Jesus never really spoke about homosexuality; he did say to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul seems to be talking about it and seemingly spoke about it in Romans 1:18-32, although many theologians would agree that he was quoting Wisdom of Solomon 13-14, which is an Apocryphal book and most evangelicals do not use the Apocrypha in their canon. So, I am completely bewildered by all this stuff. I get upset with the politicizing of this Chick-Fil-A matter on both sides. I think the Chick-Fil-A guy has a right to do or say whatever he wants, and anyone who has a different view has a right to voice it out; however, I do not really see the theological foundation for it. If people want to eat a lot of Chick-Fil-A, I think its ok, but watch out for the excess of food because that may be a sin. Moreover, the sin of Sodom was that “she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” Homosexuality is nowhere on this list. If you want to see this just read Ezekiel 16:49-51 which reads as follows:
“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed.”
I think that if one gets a mean response from someone it is usually because one is being mean first…of course, there is an exception to every rule. I personally, will try to love everyone because the Scriptures do say that we are all sinners, and none of us are good. In fact, Psalm 14:2-3 says:
“The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Rest
I suppose that in this current age most of us probably work more than we do rest. You really don’t have to believe my words. You can visit the website for the United States Department of labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and I am sure you can find most of the stats relevant to who is working and who isn’t in extreme details. If you wish to visit the site it is found in the following link:
http://www.bls.gov/
One thing I can say about the previous website is that it is very informative with relevance to the subject of labor.
Now, the Unemployment Rate for the United States in June 2012 was 8.2%; consequently, if you do the simple math, this means that 91.8% of the labor force must be employed or working. One of the facts I learned early on when it comes to work is that when you work too much you tend to get tired. Moreover, if you work too much or too many consecutive days in a row, you will probably need to rest or to take a vacation. Rest is very good because it helps one recharge their batteries to perhaps continue back at the pace needed to be productive. Of course, the previous thought is not always true because many times people could be suffering from a severe illness and really need medical attention to heal if possible.
In the United States, things like vacations and sick leave fall under employee benefits. And, employee benefits in the United States in March 2012 were as follows:
"Paid leave benefits followed a similar pattern. The difference was more pronounced in the availability of paid sick leave, which was offered to 52 percent of workers in small establishments and 82 percent in large establishments. Paid holidays and paid vacation were available to 69 percent of workers in small establishments and 91 and 90 percent, respectively, to workers in large establishments (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ebs2.pdf).”
Perhaps, all of the foregoing data is not really necessary for the message I am trying to convey in this posting; however, information really doesn’t hurt when one is attempting to make a case…. So, really what I want to say is that rest is extremely important and even more in the Holy Scriptures, so we should take it very serious. I only wish to provide a couple of Scriptural verse that confirms what I am trying to say. The very first verses I will include are found in Genesis 2:2-3 which read:
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation (ESV Bible).”
The second verses that I will include are found in Mathew 11:28-30 in which Jesus is speaking about rest. The verses read as follows:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (ESV Bible)."
In closing, what I want to say is that rest is very important in the Scriptures, so don’t take it lightly, and don’t work too hard, take a break whenever possible. Also, I would pay close attention to the words of Jesus because it appears that the type of rest he is talking about is very important.
References:
ESV Bible
http://www.bls.gov/
http://www.bls.gov/
One thing I can say about the previous website is that it is very informative with relevance to the subject of labor.
Now, the Unemployment Rate for the United States in June 2012 was 8.2%; consequently, if you do the simple math, this means that 91.8% of the labor force must be employed or working. One of the facts I learned early on when it comes to work is that when you work too much you tend to get tired. Moreover, if you work too much or too many consecutive days in a row, you will probably need to rest or to take a vacation. Rest is very good because it helps one recharge their batteries to perhaps continue back at the pace needed to be productive. Of course, the previous thought is not always true because many times people could be suffering from a severe illness and really need medical attention to heal if possible.
In the United States, things like vacations and sick leave fall under employee benefits. And, employee benefits in the United States in March 2012 were as follows:
"Paid leave benefits followed a similar pattern. The difference was more pronounced in the availability of paid sick leave, which was offered to 52 percent of workers in small establishments and 82 percent in large establishments. Paid holidays and paid vacation were available to 69 percent of workers in small establishments and 91 and 90 percent, respectively, to workers in large establishments (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ebs2.pdf).”
Perhaps, all of the foregoing data is not really necessary for the message I am trying to convey in this posting; however, information really doesn’t hurt when one is attempting to make a case…. So, really what I want to say is that rest is extremely important and even more in the Holy Scriptures, so we should take it very serious. I only wish to provide a couple of Scriptural verse that confirms what I am trying to say. The very first verses I will include are found in Genesis 2:2-3 which read:
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation (ESV Bible).”
The second verses that I will include are found in Mathew 11:28-30 in which Jesus is speaking about rest. The verses read as follows:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (ESV Bible)."
In closing, what I want to say is that rest is very important in the Scriptures, so don’t take it lightly, and don’t work too hard, take a break whenever possible. Also, I would pay close attention to the words of Jesus because it appears that the type of rest he is talking about is very important.
References:
ESV Bible
http://www.bls.gov/
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Friday April 3rd, 33 C.E.
I was recently reading an article in Bible History Daily which is provided by the Biblical Archeology Society. The article was titled: Is Jesus’ Crucifixion Reflected in Soil Deposition? A Geological Study May Indicate Earthquake Described by Matthew. A portion of the article reads as follows:
“According to the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. A new study of cores and seismic activity near the Dead Sea in the latest issue of International Geology Review* may provide scientific data relating to the event described in Matthew 27. Moreover, some have suggested** that the new research on sediment disturbances can be combined with Biblical, astronomical and calendrical information to give a precise date of the crucifixion: Friday, April 3rd, 33 C.E.”
I enjoyed reading the article and found it to be quite informative. I highly recommend it and suggest that you read it as a reference or just personal reading. Moreover, I think that most of the articles in this source are very good as well. The link to the specific article I was referencing is as follows:
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/jesus%E2%80%99-crucifixion-reflected-in-soil-deposition/?mqsc=E3247053.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your visit to their website!
Reference:
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/jesus%E2%80%99-crucifixion-reflected-in-soil-deposition/?mqsc=E3247053.
“According to the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. A new study of cores and seismic activity near the Dead Sea in the latest issue of International Geology Review* may provide scientific data relating to the event described in Matthew 27. Moreover, some have suggested** that the new research on sediment disturbances can be combined with Biblical, astronomical and calendrical information to give a precise date of the crucifixion: Friday, April 3rd, 33 C.E.”
I enjoyed reading the article and found it to be quite informative. I highly recommend it and suggest that you read it as a reference or just personal reading. Moreover, I think that most of the articles in this source are very good as well. The link to the specific article I was referencing is as follows:
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/jesus%E2%80%99-crucifixion-reflected-in-soil-deposition/?mqsc=E3247053.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your visit to their website!
Reference:
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/jesus%E2%80%99-crucifixion-reflected-in-soil-deposition/?mqsc=E3247053.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
The Call for a Reformation?
In 1054, the Eastern and Western Church separated in what has been called the “Great Schism.” This dissension or split is perhaps the elephant in the room to this very day which goes against the teachings of Jesus Christ himself since Jesus prayed in John 17:21: "...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."1 Five centuries after the “Schism” the Roman Catholic Church was basically governing western Europe perhaps not only spiritually, but administratively in political influence and every aspect of life. However, the influence of the Church had become a very corrupt and indeed great dissolution existed towards it, as Isabella of Castile said in 1500: “the dissolution is such, that the souls entrusted to the clergy receive great damage.”2 Indeed, change was needed due to many factors and issues that were not correct with the fundamentals of Christianity within the Roman Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church had strayed from its foundations even in the understanding of the Scriptures, especially the New Testament. Half a century before all of these needs for reform, Constantinople had fallen, and this brought scholars to Western Europe with ideas different from the West because they brought manuscripts, and these manuscripts “alerted Western scholars to the many changes and interpolations that had taken place in copying…ancient texts.”3The previous aided in comparing the Vulgate to older manuscripts thus getting a better interpretation. The foregoing also makes one think or perhaps confirms that the “Schism" mentioned prior was indeed very bad and a sign of things to come. The printing press facilitated the foregoing translations and exposure to texts immensely. The Catholic Reformation was taking place. The New World was also discovered around this time.
Spain was very influential in the discovery of the New World. The Protestant Reformation was also taking place. Spain was also influential in the Catholic Reformation because it was the enforcer in the Inquisition to prevent the spread of Protestantism, and by all means, even by torture, they enforced. Indeed, a transition was taking place, from an old world to a new one. Moreover, Western Europe’s worldview was changing. Perhaps on scholarly levels, the names of two individuals resonate with relevance to the era, and they are Erasmus and Luther.
Erasmus vs. Luther, one might say: looking in retrospect, were perhaps a fork in the road. Erasmus was seeking a reformation in moderation, Luther eventually broke with Erasmus. Luther looked for another extreme. This writer believes that Luther, although very spiritual, was also an anti-Semite racist that believed Germans were superior to all others. The foregoing is very obvious in his writings on The Jews and their Lies, and Luther also said: “…Poor Germans that we are—we have been deceived! We were born to be masters, and we have been compelled to bow the head beneath the yoke of our tyrants.”4 The foregoing statement alone is evidence that thoughts of German superiority and not of humility ran through Luther’s mind; however, the scriptures do tell that “all have sinned.” Perhaps Erasmus was the best way or route for reform to follow since he said: “I detest dissension, because it goes both against the teachings of Christ and against a secret inclination.”5 Indeed, if the church is not one, it is not following the desire of Jesus’ own heart which was “that they may all be one.” Perhaps Erasmus was right that dissension was not the route to follow because when we see Christianity today it is divided in many ways, with many denominations and groups that usually do not agree on one thing or another, or perhaps many things. The church today perhaps needs to look ahead, but also look back at liturgical traditions that look back to the time the Didache was written and prior as well. This writer does not believe that the further away in time one is from the source that one is closer to the truth, it is on the contrary. Dissension was not at the heart of Jesus; however, it seems that every newly formed group of believers believes that they know better than all who came before, indeed, this is “Chronological Snobbery” as C.S. Lewis would have said.
References:
1 ESV Bible
2 Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume II. P. 7.
3 Ibid. p. 9.
4 Bettenson, Henry. Maunder, Chris. Documents of the Christian Church, Fouth Edition. P.209.
5 Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume II. P. 18.
Bibliography:
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume II, The Reformation to the Present Day.
New York, NY: Harper One, 2010.
ESV Bible
Bettenson, Henry. Maunder, Chris. Documents of the Christian Church, Fouth Edition. Oxford
University Press: Oxford, England, 2011.
The Roman Catholic Church had strayed from its foundations even in the understanding of the Scriptures, especially the New Testament. Half a century before all of these needs for reform, Constantinople had fallen, and this brought scholars to Western Europe with ideas different from the West because they brought manuscripts, and these manuscripts “alerted Western scholars to the many changes and interpolations that had taken place in copying…ancient texts.”3The previous aided in comparing the Vulgate to older manuscripts thus getting a better interpretation. The foregoing also makes one think or perhaps confirms that the “Schism" mentioned prior was indeed very bad and a sign of things to come. The printing press facilitated the foregoing translations and exposure to texts immensely. The Catholic Reformation was taking place. The New World was also discovered around this time.
Spain was very influential in the discovery of the New World. The Protestant Reformation was also taking place. Spain was also influential in the Catholic Reformation because it was the enforcer in the Inquisition to prevent the spread of Protestantism, and by all means, even by torture, they enforced. Indeed, a transition was taking place, from an old world to a new one. Moreover, Western Europe’s worldview was changing. Perhaps on scholarly levels, the names of two individuals resonate with relevance to the era, and they are Erasmus and Luther.
Erasmus vs. Luther, one might say: looking in retrospect, were perhaps a fork in the road. Erasmus was seeking a reformation in moderation, Luther eventually broke with Erasmus. Luther looked for another extreme. This writer believes that Luther, although very spiritual, was also an anti-Semite racist that believed Germans were superior to all others. The foregoing is very obvious in his writings on The Jews and their Lies, and Luther also said: “…Poor Germans that we are—we have been deceived! We were born to be masters, and we have been compelled to bow the head beneath the yoke of our tyrants.”4 The foregoing statement alone is evidence that thoughts of German superiority and not of humility ran through Luther’s mind; however, the scriptures do tell that “all have sinned.” Perhaps Erasmus was the best way or route for reform to follow since he said: “I detest dissension, because it goes both against the teachings of Christ and against a secret inclination.”5 Indeed, if the church is not one, it is not following the desire of Jesus’ own heart which was “that they may all be one.” Perhaps Erasmus was right that dissension was not the route to follow because when we see Christianity today it is divided in many ways, with many denominations and groups that usually do not agree on one thing or another, or perhaps many things. The church today perhaps needs to look ahead, but also look back at liturgical traditions that look back to the time the Didache was written and prior as well. This writer does not believe that the further away in time one is from the source that one is closer to the truth, it is on the contrary. Dissension was not at the heart of Jesus; however, it seems that every newly formed group of believers believes that they know better than all who came before, indeed, this is “Chronological Snobbery” as C.S. Lewis would have said.
References:
1 ESV Bible
2 Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume II. P. 7.
3 Ibid. p. 9.
4 Bettenson, Henry. Maunder, Chris. Documents of the Christian Church, Fouth Edition. P.209.
5 Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume II. P. 18.
Bibliography:
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume II, The Reformation to the Present Day.
New York, NY: Harper One, 2010.
ESV Bible
Bettenson, Henry. Maunder, Chris. Documents of the Christian Church, Fouth Edition. Oxford
University Press: Oxford, England, 2011.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Bill Tammeus
I just became a fan of another blogger, and that is because we seem to be fans of the same the same things and people. Anyhow, the blogger I am speaking about is Bill Tammeus. Who is Bill Tammeus? He is the former Faith columnist for The Kansas City Star. I was reading an article he wrote about Biblical Archeology in which he mentioned one of Craig Evans’s books, Jesus and His World: The Archaeological Evidence, and I became an instant fan. So, now, I am recommending that when you are done visiting my blog, please stop and visit his. I think that you will enjoy it very much. The name of his blog is Bill's 'Faith Matters' Blog, Bill Tammeus writes about religion and ethics. Oh, the link to his blog is the following:
http://billtammeus.typepad.com/.
Reference:
http://billtammeus.typepad.com/.
http://billtammeus.typepad.com/.
Reference:
http://billtammeus.typepad.com/.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Holy Week
In the book of John, Jesus sort of gave us a preview of what Holy Week was about. Furthermore, he gave us insight into what his death would accomplish, and also a preview of His purpose. John 12: 23 -36 reads as follows:
“And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them (ESV Bible)."
Of course, these things that Jesus said in the previous verses, he said much more in advance to when they actually happened in his lifetime here on Earth; however, it is interesting that even now many years after his Crucifixion and Resurrection took place we can see how he forewarned the events. Moreover, we can learn much from His advice in the verses when he said: “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."
What light is it that Jesus was talking about? Well, just a few chapters before, Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus one night, and he said the following in John 3:19-21:
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God (ESV Bible)."
All that I have to say in closing is, “walk in the light.”
Reference:
ESV Bible
“And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them (ESV Bible)."
Of course, these things that Jesus said in the previous verses, he said much more in advance to when they actually happened in his lifetime here on Earth; however, it is interesting that even now many years after his Crucifixion and Resurrection took place we can see how he forewarned the events. Moreover, we can learn much from His advice in the verses when he said: “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."
What light is it that Jesus was talking about? Well, just a few chapters before, Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus one night, and he said the following in John 3:19-21:
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God (ESV Bible)."
All that I have to say in closing is, “walk in the light.”
Reference:
ESV Bible
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The Great Commission
After his resurrection, Jesus stayed around on the planet for about 40 days before his ascension, of which most of us have read about in Acts 1:9 which reads as follows:
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
Of course, during his last days on Earth, Jesus interacted with his disciples in conversation to an extent. One of the last things that Jesus said to his disciples is found in Mathew 28:18-20, and it is what is called the Great Commission, it reads as follows:
"...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
What was Jesus talking about? Basically, he was talking about evangelism; however, he was saying to make copies of what they were, since they were also disciples. Therefore, he was saying to go and train others in the same fashion that he had trained them. This message is very simple to understand. He closed saying: “I am with you always, to the end of the age." In the Greek, he was saying until the entire completion of the world basically. I do not believe that the end of the age has arrived yet, so these working orders must be continued until that time. I will stop writing here, and let your thoughts on the matter take over at this point.
Reference:
ESV Bible
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
Of course, during his last days on Earth, Jesus interacted with his disciples in conversation to an extent. One of the last things that Jesus said to his disciples is found in Mathew 28:18-20, and it is what is called the Great Commission, it reads as follows:
"...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
What was Jesus talking about? Basically, he was talking about evangelism; however, he was saying to make copies of what they were, since they were also disciples. Therefore, he was saying to go and train others in the same fashion that he had trained them. This message is very simple to understand. He closed saying: “I am with you always, to the end of the age." In the Greek, he was saying until the entire completion of the world basically. I do not believe that the end of the age has arrived yet, so these working orders must be continued until that time. I will stop writing here, and let your thoughts on the matter take over at this point.
Reference:
ESV Bible
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
