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Christianity and the Law of God – Intro

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Whenever you mention the term, “the law of God,” in a church, people immediately go on the defensive. Why? What is it that they are so afraid of?

If asked, the answer given will most likely be something of this sort: “we have freedom in Christ! We’re not under the law!”

It is so sad that this happens, especially as it is as if the person is screaming: “I don’t understand the law, nor do I understand what freedom is!”

The thing to understand is that nowhere in scripture did God ever say that He gave the law for people to be ‘saved’ by following it. Following rules to obtain favor from a god is man’s idea, not God’s. It’s been man’s idea from the beginning, and, oddly enough, most churches favor their own rules over God’s word. (Yes, I know, this is an inflammatory statement, but it needs stating.)

Back in the garden of Eden, what was man’s first mistake? (And I don’t think that talking to the serpent was a mistake). Their first mistake started long before they (Adam and Eve) actually ate the forbidden fruit. Read the story carefully (Genesis chapter 3). The serpent asks, “Did God really say you are not to eat from any tree of the garden?”

Note that Satan twisted the truth even in his question. But really note Eve’s response. She said, “… [God said] you shall not eat from it [tree in the middle of the garden] nor touch it.” But God never said “don’t touch!” He only said, “Don’t eat!”

It’s a minor difference, right!? Wrong! God explicitly warns us to not add to or take away from His word. Eve, and she presumably learned this from Adam, added to God’s word. Satan then took this and twisted even farther, seeing that Adam and Eve had already started changing what God had said. And the results were devastating.

In the same way, we now say to God, “you didn’t really say that!” Why do we say that? Putting all the silly theological arguments aside, which are easy to poke holes into, the only reason I see is that people want to “be like God” and to be the ones who get to say what is right and what is wrong. Just like Adam and Eve wanted when they decided to believe Satan and they took of the fruit and ate.

And in so doing we miss the beauty of God’s word, and of God Himself!

In the Exodus 6:1 – 13, God gives the foundational reason for His law (Exo 6:2-4) and tells Moses the entire gospel, which the Israelites are about to live out (Exo 6:6-7).

We, in Christianity, have thrown out who God is, what His plan is, and what He has done for us! It’s no wonder that I am continuously running into Christians who have no real understanding of who they are and where we stand with God, let alone understanding (even a bit) about God. (None of us can truly understand God as His ways are so far above our ways we can’t even fathom it!) We don’t even understand what the full Gospel is!

Of course, many Christians will answer with, “We follow Christ’s law.” Odd. I recall the messiah stating that he only says and does what he sees the Father doing. So what is this, “Christ’s law?” And, oddly enough, I don’t see anywhere in the “new testament” where anyone is reprimanded for following God’s law. It doesn’t happen even once! Jesus (Yeshua) was against us (mankind) putting our rules on top of God’s law, and thereby changing it. And we still do the same today.

And all of this has led to the confusion and divisions in the church we see today. There is so much of it that the church is not only irrelevant to the generations of today, but it is sick and dying! This has given rise to the myriads of societal problems we see today!

But, if we would return to His word, return to our ‘first love’ as it is written, things would change! If we truly follow Yeshua (Jesus), things would change! But it seems the church would rather sleep.

There is an interesting, and scary, verse in the gospel of Matthew chapter 7, verses 21 to 23. Here we see a multitude standing before our Messiah Yeshua and they are all calling out, “Didn’t we do all of these wonderful christian things in your name!” (okay, I paraphrased it.) And Jesus answered, “away from me you lawless ones, I never knew you!”

I certainly don’t want to be on the receiving end of those words!

In the posts to come I’ll dive into the beauty of God’s law, especially His appointed times (the feasts). You’ll see God revealing Himself and his plans to mankind, and you’ll learn the full depth and beauty of the gospel! Come back soon! The very next post will deal with Passover!

Shalom!

  • Yosef

Dictionary:

Torah: General: teachings / instructions / commands / laws

Exodus 6:2 – 8 (NASB ’95)

2 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord; 3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as [c]God Almighty, but by My name, [d]Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the [e]land in which they sojourned. 5 Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 Then I will take you [f]for My people, and I will be [g]your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land which I [h]swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the Lord.’”

Revival!? or repentance…

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I hear of many churches and Christians talking about revival. Prayer meetings are called just to pray for revival. And yet I rarely hear anyone calling for repentance.

But what is there to repent of?

Most churches and Christians will have an “unpublished” list of sins that one should repent of. Have you ever compared your church’s list to what God calls important. Take a look at Proverbs 6:16-19 and Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Even more importantly, take a look at your church and country. Should we, or even can we, repent on behalf of our churches and country? Look at Daniel 9:4-19, realizing that Daniel himself isn’t guilty of the sins he is listing. We have much to repent of – our churches throw out God’s law and our nation rejoices when laws are made that are against God’s ways.

So, what to repent of? Going against God’s law. I realize that talking of God’s law is taboo in many Christian circles, and even where it isn’t taboo, it is misunderstood. God’s laws aren’t things that He capriciously laid upon us, but it is His revelation of Himself to us (read the Exodus story which culminates in Him giving us His law and John 1). Also, realize two important facts: first, the law was never given as a means of salvation; and second, nowhere anywhere in the “New Testament” does Yeshua or any disciple say anything negative against anyone keeping God’s law.

His law is Him loving us. As such, whenever the opportunity arises to keep His law, don’t look at it as something that “has to be done,” but rather as an act of worship and to give love back to our God who wants us to have good lives.

So why does Paul seem to call the law an ‘instrument of death’ (and other such negative comments)? Consider the following. Shortly after the law was given, many people died when they disobeyed. For those who disobeyed, the law became the ‘instrument of death.’ Then, after Yeshua died and rose again, God poured out the Holy Spirit, and many thousands came to belief. To those who repented the spirit gives life!

God’s law is good – He is His law! But remember, one doesn’t obey because one has to, but out of love for God. Obeying His law doesn’t give salvation, nor does obeying His law make us better in His eyes. Anything and everything we are in God’s eyes is due to what Yeshua has done for us. It starts with repenting – turning from our own ideas as to what is righteousness, and simply listening to God. This is the beginnings of being holy.

  • Yosef

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Verses:

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NASB): 16 There are six things that the LORD hates,
Seven that are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who declares lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB):  This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Daniel 9 (KJV): 4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

The National Church of Ostriches

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Does the church care about anything anymore?

The culture said, “we don’t like being told that there is absolutes” and they took down all public displays of the “10 Commandments.” Some churches shouted, but only for a short time.

The culture said, “we don’t want your religion” and they took down all public nativity scenes, crosses, and any other “Christian” symbol that could be found. Some churches shouted, but only for a short time.

The culture said, “we don’t want to hear your fanaticism and backwards thinking” and they ridiculed and shouted down any public figure who stood for their beliefs, such as then vice-president Pence. Few churches said anything.

The culture said, “we have to be safe” and they told everyone to stay away from one another, report one another, and tried to close the churches. A couple churches shouted, but for how long?

The culture says that the terms “male” and “female” are irrelevant, and the churches don’t know what to do.

Other cultures told Christians, “you aren’t worth anything” and they drove Christians from their homes, abducted their children, and burned their churches. Few churches said anything, and their voices are being drowned out by internal squabbling. (see Love Your Neighbor)

Women in our culture choose to kill their babies and the culture says, “it’s their right.” And the churches quibble over which ‘crisis pregnancy center’ they agree with and can support instead of helping.

The church has hid its head in the sand and made itself irrelevant. This started some time ago, and we keep burying our head deeper in each passing year. Why? People, especially the youth, are leaving the churches. Why?

What would have been different if churches (and the people) displayed the “10 commandments” in their buildings and homes? (see Truth! Does it exist anymore?)

What would be different if churches proclaimed Jesus (Yeshua) during the time when they celebrate his birth? We seem to be so afraid of offending someone that only the bravest churches or people put out anything that points to Jesus.

How would the culture look if preachers stood up and preached love and repentence? But do we even know what love means? What repentance means or even why it’s needed? Or what if integrity was preached? – if anyone knows what that means anymore.

What could have been different if, instead of simply continuing online as if nothing was happening, the churches called for prayer meetings and taught trust in God and kindness to our fellow humans, when the Covid virus pandemic started?

How would it look if we spent time teaching people to respect one another, and to help one another instead of arguing over whether or not “the woman is to be subservient to the man” or simply teaching “homosexuality is bad?”

How would it look to those outside Christianity if we made our concern for our foreign brothers and sisters evident, instead of turning away because their faith doesn’t match ours?

What would be different if we taught our youth about the preciousness of life?

All of this can be “cured” simply by a return to the Word of God.

If churches would simply read the gospels to the congregations, week after week, instead of preaching their own words, what would happen?

We’d learn that the opposite of ‘freedom’ is chaos, and God gave us the 10 statements (10 commandments) out of love for us so that our lives, individually and collectively, would be better.

We’d learn that no one is perfect, and that to judge and condemn others because of their short comings is simple hypocrisy. We’d see that we are all in the same need for a champion and scape-goat – one sent by God. The messiah Yeshua (Jesus). (see Greater love has no one…)

We’d learn that to live a life with integrity is possible, and that it has a positive effect on both our own lives and the culture around us. Even when the culture is bad.

We’d learn that to repent is to show our love for God, and our desire to live as He intended. And we’d discover peace among ourselves.

We’d discover that we weren’t meant to go through this life alone, but with others. And that each person has their own unique contribution and is equally valuable as I.

We’d learn what it means to be a man or a woman, and that there is nothing wrong with masculinity or femininity, and they both stand on equal footing before God and in this world.

We’d realize that we have brothers and sisters in faith all over this world, even when their faith, and even their Bible, looks a bit different than ours. They are family as we all have the same Father and King.

We’d realize just how precious life is and can be.

All of this can be learned and taken into our lives as we read how Yeshua (Jesus) lived and followed God the Father.

The churches could become relevant again.

The youth would become interested again.

What can we do now?

Each of us can encourage our leaders to return to the Word of God. Read the gospels. Read the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible – Genesis through Deuteronomy). Simply read! and discuss what’s written!

I cringe when I listen to church services and realize that most preachers read perhaps 1 to 5 verses, if even that much, from the Bible. And rarely from the gospels.

I thank God that there are exceptions – and if you are one of those exceptions, pray for the others!

Let’s come away from all of the dry theology and sermons and simply live as God intended. As Yeshua (Jesus) showed us!

To finish off, I’m going to quote a garden flag I have seen that is the perfect answer to all the hate and racism that is rolling over this country.

Thank you Jesus for Everyone and Everything!

  • Yosef

To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate

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Don’t get excited oen way or the other. I’m not actually addressing the question of vaccinating or not, nor am I presenting either viewpoint. Rather, I’m presenting here some arguments from both sides that are disconcerting and don’t fit in a Biblical world view. There isn’t any order to the points I address, so feel free to read any of them in any order.

Charity

I’ve read that a large Christian charity organization has come out and stated that they will not help someone who is not vaccinated. I mentioned this to a fellow follower of Yeshua/Jesus and they commented that they thought that this was okay.

So, whether or not you think society should be barring the unvaccinated from some activities or services, this attitude from a so-called Christian organization is problematic. It has, at its core, the same lack of care towards who Yeshua is and what is written in the Bible, that plagues our churches now.

When lepers came up to Yeshua, he did not turn them away. The rest of society did. They even thought that they were doing what God wanted by turning such people away. Yeshua’s love for each person broke through the taboos of society and valued each and every person.

New Technology

For over a millennia now, Christianity has feared what is new. The same fear has been mongered in regards to the CoVid vaccine, and the fact that it uses a new technology to achieve its goal.

I wish that I could give some Bible passage that was at the core of this fear but I can’t. The closest that I can come is to quote the passages in the Torah (“Old Testament”) where God tells the Israelites to not copy the ways of the nations around them. However, this applies to how they (we) were to worship and follow God. It would have to be twisted way out of context to be applied in the context of avoiding new technology.

So what is behind this fear? In my opinion it is the age-old issue of control. People want to control other people. Religions want to control masses of people. The leaders want to be seen as the ones in ultimate control (in place of God). New technology can, at times, challenge this false feeling of control.

Technology can also challenge what religion (Christianity included) has taught. When this happens, leaders speak out and condemn lest they be shown as having been wrong. Or worse, having to admit that a long held tradition was wrong.

In other words, religion wants to always be the one saying what is right and what is wrong and nothing should be allowed to challenge this preconception. To me, this sounds like the attitude that Adam and Eve had in the garden of Eden when they took of the forbidden fruit. They knew it would put them in the position of dictating what is right and what is wrong.

The End Times

Many of the mandates and restrictions that are being enforced seem to be taken directly out of the pages of the book of Revelation in the apostolic writings (“New testament”). There are several things that many Christians have taken as being the “mark of the beast,” spoken about in the book of Revelation, or as being the harbinger of the end times as spoken about in the Bible.

One example is that the book of Revelation tells us that those who have not taken the “mark of the beast” will not be able to buy or sell. We see more and more businesses requiring “proof” of vaccination to be allowed to work, get groceries, or other such things. The current reality sure seems to fit the description in the Bible.

But wait! If we are to accept this reasoning, it amounts to saying that God allows trickery to lure people away. It says that He allowed the fear and hype of the Covid virus to trick people into getting vaccinated, and once vaccinated, that they are separated from God.

Does God really allow trickery and deceit to lure people away? Of course not! Unfortunately this idea that God is a trickster and deceiver is actually rather prevalent, being at the root of a couple popular Christian teachings.

Rather, the “mark of the beast” will involve a deliberate choice of going against God and His Word. Nothing about the vaccine qualifies for this. The only examples we have in scripture are of people choosing to rebel against Him.

Aborted Baby Stem Cells

A few cell lines were started decades ago from the stem cells of a couple electively aborted babies. Drug companies use these cell lines for a variety of purposes. This is simply a statement of fact. What I find disconcerting is the argument used to discount the use of those old stem cell lines.

The argument basically states that since the abortion took place so long ago, and that the cells have replicated themselves so many times, that there isn’t any connection anymore to the original abortions.

Now, whether or not you think abortion is okay or evil, this kind of argument sets a dangerous precedent. It is basically saying that if an incident happened long enough in the past, then it is no longer of consequence. (Remember, this discussion is not about whether abortion is okay or not; but it is a discussion by Christians who hold that abortion is wrong).

I have two important questions about this precedent. First, where in the Bible is such an argument ever accepted? Second, who decides how much time is enough?

To put it a bit clearer, this argument is saying that it doesn’t matter if the Bible says something is wrong, if enough time has gone by, it is then okay.

The use of that argument justifies much ungodly behavior by our churches and Christians as they point to long held traditions as proof that something is okay. (I could give several examples here but one or all of the examples would rile people up and they’d then forget what this posting is really about).

So, to wrap up this discussion, this is a call for us to think about what we are saying and doing. Let us weigh our opinions against the Word of God, and let the Word of God prevail! And most importantly, let us love one another! There is nothing about any of the arguments going back and forth about the vaccine and Covid that should cause hate between people of God. Rather, let us aim all this energy at tackling issues God sees as more important. Issues such as people relegating the belief in God to fairy tales, and freedom of speaking of Jesus being taken away.

I had the sad realization during this Christmas season that I don’t recall seeing any religious symbology, or even a “merry Christmas” sign, at any of the churches I may have passed in my goings to and fro. What happened to Christianity’s mantra of “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!” It seems that even the churches don’t believe any more. And that is of great concern!

Shalom!

Love Your Neighbor

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I often hear a comment that goes something like this, “Jesus fulfilled the law.” I hear this comment almost exclusively from those who are building a case as to why Christians don’t need to “follow the Law” (the “Law” being God’s law as given in the “Old Testament”). Does the word “fulfill” really mean “done away with”?

Paul writes in Romans 13:8-10 (NASB):

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

This is a beautiful definition of the word ‘fulfill’. It means that if you love your neighbor, you won’t do any of those things listed because you love your neighbor. In other words, if you focus on the “positive commands” from God you’ll end up doing the “negative commands” without even paying them attention. If you love your neighbor, you won’t even be thinking about murdering them or stealing from them or any other negative thing towards them.

God’s law is full of positive commands. “Love your neighbor.” “Love God with all your heart.” Help your fellow man. If we focus on those, we needn’t worry about the others that tell us what love is not.

Instead of looking at the “Law of God” as a list of commands regarding things we shouldn’t do or need to avoid, look at those things that are “commanding” positive behavior. Then bring that positive behavior into your life.

This is what Paul was trying to get across. Jesus (Yeshua) also told us the same. The example of him healing on the Sabbath comes to mind. The leaders were all concerned about their list of things to ‘not’ do, they forgot that there are good things that can and should be done on the day. Like helping other people. It is then that the Sabbath becomes the joy that it was meant to be.

The word ‘fulfill’ was never meant to mean ‘done away with.’ Rather, it is used to make a point. When we listen to and do the positive commands, then we won’t be going against the negative commands at all – we’ll be living the life God meant us to live, to its fullest. When we follow the positive commands, we will fulfill our lives and be smack in the middle of God’s will.

The law of God was given out of love. If we don’t know how to love, it will tell you. When we do love, we are following it.

Shalom! -Yosef

Passover Event

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Passover is coming up very soon. It begins Sat. night, Mar. 27th, 2021.

Prior to that you can join in learning about Passover, God’s calendar, how Yeshua kept Passover, and the church’s response to Passover today!

Join in a fun virtual “Bible study and Discussion” on Thursday night, Mar. 25th, 2021. The actual study starts at 5:15pm PST but start ‘arriving’ before then. Phone / video is online at 5pm. You can join in over just a phone line, or with video using computer or tablet.

The meeting will start off with a short teaching and be followed up by a Q & A time. You can take part in the discussion afterwards or just listen in.

The leader is a Jewish follower of Yeshua. This isn’t an actual Passover celebration – just learning about the background and a bit about the celebration itself.

Shalom!

Censorship

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The USA used to be a country where free speech reigned. Seemingly, not any more. Now big corporations can censor even the President. (Sorry – this is a relatively long post).

Okay, now that I’ve got your attention, let’s look at what’s happening – at the root of the issue. The issue is people being blocked from saying what they want when they want.

But was this ever the case? Not really. Every culture has its rules about what can and can not be talked about. Even in the ‘olden days’ of the USA, if you talked openly about murdering a child you’d encounter a lot of difficulty. Some level of censorship has always been around and is actually good for society.

But who sets the rules as to what is good for society and what is not? We now live in a society where special interest groups (they started and are promulgating ‘political correctness’) and big corporations can decide on what is truth and what is not. Both are forms of censorship.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and others have started banning persons from using their platforms if the person is, in their opinion, promoting falsehood. Right now its all about ‘making sure people know the truth about Covid-19 vaccines.’ But will it stop there? Is it really about truth?

That sounds like a good cause, doesn’t it? But who is deciding what is ‘true’ and what is ‘not true’? Apparently the corporations have taken it upon themselves to do so. Unknown people in their organizations are being allowed to tell millions of people what they can and can not think! And what are they being told to think? Whatever the corporations want them to think.

I wonder if it is even allowed to discuss whether or not the AstraZeneca jab is good for people over 65? Why? Some countries allow it and some don’t, both sides citing ‘science’. And yet, when Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram decide that the jab is okay, they can suddenly start censoring anyone that disagrees with them.

Here is a quote from Twitter’s Help Center (help.twitter.com/en/rule – general guidelines and policies) as to what grounds can be used to ban a person.

If a post promotes “The safety or efficacy of treatments or preventative measures that are not approved by health authorities…” it can be removed and the author banned.

Sounds good, but suddenly all those that hold to natural medicines and herbs could be found in violation of Twitter’s policies!

I can take just about any one of their ‘policies’ and easily extend it into broader areas such as I did in the above example. It shows that the issue isn’t actually about truth, but about the power of being able to tell millions what to think.

Why do I bring all this up? Well, besides the fact that it is a frightening precedent, it won’t stop at silencing unpopular political figures or people with concerns about the vaccine.

History has proved over and over that such movements grow unless there is an uprising of the people (Uh-oh – I used the word ‘uprising’! Am I now in danger of inciting violence?) Look at the political correctness issue. It started with just one issue, but as it became successful, political correctness started dictating what people can and can not say or do in just about every situation in life.

Truth is not the issue behind the censorship!

Why am I concerned? Because religious freedom is falling. Political correctness has already started battering at what Christians can and can not say, and soon they will be banned from social media sites if they hold to traditional values. Don’t believe me? The beginnings are already happening. Look to our learning institutions. Traditional moral values and belief in God are becoming unwanted and targeted. Look at the many law suits against various learning institutions that are currently in progress!

Soon it will be that to even name ‘Jesus’ will be considered a crime. I know this sounds extreme, but it is the logical progression of the various movements currently sweeping this country.

If, after reading this, you are thinking that such won’t happen, or that companies have the right to decide who and what to ban, or that it needs to be done because lives are at stake, then you are missing the point completely.

It will happen. Just read some recent history to see how the political correctness movement started and then progressed. The same type of thing will happen (and has already started) with this censorship.

Companies do and don’t have the right to block people based on the person’s beliefs. That is a legal battle going on in this country right now. One example is the recent case determining whether or not a small bakery has the right to refuse to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Lives are at stake? True, but the core issue is who decides what is truth and what is not. Do we want big companies deciding for us?

If the issue were anything but political, and it is political, there are better ways to ensure that ‘truth’ is available to all and easy to find. The IEEE organization (the group that sets communication standards that all phones and computers use) recently ran an article about how one could make a change to the operation of the internet that would make it far easier to verify the truth of an article.

But the issue isn’t truth.

Letting people decide for themselves is not wanted. Groups, corporations, and governments want power over people. It’s always been that way.

I fear for religious freedom in this country! Such forces as the special interest groups and large corporations have been battling against Christianity for several decades now, and this current trend of censorship will start battling Christianity very soon, if it hasn’t already.

Wake up! Most people in this country don’t know what it means, or what it is like, to live in a country where speech is monitored closely. I hope we don’t go that far, but we’re certainly on the road there. Inevitably, this censorship moves into religion. Why?

The apostle Paul tells us that there are spiritual forces at work, and the battle we see is only a reflection of a spiritual truth. One of those truths is that Yeshua (Jesus) is returning to judge the living and the dead. Will he find you following and obeying his word?

A spillover from the spiritual battle of people coming to know Yeshua and the subsequent freedom and peace that brings, is the battle to suppress all things Biblical.

Let your voice be heard! Pray for your country! Respect one another!

Shalom, – Yosef

Are you a Democrat or a Republican?

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Voting is over for the 2020 election here in the USA, but the results aren’t yet final. Though I think everyone should exercise their privilege of being able to vote, this post is not actually about the election!

On voting day I was listening in to part of a 24 hour prayer meeting, called for people to pray for the election. At one point, one person started praying that people would repent for things this nation has done, but the moderator (gently) stopped him told people to keep the prayers on the topic of getting their candidate elected.

Yet what does God want?

Interestingly, people on both sides seem to think that God wants their particular candidate to be the next president of the USA. Yet no one seems to care about the state of this country from God’s perspective!

So what does this country stand for?

– Abortion: our international polices even require nations accepting help from us to offer abortion services! We push abortion on our own people and the nation! And our legislators applaud themselves when laws are passed that make abortion easier and more prevalent in this nation.

– Immorality: our entertainment industry thrives on sex; not wholesome sex, but sex outside God’s boundaries, making it seem normal to have sex between friends and with other married people.,

– Godlessness: Our nation (via entertainment and educational industries) is actively and forcefully promoting a Godless world view.

And Christianity has been turning a blind eye to all this. Worse, we’ve been actively supporting it! How? By throwing out God’s word. Churches somehow believe that God’s word needs to be ‘made relevant’, which is to say ‘changed’. It’s no wonder that churches are losing their relevancy in the eyes of the younger generations.

Of course, this whole issue feeds upon itself by all the wrong teaching out there. Everyone interprets God’s word in a way that supports their own ideas.

We need to REPENT! We need to repent on behalf of our country and our churches and our selves!

Let us return to simply following Yeshua (Jesus), and get rid of all the theology that so divides! Yeshua prayed to the Father, “Father, make them one.” He did not pray, “make them thousands of different denominations” as it would seem he did when one looks at the state of Christianity in the world.

Being ‘one’ does not mean ‘being the same.’ The apostle Shaul (Paul) writes about how their are different ‘vessels’ (different people with different roles and ideas) and different gifts, but all make up one body.

It is time to quite judging one another (have we forgotten Yeshua‘s words in the sermon on the mount: ‘do not judge lest you be judged’?).

James writes, ‘pure religion is this, to look out for the widows and orphans, and keep oneself unstained by the world.’ How many of us do that? Yah (the LORD) says, “‘I am Yehovah (the LORD) that exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things’ declares Yehovah (the LORD).” (Jer. 9:24).

So, let us repent on behalf of our nation, our churches, and ourselves, and return to Yeshua. Then lets discuss who should be president.

Shalom! – Yosef

Matthew 7

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I wrote this in response to someone’s query but it never got posted.  So here it is…

Matt. 7:21-23 became very important to me many years ago. As I began to recognize what was being said there, I was set on a life long journey of discovery and growing closer to God. There is much more behind Yeshua’s (Jesus’) words here then is initially apparent.

– We’d call the people being spoken to ‘Christians’, as you point out.
– Jesus does not say, “you don’t know me”, but “I never knew you!” This is backwards from most of our thinking.
– The word ‘evildoers’ is a very poor translation. The word there clearly means ‘lawless ones’.

This brings to the forefront some very important questions we should ask ourselves. First, why didn’t Yeshua (Jesus) “know” them when they were apparently “on fire” for God? They seemed to be even putting their faith into action (doing miracles and such). Why does Yeshua (Jesus) call them ‘lawless ones’?

I submit that as we learn to walk in His way (His law), He comes to know us and our hearts. The people Jesus is rebuking did not regard His law as something to be considered. They were making up their own rules and traditions, just as so many denominations do today. It’s interesting to note that of all the things the people listed as things they have done, none are in God’s law as something that He wants us to learn. They are fruits of the Spirit living in us, given to us through the grace of God through Yeshua (Jesus). Yet those people were looking not at God’s will, but at ‘neat fruit’! They thought that they could come to God anyway they wanted to (without obedience).

You point out that we need to be obedient. You are so correct! In the Hebrew language, the word for ‘hear’ is an action word, not just meaning to listen. In Hebrew thought, if you don’t ‘do’ what you heard, then you didn’t listen.

– Yosef

Compromise, compromise, over the Cliff Edge: “10 Commandments – Do Not Murder” continued…

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I’m starting this post with a joke.  Not because the topic is humorous, but because it helps illustrate a point.  (I don’t know who the original author of the joke is.  I first heard it more then 30 years ago.  If I find out who the author is, I’ll post the  credit.)  Here’s the joke as well as I remember it:

A Catholic priest, an evangelical Pastor, and a Jewish Rabbi were discussing when life begins.  The priest states unequivocally that life begins at the moment of conception, and that there is no discussion about it.  The Pastor states that he sees the issue a little less strictly, and that life begins when the heart starts beating.  The Rabbi states, “You two know nothing!  Life begins when the dog dies and the kids move out!”

Yes, this blog post is about abortion.  And the above joke alludes to a problem in the church that has been around for some time.  As soon as Christians entered the discussion as to when ‘life begins’, it lost the battle.  Such a discussion is only about making a compromise.  Once one compromise is made, no matter how seemingly innocuous, eventually more will be required.  As is now happening.

States are passing or seriously considering passing laws allowing abortion up to the moment of birth, and allowing people other then doctors perform the procedure.

This occurrence shouldn’t be surprising.  That this would eventually occur was obvious.  Once abortions were allowed under some circumstances, then the call for compromising on other circumstances would never end.  And it will continue.  And over the cliff we go.

We are now stating that life, up to birth (and possibly shortly thereafter), has no value.  This devaluation of life will continue.  What’s next?  Babies that have defects can be killed?  Unthinkable you say?  This is exactly what happened not so long ago in a modern society!  (Don’t remember? – think Nazi Germany and their indiscriminate killing of handicapped people.)

God states that He abhors the ‘offering’ [sacrificing] of babies and children to foreign gods.

You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.  Leviticus 18:21 (ESV)

Why did the people sacrifice their children to other gods?  The basic reason can be stated as this: they wanted a better life for themselves.

Are abortions today any different?  Why are the vast majority of abortions done today?  Because the mom thinks her life will be better without the child.

No difference!  In times past, the babies were offered directly to a god in exchange for a better life for the parents.  Today the babies are offered to some nebulous idea in exchange for the mom having a better life!

We need to repent on behalf of this nation!  We also need to start supporting those groups that are helping the moms find alternatives to abortion!

Today, Feb. 23rd, 2019, a call has gone out nationwide (USA) for prayer and repentance.  It’s about time!   (www.dayofmourning.org – best viewed with Google Chrome).

Yes, God’s command ‘do not kill’ includes the unborn.

P.S.

If you want to argue against this stance by bringing up cases such as when the mother’s life is in danger, I say to you, “You hypocrite!  If you were really concerned about the life of the mother, you wouldn’t be supporting these laws that will allow people without medical degrees to perform the abortion!  That type of thing took many, many women’s lives!”

  • Yosef

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