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

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

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?

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)

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!

(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

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?

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

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'

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...

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...

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

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.

"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

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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.