Hi
First, I'd like to mention that it really saddens me when I see the heated arguing over and over again concerning this subject. Our Father must be grieved, don't you think? I understand that people get upset though and also realize that I've contributed to this way in times.
I'd like to share some questions and thoughts. If anyone wish to participate, then I hope we all can reason peacefully.
Ark I, you wrote:
"Selassie lives by the example of Christ, so he became One with Jah by his destiny and livity. And all of I and I can also be One with Jah, by I and I livity. Selassie I said that "we should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that the human being is emanated from a deity". This statement shows I that no man, not even the Son of Man Christ, emanated (or flow out) from God. Christ was born of his mother Mary, and by his destiny and livity became One with Jah."
John 17
[20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
[21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
I cannot know a man's heart but to me, Selassie-I clearly lived his faith and spoke of our God and Christ. I believe he therefore is one with Jah as Christ wished and prayed for us all to be. Still, personally I have not come to the point of seeing him as the One in Revelation but as an inspiring man, Christ-like example and Judahite king. Just making that clear.
Now conerning this interview with Selassie-I. I try to be careful and respectful since it's a sensitive and personal thing to talk of another one's faith. From reading Selassie-I's statements though, it seems as if he believed Christ to be our Creator.
"After our blameless Creator was sent to this world by His Father, then the hearts of all believers become The Temple of God."
Interview with Dr. Oswald Hoffman
That's also what the Bible seems to say.
Col.1
[13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
[14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
[15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
[16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
[17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
[18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
[20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
If Christ is the Creator, wouldn't it be reasonable that Christ the Son therefore emanated from Jah the Father according to Selassie-I?
What kind of Creator is separated from our Father? They must share a unique oneness in that case. Christ was born of earthly parents but I believe he came forth, emanated from the Father and were of the Father since the beginning. His existance came not forth as ours.
A man has an individual faith but let's consider the EOC faith that Selassie-I professed...
"As in other parts of the Christian world, in Ethiopia also there were men who tried to interpret the doctrine in various ways. There were, for instance, persons who refused to accept the personal distinctions in the one Godhead and others who insisted that the three Persons were three Gods. Both these views were rejected by the Church.
God is eternally Father, eternally Son, and eternally Holy Spirit. “The Father beget His son without days or hours; and when He beget Him, His Father was not separated from Him.” Beyond time, God is the eternal One. That One is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. No one of the three Persons is prior to the other two in time. “The One was not before the Other”, says the Anaphora, “and the Second was not before the Third.” But “we proclaim that the Father lived with His Son, and that the Son lived with His Father before creation, and before the heavens and the earth were made.”
In the one co-eternal and co-equal Trinity, the Father is the eternal source if the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son is born of, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from, the Father. While affirming that the Son and the Holy Spirit derive each of them His respective being eternally from the Father, it is insisted that “the Father did not beget the Son to help Him in His work before the world was created and the existence of the Holy Spirit is not to contribute wisdom and work.”
It is not with the Deity as it was with Abraham who was older than Isaac. Or with Isaac who was older than Jacob, but the Father is not older than the Son, neither is the Son older than the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not younger than the Son, neither is the Son younger than His Father."
The EOC on The Mystery of the Holy Trinity
The EOC clearly holds the belief that Christ is eternally, from the beginning a part of the Godhead, as emanated from the Father. To me it seems very likely that Selassie-I held this belief. And as a response to the question in the interview, he pointed out that he is strictly a man and not emanated as Christ is. Because the question was solely aimed at whether H.I.M is the Christ.
Another look at Christ from the EOC faith...
"Jesus Christ, the incarnate God the Son, is one Person, continuous with Godhead and continuous with manhood. In Him Godhead and manhood continue each in its integrity and perfection, in a state of indivisible and unconfused union.
On this ground the Church of Ethiopia, with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches, affirms that Jesus Christ is not two natures, but one incarnate nature of God the Word. The “one” here is not meant to ignore the dynamic continuance of either Godhead or manhood in the one Christ, but to confess a real incarnation whereby God the Son entered the world of ours as a man. He is indeed God the incarnate Son even while He is found to undergo the frailty of manhood."
The EOC on The Mystery of the Incarnation
So according to the EOC faith, Christ is not just human but emanated and God incarnated. I can never speak for another man, but to me there's a possibility that Selassie-I tried to make this clear; that there's a difference in himself.
Some may see me as deceived or as an anti-christ or whatever but I'm focusing on this because of concern. Concern on proper salvation or damnation according to as how I see the message of our Father, so please bear that in mind eventhough you may not agree. Not doing this to ridicule, be arrogant or to fight.
Questioned by Bill McNeil: "There are millions of Christians throughout the world, your Imperial Majesty, who regard you as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ."
Selassie's answer: "I have heard of that idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity."
I'd like to mention another of my personal belief.
To become one with Jah strictly through livity and not by trusting the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary seems futile to me. Some reject this faith.
Once again, I'd like to examine Selassie-I's words...
"When He sacrificed himself at Golgotha for the atonement of our sin, He prayed with His last breath for the forgiveness of those who had tortured Him..."
I believe it is this that makes our hearts a temple of Jah through Christ our Creator. Yet, faith without works are dead and true faith will manifest. So, I still consider myself to agree with Selassie-I's words when he said that we should strive to follow Christ's example by our maximum efforts.
Thanks for the ability to share this.
May the mercy and guidance of Jah be with Us all in Spirit, truth and peace.
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