The 411 (i.e. Purpose of the Site)….& My M.O
Before procedding, some definitions for all of us to consider…
| em·is·sar·y [ émmi sèrree ] (plural em·is·sar·ies) |
| noun |
| Definition: |
| 1. representative: an agent or representative sent on a particular mission |
| 2. spy: a secret agent or spy ( dated ) |
| [Early 17th century. < Latin emissarius "somebody sent out" < emiss-, past participle of emittere (see emit)] |
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861608158/emissary.html
| am·bas·sa·dor [ am bássədər, am bássə dàwr ] (plural am·bas·sa·dors) |
| noun |
| Definition: |
| 1. diplomatic representative: a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its long-term representative to another |
2. official representative: an official representative of an organization or movement  visiting this country as an ambassador for a fund dedicated to saving endangered species |
| 3. unofficial representative: somebody or something regarded as an unofficial representative or a symbol of somethingThe swallow is an ambassador of spring. |
| [14th century. Via French ambassadeur< Italian ambasciator< Latin ambactus "vassal" < Gaulish, "servant"]http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/Ambassador.html At first glane, these two definitons may seem to have nothing in common……but look further & you’ll quickly see that they do. For both involve |
That said, these two definitons may seem to have nothing in common…..but if one were to look further, he or she will quickly see that they do, for both involve the action of being SENT on a MISSION, representing someone or something far greater than themselves.\
The reason I’ve chosen the title Emissary 7 for the Blog (minus the fact that “Emissary” just sounds so cool & I love the Title/ how it’s been used elsewhere…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissary…..& “7″ stands for the 7th number in the Alphabet, which is “G”: The letter of my initials) is because that’s what allof us are called to do.
An ambassador is an offical representive on behalf of one country to another…..& as believers, we are CHRIST’S ambassadors……SENT on a RESCUE MISSION FOR THE LOST/THOSE WITHOUT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND COMISSIONED with THE TASK OF BRINGING HIS his MESSAGE of RECONCILLIATION TO A HOSTILE WORLD. God has brought us back to himself (renconciles us) by blotting out our sins & making us righteous (Ephesians 2:13-18)…..& what a privelage it is to know that we are no longer God’s enemies, or strangers or foreigners to Him when WE TRUST IN CHRIST. And because we have the privelage of being renconciled to God, we also have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same.
. However, our jobs as ambassadors isn’t simply a privelage…..but a RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL…..& we DARE NOT TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY,…..FOR WE LIVE ALSO IN A WORLD THAT’S HOSTILE TO GOD..DOMINATED BY LIES…….& sadly, becuase many of us have failed in our responsibility, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HINDERED IN COMING TO KNOW GOD/BE SET FREE…..BEING CASUALTIES OF WAR
How many individuals do you know who know what it means to have a BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW? Or who think that having one is SILLY/IMPRACTICAL?
Better yet, how many do you know who claim the name of Christ & yet their lifestyle is CONTRARY to the very things He has said……& moreover, how many of you have watched as their lives literally went to hell while they thought everything was cool?
As Paul said, the World we live in is full of philosophies/man-made approaches to life that seem as if they’re 100% truth/trustworthy….but in reality, they’re designed to destroy us/take us into bondage…..& in order to avoid those things, one must not only know what they are, but he or she must be alert, using their minds to think critically, analyze, KNOW WHAT’S UP, KNOW WHAT THE 411 IS (I.e. THE ISSUES IN OUR SOCIETY THAT ARE TAKING PLACE & study God’s Word IN ORDER TO HAVE HIS LIFE-CHANGING PERSPECTIVE……while alL THE WHILE keeping their eyess on OUR COMMANDER & CHIEF, CHRIST. Truly, just as it would be with a secret agents/EMISSARIES, WE ARE WAR/ON A MISSION……& WE CANNOT FAIL TO NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD/The DEVI’LS LAIR:
Colossians 2:8
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ..
That said, it is my hope/aim to do JUST THAT.—BRINGING THE TRUTH ADMIST A WORLD OF LIES…..& HELPING OTHERS COME BACK TO WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. And To everyone who reads, please pray for me as I’ll be trying my best to keep everyone updated on the issues taking place around us, & TO NEVER FAIL IN TAKING PEOPLE BACK TO WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS…… for whether people wish to acknowledge it or not, the Best/ONLY WORLDVIEW SUITABLE FOR DEALING WITH THE ISSUES OF LIFE IS A BIBLICAL ONE.
(Ecclesiastes 1:16-18).
Wisdom Is Meaningless
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15 What is twisted cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”
17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
nyone studying Ecclesaistes will quickly realize that there are two kinds of wisdom highlighted in the book: (1) human knowledge, reasoning, or philosophy, and (2) the wisdom that comes from God. In these verses Solomon is talking about human knowledge……& the consequences that come from it.
For The more we know & understand, the more pain & difficulty you experience. For example, the more you know, the more imperfection you see around you………..& when human knowledge ignores God, it ONLY HIGHLIGHTS OUR PROBLEMS because it cannot provide answers without God’s eternal perspective and solution ( (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18).
Only with the Truth of the Gospel/Good NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST CAN WE BE SAVED (Romans 1:16-18)
Romans 1:16-18
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[b]
…..& seeing that we who claim the NAME OF CHRIST have been comissioned to be His Ambassadors, His Representives………, In Short, .EMISSARIES, it’s my desire to do that with those of you who’d chose to read/visit here….& that perhaps you’ll all grow to do the same (II Corinthians 5:11-21)
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s AMBASSADORS, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
INFO ABOUT ME:
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INFO ABOUT ME:
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Activities I’m Into (& please bear with me as I try to be humorous): Just another intelligent black man (a dying breed, mind you) living it up under pressure, giving it up to the game called life, taking the good with the bad, the pain with the gain, and still keeping it R.E.A.L (Relational, Enlightened/Effective, Authentic, and Lively) in the way I deal while bringing fame, not shame, to the Name… of Christ.
In case anyone was confused as to what I just said/meant (most likely you were), I’m a college student at KSU and seeking to live for the Lord. I’m involved at a campus ministry on KSU called “Wings and Worship” and I’m also an Intern and a Youth Deacon in training in my Youth Group (5979 Youth Ministries), and I’m also a full time brother to my little sister (Risa–already 2 and still going strong-Bless God!) and good son to mi familia.
I’m also an runner (was a cross-country/track n’field runner in Highschool/Middle School…& though not at my prime, I intend to get back soon and have tried throughout the year…it’s gotten better), a singer, a teacher and constantly being “schooled” in the ways of God (In God’s school, I have yet to graduate…probably won’t for a long time comin’n., but I’m still advancing!)
Interests:
Serving God/being a “light”, lovin’n the the blessings He hands my way, enjoying the life He gives me day by day, Studying/Conveying the W-O-R-D with/to Others, keeping it real for my sistas/brothas (note: for those of you who are not minorities..meaning white people… I’m talkin about ya’ll too so please don’t trip or develop a complex)
Preaching and reaching, singing and teaching, and wanting to bring fame, not shame, to the name of Christ. Seriously, I enjoy ministry and mentoring others (particulary youths in highschool and middle school) and serving others in whatever small ways I can, giving words of encouragement and building others up in the areas they need assistance, relating to others where they’re at,
analyzing/discussing the heavy issues affecting the world (i.e. the decay of absolute morality and rise of relativism/immorality, the dangerous obsession in the U.S with media/pleasure and entertainment, the overall depravity of man, etc.), reading and writing/journaling, spoken word/poerty, exploring (wandering really), dancing, and developing deep lifelong and Christ-Centered/ multi-cultural friendships (note: I don’t just mean where Jesus is merely mentioned in our plans or even a part of the plan, but rather where He is the plan and where we’re not just claiming the Name without having the Nature of Christ ) while living on the Edge of Tommorrow…(i.e. Keeping up with the Times…)
Oh..and I also enjoy music and athletics and just having good time
Favorite Music:
Tradional Gospel/ Urban Worship (i.e. Destiny Praise, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Lisa Mclendon, Helen Baylor, Tye Tribbet, CeCe Winans, Byron Cage, GRITS, Da Truth, KJ 57…anything real/deep and clean that I can dance to, sing to, rap about and shout it out so I can get my praise on, HA!…etc). I also enjoy alot of contemporary Chrisitan artists, but mainly old school ones (i.e. D.C Talk, Passion, etc).
Apart from that, I try to stay within the generes of music which can be considered either “clean” (i.e. no profanity, obsecnity, crudness, foolishness, etc…yeah, the beat’s may be slammin’but “garbage in still garbage out”-Galatians 6:1-4) or carrying a positive message while truly dealing with the issues of society. My other favorites are Smooth Jazz/R n B (excluding, of course, the sensual “bump and grind” kind and anything vulgar of course or that would put me in the wrong kind of mood…get my drift?), Old School Tunes (Earth, Wind and Fire, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, etc), Classical and anything either Latin or from the West-Indies (i.e. Regae, Calyspo, etc).
Not much more to say here…
Favorite TV Shows:
Call me “Old School” if you like cause I’m mainly all about the old school shows (ex. Good Times, The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show, A Different World..I could relate to this show seeing that I went to an historically black college, , Startrek: Next Generation/ Deep Space Nine, ROOTS, etc).
Gotta give it up also for the old school cartoon/animated series from back in the day too (“Batman: Animated Series”, X-Men, “Reboot”, “Beast Wars”, etc…If I seem silly in what I’ve listed, no, I don’t apologize alright?)
Apart from that, and mabye a couple of new shows like “Wild” on Discovery Channel and the History Network, and ocassionally “Showtime at the Apollo”, I really don’t watch much television anymore. Nothing seems really worthile watching. New School really has nothing to offer nowadays…
Favorite Movies:
Gladiator, The Last Samurai, Saving Private Ryan, Tears of the Sun, Hotel Rwanda, John Q, Remember the Titans, Amistad, A Time to Kill, Sabrina, Batman Begins, Lord of the Rings, The Shawshank Redemption, Les Miserables Honestly, I’ve seen so many that it’s hard to remember all of them and honestly what may be a favorite of mine may vary from time to time. Besides, I’m tired and it’s late at night while I’m writing this
Musicals/Animated:
West Side Story, The Wiz, Beauty and the Beast (Minus the Story of God’s Love for us as shown in the Bible, IMHO, IT’S THE BEST LOVE STORY OF ALL TIME), The Lion King, Mulan (Yeah, I’m givin’n it up for Disney. Gotta give credit where credit is due), All Dogs GO TO HEAVEN, …and of course, The Prince of Egypt (Truly one of best of animated/musical movies of all time and the directors did a real good job of making the movie work, even though it wasn’t entirely accurate, although if you want the real deal about the Exodus, though, gotta go to the Bible…the real version is much better/more intense!)… more will come to my mind later…
Favorite Books:
The W.O.R.D: Gods love lyric to man. His Words, taken from eternity, placed into time, written on paper by Spirit for all to Hear it and See, that I Could be made free and His glory be seen in me. Truly, what else can compare? (Psalm 1, Psalm 19, II Timothey 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:10-12)
Apart from that, I don’t really have a favorite book, seeing that I’m constantly reading/assimilating knowledge. I mainly tend to draw toward anything dealing with practical Christian living, couseling, and Christian theology/doctrine. I do enjoy the Classics of Christianity (i.e. “Journey to Hell” by John Bunyan, “Mere Christianity” by C.S Lewis, “Morning and Evening” by Charles Spurgeon, etc…the list goes on but there are too many good authors to note!) and contemporary books like “I kissed Dating goodbye”/ “Sex is not the problem (Lust is )” by Joshua Harris, “Rediscovering the Kingdom” by Myles Monroe, “Life on the Edge” by Dr. James Dobson, etc. Other Christian Novels include “This Present Darkness”/”Piercing the Darkness”, and “Redeeming Love”.
Apart from Christian literature, my other favorite type of genere would be African American Literature, specifically slave-narratives (“My Bondage and My freedom” by Fredrick Douglass), and literature from the Reconstruction up to the Harlem Renaissance and beyond (“The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B Dubois, “Their Eyes were watching God”, “Invisible Man”, practically anything by Langston Hughes and countless others)
Favorite Quotes:
” There is Nothing new under the Sun” (Ecc. 1:9….Sad, but all too true…)
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the pathe of sinners, not sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Not so the wicked, for they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners int the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” –Psalm 1:1-6–
“True Triumphs are God’s triumphs over us. His defeats of us are our real victories.”-Henry Alford
“That which men spit against heaven shall fall back into their faces.”-Thomas Watson
Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset…to the wicked, it is a night with no morning.”-Watson
“Man’s way leads to a hopeless end…Gods way leads to an endless hope.”-Anon
“Procrastination..the art of keeping up with yesterday”-Anon
“Truly, no greater fatigue is there known than that of work which is left undone.”-Benjamin Franklin (I think..)
“Sweat…the colonge of Success”-Anon
“Why shop for what you cannot afford?”
“Success… a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets.”
“I wish you would…( The Black Man’s Creed; whites seem to live by the “I hope” creed…that is, “I hope none one messes with me today, or “I hope he won’t rob me”, but blacks say things like “I wish you would rob me!)-Cedric The Enternanier.
“Keep campaigning for this butt whuppin, you gonna get elected”-Anon
“Don’t Trip…”
“Stop Tripp’n”
“Still Tripp’n?”
“I feel that…”
“Heavy…”
“Sweet!”
“Righteous…”
“Smooth…”
“Holla..”
“Whoa..
“Man..”
“Brah…..
“For Real, Brah..
“SHANDA!!!!”
“Not everyone can become famous but everyone can achieve greatness, for greatness is service” -Martin Luther King
“Not everything that can be counted counts….& not everything that counts can be counted…”
-Albert Einstein
“As if you could kill time without injuring eternity …”-Henry David Thoreau.
“Those who kneel before Jesus can stand before anything.”-Anon
“You no more need a spiritual holiday than your heart needs a holiday from beating…”- Oswald Chambers
“”Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” -Corrie Ten Boom
“But for grace….”
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ Our Lord! (Romans 7:24..reading the verse in context makes the verse a whole lot more powerful)
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 24-25)
More on My Personality:
I’m relational and I’m loyal (that is, to those who I consider my family and friends and who return the favor), transparent and fierce, compassionate and passionate, intense and not one to “sit on the fence”, love to relate and conversate ( preferably one on one conversations…I don’t really like crowds… and I don’t really do well with discussing surface issues for long-periods of time, but I highly enjoy converation which involves sharing what’s going on in a person’s mind/ heart and having productive discussions which I can look back on and remember and appreciate)…
love to analyze, hate not feeling energized (which is why I have trouble often sitting down for long-periods of time, unless I have a really good book I want to read or some kind of quote/poem I’m trying to write somewhere), love to meditate long and I like to think…not so short it seems like I blinked…
Basically, if you can see, I love to chill and I’m still keepin’n real for the Lord Jesus.
I’m Not Perfect, Just Forgiven. Only Because of His Mercy am I still livin’n. Trying to keep it true to the Letter (Word), choosing His ways..not just becasue I have to but comapared to the rest (man/the world’s style) it’s truly better.
By Him alone I’m seek’n to walk the straight and narrow (Matther 7: 13-14), the only way to go. . . But 4 grace, where would I be. Brah, who Knows…who knows? Later…
P.S: The reason I’m rhryming so much is because it helps me to catalog what I’m thinking much more efficiently. If it offends anyone or trips anyone out, so sad..but too bad!!Holla!
Education Info
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Work Info
| Employer: |
Liberty Church |
| Position: |
, & I work on the Custodial/Technical Enginerring Staff @ my church
My Learning Style/Further Reason into Why I do as I do: To note (and I hope it doesn’t come off in any way like I’m boasting), When it comes to social/theological issues, RESEARCHING, inquiry, getting as much knowledge as possible and seeking to discover TRUTH that’ll change lives (more than simply desiring to be right/win an argument) is one of my greatest passions.
The passion’s partly due to the myriad of experiences I’ve had growing up and how, going to a Christian Highschool with folks from various denominations (DOMINION CHRISTIAN HIGHSCHOOL….and imagine going from a Charismatic background to being in a pre-dominately Prebysteryian Highschool!!), I was constantly exposed to new ideas/oints of view that differed with MINE……and I constantly witnessed how many Christians went into discussing issues primarily from their experiences/points of views/soley focusing on their “nuggets” of truth that they found in Scripture….
And, although many had strong biblical points, folks often rarely got anywhere because they were so wrapped up in their own perspective……They’d often use the Word of God as a tool to exalt themselves/make themselves look good and approach the pursiut of knowledge not from the perspective of helping others to be more like Christ and to build them up………, and they were often more concerned with having the last word (PRIDE… Proverbs 13:10) than being humble and seeking to gain a full perspective on something, whether it was through arguing an issue from someone else’s side, examining their points/experiences, asking questions or anything else for that matter (as long as it didn’t contradict the Word, of course)……
And because of how people were so opinionated/concerned with arguing their side than seeking to learn together, we often rarely got anywhere…what it led to was many wrong accusations, generalizations, fighting/quarreling and damage on all sides. Sadly, though many of them (myself included) thought we were wise, we didn’t realize how foolish we all were being…
Proverbs 18:2
2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.
Again, that’s why I’m so passionate about being willing to hear all sides of an issue, seeking to get all the facts before answering (from the Word of God, to the testimonies of others), continually acknowledging that I don’t have the monopoly on truth/understanding an issue and need to be open to new ideas, and making sure we hear both sides of the story before judging and making any kind of solid/soud decisions.
In all honesty, there’s a aspect of truth that all people have on something….but only when we discuss an issue fully /objectively can we have COMPLETE TRUTH, UNDERSTANDING, and a BALANCED PERSPECTIVE on ANY TOPIC…..
Proverbs 18:13
13 He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.
Proverbs 18:15
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
the ears of the wise seek it out.
Proverbs 18:17
17 The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him.
To be zealous alone in our beliefs and yet have no desire for understanding’s and seeking to be certain we understand what we’re getting ourselves into and whether or not we’re fully accurate is a dangerous thing. Just like the Word says,
Proverbs 19:2
2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor to be hasty and miss the way.
regarding putting up others teachings, I really have no problem with it. Some may say “You’re letting others think for you & not saying anything original yourself”….but my stance has been/always will be that being original with what one posts isn’t as important as making sure one gives out SOLID INFORMATION/BIBLICALLY ACCURATE inforamtion that’ll bless those who visit…& moreover, information they can investigate for themselves & turn to their OWN BIBLES for answers
. The goal of my site is to be EDUCATIONAL in nature, meaning that I need to make certain I give out resources for people to listen to…..much like you would with inviting someone who’s a known expert in their field & inviting them to speak in your classroom. If people have questions/converns after that person has left, that’s where I would step in & share MY OWN PERSONAL THOUGTS on the Issue……& from there, hear the thoughts of others/LEARN TOGETHER.
Going to a Christian High School where I was exposed to various worldviews & forced to constantly examine my own in light of Scripture, as well as not being the FIRST TO SHARE MY TWO CENTS but to give audience to what others had to say first, my mentality’s a bit different than what others are used to.
I’ve alsways preferred the “synagouge” approach to things, where you simply listen to the ideas/thoughts of others first, inquire/ask questions, find common ground & then move on to discuss the issues you have ALONSIDE/PRIOR to your own. That’s how Paul.did it (Acts 17), as well as Jesus when He was young (Luke 2:46-47):
Luke 2:46-47
46After three days they found him (aka: “Jesus”) in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Acts 13:14-16
14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
16Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
Acts 13:41-43 41
” ‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’[a]“
42As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.”
Acts 14
In Iconium
1At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
Acts 17
In Thessalonica
1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,[b]” he said.
Acts 17:16-18
In Athens
16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Acts 18:4
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:19
They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 19:7-9
8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Again, in light of that…..as well as other passages, I try to do the same. Moreover, My M.O has always been about being wise in “spreading knowledge” (Proverbs 15:7), referring to the “words of the wise” just as you would with men in the Bible who had crucial things to say:
Proverbs 1
Prologue: Purpose and Theme
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
Proverbs 22:17-21
Sayings of the Wise
17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I teach you today, even you.
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Proverbs 22:17-21
17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty [a] sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you true and reliable words,
so that you can give sound answers
to him who sent you?
ave I not written thirty [a] sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you true and reliable words,
so that you can give sound answers
to him who sent you?
As long as people are being challenged, growing, learning, & developing in their knowledge/UNDERSTANDING of the Bible/A Biblical Worldview, it’s all good. But that’s just me…
That’s all I can share for now, but I pray that blesses someome. ThAT ALL SAID, PRAY that everybody learns….& above all else, that they ENJOY THE RIDE!!!! Peace……
emissary7 said
Lailene said
I googled “service quote by MLK” and I stumbled upon your page. I have a lot of respect for someone who is devote to both religion and education. It’s rare thing nowadays, or at least in CA. Here it seems acquiring a relationship w/ God comes secondary to acquiring wealth.
What advice, if any, do you have for someone who is looking to bring God into their life, but can’t seem to find the faith? I’m a science major and find it hard to bring myself to believe when I’m forced to look for reason.
mrs. maverick said
hey gg,
congrats on starting your blog. here’s to a large readership! God bless you, younger brah. lol :p
mav
Double-G (G2) said
Hi, Sis Mav!!!!
I second the motion on developing LARGE READERSHIP (lol)….& Glad you decided to drop in. Thanks for the encouragement, & hopefully we’ll see you around more often. Peace…..
Double-G (G2) said
Hi, Lailene!!!!
If you would please, would you mind expanding on your question as to what you mean? Is there anything in yor life you feel that may be keeping you (or DISCOURAGING YOU from wanting to find faith in the Lord? Moreover, what exactly did you mean when you said “forced to look for a reason”? In saying that, Did you mean being forced to turn to God when no other options seemed available or times seemed tough…or that you didij’t like it if things didn’t seem too easy to understand regarding God?
Love to hear your heart…..Blessings….
Torahrevival said
Peace to you emissary,
I saw your comment on IndyConservative’s blog where you said you would like to see his and Dazzarai’s “prolonged” discussion with a “legalist.” Well, I’m that very same “legalist” and the discussions can be found on the following links.
You will find that a) they are not prolonged, b) Indy ducked out as soon as his arguments came under the slightest scrutiny and c) in place of solid biblical reaosning, he resorted to childish foolishness in order to denegrate me and my character. YOu will also notice that neither he nor Dazzarai have made any effort to refute the videos that I have posted. Dazzarai calle dme out by name with that video “Last response to Torah Revival” which basically just rea dout Acts 15. I have responded with a detailed exposition of Acts 15 showing his conclusions to be in error. He has provided not a single word of comment.
Here are the links:
Original discussion (you have to scroll down a bit):
http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=xYxJg0natJY&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3DxYxJg0natJY
More Indy and Daz ducking and diving:
http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=snY6PUugunA&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3DsnY6PUugunA
My response to Dazzarai’s vid about me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooFJuB8GB1k
Shalom, and feel free to join the “discussion”
TR
FYI, the discussions can be found onthe following links. Please note that INdy is the one who has ducked out of the discussion. While I have attempted to provide reaosnable biblically-based explanations for my views, INdy. let’s just say, he hasn’t. And also note, I have provided a four part response to Dazzarai’s video directed personally at me. To date, he has said nothing in response – not one word!
Torahrevival said
btw, please forgive my shocking lack of editing in the last post! – my bad
Double-G (G2) said
Confused, Brah…
Which Post are you talking about?
emissary7 said
Cancel that….I just found it, Brah (lol)
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
Will Reply Soon
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
Torah,
I must say that I did enjoy the Relevant Scriptures you posted regarding your position. I went through the dialouges (which by the way were a bit of a bother to my spirit, especially in light of II Timothy 2:23-26 & the Standards for how the Lord’s Servant is to act not seeming to be followed out)……& honestly, I was failing to see where there was a real issue….
Torahrevival said
Hey,
Thanks for the scripture reference. It’s a good reminder that not matter how much you think you are right and someone else is wrong, we have to conduct ourselves in the right spirit.
Anyway, I just thought I’d let you know where the discussions were as you had been asking.
Peace
Torahrevival said
Hey Emissary,
Thanks for the scripture reference – a good reminder that we always need to check ourselves (our motives, our demanour toward others) when we are discussing. Sometimes (annd I am contsantly having to check myself on this) we get so caught up in debating that we totally lose track of the elementary principles of love.
Anyhoo, just thought I’d let you know where the discussions were as you had been asking.
Shalom to you
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
Hey TorahRevival,
Wanted to let you know that I plan on doing a post on Messianic Jews…..& I was wanting to have your input, seeing that it seems you’re one yourself.
If I asked you to write me an article on what your stance is on the Law/Torah, would you be interested? I’m always in the market for people who have good ideas, interesting views, & things that’ll cause people to think.
Let me know if you’re Up for it, Brah……
Torahrevival said
Hey emissary,
I’d definitely be up for writing such an article. Just let me know. By the way, I’m a ‘Messianic Gentile’!
Shalom
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
Torah,
Email me you’re thoughts (Ggreaves103@comcast.net) & what you’d like to write about. Or, if you prefer, just go ahead, write something, & I’ll go ahead & post it (of course I’ll let you know what my thoughts are AHEAD OF TIME). Peace…..
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071006/29601_Is_it_Possible_to_be_a_Hindu_Follower_of_Christ%3F.htm
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
Go to this site by the way & check it out, as it may tie into the coming discussion:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071006/29601_Is_it_Possible_to_be_a_Hindu_Follower_of_Christ%3F.htm
Torahrevival said
Hey,
I’ll have a think and come to you on the article. Maybe I could just write a short article ginving the bear-bones reasons why I believe what I belive with regard to Torah.
Also, I read that article. How do you think it ties in with this issue?
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
EHHHH!!!!
Wrong website (though the article was pretty interesting to see, though. Very Informative, especially in regards to sharing the Gospel within the context of whatever culture one’s in, as Paul did with the Jews/Gemtiles:
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
….)
This is the one I think you should investigate:
http://www.yashanet.com/library/under1.htm
Going along with that, here are some other ones I’d like for you to consider:
http://www.therefinersfire.org/book_of_romans.htm
http://www.therefinersfire.org/ea.htm
http://www.therefinersfire.org/index.htm
Though I do not necessarily agree with EVERYTHING inherent in the sites, I do feel that they have some very worthwile information to share. Will share more later, but for now, I think these should prove highly interesting, Brah.
Torahrevival said
Ah!
Yes that Hinduism article was interesting.
Yashanet is a very good site with lots of very useful information. What’s particularly good about sites like that is they contextualise Yeshua. In other words, they put him in his historical and social context.
I’ve seen that refiner’s fire site a few times but haven’t really spent much time on it. I’ll check it out at lunch tomorrow.
Here are a couple of sites I would recommend to get a good overview of the Torah observant Messianic world:
http://www.bethimmanuel.org/audio-archives.html
The first 3 or 4 audios on Acts are awesome because they show just how Torah-observant the early saints were. The other audios are good too and there are some good articles on there.
http://theloveofgod.proboards3.com/index.cgi
This forum has some very good dsicussions concerning practical issues to do with Torah as well as some investigations of the Greek scriptures (NT). I have learned a massive amount in my time there..
Shalom
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
Cool…
I investigated one of them already. Very intriguing….
To note, so you’re clear on where I stand on the issue:
Acts 21:17-26
Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem
Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem
17When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”
26The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
Regarding this paticular passage, the Jerusalen Council (Acts 15) had already settled the issue of circumcision of Gentile Believers. Evidently, though, rumor said that Paul had gone far beyond their decision, even forbidding Jews to circumcise their children. This, of course, was not true, so Paul willingly submitted to JEWISH Custom to show he was not working against the council’s decision & camp; that he was still Jewish in His Lifestyle….which shows us how we must sometimes go the extra mile to avoid offending others, especially when doing so would hinder God’s Work.
Continuning, these four men had made a religious vow. Because Paul was going to participate with them in the vow (apparently he had been asked to pay for some of the required expenses), he would need to take part in the purification ceremony for entering the temple (Numbers 6:9-20).
Paul was not observing the laws in order to be saved, but was simply keeping the laws as a custom to avoid offending those who he wished to reach with the Gospel (Romans 3:21-31, Romans 7:4-6, Romans 13:9-10)
Paul submitted himself to Jewish custom to keep peace in the Jerusalem church….for although Paul was a man of convictions, he was willing to compromise on non-essential points in order to become all things to all people so he might save some (I Corinthians 9:19-23)…..which is important to note because many split over disagreements about minor issues or traditions, rather than doing like Paul & remaing firm on Christian essentials but FLEXIBLE on non-essentials…..exercising the gift of mutual submission for the sake of the gospel
For good commentary on the subject, go here:
http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/view.cgi?book=ac&chapter=021
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Transcripts/1784
Also, as Ray Stedman wisely said on the subject, “Many have misread this and concluded that Paul’s mistake was that he did not boldly acknowledge that he did set aside Moses and the Law, that he did reject circumcision as of no value whatsoever, as you read in his letters to the Colossians and Galatians, for example. But the key phrase is, “that you teach all the Jews” to do so. That charge was totally false. Paul never taught a Jew to abandon Moses, or not to circumcise his children. What he strongly taught was that the Gentiles should not be made subject to these Jewish provisions. He utterly would not allow them to come under the Jewish Law and insisted that they did not have to follow any of these Jewish provisions. But he did not set aside the ritual for the Jews.
Rather, he pointed out to them that this was all symbolic, was all a picture, and that it was all pointing toward Christ (Colossians 2:17). The very rituals they were performing and the sacrifices they were offering were all telling them of Jesus in no uncertain terms. Jesus’ coming had fulfilled, and filled out, the picture that the Old Testament sacrifices had drawn. Thus, in the very process of carrying them out, the Jews were simply retelling themselves of the coming of the Lord Jesus. These observances were very much like the Lord’s table is for us today.
We go through this ritual every so often — about once a month here. We know that we are dealing with symbols. There is a sense in which those symbols are telling again the story of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. Doing this does not add anything spiritual to us. In itself, it does not make us any better, but it reminds us.
This was the function of these Jewish rituals. They were reminders of what the Lord Jesus had come to do, and had done. All through the book of Acts we see Jewish Christians going into the temple and offering sacrifices, just as the Lord himself had done. There is no suggestion that they should have stopped, or that it was wrong for them to do this. Until God took the sacrifices away they were permitted this means of expression. The sacrifices ended when the temple was finally destroyed in A.D. 70, when the words of Jesus were fulfilled and Roman armies came and laid siege to the city. His words of warning were, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then flee into the mountains, for then shall be fulfilled all that has been predicted,” {cf, Matt 24:66ff, Mark 13:14ff, Luke 21:21ff}. The city was taken and the Jews were carried away captive, exactly as the Lord Jesus said. But that was several years still in the future from this point in history. So there is no compromise on Paul’s part when, as we read in this next section, he took upon himself certain Jewish practices. James said to him,
“What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you yourself live in observance of the law. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity.” Then Paul took the men and the next day he purified himself with them and went into the temple, to give notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for every one of them. {Acts 21:22-26 RSV}
Here Paul was following his own announced practice. He said that when he was with the Jews, he became as a Jew; when he was with the Gentiles, he became as a Gentile; and when he was with the weak, he limited himself and became as weak as they — all in order that he might reach them on their level, through the medium and culture to which they were accustomed. He was simply declaring again the freedom he had in Christ. He was free — free to live as a Gentile among the Gentiles, free to live as a Jew among the Jews, free from the Law, but free also to keep the Law if there were certain advantages to be gained by so doing.
So he adopts this Jewish practice, and there is absolutely nothing wrong in that. He is willing to become as a Jew, along with these others, in order that he might clear up a misunderstanding which had a totally false basis. It is interesting that, as you read the account which follows of the trouble he met in Jerusalem, you can see that not one bit of it was ever a consequence of his Jewish practices.” (http://www.pbc.org/library/files/html/0445.html )
Regarding the Torah, many people forget that the Jewish laws can be thought of in TWO WAYS. Paul rejected one way & accepted another. (1) Paul rejected the idea that the OT laws bring salvation to those who keep them….for salvation is FREELY GIVEN by God’s gracious act & we recieve it by faith. The laws are of no value for salvation except to show us our sin. (2) Paul accepted the view that while the OT Laws prepare for & teach about the coming of Jesus Christ, who fufilled the law & released us from it’s burden of guilt, the LAW STILL TEACHES MANY VALUABLE PRINCIPLES AND PROVIDES GUIDELINES for GRATEDUL LIVING.
For example,
Regarding the Scripture that IC placed up in one of the dialouges as something for you ti check out (Colossians 2:17-23), here’s some EXCELLENT Commentary on the verse that may be of benefit to you:
(which gets at the HEART OF THE ISSUE, which is LOVE FOR ONE’S NEIGHBOR/APPRECIATION FOR TRADITION/CULTURE).
Also, consider these as well:
http://preceptaustin.org/colossians_216-23.htm
http://preceptaustin.org/colossians_218-191.htm
http://preceptaustin.org/colossians_220-23.htm
Will share more later……but I hope it blesses you, Brah…
Torahrevival said
Hey,
Good stuff there. iv’ euse dup my lunch break (and a little xtra) typing up this message, so I’ll have to check out those links when I get home from work this evening.
What I like is that you are dealing with the fact that Paul and the early saints most definitely kept Torah. Many Christians simply ignore this. I also liek the fact that you recognise that keepign Torah has never been meant to make someone saved. This is one thing that Dazzarai doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge or look into any more detail when challenged. Coloured by his Dispensatinal thinking, he (and probably many Christians with him) seems to think that under the Old Covenant, people were saved by works, but Yeshua came in to bring in salvaiton by faith.
But I do have some problems with what you are saying though. I’ll give two of them.
PAUL ONLY KEPT TORAH WHEN HE WAS AROUND TORAH-OBSERVANT JEWS
The first problem I have is the notion that Paul kept Torah ONLY so as to get in the good books of the Jews. I really can’t see how this doesn’t make Paul out to be a deceiver. Let me explain. In Acts 21:24, the apostles and elders say to Paul that “you yourself also walk orderly and keep the Law” (Acts 21:24). They do not add any caveats. They just say that he keeps the Law (Torah). This does not indicate that they thought he selectively kept Torah depending on his surroundings.
When Paul is drectly accused of breaking Torah, he responds by denying this accusation. In Acts 25:8 we read “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.” Then when speaking to the Jewish elders in Rome, he says ““Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers” (Acts 28:17). These are emphatic statements that he keeps Torah.
I really don’t see how we can possibly allow these statements to mean that Paul sometimes broke Torah and sometimes kept it. If Paul for example, would eat Pork when he was around the Gentiles, this means that he sometimes broke Torah. For me, it calls his integrity into question because he is allegedly claiming one thing and doing another.
This is the same point I make in my vids on Paul and the Torah (especially Parts 3 and 4):
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5599BE2D6220F146
JAMES EXPECTED GENTILES TO BE KEEPING SABBATH AND HEARING TORAH
There is a crucial word from James which show that he expected Gentiles to be keeping Sabbath and hearing (and thus doing) Torah. I deal with this in part 4 of my vids on the Jerusalem Council:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=258BBF0F3387799E
TWO-STREAM ETHNIC-BASED FAITH
One last problem (for now) is the notion that Paul “did not set aside the ritual [i.e. Torah] for the Jews” but DID set it aside for the Gentiles. For me, this drives a wedge between the body of Messiah that is based on racial grounds.
Paul spoke often about saints being transformed into the image of Messiah (e.g. Romans 8:29). What does this mean? Christians would usually interpret this in an aphomorphous and non-sepcific manner. They might say “it means we will walk in love, and be self-controledd, and love our enemies” etc. But John says quite explicitly “He who says he abides in him [Yeshua] ought himself also to walk just as he walked.” (1 John 2:6). Yeshua walked according to the Torah. It seems to me that all of his disciples, whether Jew or Gentile, should walk likewise, as enlightened and empowered to do so by God.
Anyway, I thank you so much for taking time out to get into these things. It’s a refreshing change from the kind of discussions I have had so far. Usually people just quote words from Paul in a complete vacuum and then exit the discussion as though the issue is closed.
Anyway, shalom for now
Torahrevival said
ps – I don’t think “apomomorphous” is a word. I meant
“amorphous: 1. lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless: the amorphous clouds.
2. of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: an amorphous style; an amorphous personality.” From Dictionary.com
.. I’m a bit bored at work!
Emissary/ Easy G (G²) said
No worries, Brah…..It’s all good in the hood (Lol).
Forgot, by the way, to give you these resources to investigate:
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/articles.html
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Olam_Hatorah/olam_hatorah.html
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Torah-Aware/torah-aware.html
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Torah_Observance/torah_observance.html
IMHO, these are the best study sites that I know of on the issue….& in case I came off the wrong way in my previous writings, I by no means am saying that we should not be Torah Observant ( or at least unaware of what God’s Standards/laws, as they are of GREAT VALUE)
By the way, FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON THE OTHER POST’S THAT I HAVE MADE FOR THE SITE!!!( lOL, lol, lol).
Not to rush you or anything, but I have been dying for communication from others on the issues I’ve been seeking to bring up……& though I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK FOR THIS TOPIC (which I consider to be HIGHLY VALUABLE), I would like to see it on other parts of the site as well.
Curious, has the site been enjoyable/helpful to you at all, Brah??
Also, on Colossians 2:17-23, thought I share something that may be of blessing to you. To note, when people say things such as “The LAW ISN’T IMPORTANT; CHRIST KILLED IT”, I think that’s a GROSS MISUNDERSTANDING on their parts, for the written code that the passage was the LEGAL DEMANDS of the OT LAW….for the law opposed us by it’s demands for our sin, & though no one can be saved by merely keeping that code, the moral truths & principles in THE OT still teach/guide today.
To clarify further where I’m coming from,
Adressing the question of “DO Christiabns STILL HAVE TO obey the OT laws”, many Christians forget that Paul’s saying non-Jews (Gentiles) are no longer bound by these laws does not mean he was saying that the OT Laws don’t apply to people today. He was simply saying that CERTAIN Types fo laws may not apply to us. For in the OT, there were 3 categories of laws……& I believe that understanding how there were VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TORAH & thAT NOT EVERY ASPECT OF IT IS NECESSARILY IN EFFECT TODAY can help reconciling what may appear to be CONTRADICTIONS when it seems that PAUL SAID HE IN VARIOUS PASSAGES HE WAS FOR THE CUSTOMS OF THE JEWS & THE TORAH while in other places it seemed as if He did differently:
Ceremonial Law: This was the Kind of Law relating specifically to Israel’s worship (see example, Leviticus 1:1-13). It’s primary purpose was to point foward to Christ. Therefore, these laws were no longer necessary after Jesus’s death & resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them–to worship & love a holy God—still apply. The Jewish Christians often accused Gentile Christians of violating the CEREMONIAL LAW……& the same is what happened to Christ.
For examples:
Mark 7:1-23
On this one, Jewish rituals involved devout Jews performing a short ceremony before EVERY meal, washing their hands & arms in a specific way. The disciples did not have dirty hands, but they simply were not carrying out this traditional cleasing…& the Pharissees thought this ceremony cleased them from anything which they felt was unclean….but Jesus said they were wrong in thinking they were acceptable to God just because they were clean on the outside.
Moreover, The Pharisees had added HUNDREDS of their own rules & regulations to God’s Holy Laws…& then tried to force people to follow these rules, which caused much confusion among people. It’s idolatry to claim that one’s interpretation of God’s Word is as important as God’s Word itself. It’s especially dangerous for one to set up unbiblical standards for others to follow. Instead, we should look to Christ for guidance about our behavior & let Him lead others in the details of their lives. Jesus’s wasn’t against ALL TRADITION, but He was against those who made their tradtitions as important, if not more important, than God’s Word……..for Good traditions shine a spotlight on God’s Word,, move us to obediant service, & help our hears to sing. They can serve to explain & REINFORCE the TEACHINGS OF GOD…..but God’s Word should always be the focus, and tradition as a means of bringing that Word Alive. Celebrate our traditions with the prayer that Christ would be exalted, but we must be willing to change them if they become more important than God’s Word/Simple Faith in CHRIST’S WORK.
To add on to that, as they interpreted the Dietary laws (Leviticus 11 ,the Jews believed that they could be clean before God because of what they refused to eat. Jesus pointed out that sin begins in the attitude & intentions of the inner person. Jesus did not degrade the LAW/TORAH, but He did pave the way for the change made clear in Acts 10:9-29 , when God removed the cultural restrictions regarding food. While being concerned about what we put in our bodies is a good, healthy practice, very few people are as stringent about what they put into their minds through reading or watching telivision…..& Jesus made clear that He was more concerned about mind-set/thought processes than about FOOD LAWS.
Luke 8:40-56
On this one, thought it’d be noteworthy to point out how according to Jewish LAW, a man who touched a menstruating woman became ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:19-28). This was true whether her bleeding was normal, or, as in this woman’s case, the result of illness. To protect themselves from such defilement, Jewish men carefully avoided touching, speaking to, or even looking at women. By contrast, Jesus proclaimed to hundreds of people that this “unclean” woman had touched HIM—-and that in Jesus mind, this suffering woman was not to be overlooked since she was God’s creation & deserved attention/respect.
Does this mean that we are not to follow the OT health/dietary restrictions? In general, the basic principles of health & cleaniness are still healthful practices, but it would be legalistic if not wrong, to adhere to each specific restriction today, Some of these regulations were simply intended to mark the Isarelites as different from the wicked people around them…while others were given to prevent God’s people from becoming involved in pagan religions practices, one of the most serious problems of the day. Still, others related to quarantines in a culture where exact medical diagnosis was impossible.
Moving back to the 3 Categories of Law, the CIVIL LAW was a type of Law that dictated Israel’s Daily Living (Deuteronomy 24:10-11 . Because modern society & culture are so radically different, some of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands should guide our conduct. At times, Paul asked Gentile Christians to follow some of these laws, not because they had to, but in order to promote UNITY.
The last category of Law would be MORAL LAW, which is the sort of LAW that’s a DIRECT COMMAND from God–for example, the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) . It requires strict obediance, for it reveals the nature/will of God, & it still applies to us today. And we are to obey the MORAL LAW of God, not to obtain salvation, but to live in ways pleasing to God…….THOUGH even in this case, some things should be considered.
Matthew 12:1-14
Matthew 12
Lord of the Sabbath
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6I tell you that one[a] greater than the temple is here. 7If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[b] you would not have condemned the innocent. 8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
9Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.”
Regarding this passage, the Pharisses had establised 39 categories of actions forbidden on the Sabbath, based on interpretations of God’s Law & on Jewish Custom. Harvesting was one of those forbidden actions,……..& by picking wheat & rubbing it in their hands, the disciples were technically harvesting according to the religious leaders. Jesus & his disciples were picking grain because they were hungry, not because they were trying to gain a profit. They were not working on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, however, could not (& did not want to) see beyond their law’s techincalities. They had no room for compassion……..& because of that, they ended up missing the PURPOSE of the SABBATH (rest & worship of God) while keeping the letter of the law. The same thing happened with the man with the shriveled hand……for They were so concerned about keeping religious rituals that they missed the entire purpose of the temple—to BRING PEOPLE TO GOD…..and when we become more concerned with the MEANS of WORSHIP than with the ONE we worship, we will miss God even as we think we are worshipping Him. God is a God of PEOPLE, not RULES…..& when tradition becomes so much of the focus that we end up not being willing to do what it takes to help people/deal with human needs, we’re in error.
That was the issue that was DRIVING THE COUNCIL DECISION in Acts 15:19-21 ,
for James Judgment was that the Gentile BELIEVERS did not have to be Circumcised, but he still felt that they should stay away from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality ( a common part of IDOL WORSHIP), & from eating meat of strangled animals and from consuming blood (Leviticus 17:14 ).
If Gentile Christians would abstain from these practices, they would please God & get along better with their Jewish Brothers/Sisters in Christ. For James mentioning a few laws that the Gentile Believers should keep was done with the understanding that a basic morality (i.e. CONSCIENCE/That INNATE AWARENESS THE LAW OF GOD WRITTEN ON PEOPLE’S HEARTS) & living for God would COVER THE REST.
As another wisely said,
Of course, other actions are inappropiate for believers, but the Jews were especially concerned for these four….& this compromise was what helped the church grow unhindered by the CULTURAL DIFFERENCES of Jews & Gentiles. For when we share our message across cultural & economic boundaries, we must make certain that our requirements are GOD’S, not necessarily PEOPLES’. That’s what Paul was about when He brought up I Corinthians, for all that mattered was that HE GLORIFIED GOD & BROUGHT BROUGHT PEOPLE TO CHRIST, even though he proclaimed he had freedom to do anything:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
That’s part of why Paul observed the CEREMONIAL LAW in Acts 21:19-26. As respected theologian Matthew Henry said on the subject, ”
James & the elders in Jerusalem asked Paul to gratify the believing Jews, by some compliance with the CEREMONIAL LAW…….the religion that Paul preacheed tended not to destoy the Law, but to fufill it. He Preached Christ, the END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND REPENTANCE & FAITH, in which we are to make great use of the LAW.”….& for study material/commentary, http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=4262 & http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=2154
A noteworthy excerpt from the study links to consider:
To add on to that, this is the reasoning behind Acts 16:1-4, where Paul had Timothy Circumcised. Timothy’s Father was a Greek, & by being both Jew & Gentile, Timothy had access to both cultures—an indispensable asset for MISSIONARY SERVICE. The circumcision was done to aid his acceptance by the Jews & provide full access to the synagouges he would be visiting with Paul & Silas, for the Jews could have assumed that he had renounced his Jewish heritage & had chosen to live as a Gentile………& contrary to what some may think, Paul wasn’t doing this soley to “decieve”/play sides. It was an issue of LOVE.
As I Corinthians 9:19-23 makes clear, Within the Limits of God’s Word & his Christian conscience, Paul was determined to be as culturally and socially Jewish as necessary when witnessing to the Jews (Romans 9:3, Romans 10:1, Romans 11:14). He was not bound to ceremonies & traditions of Judaim….& all legal restraints had been removed, EXCEPT THE CONSTRAINT OF LOVE….Consisdering what would be BEST FOR BRINGING PEOPLE BACK CLOSER TO THE SAVIOR.
Within the bounds of God’s Word, he would not offend the Jew, Gentile, or those weak in understanding. Not changing Scripture or compromising the truth, he would condescend in ways that would lead in Salvation/GROWING IN THE SAVIOR……THE ENTIRE POINT OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM:
That’s why he had issue with Peter when the Judaizers came to the house of a Gentile & Peter, though he was eating Gentile Foods, backed away from them. The Judaizers already accused Paul of watering down the Gospel to make it easier for Gentiles to accept, while Paul accused the Judaziers fo nullifying the Truth of the Gospel by adding conditions to it. Things came to a climax when Peter, Paul, the Judaizers, and some Gentile Christians all gathered together in Antioch to share a meal. Peter probably thought that by staying away from the Gentiles, as TORAH may’ve required (in my understanding at least), he may’ve been promoting harmony—He did not When they all gathered for a meal…..FOR to eat with the Judaziers, even though Peter had given up all Mosaic ceremony (Acts 10:9-22, Acts 11:1-18), & then decline invitations to eat/fellowship with Gentiles, which he had previously done, meant that Peter was affirming the very dietary restrictions he knew God had abolished (Acts 10:15)…thus STRIKING A BLOW AT THE GOSPEL OF GRACE because he NO LONGER WAS DOING AS HE WAS PREVIOUSLY by MODELING THE IDEAL OF CHRISTIAN LOVE/LIBERTY BETWEEN JEW & GENTILE. …….
.& again, for study material, http://www.bible.org/topic.php?topic_id=65
To be certain, Paul never said that the Law was BAD, because in other letters he wrote that “The LAW (TORAH) is HOLY” (Romans 7:12 )….&
moreover, the law still has an important part in to play in the life of a CHristian, seeing that (1) it guards us from sin by giving standards for behavior, (2) convicts us of sin, leaving us the opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness, (3) DRIVES US TO TRUST IN CHRIST SUFFICIENCY since we can NEVER KEEP THE 10 COMMANDMENTS PERFRCTLY.
As Galatians 3:18-19 show, FAITH DOES NOT ANNUL THE LAW….for God’s promise to Abraham shows that faith is the ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED, while the Law shows how to obey God in grateful response…..and as Galatians 3:24-35 SHOW, the “supervision of the Law” is like the supervision given by a tutor to a young child. We no longer need that kind of supervision. The law teaches us THE NEED FOR SALVATION, while God’s Grace GIVES us THAT SALVATION……but the OT STILL APPLIES, in that God REVEALS HIS NATURE, HIS WILL FOR HUMANITY, HIS MORAL LAWS, & HIS GUIDELINES FOR LIVING:
Galatians 3:15-25
The Law and the Promise
15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[b] that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Other verses worth considering: 1 Timothy 1:6-11 , Romans 5:20-21 , & also, for your own investigation regarding the proper place of the LAW in the life of a Christian, go here: http://www.pbc.org/library/files/html/3765.html
Ultimately, as Jesus/others in the NT AS WELL AS THE OT made clear, the ultimate thing that matters above all else is LOVE FOR THE LORD/NEIGHBOR….because in doing that, ALL OF THE PURPOSE OF THE TORAH IS NATURALLY FUFILLED….& BY fufilling those two commands, a person keeps all the others, for they summarize the 10 Commandments/other OT MORAL LAWS…..& rather than focusing or worrying about all we should not do, we should concentrate on all we can do to show our love for God/others:
Galatians 5:13-15
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other
Romans 13:9
The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36″Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Again, hope it blesses ya, Brah (& know that I plan on discussing the other points you brought up later). Later……
Torahrevival said
Mi amigo,
Thank you so much for your words and thoughts. You have a pretty in-depth understanding of the scriptures and I can see I’ve got a lot to learn from you.
I haven’t had a look at the rest of this site as of yet – I will do (though you’ve now given me a lot of reading to get through!).
I get the impression that even if it turned out that I totally disagreed with everything single word on it (not likely!) I would still be humbled by your heart attitude which is clerly one of love of God and of the brethren.
God bless you homes and thank you for being a great example.
Shalom
gcmwatch said
Hey G2G you seem like a real interesting guy. Man keep up the good work and thanks for including a link to my blog.
And I had a couple of friends at Liberty Church. Do you know Norman Miller?
be blessed.
Elder Jimmy said
Hi,
My email is lynettehar@msn.com evenings and weekends.
Day time is Jharrell@darefamily.org Mon-Fri
Varied and Multiplied Blesings in the Most Wonderful Name. This is my new favorite site. So much thoughtful nfo and insight and many resources.
saint james
BIBLE STUDY ON DEALING WITH ERROR: Romans 16:17-18 (Avoiding those teaching DIVISION) « EMISSARY^7 (G²) said
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