8:1 In this chapter, Paul will discern the difference between faith and religion. Religion is often corrupted by illogical rules, hierarchical authority and superiority. Paul warns us against church officials (and ourselves) when they (we) become arrogant with what knowledge we think we have. For God wishes for us to understand that true wisdom is derived only from love. No matter how book smart or bible-smart a person claims to be or appears to be, if their actions and their soul is not humbled in and by love for others, their knowledge is irrelevant.
8:2 Love and humility are the core of creation and the intention of creation. Therefore, a wise person understands that creation is the Father of all wisdom. Having been created, everything we know, even the ability for us to know things, is inferior to what has created us. From our limited and individual perspectives, we should always work to remember that we do not see broadly or deeply enough to know anything as it truly is. We are smartest when we are aware that there is so much we do not know. We are smartest when we feed and cling to inquiry, curiosity... to our desire to keep learning. We are smartest when we understand and thrive in the realization that we are forever students of life.
8:3 Through our faith and spirituality: through our trust in the universe and our commitment to compassion, we are known. When we are known as inspired participant students of life, the universe conspires with us to embolden our wisdom. Creation learns how to plan our lessons, where to place the jewels of wisdom along our paths for us to discover.
We come to understand that our work of being known by the universe is our greatest wisdom. For once known to it, all knowledge is open and proffered to us. We learn to understand the way in which we are taught: subtly, intricately, boldly, constantly. Our perception is enhanced; we learn to perceive the earth, humanity and situation within each.
Creation, the universe, understands compassion. When we light our compassion, we become to known it it. Through love, we are known. Through the love we project, cultivate, inspire, protect, create, we are known. To be known and counted by the universe is to be known and counted in wisdom. We become proponents of it.
8:4 Paul wants us to understand that reverence of things and places is useless. Therefore, there are a lot of practices within religion which should be obsolete. Statues do not give or contribute to life, compassion, justice or wisdom. Paul does not want us to waste our time unfocused, in awe of mere distractions. Money, statues, ... worshiping any kind of idol is a misdirection of our energy and faith.
8:5-6 For we, humanity, this earth and all creation was created divinely. Humans often and readily become confused, metaphorically worshiping rain rather than the cloud that gave it. And yet, who created the cloud? Who created the conditions which created the cloud? The circumstances which allow the conditions of cloud creation? Paul encourages us to remove distractions and complexity from our faith: direct your love and faith to that which has given you the ability to love and be faithful, to dance and sing and laugh and breathe and smile.
8:7-8 The journey of spirituality and wisdom is a beautiful yet laborious one. Our wisdom grows in depth and agility, begins small and vulnerable. We are all in different places on the spectrum of faith, none superior or inferior to the others. Our faith and understanding grows, Paul wishes for us to perceive that sometimes, the rigid cultural or religious customs we are taught do not contribute to our spiritual growth or productivity.
For example, the bible recommends that we do not eat pork. Eating pork is not a sin. A person who eats pork is not automatically disqualified or lowered in faith than a non-pork eater. The suggestion of abstaining from pork was given as a health guideline. We must be careful not to judge and punish people for minute details which cloud the common sense of a situation. Eating or not eating something is not going to make or break your chance to be with God. What matters is your character, how you express yourself, how you interact with others and animals and the environment. That is wisdom: the creation, cultivation and (re)establishment of your character in compassion, purpose and faith.
8:9-10 We must be respectful of the fact that what works for us does not necessarily work for another person. We must not condemn others from being different from us. We cannot force our faith on others because if say, eating strawberries helps to connect them to their faith, why corrupt that? God reaches people in many diverse ways. Let people grow in their faith, individually. Their faith is budding, growing, not and therefore is not wrong.
8:11-13 God, the universe, creation loves all of His, Its children. It has decided that each of us are worthy of its life. Respect differences, there are many ways to express faith. For yourself, know where to direct your faith, but do not stunt or insult others from directing theirs in alternate places. Do not stifle difference, you never know where it might be leading to.
Paul gives us an equation in the first verse of this chapter: LOVE = EDIFICATION. Very simply, he teaches us that through loving ourselves, through loving our lives, life, others, others' lives, the earth, through loving nature and faith... we grow perfectly, consistently, naturally in wisdom and strength. So if you are ever looking for a place to begin: begin with love.
