed Jesus as the ONLY God). She viewed Jesus as the 'son' of God (in some manner) and she viewed his reality as being 'glorified' (next to the Father) as being real. Did mother Elsa have some valid reality to her beliefs? I think so!
So is this growth evidence over these past 2,000 years...that this Jew from Nazareth was really 'glorified' around 33 A.D. (at his passing) valid history? Was he a new creation bodily and spiritually as his Father God saved his soul from permanent death on the tree? My sense is absolutely. Yeshua/Jesus was actually 'glorified' at the point of his death at Golgotha. It was his Father God (whom he called Yahweh at the time) who saved his soul and produced his 'glorified' status. This Jew then ascended to his Father God and was presented with a new ministry role for his continuing history.
This 'glorified' Yeshua/Jesus has (since) appeared millions of times to select believers on our planet. My mom received this 'appearance' (in vision form) around 1950. My sister received a similar visionary 'appearance' (which completely changed her life) around her age of 20 +-. I have witnessed dozens of friends and relatives who claim similar visionary experiences of this 'glorified' Jew which resulted in changed lives. Today, I listen to many new believers who are experiencing this 'glorified' Yeshua/Jesus in their consciousness (mind). The number continues to grow. Are all these believers DECEIVED and misled? I don't think so! There is a spiritual realm within our consciousness which few seem to discern!
My sense is that these millions of Jesus believers really did experience this 'glorified' Jew (now at the right-hand side of the Father in heaven). They are not deceived and they are not deluded. This 'glorified' Jew is living and active (now)...with his ministry...from his position of authority in the heavens. This is evidence to everyone with wisdom that this 'glorified' person is alive and active in the NOW. My view is that this 'glorified' person is essentially a High Priest for God. He is not God Almighty but he is a 'glorified' High Priest with a continuing ministry. Is this a reality for you?
You will need to think on this HISTORY(for yourself) to discern if any of these ideas are valid. My view is that billions of new believers (since 33 A.D.) give credence to the viewpoint that this person is ACTIVE and PRESENT in the NOW. How could so many new believers emerge without some CAUSE which produces this growth? Going from 20 core believers to 2.6 billion is significant. What do you think. Did my mother have her reality based on sound principles or not? I think she left me with sound principles. Think for yourself as you digest these stories of my lifetime.
My great aunt and my mother's aunt started the tradition of singing gospel songs for the public. Listen to this song for some history!I am: Donald B. Swenson, Economist/Philosopher, donaldswenson.blogspot.com.
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