Torah

"The sphere of Christian brotherhood is wider than the sphere of Jewish brotherhood. It would be a great mistake, however, to suppose that even within its own sphere, the brotherhood of Judaism reaches the intensity of the brotherhood of Christianity. 

St. Paul certainly had a different opinion; when he says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," he clearly means to imply that we cannot reach this goal by merely fulfilling the law of Moses. 

And indeed it may be said that, as a whole, and making allowance for isolated exceptions, the law of Moses exhorts not so much to bear as to forbear. It is not so much a command to confer benefit, as a prohibition to inflict injury. It does not so much aim at the glorification of humanity, as at the prevention of any act which would maim or mutilate humanity.

Hence its most powerful watchword is not, Thou shalt, but, Thou shalt not!

It seeks to refrain the hand from doing wrong rather than to nerve the heart for doing right. It forbids to kill, to steal, to perjure, to covet; and though in this last instance it reaches something like an inward state, it is at best only a negative inwardness. It tells a man not to desire that his brother's wealth may be transferred to him, but it does not tell him to desire that the good which is possessed by him may be equally possessed by his brother; that command to "covet the best gift" -- the spirit of charity, was reserved for another dispensation.

 Nor is the religious side of the Decalogue more positive than its practical side; the duties of the sanctuary are, like the duties of the community, prohibitions from doing any wrong. To worship no other God, to make no image of God, to take not God's name in vain, to do no work on God's Sabbath -- this is the sum and substance of the religious code of Judaism. The one positive precept of its moral law is assigned neither to its sanctuary nor to its community, but to that relation of the family which is its symbol of all sacredness: "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land." George Matheson. 

 

  "Men differ in opinions as much as in features. No two minds are perfectly accordant. The shades of belief are infinitely diversified. Amidst this immense variety of sentiment, every man is right in his own eyes. Every man discovers errors in the creed of his brother. Every  man is prone to magnify the importance of his own peculiarities and to discover danger in the peculiarities of others. This is human nature. Every man is partial to his own opinions, because they are his own, and his self-will and pride are wounded buy contradiction.

  It's truly astonishing that Christians aren't more aware of the unbecoming spirit, the arrogant style, of those who overlook the exemplary lives of other Christians because they differ in opinion on some of the most subtle, and difficult subjects of theology.  Their language towards them is virtually this: "We pronounce you to be in error, and in most dangerous error. We know that we are right, and you are wrong, in regard to the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel. You are unworthy of the Christian name, and unfit to sit with us at the table of Christ. We offer you the truth, and you reject it at the peril of your souls." Such is the language of humble Christians to men, who in devotion, apparent obedience and holiness are equal to them. 

But those who judge so object and say, "Did not the Apostle denounce the erroneous doctrines of others and pronounce a curse on the "abettors of another Gospel?" This is the stronghold of the those who exclude others. But let us never forget that the Apostles were inspired men, capable of marking out with unerring certainty those who substituted "another gospel" for the true. Show me their successors, and I will cheerfully obey them.

Let us not forget that the debate of the present day is not between the Apostles themselves and men who oppose their known instructions, but uninspired Christians who equally receive the Apostles as authorized teachers of the Gospel, and who only differ in judgment as to the interpretation of there writings.   

I maintain that we have no right as individuals or as an association, to bear our "solemn testimony" against these opinions, by menacing with ruin the Christian who listens to them, or by branding them with the most terrifying epithets, for the purpose of preventing candid inquiry into their truth. To do so is a common weapon which will always be most successful in the hands of the proud, the positive and overbearing, who are most impatient of contraction, and have the least regard to the rights of their brethren.

But whatever may be the right of Christians, as to bearing testimony against opinions which they deem injurious, I deny that they have any right to pass a condemning sentence, on account of these opinions, on the characters of men whose general deportment is conformed to the Gospel of Christ. Both scripture and reason unite in teaching that the best and only standard of character is the life; and he who overlooks the testimony of a Christian life, and grounds a sentence of condemnation on opinions about which he, as well as his brother, may err, violates most flagrantly the duty of just and candid judgment, and opposes the peaceful and charitable spirit of the Gospel. Jesus Christ says, "By their fruits shall ye know them." 

William Ellery Channing. 

 I heard this little tip about how to improve our marriages.

  When we have news, whatever it may be, share it with your spouse first. We all know that "once a story's been told, it can't help but grow old." The first time we share an event we are engaged emotionally and we enthusiastically present it; the second time not so much, the third time it's becoming old hat. So, reserve the first share for your spouse. 

I like that!

 Jesus tries to explain what the "Kingdom of God" is like in this teaching, He describes it this way -- 

"It's like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it's sown, grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade." 

As I considered the meaning I saw the seed, which I take to be the word of God -- sown upon the soil, which is the earth --  growing up in the garden, which I think may represent the spiritual pursuits of humanity -- and from it's meager beginnings -- beginning with 12 disciples -- it extends it's branches and offers shade -- which I believe may be spiritual rest -- to all the birds of the sky; which again, I think may represent all spiritual pursuits. 

  I think Jesus saw all religions as containing a germ of truth, but incomplete. And in His kingdom, all are welcome and will find the completion and fulfillment in Him. I don't think Jesus was hostile or antagonistic towards other religions whatever they were, or even those who had no religion. His only harsh words were towards the hypocrite. I know that may seem overly generous to some, but I believe Jesus came to unite and not divide. As I read about how He ministered to the non-Jew, even those hostile to the Jews, I always see acceptance and invitation, not division.  

 

Look at things from many angles

In Mark 4:24 Jesus says, "By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides." 

So when we consider that probing statement about measures, we must experiment with different angles and applications to make sure we draw out all it may contain. 

For example, when I read something like that I put in different words to see if it illuminates the verse. So let's substitute the word "measure" for mercy. That now becomes a great promise. Or let's put "love" there. "By your standard of love it shall be measured to you, and more love shall be given you besides." 

So I continue to exchange words such as, compassion, patience, kindness or even anger,  hate or lack of forgiveness. This is in part what Jesus means when he says, "if any one has ears to hear, let them hear." 

Bible study isn't about reading many verses, but by considering each verse, and what it means to us. 

   "Therefore we also have as our ambition...... to be pleasing to Him." 

  Many of the influences I've had in Christianity cast a dark light on all of humanity; the emphasis on our heart as being desperately wicked and all or works as filthy rags left me seeing God, not as my Father, but only as my judge. We, being evil, love our children always, even when they misbehave and are disobedient. Our human love is created in God's image, He loves us always, even when we are disobedient, and He is pleased when we do loving and kind deeds. He has designed us to sense His approval when we do for others. Even when we do a simple act of kindness to a complete stranger, we bear testimony in our hearts that God is pleased.  

 

 

 Stop Reading Your Bible So Much!

Does that sound like good advice? Let me explain: God speaks through the Bible, so we read His Words one line at a time. It is not how much we read but how much we hear His voice. We are not in school with an assignment to read a chapter or a book; we come before the Lord anticipating He will speak, and if He whispers will we hear it? Here's an example -- He tells us in Deuteronomy 32:1, "Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, as the droplets on the fresh grass, and as showers on the herb." 

This is a perfect example to illustrate my point. Here is one verse, and in it much symbolism, gentle truth, penetrating instruction. Do not rush by a verse like this on a quest to finish the chapter, No! savor the words: each one paints a picture: stop to consider His Holy choice of words and what they mean to you in the moment, in the upcoming day as you learn from others, or as you teach your children or interact with love ones, as well as strangers. Consider every possibility in which this magnificent verse can apply.   

                             William Ellery Channing

Discern the spirits

Know the spirits

Many are "Church hurt" because they can't discern the spirits of their brothers and sisters. Here are three common types that are in every church. 

Prophetic spirit

We know this spirit in people because their message is fear filled. They preach fire and brimstone, they are zealous to condemn the evil but miss the beautiful. "They never see a good quality in a man, and never fail to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to the light, mousing for vermin and never seeing noble game." This is the person that studies the times and the seasons, lives to unravel every prophecy of end times, studies Revelations, but fails his neighbor's need. They see all in black and white. They remind you God hates evil doers and they have a hostile attitude toward the world.  We leave their presence feeling less.

Legalistic spirit

This person lives to study the Bible; they quote it at the end of every sentence, study it like a legal document and use it like a weapon, but, like the Pharisees, they miss the humanity in Christ's teachings and seek to fulfill the letter and miss the spirit. They are overly cautious not to sin but lack courage in actively doing God's will among their fellowman. Holiness is their cry, humanity their neglect. They bind heavy loads on all alike, crushing the bruised reed and quenching the smoldering wick. The narrow way they explain is pinched and rigid. When you leave their presence, you feel defeated.

Blind spirit

This is the spirit that fails to recognize the urgency and desperation of the day. Their sermons get more laughs than amen's; the church meets all the wants of the congregation but none of the desperate needs of the community. Padded pews and basketball hoops, the finest electronics and paid music leaders, but little to help the poor and suffering, at home or abroad. Large congregations but small sacrifices for the destitute. When you leave their presence you feel at ease.

 Are you a fisherman or a hunter? 

Some Christians err when they hunt for wolves instead of fishing for men. They love the hunt for error more than they love fishing for lost and hurting souls. We are called to be fishers of men, leave your rifle on the rack at the ready, but keep your fishing pole in hand.  

Divorce

 Divorce, regardless what your religious or ethical views are, is a huge decision and we all know that God hates divorce. The focus of this post is to give my views for those in abusive marriages. 

All reasonable people realize divorce is to be avoided and every marriage has "seasons" where it seems there is no hope, only to overcome and grow from what once was seen as impossible. But many women, and some men, are in abusive relationships: where  verbal, physical or sexual abuse is a pattern and the spouse stays in the marriage because the Bible says - "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives." 1Pe. 3:1

I believe if a person is in an abusive relationship, and they were able to have the direct council of Christ, that this is near to what He would say --- 

"Dear daughter, God has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives.... to set at liberty them that are bruised." Lk. 4:18 Your husband is commanded to love you as I love you, and to treat you the way he wants to be treated. Because He has violated the foundational truths of the kingdom of God, I give you freedom to find safe refuge, to follow legal means to see him incarcerated for his violence against you, to seek legal aid to prevent future attacks and if at all possible, to lead him to repentance. 

Be 'wise as a serpent' when leaving: plan, prepare and execute quickly, removing the children and yourself from his reach.          Seek restoration and remedy with diligence, but do not re-enter the relationship until you have seen the lasting fruits of repentance. And if he will not stop his abuse, you are free to leave; and if time will not work, and civil law and counseling is of no avail, then you are free to leave his violent and degrading influence on yourself and your children. You are no longer in bondage to him, because he has violated the marriage vows: so you are free to remarry after you have taken time to learn how this happened and taken careful consideration of how to avoid this from happening again."

This is the opinion of one man, and I'm certainly not a scholar, and each person must seek and search their own heart and the heart of their spouse before giving up completely and seeking divorce. 

 

  I talk with many victims of childhood trauma, and so I paraphrased Matt. 17:15, the story of the father whose son suffered terribly from seizures and often fell into the fire and water, as the only answer. 

"The father said, 'Lord, have mercy on my daughter! She has deep depression that controls her and she often breaks out in fiery rages and then into deep depressions where she feels like she is drowning! I have taken her to religious counselors but they have failed. And then Jesus spoke only four words --- 

"Bring her to Me!" 

 

"But the noble man makes noble plans; and by noble plans he stands." Is. 32:8

We are called by Jesus to walk in His steps. Jesus did heroic deeds, He changed people's lives, He gave hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless and entered the world and lives of hurting, lost and oppressed people. 

The Christian life is a noble life where God works in us and through us to do His will and express His hope, charity and love. 

The engaged Christian life is heroic! It is filled with signs and wonders of God's love; we see souls raised from the pit of despair, lifted from the depths of self-hate, raging angers, criminal activity and addictions. Oh it is an exciting life! Do you know it today? 

Are you engaged and active in what God is doing in our world today? 

Communion then obedience