On Isaiah Saldivar

I think this is what true Christianity looks like. I don't think he's boasting at all, but signaling what it means to genuinely repent. I deleted a ton of bootlegged songs--about 1000--I stopped playing violent video games, I stopped cussing for the most part--sometimes one slips--I stopped masterbating and watching porn--now the Lord gives me dreams which I don't like, but some have been prophetic, I guess my shadow has to be purged there, where it's lawful--I can't watch movies practically, unless they're utmost pure, like the Wizard of Oz. I did watch 8 Crazy Nights recently, and About Time. I hide my eyes at the nudity and fast forward through the sex scenes. I mean, I'm not hyper vigilant and so afraid to sin that I despair every time I do it... But I do think this is what it means to be saved. And also to have a charitable heart for giving, and showing kindness as it's not just about what you don't do, but also how you care about other people.

But some things I've stopped doing also--that many Christians do--is judging and prophesying and using spiritual curses. I think Christians do this, and it's akin to black magic, when you cast and heap judgment on people. You are taught to do this, by reading the Old Testament, but Christ frees us from that curse, and our job isn't to yoke believers or unbelievers to that curse, but unyoke them and yoke them to Christ.

True salvation is marked by not wanting to sin. Like, it hurts to do it, and you just don't want to. Also an unwillingness to use deception, or lie, and cheat and steal. And also self sacrifice, willing to risk yourself if it means helping someone else. And being open and vulnerable, as Christ was an Open Conservative.

So, I think Christians judge a lot, and condemn, and vilify, and especially are antagonistic against Creativity. Like, it's either "Holy of Holies" or "Profane." There's no Michelangelo or C. S. Lewis or Tolkien allowed anymore. William Blake is Anathema, and only the Bible exists to teach us. That's simply not true... you need to derive correct analysis of the Bible to help you interpret other people, but generally, you learn a lot from other people, and reflecting what they say through the Bible. And embracing when they might have a clear point.

Like I learn a lot from Emily Dickenson. About a stale faith, that tortured people with what it forbade, and didn't let people express their creativity or be a little bit different. That's just as bad as a faith that lets every conceivable thing happen, so long as it's not breaking the State's Law, it doesn't matter. The Bible is a higher law, reflected in the conscience. It's not a legality, but a reflection of man's natural state of Justice. And I think we can go a little overboard with it, which is why I think the Bible can be unproductive for some people's faith, and a hindrance to it.

But, Isaiah's faith is exemplary. I wouldn't fault him for trying to live righteously, or anyone for that matter. That's why we have the Bible in the first place.