emerging thought...

A little Bible study on The Book of Revelation and if Jesus is violent of not.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 21:13:00 +0000

OK... Bible lesson here.

In Revelation, "The Lion and The Lamb" are the same but the thing is it was expected, as it was the first time Jesus appeared, that this Messiah would be a Lion. He was, except this Lion was ALSO, The Lamb.

To make Jesus The Lamb and “The Violent Lion” missed the entire point of Revelation. The Unveiling of Jesus is about The Lamb being King of Kings. To use this verse to justify Jesus being violent is actually the opposite it teaches.

Read it but look closely at verses 5, 6, 7, 8:

Revelation 5:

1. And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?''

3. And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

5. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.''

6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

8. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10. and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.''

11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12. saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'' 13. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!''

14. Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!'' And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Notice the Lamb is Worthy to sit on the Throne AFTER He was called the Lion of Judah? And later, how did Jesus overcome the devil and evil? Read on… for this is THE KEY that unlocks and reveals Jesus for Who He Is..

Revelation 12:10. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

11. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

We overcame not by power of might but by the Blood of the Lamb and our word of testimony… ummm. Nope, you see no guns or violence in this verse. Again, twisting this verse is the OPPOSITE the Book is revealing. To make it a book that justifies war and violence is antichrist.

In fact, the prophetic word of Isaiah is very clear on the topic of Jesus being violent or not. Isaiah states that the REAL Messiah would be non-violent. Read it:

Isaiah 53: 9. And they made His grave with the wicked but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Conclusion:

If you believe in Violent Jesus, you are worshipping a false Jesus. You are not following or believe in the Real Jesus who was non-violent.

Before you respond (as opposed to attack), take time to study this out and see I am not pushing a false narrative. Deal with the verses and your OWN theological breakdown of the verses and see your view is simply wrong.

God or Angels - the Law of Moses

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 20:49:00 +0000

I even fell for it. People use the clearing of the temple as a rationalization for violence. I mean if Jesus is violent then we have a great fake story in the Book of Revelation. However, the bible speaks clearly of Jesus in prophecy. 

Therefore, either Jesus was violent and the bible lies or Jesus was not violent. 

Since Jesus is the image of the Father and His representation, then God is not violent.

So, again, if Jesus represents the Father and the bible states Jesus was NOT violent - then what do we do with all the OT violence that is supposedly from God?

Acts 7 has some interesting thoughts. The Law of Moses came not from God but through angels. The violence of the OT is often because of Angels and not directly God. 

Isaiah 53: 9.  And they made His grave with the wicked but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. 

Acts 7: 35 "This Moses whom they rejected, saying, `Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 

Exodus 3:2 2.  And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

To be like God? Or, to be fully human?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 19:43:00 +0000

I was taught, as a young believer, I was to "become more like God". This ever sat well for me. I mean, that sounded like what the serpent stated in the Garden, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.''

Now, wanting to “be like God” is not a bad thing, unless your God is also bad. However, if God is God, and you want to be God or a god, then one of you is off a bit.

I also had an issue as Adam and Eve would not have a point of reference in the meaning of "disobedience". Later, as they told the story to Cain and Able, both of these sons would have the reference of their parents mistake. However, for God to "punish" for just being "disobedient", then God just may be unjust. If it is for "blame shifting" and not taking responsibility then we have reasons for the consequences humanity suffered from our inability to take responsibility for our own actions. To blame someone else, who is the image of God, is to blame God and say He is not worthy to be our God.

It took me many years to come to terms that to believe I am to become more “god-like” or “like God” was a lie and that Jesus teaches us to be “more human”.

In addition, I was taught, the original sin was disobedience. I do not see that. I see Adam adding words to God’s warning and then blaming Eve, who then blames the serpent that God put in the garden. That is the sin. Blame shifting. Not taking responsibilities for our actions is “the sin”.

Where does grace fit in this? It fits by means of humility. If one is proud and demanding to be honored as a god-like being, God resists the proud and arrogant. If one is humble, God gives grace. The trick is, humility, is not easily manufactured, and usually comes through much pain and suffering. Much like the suffering Jesus endured, though most likely not a severe.

we learn empathy through feeling pain. We grow and learn to love others when we see ourselves as fellow humans on this planet instead of “god” and those that worship him or her.

If you take time to examine what you actually believe versus what you were taught – how much would stand?

The Nashville Statement versus the bible Part 1. (edited)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:08:00 +0000

There is a lot of talk about this “Nashville Statement” (NS), but does it hold up to what the bible actually says and teaches? Over the next few weeks I will explore how “off” these evangelicals are in their signing of this ‘hate document”. For starters, we are looking at a Jewish system of belief that forbid the heterosexual men to have same-sex with men… as that is unnatural. It also prohibits sex in any form in pagan worship.

Article 1.

WE AFFIRM that God has designed marriage to be a covenantal, sexual, procreative, lifelong union of one man and one woman, as husband and wife, and is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church.

WE DENY that God has designed marriage to be a homosexual, polygamous, or polyamorous relationship. We also deny that marriage is a mere human contract rather than a covenant made before God.

My Response: There are only two verse in the whole bible that remotely states this – but only by interpretation. Jesus states: Matthew 19 (also in Mark 10 the same story):

3. The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?''
4. And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning `made them male and female,'
5. "and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6. "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.''
7. They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?''

8. He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

This verse is not “anti-gay” but anti-divorce. To twist it to mean “anti-gay” means you do not honor the texts context. Jesus is not saying this is the only “marriage” but that a man and woman join together to procreate and stay together and not divorce as they have become “one flesh”. In Jesus day, if a woman was divorced she would have nothing to turn to but prostitution or begging. If a man divorces his wife and leaves her this way then that is the “sin” of this passage and not “homosexuality”.

Meanwhile, marriage in the bible had “polygamous, or polyamorous relationship(s)” all throughout it. You even have King David sleep with, get pregnant, and have murdered, the husband of Bathsheba – and yet, somehow, David is a “man after God’s own heart”. We see the patriarchs have multiple wives, (though it never works out that great). To deny these are also "biblical marriages" that were allowed by God and the Jewish faith is to also dishonor the history and reality the scripture presents.

Even in the New Testament, Jesus never states that a man cannot have more than one wife – but that a man and wife should not divorce as in the passage above. To use this scripture in the way it is on the Nashville Statement is unBiblical and even goes against the teaching of Jesus as one must pervert His words to make it mean as those who signed this trash want to make it mean.

Jesus and Paul never stated a man could not have more than one wife. Paul’s only limitation was that if a man wanted to be a leader in the church he must only have one wife. To make the bible say what it does not is twisting the verses to fit one’s one desires and beliefs… but thankfully the bible does not say what these people claim it to say.

On the idea that marriage is not a contract but a covenant? It is a legal contract and that contract is man-made. Adam and Eve never went before a judge and signed a document. Therefore, with the logic of the NS, Adam and Eve were never married but created for each other so Adam would have a suitable mate. In other words, Eve was given to Adam to procreate as Adam did not see any other "animals" that would be acceptable. (think about that one - we could be arguing that a marriage between a man and rhino as a traditional marriage.

One last thought Galatians 3:

26. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

If we are now "in Christ" then there is no separation of male or female as we are all one in Christ. This verse alone stands against the bulk of the Nashville Statement... of which I will discuss next week.

Bonus: If anyone says I am justifying divorce here, and one person accused me of that, I am not. I am stating that the verse often used to clobber the gay community is not about gay people. It is about divorce and as you can see, Jesus did not like it and neither do I.

You're a marshmallow!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 17:52:00 +0000

(source)

Years ago... I mean like way back in 1983/84 I had the pleasure of hearing Brother Jed and Sister Cindy (the disco queen) do some street preaching. They would show up and shout all sorts of horrible things like, "You dress like a whore" and the female students. They would go on and on about how everyone one was "going to hell". I even heard brother Jed, during a q and a state, "The ONLY godly form of economics is capitalism." Even after the Montana State University police escorted Brother Jed and Cindy off campus they still came back. Even the fellow students began to repeat the catch phrases... "I was a disco queen" and the crowd said it with Cindy... You are all "going to hell"... as the crowd said it with her. If they had not been so obnoxious I might have felt sorry for these two street evangelists.

After a long tirade on how everyone was a sinner and was "going to hell" I got sick of them only saying half the gospel, (yes we are all sinners - who deserve the judgment for our transgressions and I still believe that though I may not agree in how God will do that). I to shout, "Everyone knows they are sinners. They get that... but why don't you tell them how to get saved? Why don't you tell them about Jesus?"

Sister Cindy turned toward me in here religious fiery... and shouted at me.... "You know what you are!?!? You're a marshmallow!"
I laughed and said.... "Tell them about Jesus."

http://www.brojed.org/cms/

Trump and Tolerance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 05:24:00 +0000

If you preach tolerance, then why are you not tolerant about Trump? Yeah… that is the question that some ask. First, the very fact the question is asked, means you are living in a world of privilege and do not even know it. Here is the definition: tol·er·ance ˈtäl(ə)rəns/Noun 1.the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. "the tolerance of corruption" synonyms: acceptance, toleration; More 2.an allowable amount of variation of a specified quantity, especially in the dimensions of a machine or part. Now, I tolerate someone who I see does not want to be part of the “good” that would add to society instead of trying to make it worse. The cartoon is an example. I tolerate and would even fight for the KKK to speak their hate as well as teach their hateful beliefs. However, if they do kill someone, they cross theline. Trump, is tolerable when he is not in a power position that can harm many people. Trump has done many things (https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/general/news/2017/04/26/431299/100-ways-100-days-trump-hurt-americans/) that has made it harder to do things like pay a house payment or even buy a house. In fact, during the election he joked that the housing crisis “was a good thing for him” as thousands of people lost their homes. Talk about being in touch with “the people.” Now, if Trump lived in a way that did not harm so many people them he would be “tolerated.” However, when someone is harming people then tolerance is not something that can happen… as Trump (or someone like him) negate it by their actions. It is like this. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement wants people to know that black people are being killed/murdered and we need to change something. Instead, there was the response of “all lives matter” where I even bought into it until I found out it was to negate the need to change the cop killing that is happening. Then the police began a “blue lives matter” in another attempt to negate the problem. Now, people are all, “BLM supported killing cops”. No, not at first, but after three more deaths and not one cop charged, the anger rose to that point. Was it right? No. However, JUST THE FACT THERE IS THE BLM movement show there is an issue as there would be NO NEED for BLM if there were not an issue. Think about that before you respond. There IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING and pointing to things or people in the movement only proves that there is an issue… Back to tolerance. Jesus loves EVERYONE! He does. However, just as not all will ove Jesus that does not negate His love or that we love others. Sometimes, as with Trump, or other “Christians” who claim Jesus but then turn their backs on the poor, hungry, sick, and anyone else Jesus taught us to reach out to andlove – in a very anti-Christ way – we need to stand up and cry, “evil” when it happens. Now, for those who now think that after eight years of criticizing Obama that now we “must accept Trump as our president” I say, no. I do not need to accept him as President any more than Paul accepted Caesar as Lord. In fact, Paul was subversive to the point that he proclaims a phrase considered treason in Roman…“Jesus Christ is Lord” – and with that declaration, he stated that Caesar isnot Lord. Trump is not my president or Lord or anything but a reality TV star that had stupid people vote him in a position he has no qualifications to do.

Who was the Greatest Reformer?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 17:49:00 +0000

Many just think of Calvin and Luther as the only Reformers. If I were to pick - Luther is good but not great but when i was looking at them Zwingli seemed to be closest to my thoughts. Funny thing is the assistant to Luther would take Zwingli's writings and promise to show Luther - but the assistant knew that Luther would through a fit when he read it. The assistant wanted to keep the two as distant friends who still mutually admired each other.

Now, if I were to choose a great reformer Friedrich Myconius who kept that peace between the so-called "Great Reformers". When Friedrich Myconius became ill and believed he was dying he sent a note to Luther who replied, ""I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church.… The Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name of God." He lived two more years and even outlived Luther by a couple of months.

A man of peace in a time of sometimes shameful arrogance over theology is my Reformer.

Picture by the original uploader was GregorHelms at German Wikipedia - Transferred from de.wikipedia to Commons by Magnus Manske using CommonsHelper., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7900903

Pro-Choice is not Pro-abortion

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 14:40:00 +0000

Before you judge her are you actually adding to her situation instead of helping her? Here is the real issue. This anti-abortion message actually adds to the problem and does nothing to further their cause. Why? It overlooks the reasons a woman has an abortion. If there was social justice for women they would have:

1. Equal access to health care that includes birth control, mammograms, pap smears, etc BTW, birth control stops abortions if you never thought that one out.

2. She would get equal pay thus would be in a better economic standing. This would make her less "poor" and not have a need to have an abortion. A women working two jobs just to make a living will more likely have an abortion than the woman who has healthcare and a job that pays a living wage.

3. She would not just be seen as a sex object and make herself that object to just get by because she "needs a man".

4. Rape culture would be a shameful thing instead of celebrated but the election of a sexist president.

The issue is not so simple. A person is not pro-abortion who is pro-choice. It means that we believe women can make the choice needed at the time. If we create a better situation instead of mocking and keeping it the same the cause to end abortion loses. By mocking social justice for women you show you are uncaring and really do not love her. You show you are part of the issue not the solution.

Daniel in the Lions' Den: Tragic Echoes of 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 06:25:00 +0000

Sad days... Great post by Daniel Hayward

Tragic Echoes of 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'

Daniel in the Lions' Den: Tragic Echoes of 'Nineteen Eighty-Four': From Foreign Policy , March 17, 2017: On Friday, an Apache military helicopter reportedly opened fire on a boat packed with over 140 Somal...

Lutheran Confessions: To what is God calling the North American progress...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 04:02:00 +0000

Another great post by Lutheran Confessions

"The role of progressive clergy and nuns in creating sanctuaries and in demanding accountability from the new administration cannot be overestimated." (Lisa Corrigan)
I will resist white ethno-nationalist fascism with every thread in my body. And I'll be damned if I watch Lutherans repeat their past. (Eric Worringer)

Lutheran Confessions: To what is God calling the North American progress...: "The role of progressive clergy and nuns in creating sanctuaries and in demanding accountability from the new administration cannot be...

Lutheran Confessions: A top ten reading list for those new to "progressi...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 03:17:00 +0000

Here is a great list of books and authors for you "Progressive" church.

Lutheran Confessions: A top ten reading list for those new to "progressi...: A direct quote from our inquirers class at church: I'd love any suggestions for maybe one or two books to read. I have tried to lo...

The Crossroads we are at as a nation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:15:00 +0000

Turn weapons into garden tools

Please visit this site

It seems that we at a crossroads in America. In a way, you can call it prophetic if you want, there are two verses that I see that seems to be where we are at in American politics.

Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

However, I wonder if the US will choose this verse instead. I hope not.

Joel 3:9-11 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! 10Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, "I am a mighty man." 11Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones.…

The first is referenced as a future prophecy concerning the Messiah coming peace. The other is in the context where Israel was mistreated by the surrounding nations and was judged by God for harming His chosen people. It was more about having a weaker nation rise up to take on six stronger nations that were unjust in the eyes of God. My view though is in any war, lives on both sides are lost. In a sense, a call to war was also a judgement on Israel However, this is the kind of people they were:

They have also cast lots for My people,

Traded a boy for a harlot

And sold a girl for wine that they may drink. (Joel 3:3)

The enemies of Israel had no value on human life thus were so judged as to receive their value of others. My fear though is that someone like Trump or Hillary will use such a verse to drive us into a war under the false premise we are the just ones and have the right to give out the justice to those we deem unjust.

The saddest thing is that Jesus message on the Cross-was of being the Just and the Justifier. Meaning, in Christ Jesus we already have the judgment of being loved and accepted and have no need for more war and blood. I hope we all choose the right path.

Stingy Christians.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 05:26:00 +0000

"No one should take my hard earned money and give it to someone else."

I hear this often from Christians lately.

Let's talk about "earning" Did you earn Grace? Did you earn mercy? Did you earn forgiveness? Did you earn the Love of God?

All you have is from God. It is up to you whether you obey the teaching of Jesus and be like the unforgiving servant or the one who squandered his money gift to only have it taken away and give to someone who the kind deemed more worthy. It is up to you to believe Jesus's word or not. I think I want to do the work of the Father and let Him worry about war. I would rather work toward peace and give grace, mercy, love, forgiveness away for free just I received it. I think Jesus is right... don't you?

Just another day at Wendy's in Billings MT

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:06:00 +0000

I was just at Wendy's and saw four people who rather freaked me out. I could not figure out if they were upper management, buyers, or sellers. After they were about to go outside one want over and gave a big hung to one of the workers. As they chatted the woman outside looked annoyed and agitate even checking her watch. I guess she was annoyed that the woman was keeping them from looking at the outside trash. Their movements were like reptiles. I wondered again as I watch one of them come in and straightened the rug what they were up to. Then they went and stood in the bathroom doors talking about the bathrooms. It was strange.

I had enough so I called out to them and asked them what they were up to. They said they were upper management and they were doing some inspections. I asked, “Really, is this place somewhere I should worry about?” They looked a little shocked at that and said, “No, this is a great place.”

“Good.” I replied, “I have been in KFC and McDonalds where I literally slid across a greasy floor to the counter to order food.” They laughed at that.

I then stated, “You four sort of are freaking me out. I see you looking under the garbage and moving rugs.” I pointed at one of the men, “And this guy was straightening rugs out before you all came back in.” I went on… I mean, it was creepy – like, if I saw you all in here again I would walk out.” Again, they looked shocked. One laughed and tried be a bit softer and asked “Why?” I straight out stated, “It looks like you are just looking for something wrong so that you can fire someone. I felt the high tension the minute I walked in.”

I mentioned I was lower, lower, management… Meaning --- The customer.

The manager then appeared and she looked a bit butch to me. I am not judging her but with her hairstyle and the way she moved it just seemed that way. I pointed out to her and said, “She’s doing a great job. In Fact I bet my daughter may get that same hair style someday.” We exchanged a bit more and then I added, “You look stressed, like you don’t like you job. At least try to look like you’re trying to enjoy your job.”

As they walked away, the manager with the cool hair came by again instructing a little old lady in how she should scrub out the garbage can containers. I felt sorry, as the little old lady seemed like she could not even bend down to do such a job. Even more, she seemed to be rather stressed. I told the manager that I appreciated her and that we received our food a bit too fast – so fast that we were still standing there just after we ordered and my daughter did not get to hear her nickname be called out. I wanted them to call out ccrocks! I told her that it was the personal touches like that that made me want to come back to a place.

You see, a place of business needs to read the customer and take notice of how they present themselves. I felt stressed, as I could not tell if these four people even liked their jobs or were reptilian aliens who had never seen a Wendy’s before. If I, as a customer, walk in and sense this anxiety, I may not return. This is what I told them.

After they walked away I turned to a fellow customer who seemed to be amused by our exchanged. I stated, “ I guess I just had to bust someone chops today – why not upper management.” He laughed at that. When we drove away, my daughter asked, “What does, ‘bust someone’s chops mean’?” I replied, “It is a way to remind someone they are also human.”

BTW- This Wendy's is one of the best ones in town. It is also, where they train the managers for their other stores. They hold this one on a much higher standard than all the rest.

I bet there is a lesson in all this concerning the Church… let me know what you think.

To obey is better than sacrifice… However, is there more than obedience?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:31:00 +0000

Based on a photo by Bob-Sheridan.com Some rights reserved: http://www.flickr.com/photos/demonbaby/2987147120/

To obey is better than sacrifice… However, is there more than obedience?

Something I have been pondering for a while. In fact, last night I even woke from my sleep with this idea running through my mind.

To obey is better than sacrifice. But, to love is better than obedience.

There is a progression of growth with God throughout the OT. God seems to move his chosen people away from false religion and false gods. The old gods were easy to appease, often with simple sacrifices of the people abundance. However, at times harder sacrifices were also offered. Even human sacrifice was often used to appease the gods – be the victim of the sacrifice willing or unwilling. We see echoes of this as Abraham is challenged to even sacrifice his only son. Fortunately, Abraham was stopped and another sacrifice – a ram – was offered in his sons place.

However, religion is sort of a shallow game. We see in Job that Job is a righteous man. In fact, he is a righteous gentile – which is strange to realize in a Jewish book. Job moves from giving daily sacrifice to God for safety of his family and property only to lose most of it. His peers and even a priest – and ultimately God Himself challenge him. We see Job move into a new realization that he was doing for God that he is in need of a Redeemer. Job realizes he is doing his religion but actually did not see God. God reveals Himself to Job and it is then Jobs begins a new relationship of understanding with God and in a sense, Job gets a new life.

We then turn to 1 Samuel, and read “to obey is better than sacrifice”, which is an admonishment against Israel’s thinking that they can do what they want and just give a sacrifice and get away with it. In relationships, this would be very unhealthy. God desires a relation that is deeper than sacrifice – God desires obedience.

Now, this is where it gets tricky – this is when Jesus comes into play.

Churches today still teach that we must obey, but forget that Jesus was the One Man who was able to be obedient. “No one is righteous”, as Paul states. We make up things like, “With the help of God you can be obedient” and miss this is still mixing grace and works. No, grace came through love, our works are now to be acts of love, and that God Himself is doing the works in and through us by His Spirit.

The bible teaches obedience is something we are to do – but this obedience is impossible. Jesus fulfills the Law by His obedience and then teaches us that the Law is fulfilled by Love. Loving God and loving others.

I know that I could make this easier for you if I gave verses to read – but I suspect many already know the bible well enough and recognize the verses I have given a light brush over. If now, feel free to engage me in a deeper discussion.

When Jesus returns will He find faith on the earth?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 07:39:00 +0000

Picture source

Jesus once asked in lament, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8 ESV) I ask, when he returns, will he find a faith in God .

When Jesus returns will He find faith on the earth? Or, will Jesus find a bunch of jackup gun toting, Muslim hating idiots about to destroy everything.

If there is a Great Judgment soon, I bet many will be surprised which side of the judgment they find themselves.

Hate is not a Christian virtue.

My thoughts on inerrancy and infallibility

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:50:00 +0000

Believe me, if you asked me about 10 years ago about this I would be giving a much different answer. Personally, I found that the way I use to read the bible (literally) was harder and lead me to some wrong understandings. Often, I was confronted with the idea that some thoughts could not be "God's word" as they were lies coming out of Satan's mouth as in the case when Satan is tempting Jesus. I realized that to say, "I read it literal", was to limit or add to what the text stated and often gave the wrong focus on the story or text.

I do not believe inerrant and infallible mean anything as far as the Bible is concerned. In fact, it was not spoken as such until the fundamentalist talked of the bible in the 1920s. Then later in the 1970s, the Chicago Statement, (I believe that was what it was called), made it more mainstream. However, even Francis Schaeffer felt the compromises made over the words diminished their meaning. While he was a advocate for inerrancy and infallibility just noting that his not wanting to sign the Lausanne Covenant for not having “inerrancy” in the Statement shows how important at one time those words were.

Later, I walked amongst the Baptists, the Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel, Vineyard, and Methodists who all had different definitions for inerrant and infallible, which also by this time became a litmus test to see if someone was truly saved or just a liberal. However my biggest issue is the feeling of intellectual dishonesty in saying the Bible is inerrant and infallible is that we do not have the original texts so do not have a source to prove the claim. There may be enough evidence to claim it but still no proof.

I prefer, as I told my Regent University teacher to use better words. He seemed to be slightly annoyed when i presented this. I wish I had a catchy acrostic. LOL!

1. Credible, as it has been handed down for generations and has remained the same.

2. Reliable, as there are thousands of manuscripts that show consistency in the transference and translations.

3. Relational. Unlike no other book does one read and learn in a relational way about God from God.

4. Authoritative. As it is the holy and sacred scripture gifted to us by those believers who came before us. It is inspired, but not as if dropped from heaven but rather filtered through humans who God inspired to write as the Holy Spirit directed.

I found, at least for me, that these give me more freedom to read, interpret, understand, enjoy, and learn from the Bible. Most of all, these descriptive words keep the book a living book for me. I believe the Holy Spirit moves within the pages and if one approaches the bible humbly he or she will come away with a deeper understanding of Jesus and who they are as a person.

Loving others is a valid choice

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 17:42:00 +0000

I often replay a conversation with a pastor friend of mine that happened a few years back. I explained that I choose not to judge gay people and that I choose to love people as Jesus directs me. His response was, "You still need to take a stand against sin." I was a bit dumbfounded at that moment.

Here it the thing. Love is a valid choice if not also one of the two commandments from Jesus. Jesus did not come to judge us, but came to save us. Love was His mission. I wish I had the answer I have now for such a response...

I would say, "Then what the hell did Jesus die on a Cross for if not for love?"

Reflections on 9/11

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:31:00 +0000

I have mixed feelings about today.

I remember waking up to the phone ringing and a voice of my mother-in-law saying, “Something horrible is happening on TV”. Now, my mother-in-law is often calling us about things but this time there was something horrible happening -9/11

I turned the TV on and saw smoke coming from a building. One of the Twin Towers was on fire and that seemed horrible enough. Words from the TV came that a plane had hit the building and that was worse – Then I witnessed the next plane hit the second building.

I was living in California, which seems a million miles away from NYC. The news over the next few days seemed even worse. While there were some acts of heroism, these acts do not bring back those loved ones who died.

On one hand I mourn for those lost and the horror of the 9/11 events. At the time, I was one who needed "justice". I listened to my leaders and backed them, as they knew best as to how to administer this justice. I laughed at the bombs over Iraq and the lights giving that justice. Then one day it happened.

I realized somehow and someway between verses of “Bomb, bomb, Iraq” that those being bombed did not attack us. Most likely, they were civilians hoping to live out their day, as I want to. They wanted to wake up and kiss their children and head out to work. Instead, their homes were destroyed and so much collateral damage was done. By collateral damage, I mean innocent lives. I hung my head in shame over what we had done as a nation.

Now, when 9/11 comes I have a mixture of sadness and mourning for all the lives I have seen wasted. I learned more over the years of the policies that lead to 9/11. I read the conspiracies that I knew for sure were wrong and now, after reading all the atrocities the US policies have done over the years, just if, it was all a farce to keep the oil companies and military machine going.

Jesus has also brought me out of the blindness of right wing conservatism that claims God and Jesus but in action does all it can to hurt those who need help the most. I found a political party mixed with religion is a dangerous thing. Power seems to corrupt even the purest of ideals if unregulated. I come to understand more that I serve only one Kingdom. I am called to be a good citizen and in doing so must help create a better nation.

My feelings are mixed, however I resolve never to let it happen again even though I know it will. I resolve to elect those who do not want war or line their pockets with big oil or other company’s money. I want a better America that does not arm terrorists and then wonder why they attack us back. We need to grow away from war-based government and learn a better way that leads to peace.

What not to say to LGBT people

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 18:40:00 +0000

James 3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.3 Indeed,[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

Things you should not to say to gay people if you want to show them the Gospel.

Here is a list of things that will make a gay person shut down and not listen to you. Worse, if you are “preaching the Gospel” they will not hear it because of your words. In fact, many evangelicals do not understand that the “code words” they use are no different from the plainspoken language of Fred Phelps and his church. Therefore, if you want to be seen in Fred’s camp stop reading now.

Saying, “Homosexuality is a sin.”

The issue is you are dealing with something a person cannot change. This is like telling a black person their skin color is a sin. They cannot change the color of their skin any more than a LGBT person can change their sexual attraction. Most people may say, “I am fat”, but the reality is we have fat and are not just fat. An obese person is not just fat but also all else, that makes them a human being. To say, “I am fat”, is like saying, “I have an arm, so therefore I am arm”. Pretend again that you think black people are sinful because of the color of their skin. Are they sinners because of skin color or for something they did? Can they change to fit your view of what is sinful? You may think homosexuality is a sin, but is being homosexual a sin? On the other hand, are you stating the act of homosexuality is a sin? Say what you mean.

Using the word Homosexual:

Just the fact you used the word “homosexual” can be taken offensively. In many LGBT minds, this is as derogatory as any offensive term towards others. Use what LGBT prefer. If you lack the proper term then simply say “gay” or “transgender”. If you are talking about a transgender person use, his or her preferred gender identity: This is simple human respect to another human. I would be offended to be called a woman, (though I think woman are awesome), why? I identify humanly as a male person.

Calling gay people “sodomites”:

This just shows your own lack of Biblical understanding of the Biblical meaning of sodomy and what a Sodomite is. A Sodomite is a person who rapes and abuses others for their own pleasure. The act of sodomy is usually done by a heterosexual man against women or men. It is not gender specific. A great example of this would be to have you do a personal study on Domitian and his personal dinner parties. The entertainment was sickening and reveals what a Sodomite truly is.

Modern day LGBT couples are not Sodomites nor identify in any way in that sort of lifestyle. By calling someone, a Sodomite also shows you do not have a proper understanding of the verses in the Bible. Sadly, the word homosexual was used in translations and watered down the horror of sodomy and what being a Sodomite truly is. The sin of Sodom was more inhospitality. In fact, Lot sort of broke a rule in how he treated the angels with hospitality.

The men who came to the house did not care about “gay sex” but wanted to be a sort of perverse hetero-rapist welcoming committee to fix the hospitality Lot gave. Really, the real sick thing about the situation was that Lot was willing to give his two virgin daughters to the men to gang rape them to death. We focus on the men at Lot’s door as “gay” but the reality they were most likely heterosexual men who were abusers of other men, women, and children.

Saying, “It is a choice”:

Regardless of whether it is or not, (though if you are educated you would know people are born gay), saying it is a choice means nothing. It offends but means nothing. Why? Because, we are all born sinners and have made choices against God. In fact, to deny your own sin is to prove the Truth is not living in you! If you were truly honest, you would admit you still sin and nothing but the grace of God saves you. This is a double standard you place on LGBT people and a lie you tell yourself to keep yourself seeing your own sin.

Sexuality is tricky and heterosexuals tend to not realize they never had to tackle their sexual preference. However, LGBT people come to a point where they feel different. This is not by choice but an act of self-realization. There is not a time a LGBT person chose to become gay they just realized they had same sex attraction that was always there. Here is the main point on this “choosing”, straight and gay people are equal as far a being born.

Talking about “the gay agenda”:

Yes, gay people do have an agenda, but it is not what you think. The agenda is recognizing gay people as human beings with the same rights as other human beings. In fact, this is one of the most bigoted things you can say to a gay person. It shows you see them as not humans who deserve the same basic human rights that you already have.

Having the basic assumption, they do not know the Gospel:

This takes true humility. Anyone can be wrong. I have been wrong many times and the Lord has leaded me out of error into truth. The true believer will accept his or her fallibility and be humble in how he or she presents the Gospel as well as approaches others with the Gospel of Grace.

Assuming your interpretation is the true one:

Not being open to listen to other interpretations hurts the communication between you and any LGBT person. Listen to their different views. Some of course are way out there in interpretation but so are many who agree with your view.

Talk about programs that help LGBT people become straight:

It is well known these programs do not work and in fact are more harmful than helpful. Even many of those who developed these programs and claimed they became straight have now stated they are still gay. LGBT people who have been through these programs can tell how horrible they were and that they did not work. One person I know was simply taught to put on a pretty dress, some makeup, and that would help her feel more feminine and not want to be attracted to other women. It did not work. One person I read about had painful shock waves administered when gay porn was shown as some sort of Clockwork Orange style of deprograming. Well, it did not work. Accept it; even psychology now sees that being gay is not a mental illness or deviant. Even if you think being gay is a sin, you are losing ground by asserting it is a psychological issue.

Saying, “You’re so gay”, as a putdown:

Using “gay” or “faggot" or any other similar word as a putdown is offensive. To state someone is “retarded” or telling a boy “that he throws like a girl”. The sayings that are used as ways to hurt others in general seem like something people should be aware of. However, I have heard my fellow believers say these things. While people may say this in jest, imagine if it was said to you and you were gay. Think of it this way. Would you call a Japanese friend a Jap? Alternatively, would you call a Muslim or Arabic person a “rag head? Misusing “gay” is as offensive as these other terms.

Conclusion:

I am blessed to have gay friends show me my straight privilege. I must acknowledge their grace toward me as I attempt to learn and grow. I am not perfect and even though I had thought this post was good, I had a friend who is gay read over it. I was amazed at how much I still missed. The point is, you will get more respect in how you approach the LGBT community by learning how to speak to them as peope. In fact, even as I do the re-write of this post I know there are some major areas I failed. You may not be perfect, but part of growing is being willing to make mistakes. The point is the conversation. Each of us can learn from each other if we begin to listen and not judge.

About Gay Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:13:00 +0000

About Gay Marriage

This post is part of the July 2015 synchroblog that invited bloggers to write about “Gay Marriage”. After the blog post, you will find other Bloggers links with various opinions. Be sure to check them out.

In many ways, on my blog, I believe I have already addressed this issue. It is obvious that there are those who would say they agree, and many who will never agree. The point is not in the argument but in one’s own conviction and resolve to carry out the message of Grace or continue to create “others” and separate ourselves as believes, from them.

In Acts chapter 10, we find Peter being confronted by God about eating unclean animals. Here is the story:

This was a time when Romans, let alone Roman soldiers were greatly despised by the Jewish people; God had just poured out his Spirit on the Jews however; there is no real mention of the Gentiles. To this point, we would assume as many probably did, that the only way a gentile could be saved was to become a Jew. Therefore, it is interesting that in this story we find out what God states of those horrible Gentiles the Jewish people despised so much

There was a Roman soldier who was kind and generous, who prayed to God every day. His name was Cornelius. One day Cornelius had a vision of an angel who addresses him. His response is, “What is it lord?”

It is then the angel tells Cornelius about Simon Peter. The angel tells Cornelius where Peter is and Cornelius sets out to find him. As Cornelius and his men get closer to Joppa, Peter goes on the roof of the house he is staying in and begins to pray – or rather, he falls into a trance.

It is here where it gets interesting. In this trance, Peter sees a sheet come down from Heaven with all the unclean animals on it and a voice of God saying, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Of course Peter, of all people would respond as any good Jewish person would, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” (In a way, this story sounds like the time Peter refused to have his feet washed by Jesus and Peter started to argue with Jesus not to do so.)

Then the same voice spoke again as we read in verse 15:

But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven?

Let us stop and ponder what that means. God is declaring all the unclean animals clean. This rather reminds me of the end of the story of Jonah where Jonah was called to prophecy to Nineveh to repent of their sins. Here is the last bit of the story of Jonah if you do not remember.

7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”

“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”

10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

In a way, I have to laugh as Jonah’s response sounds much like many Right-Wing Republicans who threatened to move to another country of do other stupid things over gay marriage. However, let us stay on point here.

Jonah was angry over God’s kindness and compassion. I see this anger even today with those who fight against gay marriage. It is exactly as Paul states why we should not judge others in Romans chapter 2. However, notice that God talks compassionately about the animals. God reveals to Jonah his compassion and kindness because the Ninevites are “living in spiritual darkness”. Jonah ends with a question we must still answer today -- Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

Let us go back to Peter now. Peter understands that this vision of the sheet of unclean animals is not about food. It was about God’s compassion for people – all people regardless to Jew or Gentile. Peter then meets Cornelius and as they meet, Peter gives a short sermon that results in the Holy Spirit being poured out on the first Gentiles. I hope you go and read that for yourself – and realize that most of you, unless you are Jewish, would fall under the label of “Gentile”.

Paul writes about the Gentiles in Romans chapter 1. I assume whether you are for or against gay marriage you use this chapter in some way to prove or disprove homosexuality is a sin. Really, that is not the point of Romans 1 but you can read more of that here. Likewise, as in Romans 1-2 Paul gives the “Therefore” as to why he wrote Romans chapter one in Romans chapter 2, we find that Acts 10 does the same thing in relation to Acts 11.

Peter welcomes in the morally corrupt Gentiles as being cleansed by God and then does an amazing thing. Peter preaches a sermon about the Grace of God. In fact, the sermon is the retelling of the happenings in Acts Chapter 10. Peter ends the story with this amazing defense of Grace.

5 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

The question is what did the Gentiles or Jewish people do to be cleansed? Nothing. The Jews and Gentiles became equal (as God shows no favoritism) by the Grace of God. We are now all at the same level and come to Life by faith in the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. It was not until Peter met a Gentile who believed in Jesus and giving revelation from God, that Peter’s eyes were finally open to see how great the Grace of God is.

I hear you now, “Wait! What does this have to do with gay marriage?” My response is this – are you being kind or creating an atmosphere of othering? If you can grasp this, God’s grace covers much more than many realize. I can give reasons as to why our sin was truly taken away by Jesus on the Cross. I have written much on my view of sin and maybe in a future blog post will give you more of what I believe. I could explain my theological position now, but this blog post is already too long. However, if you want a better Biblical understanding of how homosexuality is used in the Bible I suggest you also read this post.

Again, my answer to gay marriage is; Does your position demand rights that undermine the kindness of God that leads to repentance? Are you guilty of judging others in a way that denies God’s kindness that leads to repentance? Do you judge homosexuality as different as stealing, being greedy, or being drunkards, or being an abusive person, or cheating people, or lying, breaking promises, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching of God? Are you gluttonous, or lust for power, dishonoring to your parents, quarrelsome, jealous, angry, selfish, slanderous, gossiping, arrogant, murderous, lustful in general, and other disorderly behaviors? If you have not committed any of these ever, then cast the first stone at the rest of us who have and rest on the Grace of God. Answer those questions, pray, and then let God speak to you about gay marriage.

As an afterthought here. Here is my perspective on the "bakers who lost their bakery" because two lesbians sued them. First off, there is much more to this story and the "Christian bakers" were not as innocent and some try to make them out to be Just take some time to look at who make names public and how it affected the lesbian couple and their adopted children. The second thing is this. If a simple teaching of Jesus had been followed instead of some self -righteous stand on "rights" this could have been avoided. Jesus taught in Matthew 5:41 "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles" Or, another way of understanding this verse is: "If anyone forces you to bake a cake, bake them two." However, many believers have lost sight of the simplicity of Jesus' teachings and lose opportunities to be a light to a dark world. The real question that believers need to ask themselves is, How inclusive is Jesus?"

Here is the synchroblog list. Again, be kind and give grace. This is an opportunity for many to see another side of this issue.

D.L. Webster

Glenn Hager

Mary

Michelle Torigian

More blogs coming soon!

What it means to love instead of shame

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:32:00 +0000

I received an interesting but very veiled email from an author I highly respect. It was veiled as one could read it and think he was either for gay marriage or against it. It was a well-crafted email, however I suspect it was against gay marriage. Everything he stated I agreed with and I see I am doing. I am not bowing to culture in my stand for gay rights as I view gay people as fellow humans-- and see this issue as a human rights issue.

Now, I can back up my view from scripture though I know many will not get it at all, as they can only see passages as they have been taught -- and they have not been taught well how to read and understand the overall context of these passages. I will be posting more in a synchroblog coming soon as to my view on gay marriage. Suffice it to say; at this point, I am at peace in my view as I have followed Jesus's lead in this. I see that Jesus is more inclusive than many want Him to be. In fact, it appears many believers desire Jesus to believe and see things how they want instead of asking Jesus to see the world how He does and follow Him as He does His work in and through us.

I will say this though. I noticed that many of us who understand grace seem to be on the side of gay marriage. I find that interesting as it reveals that just maybe God's grace goes beyond mere human understanding and must come from humble revelation of truth from He Who is The Truth. Grace is not just defined as, “unmerited favor from God” or “not getting what we deserve”, but also God’s emotions towards us. [1]Yes, God has emotions – where to you think we get them from?

Love is what drives this emotion of Grace. Often we confuse justice and love. We want justice in the form of revenge instead of having things set right. What justice truly is, as God originally created us to be is – good. In fact, true justice is the realization that we are not just good but very good as God called us when He created humans. Now, we either believe God loves us as He still sees the goodness in us or we believe the lie and rush to find new fig leaves to cover ourselves in shame.

Shame is a noun and a verb. First, it is the “painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.” [2] However, shame as a verb connotes the idea of one shaming another. [3] We most often impose this definition on God. Jesus instead reveals that this is a lie. Instead of shaming humanity, Jesus takes our shame to the Cross. Jesus shows us that God’s love is greater than our shame.

When we shame others, we are walking in the lie that God sees us the way we are seeing others. We are not walking in the light of truth of love. Yes, at times people do shameful things, but it is not our job to further shame them. Rather our job is to do all we can to restore them to the God-given dignity they have lost. This is The Way of Jesus – to love and not judge or shame. It is not, as some think, some gooey lovey-dovey, caramel centered version of grace ala “cheap grace.” In fact, those of us who discover this way find it a much harder path. Loving others as inclusive as Jesus is radical. It is having the realization of the truth when Paul writes in Romans 5:10, “10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Do we truly believe this? Do you understand that while you were still God’s adversary God reconciled you unto Himself through Jesus?

Take that thought with this verse, Matthew 5:43 – 45a “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…”

One cannot separate the ideas presented in these two verses. First, you were once an enemy of God and yet, God still reconciled you to Himself. Secondly, Jesus clearly states to love all, even those you consider your enemy. By the way, one cannot judge another and love them; likewise, one cannot love another and judge them. Love is full acceptance of the person. This does not mean we accept say one who murders another in a way the murder was acceptable as it harmed another. However, we forgive the murderer, as hard as that is, and allow God to work that forgiveness into the heart of the murderer.

The definition of sin is tricky. My definition of sin is simply "anything that is adversarial in your life between you and God". This could be good things as well as bad things. In addition, as Paul states, "everything that does not come from faith is sin”. [4] Meaning this; that often we are sinning and do not even realize it for our actions toward others, as well as our own self is not coming from faith.

The Bible states, that sin in sinful humanity, is clearly judged, and condemned, with Christ Jesus on the Cross. Our sins were taken away as Jesus who had no sin, became sin and the sin offering for us.[5] However, for some reason, instead of returning this love and grace to those we see still lost in spiritual darkness we desire to judge and condemn others. Love is a valid choice to extend to others. Grace is a valid choice to extend to others. It may be hard to do this but here is the secret. Look for what God is already doing and not for what you think God should do. It is not our place to decide what God is to do or is already doing. Judging and condemning perpetuates the lie of shame. People are trapped in this lie of shame and as believers; our job is to help them see Christ in them, their only hope of Glory. [6]

[1] Zimmerli. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Vol. IV. 7th. Edited by Gerhard Kittel, & Gerhard Friedrich. Grand Rapids: Eerdman, 1981. I do go into this more in my book Regarding Logos http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00P0KIK0M

[2] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shame

[3] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shame

[4] Romans 14:23

[5] Romans 8:2-4 1; John 2:1-2

[6] Romans 5:1-2

The misuse and abuse of Romans one

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 15:51:00 +0000

I do not know how often people have told me, “Just read Romans 1 and you will see how God hates homosexuality”. Yes, I have read the passage, but if that is what you get out of the passage, you are missing the entire point to which Paul is making.

I will be using the NKJV for reference. We will skip Paul’s intro and go straight to the overall context of Romans 1:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Here many seem to jump straight to the verses 26 and 27 but seem to overlook the reasons the “vile passions” are so vile. However, if we read closely before we get to the “vile passions” we see that the pagans have seen the invisible attributes of God since creation as well as they knew God but instead changed the glory of God and worshiped images of themselves as well as birds and four-footed animals and… creeping things. In fact, if you can visualize this passage a bit it should return you to Egypt. It should bring about images of Anubis and other half-man/ half-beast gods. We see that the passage is about idolatry and what comes with it. Sexual immorality came with the worship of false gods. It came in many forms, but get this; it was a form of worship and not anything like LGBT communities of today. These temple prostitutes had sex as an act of worship and to raise money for the temples.

One temple was to the goddess Cybele who was believed to be a fertility goddess. During her “worship”, prostitutes would be a major part of the worship. In fact, according to Wikipedia, as they rather soften the ritual, “Many of her Greek cults included rites to a divine Phrygian castrate shepherd-consort.” What this really means is that men would be castrated and become male prostitutes for use in temple worship. Paul brings us to Egypt, then to Rome. Castration was neither a pleasant experience nor a kind way to treat others.

While we are using the NKJV, here is Young’s literal translation that may read a bit different than most have read this passage.

26 Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature;27 and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, did burn in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the recompense of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving.

Often this passage has “against nature” but a closer look states “dishonourable affections" and the females changed the natural use of their bodies to unnatural usage… meaning prostitution. Also, the same with the male prostitutes who no longer would have sex with a woman. Now, many again take these two verses to be the point of Paul. However, these are examples of how horrible pagan idolatry is and what it did to people.

Paul states that those who do such things deserve death as well as those who approve such things also do. Nevertheless, it is not the homosexual sex Paul is focused on… it is the idolatry and worship of false gods and how that harms people.

However again, this is where many if not most people stop. They think Paul is done for some reason and then forget all he wrote and turn the page to Romans 2 as if it was a completely new thought Paul was going forth. Instead, Chapter two is the punchline of the setup from chapter one. Paul has every Jewish reader frothing in agreement with Paul about those immoral and unnatural pagans and how they worship false gods. Then, Paul does something that many miss. He sticks the Jewish readers with a knife and then twists it. How?
Paul now gives the “therefore” of the why he just wrote what he did and it may surprise you. Just read:

2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

Paul does not stop but goes on to say that because the Jewish people were given the Law they should know better but they do not. In fact Paul states,” For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.” Why? The Jewish people were known to steal, commit adultery, and even rob pagan temples for money earned through the worship of false gods to use as they pleased. According to Paul this was the reason the Gentiles blasphemed God as the Jewish people did not even honor the One True God as well as the pagans honored their pagan gods. The other thing is this. According to Paul in verses 1-3 that by judging the pagans such it was the same as despising “the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Paul just stated that by judging others we despise the kindness and goodness of God as we deny the love God showed on the Cross and Resurrection to all people.

Yet even today many do not read this in connection to chapter one. They use or rather misuse chapter one to judge others and do the very thing Paul was trying to teach NOT to do. We are guilty of wanting wrath instead of the blessing of our so-called enemies of kindness and repentance. We use judgment as a tool for evangelism when in fact it makes a mockery of Jesus as we do so.
Be careful as you use the Bible. I have found many times people proof text a passage to make it fit their own beliefs instead of having the Bible change and renew our minds. If you claim to hold the Bible as a holy text then treat it so.

The sign of Jonah, gay marriage, and other fleeting thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:35:00 +0000

The sign of Jonah is more than the three days in the belly of a whale and then being barfed on the beach. It is about the message to the Ninevites that Jonah gave to repent or experience the wrath of God. Jonah delivers this message and then sits on a hill over Nineveh to watch God pour out His wrath. Jonah sits so long a weed grows over him and shades him. Jonah is happy about the weed until it withers and then he became angry. He curses at God, as Jonah knew God would have mercy. Jonah is angry that the weed withered… here is the sign. God asks Jonah why he is so angry over a withered weed instead of seeing God forgive and bring salvation to the Ninevites. Jonah, who was chosen by God by Grace, wanted wrath instead of Grace to his enemies. Instead, God, who is merciful, gives grace.

This message is for today. Jonah was under a sad delusion that God is wrathful and desired that kind of God. Instead of delivering the delusion, God reveals His mercy and love for Gentiles… worse Gentiles that were the enemy of Israel.

We read in the Gospels of a man who owes a great debt. He is called before the king and begs for forgiveness. He is forgiven his great debt. The man then goes out and finds a man who owes him money. Instead of forgiveness, the man shakes down the other man to pay back the debt. When the king hears of this, he calls the first man back and tosses him into prison until he could pay his own debt. [1]

Now, I believe that God does not take away salvation from us. However, if you received forgiveness freely by grace you are in no position to demand others receive grace by doing anything but receive it as you did. If you place on another person rules and regulation for salvation, you are NOT preaching the Gospel of Jesus. You are preaching a perverted gospel that is NO gospel at all.

Recently, I have heard people talking of God sending a grand delusion over gay marriage and other issues.[2] Interestingly, when you read the passage in Romans about this delusion, it is in regards to believing in a false god made of sticks and stones out of the vain imagination of humans. I might add that we do not need sticks and stones to have false ideas of God. Those that choose an image of God as a lightning bolt throwing, wrathful, God miss the very end of Paul’s passage in Romans. In fact, if you read Romans one without finishing Paul’s thoughts in Romans 2 you do a great injury to the passage. Paul ends the thoughts by saying that while the pagans do such horrible things, the moralistic Jewish people also do these things so have no room to judge others --- and worst, by judging the pagan as they have dishonor God whose kindness leads to repentance.

I think that maybe there is a grand delusion happening. However, instead of it being given to those who think they serve God by crying out for His wrath to fall on others, it is given to those very people as they follow their sad imagination of such god. This delusion as 2 Thes. 2:9-12 describes:

9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

What if the lie is not about believing in gay marriage, but deeper -- the belief in the lie that God is something or someone He is not? What if it is believing in a god that does great signs and leads people away from the kindness of God? What if when we desire God to pour out His wrath on “others” we are crying out to a god of lawlessness and are forsaking the One True God? What if we have chosen to not believe the truth in that God is a loving, kind, giving, God who is willing to even suffer our sin and even greater, take that sin upon Himself and die for us? What if we instead are crying out for Zeus and not Jesus? That is the delusion I see. I see many forsaking the kindness of God for a lie. I see the US as becoming more and more self-righteous instead of displaying the image of Jesus in the Bible. We forget the truth in what Jesus stated, “If you know me, you know the Father.” [3]

[1] Matthew 18:21-35

[2] Romans 1-2

[3] John 14

Wait, who did Cain marry? And that was the second Biblical "marriage"?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:54:00 +0000

Funny that people who fight the most about the sanctity of marriage go the "incest route" and also hold that the Bible is
literal and have no issue with Cain having a sister for a wife... or that Isaac had a half-sister for a wife and Jacob with is half-sister wife. So, what isthe definition of Biblical marriage? No, I am not saying that is good. However, here is the thing. God allowed divorce because of the hardness of man's heart so really I could build a case for it. Nevertheless.
Incest damages a person. The psychology of a child is damaged in ways that will affect that child as they grow. While being Gay is something more of a self-realization, incest is a choice made by an adult against a child. Not to also mention that if a child is conceived it has a 42% chance at being born with some serious birth defect. Some argue that just make sure they are sterile...  
Another reason against incest is that it is gross. But morethis. It is linked to mental illness.
http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-13/news/mn-3971_1_sexual-abuse  

From this article:

"In their study of 75 area women receiving psychotherapy, Dinwiddie and Pribor found the 52 incest victims in that group each, on average, had suffered seven psychiatric illnesses, more than twice the number suffered by the 23 women who hadn't been sexually abused as children."
Mental illness, birth defects, abuse of power in relationships... all lead me to say incest is not good and is different than being born LGBT even if the second biblical "marriage" was Cain and his sister and our biblical patriarchs married their half-sister and no one seems to worry about that at all.

If you think I am a bit overboard here check this site out. 