Mr. Free Man:
$1000 TIMELESS OFFER: I'll donate said amount to the charity, church, temple, THEOLOGY school, or OTHER in the name of the one that can show evidence of 100% congruence between Christianity and the Teachings of Christ.
Mr. Nuthinew:
My friend Rev. Okeydoke wanted me to tell you he'd take you up on that timeless offer. He'd respond hisself but he ain't got no facebook account. He over my shoulder as I'm typin now...
"Mr. Free-man,
I could sho use dat dere money fuh to hep me out while Ise be goin hither and thither spreadin the good news. See, I ain't much fo drivin (cuz my license got revoked) an I can't ride a bike on a counta my hemorrhoids. But I know you ain't tryin ta hear bout none o'that.
Point is, to answer yo querstion, that Christianity ain't practiced the same ehwhere. Fak o'the matter is I spek don't nobody practice my religion lak I do. See - when one finds a way of life dat works fo him, he ain't tryin to do it no other way. When I goes an speaks ta folk about what Jesus done did fo me - I don't tellem they gots to do it my way. On the contrary - I tells em they gots to find they own way. Its like habbin somebody to go find out how to do stuff fo you de time. At some point you gots to go find out fo yoself, especially if you wanna be sho you got it right. So I tells em - don't take it from me - go straight to yo Father an asks Him fo yosef. Dat be the Christianity I practice, an as far as I can tell it don't differ to much from how my great grand-brother Jesus went about it. He lef me a note somewhere's encouragin me fo I was born that I was gonna do even greater thangs than him. No I ain't ENTIRELY sho bout that... but I is on the internet."
Mr. Free Man:
Oh boy Eric... that Rev Okeydoke is on the money, and he sounds to be pretty darned on point with the teachings of Jesus Christ... cause that DEFINITELY aint the Christian way. I wonder his views on Muslims, Jews and OTHER. Cause Christianity MAKES THEM ALL WRONG, ain't no wiggle room there.
Mr. Nuthinew:
Him say it ain't but one way to God - an that's to tell the truf. All dat organized religion stuff ain't no different than the tower of Babel - man gettin full of himsef an tryin ta take the place of the creator by bussin inta hebbin an stealin the fire fo himsef.
But his Muslim friend, Al B. Shonuff and his rabbi friend, Kosher Foreal, an his Buddhist friend, Om Darealdeal - all ovem say da same: Dat Jesus came through to wake folk up an stop sellin theyselves short by worshippin perpetrators an slavin to politicians dressed as priests. Him said the way to be free is ta let that stuff go an know yosef the way God know you. Him showed what real love was all about.
Now Rev. Okeydoke still call hissef a Christian but he like to tho in ery once in a while that he ain't of the KKK kind, or any other o them demonimations.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Going to Church
Didn't Jesus preach on hills, valleys, and plains, by the seaside, under the trees, on the road, in the garden, at parties, in the government building, in courtyards, in people's homes, in the cemetery, outside people's homes, in boats, on the water, in the water, at weddings, on the cross, in the synagogue, on cliffs, at the well, at the dinner table, in front of adults, children, soldiers and prostitutes, tax men and lawyers, priests and commoners...?
I don't remember him having a sign out front saying, "Come in, I'se here." No he went out and about - to the people.
I don't remember him having a sign out front saying, "Come in, I'se here." No he went out and about - to the people.
Old Testament vs. New Testament
My perspective of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments: "Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it."
Jesus often quoted prophecy from the Torah to link the present with the past, to verify the continuity of God's Will, and to remind folk where they came from.
If, as a young boy, he was teaching in the synagogue and debating with scholars, he had to have knowledge of scripture - not to legitimize his truth but rather to speak from a perspective his audience could relate to.
Of course, this is my own interpretation, and I could be mistaken...
Jesus often quoted prophecy from the Torah to link the present with the past, to verify the continuity of God's Will, and to remind folk where they came from.
If, as a young boy, he was teaching in the synagogue and debating with scholars, he had to have knowledge of scripture - not to legitimize his truth but rather to speak from a perspective his audience could relate to.
Of course, this is my own interpretation, and I could be mistaken...
What is the truth?
Sometimes people are taught something is true and believe it, such that they make life altering decisions based on their belief. They become the sum of their choices.
If somebody comes along and reveals to them that they've been living a lie, depending on how long they've been committed to it, that ain't such an easy pill to swallow. As a matter of fact, it can be psychologically damaging - like removing a bullet too close to the heart.
Another way of looking at it would be from the perspective of die-hard vets who go to war believing that their cause is honorable. They encounter and experience all kinds of hell and when they come back, people are telling them that they killed people wholesale not to promote freedom and make the world a better place but because we simply needed more oil. For the young, innocent, idealistic and impressionable soul - this can fracture their state of being, even be utterly more traumatizing than the experience of war itself.
My point is that people want to believe in something. They need to believe in something more than themselves. Whether its a lynch mob or a love-in, a hit squad or a missionary group, a mega-church or a one-on-one with the Lord.
The question is - if the harvest is great and the gatherers are few, WHO is the harvest and for WHOM do the gatherers work?
The wheat will be separated from the chaff.
And if it all comes down to an individual CHOOSING his/her fate, how does the servant of God communicate God's word effectively enough so that the individual can make an informed decision?
Then again, if God's law is written upon our hearts, and His children know His voice, are we as servants meant to proselytize unbelievers or encourage believers?
After all, Jesus said he will not lose any his Father has given him..
If somebody comes along and reveals to them that they've been living a lie, depending on how long they've been committed to it, that ain't such an easy pill to swallow. As a matter of fact, it can be psychologically damaging - like removing a bullet too close to the heart.
Another way of looking at it would be from the perspective of die-hard vets who go to war believing that their cause is honorable. They encounter and experience all kinds of hell and when they come back, people are telling them that they killed people wholesale not to promote freedom and make the world a better place but because we simply needed more oil. For the young, innocent, idealistic and impressionable soul - this can fracture their state of being, even be utterly more traumatizing than the experience of war itself.
My point is that people want to believe in something. They need to believe in something more than themselves. Whether its a lynch mob or a love-in, a hit squad or a missionary group, a mega-church or a one-on-one with the Lord.
The question is - if the harvest is great and the gatherers are few, WHO is the harvest and for WHOM do the gatherers work?
The wheat will be separated from the chaff.
And if it all comes down to an individual CHOOSING his/her fate, how does the servant of God communicate God's word effectively enough so that the individual can make an informed decision?
Then again, if God's law is written upon our hearts, and His children know His voice, are we as servants meant to proselytize unbelievers or encourage believers?
After all, Jesus said he will not lose any his Father has given him..
How to deal with users
Don't forget Whose you are, and Who you are glorifying. While there may be those who wish to take advantage of your gifts and talents... let them.
Matthew 5:39-45
"39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Know that you are being used by God for His glory in that He is blessing others through you.
Matthew 5:39-45
"39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Know that you are being used by God for His glory in that He is blessing others through you.
The Book of Joel
I don't remember reading this book. A couple of things come to mind: My natural proclivity is to draw correlations with the state of affairs (past and present) with the Native Americans and African Americans, as there are some parallels:
Joel 3:5-8
Chapter 2 itself reads like the Iraqi War.
Literally, however, one cannot escape the many references to the land of Israel, wherein Jerusalem is seated. I can see this book being used by the United States as justification for creating the state of Israel back in the 40's (researching THIS topic uncovers a treasure trove of information).
But back to your original question: Why was it written and who was it written to?
The latter part first: The book of prophecy is written to the Children of Zion/Israel whom God has chosen as His people (Joel 3:2); who have been sold into slavery and cast out of their land (Joel 3:2); who have had their inheritance (spiritual and physical) spoiled by the Army of God (Joel 1:2-12, 1:15-20, 2:1-11); who have strayed from their faith and turned away from God (Joel 2:12-17).
Why was it written? To prophecy about The Day of the Lord and warn His children to return to Him and repent.
Interestingly enough, I HAVE to view this book in the context of Old vs. New Testaments and that which has been revealed by Jesus, the Christ. Through this lens I perceive that all is not as it appears, that even when Jews were looking for a Messiah, what they were looking for kept them from seeing Who was before them.
In other passages Jesus makes references to the Temple of God, the Church, and the Kingdom of Heaven. It is clear that the Temple he refers to is not an edifice constructed of mortar and brick, nor the Church, nor the Kingdom of Heaven.
In this vein, I am convinced that Zion/Israel isn't a physical place either, but is inhabited by those who dwell in the heart of God, ergo, Israel/Zion is not a geographical location, but a spiritual essence connecting all of God's people. In this understanding, all of Man's attempts to create in temporal form a house for the infinite will always be to no avail. To quote Jesus:
"No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. [37] And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. [38] No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. [39] And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' " (Luke 5:36-39)
Joel 3:5-8
Chapter 2 itself reads like the Iraqi War.
Literally, however, one cannot escape the many references to the land of Israel, wherein Jerusalem is seated. I can see this book being used by the United States as justification for creating the state of Israel back in the 40's (researching THIS topic uncovers a treasure trove of information).
But back to your original question: Why was it written and who was it written to?
The latter part first: The book of prophecy is written to the Children of Zion/Israel whom God has chosen as His people (Joel 3:2); who have been sold into slavery and cast out of their land (Joel 3:2); who have had their inheritance (spiritual and physical) spoiled by the Army of God (Joel 1:2-12, 1:15-20, 2:1-11); who have strayed from their faith and turned away from God (Joel 2:12-17).
Why was it written? To prophecy about The Day of the Lord and warn His children to return to Him and repent.
Interestingly enough, I HAVE to view this book in the context of Old vs. New Testaments and that which has been revealed by Jesus, the Christ. Through this lens I perceive that all is not as it appears, that even when Jews were looking for a Messiah, what they were looking for kept them from seeing Who was before them.
In other passages Jesus makes references to the Temple of God, the Church, and the Kingdom of Heaven. It is clear that the Temple he refers to is not an edifice constructed of mortar and brick, nor the Church, nor the Kingdom of Heaven.
In this vein, I am convinced that Zion/Israel isn't a physical place either, but is inhabited by those who dwell in the heart of God, ergo, Israel/Zion is not a geographical location, but a spiritual essence connecting all of God's people. In this understanding, all of Man's attempts to create in temporal form a house for the infinite will always be to no avail. To quote Jesus:
"No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. [37] And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. [38] No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. [39] And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' " (Luke 5:36-39)
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Creation Story
Those at least familiar with the Bible are aware of Judeo-Christian accounts of the beginning of the world. God creates order out of chaos, creates the heavens, the earth, and all life in it (including Adam & Eve).
What is interesting is that there are cultures who have their own creation stories which predate the Bible. At first hearing one may argue, after reading some of the other stories, that the writer of the first book of the Bible, Genesis (by Moses), simply copied some elements of other stories and incorporated them into his own.
However, if one has the perspective that the Bible is a book of truths, one may also argue that regardless of how much earlier the other stories predated the book of Genesis, the Judeo-Christian account is no less accurate, and that the existing similarities between stories do not detract from the Genesis story, but rather support it.
Take a look at some other creation stories by clicking on the following link, and let me know what you think:
Creation Myths
What is interesting is that there are cultures who have their own creation stories which predate the Bible. At first hearing one may argue, after reading some of the other stories, that the writer of the first book of the Bible, Genesis (by Moses), simply copied some elements of other stories and incorporated them into his own.
However, if one has the perspective that the Bible is a book of truths, one may also argue that regardless of how much earlier the other stories predated the book of Genesis, the Judeo-Christian account is no less accurate, and that the existing similarities between stories do not detract from the Genesis story, but rather support it.
Take a look at some other creation stories by clicking on the following link, and let me know what you think:
Creation Myths
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