tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.comments2023-02-26T00:59:34.027-08:00Red GiantsJ.W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04824436890133511649noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-35478064017034575662009-08-16T15:47:23.783-07:002009-08-16T15:47:23.783-07:00Good points, and thank you for the comments. I'...Good points, and thank you for the comments. I'll do my best to address them.<br /><br />We agree that God loves all. To continue, "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were <i>dead in our trespasses</i>, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5; emphasis mine) The second part is important, that God loved us when we were sinners. So what is sin, then? Is it merely being obnoxious, a murderer, something vile? Or could it be something more pleasing to our eyes? Sin is the state of separation from God. Our righteousness is like filthy rags to Him. Even the best humans parents are evil in comparison to Him.<br /><br />The question is, do we love God? Do we even have that capacity? Not in a fallen state. We recognize love as what gives a sense of self-gratification, but what about sacrificial love (agape), love that requires us to go beyond what we think makes us happy? Yes, it's by God's grace that we are saved from that state of separation, and not through works, lest anyone boast. But faith without evidence of such regeneration is dead. (James 2:17) Our response to the Cross is important. Otherwise, what is the point, really? If anyone can have access to the Father without Christ, what does it mean when Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me"? (John 14:6)<br /><br />To me, it's not enough to leave people as prisoners to worldly categorization. Should we not have compassion for the individual struggling with homosexuality who is not satisfied with "that's the way it is?" Should we not have compassion for people born into societies that restrict basic human freedoms, much less intellectual and religious ones? Should not Christians be able to rightly divide the Bible so that they may be able to see truth from error? To be a reputable witness for Christ is one of the most difficult responsibilities for Christians, because God's Word is foolishness to most. Christians stand apart, not only from the extremes, but from the "nice people" living in the suburbs. God's Word strikes at our core human views — that we are capable of making our own bliss, that we are autonomous, and that somehow if it weren't for restrictions from society or God, we would be happy. I find that history refutes that. We create our own catastrophes. I don't see the world progressing, but instead moving from darkness to light to darkness to light, back to darkness.<br /><br />Illegal immigration. So government is not perfect. The rule of law is not perfect. Legitimizing what is illegitimately gained, to me, does not seem compassionate or loving. To those who are attempting to or have gained citizenship through the proper channels, it says that that slip of paper they receive is worthless. That breaking the law or bending the rules is the way to achieve what you want, when you want it. That authority in and of itself is illegitimate and should have no barrier to personal happiness. While the Bible allows that unfairness is the nature of the world, I don't believe Christians should condone the propagation of such. <br /><br />Would tearing apart families, taking people away from their jobs, etc. be unkind? It would be worse than unkind. Two wrongs aren't going to make a right. I'm not suggesting changing what has already happened. Only suggesting that what should have been enforced before be enforced now, and to recognize, with clarity and repentance, that damage has been done. America has always been welcoming to immigrants, with or without specific rules in its history. I hope that continues. But I don't believe the current illegal immigration was allowed to run amok out of misguided compassion but rather exploitation and expediency. <br /><br />It's a complicated issue, so I appreciate your perspective. And I take the verses you repeat here to heart; I cannot argue with them.J.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04824436890133511649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-54293031736473658162009-07-31T23:50:45.507-07:002009-07-31T23:50:45.507-07:00I've been reading through your blog, agreeing ...I've been reading through your blog, agreeing with some, disagreeing with some. But I am moved to comment here as this post strikes me as very unkind, for want of a better word. <br /><br />You say amnesty would create a subclass of Americans for the international corporations--true enough, perhaps, but are these same people not currently a subclass of illegals, all the more easily exploited due to their lack of legal status? Giving them legal status will provide some protection, while perhaps not changing their role in society--but it's an improvement, at least for the individuals involved, and that, to me, is worth something. <br /><br />It seems to me that you forget that God and Jesus love all people, even the ones you seem to dislike for various reasons--palestinians, muslims, catholics, humanists, etc., the list is rather long when you stop to look at it. God even loves the "scary people" in this post, the criminals, fugitives, sexual predators, gang members, and possible terrorists. Does he love them less than you and me? I don't think so. <br /><br />In a previous post you quoted a verse that has always given me hope, 1 Cor. 13:12, now we see through a glass darkly/poor reflection depending on version, then we shall know fully, even as I am fully known. But I think you should also consider the rest of the chapter, starting with "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." "if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." "love is kind."<br /><br />Your previous post re: loneliness was quite timely for me (albeit several years after you posted it!), but I would also add that you should not forget that you are loved, both by God and by friends. <br /><br />Can I learn a lot from you and your well-studied writing? Absolutely, and I have, and I appreciate it. But I would hope that you would also consider my comments, and bring a little of God's joy and love (two of the fruits of the Spirit) into your life. <br /><br />This might be apocryphal, but I read that when asked to criticize undesirable persons or groups, Mr. Rogers (who was a Presbyterian minister) would instead tell them that God loves them, just as they are. If our goal is to win people for Christ, showing them God's love is more likely to work than criticism, no matter how well thought out. Again, just my opinion. <br /><br />Take care, love you :) <br /><br />p.s. the most recent anon comment was me too, before I realized I should type in a name...Buttercupnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-52662056882652346372009-07-31T00:11:40.480-07:002009-07-31T00:11:40.480-07:001 Thess. 3:12. Not smart enough to add anything e...1 Thess. 3:12. Not smart enough to add anything else :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-2658556087422988762009-05-01T00:37:00.000-07:002009-05-01T00:37:00.000-07:00Paul, good points. Thank you for your input and th...Paul, good points. Thank you for your input and the links you provided.<br /><br />The Biblical examples you cite raise the critical issue of tone in speech re: sarcasm. To me, it's difficult to analyze sarcasm in these written passages without bringing at least some of our cultural/personal presuppositions into the equation.<br /><br />Yes, Elijah used his mocking speech as a sword, for the purposes of glorifying God. But consider the objects of his scorn; anything less harsh would've been throwing pearls before swine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-91002386419242635622009-04-29T05:06:00.000-07:002009-04-29T05:06:00.000-07:00Red Giants, Thank you for these insights. As you s...Red Giants, Thank you for these insights. As you said, sarcasm falls within the realm of Christian freedom but one should be aware of his brother of “weak faith” and those who have been wounded by sarcasm. I found it interesting to read Romans 14 and substitute sarcasm for meat. I believe sarcasm is not necessarily sinful, even the Apostle Paul (Galatians 5:12, let them emasculate themselves), the prophet Elijah (I Kings 18:27, taunting the prophets of Baal), and even God (Judges 10:14) himself uses it on occasion. Even Jesus seems on the edge of it sometimes in his interactions with the Pharisees. The healed blind man in John 9 certainly used it (see verse 27). Most of these people were speaking for God and God knows the heart so he can speak in ways that we cannot. We have the freedom to use sarcasm but I believe we need to be careful because often sarcasm has a barb in it that can wound and it always runs the risk of wounding our brother and hurting relationships. I know sometimes sarcasm can help us laugh and take the edge off a tense situation and I acknowledge that God has used it to prick people’s consciences. The following article was very interesting to me, especially the part about sarcasm: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/economic/friedman/bibhumor.htm <br /><br />I ran into another article (http://sheworships.com/2009/03/28/sarcasm-kills/) that articulates very well why sarcasm may lead to sin. Often sarcasm is about one-up-man-ship and trying to prove who is the more clever and it does not pass the biblical test for gracious speech. (Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29). <br /><br /><br />Hope you found these insightful.PaulLohausnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-20873787479149613072009-04-29T04:42:00.000-07:002009-04-29T04:42:00.000-07:00Jenny Chandler said,
"Always make sure (you) aren'...Jenny Chandler said,<br />"Always make sure (you) aren't lying to yourself that you have forgiven when you haven't.<br />Sarcasm is often thinly veiled bitterness and a clue to the state of the heart on the matter."<br />http://www.jennybchandler.com/2008/12/what-i-have-learned-about-forgiveness.htmlPaulLohausnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-58028635485922863642009-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:002009-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:00Mercy in Humility:
This topic is so deep, so essen...Mercy in Humility:<br />This topic is so deep, so essential, so pivotal in our times, and so indicative of a true foundation in faith (or lack thereof) in each person. It seems to require faith in a God, whether that interpretation be Islamic, Judeo-Christian, or even polytheistic Hindu with a concomitant discipline in that faith to hold any sense in terms of upholding "traditions" as truthful, noble laws. And, since “no one comes to the Father but by [Christ]” (John 14:6), the true answer lies in the inspired, inerrant words of the Bible.<br /><br />In our times, God is considered so staid, so unfashionable, so provincial, and so myopic by "the world" (i.e. the domain of Satan). To accept that there are limitations on our sexual behavior (in any regard-- heterosexual or otherwise) given by a loving God seems "backward" in a world that espouses the idea that "love knows no bounds." This is a central distortion of God's character. Yes, He is indeed of boundless love (and is only one, truly, the Triune Deity). But, as with all true love, that gift requires responsibility, which embodies the heart of the polemic. <br /><br />God's love must-needs-be in accompaniment with boundaries, if only insofar as love must-needs-be separate from degradation, or evil. If truth be pure and truth the essence of love, the two cannot truly intermingle to exist at all, one being the dominant force of light. <br /><br />But in our times we have forced the idea in which boundaries often cannot exist, as seen most commonly in the new god, television (and its cousins in multimedia—internet in bedrooms, films, videogames), which invade the safety and sacred shelter of the foundational social unit, marriage and family. Still, we can serve but one God. <br />So can we really be surprised that homosexuality is rampant, when marriage is increasingly disrespected through fornication/premarital sex, out-of-wedlock births, adultery/pornography-as-means-of-"entertainment"-and-"advertisement", and so on and so forth? Part of this dilemma comes from the unwillingness of the so-called faithful to identify even mainstream sitcoms (oh, the examples are too many too include) as pornographic (i.e. "that which prostitutes"), through its tasteless jokes and constant innuendo (either verbally, through obscene costumes and characterizations, through hardened-heart "humor" a la' 40-year-old-virgin, and out-and-out glamorization of adultery). <br /><br />Some same-sex-marriage proponents have thus made a fair criticism that so-called conservative "religious" groups are just as guilty of multiple marriages as are the so-called unfaithful. If we look no different than the "world," are not willing to make the hard decisions in the secret places of our lives, both seen and unseen, how can we point the finger? (For that is what the world sees, rather than fighting for righteousness In and outside ourselves.) <br /><br />Is it therefore any wonder that God is judging the world through an economic downturn (after longsuffering patience), that infidelity rates have dropped, that obscene "lingerie" stores are going under? This is the blessing of our times: it reminds us to situate ourselves in an often materially uncomfortable but eternally preferable position of relying wholeheartedly on God, which he will eventually require of us in any case if we hard-heartedly refuse to resist (rather than wholeheartedly run to with relief and love). Truth lies in humility at the feet of Christ, making ourselves naked and vulnerable to His divine will in each moment of our lives.One Red Holly Berrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-83247726602482121362009-04-07T21:37:00.000-07:002009-04-07T21:37:00.000-07:00I appreciate the visit and encouragement. Thank yo...I appreciate the visit and encouragement. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-6695696278716085282009-04-06T21:27:00.000-07:002009-04-06T21:27:00.000-07:00Great link. Thanks.Great link. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-79908694070702688942008-11-20T09:09:00.000-08:002008-11-20T09:09:00.000-08:00fear God and Keep his commandments, for that is th...fear God and Keep his commandments, for that is the whole duty of Man.<BR/>if you love me, Keep the commandments.<BR/>here is the Love for God; that we keep his commandments and they are not grevious.<BR/>for sin is the transgression of the Law, in FACT sin IS lawlessness.<BR/>and the Dragon was angry at the woman and went off to make war against her offspring, those KEEPING the COMMANDMENTS of GOD AND holding to the testimony of JESUS.. Should we obey God or man?<BR/><BR/>how much simpler could it be? the big lie.. the delusion.. is anything in opposition to God's ten Commandments. and that includes the fourth and second Commandments for these are the two most blatantly violated.<BR/>Blessings,<BR/>RussAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-30994312850294836732007-11-16T16:34:00.000-08:002007-11-16T16:34:00.000-08:00Your comment is appreciated. Thank you!Your comment is appreciated. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-72700498504476661242007-11-13T23:20:00.000-08:002007-11-13T23:20:00.000-08:00Thank you, this was helpful to me.Thank you, this was helpful to me.jackohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03809358072884992784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-84349902234389240062007-05-11T18:40:00.000-07:002007-05-11T18:40:00.000-07:00Kelsey, thank you for your thoughtful insights. M...Kelsey, thank you for your thoughtful insights. Modern life and spiritual confusion have made for a combustible combination when it comes to the family. <BR/><BR/>The misleading notion of marriage as a "be all, end all" of personal happiness is fairly modern and its origins can be traced to the romanticist thread of humanism that began to develop in the West 250 years ago. Secularism in general has attempted to drive Christianity from all of society's institutions: government, schools, churches, and of course marriage and family. <BR/><BR/>A marriage institution without God is doomed to failure. The resulting societal disillusionment has driven young adults from marriage at a time in their lives when marriage might be the most crucial influence on their well-being.<BR/><BR/>Marriage has a multi-faceted impact beyond narcissistic "needs" fulfillment. A healthy, functioning society cannot exist without it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-64871248814112891852007-05-04T10:40:00.000-07:002007-05-04T10:40:00.000-07:00As a young adult myself, this is a subject that I'...As a young adult myself, this is a subject that I've been encountering on a very regular basis. For the past year, I've been involved with a young adults group at a rather large church in my area. The people in the group typically rage in age from twenty to thirty-years-old, but based on the maturity level of the members of the group, in many ways, it comes closer to resembling a middle school class. <BR/><BR/>The majority of the individuals who are single in this group seem to fit into one of two categories; those who want to get married and those who don't, or at least not for awhile. <BR/><BR/>Personally, I believe singleness can be a wonderful opportunity to sever God in ways that would be hard to do with a family, but the people I know who have no desire to get married for a long time aren't using their singleness to do... well, anything. They simply want to be responsible for one person's needs; there own. Because marriage takes guts, commitment and selflessness they want nothing to do with it anytime soon. Like Peter Pan, they don't want to grow-up. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, the ones who are bucking to tie the knot are too often just as self-centered. Instead of thinking it'd be best for them if they stay single -- so they could continue to have fun and be commitment free -- these folks are dying to get married because they think it will make them happy. <BR/><BR/>Basically, instead of recognizing the level of maturity marriage requires and shying away from it like the others, they envision a "happily ever after" without any heartache or problems once they've found their special person. If they didn't view this "special someone" as a genie whose sole job is to grant all of <I>their</I> wishes, and marriage as total and complete bliss, they'd probably be hightailing it to the hills, too. <BR/><BR/>Sadly, the theme song of my generation could be the ToysRUs jingle -- "I don't want to grow-up!" Rather than growing in maturity, wisdom and faith, they'd rather stay at home and play with their toys. Due to this, to find real Christian fellowship, I had to find a church small group with adults who are my parents' age. Even though I'm only twenty-years-old, I felt like the "old" and "frumpy" one in the young adults' group simply because I do want to become a fully functioning adult. <BR/><BR/>~KelseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-71539105041516031872007-04-11T14:10:00.000-07:002007-04-11T14:10:00.000-07:00Why does Christianity believe thatglobal warming i...Why does Christianity believe that<BR/>global warming is a hoax and is<BR/>a product of humanism/secularism?<BR/>What gibberish. The physical evidence speaks for itself. We need<BR/>not resort to finding scriptures and then twist them to show that<BR/>somehow if you believe in global<BR/>warming you are part of some<BR/>anti-God conspiracy or that you<BR/>are involved in secular humanism.<BR/>That nonsense comes from scary<BR/>Christians many of whom has "trashed" the planet that we<BR/>were given to dominate...not destroy.<BR/>This issue has nothing to do with<BR/>Judeo-Christian ethics or<BR/>interpreting what Paul the Apostle<BR/>stated.<BR/>It is common sense. When you soil<BR/>your own house...it smells.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1161633272878985412006-10-23T12:54:00.000-07:002006-10-23T12:54:00.000-07:00All great points, Dan.Chris Hedges is not unlike m...All great points, Dan.<BR/><BR/>Chris Hedges is not unlike many contemporary anti-Christian polemicists. He comes from a humanist religious background: he attended the Harvard Divinity School and his father was a Presbyterian minister. A facility for "Christianese" concepts and vocabulary acts as an effective cover; hence his defense of John Kerry and Jimmy Carter.<BR/><BR/>Hedges suggests in his <A HREF="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week622/hedges.html" REL="nofollow">2003 Bill Moyers interview</A> that war and fundamentalism are inextricably tied: "There is an appeal to fanaticism or fundamentalism in times of war." Of course, secular fanaticism or fundamentalism is not the issue. After all, humanists are "enlightened,"at least according to their peculiar tunnel vision which ignores the likes of a Robespierre or Stalin.<BR/><BR/>The take-no-prisoners approach of Hedges' column echoes the odious rhetoric of the earliest Nazi propaganda. For example, he writes, "All debates with the Christian Right are useless. We cannot reach this movement. It does not want a dialogue. It cares nothing for rational thought and discussion." For the sake of our conjecture, substitute "Christian Right" for "Jew" in this 1929 newspaper piece by the arch-propagandist Joseph Goebbels:<BR/><BR/><I>"One cannot defend himself against the Jew. He attacks with lightning speed from his position of safety and uses his abilities to crush any attempt at defense.<BR/><BR/>Quickly he turns the attacker's charges back on him, and the attacker becomes the liar, the troublemaker, the terrorist. Nothing could be more mistaken than to defend oneself. That is just what the Jew wants. He can invent a new lie every day for the enemy to respond to, and the result is that the enemy spends so much time defending himself that he has no time to do what the Jew really fears: to attack. The accused has become the accuser, and loudly he shoves the accuser into the dock. So it always was in the past when a person or a movement fought the Jew."</I><BR/><BR/>Granted, one-to-one comparisons between current and historical time periods are a bit of a stretch without the benefit of hindsight. Of course, in 1929, the Nazis had not yet risen to power so no one could've suspected what would happen a decade later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1161467336432941652006-10-21T14:48:00.000-07:002006-10-21T14:48:00.000-07:00New York Times columnist Chris Hedges is the maste...New York Times columnist Chris Hedges is the master of the verbal ruse. His comments are shown in <BR/>italics. <BR/><BR/><I>“All debates with the Christian Right are useless.”</I><BR/><BR/>“Useless,” means incapable of persuading them based on secular and humanistic argument.<BR/><BR/><I>“We cannot reach this movement. It does not want a dialogue.”</I><BR/><BR/>The Religious Right has engaged in all kinds of “dialogue” with liberals. The Religious Right cannot accept the Left’s secular and atheistic presuppositions, conclusions, or self-exalting monologues. For this reason, the Left falsely accuses their opponent of not wanting to “dialogue.”<BR/><BR/><I>“It cares nothing for rational thought and discussion.”</I><BR/><BR/>By “rational” Hedges means exclusive naturalistic and secular thought.<BR/><BR/><I>“It is not mollified because John Kerry prays or Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday School.”</I><BR/><BR/>Why is the Religious Right obligated to be “mollified” by the superficial, and often hypocritical, religiosity of liberals??<BR/><BR/><I>“These naive attempts to reach out to a movement bent on our destruction, to prove to them that we too have "values," would be humorous if the stakes were not so deadly.”</I><BR/><BR/>Superficial and hypocritical religiosity are a disingenuous efforts to “reach out” to anyone. They are insulting! The Religious Right is not bent of the “destruction” of liberals or the Left. We simply seek to marginalize and deny you access to power—by legal means. As a group, we are energized by the fact that our opponent wish to seize power by whatever means, legal or illegal. <BR/><BR/>The Religious Right has never doubted that liberals have “values” too. Where the difference lies is in veracity of liberal values. The Religious Right does no accept moral relativism like the liberal Left, and thus does not see judge liberal values of equal value to their own.<BR/><BR/><I>“They hate us. They hate the liberal, enlightened world formed by the Constitution.”</I><BR/><BR/>The Relgious Right rejects liberal views and interpretations due to their naturalistic and secular presuppositions. This does not constitute “hate.” The liberal’s use of the term “enlightened” is simply self-flattery. The Religious Right believes, based on substantial evidences, that the liberal misinterprets the U.S. Constitution due to their intensely bigoted, anti-religious and theophobic bias. Despite the liberal Left’s claims to intellectualism, we see them as grossly illiterate of early American history. A reading of the book, <I>Never Before in History, America's Inspired Birth</I> will easily prove the point.<BR/><BR/><I>“Our opinions do not count.”</I><BR/><BR/>This is not true. Your opinions are at best, simply opinions, equal to ours. However, what absolutely sends you into orbit is that fact that the Religious Right allows for a source of knowledge higher than human opinion. Atheistic liberals go berserk and rabid when their opinions are trumped by Judeo-Christian revelation (reference to the Bible) and their power to influence and control discussions is marginalized.<BR/><BR/><I>“This movement will not stop until we are ruled by Biblical Law, an authoritarian church intrudes in every aspect of our life, women stay at home and rear children, gays agree to be cured, abortion is considered murder, the press and the schools promote "positive" Christian values, the federal government is gutted, war becomes our primary form of communication with the rest of the world and recalcitrant non-believers see their flesh eviscerated at the sound of the Messiah's voice.”</I><BR/><BR/>Mr. Hedges proves beyond a question, that he has mastered the art of creative hyperbole. He truly writes as a man seized with fear, even fear of his own future moment of eternal accountability.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1156451290837101662006-08-24T13:28:00.000-07:002006-08-24T13:28:00.000-07:00Thank you for the encouragement, Kristen. Posts sh...Thank you for the encouragement, Kristen. Posts should resume in September.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1156173478864765832006-08-21T08:17:00.000-07:002006-08-21T08:17:00.000-07:00Glad to see posts from you again. :)Glad to see posts from you again. :)Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14836884075239814722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1154743843372954162006-08-04T19:10:00.000-07:002006-08-04T19:10:00.000-07:00I believe the Bible teaches a distinction between ...I believe the Bible teaches a distinction between Israel and the church. When Jesus came the first time, He came preaching and teaching to Israel. He was offering the Kingdom of God, the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Jews. They rejected Him, crucified Him (we all did, our sins put Him there), buried Him; He rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven and is presently seated at the right hand of God. Of course He knew and has known since eternity past that this would happen. But the point is that He made the offer of the Kingdom to Israel and no one else.<BR/><BR/>After Jesus rose from the dead, the message changed. It became the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now the good news was not that the Kingdom was at hand but rather salvation was free to ALL who believe, Jew and Gentile. Accordingly, we have two distinct gospels; one for the Jews offering the kingdom, the other to all who believe offering eternal life.<BR/><BR/>This is the basis of Pauline Dispensationalism. In order to understand human history and the puzzles it presents one must see it through the glass of dispensations. At least this has been my experinece. I have been asking questions since I was a teenager and Pauline Dispensationalism is the only hermeneutic that makes sense, to me that is. When God calls Israel during the tribulation He will be calling Israel only, not the church. The church which is called the Bride of Christ in Paul's epistles is being formed at this moment and has been since the church age began at Pentecost 30 A.D. Every believer in Christ makes up the Bride of Christ. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile but, this is only true during the church age or age of Grace. <BR/><BR/>The church age will end at the rapture. At that time the age of Israel will begin again but only for seven years (Daniel's 70th week). Then the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation will institue the age of Christ or the millineum. <BR/><BR/>Home churches? I love them.. We have been conducting Bible studies in our home for 7 years. I miss the fellowship of a church but I refuse to teach or hear anything but what I believe to be the truth.Mark Goadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12923946770939533750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1154480542275902322006-08-01T18:02:00.000-07:002006-08-01T18:02:00.000-07:00OK I can’t stand it anymore. You guys are dancing ...OK I can’t stand it anymore. You guys are dancing all around this thing while missing a huge piece of the puzzle. We’re like the four blind men trying to describe an elephant. One has a hold of the trunk, another the tail, another, the tuck and another the leg. Each is convinced his description is accurate and the others must be wrong. <BR/><BR/>So let me describe my section of the elephant for you.<BR/><BR/>Mark is right when he says that the modern state of Israel is a man made counterfeit of the true fulfillment of prophecy. They do stand outside the promises of God. There is no covenant based on blood line. Period. <BR/><BR/><B>For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: Rom 2:28</B> <BR/><BR/>But Bellacqua is also correct when he states that the modern state of Israel, though made by men is being used as a fulfillment of prophecy by God. <BR/><BR/>How can both of these views be correct? Simple – The state made by men is simply an outward manifestation of the true fulfillment of prophecy which is even now occurring among the true Israel of God. <BR/><BR/>We must understand who is truly Israel and who is truly a Jew. <BR/><BR/><B>But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, …..Rom 2:29</B><BR/><BR/>Paul tells us clearly in Romans 9-10-11 that only those who receive the promise by faith are truly Jews. Secondly those whose claim to Jewish-ness is solely by bloodline are not really Jews at all according to God’s reckoning. They have been cut off. God does desire to graft them back in but it can only be by their acceptance of the promised Messiah Jesus of Nazareth by faith. That is why the Jerusalem that now exists is not ‘holy’ but is in bondage with her children and is an allegory for Hagar or the covenant of the flesh which leads to death. (Gal 4:24-26)<BR/><BR/>Two covenants, two Israel’s. One, the Israel in the natural has a covenant with death. The other, spiritual Israel has the covenant of Life. Both exist now but the Israel we see in the natural is only for a sign to the Israel of the spirit.<BR/><BR/><B>Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1Cor 10:11</B> <BR/><BR/>So, just as natural Israel is being gathered into her land for destruction, spiritual Israel is now being gathered into her land for life. This is not a future gathering. It is happening now! God is now gathering his sheep from among all the apostate churches, from the harlot institution that is masquerading as the church. He is bringing them together now! <BR/><BR/>This is why we are seeing the so called ‘home church’ movement. This is why we are seeing the multiplication of so many ‘out of church’ Christians. God is gathering his true sheep, the true Jerusalem, the true Israel of God. <BR/><BR/>Ok - That's my section of the elephant. Fire away!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1154470422452787612006-08-01T15:13:00.000-07:002006-08-01T15:13:00.000-07:00One other thing. These so called experts issuing t...One other thing. These so called experts issuing the clarification are not Bible scholars they are the officials of the National Museum of Ireland. <BR/><BR/>This is about what I would expect from these so called experts.<BR/><BR/>Everyone can go back to sleep... Nothing to see here......<BR/>Move along....move alongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1154407213955832202006-07-31T21:40:00.000-07:002006-07-31T21:40:00.000-07:00Dear Mark,I appreciate your conciliatory gesture. ...Dear Mark,<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your conciliatory gesture. There's nothing wrong with truth, and often our flesh is rather offended by it, but if there's something you feel God is telling you to tell us, then you've got to teach us, not use the proverbial bat. That was my point. Because we ARE listening. <BR/><BR/>Dear Red Giants,<BR/><BR/>We don't always have impure motives, I don't believe. God moves our hearts to pure places; that is the blessing of his love. But we must have a willing heart. <BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, I see your point, that God moves all toward His will, which is inalterably good. A relief for us all. "Praise the Lord! O, my soul!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1154394888668751312006-07-31T18:14:00.000-07:002006-07-31T18:14:00.000-07:00Mark, you've already acknowledged that your differ...Mark, you've already acknowledged that your difference of opinion is minor. It's a matter of degrees. 1948 saw the formation of the modern state of Israel. It was a physical regathering, one that occurs to this day — the "valley of the dry bones" in Ezekiel 37. But it was also prophetic stage-setting. Indeed, the spiritual regathering to which you refer has yet to occur. <BR/><BR/>The physical regathering 58 years ago is significant. That such a singularly evil event like the Holocaust would precede Israel's statehood is one major spiritual indicator. Many Jews were immigrating to Palestine well before World War II. The irrational rage of Israel's enemies today is evidence that the conflict is about more than just physical borders. <BR/><BR/>All men, political and otherwise, have impure motives. Nonetheless, God uses them to His purpose. You mentioned the Jewish exodus from Egypt. God brought His people to their promised land even though unbelief was the hallmark of the exodus. For now, modern Israel is in a state of unbelief, but one day God will breathe life into those dry bones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6677720.post-1154351781377134242006-07-31T06:16:00.000-07:002006-07-31T06:16:00.000-07:00Dear sir, It is not my intention to bash anyon...Dear sir,<BR/> It is not my intention to bash anyone's head with a baseball bat. I can only speak of my own experience with mankind. I also do not disagree with Red Giants, in fact, I read the comments they make with great interest. This blog is one of the few out there that make any sense. <BR/> As far as the status of Israel I will say this. God, throughout the history of Israel, has always been the centerpoint of the equation. When He led them out of Egypt, they followed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. During the time of the Mosaic law, the nation was to follow very precise plans and rituals laid out by God that all pointed to the coming Messiah. When Israel disobeyed God's plan, the five cycles of discipline ensued (leviticus 26). <BR/> There will come a time in the near future when Israel will once again be gathered together as a nation. There will be no doubt in anyone's mind that God is the initiator of the regathering. Just like when He led them out of Egypt there was no mistaking who led them. So also when He regathers them there will be no doubt that He did the regathering not men.<BR/><BR/>I do not mean to offend anyone but my goal is to persue the truth of God's word. If that makes me an outcast and a thorn I apologize but I have no intention of changing my goal. I will one day stand before Jesus Christ as my righteous judge (1 Corinthians 3.10-15). He will be seated at the Bema Seat and He is the only one I am concerned about answering to. <BR/> Too often, people bash me over the head with a baseball bat because I do not think like they do.. <BR/><BR/>I have no interest in arguing with you or anyone else, none. I have better things to do with my time, and like you, I believe in the unity and harmony of the Holy Spirit. We worship the same God and are saved by the same Savior and are sustained by the same Holy Spirit. <BR/><BR/>If I have offended you that was not my intention. <BR/><BR/>Clues? there are myriads of them. Pray for peace in Israel, we do so regularly. All nations against Israel, no doubt about it. Maybe the USA will turn as well when all the Christians disappear at the rapture, I dont know for certain.<BR/><BR/>What I do know is that God will be the initiator and there will be no doubt in anyones mind.<BR/><BR/>You an I are brothers in the conflict of the ages. We call it the angelic conflict. We are to fight together against a common enemy. That appeals to me greatly. I would rather lift you up and encourage you as a brother in Christ then to debate matters of prophecy. <BR/><BR/>In Christ,<BR/>mark.Mark Goadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12923946770939533750noreply@blogger.com