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Archive for 2010

In Defense Of The Pharisees

In Gospel, Life, People on February 27, 2010 at 9:10 pm

by Elizabeth K

I should start this post with a long-avoided confession:  Throughout my 40 years, much of it devoted to the institutional church system, I have found myself on all sides of the fence – or very thick, solid concrete wall rather.  I have been the cold-hearted Christian, as well as the voice that exposes the lies of religious legalism, and often at the same time… all the while, totally blinded by the facts.

There is a continual pattern of jumping around to another perspective when I realize my folly, yet always cutting myself off from other views because of that solid, thick wall. I assume that one side must know what they’re talking about, only to find more limited ignorance. But with all of this humbling and bouncing around going on, this is how I’ve learned.

Jesus promised that the Vine-grower will be sure to always prune us, so that we will grow, and I am a living testimony of this analogy. And who isn’t? It’s all good, even when we make dead mistakes that need to be cut off and burned in the fire, and then make those same dead mistakes again and again.

The problem with Phariseeism is not necessarily that we are wrong, but that we think we are right – totally right, that is. It’s the most intelligent illusion possible, I think, to nestle in safe with God’s own words, God’s own people and then be deceived by them. The realm of God is the place we would least expect to find a lie. In the same way perhaps, the Garden of Eden was the last place Adam and Eve expected to find death.

So, moving on, in the next order of events, I finally accepted as true the lie I had always been warned against, which is tolerance and acceptance. This was not just another side of the wall.  I finally got the bright idea (and courage) to stand on top of the wall so that I could have a full view of all human perspectives. What I found up there was not the chaos of relativism which supposedly leads to doubt and hopelessness, but something else quite absolute and wonderful. Read the rest of this entry »

Does God Kill Babies and Hate Women?

In Bible, Books, God, People, Theology on February 24, 2010 at 9:12 pm

by Elizabeth K

Did the God of the Bible, like the god Molech, demand the sacrifice of babies? And does God have a very low disregard for women? One would certainly think so after reading the Bible:

‘When you are living in the towns that the LORD your God gives you, you may hear that some worthless men of your nation have misled the people of their town to worship gods that you have never worshipped before. If you hear such a rumour, investigate it thoroughly; and if it is true that this evil thing did happen, then kill all the people in that town and all their cattle too. Destroy that town completely. Bring together all the possessions of the people who live there and pile them up in the town square. Then burn the town and everything in it as an offering to the LORD your God. It must be left in ruins for ever and never again be rebuilt’ (Deuteronomy 13:12-16).

‘[W]e captured and destroyed every town, and put everyone to death, men, women, and children. We took the cattle and plundered the towns’ (Deuteronomy 2:34-35).

‘We destroyed all the towns and put to death all the men, women, and children, just as we did in the towns that belonged to King Sihon of Heshbon. We took the cattle and plundered the towns’ (Deuteronomy 3:6-7).

‘When the LORD you God gives you victory in battle and you take prisoners, you may see among them a beautiful woman that you like and want to marry. Take her to your home … Later, if you no longer want her, you are to let her go free. Since you forced her to have intercourse with you, you cannot treat her as a slave and sell her’ (Deuteronomy 21:10-14).

‘So the assembly sent twelve thousand of their bravest men with the orders, “Go and kill everyone in Jabesh, including the women and children. Kill all the males, and also any woman who is not a virgin”‘ (Judges 21:10-11).

‘Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the man who pays you back for what you have done to us – who takes your babies and smashes them against a rock’ (Psalm 137:8-9). Read the rest of this entry »

Who Are The Dogs Outside Of God’s Kingdom?

In Bible, God, Gospel, Heaven, People, Theology on February 24, 2010 at 7:14 am

by Elizabeth K

In the last book of the Bible, in the last chapter, after it’s all said and done, this is what we read:

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

Elsewhere we read in the Bible that no unrighteous person such as drunks, people who get angry, the envious, those who idolize something or someone other than God, etc. (Gal 5:19-21) will inherit the kingdom of God.

I’ve noticed in my Facebook discussions that Christians tend to quote these special verses when the subject of unconditional grace arises….

In light of the fact that God is love, how are we to understand Bible scriptures which seem to portray God as being so holy, that no unrighteous person can get near Him, unless they are covered by the blood of Christ (after his father killed him, that is.) Although that last statement is full of absurdities, it seems to be partly why the above quoted verses cannot be logically reconciled with unconditional love.

Let us first understand that God is not what is so commonly understood to be as a heartless tyrant who demands to be worshiped, plays favorites, wipes born-sinners out of existence if they screw up and tortures souls with unimaginable and unthinkable suffering without escape for eternity. That is man’s idea of God, I believe, and you can find this human perspective all the way through your Bible if that is what you think about Him. Read the rest of this entry »

How Churches Tempt People To Sin… And Why That’s Okay

In Church, People on February 22, 2010 at 8:09 am

by Elizabeth K

When television shows and advertising attracts viewers/listeners toward damaging behavior, we are not surprised. But when Christians display at least the same rate of adultery, substance abuse, money fraud and divorce as the non-religious, we may have to stop and wonder about some things.

Many religious analysts agree that forbidden fruit only entices people more, especially when the appeal remains largely hidden in order to maintain a favorable reputation among like-minded friends. Also, when sin is preached (against) week after week, listeners’ minds focus more often on wrong-doings, possibly creating a care for those things that otherwise would not exist.

Add to this the problem within churches of commonly looking down upon some sins while others are conveniently ignored, or overlooking sins that are not so easily evidenced by objective facts – such as an air of superiority, segregation, hatred or hypocrisy. By concentrating on some and overlooking others, there seems to be an automatic acceptance of certain sins.

Like any social group, what is acceptable and what is not, is established for all kinds of reasons.  But I think the primary reason for what is generally acceptable in Christian churches is based on certain Bible commandments such as, “Do not be unequally yoked” and “Do you not know that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?”

What we fail to realize is that placing people under the law only produces the fruit of the law which, according to the Bible, is sin and death. God never meant for people to live under the law but to live according to a life of love (which fulfills all of the law and commandments.) Read the rest of this entry »

The Scribes and Pharisees Thought God was Full of Wrath… And They Were Wrong

In Bible, God, Theology on February 19, 2010 at 9:14 pm

by Elizabeth K

Growing up in church, I always had the general view of God as a distant or even unknown being whose wrath must be appeased.  Although Christ supposedly took care of this appeasement on the cross, I still felt this wrath hovering over me, especially if I did not live up to Christian standards.

After a series of unfortunate events, stories for other posts, I realized that my former understanding was nothing new under the sun.  Religions and gods of all eras and cultures resembled the same exalted being who must be worshiped in certain ways so that he will send rain for the crops, or help me not to lose my job, or cure my grandmother of cancer.

Now-a-days, I have a different view of God, or rather I view a different God entirely.  The God I believe I know is much more merciful, kind and loving. In fact, He loves me, as well as the whole world, with a love that has no conditions. He shows no partiality with his love and his love will never give up, on anyone.

Interestingly, the above statement seems to disturb many Christians.  What about the God of the Old Testament who smote His enemies and the enemies of His people? What about the God who killed His own people on the spot if they misrepresented Him? What about the fact that God hated Esau? What about hell? Ah, good questions. Questions I have been pondering for a while myself in confusion.

From my understanding, having “ears to hear” these Bible stories will reveal a hidden truth, one that cannot be read from the surface of words, many of which may be mistranslated and misinterpreted anyway. And this hidden truth seems near impossible to explain without sounding like a heretic, but that has never stopped me before… so here is my explanatory attempt: Read the rest of this entry »

Is One Church Better Than Another? Or Do We Just Like To Think So?

In Church, Life, People on January 2, 2010 at 7:38 pm

by Elizabeth K

The Protestants believe they reformed the church gathering from its traditional roots enough to provide a more closely related biblical church.  But this protesting continues to branch off into further reforms throughout history.  Currently, there is a growing movement of house churches in Europe and America, that seeks to abandon many church traditions entirely, and some people are even going so far as to claim they are salvaging their faith by not attending church at all.

Is there one right way for the body of Christ to gather together?

If so, which one and why?

Should church divisions or groups of Believers be exclusive in their gatherings?

If not, how might they be more inclusive?

Could there be one  unique right way to gather together for every individual?

How important is the gathering together?

What does the Bible say or exemplify?

Is there a purpose for church divisions or it is a sign of something that has gone amiss?

What might be some other questions concerning the decision of which church to attend, if at all?