EZEKIEL
and YHWH’s
Judgment
for the
Good News
PEOPLE
VOLUME VII
True Conversion
EZEKIEL and
YHWH’s
Judgment for
the
Good News People
Volume VII--True Conversion
by
an unworthy
servant
And you shall
know the truth,
and the truth
will make you free.
(John 8:32)
Common Law Copyright, 2003 &2005
CE, an unworthy servant, Calder, Idaho.
The author claims his Right of exclusive ownership and control of this
publication, the fruit of his labor, as a matter of Intellectual Property
protected by the Laws of YHWH and as guaranteed by the US Constitution for the
United States. Permission is granted to
quote provided appropriate credit is cited together with the Publisher’s web
site name and postal mailing address––WWW.age-end.com PO Box 473, Calder, ID
83808, USA.
Contents
Volume
VII--True Conversion
CHAPTER
PAGE
- Cover
Page 1
- Title
Page 2
- Contents 3
- Publisher’s
Preface 5
Part T--More Historical People
91 Eliyahu 6
92 Nevukhadnetzar 14
93 Daniel 19
94 Shaul 22
Part U--Circumcision of the Heart
95 Only
YHWH Can Defeat Pride 30
96 What
Must Be Done on Pride 44
97 The
Difficulty in Dealing With Pride 57
98 Pride
and Truth 67
99 The
Dilemma of Pride 78
100 Apathy
in Action 91
Part V--The True Brotherhood Versus
Christianity
101 Real
Brotherly Love I 101
102 Real
Brotherly Love II 113
103 Real
Brotherly Love III 127
104 Real
Brotherly Love IV 136
Part W--Redemption/Salvation
105 Redemption 143
106 More
on Redemption 156
SHEERIT
YISRAEL
PO Box 473
Calder, Idaho
83808, USA
Publisher’s
Preface
Greetings! The following presentation is volume seven of
a 36-volume production of some 6,000 pages on “Ezekiel and YHWH’s Judgment for
the Good News People,” all of which is on the Internet at the www.age-end.com web
site.
This overall effort provides an
interpretation of the Good News message in the New Testament, its linkage to
the book of Ezekiel, and an application of both to the age-end prophecies
relating to certain nations and peoples now out in the world. In order for this single volume to be understood
and comprehended, it is imperative that the study be read from its
beginning--from page one of volume one.
Anyone trying to read this volume or
the study’s 6,000 pages at any mid-point will end up in a state of confusion
without having read and digested the preceding material. It is crucially important that this work be
read in sequence from its beginning--otherwise, the reader will almost
certainly end up missing the essence of the message!
The
effort was originally set on a Macintosh computer with Microsoft Word
6.0.1. It was set in Helvetica, 12-point
type (18 pt on chapter headings); single line spacings; and margins: left 1.2”, right 0.8”, top 0.7”, bottom 0.8”
and footer 0.6” (for page numbers).
For
further information on obtaining this study in 18 computer floppy disks
(IBM-formatted, high density, 2HD, 1.44 MB, 3 1/2 inches); in a single CD-Rom;
or in hard copies (when the Internet or a compatible computer is not
available); please write the publisher at the above address and send a stamped,
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With a CD-Rom or computer floppy disks,
the study is readable on Macintosh (systems 5.0 and later) or IBM/compatible
(with Microsoft Word-Windows) personal computers. May The Great CREATOR and SOVEREIGN OF THE
UNIVERSE bless you as you study His word to learn His will and to obey
Him. Shalom (peace) to you and
yours!
an unworthy
servant, Hanukkah 2003 CE
Chapter
91--Eliyahu
Eliyahu (Elijah)
The
subject man of this next chapter comes charging at the student of truth like a
freight train from almost out of no where--with no ancestry, no genealogy, no
history and seemingly no beginning.
The
Scriptures open up his story by simply calling him Eliyahu the Tishbite of
Gilead with a proclamation from him, as the prophet of The MOST HIGH, to King
Achav of Yisrael that there would be no rain, dew or moisture of any kind to
fall on Yisrael, except on YHWH's Word (I Kg 17:1).
In
this opening salvo on the life of the famous prophet, one is told only the bare
essentials--that he was evidently an inhabitant or resident of the town or area
of Tisbeh (thus, a Tishbite--per Young's “Analytical Concordance”) of the
territory of Gilead (probably on the East side of the Jordan River) and that he
was a contemporary of King Achav of Yisrael.
This
linkage to Achav was, of course, extremely revealing because students do know
quite a bit about this "infamous" king of Yisrael, who was one of the
most evil and wicked of all of the rulers over the Northern kingdom (I Kg
16:33).
Achav
was the son of Omri and ruled over Yisrael from Samaria for a total of 22 years
in the 9th century (BCE). And while he
made his mark in many acts of stupidity and wickedness, perhaps his marriage to
the Edomite Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, has to be one
of the major mistakes of his life.
The
Baal worshipping Jezebel was so bad that symbolically she became the
personification of evil thereafter in Yisrael, as well as in other lands and
among other peoples. Many modern people
believe that Achav and Jezebel symbolize one of America’s modern leading
families--Slick Clinton and his wife Hillary.
This
notorious couple, Achav and Jezebel, not only sought to forsake the covenant
and abolish the remaining presence of the true faith of YHWH from the land (by
slaying all of the prophets of The SOVEREIGN--except for Eliyahu and some
others, who were hid in a cave by Ovadyah--I Kg 18:4), but they also did their
level best to extend and promote Baal and Asherah (Easter) worship throughout
the kingdom (I Kg 19:10).
They Were Evil
Their
evil was so great that, in time, it provoked a curse upon their household and
descendants by The EVERLIVING (I Kg 21:21-29).
One of the features that stands out in the lives of both Achav and
Jezebel is their incredible pride--specifically arrogance and insolence.
We
find evidence of this reality hurled at us in the way that they opposed and
hated Eliyahu, even after they were warned of The ELOHIM's anger and wrath (I
Kg 17:1); their overbearing, sullen attitude of resentment (I Kg 20:43; 21:4);
and in the way that they treated Naboth the Jezreelite (I Kg 21:1).
In
this regard, it seems that Naboth owned a vineyard which Achav wanted for his
own use (I Kg 21:2). But Naboth said
"no way" since the property was an inheritance from his fathers (I Kg
21:3). With the refusal, Achav got mad
and went home to sulk and boil in hate and resentment (I Kg 21:4). Jezebel, on learning of her husband's
problem, decided to intervene on his behalf (I Kg 21:5-7).
So
she wrote letters under Achav's royal seal to the elders of Naboth's city
charging them to bring forth false witnesses to accuse Naboth of disloyalty to
YHWH and to King Achav (I Kg 21:8-10).
Naturally, the leaders did as they were told to do and falsely swore
against Naboth (I Kg 21:11-13).
Murder of Naboth
Found
guilty from the testimony of the false witnesses, poor Naboth was carried out
of his city and stoned to death (I Kg 21:13).
Thereupon, under Jezebel's insistence, Achav took possession of Naboth's
vineyard (I Kg 21:15-16).
This
treachery was so bad that it brought a curse upon Achav's future posterity (I
Kg 21:21). In terms of Jezebel, YHWH
judged that her dead body would ultimately be eaten by dogs by the wall of
Jezreel (I Kg 21:23).
As
terrible as the proud, arrogant and insolent Achav was, credit is due him on
the occasion when Eliyahu pronounced this judgment on Jezebel and him. The Book says that "he humbled
himself" before The ELOHIM. Because
of this repentance, the sentence on his children was delayed until after his
death (I Kg 21:29).
While
there is every reason to suspect that Achav and Jezebel represented the epitome
of pride and vanity in their lifetimes, Eliyahu, in contrast, seems to have
been a production of extreme meekness and humility.
From
the available brief narrative of the life of the great prophet, there is no
evidence or indication at all of any pride or vanity surfacing in Eliyahu's
mental makeup and motivation, although there is every reason to believe that he
must have once had this problem (just like everybody else does have in the
flesh).
If
so, then it is manifest that at some point and time, YHWH chose, by election,
to change him into a humble and meek servant so he could be of use. And there is no joking or taking light the
dedication, commitment, and obedience of this man Eliyahu.
A Great Man
As
the Word tells us, Eliyahu truly was a person of unusual moral uprightness,
courage and integrity. Still more
importantly, he was a classic example of humility and meekness in action, as
will shortly be shown. Perhaps it is
this fact which prompted The EVERLASTING to choose him.
Eliyahu's
spectacular deliverance of YHWH's judgment on Yisrael in terms of the great
drought on Yisrael (I Kg 17:1) would seemingly rank as the one crowning point
in a prophet's life; however, not so, in respect to the subject of this
study.
In
a way, it was just the beginning place in an illustrious career which seems to
have spanned a long period of time back then and which apparently is still not
over here in the early 21st century.
The Widow
After
the drought pronouncement, the Book tells us that Eliyahu was sent by YHWH to
live by the brook Cherith where he drank from the stream and was fed by the
ravens (I Kg 17:5-6). But with the
drought so bad in Yisrael, the waters in the brook dried up in time (I Kg
17:7). So YHWH told him to go and reside
at a widow's house in Zarephath (I Kg 17:9).
On
reaching his new residence, Eliyahu discovered that the poor woman had no food,
but a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a bottle. She was preparing to bake this into a last
meal of bread for her and her son before they both died of anticipated
starvation (I Kg 17:10-12).
However,
once more, Eliyahu arose to the occasion with a prophecy from The HIGHEST to
the effect that the jar of meal and the bottle of oil would not waste away or
cease until rain came on the land (I Kg 17:14).
So Eliyahu dwelt with the widow and they ate of the food which continued
to be available (I Kg 17:15).
But
then some time later, tragedy struck the household when the widow's son became
ill and died (I Kg 17:17). The poor
woman immediately wanted to attribute the death to some hidden sin in her life;
and naturally, she was distraught with the loss of her apparent only son (I Kg
17:18).
Certainly,
displaying some very important mercy and compassion, the man Eliyahu took the
son from the widow's bosom and carried the body to the chamber where he
stayed. He laid the dead boy upon his
own bed and fell upon him in prayer to YHWH three times (I Kg 17:19-22).
The
Word tells us that The MOST HIGH heard Eliyahu's petition and chose to
intervene at that moment in time to restore the dead boy back to life (I Kg
17:22-23). The poor woman's beautiful
response was that by this act, she knew that Eliyahu was a man of The ELOHIM (I
Kg 17:24).
As
the famine intensified, the days continued to pass until the drought reached
the three and one-half years mark (Jas 5:17).
It then became time for YHWH to send water (I Kg 18:1). So Eliyahu contacted Achav through Ovadyah in
order to arrange a face to face meeting with Achav (I Kg 18:14-15).
With
the arrangements completed and agreed upon, Eliyahu stood before Achav that day
with a message and challenge for Achav that he (Achav), the 450 prophets of
Baal (the sun god), the 400 representatives of Asherah (Easter) and the people
of Yisrael assemble on Mount Carmel, overlooking the spectacular Mediterranean
Sea (I Kg 18:18-19).
The Contest
Thereafter,
Achav and the designated others congregated on Carmel to face the man
Eliyahu. The people assembled to see
what would happen and if their sun god would truly reveal himself.
To
the 850 preachers of Easter and sun worship present (resembling those of
Christendom), Eliyahu proposed a contest to prove to the observing people
exactly which religion was true and right, since the Israelites had been
floundering around for some time in confusion over the religion of the
Scriptures versus that of Easter and the sun god Baal (I Kg 18:19-21).
As
Eliyahu set the terms of the confrontation, the 450 preachers of Baal sun
worship could put a sacrifice upon an altar on Carmel and Eliyahu would also
put a sacrifice on another altar there.
The two adversaries could both pray to and beseech their respective
deities for a revelation by fire--the 450 to Baal and Eliyahu to YHWH.
By
this contest, the observing Israelite people could then see and decide which
deity was the right one in Yisrael (I Kg 18:21-25). So the 450 prophets of the sun god prepared
their sacrifice and prayed to Baal from morning until well past the noon
hour.
They
leaped upon and all around the altar with the sacrifice. In their religious excitement and frenzy,
they cried aloud and cut themselves with knives and lances until the blood came
forth (doesn't this sound a lot like a modern Pentecostal meeting in progress?).
However,
with all of the religious fervor, screaming and carrying on, Baal did not
answer. Nothing happened to their
chagrin and disappointment (I Kg 18:26-29).
Then in the afternoon, at about the approaching time for the offering of
the evening sacrifice, Eliyahu stepped forward and repaired the (former) altar
of YHWH on Carmel which had been broken down by Jezebel (I Kg 18:30).
He
took twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes of Yisrael, and rebuilt the
altar; constructed a trench around the altar big enough to contain two measures
of seed; placed the sacrifice upon the altar and a quantity of wood about it;
and ordered four jars of water to be poured over the offering and wood three
times to thoroughly soak everything and fill the trench with water (I Kg
18:31-35).
The Glory of a Man?
At
the time of the evening sacrifice, the great prophet prayed, saying "Oh
YHWH, The ELOHIM of Avraham, Yitzhak and Yisrael, let it be known this day that
You are The ELOHIM in Yisrael and that I am Your servant and that I have done
all these things at Your word. Hear me,
Oh YHWH, hear me so that this people may know that You, YHWH, are The ELOHIM
and have turned their hearts back to You" (I Kg 18:36-37).
The
Book then marvelously tells us that the fire of YHWH came down and consumed the
sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust and the water in the trench (I Kg
18:38). When the witnessing people saw
what all had happened, they fell on their faces and cried out that "YHWH
is The ELOHIM" (I Kg 18:39).
Thereupon,
Eliyahu ordered the false preachers of Baal seized and brought down to the
brook Kishon where he righteously and properly slew all of them (I Kg
18:40).
Turning
his attention next to Achav, the great prophet told him that there was a sound
of an abundance of rain (I Kg 18:41), although there obviously wasn't even a
cloud then in the sky.
With
a profusion of faith, Eliyahu went up to the top of the mountain with his
servant and bowed down and prayed to The HIGHEST (I Kg 18:42). Finishing his prayer, he told his servant to
look for rain out over the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The servant saw nothing. So Eliyahu told him to do the same thing six
more times--seven in all (I Kg 18:43).
Rain
On
the seventh time, the servant said that he saw a small cloud, the size of a
man's hand arising out of the sea.
Eliyahu turned to Achav and told him to hitch up his chariot and go down
the mountain, lest the rain stop him (I Kg 18:44). A short time later, the heavens were black
with wind swept clouds and there was a great rain (I Kg 18:45).
The
drama on Mount Carmel could have easily ended there. After all, the great prophet of The SUPREME
GOVERNOR of the Universe had done his job masterfully well. All alone, he had faced and defeated the 850
preachers of Easter and sun worship.
With this victory, he next had righteously executed these false
preachers on the spot.
And
without a cloud in sight, he proclaimed an end to the drought. If there are and have been occasions for a
fleshly human being to be caught up into a situation and to be filled with
pride, vanity and glory, then surely this could have been the reaction in the
heart of the man Eliyahu at that precise moment in time.
The Humble Eliyahu
However,
the Word does tell us of a different reaction and response from this unusual
man who must surely rank as one of the greatest of all limited men that have
ever lived. The Book goes on to say that
Achav, in his chariot, took off from Carmel toward Jezreel, almost twenty miles
away (I Kg 18:45-46). And what did
Eliyahu do? Why he ran in front of the
chariot as a "footman" all of the way to Jezreel (I Kg 18:46).
You
see, in those days, human kings were accustomed to having a foot escort running
in front of their chariots as a symbol or mark of honor and distinction (II Sam
15:1). For some reason, maybe in the
haste of the rain or in the confusion in Achav's ranks after the defeat of the
Easter and sun worshipping preachers, no escort appeared to be available to
give Achav his customary human honor, glory and acclamation.
So
the mighty Eliyahu, personal representative, spokesperson and prophet of The
EVERLIVING RULER of the Universe, steps forward to humble and abase himself by
becoming the runner to honor Achav.
What
a paradox it is that a great man like Eliyahu chose to become a humble, meek
servant to a proud, vain, arrogant, insolent heathen like Achav for a trying
and difficult twenty mile run. Which one
of us today would be willing to do what Eliyahu did if we were in his
shoes? Not many, for sure. In fact, not many of us today could even run
20 miles!
His Later Work
Thereafter,
Jezebel was angry and upset when Achav told her what all had happened on Carmel
(I Kg 19:1). So she put out a death
sentence on Eliyahu (I Kg 19:2). And in
fear, the prophet went down South to a place near Beersheba, some 80 miles away
(I Kg 19:3-4).
As
he probably had not eaten in some time, he fell asleep under a juniper tree at
a moment in time when his life seemed filled with despair and
hopelessness. But a messenger from The
ELOHIM touched him and brought him some food and water (I Kg 19:5-7).
On
the basis of that miraculous meal from YHWH, Eliyahu arose and went in strength
for the next forty days and forty nights without any further nourishment of
food or water. He went to Mount Horeb,
still further South, where he lodged in a cave and dialogued with The MOST HIGH
(I Kg 19:8-14).
Thereupon,
The MOST HIGH commissioned him to go and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria,
Jehu (Yehu in the Hebrew) to be king over Yisrael and Elisha to be prophet in
his place (I Kg 19:15-16).
Later,
as Eliyahu was completing his assigned duties, Achazyah, son of Achav, became
king over Yisrael with the death of his father (I Kg 22:51). Like his parents, Achazyah was an evil
worshipper of Baal and sought to kill Eliyahu by sending companies of fifty men
each to seize him on three different occasions.
Each
time, the prophet called fire down from heaven to consume these oppressors (II
Kg 1:9-14). In this situation, Eliyahu
also had a message for Achazyah from YHWH that he, the evil human king, would
soon die without issue, thus ending Achav's dynasty from ruling over Yisrael
(II Kg 1:17).
With
all of his work completed, Eliyahu and his successor to be, Elisha, went to a
particular spot near the Jordan River while some fifty sons of the prophets
watched at some distance. As the two
prophets walked and talked, a chariot and horses of fire came to part them and
Eliyahu was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (II Kg 2:1-11).
Consequently,
Eliyahu was apparently not seen ever again in the flesh on planet earth. In later years, Jehoram (Yehoram in the
Hebrew), king of Yehudah, did receive a letter from Eliyahu which pronounced
judgment on Yehoram for his sins (II Chron 21:12-15), but no further messages
were heard from him, per se.
This
communication to Yehoram has prompted some savants to suppose that the great
prophet continued to live here on earth and to die at some point in time. However, the Book doesn't say that, nor does
it suggest or imply such an eventuality.
He Will Return
Instead,
several centuries later, the prophet Malachi (Malakhi in the Hebrew) had a
powerful proclamation that The ELOHIM will send Eliyahu to do a work before the
climatic age end in the Day of YHWH (Mal 4:5).
In this regard, Yohanan the Baptist certainly came in the spirit of
Eliyahu (Matt 11:14; Lu 1:17).
However,
Yohanan was truly not Eliyahu (Jo 1:21).
Consequently, the prophesied return of Eliyahu by Malakhi is still
future, as this study is being written in early 2003 (Matt 17:11; Mk
9:12).
He Was Just Like Us
For
a conclusion to this report, if it is possible to conclude it in view of the
prophet's evident future job, one might refer to Yakov’s assessment of this
exceptional man Eliyahu. Yakov said it
well by noting that he was a man of like passions, just like all of the rest of
us (Jas 5:17). In other words, he was
not extraordinary at all in terms of his makeup and composition in basic human
nature.
Therefore,
it seems quite persuasive that Eliyahu probably once had a pride, vanity and
carnality problem which YHWH chose to deal with at some point in time to reduce
and change him into a humble and meek servant capable of useful service to
others. In summary, this man Eliyahu,
who was like the rest of us in terms of carnal, human nature (Jas 5:17), became
one of the most famous prophets of all time.
Yet,
despite his commission and authority from The CREATOR and GOVERNOR of The
Universe, he could and did muster an extraordinary stance of abasement and the
lowering of himself in order to be a classic example of humility and
meekness. In short, what a fantastic
person this man Eliyahu turned out to be!
Chapter
92--Nevukhadnetzar
Another Example from the Word
Examples
of people from the Scriptures who went through the process of reconciliation
include the previously described Iyov, Moshe and Eliyahu. But there are many other individuals
highlighted and commented upon in the Word.
This list can and has included a number of others who made the move from
sin to righteousness.
And
to this list of examples of at least the work of THE MOST HIGH, one must add
the evil despot Nevukhadnetzar (Nebuchadnezzar). Thus, the question must be asked--is it
possible that the famous tyrant Nebuchadnezzar actually went through the
transition from sin to righteousness?
Babylon
Babylon is a very old city in terms of
the works of man and evil. In fact, it
was originally built by Nimrod (a son of Cush) very early in time, not long
after the fantastic flood of Noah's day (Gen 10:10). In the Hebrew, it was first called Babel,
meaning confusion. However, over time, man
has come to know it as Babylon in the Greek and other languages.
When a person surveys the immediate
post flood environment, he/she must be impressed with the beginning of Babel as
a classic place of rebellion, in terms of a city. Because here, in Babel, as one may recall,
wicked and evil Adamites chose to build a tower to ascend into the heavens,
contrary to the will of The EVERLASTING (Gen 11:3-4).
Since The ELOHIM was displeased with
their efforts, He intervened to confound their language and to spread them
abroad (Gen 11:5-9). After stopping this
foolishness of evil men, not much more is heard or read of Babel/Babylon until
the prophet Yeshayahu came along to denounce the place (at a time, even while
the neighboring Assyrians were at the pinnacle of their power in the 8th
century BCE).
Naturally, Yeshayahu had some strong
words and indictments against the future Babylon and her coming great evil and
wickedness which will finally result in her destruction and termination (Isa
13:1-22). But the prophet furthermore
took an unusual stand in his denunciation by characterizing this despicable
city as “the glory of kingdoms and the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride” (Isa
13:19).
Certainly, Yeshayahu was talking about
a largely coming Babylon in his day and one of glory and beauty in terms of
what man calls good, in contrast to a definition from The ELOHIM. But given time, Yeshayahu's perceptive vision
began to crystallize into reality when a Chaldean king named Nabopolassar came
to power in that territory to launch an aggressive military conquest of his
neighboring states.
By the close of the 7th century BCE,
Nabopolassar had achieved much success--even to the point of defeating the
Assyrians and taking away their former rule of the then civilized world of the
Adam kind. Consequently, with the death
of Nabopolassar, Babylon was a mighty empire and one not to be taken
lightly.
Nevukhadnetzar (Nebuchadnezzar)
Clearly, Babylon was the beauty of the
Chaldeans' pride, as so amply foretold by Yeshayahu many years earlier. Thus, this was the prevailing situation when
Nabopolassar's son Nebuchadnezzar took over the throne from his deceased father
and continued the forward motion of the Babylonian conquest of the world.
Obviously, Nebuchadnezzar was no slouch
in the art of war and in the business of international politics. Very soon, in his reign, he had successfully
extended Chaldean rule from probably India in the East all of the way West to
the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa.
The kingdom of Yehudah came under
Babylonian control by the mid 6th century BCE when the Jews there were enslaved
and deported East to the capitol setting on the Euphrates. This was the existing environment when both
the prophets Yechezkel and Daniel surfaced to record from Babylon some of the
greatest prophecies of all time (respecting the future of fantastic world
powers and nations).
The Dream
Regarding the ages to come and the then
man-made "glory" of Babylon, Daniel wrote, for posterity, a record of
an amazing dream which the ruling Nebuchadnezzar had in his second year (Dan
2:1).
Specifically, he dreamed about a great
image--mighty, bright, frightening and terrible. Its head was of fine gold, its breast and arms
of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron and its feet of a
mixture of iron and potter's clay.
Well, it turned out that none of the
Chaldean soothsayers and mystics could make known what the dream was, much less
attempt an interpretation of it, as Nebuchadnezzar demanded. So Daniel was called upon and he correctly
related the details of the dream, as well as offering the interpretation.
Respecting the understanding, Daniel
wisely identified the different parts of the image as sequential world ruling
empires, starting with the then present and existing Babylon and continuing on
with the others until a stone kingdom of The ELOHIM would come on the scene to
smite and smash the image (Dan 2:31-45).
Without going into the far reaching
details of this prophecy and belaboring its many points, it will still be
useful in the present discussion to make mention of a few of Daniel's
observations of it.
Importantly, he perceptively said that
Nebuchadnezzar was a "king of (earthly) kings;" one whom The HIGHEST
had given power, might and glory to; one granted authority by The MOST HIGH to
rule over the children of Adam wherever they dwelt and the beasts of the field;
and finally, that Nebuchadnezzar, himself, was the "head of gold"
(Dan 2:37-38).
Clearly, this head of gold comment by
The ELOHIM's prophet must be taken as an unusual and exceptional description of
a mere man, even one with the stature of Nebuchadnezzar with all of his power,
authority and rulership.
There can be no doubt about it,
Nebuchadnezzar was playing in the big leagues in the context of what all can be
said about a limited, mere man. He was a
big shot, par excellence, as Daniel so aptly described.
YHWH’s Servant
But the prophet's words carry an even
more poignant message in the declaration that The HIGHEST had given to
Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom, power, might, glory and rule over the children of
Adam and the behemah (called beasts of the field in the KJV).
Elsewhere, the prophet Yirmeyahu had
even gone so far as to call Nebuchadnezzar "a servant of YHWH" (Jer
25:9) and one whom The ELOHIM had given the territorial and population
conquests to which Nebuchadnezzar then enjoyed (Jer 27:6-7).
While the Chaldean king certainly
believed that it was through his personal abilities, qualities and attributes
that he had conquered the then civilized world, the truth from The Book was
plain that his dominion had been given to him by The CREATOR.
The fact that The EVERLIVING elected to
call Nebuchadnezzar "My servant," as discussed previously, may seem
like a fluke or paradox of sorts in view of the Babylonian's historic role of
being a wicked dictator and despot of first rank who had killed, maimed, tortured
and enslaved vast multitudes of peoples over the years.
For proof, one may read of this
tyrant's great cruelty, horror and terror upon supposedly innocent women,
children and the aged by reading the books of Lamentations, Jeremiah, II Kings
and others. He categorically was no
"saint" or "good" person by any stretch of the
imagination. Yet, The MOST HIGH called
him His servant.
He Was A Big Shot
Moreover, in his condition of being
sole ruler and king over all of the then civilized world stretching for
thousands of miles, it's not hard to discover that he had furthermore become a
very proud, vain, arrogant ruler, in addition to being extremely vicious, mean,
cruel and brutal to thousands of seemingly innocent and helpless women,
children and old people.
Regarding this revelation of how
incredibly evil and wicked he was in terms of pride and vanity, strangely
enough, the statement was to eventually come from Nebuchadnezzar's own lips in
a moment of truth, as will be shortly shown.
For this view, one must once more go to
the prophet Daniel. As Daniel wrote it,
Nebuchadnezzar was at rest and prospering in his palace one day after all his
successes in conquering and ruling over the then recognized world of Adam.
At that time, he, once more, had
another dream which none of the Chaldean magicians, enchanters or astrologers
could make known or interpret (Dan 4:8).
Thus, Daniel was summoned as before.
In respect to the dream, Nebuchadnezzar had seen a very high tree in the
midst of the earth which provided shade, food and blessings for all under
it.
Then a watcher came down from heaven
who hewed the tree down, cut off its branches, shook off its leaves, and
scattered its fruit to leave a stump of its roots in the earth with a band of
iron and bronze about it to be covered with dew and for it to share the lot of
the living creatures in the grass of the earth for seven times (Dan
4:10-16).
Who Was the Tree?
For the interpretation, Daniel said
that Nebuchadnezzar was the tree. He was
to be driven from among men (Aramaic enash), to dwell with the beasts of the
field, to eat grass as oxen, and to be wet with the dew of heaven until seven
times (years) should pass over him; so that he might know that The MOST HIGH
rules over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomsoever He wills (Dan
4:20-26).
Daniel then called for Nebuchadnezzar
to stop sinning and to show repentance by righteousness, mercy and loving
kindness to the poor and oppressed, as a healing for his error (Dan 4:27).
Obviously, not choosing to repent,
Nebuchadnezzar went his way for the next twelve months (Dan 4:29). One day, while walking in the palace, he said
"Is not this great Babylon, that I have built as the royal residence and
seat of government by the might of my power and for the honor and glory of my
majesty?"
As Nebuchadnezzar was yet speaking, a
word came from heaven to declare that his kingdom was then departing from him
(Dan 4:28-31). Or as Daniel later put
it, "his heart was lifted up, and his mind and spirit were hardened so
that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was
taken from him" (Dan 5:20).
He Became an Animal
Consequently, the prophecy came upon
him and he became as an insane and crazy man (enash) to live like an animal
with the beasts of the field for seven years.
Literally, he ate grass like an oxen and was wet with the dew of
heaven--all the while that his hair grew as eagles' feathers and his nails
developed like birds' claws (Dan 4:33).
At the end of the prophesied seven
years, sanity and understanding returned to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4:32-36). Realizing what all had happened to himself,
the Chaldean king praised The MOST HIGH Who "does according to His will in
the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; none can stay His
hand or say to Him, What are You doing?" (Dan 4:35).
And if it is possible for a limited,
little human to ever grasp one of the greatest of all pieces of intellectual
knowledge and understanding, Nebuchadnezzar did so as he declared "Now I,
Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of Whose
works are faithful and right, and His ways are just; and those who walk in
pride He is able to abase and humble" (Dan 4:37-- “Amplified Translation”).
This pronouncement by the once proud,
arrogant Nebuchadnezzar has to be one of the great texts (among so many) in the
Word of YHWH. For here, we have a human
king who had been elevated and lifted up high in his own eyes; and who, one day
after a time of correction by The HIGHEST, woke up to see and understand that
he had been wrong in his pride and vanity.
In effect, the Word teaches a form of
repentance and transition to humility emanating from the despot
Nebuchadnezzar. His conclusion that The
ELOHIM is able to abase and humble is totally marvelous anyway one may try to
cut it.
Chapter
93--Daniel
Daniel
Daniel
is a fifth classic illustration of how The MOST HIGH can bring about
conditions, trials, tests and corrective punishment in an (elect) person’s life
to change Him for the good. Daniel is
important to consider because he, like Iyov, was declared to be righteous by
Yechezkel (Ezek 14:14) and alluded to by Shaul, in his great writing on faith
and a “better” resurrection (Heb 11:33-34).
The
Scriptures seem to suggest and most students of the Book agree that Daniel was
born and spent his early years in Jerusalem; perhaps in a position of some
station and royalty, since he was of probable royal blood and a likely
descendant of King Hizkiyahu (II Kg 20:17-18; Isa 29:6-7; Dan 1:3-6).
Being
perfectly human, one can be sure that he was a person of pride and vanity and
particularly so in his Judean years. At
around the age of fifteen or so (per Herbert Lockyer in “All The Men of the
Bible”), he was carried off to slavery in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
One
of the first things which apparently befell the captive teenager was that his
future life was shattered when he was likely castrated and made a eunuch (Dan
1:3-18). After all, kings like Nebuchadnezzar would customarily require
captives in his palace and around his harem to be castrated.
As
Shlomo had so wisely put it centuries earlier, women (for sex) are the delights
of men (Eccl 2:8). In Daniel’s case, he
was thrust into captivity and slavery and denied the hope of ever enjoying a
woman. From his beginning in Babylon,
his life seemed to be crushed and destroyed with terrifying trials and
tests.
His Friends
But
there was more to come--some of which is stated and much of which can only be
speculated and guessed about. One of
those cases where one might be suspicious of a great trial for Daniel would
have surfaced possibly when his friends Shadrach Hebrew Shadrakh), Meshach
(Hebrew Meishakh) and Abednego (Hebrew Avednego) were cast into the fiery
furnace over their state of righteousness (Dan 3:23).
Possibly,
Daniel likewise maintained a similar state of righteousness as his friends in
refusing to engage in the false worship of the image established by
Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 3:1-12). If so, he
would have been under a great trial of faith as they were.
Or
since Daniel’s reaction is not reported, and perhaps if he wasn’t thrown in the
fire, is it possible that he compromised in this instance, and went on to
worship the image? In either case,
Daniel would have had a great trial and test of faith.
The
Book also tells of another horrible (recorded) event in Daniel’s life. It happened when the Medes and Persians
conquered Babylon. On this occasion,
poor Daniel was thrown into a den of lions because of his righteousness (Dan
6:16). Talk about a trial that would
separate the men from the boys on faith; this one certainly qualified.
The
point of these remarks is that some significant portion of Daniel’s life was
spent in trials, tests, corrective punishments and chastisements which
collectively acted to bring him down, to crush him and make him a suitable
vessel of righteousness and seemingly eligible for a future “better”
resurrection.
More on the Book of Daniel
Other
commentary presented herein has or will discuss the book of Daniel from the
standpoint of composition and inspiration.
As pointed out in these comments, it is indeed fascinating that so many
so-called “Bible” scholars, savants and critics have tried to question and/or
attack Daniel for various and sundry reasons.
As
mentioned in some of these discussions, the book of Daniel presents an amazing
profile of the history of the remnant of the House of Yehudah in conflict with
the Greeks in the inter-testament period (covering the years after the work of
the Prophet Malakhi and up until the New Testament opens with the story of The
MESSIAH YESHUA in the first century CE).
Modern
scholars, both Jewish and Christian, can ascertain what happened in much of
this largely blank period of history from the books of the Maccabees in the
Apocrypha. From these marvelous writings
about the tragedy of this period, arising from the work of the evil despot
Antiochus Epiphanies, one can immediately relate this interplay between the
Jews in Palestine and the conquering Greeks.
It
is absolutely astounding, but the book of Daniel (chapter 11) outlines this
confrontation, conflict and tragedy in great detail. Daniel 11 is so incredibly accurate that the
so-called scholars, savants and authorities (both Christian and Jew) could
never believe that Daniel wrote this book with his name on it around 500 BCE
and in the early fifth century BCE.
The
amazing accuracy and specifics (and even in terms of great detail) have
completely dumbfounded the critics and religious big shots over the years. Many have been quite anxious to say that
Daniel never wrote this prophetic writing which has survived to modern times
under his name.
The
consensus for years by the scholars and critics is that the book of Daniel was
composed after the Jewish-Greek conflict involving Antiochus Epiphanies and the
Maccabees (which was around the years 177-165 BCE). In other words, the Prophet Daniel could not
have possibly known about those events three hundred years earlier. Thus, the writer must have composed his work
after the events took place.
Well,
Daniel has stood the test of time and history.
Despite all of these scholarly and intellectual efforts of the savants
and critics to ridicule and demean the book of Daniel, it has survived in the
Tanakh and now in “Christian Bibles.”
After
the critics could not defeat the Daniel writings, they next turned their attention
to the prospects that almost all of the book of Daniel was already fulfilled in
past history. Again, Daniel 11 become
the primary focus of this allegation by so-called scholars.
However,
the writer of this study at hand takes the view that almost all of Daniel is
still future in early 2003. While much
of it has faced an ante-typical fulfillment in past ages (especially during the
Greek rule of the Middle East), the coming typical fulfillments are all still future.
In
particular, Daniel 11 (in terms of its ultimate, typical fulfillment) is still
future here in 2003. The great interplay
between the kings of the North and South will eventually play out here in the
age end. When these things do come to
past, at last the critics, scoffers and doubters will be openly defeated and
put to shame. The book of Daniel will
finally be vindicated for the whole world to see.
Chapter
94--Shaul
Shaul the Apostle
If there has been one person who has
profoundly affected history for these past 1,970 years, since the impalement of
YESHUA The MESSIAH, c30 CE, it would most likely have to be Shaul the
apostle.
He, evidently more so than any of the
other immediate followers and servants of SALVATION, left his mark on not only
world history, at large; but also, factually, he impacted profoundly upon the
writings people accept today as the New Testament.
This subject was possibly first and
foremost a great writer, leaving for history probably some fourteen of the 27
books of the New Testament. But beyond
these writings, he was, furthermore, a powerful and influential leader in the
early Apostolic Assembly who virtually dominated much of the history of that
organism, as recorded by Luke in the book of Acts.
Early on, Shaul, this man under
discussion, was designated and recognized as an apostle, a person with
leadership responsibilities, power and authority in the blooming new movement
of believers.
However, beyond this title and position
of rank and authority, he was unique in that he was particularly entrusted to
carry the Good News message to the uncircumcised population (of Yisrael) in
contrast to the work of Kefa and some of the others in reaching the Jews (Gal
2:7).
In terms of verity from history and the
real truth found in the Scriptures, it has to be significant that The ELOHIM
specifically chose him to be the precise medium to disclose much of the
information on seven of the great mysteries of eternity revealed in the New
Testament--person of YHWH YESHUA, purpose of life, the body, seven assemblies,
lawlessness, Mystery Babylon and the kingdom (I Cor 2:7; 4:1; Rev 10:7).
If it is possible for ultimate honor to
come upon a limited, little, fleshly, human being, then surely this man Shaul
must rate in that category, along with a select few other giants from history
like Noah, Avraham and Moshe.
A Paradox
Although it is so patently clear and
undeniably obvious that this fantastic person played a major role in the
revelation to the elect of some of the greatest and most profound mysteries of
all time, a paradox also seems to surface.
It is equally manifest that Shaul’s
very recorded speeches and written words of enormous import have been
improperly and illegally seized upon by a pagan, corrupt, evil, religious
system to become the paramount New Testament authority to “justify” outright
sin and rebellion against YHWH’s Torah which provides the very foundation and
basis for the definition of sin and righteousness.
Of course, this precise thing happened
in the form of dishonest Christendom choosing to use portions of Shaul’s words
and writings to claim that the mitzwot recorded by Moshe (defining
righteousness and sin) were somehow abolished and done away with forever.
What a tragedy it is that the exact
people who use Shaul’s writings to contradict other Scriptures never seem able
to grasp the relevance of Kefa’s description of those words--to the effect that
they were difficult to understand and ignorant and unstable persons would twist
and misconstrue them to their own destruction (II Pet 3:16-17).
Consequently, in terms of the
dissemination and dispersion of marvelous truths and the simultaneous
distribution and spreading of words which have been used as a pretext for the
acceptance of outright heathen lies and deceptions, it must be acknowledged
that Shaul’s words of over nineteen centuries ago have profoundly and
everlastingly affected the outcome of history in every sense of the word.
Categorically, Shaul has been one of
the great personalities out of the past whose comments and thinking are as
important today, as they were some 1,950 years ago when he first communicated
them.
Shaul’s Credentials
In respect to his personal background,
this man, who the world has come to know as Paul, was more correctly given the
Hebrew name of Shaul (anglicized as Saul), as noted earlier.
However, early in his ministry, the
Greek version (Paulus) may have possibly gained some usage and recognition
(Acts 13:9)--perhaps because of his role in fulfilling his mission to certain
Greek speaking (Israelite) peoples of Europe and Asia or allegedly for other
legitimate reasons. But more likely,
Shaul’s name was wrongly changed by the early Catholic Church, as discussed previously.
As Shaul, himself, said through Luke’s
record of Acts and in his own writings, he was, by race, a Hebrew of the tribe
of Binyamin; by faith, a Jew of the sect of the Pharisees; and by citizenship,
a Roman of that once great empire.
He was born in Tarsus, the chief city
of Cilicia in Asia Minor. But he
received some portion of his extensive education in Jerusalem, at the feet of
Gamaliel, a very important and well known Jewish rav and sage of the early
first century.
The fact that Shaul was both an
extremely intelligent and educated man united in some fashion with his
personality, temperament and character to make him a very zealous, dedicated
and committed person to his early religious persuasion--Pharisaical Judaism
(Phil 3:5-6).
Surely, it was this zeal and endeavor
which prompted him, apparently as a young man, to gain some status and
recognition as an opponent, enemy and persecutor of the emerging new sect in
Palestine called the “Nazarenes” --perhaps during the years 30 to 34 CE.
Luke, in the book of Acts, is careful
to note that Shaul was present at and consented to the death of the apostolic
evangelist Stephen when he gave his life in defense of Truth (Acts 7:58;
8:1).
This act commenced a time of great
persecution on the Nazarenes (Acts 8:1) and one which saw Shaul soon assume a
leadership role in making havoc on the Apostolic Assembly, entering houses and
committing the very elect to imprisonment (Acts 8:3).
Sometime after another important
evangelist, named Philip, went down to Samaria to preach the Good News, Shaul
determined to slaughter the Nazarene disciples of YESHUA. So he sought letters of authority from the
high priest in Jerusalem to the synagogues in Damascus that he might arrest
believers there and bring them to Jerusalem for punishment (Acts 9:1-2).
The Reconciliation (Conversion) of Shaul
It was this situation which
precipitated an event which would forever alter the life of Shaul, as well as
the subsequent course of world history.
With an authorization from the high priest, Shaul quickly set out for
Damascus to put his diabolical and wicked plan into full operation.
However, as he journeyed near Damascus,
a sudden, bright light shined down from heaven upon him and he fell to the
ground as a voice, in Hebrew, said “Shaul, Shaul, why persecutest thou me?”
(Acts 9:3-4).
In a frightened and terrified state,
Shaul could only respond “Who are you?”
And the speaker came back with “I am YESHUA whom thou persecutest; it is
hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
While trembling and astonished in that moment of time, Shaul asked “What
wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:5-6).
Thereupon, Shaul was told to go on to
Damascus where he would be given further instructions on what he must do (Acts
9:6). He then arose from the ground to
discover that he had been blinded and was to remain in that state on to
Damascus (with the help of others) and for the next three days (could it have
been three days and three nights?) while he underwent a complete fast without
food or water (Acts 9:8-9).
In this condition of total blindness
and while staying at the house of one called Judas on Straight Street, Shaul
was to be visited, in time, by a disciple named Ananias who prayed for him that
he might be healed and be filled with The RUACH HA KODESH (Acts 9:11-17). Thereupon, he arose, baptized himself and did
eat (Acts 9:18-19).
Shaul Suffered
Respecting this man Ananias, it is
relevant to note that upon his being commissioned to go to Shaul, The Adonai
YESHUA stated that Shaul was to be a chosen vessel who would ultimately have to
suffer great things for His name’s sake (Acts 9:15-16). Of course, these words were to come
true. Because, in time, Shaul was to
later write of his many times of imprisonment, beatings and sufferings almost
to the point of death.
In time, Shaul was to point out that
five times he was whipped with 39 lashes; three times beaten with rods; once
stoned; three times shipwrecked at sea; once adrift for a day and a night in
the deep; on journeys exposed to perils from rivers, bandits, people, nations,
desert places, in the sea; in toil, and hardship; undergoing sleepless nights;
often in hunger and thirst; in fastings; and in exposure to the cold without
adequate clothing and warmth (II Cor 11:23-28).
Clearly, he did suffer and undergo much
pain for the name which he once vigorously persecuted. After being healed with Ananias’ prayer, Luke
chose to tell us that straightway, Shaul preached about The MESSIAH YESHUA in
the synagogues in Damascus (Acts 9:20).
And while this effort lasted there some
days before the Jews sought to kill him (Acts 9:20-25), there is reason to
believe that probably soon after his departure from Damascus, Shaul went on
into the Arabian desert for a period of some three years (Gal 1:17-18).
Shaul’s Great Work
Most savants who have reviewed and
studied the life of this great man suggest that while Shaul was in Arabia, he
probably received some extraordinary visions and revelations which he alluded
to about fourteen years later in a letter to the Corinthians (II Cor
12:1-2).
In this remark about being in Arabia,
he mentioned a man caught up into the third heaven (the throne of YHWH?) who
heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words (II Cor 12:4). Possibly Shaul, at that time, received
information on some of the great mysteries of eternity which he mentioned in
his various writings.
Whether Shaul was the man or not
referred to as being caught up to the third heaven, the fact remains that he
truly was granted exceptional insight into fantastic mysteries which had been
hidden from Adam and his descendants for over 4,000 years. Unquestionably, Shaul was richly endowed with
a phenomenal gift of understanding and comprehension of Truth.
From Acts and Shaul’s own fourteen or
so epistles, one can deduce Shaul’s three major missionary trips into Asia and
Europe. Luke closed the book of Acts
with Shaul in prison in the city of Rome (Acts 28:5, 16, 20, 30).
However, some scholars speculate that
he must have been released from that particular imprisonment, since they argue
that he underwent still further missionary journeys and wrote some of his later
letters--all after Acts 28 (i.e. Titus and II Timothy).
Most New Testament savants and
historians are in general agreement that ultimately Shaul did end up in a Roman
prison around 66 CE (from the Acts 28 imprisonment or a later one) where he was
eventually executed and died the death of a martyr for his faith.
Whatever the date and however he died,
the fact remains that he truly was an incredible individual, absolutely worthy
of study and consideration at this time here in the early 21st century.
Robert Young, in the "Analytical
Concordance," describes Shaul from his speeches and writings as perceiving
“the warmth and ardour of his nature, his affectionate disposition, the
tenderness of his sense of honour, the courtesy and personal dignity of his
bearing and his perfect frankness.
“We see also the rare combination of
subtility, tenacity, and versatility existing in his intellect, with a practical
wisdom generally associated with a cooler temperament than his, and a
forbearance and tolerance seldom united with such impetuous convictions as he
entertained.”
William Ramsay
While it seems that few people today,
here in 2003, would dare try to dispute the existence of this man Shaul and his
fantastic and far reaching missionary journeys into various and sundry cities
and towns in Asia and Europe, such has not always been the case. Historically, there have been doubters.
Back in the 18th and 19th centuries,
when so-called “higher criticism” first began making headway, some historians
and scholars actually took the stand that many of the cities and towns
mentioned by Shaul or Luke (in Acts), as being visited by the famous apostle,
did not, in fact, exist.
These intellectually proud fools,
acting on presumptions and assumptions, contended that Shaul’s trips were
fiction and make believe.
But then, in the 19th century,
something else was to also happen which would eventually act to alter the
thinking of this growing body of higher criticism. An interesting Englishman, Sir William M
Ramsay, born of wealthy parents and educated at Oxford, was to arrive on the
global scene and gain some notoriety over this very theme at hand.
In Ramsay’s early years, he, like some
of the other “intellectuals," chose to believe that some of Luke and
Shaul’s writings were wrong--in other words “lies." Ramsay particularly discounted Luke’s
reference to a Roman proconsul on Cyprus when Shaul and Bar-Nabba visited the
island in their journey there (Acts 13:4-7).
So the Oxford scholar set out to prove
Luke wrong on “scientific” grounds. But
strangely enough, Ramsay ended up proving Luke correct on “scientific”
grounds. Consequently, it worked out
that instead of using his wealth, education and abilities to disprove the
writings of Shaul and Luke, Ramsay used them to prove the Scriptures.
Over the years, Ramsay conducted a
series of archaeological and scientific expeditions throughout the Scriptural
world. He traced the paths of Shaul and
actually visited the remains of many of the cities and towns traversed by the
great apostle some 1,800 years earlier.
In time, Ramsay wrote such classic
books as “The Cities of St. Paul” and “St. Paul, The Traveller and The Roman
Citizen.” The Englishman ended up by
conclusively proving and establishing for later history the undeniable accuracy
of the geographical references by Shaul and Luke in their writings.
Shaul Had A Problem With Pride
As one looks back upon the life of this
fascinating man Shaul, he/she can readily perceive that he could, very easily, and did have a problem with
pride. Because of his character,
dedication and commitment to Judaism, coupled with his patently obvious
intelligence, education and training, he probably had had a bad case of self
righteousness, even when the martyr Stephen was being stoned to death.
In fact, in Shaul’s whole conduct
before his conversion and reconciliation with YHWH YESHUA, the evidence is
quite abundant that Shaul had a certain sense of arrogance and presumptuousness
as well. One can detect these facets of
pride in his aggressive actions against the true believers.
However, by the time of Shaul’s
blinding experience on the road to Damascus, there is every reason to believe
that this same pride was largely crushed and replaced with humility and
meekness. This reality is substantiated
in a comment made by Robert Young on the (alleged) name change of Shaul to
Paulus.
In his "Analytical
Concordance," Young suggests that Paul’s “humility induced him to abandon
the grand title of ‘Saul’ and assume the humble one of ‘Paul’ (i.e. the ‘little
one’ appropriate, perhaps from his bodily size, but adopted, no doubt, from
that humility which makes him count himself to be less than the least of all
saints and not worthy to be called an apostle).”
Does Robert Young have it right here on
Shaul’s name change or was there another explanation as allowed in a previous
chapter? While Young’s words sound good,
the better bet is that the Roman Catholic Church changed Shaul’s name.
A Thorn In The Flesh
While we may perceive that Shaul’s
encounter with YESHUA on the road to Damascus and the three days of blindness
certainly did have a dramatic impact on him and his thinking, the potential for
carnality, pride and vanity to surface must have persisted thereafter because
he was to later write that he had been given a “thorn in the flesh” or a
“messenger of Satan” to buffet him and to keep him from being exalted, proud or
puffed up over the revelations which he had received (II Cor 12:7).
Interestingly, this admission of a
thorn in the flesh affecting Shaul was made in his second letter to the
Corinthians; after which, he had just discussed the man who was given
extraordinary visions and revelations while caught up in the third heaven.
The context here is such that one can
surmise that Shaul indeed was the man under discussion and that the visions and
revelations were so stupendous that they would have puffed him up with pride
and vanity (II Cor 12:1-9). Therefore,
the thorn in the flesh or messenger of Satan was given to him in order to keep
him humble and low.
By his own words, he called upon The
ADONAI YESHUA on three separate occasions for relief and to be delivered from
this ordeal of the flesh. Yet, on all
three occasions, The ELOHIM said “no” --since His grace was sufficient to
sustain Shaul (II Cor 12:8-9).
Consequently, Shaul had nothing in the flesh in this life to glory about
or boast over.
What Was It?
What was the thorn in the flesh from
Satan? Many savants have suggested that
his eyes were bad. Maybe he had glaucoma
in his later years that almost blinded him and made it difficult for him to
read and write. Still, other scholars
have suggested other things. But most of
the explanations from organized Churchianity never have seemed to make sense to
this writer.
Then one day, a few years ago, this
writer read a small Identity tract from another publisher which easily and
correctly noted that according to the Word, “thorns in the flesh” were the
racial nokri/nekar aliens (Canaanites and surely the Edomites who were mixed
with the Canaanites) who had inhabited the land of Canaan and were not
exterminated and driven out, as commanded by YHWH (Num 33:55; Josh 23:13).
In a further examination of the
conflicts which Shaul had with people throughout his ministry, it becomes quite
easy to establish precisely who the nokri/nekar persons were that proved to be
thorns in his flesh.
As elsewhere established herein, Shaul
had frequent troubles with proven or suspect Amalekite Judeans--usually those
specifically identified as from Judea, but called Jews in the KJV (Acts
14:13-15; 15:1; 17:13; 18:6, 12; 19:13; Phil 3:2).
Thus, if we let the Scriptures
interpret the Scriptures (as the student of truth is supposed to do), one must
come to the position that Shaul’s thorn in the flesh appears to have been some
nokri/nekar Amalekites who were opposing and oppressing him as he went about
his ministry. This seems to be the
evident solution to this enigma.
But whatever the case, pride, vanity
and carnality were certainly being held in check in Shaul because of this
“thorn in the flesh” or “messenger of Satan.”
Without the resulting buffeting, Shaul clearly could have let his
achievements go to his head.
The Bottom Line on Shaul
To dramatically tell the story about
his lack of righteousness (effectively no self righteousness), the apostle to
the lost Israelites wrote to his co-worker Timothy and laid out his personal
sins and status.
He poignantly charged that formerly he
had persecuted and shamefully oppressed the elect and that he had been the
foremost or chief of sinners (I Tim 1:11-15).
But then in YESHUA’s mercy, he was extended forgiveness and grace since
he had acted in ignorance and unbelief (I Tim 1:13-16).
Like
Shaul also told Timothy, we all need to have faith in The ELOHIM’s
administration (I Tim 1:4). Here, the
“Amplified Translation” has it that this faith involves absolute trust and
confidence in YHWH. The point is that we
can’t be having trust and confidence (pride) in ourselves, in other humans or
in the systems of the world (the pride of life).
Chapter
95--Only YHWH Can Defeat Pride
The Confidence Problem
Probably, the most dangerous aspect and
manifestation of pride and vanity is the possession of confidence, satisfaction
and trust in one's own self, others and this man-made worldly system of
things. Several earlier comments have
addressed these problems that all of so-called humanity seems to face. Certainly, there is no need to repeat that
material at this time.
However, there is some urgency to now
review the crux of the earlier presentations and reflect upon the ultimate
solution to this dilemma, as evident from the Scriptures. To broach this topic, one needs to look at two
primary Hebrew words which are commonly translated to English as
“confidence.”
The most widely used one is the verb
"batach," which Strong's “Hebrew Dictionary” defines as "a prime
root... to hide for refuge... to trust..., be confident or sure;--be bold."
The related noun is "betach"
and Strong's says it means "a place of refuge; abstr. safety, both the
fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adv. with or without prep.)
safely:--assurance, boldly, (without) care (-less), confidence, hope, safe
(-ly), (-ty), secure, surely.”
The other key verb is
"kacal," discussed previously, which Strong's identifies as “a prim.
root; prop. to be fat, i.e. (fig.) silly--be foolish.” The related “kecel” means “prop. fatness,
i.e. by impl (lit.) the loin (as the seat of the leaf fat) or (gen.) the
viscera; also (fig.) silliness or in a good sense, trust; in a bad one,
silliness:--confidence, folly.”
As a matter of information, kacal/kecel
have only a few limited uses in the Hebrew, in comparison with the more
prevalent "batach."
Misplaced Confidence
As this publication has pointed out, we
sorry, proud humans have a propensity to place trust and confidence (pride) in
ourselves, in others and in this sorry man governed system on earth--the pride
of life, as indicated by the Apostle Yohanan (I Jo 2:16). Therefore, it is manifest that one will find a
host of Scriptures which discuss and describe this reality.
For instance, various and sundry
individuals and peoples (nations collectively) place great confidence, trust
and reliance upon their own defense measures, such as arms, armaments,
fortifications, walls, and by extension guns, guard dogs, burglar alarm
equipment, locks, the police and so forth (Deut 28:52; Ps 44:4-7; Prov 21:22;
Jer 5:17; Hos 10:13-14; Lu 11:22).
Additionally, we tend to look to the
different nations, cities and governments for alliances and relationships which
we ignorantly suppose will grant us safety, security and salvation (Job 18:14;
Jer 13:25; 48:13; Ezek 29:16; Am 6:1; Lu 18:9; II Cor 1:9). We rely upon and look to our own works (Jer
48:7) and to our own riches and wealth (Job 31:24; Ps 49:6-10; Prov 11:28; Jer
48:7; 49:10; Zep 3:1-2; Mk 10:24).
Tragically, we have confidence in
certain men for leadership and deliverance (Jud 9:26)--even though the Book
asserts that an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth (Prov
25:19).
We exhibit great trust and faith in our
religions (Lu 18:9); our religious buildings (Jer 7:14); our many images and
vain idols (Isa 42:17; Jer 48:7); and of course, we trust in the lies and
deceptions taught by our many, highly regarded, false prophets and leaders (Jer
7:2-4; 29:31).
We Willingly Accept Lies
In fact, we like smooth talk, nonsense,
lies and deceptions, so much so, that we will willingly accept this trash from
whatever direction or source it seems to come from in order to reach us (Isa
59:4; Jer 7:8; 13:25; 28:15).
In our wretched conditions, we put
particular trust and confidence in our own selves, in our great beauty and
looks (Ezek 16:15) and in our marvelously advanced wisdom, knowledge and
understanding (Isa 47:10; Rom 2:19); despite the fact that The ELOHIM proclaims
that he who trusts in his own heart and mind is a "self confident
fool" (Prov 28:26) and the foolishness of a "self confident fool is
folly" (Prov 14:24-26).
Because of this enormous display and
obsession with pride and vanity in each of our deceitful, wicked lives, it is
obvious that The MOST HIGH would have some choice words of advice for each one
of us. And naturally, He does.
For example, He says "Cursed is
the man that trusts in man" (Ps 118:8-9; Jer 17:5-7; Mic 7:5). None of us should have to wonder and
contemplate long on this injunction; because elsewhere, The EVERLIVING goes on
to state that confidence in self and this man-made system of things is
wickedness (Eccl 7:25) and the fate of the foolishly confident person is death
(Ps 49:13-14).
Also, on this theme, the prophet Micah
(Mikhah in the Hebrew) put it well by saying “to trust not a neighbour and put
not confidence in a friend" (Mic 7:5).
Finally, The HIGHEST also reflects that a true believer should put no
confidence or reliance in the flesh--of self or others (Phil 3:3).
Confidence in YHWH YESHUA
So, if it is folly, stupidity and
wickedness to trust in the flesh and in man, where then can one place his/her
trust, confidence, assurance and faith for safety, security and salvation? Well, the Book answers this question in
context, just after pronouncing a curse on the man who trusts in man. In this regard, the Scriptures go on to say
that "blessed is the man who trusts in YHWH” (Ps 118:8-9; Jer 17:5-7; Mic
7:5).
The verity of this parallelism is
poignantly hurled at us, over and over, again and again, in the many Scriptural
declarations that we must trust, rely upon, and have confidence in YHWH YESHUA
for deliverance, safety, security and salvation (Ps 25:2; 26:1; 31:6; 52:8;
56:4).
Also, the Book expressly states that we
should trust in YHWH's Word (Ps 119:42) and in His name (Ps 9:10; 33:21; Isa
50:10) for salvation (Ps 78:22) and not in our own supposed self
righteousness--because we have no self righteousness (Ezek 33:13). Truly, the reverent fear of The ELOHIM must
be our confidence (Job 4:6; Prov 14:24-26).
Or as the Psalmist put it--it is better
to take refuge in YHWH than to be confident in man or princes (Ps
118:8-9). In terms of Yisrael and
Israelites, it seems that the teachings of The EVERLASTING on this theme have
never really sunk in (Ps 78:22; Jer 13:25; Zep 3:1-2). It’s too bad, but YHWH's Words seem to go in
one ear and out the other.
One vividly sees this phenomenon
present in the 10th chapter of Hosea.
The prophet Hosea notes the incredible evil and wickedness in Yisrael
and in her people (Hos 10:1-13). And of
course, he focuses directly on the pride and vanity present which arises from
the prosperity and abundance in the land (Hos 10:1).
He particularly mentions the self
confidence and trust which the Israelites have in themselves and in their
man-made systems (Hos 10:13). It is in
this context that the prophet proclaims the (still coming future) judgment on
Yisrael and her evil, wicked population (Hos 10:10-12, 14-15).
Destroying Confidence in Self, Others
and This System
Therefore, because of the persisting
problems of pride and vanity in Yisrael, Israelites still face a future, coming
judgment of punishment and trial in order to resolve and correct the
wickedness.
And just as the pride and confidence of
Yakov must be and will ultimately be broken (Hos 10:11-15), so must the same
evil and wicked pride and confidence be shattered and destroyed in the hearts
and minds of all individuals (Job 8:13-14) before they can ever receive
salvation and YHWH YESHUA's gift of grace (Hos 10:12; Prov 14:24-26; Col
2:11-13).
For a summary, Mikhah the prophet noted
that we should look to YHWH and have confidence in Him (Mic 7:7). The sons of Korah put it like this--YHWH will
speak to us with mercy, loving kindness, salvation, truth and peace; so that we
turn not again to self confidence and folly (Ps 85:7-9).
Parables to Hide Truth, Revisited
Christendom, in her problems with understanding
truth, has supposed that the reason YESHUA spoke to the people of 2,000 years
in parables was to make them understand.
In other words, this position has it that the "parable" was a
type of revelation of deep mysteries for comprehension.
In connection with this thinking, it is
interesting that the Scriptures have a particularly profound communication
which surfaces as a result of a relevant question which the disciples asked The
MESSIAH at a significant point in time.
They pointedly queried Him on the subject of "why" was it that
He spoke to the general population in parables (Matt 13:10)?
In accordance with Christian theology,
one might speculate that His reply would be something along the lines of
helping His listeners understand with parables and to illustrate certain points
in a better fashion. But no, that's not
what He said. Instead, He poignantly
declared that it was not given unto those people to understand the mysteries of
the kingdom (Matt 13:11).
Consequently, He spoke to the people in
parables so that they would not understand, as pointed out in earlier comments
in a previous chapter (Lu 8:10).
Actually, these teachings were not the first, last or the only ones
which carefully proclaimed that His message was for a very small group of
persons that the Book calls the "election."
Who is Able to Deal With Pride?
It is no wonder then that YESHUA would
say that "all that the Father giveth me shall come to me" (Jo 6:37);
"no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father"
(Jo 6:65); and "ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" (Jo
15:16). Even Yohanan the Baptist wisely
observed that "a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven" (Jo 3:27).
In the same vein, both Mattityahu and
Luke wrote that The HIGHEST had hid things from the "wise and prudent”
--so that He might reveal them unto babes (Matt 11:25; Lu 10:21).
Shaul confirms this same elect status
for some with his words that "the election hath obtained it (salvation),
and the rest were blinded" (Rom 11:7) and that "the gospel is hid
from the lost” (II Cor 4:3).
Furthermore, Kefa went on to speak of some people being "appointed
unto disobedience" (I Pet 2:8).
The crux of these texts is that The
EVERLIVING has not revealed truth and understanding to the population at
large. Instead, He does reveal it only
to the election (or as Mattityahu has it--to babes--which we know refers to
humble and meek persons).
Therefore, the Apostle Yohanan was to
write that The SON OF MAN "hath given us (the elect) an
understanding" (I Jo 5:20). Shaul
was to later add that the eyes of certain people could be enlightened--to comprehension
(Eph 1:17-18).
Effectively, the above comments are
following the thesis on the “Effect of Pride,” developed in a preceding
chapter. In that presentation, mention
was made of the role that The MOST HIGH has followed in "blinding people
to understanding," as a part of a judgmental process upon so-called
humanity because of sin in our proud, vain, wicked hearts and minds.
Understanding the Hardening Idea
Thus, it now appears reasonable to be
able to possibly apprehend the deep meaning of seemingly contradictory
Scriptural texts mentioned heretofore which declare that Pharaoh hardened his
heart (Ex 8:15, 32; 9:34; I Sam 6:6)--all the while that other texts were
saying that it was The ELOHIM Who hardened the heart of Pharaoh (Ex 7:3, 13; 9:12;
10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8).
Perhaps the explanation for this
evident paradox is that there was sin and evil in Pharaoh's proud, hard
heart. Therefore, in judgment, YHWH
purposely blinded him as to the reality of what was taking place. Maybe Pharaoh never really grasped what was
going on; despite the fact that he was a proud, vain, arrogant ruler who
thought he knew and understood everything or everything he needed to know and
understand.
This position, if true, would moreover
explain a host of other Scriptures which describe the actions of all people
(yes, including both YOU and ME) to harden our hearts and stiffen our necks
against The EVERLASTING (II Kg 17:13-14; Neh 9:16-17, 29; Job 9:1-5; Ps 95:7-8;
Prov 21:29; Jer 5:3; Zech 7:12; Heb 3:8, 16; 4:7)--all the while that other
texts attribute the hardening process to YHWH (Isa 63:17; Jer 13:23; Jo
12:39-40; Rom 9:18).
Of course, the bottom line on this has
to be that it is our own sins which really act to harden our hearts (Heb
3:13). The key to this dilemma lies in
the fact that, in judgment, YHWH has given us up to our own hard hearts (Ps
81:12). Put another way, stubborn,
rebellious people have not prepared their hearts to understand (Ps 78:8).
Therefore, The MOST HIGH has not given
the public, at large, a heart of understanding (Deut 29:4) and has shut
people's eyes, ears and hearts from perception (Isa 44:18-19). Thus, we have hard and callous hearts because
of the evil and wickedness of pride and vanity in our hearts, coupled with
ignorance and apathy about our true condition (Eph 4:17-19).
The Apostle Kefa poignantly hurled at
us the utter hopelessness and despair of our pathetic, tragic, lost condition
by charging that those who disbelieve were destined to do so (I Pet 2:8). This powerfully cutting insight can be linked
to Shaul's similar observation that YHWH shows mercy to some--all the while
that He hardens, makes stubborn and blinds others (Rom 9:18).
A Christian Example
A previous chapter herein mentioned a
former epileptic neighbor of this writer.
The man involved was almost 50 years old. He definitely had a demon problem when he
became riled up and mad about something.
As noted earlier, he periodically went ballistics and into orbit.
Also, as outlined previously, the man
was supposedly a good Baptist Christian.
He frequently went to Sunday church services and seemed to fit into the
group--despite his mental problems. A
question which someone might ask here is why was it or how was it that a
Christian man could be given over to a demonic spirit to throw him into
passionate anger, hate and epileptic fits?
Was it possible that YHWH allowed this
predicament to come upon this man as a judgment because of pride and vanity in
his heart? Frankly, this writer is
unclear of his background or whether he was injured in the head as a child or
what. But he was a very proud and vain
man. Perhaps he had a complex over his
epilepsy and tried to compensate for his shortcomings in other ways.
Anyway, he liked to try to show off his
intelligence and brain power; when, in fact, he was somewhat stupid and
ignorant about what he often tried to talk about. In this sense, he became a liar and fraud,
when he tried to convey his knowledge and intelligence while he didn’t have
much, if any, knowledge and intelligence.
He cut the grass and did a few other
minor maintenance tasks for a man who owned five rental houses in Northeastern
Washington (as discussed earlier). The
owner of the property, my friend and landlord, lived up the road about 20 miles
and was only present on the property on occasion. He depended on the epileptic to watch after
his property.
The Woodcutters
One day, some woodcutters came in and
started cutting trees close to me (technically on federal land, but adjacent to
my friend’s property). This writer was
concerned so i walked over to the epileptic’s house, which was a hundred yards
or so away, and told him about it.
Perhaps the epileptic was caught off
guard since he was supposed to be watching after the property. In the case of the woodcutters, they were
technically on federal land; but the cutting down of the trees certainly
affected my friend’s property, plus it was and is illegal to cut the (certainly
green) trees down according to federal law.
The epileptic was aware of the men’s
presence. But he did not know them, nor
had he ever spoken to them one way or the other. In effect, he was apathetic and indifferent
about their presence and what they were doing.
He didn’t have brains enough to understand that cutting the trees down
affected the property which he supposedly was watching over.
This writer courteously brought the
problem up and suggested that he might want to mention it to the property owner
because of its implications. Rather than
thanking me and going about his business, he commenced an argument with me from
his usual arrogance, anger and hate when his demon was riled up.
In his view, the nearby land was
federal land and it was no business of the owner (or of me for that
matter). Then he went on to state that
they were only cutting down dead trees and were not cutting green trees. Of course, i had seen what the woodcutters
were cutting and it wasn’t dead trees, although they probably did cut some dead
trees if they came across them in the context of the cutting that they were
doing.
The truth was that he didn’t know what
they were cutting. He had never been
over to see them when they were there and his house was some distance away from
them. Yet, my house was right adjacent
to them and their cutting efforts.
But since he was caught with his pants
down (in the sense of failing to take care of the property), he went on the
defensive to start telling lies in an effort to ameliorate his failures. All of this was nothing but vanity with him
since he ignorantly knew not what he was talking about.
Incidentally, he did call the owner and
relate the wood cuttings--but tried to lie to him that they were only taking
dead trees. The owner came down and inspected the property and told me that
they took green trees which i already knew and understood.
Since this run in with the epileptic
over the trees, several other occasions surfaced allowing us to have
conversations thereafter. It always
proved interesting to me that the man (even when his demon was not riled up)
would often go to some length to brag, boast and tell lies to build up his
pride and vanity over his supposed knowledge and intellect.
In thinking about the enormous pride in
this man (or actually vanity since he was fairly stupid and uninformed), the
question came to my mind on whether YHWH had blinded him as a judgment, so much
so, as to allow the demon to take over his mind.
Again, the man was a Baptist
Christian. But this certainly impacted
upon nothing in the context of his pride and vanity. Truly, he was blinded and told lies to try to
compensate for his ignorance.
Under a Veil
Consequently, the problem which all of
so-called humanity has faced for 6,000 years (except for YESHUA The MESSIAH) is
that we lack understanding because of our proud, hard hearts (Eph
4:17-19). There is a resulting veil over
our proud hearts (II Cor 3:13-15) and our proud hearts are hid from
comprehension (Job 17:4).
Of course, this veil over our eyes and
ears has been placed there by YHWH, as a part of His judgmental process for the
sins of pride and vanity in our evil hearts.
And in the context of this discussion, please be assured that the issue
is not a matter of having our eyes and ears closed to YHWH's laws governing
conduct, per se.
Thus, it is not a matter of
understanding the Sabbath, the feast days, the calendar, clean and unclean
meats, men wearing beards, women wearing a head covering, identity and race,
pagan/Hebrew names and titles and a host of similar items covered fairly clear
in YHWH's Word.
Even the Pharisees and Jews of YESHUA's
day understood, believed and taught most of these things as truth. They were not blind over such doctrines, as
some people may suppose today. As
covered in the earlier comments on the effect of pride, The ELOHIM's mitzwot
are categorically not closed to understanding and appreciation.
Instead, they were expressly given for
our comprehension (Deut 4:6; 30:11-14).
Therefore, it is foolishness for anyone of us to come along now and
claim that the understanding about any of YHWH's specific mitzwot of
righteousness have been closed to us or that we have to have a revelation from
on high in order to comprehend the basic requirements of sinless living.
Actually, the truth is quite
manifest. YHWH's laws have been given
for understanding and can be understood and obeyed by anyone of us without
excuse or argument.
Manifestly, the real issue here, on
comprehension and understanding, is that we don't understand, perceive and see
our own deceiving, proud, evil hearts and minds and thus don't really recognize
the true state of hopelessness and despair which we live in (Job 15:8-9; Ps
19:12-13; Jer 16:19; 17:9. Hos 10:2; Gal 6:3).
The place we ultimately come to on this
theme is that we absolutely cannot understand and appreciate our own true
wretchedness from carnality and the flesh and our total inability to deal with
these problems in our own personal lives and makeups.
YHWH YESHUA Can Deal With Proud Hearts
The point being is that we lack the
capability and capacity to address, focus on and deal with the carnality of
pride and vanity in our own personalities.
There is not a one of us in existence who has the means and ability to
correctly resolve our own wretched, proud natures.
Ultimately, we have to come to the
realization that there is only one power, force or authority in the universe
capable and able to focus on and correct our proud, vain, wicked human
natures. And that agency is YHWH YESHUA
and no one else.
Shaul the apostle perceptively wrote
about this dilemma which we face when he noted that YHWH YESHUA makes stubborn
the hearts of some while He shows mercy to others (Rom 9:18). Of course, the essence of this statement
opens a profoundly important and far reaching subject on "The
Election," which has been covered in previous chapters.
But for the present discussion, the
point being is that The ELOHIM must intervene in His way and at His time to
deal with the pride, vanity and carnality in the lives of different
individuals. And of course, the thrust
of this whole process is apparently the true grant of repentance, which comes
as a free gift of grace from YHWH YESHUA (Acts 11:18; Rom 2:4; II Tim
2:25).
The Problem
Therefore, the dilemma is not one of
our waking up and finding out one day that we have not been, but should be
keeping the Sabbath, the feast days, or a certain calendar. The problem is not over identity or race, as
important as these items are to some persons.
It is not a concern over using pagan names and titles versus using
"believed" Hebrew names and titles.
It is not a matter of telling lies,
smoking a cigarette, cheating, deceiving, murder, hate, adultery, fornication,
or a host of similar things. We all can
and many of us do understand many of these subjects from time to time. In which case, some of us actually go through
(on our own) some limited process of repentance and change on some of these
specific acts of sin.
All of this awareness and change can
and does happen in the context of us remaining in a carnal, fleshly state
without any evidence whatsoever of dealing with the big issues of pride and
vanity in our deceitful, wicked hearts.
Again, the Pharisees and Sadducees of
YESHUA's day understood and comprehended most of these things mentioned above
and even obeyed many of them. Repentance
and change on specific acts of sin are far more different and simpler matters
than the questions of dealing with the underlying problems of pride and vanity
in our carnal, human natures.
Since we all are capable and able of
understanding YHWH's laws, which are not complicated or difficult to understand
by Moshe’s own words, then whatever we individually may do from time to time on
repentance and change, in terms of these specific laws, will not alter or void
the basic problem of pride and vanity in our deceitful, wicked hearts and
minds.
We all have the pride and vanity
iniquity and it is only YHWH YESHUA Who can address it and correct it. Seemingly, we limited, sinning humans cannot
grasp and deal with our basic carnal natures without help and assistance from
on high.
Misinformation
Because of this reality, it is no
wonder then that millions upon millions of carnal, proud people periodically
suppose, assume, think, believe and presume that they have been saved or that
they have learned all about salvation or at least that they know all they need
to know about salvation.
Consequently, they then move on to
believe that by repenting of some specific sin or sins (which any one of us is
capable of seeing and understanding, as Moshe declared) and by going through
some ritual of some act or actions, then a state of grace, forgiveness and
salvation will materialize for them.
Some persons believe that they proudly
reach this pinnacle of grace with some limited forms of repentance, by crying a
few crocodile tears over perhaps some of the lies they've told, the cigarettes
they've smoked, the adultery and fornication they've participated in, the hate
in their hearts, their failure to attend church/assembly meetings, their
transgressions of the Sabbath, their eating of pork and unclean foods, their
use of names and titles for The MOST HIGH which have evident links to paganism,
and on and on.
When certain individuals go through
this process--coupled with standing up in a meeting; running down an isle;
falling at an “altar;” rolling in the floor; muttering some unintelligible
gibberish (as prompted by a demon); saying Gee-Zeus, Yahshua, Yahweh or some
other unscriptural name; being baptized in water; or doing some other act or
action on their part which they are able to perform--they then come to believe,
accept and suppose that they are in a state of salvation.
Such people become self righteously
proud and vain over their acts and actions which they think have granted them
grace. Such Scripturally ignorant fools
can never get it through their thick heads, but salvation and grace do not come
to a person from doing any of these things.
Only YHWH YESHUA
For sure, the truth is that only the
act and action of YHWH YESHUA can grant salvation to any one of us. And in this grant, salvation surfaces when He
effectively deals with the pride, vanity, and carnality in our wretched hearts
and minds (which motivates and propels us on to commit the host of sins and
transgressions that we all are guilty of and which we can see and do largely
understand).
Furthermore, the evidence is most
persuasive that The ELOHIM handles this whole process by granting us some
perception and understanding about our own true condition of fleshliness with
the resulting pride and vanity.
The point being is that on our own and
seemingly without the supernatural involvement of The ELOHIM, we each can see,
realize and appreciate the presence and occurrence of some specific acts of sin
in our tragic lives.
But conversely, it appears that it is
only YHWH YESHUA Who is able and capable of intervening in our lives to help us
understand our sorry, depraved, pathetic, dirty, rotten, human natures of
pride, vanity and carnality. On our own,
we just can't perceive how wretched and lost we really are.
Given Understanding
In terms of the dilemma we all face,
Iyov wrote “Who has given (us) understanding?” (Job 15:8-9). For an answer, the Qumran literature states
that man does not have understanding (obviously--no issue here over YHWH's laws
which man can understand) within himself, but that he must be given
understanding (of his own wretched, lost, proud, vain, carnal state) by The
ELOHIM.
Of course, the Scriptures say precisely
the same thing as the Qumran writings in terms of answering Iyov's
question. We pathetic, sorry, proud,
vain, carnal humans must be given a heart of understanding in order to see and
understand how wretched and evil we really are.
And this gift must come from YHWH YESHUA--since we proud, wretched
humans can never grasp it on our own.
Naturally, the Book asserts this very
reality (Ex 31:3; 35:31; 36:1; Deut 4:5-9; I Chron 22:12; Job 12:3; Prov 20:12;
Isa 28:9; 43:10; Jer 3:15; Matt 13:11, 16-17; Mk 4:11-12;
Lu 8:10; Jo 3:27; 6:44-45,
64-65; Acts 16:14; Rom 9:18;
II Cor 6:14; Eph 1:18; 4:18;
Phil 2:13; II Tim 2:7). Perhaps now, the implication of the coming,
future, New or Renewed Covenant becomes manifest.
As the prophets have noted, YHWH will
execute a New/Renewed Covenant with Yisrael; whereby, He will take away the
stony, fat, proud hearts and grant the Israelites new hearts--specifically
hearts of comprehension and understanding of reality (Jer 32:38-39; Ezek
16:60-62; 36:21-32; Heb 8:6-13; 10:16).
Like Yeshayahu said, people will
understand REALITY in the Kingdom (Isa 32:3-4).
For a conclusion on this line, the
Apostle Shaul penned it well by reflecting that “we are to work out our own
salvation, but it is The ELOHIM Who works in us both to will and to do” (Phil
2:12-13). After all, it is YHWH YESHUA,
Alone, Who can see into our deceitful, evil, proud hearts and minds and apply
the necessary corrective action (Rom 8:27; I Cor 4:5; I Thes 2:4).
What YHWH YESHUA Does
In the previous comments, focus was
directed toward the question of "who" it is that can effectively and
correctly deal with the awful pride and vanity in each of the hearts and minds
of all of so-called humanity.
It is only YHWH YESHUA, Who, on the
basis of election and choice, can intervene to grant understanding of the
problem of carnality and our total entrapment in it. In essence, there seems to be little or
nothing you or i or anyone else can do to successfully attack the pride and
carnality problem in our hard hearts.
This writer has never properly handled
the dilemma so far to date. Nor do i
know of anyone else alive on this globe who has addressed it
correctly--although i know large numbers of people who ignorantly, foolishly
and proudly claim to have both the "Spirit" and salvation.
Unquestionably, it takes a special act
of grace and intervention by YHWH YESHUA to ever begin to broach this personal
tragedy that we all are obsessed with.
Consequently, the Book declares that YHWH YESHUA chose the very elect to
understanding (Isa 43:10).
And the issue here is clearly not a
question or concern over the understanding of YHWH's laws, the Sabbath, the
feast days, lying, cheating, adultery, fornication, identity, race, Hebrew
names and titles, clean and unclean foods, beards, hair lengths, clothes,
murder, hate or a host of similar things.
As noted earlier, the issue is clearly
a question of our understanding about our own wretched lives and vanities.
YHWH YESHUA Removes the Veil
The New Testament writers all make it
abundantly manifest that there is a veil of blindness over the eyes, ears and
hearts of each of us which can only effectively be removed by the election and
choice of YHWH YESHUA (Matt 13:11, 16-17; Mk 4:11-12; Lu 8:10; Jo 3:27, II Cor
3:14).
The Apostle Yohanan even went on to say
that we can only come to The MESSIAH YESHUA by the will and express purpose of
The ELOHIM (Jo 6:44-45, 64-65).
In this regard, it now seems evident
that the way that The MOST HIGH deals with particular individuals on this theme
is that He does act in some way to open their blinded hearts and minds to
understanding (Acts 16:14). Again, in
this context, there is absolutely no concern over laws and teachings of
righteousness which Moshe charged were expressly given to us for
understanding.
We probably don't need to look for
special revelations about the Sabbath, the feast days, Hebrew names and titles,
identity and race, head coverings and beards, clothing and dress, coffee and
tea, tobacco and drugs, pork and catfish, lying and cheating, murdering and
hate, adultery and fornication or any of these things.
Although various and sundry Christian
groups and their offshoots may attach particular importance to some of these
items and try to claim that they can only be understood by revelation, such is
not the case at all in terms of what the Book seems to declare.
Please note that even the Pharisees,
Sadducees and the religious Jews of YESHUA's day some 2,000 years ago
understood and appreciated most of these teachings and laws with little or no
difficulty.
In fact, many of those people in that
time were quite obedient in following many of those teaching--just like some of
the Sacred Name and Identity people do today.
Categorically, these teachings and doctrines appear to have been given
for our comprehension, as Moshe carefully pointed out (Deut 4:6;
30:11-14).
Extraordinary Understanding Is Needed
Thus, the understanding we need from
YHWH YESHUA is something far more profound and monumental in scope. And it is
this needed understanding and revelation which was just not given to the Jews
of YESHUA's day, nor has it been dispensed in our time to Christians, Hindus,
Muslims, Jews, Sacred Namers, Identity types or anyone else who this writer has
known and been acquainted with over time.
While it is verity that The ELOHIM’s
mitzwot and the whole sin question must be addressed and dealt with, the fact
is that in opening up our wicked hearts to real understanding, YHWH YESHUA must
seemingly focus on the biggest issue of all in each of our lives.
Attention must be directed to the
granddaddy of all sin; or as many observers have called it, the essence of
sin. And what is this greatest and most
tragic of all sin? Why, unquestionably
it has to be the presence of deceitful pride and vanity in our wretched, hard,
carnal hearts. That surely is the
summation and totality of sin.
Humans Love the Status Quo
In respect to all of us sorry humans,
the truth is that our natural hearts are desperately wicked and deceiving (Jer
17:9). In this sad state, our hearts
just naturally don't want to be converted and changed (I Cor 2:9).
Since we love the status quo of pride
and vanity, we stiffen our necks and turn our eyes and ears away so that we
won't be told about our own true wretched natures (Jer 17:23).
We love to be told lies and smooth
things (Isa 30:10) and to have our ears tickled with deception and general
nonsense (II Tim 4:3-4). In a word, our
hard, callous hearts are "uncircumcised” (with the fat of pride, vanity
and carnality) and can't possibly understand what's going on in our deceitful,
mislead lives (Jer 6:10; 9:25-26; Ezek 44:7-9; Acts 7:51; Eph 2:11-12).
And this indictment applies equally
well to Sabbathkeepers, feast day observers, Identity types, racialists, Sacred
Name proponents, Jews, Christians, Moslems, Protestants, Pentecostals,
Charismatics, Catholics, New Agers, and all of so-called humanity alive and
functioning in the flesh today. The
problem with all of us is--we need a new heart (Ezek 18:31).
Specifically,
our proud, hard, callous hearts need to be converted and changed (Joel 2:12-13;
Matt 13:15; Mk 4:12; Jo 12:40; Rom 2:5).
And this is accomplished only by faith and repentance (Acts 8:21; 15:9;
Rom 10:10; Eph 3:17)--apparently dispensed by YESHUA in His true gifts of grace
and repentance (Acts 11:18; Rom 2:4; II Tim 2:25).
Circumcision of the Heart
So the "what" which must be
done about pride is that YHWH YESHUA has to "circumcise" our proud,
evil hearts, by cutting off the pride, vanity and carnality, and thus
converting and changing them into organs of value (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Ps 51:10;
Jer 4:3-4).
In fact, in the future kingdom, no
person, uncircumcised in the heart or in the flesh, will even be allowed into
the Temple to worship The HIGHEST (Ezek 44:9).
All of those Christian persons so anxious to abolish and do away with
physical circumcision should read and reflect upon this text from
Yechezkel.
Assuredly, both physical circumcision
of the flesh and spiritual circumcision of the heart will be mandatory for
entrance into the millennial Temple.
While both circumcision of the flesh
and heart are important and go together (since an uncircumcised man in the
flesh is hardly a candidate for spiritual circumcision of the heart), Jeremiah
9:25 makes the case that the circumcision of the heart is the far more
important one. The KJV fails to give all
of this text, but Jewish translations have it right.
House of Yisrael
“The Soncino Books of the Bible” for
Jeremiah (p. 74) adds: “For all the nations are uncircumcised but the House of
Yisrael are uncircumcised in heart.”
Soncino notes that the (physical) circumcision of the Israelites means
very little (alone and by itself) to The ELOHIM while the Israelites are
uncircumcised in their hearts.
This reference clearly applies to
Americans and White Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples around the world who have
routinely (and unknowingly as to why) followed the practice of physical circumcision
for generations.
Yet,
these same people who have been so anxious to physically circumcise their own
children (all the while that they claim that YHWH’s Torah was done away with
and that physical circumcision means nothing) are grossly uncircumcised in
their hearts. What a paradox this
reality represents--circumcision of the flesh without circumcision of the
heart.
Chapter
96--What Must Be Done on Pride
Cut Away the Pride and Vanity
Former chapters herein discussed the
problem with the human heart and how it must be dealt with before there can
ever be any achievement of reconciliation.
As suggested, the human heart must go through a circumcision process
which in some way is allegorically alluded to in the physical circumcision of
the flesh.
Therefore, our hearts must be
circumcised symbolically by cutting the fat, callous, hardness, stubbornness,
pride, vanity and carnality off--just as physical circumcision of the flesh
involves cutting away skin.
Put another way, The MOST HIGH appears
to go through and accomplish this process of circumcision of our wicked hearts
by cutting away and stripping off the corrupt, carnal human nature of pride and
vanity and all of the associated passions and lusts (Col 2:11-13).
In a sense, true circumcision involves
worshipping The EL in spirit and in truth and to be rid of confidence (pride)
in self and in this system of man's misrule on planet earth (Phil 3:3). We need to have our hearts cleaned up and to
have love and truth placed in them in order to worship in spirit and in truth
(Ps 51:10; Rom 5:5).
This circumcision of the heart also
involves a complete change or conversion of the heart (Jer 24:7; Ezek 11:19;
Eph 3:17). It is a part, if not the
substance, of the true repentance process (Matt 4:17; 9:13; Lu 13:3). Hard hearts are categorically impenitent
hearts (Rom 2:5) which can only be dealt with by YHWH YESHUA and His gift of
grace (Jo 6:65; Acts 11:18; Rom 2:4; II Tim 2:25).
The Needed Change
Because of the state of wretchedness,
which we all are in, and because of the change that is needed in our
personalities, Yohanan the Baptist preached a need for repentance (Matt
3:2). This was precisely the same
message of YESHUA The MESSIAH (Matt 4:17) and the later apostles (Acts 3:19). And it's still the exact same message today
in our time.
While it is useful to note that the
true gift of repentance, change and election comes from YHWH YESHUA, it is a
fact of reality that the called out and selected ones do have some hard times
and/or trials to undergo in order for that process to reach fruition (Col
3:8-13).
Seemingly, it does take some effort and
willingness on our part, although this writer is uncertain how this takes place
and how YHWH YESHUA works to make it take place.
Of course, the bottom line on this
whole topic is that The MOST HIGH deals with the Adam kind by a process of
election. Surely, there is a positive
link between this condition of election and the gift of true grace and
repentance which allows an individual to grasp, understand and appreciate the
big picture on the whole themes of pride, vanity and carnality.
Incidentally, the so-called “pastor,”
Peter Peters, of the Christian Identity movement, added his thinking to this
issue in his April 2001 “special alert,” previously quoted from herein. Peters says that in the NT, “circumcision is
of the heart and that is done through baptism for the remission of sins.” His ideas on the forgiveness of sin through
Christian baptism have been cited earlier.
Of course, Peters seems totally lost
with these words and simply doesn’t know what he is talking about. He could not be more wrong on both
points. For sure, circumcision of the
heart and remission of sin do not occur with Christian baptism. Though one will not get salvation from
Christian baptism, he might catch a Christian demon (which is the real world
type of thing, as noted earlier).
Dealing With Pride
In comments so far, mention has been
made of the need for our proud, vain, uncircumcised hearts to become
"circumcised" through a proper experience of conversion and
change. The essence of this process is,
of course, the receipt of the gift of repentance.
Seemingly, correct and complete
repentance is the primary basis and foundation for the acquisition of grace and
salvation which so many persons think and presume they are after or have
obtained with their limited and incomplete acts of "supposed"
repentance. But in this equation, there
are still other considerations to focus on.
At this point, it is necessary to
address perhaps one of the key features of what all that may be involved in
true repentance. To broach this topic,
one needs to go back and once more consider the words of Moshe. In his citation of the great blessings and
curses in the Torah for Yisrael's obedience and/or disobedience, he wrote some
extremely profound and far reaching words of enormous wisdom and truth.
Repentance Is Needed
In terms of relevance here, Moshe noted
that at the time of Yisrael's final chastisement and punishment for sin, if the
people will confess and repent of their sins and the iniquities of their
fathers and if their "uncircumcised," proud, hearts are "humbled,"
then YHWH will remember His covenant with Yakov, Yitzhak and Avraham (Lev
26:40-42).
Later, at the dedication of the Temple,
The MOST HIGH appeared to Shlomo and told him that if the people of Yisrael
would "humble" themselves, pray, seek, crave and require His face and
turn from their sins, then He would hear from heaven and would forgive their
iniquities and heal their land (II Chron 7:14).
Two features stand out in this
context. First, please note that there
is a clear and precise need for repentance--repentance which is very definitely
linked in tandem with a "humbling" process. And secondly, The ELOHIM proclaims that He
will forgive and heal.
In other words, the people seemingly
will receive grace, mercy and salvation once they are humbled and brought
low. Significantly, these exact same
ideas are powerfully meshed together elsewhere into one single theme in several
other important Scriptures (II Chron 12:7; 32:25-26; 34:27).
More Wisdom from Shaul
In his first letter to the Corinthians,
Shaul displayed another illustration of his perception on this needed change in
Adam (from pride to humility, in the form of the circumcision of the
heart).
In I Corinthians 15:40-49, Shaul
likened this change to the situation with the first Adam, a man of the
flesh--carnal and worldly (in living this life and deciding issues and
questions in life on the basis of the flesh; or effectively, doing what looks
good and desirable to carnal, fleshly man).
The apostle then compared this first Adam of the flesh to the natural or
terrestrial man (I Cor 15:40, 46).
But in the resurrection, the
resurrected saved person becomes like The Second Adam YESHUA, Who was a
celestial and spiritual person. Clearly,
the objective is to be transformed from the natural, fleshly person to a
spiritual person.
In addressing this text from I
Corinthians, the Oct-Dec 2002 “Hebrew Roots” (p. 1) said: “How do we become more ‘Spiritual?” Some believe that being Spiritual means
thinking ‘spiritual’ thoughts. Others
believe it is through prayer. Still
others believe spirituality comes through the study of Scripture and the
discussion of what it means with other like-minded believers. Still others equate spirituality with
praising God in song and/or dance, lifting ones hands in praise of God.
“All of the above are aspects of a
spiritual life, but no single one makes a person ‘spiritual.’ Spirituality is a total life experience. It means letting Abba (our Father) work His
will in every area of our lives. It
means that we do not withhold even a small portion of our personal life as
strictly our own, but that we allow ourselves to be completely yielded to God
and His way of life. The outcome of such
a life will then be displayed in our works.”
The above remarks are interesting; and
of course, they are things which the true believer wants to implement in his
life--especially, in the sense of spirituality being a total life
experience. As discussed in a former
chapter on Life and the Torah, the idea of living the Torah daily in all
activities is the backbone of truth and righteousness. However, this writer would like to go further
in assessing Shaul’s words.
This Writer’s View
As mentioned several times throughout
this study, the election is commanded to worship The ELOHIM in spirit and in
truth (Jo 4:24). The idea of truth seems
simple enough. But the concept of spirit
is more complex. Since the Scriptural
spirit represents mind and intellectual processes, it is easy to surmise that
one must worship The HIGHEST in a mental and intellectual awareness and
appreciation fashion.
By applying this analogy to Shaul’s
words to the Corinthians, it is easy to see that the transformation needed by
Adam is from the carnal flesh (where man approaches life and its events from a
fleshly point of view--with pride, vanity, greed, selfishness, etc) to a
spiritual position (involving the mental processes of the mind and
intelligence) to approach life and its events in the same way that YESHUA
tackled life (in a mental and intellectual process of conforming to YHWH’s way,
as taught in His Word).
We must intellectually understand (from
the Book) what needs to be done and then do it.
That’s why study is so crucial--so we can intellectually and by mind
power gain that knowledge and understanding of truth and righteousness and
transform our lives into YHWH’s thinking, thought processes and mental
awareness.
Applying this background to the present
situation, one can say that the natural man would like Christmas and other
worldly holidays. The spiritual man
would check these days out to determine YHWH’s position on them and relate them
to His festivals and set apart days.
In terms of sex, the natural man wants
almost all of it he can get. Conversely,
the spiritual man would conduct his sexual life in accordance with the
intellectual understanding of YHWH’s Words on sex. And this contrast can be stated in all facets
and aspects of man living this life in the present corrupt world of sin and
rebellion.
As was discussed in a former chapter on
the purpose of life, the idea is that YHWH is not only creating a man (Adam) in
His physical image, but He is creating a man (Adam) who can think, rationalize,
reflect upon, consider and determine intellectually how to face life as YHWH
has taught and outlined in the Torah (in other words, He is creating a man to
think like He thinks and/or to think with His mentality).
Therefore, the saved (resurrected) Adam
must begin to think like The ELOHIM, instead of a fleshly, carnal human being
(in approaching life and its many issues and problems). Thus, man must be changed from the flesh to
the spirit. Once in a true spiritual
condition, Adamites can use a mental/intellectual process to think like YHWH in
living all facets of life daily.
So
Therefore, it might be correct to say
that spirituality involves doing the things cited above from “Hebrew Roots,”
but doing them in the vein of an intellectual/mental process of trying to
duplicate the mentality and thinking of YHWH (as ascertainable from His
Word).
Hence, we should study, pray,
fellowship, sing songs, etc. But we
should do these things with mental awareness of what the Word teaches for the
true believer. We should try to
duplicate and live YHWH’s thinking on all these issues and practices. Of course, we can determine YHWH’s thinking
through study, prayer and so forth.
One can contrast this position of true
spirituality with what one can observe in the Pentecostal/Charismatic motions
(which will be addressed in some detail in later chapters). Holy Rollers typically equate spirituality
with emotionalism--which they demonstrate in their prayers, singing and worship
actions.
To the Holy Roller, getting a charge or
tingling up the spine or having fun and a good time or muttering some confused
gibberish or some other physical manifestation means true spirituality (and as
will be covered in the later chapters on the Holy Roller experience, the Holy
Rollers accomplish these actions based on their “feelings and emotions” and not
as an intellectual pursuit and understanding of truth from the Word).
But this emotionalism, good feelings
and having fun in worship (as occurs in Holy Roller practice) are not the way
or path of truth and righteousness as recorded in the Book.
Per the Word, true spirituality
involves a mental and intellectual process of trying to live life in accordance
with the teaching of the Word. Thus, it
involves intelligence, study, knowledge, understanding and wisdom in the vein
of having YHWH’s mind and thoughts. It
means applying YHWH’s mind to every activity and thought one engages in while
living in this corrupt world.
Spiritual Blindness
Also, in this regard and in particular,
the lover of truth will find hope in a key message which Yeshayahu penned when
he described that people's eyes and ears would be physically all right and
fully capable of seeing and hearing; yet these same eyes and ears would not see
or hear because of the presence of pride and vanity in their wicked hearts and
minds (Isa 6:1-10).
As Yeshayahu saw it, this condition of
spiritual blindness, apathy and indifference would continue in Yisrael until
the people experience their final period of chastisement and punishment. At that time, YHWH declares that He will
"heal and restore" them (Isa 6:10-13).
The point being is that in
"true" repentance, we must rend our hearts and not our clothes (Joel
2:13). We must be willing to dispense
with and give up and surrender our fleshly natures of pride, vanity, and
carnality in order to be properly converted, changed and healed.
In this instance, the Psalmist
pungently observed that YHWH hears the "meek" and will prepare their
hearts and cause their ears to hear (Ps 10:17).
The book of Job has similar expressions (Job 33:16-17; 40:11-12).
Therefore, it is no wonder then that
the achievement of true repentance also involves the attainment of a level,
status or reality of humility and meekness; which is, of course, the very
antitheses of pride and vanity. As
Yeshayahu saw it, YHWH looks on those individuals with a "humble"
heart (Isa 66:2).
As this writer has noted a number of
times, over and over, there is no place for pride and vanity in YHWH's
program. It's just not there and never
will be or can be there. With this
background, it is obvious then that YHWH resists the proud and gives grace to
the humble which the Book so often proclaims (II Sam 22:28; Ps 18:27; 51:17; Prov
3:34; Isa 57:14-19; 61:1; Matt 23:12; Lu 4:18; Jas 4:6; I Pet 5:5-6).
Humility and Meekness, Revisited
Since humility and meekness are the
objectives which all persons aspiring to salvation must attain, it would be
well to look briefly at these terms. The
English word "humble" and its cognates have several Hebrew and Greek
equivalents. Herein, we will look at
those primarily used.
First, Strong's “Hebrew Dictionary”
says that the Hebrew "anab" (correctly anav, mentioned in a prior
chapter) means "a prim. root (possibly...through the idea of looking down
or brow beating); to depress lit. or fig. trans. or intrans...abase self,
afflict (-ion, self), answer...chasten self, deal hardly with, defile,
exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish."
Next, for the Hebrew "kana,"
Strong's defines it as "a prim. root; prop. to bend the knee; hence to
humiliate, vanquish:--bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self),
subdue."
Also for “kana,” “William Wilson's
Hebrew Word Studies” says it means "to be bowed down; applied to the
humbling or mortifying the proud; to a wicked person being humbled for his sins
by repentance" (as at I Kg 21:29; II Kg 22:19; II Chron 7:14; 12:6, 7, 12;
30:11; 32:26; 33:12, 19, 23; 34:27; 36:12).
For the Hebrew word "raphac,"
Strong's has it as "a prim. root; to trample, i.e. prostrate:--humble
self, submit self." William Wilson
says "raphac" means "to trample; to let oneself be trampled
upon, to humble oneself."
Another Hebrew word for this usage is
"daka." The “Hebrew Word
Studies” book says that "daka" means "to bruise, to be in
distress; penitent, submissive to the will of God."
In terms of humble, one must finally
look at the Hebrew "shaphel," which Strong's defines as "a prim.
root; to depress or sink (espec. fig. to humiliate, intrans. or
trans.);--abase, bring (cast, put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay,
make, put) low (-er)."
Here, Wilson has it as "to be low
in situation, in mind, in condition, or in any other respect" (as at Prov
16:19; 29:23; Isa 2:9, 11; 5:15; 10:33; 42:15; Jer 13:18; Dan 5:22).
Regarding the Greek for humble,
Strong's reflects that "tapeinos" means "of uncert. der;
depressed, i.e. (fig.) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition):--base,
cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly." Also for "tapeinos," “Vine's
Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” defines it simple as
"primarily signifies low--lying."
Meek and Meekness
Turning now to meek and meekness, one
finds related definitions. First, for
the Hebrew "anaw," which links back to anab/anav, defined earlier,
William Wilson has it as "adj. oppressed, afflicted, wretched, but
everywhere with the accessory idea of humility, meekness, i.e. the humble, the
meek, who prefer to suffer wrong rather than do wrong, and who therefore enjoy
God's favour."
The related noun form in Greek is
"prautes" or "praotes" (as related to the previously
discussed praos/praus), which Vine has as "denotes meekness. In its use in Scripture, in which it has a
fuller, deeper significance than in non-scriptural Greek writings, it consists
not in a person's outward behavior only; nor yet in his relations to his
fellow-men; as little in his mere natural disposition.
“Rather it is an inward grace of the
soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we
accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting;
“it is closely linked with the word
'tapeinophrosune' (humility), and follows directly upon it, Eph 4:2; Col 3:12;
cp. the adjectives in the Sept. of Zeph 3:12, 'meek and lowly;' ...it is only
the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such does not fight
against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him.
“This meekness, however, being first of
all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men,
out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may
inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of
His elect. In Gal 5:23 it is associated
with 'enkrateia' self-control.
"The meaning of 'prautes' is not
readily expressed in English, for the terms meekness, mildness, commonly used,
suggest weakness and pusillanimity to a greater or less extent, whereas
'prautes' does nothing of the kind.
“Nevertheless, it is difficult to find
a rendering less open to objection than 'meekness', 'gentleness' has been
suggested, but as 'prautes' describes a condition of mind and heart, and as
'gentleness' is appropriate rather to actions, this word is no better than that
used in both English Versions. It must
be clearly understood, therefore, that the meekness manifested by the Lord and
commended to the believer is the fruit of power.
“The common assumption is that when a
man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was 'meek'
because he had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite
to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is
neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at
all..."
Please note in the above definitions,
the very obvious link between the ideas of meekness and humility. Literally, the two concepts go together. Also, it should be observed that there is
absolutely nothing in either term which would connote "weakness," at
least in usages implying a desirable state or attribute.
Self Humiliation and Abasement
Finally, please observe that the
various words are used in the vein of "self" humiliation and
abasement. Hence, one must not only be
very careful about thinking highly of self (improperly) and/or of bragging and
boasting on self; but also, one must be very prudent about even talking about
self to others and particularly in a vein that might suggest building up or
inflating one’s self in any way allowing for pride.
Perhaps YHWH brings on the humbling
process; but somehow, we must be willing to accept it as being good and
beneficial for our personalities.
In a word, the transition to humility
and meekness involves a “change” whereby proud, inflated, lifted up, glorious,
grand, elevated, expanded, important, big, shining people are changed into
small, little, insignificant, unimportant nobodies. Such a conversion truly must be
incomprehensible to our limited, carnal, human minds and mentalities.
Becoming New Born Babies
When we begin to understand and
appreciate the importance and value of humility and meekness, we can also
expand our intellect by grasping the meaning of the several references which
connect the truly repentant, called out person with the status or position of a
new born infant/baby, as outlined earlier.
This relationship surfaces in several
places in the Scriptures. Most
noticeably, it stands out in YESHUA's declaration that the real truth of
salvation is hidden from the wise, clever, learned and mighty men (the proud
ones) and is revealed unto babies (Matt 11:25; Lu 10:21).
Effectively, the Word seems to
communicate that the state of forgiveness and salvation starts with the very
elect becoming like "newborn" infants (I Cor 3:1; Heb 5:13). Kefa puts it well by alluding to the fact
that one must become like a newborn baby and through with the sins of carnality
and the flesh (pride and vanity) in order to attain completed salvation (I Pet
2:2).
This background takes the student of
truth to the question of the born again experience (Jo 3:2-8). This complicated reference has been debated
for ages by various Christian scholars. It will be elaborated upon in a later
presentation herein and needs not be addressed in any detail at this time. Suffice to say, the idea is a very Jewish
one, as will be subsequently discussed.
The Talmud quotes Shimon ben Lakish and
R. Yosi as teaching that a proselyte is like a newborn infant (Yevamot 48b,
62a, “Jewish New Testament Commentary,” p. 165). Rabbinic literature teaches conversion in the
context of a new creation (i.e. Genesis Rabbah 39:11, “Jewish New Testament
Commentary,” p. 165).
Certainly, there are a whole host of
other Scriptures which tie this concept of the needed humility and meekness in
grown, adult, called out ones in order to transform them into the status of
persons with the simplicity of small infants and children with their remarkable
humility and meekness.
Consequently, the writer Mattityahu
would, of course, quote YESHUA on His point that truly elected individuals must
humble themselves into the position of being like a little child (Matt
18:4). Furthermore, Mattityahu recorded
for us The MESSIAH's observation that the "little ones" (obviously
the meek and humble ones) each have a guardian angel overseeing their progress
in the heaven (Matt 18:10).
Another powerful message surfaces in
the statement that YHWH has established strength and perfect praise out of the
mouths of babies and infants (Ps 8:2; Matt 21:15-16). The point being is that very small newborn babies
and infants are extremely helpless and sinless.
In terms of secular society, they represent the epitome of humility and
meekness.
In a sense, if any person can be in a
state of perfection on this earth while in the flesh, it has to be newborn
babies. Once we start growing and
maturing, in the flesh, pride, vanity and carnality begin forming to make us
wretched, dirty, stinking sinners.
Reconciliation, Revisited
Of course, there are preliminary steps
to be accomplished before a person can ever begin to experience the new
birth. These requirements have been
discussed in previous chapters on the reconciliation process--which assuredly
involves repentance--to include repair, restoration and restitution. Apologies must be made and the status quo
restored, as it was before sin entered the picture.
To summarize, please consider the fact
that it is YHWH YESHUA, Alone, Who grants the called out ones the
"gift" of true repentance and grace.
Too, the Book categorically asserts that grace, mercy and forgiveness
can only come to the humble and meek (Prov 3:34; Matt 23:12; Jas 4:6; I Pet
5:5-6).
Since this conversion and change is a
free gift, is it conceivable that anyone can earn it by doing any works,
actions or deeds? Thus, can anyone of us
effectively deal with the pride, vanity, carnality and worldliness in our
wicked, evil hearts and minds without the involvement of YHWH YESHUA? The answer has to be “no.”
The Destruction of Pride
Previous chapters and the above
comments on pride have focused in a general way on how YHWH YESHUA has dealt
with pride and vanity in the lives of certain people. This section at hand will continue this theme
with a more careful look at the extraordinary measures called for to finally
destroy and crush this evil and wickedness in the hearts and minds of men.
And clearly, there is an abundance of
reasons to believe that ultimately an extreme and trying experience is
necessary, as was demonstrated in the cases of Iyov, Moshe, Eliyahu, Shaul,
Nebuchadnezzar and others before pride and vanity could be successfully
concluded and relegated to history.
As has been discussed earlier, the
objective of this issue of eliminating pride apparently involves the gift of
true repentance and the attainment of real conversion. This change consists of the Scripturally
mentioned circumcision of the heart and the replacement of pride and vanity
with humility and meekness.
And certainly, these are very difficult
and seemingly impossible goals to achieve by limited, mortal men. In a word, the transition isn't easy at all
without supernatural help from above.
The process of real reconciliation can
be described as one whereby our proud, vain, carnal and fleshly hearts and
spirits are crushed and broken in a dramatic and powerful way, so that they
will become penitent, humble and meek (Job 24:20; Ps 31:12; 38:8; 51:17; Prov
6:12-19; 15:13, 25; 17:22).
In a sense, conversion can be liken to
the situation where a man breaks a proud horse and/or a fat bullock in order to
use them for riding and working. It's
not an easy chore at all. When David
went through his trial of great repentance, he said that he was severely broken
and groaned from the turmoil in his heart (Ps 38:8).
Numbers of other Scriptures tell us of
various and sundry other individuals and peoples who also went through this
transition or who must yet face it sometime in the future--like Naomi (Ruth
1:21), Iyov (Job 3:4), Yonah (Jonah 2:2), Yirmeyahu (Jer 23:9), the House of
Yehudah (Ezek 4:2-4), the daughters of Jerusalem (Jer 14:17), the population of
Ephraim (Hos 5:11), and evil and wicked persons in general (Isa 28:13).
The Transformation
While most of us in our proud and vain
states may have problems in appreciating this change to meekness and humility,
the verity is that the end thereof is for our personal benefit. Literally, we must be crushed and humbled
dramatically in order to really understand the important topics of repentance,
salvation and righteousness (Ps 119:130; Isa 28:9; Lu 10:21; Jo 13:2-17).
Therefore, it is good for us to be
humbled and brought low (Ps 119:71). In
terms of the future, the Book says that we should seek The HIGHEST and humility
in order to be given shelter in the day of YHWH's anger (Zeph 2:3).
In a sense, this movement to true
repentance, salvation and righteousness seems to demand an incredible period of
punishment, chastisement and correction by The MOST HIGH, as discussed
previously, in order to break the presence of pride and vanity in the wicked
hearts and minds of men (Lev 26:19; Deut 8:5; Ps 94:10-12; Isa 10:5-16; Amos 3:6).
Discipline, Revisited
Those of us familiar with the need to
occasionally use punishment and chastisement to effect correction and change in
the habits of children can more readily appreciate what all can be involved in
this endeavor.
In this context, please consider just a
few of the following far reaching words of wisdom. Moshe wrote that as a man disciplines,
chastens and instructs his son, so also does YHWH chastens, disciplines and
instructs His people in the same manner (Deut 8:5). Eliphaz observed that the man, YHWH chastens,
should be happy and should not reject that correction (Job 5:17).
The Psalmist has it that blessed,
happy, and well off is the man whom YHWH disciplines and instructs (Ps
94:12). The wise Shlomo declared that we
should not despise the chastisement and punishment from YHWH--since those He
loves, He corrects (Prov 3:11-12).
Shaul put it well by saying that when
the very elect fall short and are judged by YHWH, He disciplines them so that
they might not be condemned to eternal punishment (I Cor 11:32) and that He
chastens and disciplines those He loves and punishes every one of them He
accepts (Heb 12:6). Therefore, we should
willingly submit to YHWH's punishment since human fathers do correct and
discipline their sons without which discipline they would be accorded as
illegitimate offspring and not true sons at all (Heb 12:7-11).
Yohanan goes on to note that those whom
YHWH loves, He rebukes, chastens and disciplines (Rev 3:19). Probably, because of the reality of these
charges, it is no wonder then that David would cry out in agony for YHWH to
chasten and correct him, but not in anger (Ps 6:1; 38:1).
Obviously, if any of us ever expects to
have the gift of true grace and life from YHWH YESHUA, then of necessity, we
must desire, anticipate and welcome The MOST HIGH's chastisement, punishment
and correction (Ps 118:18; Prov 19:18; II Cor 6:9).
Furthermore, as Iyov eventually learned
in his great trial and time of punishment, sorrow and suffering, the discipline
process is placed upon us so that we might have our ears opened and hear The
ELOHIM's voice, and understand His Word--as He punishes and chastens us with
strife in our bones in order to remove, cut off, and destroy the wickedness of
pride and vanity from our fleshly hearts and minds (Job 33:16-19).
This single perception by Iyov goes a
long way in order to clear up the "why" it is necessary for us to
undergo punishment and distress. It is
no wonder that we should welcome and court the correction with all our souls
and might.
The Prophets
The prophets also saw the process in
some other most explicit and precise fashions.
Yeshayahu wrote that in the future, the glory of Yakov would be brought
low and the fat (pride and confidence) of his flesh would be made lean (Isa
17:4). Yirmeyahu has it that Ephraim, at
a later time, is to be chastened to repentance as a bull is put in a yoke to be
turned, humbled and broken (Jer 30:11).
Yechezkel observed that The SUPREME
will heal the people of Yisrael by destroying their fat (proud), hard hearts in
judgment and punishment (Ezek 34:16).
Hosea describes it by saying that YHWH turns from Ephraim--until Ephraim
turns to Him and repents in a time of affliction and distress (Hos 5:15).
Amos pungently noted that punishment
for sin won't come upon us--except that The EVERLIVING ONE has caused it (Amos
3:6). Unquestionably, the proud, vain,
uncircumcised hearts of all sinners must one day be punished and changed in
order for The SOVEREIGN to accomplish His plan and purpose for Adam (Jer
9:25-26; 13:15-17; Hos 5:5).
And those of us privileged and blessed
to be chastened and corrected by The EVERLASTING in this age should accept it
and not be dumb enough to refuse it or to fight against it (Prov 28:14; 29:1;
Jer 5:3). For the stubborn and hard
headed, the punishment can be extremely tragic and trying--to include even the
breaking of arms (Ps 37:17; Ezek 30:22).
Tobit and Shaul
As discussed in former comments, Shaul
wrote one of the most beautiful expressions of all in the Book when he noted
that all things work together for good for those who love The ELOHIM and are
called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
For certain, in the case of the members of the election, this piece of
wisdom must ring true. Despite all the
troubles and sorrow, all things will work together for good for the
election.
The ancient Apocrypha book of Tobit had
some interesting words along the same lines which clearly linked to the book of
Job and the later wisdom of Shaul. As
outlined earlier, Tobit was a very ancient story of two House of Yisrael
families in far away Assyrian captivity.
Like Iyov and so many others, their lives were extremely difficult.
The “Dictionary of Judaism in the
Biblical Period” (p. 636) offers this assessment of the point of the book of
Tobit. Per this source, Tobit recognizes
A Providential MOST HIGH Who “orchestrates events toward a beneficent
resolution for the pious even when they are totally oblivious of this
fact.”
Going on, Tobit provides that through
suffering, The ELOHIM scourges righteous individuals and the nation (of
Yisrael) for their sins so that they might obtain mercy--a release from their
ills and a return to a restored Jerusalem.
Chapter
97--The Difficulty in Dealing With Pride
Reconciliation Is Like Refining Gold
and Silver
The
putting of the flesh to death is no easy proposition. There is every reason to believe that the
process can take and probably often does take a long span of time, as is the
practice in Judaism for her converts even to this day (Acts 13:15-43; 15:21; 16:13;
17:2-4, 10-12, 17; 18:4, 7-11, 19, 24-25; 19:1-8).
Of
course, on our own, no human could ever achieve reconciliation. In a word, this repentance, conversion and
change process involves a time of “trial” in a fiery furnace of trouble and
testing.
The severity of the process is
poignantly thrown at us in a most convincing way in the Scriptures. The ELOHIM has chosen to correlate it to the
methods followed by men in purifying and refining silver and gold ore into
pure, fine products by using intense heat to remove the impurities.
This practice consists of placing the
silver and gold in a furnace of fire and great heat (Ps 12:6; 66:10; Jer
6:27-30; Zech 13:8-9; Mal 3:2-3; Mk 9:49; Acts 15:9; Jas 4:8). Yirmeyahu aptly described this process by saying
that YHWH will melt the chosen ones by the process of affliction to remove the
dross and to test them (Jer 9:7).
In
a word, The MOST HIGH purges away the dross (Isa 1:25; Jer 9:7) in a fiery
furnace of affliction (Isa 48:10; Dan 11:35; 12:10) in order to make a man more
rare than finest gold (Isa 13:12; Lam 4:2).
Obviously, the melting process will remove the impurities of fleshliness
and carnality from the hearts and minds of the election.
The
linkage of the election’s true conversion to the refinement of metal (Prov
17:3; Isa 48:10; Jer 9:7; Zech 13:9; Mal 3:3) is of great importance in
attempting to understand salvation from the Book; because in allegory, The
HIGHEST uses refined silver as a type or example of converted, reconciled,
saved individuals in general.
Apparently, the gold analogy is for only a specific limited portion of
the election (the very elect?).
Thus, there is a positive linkage of
the concept of refining silver to the conversion and reconciliation of the
elect ones for salvation in the Apostolic Assembly and in the age end. The point must be made that the election will
enter the Kingdom under much adversity, trial and trouble. It has been and will be a very tough road for
them.
Effectively, the elect will be receiving
new hearts and minds (Jer 24:7; 31:33; 32:39: Ezek 18:31; 36:26; Heb 8:10;
10:16). Thus, this trial of faith
(clearly, for some men--like maybe the very elect) is more precious than gold
tested by the hottest fire (I Pet 1:6-7).
The Trial
The trial which one must go through
perhaps may include slavery and bondage; sickness, disease and loss of health;
economic poverty and want; loneliness with no social intercourse with others;
lack or curtailment of the basic needs of food, water, shelter, heat, sleep,
rest, etc; lack of physical comforts like clothing, transportation, etc; great,
trying, mental distress; and other equally harsh and painful measures for human
beings to experience.
The punishment needed to effect
correction may seem severe and trying.
But it has to be that way because most, if not all of us, are so
incredibly proud, vain, stubborn and rebellious that the breaking procedure has
to be severe and to include any or all of the punishments just mentioned.
Literally, if The HIGHEST has His hand
on any one of us with an objective of conversion and change from pride and
vanity to humility and meekness, then we can be assured that He will break our
backs, blind us, place us in outright slavery and bondage, or do whatever is called
for and over whatever time period is necessary in a physical, correcting sense
to bring about His objective.
We may be big, proud, vain, arrogant,
important, wise, prosperous, fat, healthy, stubborn persons one day; but YHWH
can change all of that very quickly in one fast motion, as He did with Iyov; or
He may take some time and spread the punishment and correction out over years
and years, as He seemingly did with Moshe and Nebuchadnezzar.
However, which ever way He chooses, it
will come and come about obviously in the proper fashion. Consequently, we can be brought to abasement
through such things as sickness; affliction; slavery; war; oppression; loss of
relatives, friends and loved ones; and so forth--in the context of horrible and
terrifying ordeals of fire and suffering.
Effectively, we can be crushed so hard
and thorough that our human natures of "self"--self righteousness,
self confidence, self trust, self esteem, self satisfaction, self sufficiency,
self will, etc--will collapse and fall by the wayside.
Or as the Apostle Shaul put it to the
Romans--the very elect must undergo a process whereby the carnal flesh, with
its passions and lusts are impaled ("crucified," as the KJV
incorrectly has it) and nailed to a tree of death and destruction (Rom
6:6).
Of course, too, as we are defeated in
our battle with YHWH and as we are brought low enough to give up
"self," then we will also be giving up the pride of life--confidence
in others and this worldly system of man-made institutions, programs,
governments, ideas and thinking.
The point is that as YHWH does start to
work on any one of us (and we each should pray that He shall), then He will do
whatever is necessary over whatever time frame that is called for in order to
bring about the desirable state of humility and meekness.
The End of Self Will
Self will, which is perhaps one of the
most difficult issues of all in pride, has to eventually be crushed and
destroyed. As long as we persist in our
self will for our lives and every day acts and actions, then we cannot receive
the gift of grace and salvation. In a
word, we must be broken and broken so dramatically that we surrender, abandon
and give up self will in our lives.
Naturally, this is a very hard task to
be accomplished because we all want to do things our way and according to our
thinking and judgment about right and wrong.
However, The MOST HIGH knows how to address the problem. Therefore, in time, self will must go. It must be exterminated. And by YHWH's Word, He will see to it's
destruction in the elect.
As the Psalmist wrote it, we are
brought low and humbled through oppression, affliction and sorrow (Ps 102:23;
107:39). It is no wonder then that we
can say "before i was afflicted, i went astray" (Ps 119:67).
In other words, i sinned and YHWH
corrected me by affliction (Ps 88:7; 90:15; 118:18; 119:75; Lam 1:12; 3:31-33:
Mic 4:6). Or as Yeshayahu wrote it--YHWH
has afflicted me so that He might hear me and give me grace (Isa
30:18-21).
Obviously, He must humble us in order
to hear us--since His Word carefully notes that He does not hear or listen to
sinners (Job 35:12-13; Ps 66:18; Prov 15:29; 28:9; Isa 1:15; 59:1-3; Mic 3:4:
Zech 7:12-13; Jo 9:31; Jas 4:3). Truly,
it does take a period of real trial, affliction and repentance in order to be
heard on high (Job 34:28).
Once the proud, vain, human spirit is
effectively crushed, broken and reduced to humility and meekness through the
terrible ordeal of affliction, then The ELOHIM is ready to grant us the gift of
grace and use us for enormously constructive and beneficial purposes which are
just out of the question in the context of the flesh of pride, vanity and
carnality.
The Outcome
In terms of the end result of the
transformation, the Psalmist described it by saying that The MOST HIGH delivers
the elect from their many afflictions (Ps 34:19); heals and binds up the wounds
and cures the pains and sorrows (Ps 147:3); and revives after afflicting (Ps
119:107), as we cry for mercy in the trial of our affliction (Ps 25:16).
For the ultimate outcome, the writer of
Chronicles put it well by noting that if we humble ourselves, The HIGHEST will
hear and heal (II Chron 7:14); and when we cry out to Him in our affliction, He
hears and heals (II Chron 20:9).
Iyov learned through his incredible
ordeal that YHWH binds with affliction the profane in heart and delivers the
poor (humble) in affliction as He opens their ears in oppression (Job 34:28;
36:13-15).
David observed that YHWH is close to
those of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and
those who are humbly and thoroughly penitent (Ps 34:18), and that the sacrifice
which is acceptable to The ELOHIM is a broken spirit and heart with sorrow for
sin and being humbly and thoroughly penitent (Ps 51:17).
Yeshayahu has it that The EVERLIVING
looks upon the broken hearted and heals by removing the stumbling block from
the penitent, and humbling the one bruised with sorrow and sin (Isa 57:14-19;
61:1).
Yirmeyahu put it well by observing that
The SUPREME will break down, destroy and afflict before building and planting
(Jer 31:28); that YHWH is a refuge in the day of affliction (Jer 16:19); and
therefore, happy is the man that The ELOHIM chastens--since He bruises, wounds
and heals (Jer 5:1-29).
Hosea said it by noting that The
EVERLASTING has torn and stricken so that He may heal and bind up (Hos
6:1). Luke saw it in his words that
YESHUA was sent to heal those broken in heart and spirit (Lu 4:18). And finally, Shaul summed it up by saying
that we are afflicted from The HIGHEST for our own salvation (II Cor 1:6).
Following the trial in the burning
furnace of affliction, the Book tells us--happy is the man YHWH corrects (Job
5:17); blessed is the man The ELOHIM chastens (Ps 94:12); it is good that i was
afflicted (Ps 119:71); The HIGHEST corrects those He loves (Prov 3:12); The
SUPREME corrects in right judgment (Isa 28:26); and of those He loves, The
ELOHIM chastens them like sons, so that they won't be illegitimate (Heb
12:5-11).
The Paradox
It is a paradox of sorts, but when we
humans are fat, prosperous, well off, have health, enjoy possessions, have
position and status and live the so-called "good" life, then we
become proud and vain over ourselves and turn from The MOST HIGH, as noted previously.
Consequently, we become cut off and
separated from His grace, mercy and salvation.
It is in this context that Iyov, Moshe and the rest of us have found
ourselves. And as outlined above, the
removal and destruction of this resulting pride and vanity from our wicked
hearts seem to take a time of great trial, testing and affliction. It is not an easy proposition to become truly
humble and meek in the proper sense.
On this, a report from the Sep 1989
“Wisdom & Power” Christian magazine said that "a rabbi was asked a
question by a pupil referring to Deuteronomy 6:6: 'And these words, which I command thee this
day, shall be upon thy heart. Why is it
said this way?' the pupil asked. 'Why
are we not told to place them in our heart?'
The rabbi answered that it is not within man's power to place the divine
teachings directly in his heart. 'All
that we can do is place them on the surface of the heart so that when the heart
breaks they will drop in.' "
In terms of real wisdom, Yirmeyahu
wrote a prayer which David had uttered centuries before that should be on the
lips and in the hearts and minds of all of us.
As quoted earlier, he said:
"Oh YHWH, chasten and correct me, but not in your anger" (Jer
10:24).
Of course, the elect are judged and chastened
here in this age and life so that they will not be condemned in a future age
and life (I Cor 11:31-32). Finally,
David put it well by saying that “in the day of my trouble, I will call upon
You (YHWH), for You will answer me” (Ps 86:7).
Carnality Must Be Put To Death
Thus,
numerous Scriptures describe the process of reconciliation and conversion. Shaul put it well at Romans 8:1-15, which was
a prelude to the introduction of the subject of adoption, discussed earlier. Shaul stipulated that conversion means
putting the flesh (which is enmity towards The ELOHIM) to death and replacing
it with the Spirit.
In
allegory, this putting to death of the flesh is additionally liken in the
Scriptures to the circumcision of the heart, described earlier (Lev 26:40-42;
Ps 34:14-18; Jer 4:1-4, 14).
It
involves a human, emotional response of literally being extremely ashamed and
sorry (for one’s carnality and resulting sins) and hating and loathing one’s
self (Ezra 9:6; Job 9:21, 31; 40:4-5; 42:6; Jer 31:19; Ezek 6:9; 16:63; 20:43;
33:10-12; 36:31; Matt 16:25; Mk 8:35; Jo 12:25).
The
Manual of Discipline from the Dead Sea Scrolls mentions this circumcision of
the heart as “to walk humbly, and circumcise
in unity the foreskin of evil inclination and stubbornness” (“Who Wrote the
Dead Sea Scrolls,” p. 70). So this idea
was one found evidently among the Essenes, as well as the Nazarenes.
The
Psalms have a number of references that focus on the change which a repenting
sinner must undergo. Repeatedly, the
message is that the process of repentance and dealing with human carnality
involves the attainment and possession of a broken and contrite heart (Ps
34:18; 51:17, 19; 147:3).
In
a commentary on Psalms 51:17-19, Piska 24.5 states that “When praying for the
sacrifices of God, the spirit must be bowed and broken” (“Pesikta De-Rab
Kahana,” p. 368). Yes, the proud and
vain heart (spirit) of a sinner must be broken and crushed.
Effectively,
the goal of this process is that the formerly proud, vain, fleshly person must
be reduced and changed to being a reconciled individual of true humility. This need is repeatedly brought out in the
Book in the statement that The ELOHIM resists the proud and gives grace to the humble
(II Sam 22:28; Ps 10:17; 18:27; 51:17; Prov 3:34; Isa 57:14-19; 61:1; Matt
23:12; Lu 4:18; Jas 4:6; I Pet 5:5-6).
Many
persons are familiar with YESHUA’s remarks on the practice of humility at a
wedding feast (Lu 14:8-11).
Those
words are very similar to the teachings of the famous Hillel (whom YESHUA may
have identified with) who said “whoever humbles himself, the Holy One, blessed
be he, raises him up, but whoever exalts himself, the Holy One, blessed be he,
humbles him” (Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 13b, per Nov/Dec “Jerusalem
Perspective,” p.14).
A
Personal Testimony
From
time to time, in this production, this writer has mentioned some of my sins and
how they were recalled and brought to my attention many, many years after they
occurred. In the main, these were sins
which i engaged in before my “supposed” conversion, which happened some 30
years ago.
In
other words, whether these before conversion sins were sins definable as chet,
pesha, maal, awon, shagah or asham, they would all probably be of the same
caliber in terms of forgiveness from YESHUA’s shed blood in the context of a
true transformation.
In
other words, this writer believes that upon conversion, those sins would be
forgiven--providing that i have went through the proper process of
repentance--which includes recall, regret, repair, restitution, restoration and
return, described earlier. Manifestly,
once i went through the proper repentance course for all, “100%,” of my sins,
then i would achieve reconciliation.
The
problem that surfaces is that while i was “supposedly” converted some 30 years
ago, i never properly repented of all 100% of my sins at that time nor did i
deal with the carnality problem, mentioned above.
Even
when i understood that transgression of the law (the Torah) was sin and after I
had accepted the Sabbaths and made a resolve to obey all the Torah completely,
i did not achieve reconciliation with my supposed conversion. As so many other people have went through a
limited repentance process upon conversion, i, too, followed this same path of
so-called repentance when i was first supposedly changed.
But
my repentance then was only of a general nature in an acknowledgment to YHWH
YESHUA that i had sinned. At that time,
i knew nothing about having to deal with the many specific sins in my life in
the context of recall, repair, restitution, restoration and regret.
Now,
i am convinced that true reconciliation did not come with this first step of
conversion years ago. Instead, what has
happened is that in the ensuing years, i have been recalling the grueling,
nitty-gritty details of specific sins that i committed many years earlier. In my recall, i have been greatly hurt,
ashamed, crushed, anguished and humiliated over having to think about
them.
In
appropriate situations, i have had to face up to repair, reconciliation and
restoration which can be a very difficult procedure to follow. After 30 years of this hurt, i now know and
understand that i never ever got away with sin.
This writer has had to seemingly face up to all of them and be terribly
hurt and in sorrow with tears and grief over them--and often on an individual,
specific basis. This has not been a easy
process for me.
In
making this statement, it must be said in the sense that i have not knowingly
rejected or refused to address the recollection of my sins (as painful and
sorrowful as the process has been). On
the contrary, i have essentially wanted them to come out in my life and in my
conscious awareness, so that i could deal with them on a case by case
basis.
In
the main, i have not run from my former sins because it is better that they be
dealt with in this life than of having to face them in a future age (blessed is
the man that YHWH corrects in this life).
After
going through this repentance process for years now, i am assured that as i
have properly repented of those sins (in the context of recall, repair,
restitution, restoration and regret), i have been forgiven. This writer can sleep nights with that
assurance. However, these remarks are
made in the context of “past” sins of whatever nature and however they are to
be defined.
Supposed or a Real Conversion
But
all of my sinning didn’t stop with my supposed conversion some 30 years
ago. This writer believes presently that
my sins of pesha, maal and awon were perhaps addressed and dealt with in that
initial conversion.
However,
the possibility (indeed likelihood) of sins of chet, shagah or asham remained
because i simply never dealt with the flesh at that time and the sins of the
flesh (of a chet, shagah or asham definition).
Manifestly,
when i was supposedly converted, i had almost no understanding or comprehension
of the pride problem and the need to be crushed and brought into a true state
of humility.
Even
today, i am not certain that i am properly humble as i should be and as i
really want to be. Assuredly, i want
true humility. But achieving that state
is no easy proposition; because, in many ways, there is a dilemma in defining
and intellectually grasping an understanding of true humility.
True
humility (not weakness) involves a very difficult process and one which seems
to include an intervention into the life of a supposed convert by The MOST HIGH
with action by Him to crush and destroy the carnal flesh and replace it with
true humility. This can take many, many
years.
As
outlined formerly, it was Iyov who was to be a member of YHWH’s election and
not the children of Iyov (who died during Iyov’s trial). Accordingly, Iyov was the one who was
punished, chastised and corrected, as a father corrects and disciplines a son. Once The Potter YHWH put His hand on Iyov,
there was no escaping the ultimate outcome.
Iyov was punished sufficiently for him to achieve humility and
reconciliation.
A Great Trial
As
discussed earlier, this writer has went through a great time of punishment,
hurt and pain. Not only has this trial
been tough from the standpoint of recalling and repenting of my enormous sins,
but i have had other problems which simply would not go away.
After
i messed up my life and the lives of two former wives, i so badly wanted
another wife. But it was not to
be--hopefully, because i had never before properly repented and dealt with the
sins in my life (particularly, in the context of fornication--to include
adultery). This has been an
extraordinary punishment for the last 30 years.
Coupled
with this need and desire for a woman, i developed some sickness also some 30
years ago. It started with damage to my
inner ear which resulted in a continuous, day and night trial of having a
constant ringing in my ears.
Later,
i developed some digestion problems. All
of this has been a very difficult thing for me to have to face for many years
and especially in the sense that i believe in faith healing from The MOST
HIGH.
For
years, i agonized over my dilemma and never understood what all was involved in
true repentance. Finally, about ten
years ago, i stumbled (or hopefully was led by YHWH YESHUA) into the reality of
the pride and vanity problem and how i had never dealt with it or of the
repentance of all of the specific sins in my life. While i perhaps am still unreconciled, i am
working on it daily.
Since
i was still in the flesh and still thinking and addressing the problems of life
from a fleshly point of view, i have committed further sins since my alleged
conversion. However, in those cases, it
would seem that the succeeding sins have been in a category of chet, shagah or
asham--due to the weakness of my flesh.
A Woman In Need
As
an illustration of how recall works, something that happened some 24 years ago
came to my attention just recently.
Some
24 years ago, i became acquainted with a woman overseas with a child in a
wheelchair (a rea, racial kinsmen, supposedly of a faith similar in some ways
to mine). The woman’s husband had
apparently abandoned her and she was working trying to support herself and the
child. She learned of a treatment at a
hospital in the US which would help the child who otherwise was not expected to
live much longer.
She
wrote me asking if i could help her financially to bring the child to the US
for this treatment. Despite YHWH’s laws
dealing with charity to needy rea brethren (Gen 18:19; Lev 25:35-36; Deut
15:7-11; Isaiah 54:14) and the wonderful words of Yakov which address the need
to help widowed women and orphaned children (Jas 1:27), i failed to perform a
mitzwah and help this woman.
While
i didn’t have a lot of money, i had some and certainly enough to give her some
help--assuming that the treatment would have been legal and proper, per YAH’s
Torah (to be broached in a later chapter).
And if not, i should have at least discussed it with her and offered
some help or an alternative.
Well,
i did nothing of value for her and failed to seize the opportunity to perform a
positive mitzwah. Instead, i referred
her to a religious group of her faith which i irresponsibly thought would help
her. Actually, they didn’t help. So the child died.
Two Issues
Two
points now surface from this presentation.
First, i thought no more about this whole event until last night (the
22d day of the 4th moon in 1999) when i recalled this great sin (of the flesh
due to ignorance, carelessness, indifference, selfishness, pride and/or
whatever). Shame and sorrow now dominate
my feelings.
Now,
this sin (probably of chet) happened some five years or so after my supposed conversion. When it happened, i gave it no thought. In fact, until 24 years later, i really never
ever addressed it in the context of sin, although i have done so this date.
Probably,
if the Temple was now standing, i could go there (after the appropriate
repentance, regret, repair, restitution, restoration and apology) and render a
sacrifice to cover that single sin done in ignorance--evidently because of the
flesh (the evil inclination in man).
In
that case, i would assuredly be forgiven.
Alternatively, i can call upon YHWH YESHUA’s shed blood--after suitable
repentance, regret, repair, restitution and restoration (again and once more in
the sense of a future sin following my conversion).
There
is a second feature about this illustration.
Most of us go through life and ignore, by-pass, or fail to take hold of
each and every opportunity to perform a positive mitzwah (in other words, do a
positive commandment from the Torah).
Whenever we allow one of these chances to go by without action, the later
repentance is even more difficult.
One
would hope that AVINU would take a switch or board and lay it on his bottom
until he gets the message. But that’s
not the way YHWH typically reacts.
Instead, the punishment, discipline and correction will come in some
other manner--perhaps as it has come to me in the sense of having to recall the
above incident and be in pain and sorrow over it.
The Privilege of Obeying A Positive
Commandment
Yes,
all of us should welcome, seek, desire and strive after an opportunity to
perform a positive commandment from the Torah.
Hence, if we are walking down a road and see a neighbor’s animal in a
ditch, we should welcome the privilege to help the animal out of the
ditch.
Whenever
we have a chance to offer charity and help to needy, rea brethren (especially
widows and orphans, who usually are needy), we should count it a privilege that
such an opportunity came to us.
As
described in a former chapter, the great Jewish scholar Maimonides compiled a
list of at least 613 mitzwot specifically addressed in the Torah. Manifestly, these 613 mitzwot (and possibly
some others missed by Maimonides) define and establish what is sin. The violation or transgression of any one of
them does constitute sin. Our violation
of these laws is why YESHUA chose to die.
As
Maimonides found, some 365 of these mitzwot consist of negative commandments
(things we are not supposed to do) while 248 are positive commandments (of
things we are supposed to do). A
positive command seems to always take precedence over a negative command. Yes, we each should walk the extra mile and
desire an opportunity to perform a mitzwah.
Chapter
98--Pride and Truth
The Problem Over Truth
The
reality of people being apathetic, indifferent and just don't care toward truth
has been mentioned in preceding chapters.
While
the Word seems clear enough that we fleshly humans cannot see the carnality,
pride and vanity in our own evil hearts--and thus, cannot correctly repent and
be converted--the relevance of the apathy, indifference and don't care usually
projects far beyond the matter of repentance and change.
Clearly,
the apathy, indifference and lack of interest seemingly affects and extends to
cover much of our general attitude toward the whole idea of truth. In short, we just are not particularly
interested in anything of true spiritual content, whether we can understand it
or not.
Having
said that, it appears manifest that while many persons are not especially
interested in overall truth, sometimes, some of them can muster a measure of
concern and even get on fire over certain specific Scriptural truths which can
promote, fuel and contribute to pride and vanity in their wicked
personalities.
Thus,
most people are just not interested in the broad concept of truth, but
occasionally some will muster concern, energy and yes even spend some money to
supposedly learn several Scriptural points.
For
instance, Christians like ideas on being "saved" and obtaining a
state of "righteousness" by saying the words "I believe in so
and so," falling down on the floor, standing up in a meeting, running down
a church auditorium aisle, muttering some gibberish from a demon, being
baptized in a certain name, having a false preacher lay hands on them, and on
and on in terms of the granting of self righteousness, confidence, security,
pride and vanity.
Furthermore,
some individuals can actually get all excited and motivated over some specific
item or items of truth which sometimes can even include one or more of YHWH's
mitzwah. Therefore, the subject of
identity, the so-called "Sacred Names," the weekly Sabbath, the
annual Sabbaths, etc can become points of interest and even passion to certain
people.
Even Truth Can Become Pride
But
too often, these few issues are just about the extent of interest; and they
quickly become the basis for pride and vanity to surface and cause evil and
wickedness from things which should be known and used for good.
One
can see this very situation materializing especially when religious persons
come to accept a belief and theory that they are saved, righteous and good
because they have accepted a particular belief and hold to it seriously. Thus, because they keep the Sabbath, the
feast days, don't say the word "Gee-Zeus" or something else, they
really think that their ticket is punched and that they've got it made.
Once
our carnal, evil hearts and minds convince us that we have satisfaction,
security, contentment, confidence, trust, pride and vanity from some act or
action on our part, we then can become quite apathetic, indifferent and don't
care about the overall spectrum of truth, although we may retain some interest
in the particular manifestation giving us the confidence, pride and
vanity.
Of
course, apathy and indifference remains as one of the primary problems facing
so-called humanity at large. Even
religious Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Sacred Namers, Identity types,
and on and on in terms of man’s religions are all under and face the same
indictment.
Virtually
all persons presently in the world and here for the last 1,930 years or so
(since the Apostolic Assembly times) have been and are filled with apathy and
indifference with but few exceptions--if any.
People,
collectively, just are not interested, dedicated and committed to the task of
finding out much truth. The hearts of
man, generally, are not focused on the topic of truth, the acquisition of truth
or the spreading of truth--except for purposes of carnality, pride and
vanity.
Why?
And
why is it that the hearts of man, generally, are so incredibly apathetic and
indifferent toward truth? If the hearts
of man won’t get interested in truth, where are they focused and directed? Why it should be quite obvious to anyone
above the moron level that man is completely obsessed with his idols, loves and
gods which react in his mind and mental facilities to breed and promote pride
and vanity.
As
pointed out previously, carnal man is specifically devoted to his sources of
pride and vanity--like his women, his children, his land holdings, his
investments, his automobiles, his entertainment, his hobbies, his pet animals,
his interests, his churches and yes, even his pet religious ideas and beliefs,
etc.
Of
course, all of these things settle in our carnal, fleshly hearts, minds and
attitudes to promote within us self righteousness, self satisfaction, self
sufficiency, self will, self esteem, self confidence, self trust, pride and
vanity.
Yes,
men’s hearts and concerns are pointed toward their real loves, idols, and
gods. Truth is just not high on the
agenda of carnal, corrupt man. In short,
the hearts and minds of evil men are just not on truth. They are decidedly pointed in other
directions. It is no wonder then that
the Book declares that no one understands.
Understanding is just not important when apathy and indifference are
present.
The Apathy Dilemma
To
demonstrate how far this apathy and indifference can extend, this writer will
share a few first hand observations on the historical distribution of some of
the information contained herein. In
this production, several possibly important topics focusing on the reality of
the incredible evil, wickedness, and sickness of our time have been brought
together for the lover of truth to address.
Many
of these presentations have been made from a very new perspective with
original, new material which surely would make the lover of truth sit up and
project some interest and concern about their own individual lives and for the
futures of their children, neighbors, friends and family members.
However,
the vast majority of people, including Christian readers, with but few “rare”
exceptions, could care less one way or the other.
What
in the world does it take to wake up, motivate and impress upon individuals the
need to get rid of the lethargic, could-care-less attitude and replace it with
some genuine passion, care, concern, zeal and interest which translates into
taking some action--doing some things about the problems at least in their own
personal lives and in the lives of their children who are still at home and
under their control.
For
sure, most people just don’t care much about anything--except continuing on
with everything as it is. They like
things the way they are and they don't want to change. They want the status quo to persist. They don’t want the boat rocked and the
darkness they are in is just fine.
And
why do people like the darkness they are in?
Well, probably many would tell us that they can’t do anything about the
perplexity of the issues facing man or that they don’t have time in their lives
to do anything about the dilemma of our time.
To these responses, this writer would just say “hogwash.” The truth is clear that such persons have got
a problem with pride and vanity and nothing else.
Pride and Vanity Samples,
Revisited
And
what are some of the forms and manifestations of pride and vanity in most
peoples’ lives of apathy and indifference?
Why, of course, most are caught up with trying to achieve or at least
maintain their status and position in life.
They
are concerned about their own personal loves, idols and gods, as noted
above--like their wives, girlfriends, children, jobs, hobbies, pet religious
ideas, interests, retirement checks, land, investments, houses, furniture,
cars, and on and on (yes, for some, their loves even extend to cigarettes,
drugs, whiskey, gambling and/or whores).
Naturally,
all of these personal loves, idols and gods are on a much higher plane in
carnal men's lives than is truth. In
short, most people's hearts and minds are just not on truth, the acquisition of
truth or the spreading of truth.
They
could care less because their mentalities are elsewhere on what seems to be to
them, things of far more importance, magnitude, interest and concern. Their hearts, minds, attention and focus are
too often totally directed to the things in life which satisfy and appeal to
the flesh. That’s why pride and vanity
become the essence of carnality and fleshliness.
In
terms of their agendas and priorities, living and enjoying this man made system
of things (which satisfy and build up the flesh) are much higher and far more
important than spending time, effort, money, energy and so forth on the subject
of truth and the implementation of that truth in their own lives.
Of
course, it is these hundreds and hundreds of loves, idols and gods in people’s
lives which inflate, expand, elevate and build them up into states of personal
satisfaction and contentment (pride and vanity).
Now,
what persons are there who can be satisfied, content and happy over reading and
studying YHWH’s laws and making every effort to place those edicts into effect
in their own lives and at the expense of doing things as usual in terms of
their worldly ways and their children, jobs, investments, future, etc?
Truth is Secondary
So
truth becomes second place on the agenda, or at a much lower priority with most
individuals. Everything else is always
more important and more deserving of their time, money and attention.
On
this, one can readily see that for people, generally, it is of more importance
to work at their jobs and make money to buy things for themselves and their
families than it is to study and live by truth.
It’s more urgent to smoke a cigarette, drink some booze, eat a steak and
on and on than it is to enjoy learning about truth and putting it into
effect.
It’s
more relevant to be able to spend time and “enjoy” life with the wife and kids
than it is to spend time and “enjoy” studying and implementing truth. Now, please note that there is nothing wrong
with many of these things.
Establishing Priorities
A
man should work at a job and should spend time, money, effort, etc on his wife
and children. Thus, many of these things
are good, beneficial, honorable and proper to do. Many are commanded by YHWH and should not be
neglected. But they often can be done
together with the loving and searching out of truth. Never should they take a primary role in life
above and beyond truth and righteousness.
Why
can't a parent and child spend time and effort together to study and learn
truth? Well, of course, a man can study
with his wife and children in order to learn truth and also be simultaneously
spending time with his family. They
don't have to be hostile and contradictory efforts.
But
everything has to be put into the proper perspective and in the right
priority. The love and acquisition
(Hosea wrote that YHWH’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge--Hos 4:6)
of truth should be priority #1 with everything else priority #2.
Of
course, we know what the problem is and why truth becomes a lower priority than
everything else. In short, the carnal
human heart is just far away from YHWH and truth, and it is not about to change
(Matt 15:8).
There
are 24 hours in each day and seven days in each week. Surely, for the lover of truth, YHWH has
provided enough time to do the many things which need to be done each
week. Clearly, we can do priority one as
well as the necessary priority twos. We
must have some brains on this in order to schedule our time and get everything
done which needs to be done.
However,
the love of truth must be number one and not satisfaction and contentment over
one’s wife, children, job, interests, hobbies, land, houses, retirement plans,
savings accounts, investments, pets, entertainment, pleasures and so
forth. In short, we must get rid of
apathy and indifference over truth.
Apathy in a SDA Minister
An
example of this same apathy and indifference came to this writer's attention
some years ago from a Seventh day Adventist (SDA) minister on Saipan
Island.
Of
course, denominational preachers are often some of the most difficult people to
try to communicate with on truth because they are on the payroll of the denomination
and thus will go to any length to protect their pay checks, benefits, status
and position which they are receiving from the organization.
So
the money, power and position all combine to make such individuals very
elevated, satisfied, contented, confident, proud, and vain. They just are not much interested in changing
anything to upset the apple cart.
This
SDA preacher under discussion was involved in a conversation with this writer
one day on a question about the usage of a Greek word. In the course of the discussion, the minister
asked about what brought this writer to the Sabbath.
That's
an easy question to answer because the primary catalyst was the truth about The
MESSIAH being in the grave three days and three nights, as He said in Matthew
12:38-40 (as described in a former chapter).
The
preacher noted that he, too, had had a problem with that text since it seemed
to conflict with Christianity's ideas (which the SDA Church agrees with). This writer explained a few of the relevant points
on the subject and the man seemed interested.
Consequently, this writer offered to loan him a lengthy study on the
topic.
He
responded favorably so i suggested he come by my place that day and pick it up
on his way home or otherwise (as his office was only minutes away from where i
worked. Too, it was evident to me that
if he was a person of passion and commitment to truth, he would find a way to
get by and get the book at once since it contained revolutionary new
information on the Word for him).
It
was around 11 AM in the middle of a week as i now recall. But he was in no particular hurry to pick it
up. Hence, i then suggested that i would
drop it off at his office the next day.
He agreed. So i brought it by his
office the next morning.
A Stipulation
In
loaning the book to him, I specifically stipulated that i wanted it back by the
next Monday as it was the only copy i had on Saipan. Since he had a copy machine, i noted that he
could just make a copy of it if he wished.
He agreed.
So
the next Monday came around and i came by for the book. Naturally, he was not a man of any particular
passion, commitment or zeal for truth.
On my arrival, he still had not read the writing, nor had he made a copy
of it on the premise that it was to be returned to me.
Of
course, i then said that i would come back the next morning (Tuesday) which
would allow him still another day to do something on the issue at hand. The next morning, i again came by and the
status quo hadn't changed much except his wife was there with him and she was
just starting to make copies of the paper as i entered the room (perhaps she
started when she saw me approaching the door).
Once
more, i noted that i would come back later.
i did return later and finally got the book back. Since he obtained the book and/or copy, many
weeks and months passed and this writer never heard anymore from the man.
Clearly,
he just wasn't impressed with the material or perhaps he never even bothered to
read it. He might have had plans to "get
a round tuit," but just never did.
And if he did read it, somehow his mind was already made up and he was
in no mood to grow in any further Scriptural knowledge and truth.
He
just wasn't going to exhibit any zeal, passion, dedication and commitment for
truth, despite the fact that he carried his “Bible” around and pretended to be
a representative of The MOST HIGH.
Obviously, this minister was filled with apathy, indifference and don't
care.
Why?
And
why for this sad state? Well, he probably
was busy in his life with his wife, his children, his job as an SDA preacher,
his church, his hobbies, his interests, his investments, his land, his
concerns, his entertainment, his pleasures and on and on.
He
simply could not find the time to have zeal, passion and purpose for the
acquisition of new knowledge of truth.
Like others, his priorities were already established. All of these things in his life certainly
were far more important and on a higher plane than learning new truth.
Before
concluding this subsection, it would be well to briefly look at one of the
great Scriptures in the Word. To
paraphrase it, the Book says that the called out ones have been elected and
chosen by YHWH for their "love of truth" (II Thes 2:10-13).
Friend,
if you don't love truth and put it first in your life with passion, zeal,
dedication, purpose and resolve, then you can bank on it that you will never
find "real" satisfaction, contentment or security in this life. You may think that you've got it made, but a
shock will surely come your way one day.
Pride Causes Apathy and Indifference--Revisited
In previous comments, mention was made
of the apparent reality that pride brings on a judgment or a type of curse from
The HIGHEST which acts to prevent individuals with proud, vain, fat,
uncircumcised hearts from understanding and comprehending ultimate information
needed in important areas of religious life--particularly in repentance.
Actually, the key text in this regard
was written by Yeshayahu when he pointed out that people, collectively, can see
and hear; but they just don't see and hear in terms of understanding because
their eyes are smeared (or seared), their ears are heavy and their hearts are
fat--proud (Isa 6:9-11).
Of course, there are a host of other
texts which say essentially the same thing.
For example, Yeshayahu elsewhere described it as a blindness in which
people can see and do see some things.
Yet, they are blind to understanding (Isa 42:19-20).
Yirmeyahu saw it as Yisrael being just
plain indifferent to YHWH (Jer 2:19) and effectively blind; yet with eyes that
can see (Jer 5:21). Yechezkel observed
that Yisrael had eyes to see, but sees not and ears to hear but hears not (Ezek
12:2). Zekharyah said that the people
had made their hearts hard and refused to hear (Zech 7:11-13).
Also, one of the most foundational
texts of all on this theme was penned by Moshe when he wrote the curses in the
law for disobedience. He pungently
declared that if Yisrael would not listen and obey, then The ELOHIM would
chastise them seven times for sin (Lev 26:18).
In his commentary on the Pentateuch,
the famous Jewish scholar, Samson Raphael Hirsch, noted in this text--if the people
remain "indifferent" to the will of The MOST HIGH and do not find it
worthwhile to take the trouble to even learn what the will of The HIGHEST is,
“...then chastisement will come.”
In YESHUA’s Day
As a takeoff from the prophets, the
so-called synoptic Gospels have a similar finding in that the people in
YESHUA's day had the physical ability to see and hear, but they would not see
and hear in respect to apprehension and understanding (Matt 13:13-14; Mk
4:11-12; Lu 8:10).
Yohanan has it (per the “Amplified
Translation”) that The EVERLIVING has blinded the people's eyes and hardened
and benumbed their callused, degenerated hearts and have made their minds dull
to keep them from understanding with their hearts and minds and repenting and
turning to Him in order to be healed (Jo 12:37-41).
Furthermore, in Acts, Luke wrote (also
per the “Amplified Translation”) that the hearts, souls and understanding of
the people have grown dull, stupid, hardened and callused; their ears are heavy
and hard of hearing; and they have shut their eyes--so that they may not
perceive and have knowledge and become acquainted with their eyes, hear with
their ears and understand with their souls and turn (be converted), in order
that The ELOHIM might heal them (Acts 28:21-27).
These last two Scriptures just cited
(John 12:37-41; Acts 28:21-27) are particularly important on the question of
understanding as they both seem to focus directly on the "what" it is
that cannot be understood. Like both
Yohanan and Luke have written, the "what" plainly has to be true
repentance, change and conversion.
It absolutely does not seem to include
or focus upon the Sabbath, the feast days, clean versus unclean foods, Hebrew
names and titles versus pagan names and titles, identity and race, or a
multitude of other such things (although some people seize upon them and
suppose that these issues are “hid” from man's comprehension).
Clearly, the issue involved in this
discussion has to be repentance and conversion, obviously from the present
carnality, pride and vanity--just like the Book says. Of course, the great New Testament writer
Shaul the apostle recognized the problem of comprehension and understanding and
also wrote on it.
He perceptively called it a veil over
the people's minds, hearts and eyes (II Cor 3:13-15) and said that the tribes
of Yisrael have darkened understanding from their hard hearts (Eph
4:17-19). On this subject, it was a fact
that in ancient times, human kings had a nasty habit of blinding their enemies'
eyes as a type of punishment or judgment, as noted beforehand.
For example, Nebuchadnezzar put out the
eyes of Tzidkiyahu (II Kg 25:7). As
Hosea noted, spiritual harlotry and drunkenness take away the heart, mind and
understanding--thus, those without understanding will fall (Hos 4:10-11,
14). Shaul concluded that hard hearts
bring on a judgment from The EVERLIVING (Rom 2:5).
Judgment From YHWH, Revisited
In terms of what's been said so far,
the previously quoted “Pulpit Commentary” has an interesting observation on
Isaiah 6:9-11 by stating that fat hearts, smeared (or seared) eyes and heavy
ears produce an attitude in people of apathy, indifference, uninterest and just
plain don't care.
Literally, individuals become lethargic
towards truth. And why does this
happen? Why, it's a judgment from The
ELOHIM, as various savants have so stated in their interpretations of Isaiah
6:9-11 (commented upon in a prior chapter).
Therefore, in this context, and during
the Day of YHWH, when the nations of the world prepare to wage war against the
returning KING OF KINGS, Yeshayahu wrote that The HIGHEST will put a bridle in
the jaws of the people which will cause them to err (Isa 30:27-33).
Evidently, the inability to understand,
as prompted by attitudes of apathy, indifference and don't care, comes as a
punishment or curse from The MOST HIGH on proud, rebellious, stiff-necked,
unrepentant, carnal, human beings.
An
earlier question was asked on why is it that so many people are so incredibly
filled with apathy, indifference and simply just don't care about TRUTH and the
truth about important themes on the future, WWIII, the degeneration of the US,
AIDS, sexual morals, beasts of the field, ecology, climate changes, the
Scriptures and whether they or anyone else, including their own families, know
about these things or not?
Why?
Why
are people so thoroughly lethargic and uninterested on profoundly important
topics? In regards to this present
apathy, indifference and just don't care, as just noted, these qualities
plainly can extend far beyond the questions of carnality and the need for true
repentance to affect other significant aspects of one's entire spiritual
life.
Of
course, the apathy and uninterest certainly includes any worthwhile
consideration of pride, vanity, real repentance and conversion. But as noted before, it can expand to cover
vast areas of other subjects; which, in themselves, are quite clear and
manifest in YHWH's Word and can be understood were it not for the apathy and
don't care.
Thus,
the apathy and indifference can balloon up and cover all kinds of topics
(sometimes even the Sabbath, feast days, beards, food, diet, women's hair
lengths, identity, race, Hebrew names and titles, etc) which, individually and
on their own, are not difficult to comprehend from the Book.
Also,
on this, it must be noted that the fact that someone has mustered some concern
on the Sabbath, feast days, beards, identity, etc, is no evidence that they
have actually dealt with the pride and carnality question. No! On
the contrary, there can be another very important reason for this interest, as
will be established in later comments.
Another Illustration
At
this point, it would be well to pause and cite a tragic example of apathy,
indifference and don't care in action in a "supposedly" religious
couple. This writer once lived near an
"educated and seemingly intelligent" Seventh-day Adventist couple
(not involving the SDA preacher, discussed above).
In
the course of a discussion on race, the role of Yisrael being the
"elect" nation and paganism in Christendom, this writer mentioned
that i had a few study papers on these themes which i would be glad to loan to
the couple for their review and contemplation.
Since i did not have any extra copies of the papers which i could spare,
i asked that they be returned to me after being read.
The
studies involved several pages of material and certainly would have required a
few hours (perhaps as many as six to eight) to read, study and reflect upon the
material. The weeks passed and i didn't
get my papers back and no further mention was made of the issue. Finally, over two months later, i brought up
the loan and the papers were returned to me without comment.
Here,
one might ask, surely a "religious" person really interested in and
passionately committed to truth would have devoted the necessary few hours
immediately to read and study the material presented as it constituted
revolutionary new thinking and particularly so for Adventist people (whom are
fairly shallow in the Scriptures).
There
appears to be no cogent reason for study papers on important new approaches to
truth to lay around a home for week upon week before they are even looked
at.
In
the case of this couple, they always seemed to have plenty of spare time for
social activities, going places, entertainment, pleasure, hobbies, visiting,
attending church, etc. Why could they
not find the time to look the papers over in the first few days that they had
possession of them?
This
situation, of course, involves "gross" indifference towards
truth. Finding out, learning and
understanding new truth were just not on their agenda. It was not in their hearts, souls and beings
since they were satisfied, confident, proud, vain and self righteous over their
supposed knowledge and salvation.
This
condition made them apathetic and unconcerned about learning anything
further. In a word, they knew all they
needed to know. Question--why must
people be so profoundly lethargic and uninterested on important topics?
The Bottom Line
It's
absolutely incredible to this writer that people can muster energy, enthusiasm,
interest, concern, time, effort, money, and so forth on a variety of subjects
which intrigue them.
They
really can focus upon sports, entertainment, social friends, land and
investments, certain religious groups, ideas and teachings, hobbies, jobs,
dogs, cats, birds, etc (i.e. their own vain idolatries, loves, gods and other
sources of pride and vanity--obviously, where their hearts, minds, attentions
and concerns are focused), but when it comes to the really big things in life
and things of profound and everlasting importance, they know very little about
them and they just aren’t too concerned about finding out either.
Chapter
99--The Dilemma of Pride
Apathy Affects All
Here, on the pride dilemma, one should
not lose sight of or ignore the fact that worldly "religious" and
"church" (or "assembly") people are as filled with pride,
vanity and carnality and the related judgmental aspects of apathy and
indifference just as much as are secular persons in general.
The Prologue of this study mentions the
incredible dilemma of Christian Americans who want to own the Scriptures and
have them present in their homes (for the purpose of being a talisman or for
pride and show-off reasons), but then never bother to study them or study them
for approval. This whole condition is a
gross paradox. It manifestly lacks
so-called human logic and rationale.
While the focus of those prior remarks
was upon generic Christians, the truth is that the Christian believers in the
more serious groups (like the so-called fundamentalists, Sabbathkeepers,
Christian Identity advocates, etc) are almost as bad. Some of these right wing Christian
fundamentalists do a little study from time to time, but nothing in the vein of
what is needed for a real student of truth.
Christian preachers, teachers and
leaders are just not much better off.
While many of these big shots have memorized and can quote a few verses
in the New Testament, they are usually sadly lacking otherwise. They know little or nothing about the Old
Testament and they really lack any perception and true comprehension of even
the NT.
Of course, the problem is basically
pride and vanity--because pride and vanity promotes and instills apathy,
indifference and simple lethargic don’t care.
This reality will be assessed in this chapter.
“Bible” Schools
Many
Christian denominations operate a so-called “Bible” school or college to
supposedly teach their preachers, pastors and leaders something about the
Book. These institutions and their
instructors are often extremely shallow.
Therefore, the students generally get nothing of real value--although
they may learn several NT quotations; and of course, a few key texts which
support the denominational beliefs.
Many
denominations even progress to the point of having large universities which
grant higher degrees plus the usual bachelor’s degrees. Many well known colleges are actually
Christian Church denominational schools--like Baylor, Wake Forest, Notre Dame,
De Paul, Georgetown, Loma Linda, Marquette, Xavier, Wesleyan and so it
goes.
Of
course, most of the smaller denominations also try to have “Bible” schools or
colleges--like the Church of God Abrahamic Faith with its Atlanta Bible College
in Atlanta, Georgia (formerly the Oregon Bible College of Oregon,
Illinois).
While students attending these religious institutions will
get little of value on the Scriptures or on the real world out there, they do
learn many destructive teachings; and of course, the denominational
pitches. This learning process usually
fills them with much religious pride and vanity. It all combines to make them extremely
apathetic and indifferent towards real truth.
This
writer has known some of these people over the years who went to their church
schools or colleges. Some of them became
pastors and church leaders in their denominations after graduating.
All
of those persons known to me have been completely filled with intellectual
pride, thinking they know so much about the Word when they know almost nothing
about it. Inevitably, this state of
pride and vanity elevates them above their dumb sheep followers in the
denomination and makes them mentally believe that they know everything or
almost everything of value.
While
it is true that these people do learn to quote the several texts that they will
need to support their often false ideas and concepts, they are, hands down,
vastly superior to most of their Christian followers who know virtually nothing
at all. Yes, the typical Christian in
most churches knows almost nothing--as was discussed in the earlier
Prologue.
Since
the denominational preachers went to the church “Bible” school, they do come
back with sufficient knowledge to really elevate and lift themselves up above
the dumb sheep (who know essentially nothing).
In any case, these persons, who have went to the church schools, become
some of the most proud of all.
They
are so filled with apathy and indifference that it is almost out of the
question to broach any truth with themselves or even have a meaningful
discussion. Too often, they think that
they know everything in the Book and non-Christian schooled people (like me)
should be their students.
The Extent of Some Beliefs
As was shown with the previously
mentioned SDA couple and earlier discussions, truly unconverted
"religious" individuals do often exhibit some focus particularly on
the matter of their obtaining a supposed state of grace, salvation, and
security by saying that they believe in so and so, standing up in a meeting,
rolling on the floor, being baptized, having someone's hands laid on them,
joining a church or assembly, paying tithes, and on and on in terms of them
doing some act or action which makes them feel self righteous (in contrast,
true conversion comes as a free, unmerited gift).
Too, many such persons can also turn to
the Sabbaths, feasts days, Hebrew names, identity, clean foods, etc, either as
a supposed requirement for salvation or some other stated reason.
But whatever the extent that such
"religious" people understand (and may even obey) some point of
truth, all too often the motivation and propelling agent for their willingness
to overcome apathy and indifference has been and is because of the resulting pride
and vanity.
People want to be elevated and lifted
up to satisfy the flesh. Clearly, some
persons can get that elevated and lifted up feeling from participating in some
religious group with certain beliefs--just as much as they can from secular
activities out in the world.
Stupor
However, despite these occasional and
limited excursions into some aspects of truth, the sad fact remains that, by
and large, most people are in a drunken stupor with little or no regard for
profoundly important things going on around them--both in the secular and
religious senses.
Why wouldn't people who have children
and grandchildren want their descendants to know some truth about some of the
big things?
Why wouldn't parents worry about
sending their children to a corrupt public educational system which will
provide only limited benefits, but more likely will teach the children so much
wrong that their lives can be destroyed with drugs, sexual promiscuity, pagan
doctrines and general trash and nonsense.
Why wouldn't loving parents want to
provide their offspring with some good teachings on what the Scriptures do say
on pride and vanity versus humility and meekness, on social problems about
miscegenation and the AIDS plague, about big questions on race and origin, and
about prophecies of the age end which are now upon us?
Why wouldn't loving parents, who lack
information about the sicknesses in the public schools, want to devote some
time, energy, effort; and yes, even spend some money in order to become intellectually
informed on what has happened and is happening to education generally and more
specifically on the dilemma in the public schools.
Obviously, it does take some knowledge
and understanding of the problem before there could ever be any hope of applying
any corrective action whatsoever.
Becoming Informed
To
become informed, step one has to be the acquisition of knowledge about the
problem(s). Without knowledge and basic
information, nothing will ever be done since the status quo will persist. The acquisition of knowledge and
understanding of a problem or topic is crucial and cannot be relegated to
second place in terms of priority.
Some
moons ago, this writer put out a paper on "The Destructiveness of Our
Time," in which mention was made of the incredible apathy and indifference
modern Americans have regarding the destruction of themselves and their
families, as on going all around them.
Of
course, for many people, they are so locked in prejudice (in the true,
dictionary sense and not in the context of modern racial thinking), pride and
ignorance that they are largely incapable of ever pulling their heads out of
the sand long enough to realize and comprehend that society is on a self
destruct course.
But
there is a contrary profile. And
possibly, some readers of this study fit into this contrary mold. Thus, there are people who do realize, know
and understand some facets of the destructiveness of our times. However, tragically, they often refuse to act
on or use this comprehension in their every day lives and decisions.
Many
individuals in this category are totally devoted to themselves, the acquisition
of more land, a bigger house, a new or another car, some new furniture, their
jobs, socializing and dozens of their own loves, vain idols and worthless gods
in the forms of hobbies, interests, pleasure and entertainment.
After
all, this vanity is where most people have their hearts and minds. For a fact, the heart and love of the
average, normal, carnal individual is just not on truth or the acquisition and
dissemination of truth.
The Public Schools
Take,
for example, the realization and understanding that the public schools are
utterly corrupt and incapable of putting out much good and benefit for
children. In this regard, many
youngsters going to the public schools will one day come home either pregnant
(in the case of girls) or a father (in the case of boys).
An
illegitimate child is bad enough. But in
our time, many White girls carry illegitimate Black babies to add insult to
injury. Of course, in some few rare
situations, Black girls may find themselves pregnant with babies from White or
Asian males to likewise add insult to their injury (but this is rare as it is
primarily White girls who like to engage in interracial sex and especially with
Black males).
Too,
there is the increasing likelihood of someone bringing AIDS into the
household. Why won't parents who do have
some knowledge and perception of some of these problems get off their duffs
long enough to do something positive about the situation.
Why
don't they start trying to find a suitable means of alternative education for
their kids, rather than sitting around and doing nothing but taking it in. The same thing is true regarding pollution
and a host of other things. Even in
terms of very definite moral duties dictated by the Book, it is amazing how
many people just sit in apathy and do nothing.
Further Illustrations
As
noted earlier, a Sardis woman, who was very cognizant of the environment and
sin problems (to be discussed in a later chapter), actually tried to get on
with a major airline as a stewardess.
She had a husband and child which she was willing to abandon for long
periods in order to “travel and see the world.”
Why does anyone need to "travel
and see the world anyway?" Surely,
airplanes have to be the most polluting of all and many of the stewards are
homosexuals and certainly carrying the AIDS virus. Why would a believer in YESHUA ever want to
be involved in such wickedness. Well,
there are excuses--to travel, to make money, to buy new things and on and
on. Our self will for money and things
often seems unlimited.
It
blows one’s mind that people who know that cigarettes, drugs and other poisons
are harmful to the body and contrary to YHWH's way of living, do absolutely
nothing about changing. If persons were
ignorant, or even prejudiced on the matter, one could maybe then
understand. But again, the issue here
concerns people who are informed to a point and do have some information.
Just
recently, this writer prepared a paper on “Mind Control” (to be discussed later
in this study) which described the certainty that either now or in the near
future, a dictatorial power or powers will be using some mind control
techniques on the public at large, to include even readers of this production
and their children and relatives.
Question--how
many readers of this topic can even muster enough interest, care and concern
(and one can just about forget about money because if someone doesn't care,
then he/she won't be interested in spending any money on a thing) to read and
"study" that material in the context of reality.
How
many persons really care one way or the other or have made any effort in their
own lives or the lives of their children to take measures to prevent those
terrible things from happening.
Another
question--is apathy and indifference so great in your life that you just don't
care what the future obviously holds for you and your offspring? If you have any interest in this matter at
all, have you spent much of your time, money and resources to do anything about
it?
Or
has this issue been merely something to casually read about in your spare, idle
time and then toss the issue in the trash can and forget about it. Or possibly, in your great proud state, you
look upon all this stuff as applying to other individuals; but somehow, it will
miss you and your family.
Destroyed For Lack of Knowledge
Incidentally, on this theme, The MOST
HIGH declared that His people (Yisrael) will be destroyed for a lack of
knowledge (Hos 4:6). Clearly, the one
thing that is needed by alleged humanity above all else right now is a
knowledge of truth. But even the elect
of Yisrael, as well as others, on their own, will not in the collective sense
go after and pursue the knowledge of truth.
Effectively, both humans and humanoids
are apathetic and indifferent about having truth or promoting truth. In a word, typical carnal people could care
less whether they or anyone else is aware of truth and benefits from truth.
Their hearts and minds are just not on truth.
Consequently, such persons will ultimately be destroyed. There is no question over that
eventuality.
In this regard, how many readers of
this work can look back on their lives and be pleased with having taken some
money and time and invested them in obtaining and promoting truth for
themselves, their children and for the general public at large, as compared
with using such money, time and efforts on their own useless, worthless, vain
idolatries and loves of acquiring more land, houses, furniture, cars,
investments, pets and a host of other things.
How many persons have cared enough to
even invest or put any money into knowledge about man’s sickening racial and
environmental pollution and the destruction of the earth and their own
lives. How many are concerned one way or
the other on whether they or their children or neighbors have any knowledge on
such things or not.
Or alternatively, do they really care
about important things--since they are so absorbed over having their own
personal pride and vanity by trying to achieve success, security and
satisfaction in this life, so much so, that they could care less about anything
else.
What such ignorant, foolish people
don’t understand is that their own lack of knowledge will cause their own
destruction--as well as the destruction of their children, friends, neighbors
and racial kinsmen at large. And how
about the years that evil influences, led by the US government, began the
seizure of public schools across the nation and the destruction of the once
fair American education system.
The battle over the schools started in
earnest in the 1950’s over desegregation and has continued ever since in areas
of sex education, miscegenation, occult teachings, rock music, drugs,
permissiveness and multitudes of other evils.
While there has been a minority of persons concerned and willing to
expend some energy, time and money to try to fight this evil, most people
could-care-less one way or the other.
Action by the Reader?
Question,
how about you friend, have you ever put forth any of your time or money to do
anything about any of these evils? And
if you were to try, surely the education of yourself, your children, your
family, friends, neighbors and racial kinsmen is absolutely the most pressing
and most urgently needed thing of all.
Isn't
it quite apparent that no one can possibly take any corrective action in
his/her own life on any of the problems man faces without having some knowledge
and information on the problems and alternative corrective options?
Isn't
it important to be intellectually informed and grounded in truth on the
relevant issues if there is to be any hope of ever dealing with them
properly? No wonder The SOVEREIGN
declared that His people Yisrael would be destroyed because of a lack of
knowledge (and their apathy and indifference would never allow them to gain and
acquire the needed knowledge--so they wouldn't be destroyed).
During
these last 50 years that the public schools have been under siege, have you
ever done anything or spent any money to spread any knowledge around or have
you totally devoted your resources to yourself and the acquisition of more
things to be proud over--such as new furniture, another car, more land, a new
house, more investments, a retirement check, and a thousand other things to
fill your every fancy and whim in terms of pride and vanity.
In
other words, do you really care one way or the other on whether you, your
children, your family, friends, neighbors and racial kinsmen are destroyed for
lack of knowledge or not?
Are
you truly devoted to the perpetuation of pride and vanity and vain idols in
your life, or is it conceivable that you might be a rare individual not under
Hosea’s indictment? Could you really be
different from other people? Or are you
just the same?
And
now dear friend, are you one of those people with your head buried in the sand
of apathy, indifference and don't care on probably the most important and
profound issues which have faced man in 6,000 years?
If
you are absolutely lost with their head buried in the sand and filled with
indifference and just don't care, is it conceivable that you will ever change
and get serious and concerned about your own future and the future of your
children, family and friends? Well,
there are reasons for all these things and this publication is now focusing on
them in the context of pride and vanity.
Passion, Zeal and Diligence
While apathy and indifference towards
important issues (discussed in the above comments) seem to predominate in
varying degrees throughout society at large, there appears to be a contrary
profile among the potentially very elect persons evidently chosen for true
repentance and the real gift of grace.
Here, the focus is on some personal
qualities which the Book describes as being "good" and which seem to
subsist in true believers. For a review
of this opposite position, it will be useful to now look at some key Greek
words in this connection.
First, the New Testament used the Greek
"ekzeeteo" (meaning to seek) in the vein of "diligently
seeking" an understanding of truth.
For example, Shaul used it at Romans 3:11-18 to charge that there are
none (obviously, on their own without supernatural involvement and oversight)
that are righteous and understand and seek after The ELOHIM.
Of course, Shaul also used this word in
stating that to come to YHWH, we must believe that He is and that He rewards
those who diligently seek after Him--evidently, from the influence of The RUACH
HA KODESH.
Another related word in this situation
is the Greek "zeeteo," which also means "to seek, strive for,
desire, labor for and require."
This fascinating word is used often in the frequently mentioned
requirement for the called out ones to "seek" first the Kingdom of
Heaven (Matt 6:32-33; 7:7-8; Lu 11:9-10; 12:29-31; 13:24; 15:8; Jo 6:27; Col
3:1-2).
A third linked word is the Greek
"zeo," which means "to be fervent, hot and boiling." Apollo, after undergoing the baptism and
repentance taught by Yohanan (the Baptist), was fervent (zeo) in the spirit and
taught and spoke diligently. In
addition, Shaul used zeo in an instruction or directive to never lag in zeal,
but be fervent (zeo) in the spirit (Rom 12:11).
The next word in this series is
"zeelotes," which is defined as "to be enthusiastic, have a
passionate commitment to a person or a cause." Shaul was zealous (zeelotes) for The ELOHIM. He also said that YHWH died to redeem us from
iniquity and to purify us as a peculiar people zealous (zeelotes) for good
works (Titus 2:14).
In the Hebrew Old Testament, a similar
view was expressed by Hosea in his charge for us to be zealous to know YHWH as
He will come to us in the latter rain (Hos 6:3).
One more Greek word in the present vein
is "ektenos," which means "fervently passionately." The Apostle Kefa used ektenos in telling the
very elect to love one another fervently (I Pet 1:22) and to have fervent (ektenos)
love one for another (I Pet 4:8). In the
prophets, Hosea wrote that we are to have dutiful love and knowledge of YHWH in
contrast to sacrifices and burnt offerings (Hos 6:6).
The last word in this grouping which
deserves mention is "spoudazo or spoudaios," which means
"diligently, speedily, endeavor, labour and study." The famous charge by Shaul for people to
study to show themselves approved (II Tim 2:15) used this word.
Shaul, furthermore, chose it in saying
that we must excel in faith, knowledge and diligence (II Cor 8:7); we are not
to be slothful in diligence (Rom 12:11); we are to labour together to enter
YHWH's rest (Heb 4:11); and we must show diligence to realize the fullness of
hope (Heb 6:11).
Kefa
The Apostle Kefa additionally selected
spoudazo/spoudaios on occasion to express the idea of diligence, effort, work,
study, and labour. For instance, He said
to pursue truth with diligence and speed (II Pet 1:5-8), and to be diligent
that we may be found blameless (II Pet 3:14).
And in a classic use of the word, Kefa
wrote that we are to escape the moral decay (corruption) in the world because
of carnal, human nature (of pride and vanity) by adding diligence and employing
every effort to develop virtue, knowledge, self control, patience, brotherly
affection, piety and real love.
It is possession of these qualities
that will keep us from being unfruitful in the knowledge of YHWH. Conversely, by lacking these qualities, we
would be spiritually blind. Therefore,
we need to be solicitous and eager to make our calling and election sure (II
Pet 1:4-10).
Beyond the wisdom in evidence in the
usages of the several words described so far, it should be recognized that
there are a host of connecting teachings throughout YHWH's Word; which, over
and over again, demand that the people who really care must be prepared and
willing to spend, if necessary, all (100%) of their money, resources, time and
energy to obtain and possess understanding and comprehension of the truth about
the big things in life.
In this regard, Shlomo wrote that we
are to buy truth at whatever the cost (to us) and never take anything for it
(Prov 23:23). To the Colossians, Shaul
said that whatever we do, we need to put our whole (100%) heart and mind into
it (Col 3:23) and that we must be perfect and complete in YHWH's will (Col
4:17).
Clearly, lazy, apathetic, indifferent
individuals are not perfect and complete in YHWH's will.
YESHUA’s Words
The SON OF ADAM also had some powerful
advice to offer on this topic. He said
that the measure of thought and study which we give to truth will be the
measure returned to us (Mk 4:24). In one
of His great parables, YESHUA noted that His kingdom was like a hidden treasure
in a field and we should sell everything we own and use the money (as
necessary) to buy the field (Matt 13:44).
In still one more profound and
extraordinary piece of wisdom, The MESSIAH poignantly threw at us another like
parable by declaring that His kingdom was like a "pearl of great
price;" where a man would sell everything which he owns and use the
proceeds (as necessary) to purchase and obtain the pearl of great price (Matt
13:45-46).
Perhaps the question here is, who among
us would be willing to sell all of our possessions and use all of the moneys
received, as necessary, to diligently, passionately and zealously pursue
knowledge and understanding of truth in order to use that resulting information
in works and deeds of righteousness?
Don't you see that it is imperative
that we know and understand the truth about righteousness, salvation and a host
of topics in order to ever begin to practice and live our lives in this world,
as we are supposed to--if we are to be counted among the very elect?
Knowledge and understanding must
precede and come before works, deeds and acts of righteousness and love. We just can't practice and put into effect
the proper way of living if we don't possess the required and correct
information and understanding on the subject.
No wonder the Word says that YHWH’s people are destroyed for a lack of
knowledge (Hos 4:6).
One cannot properly practice and live
truth, justice, righteousness and love if he/she is in a state of blindness,
ignorance, confusion, apathy, indifference and don't care. In verity, it takes a passionate zeal,
commitment and dedication to obtain truth.
The Need--Knowledge
Clearly, the acquisition of knowledge,
understanding and wisdom about truth and righteousness (to become informed)
should be, and indeed must be, a primary step before we can ever begin to do
acts, actions, deeds and works of righteousness (not for salvation, since
salvation only comes as a free, unmerited act of grace by YHWH YESHUA).
As outlined in former chapters, we must
know and understand what to do, first of all, before we can ever really do
anything in a logical and worthwhile manner.
No one can ever begin to perform works of righteousness without some
knowledge of what all constitutes righteousness.
Knowledge and understanding are
imperative and are basic for everything else to follow.
Moreover, on this whole theme of pride
and vanity, there is seemingly no hope at all for a one of us to take any
constructive action on dealing with the subjects of evil, crookedness, and
wickedness in our wretched lost lives; unless and until we begin to exhibit and
put forth some genuine interest, passion, commitment, zeal, dedication, purpose
and resolve on the comprehension of truth and the removal of the blindness
affecting our eyes.
We Must Care
In
a word, we must "care." And we
must "care" as a priority number one in our lives if we ever hope to
attain real repentance, change and conversion.
We must get rid of apathy, indifference and don't care and replace these
contrary qualities with passion, commitment, zeal, diligence, dedication and
purpose.
Previous
chapters in this study outlined the injunction and need to study to be approved
(II Tim 2:15), and the need for the disciple of YESHUA to become a
“learner.” Manifestly, the path to
righteousness isn’t only one of study and being a learner; but importantly, the
objective is to study and be a learner so that the deeds, works and fruits of
righteousness can be accomplished in the flesh.
Consequently,
the goal and purpose of study and acquisition of knowledge (in order to avoid
later destruction--Hos 4:6) is to implement and put the acquired knowledge into
“action” in the disciple or learner’s life.
No one can ever begin to do the deeds of righteousness without study to
learn what is righteousness. Knowledge
is the crucial first step.
Ignorant
and uninformed people (without knowledge) cannot possibly put YHWH’s laws and
edicts into effect in their lives because the human, carnal, fleshly heart is
at enmity toward YHWH and His laws. In
the flesh, all of us are opposed to The ELOHIM’s code of righteousness (the
Torah).
The 1,663 Mitzwot, Revisited
A
former chapter mentioned that the Torah has some 613 mitzwot which Jewish
scholars have actually determined and identified. As discussed in this previous chapter, the
great scholar Maimonides did this very work almost a thousand years ago. His effort is presented in a modern work
called “The Commandments,” as published by Soncino Press (listed later in the
Bibliography of this production).
As
also noted, some Christian scholars have suggested that the NT furthermore has
some 1,050 mitzwot (which correctly are judgments, based upon the mitzwot
outlined in the Torah--since all writings after the Torah merely build upon and
clarify issues legislated in the Torah.
These judgments might be compared with judicial judgments rendered in
Western courts).
In
any case, this writer supplied a free copy of this study to a friend (it had to
be given to him because he is not a generous man and he would never lay out
much of his money, to speak of, to learn of the material contained in this
publication)
The
friend involved is still in the flesh and is extremely carnal since he likes to
brag and boast upon his state of supposed righteousness.
In
my years of knowing this person, it seems that he still has never faced up to
the issues of carnality and the flesh.
In this state, he likes to brag and boast about obeying--when, in fact,
he does not seem to obey much of anything and even when it is plainly laid out
to him.
Anyway,
he wrote me a letter about the mention of the 613 and 1,050 mitzwot (as
commented upon in the former chapter on this discussion). He suggested that he would like to see these
1,663 commandments laid out to see and study them. He then raised the question--how can we keep
laws which we don’t know of yet, for sure?
They Are Not Complicated
As
noted in the prior chapter on this discussion, one can know of each and every
one of these commandments because they are not complicated and they are not
hid. They are in plain sight in the
Tanakh and the NT. All one has to do is
“study.”
In
the Torah, the commandments are clearly stated as do(s)and don’t(s) in the
context of generic Yisrael. In the NT,
they are manifestly stated the same way for the NT election.
Actually,
a person does not need to have them laid out otherwise in order to learn and
know them. They are present and all one
has to do is study the Word. Of course,
it goes without saying that the student’s work will be greatly facilitated by
obedience (as also commented upon in another prior chapter). Yes, it helps to start obeying things when
one does learn of them from the Book.
As
just pointed out, my friend does not seem to be much on obeying (he talks about
it a lot, but he just doesn’t do it). He
has been exposed to much material from this writer over the years on several
points (like the beard issue for Adam).
Yet, he just doesn’t seem to put such things into effect in his
life. He makes excuses and now claims
that he cannot be held responsible until those mitzwot are laid out one after
the other.
Hence,
this is quite a paradox that here is a man who claims to obey and claims to
want to see “all” of YHWH’s mitzwot laid out one after the other (presumably,
so he can start obeying them); yet, he apparently has made no effort to
understand them or obey them heretofore.
Therefore,
while my friend tried to make a big deal out of his so-called righteousness
(self righteousness) and over his so-called obedience, the truth seems to be
that he really has little interest in truth or in obeying. His heart is just not in it. He needs a genuine commitment and passion for
truth.
But Pride Interferes
Hence,
all of us should be passionate, dedicated, diligent and zealous to pursue
knowledge and truth, so that righteousness may become a part of our lives while
here in the flesh.
But
we all face the same indictment. We live
in the flesh and we think in the context of the flesh. We focus our love, attention, passion,
commitment and energy on our idols and gods to build up the resulting pride and
vanity.
The
acquisition of knowledge of truth and righteousness is subjugated to a lower
and often unimportant role in our lives.
We always have far more important things to concentrate on, rather than
on the acquisition of truth and the implementation of that truth in our daily
lives.
Milan Martin
The
words of Milan Martin were quoted in a former chapter. But they are so profoundly important that
they need a repeat here on this discussion of apathy. Martin said that people generally fall into
one of three categories. First, there
are the very few persons who are “doers.”
The doers are the very few individuals who make things happen.
Next,
there are the “watchers.” The watchers
are persons, though small in number, who sit on the sidelines and watch what
all the doers are doing. The watchers are
noted for evaluating and critiquing the doers (by agreeing/applauding or
disagreeing/criticizing), as the doers are busy doing things.
Finally,
there are all the other people (who represent the bulk of alleged
humanity). They are neither watchers or
doers. They are people who
could-care-less--either way. In effect,
they don’t care whether school keeps or not.
Because of pride/apathy, they have their own world of loves, idols, etc
which consume their time, energy and money.
Most of what goes on around them means nothing, from their point of
view.
The Bottom Line
Thus,
we all will end up being destroyed for lack of knowledge (and the resulting
lack of works of righteousness), unless YHWH somehow intervenes to change our
thinking, focus and direction.
The
acquisition of knowledge requires long hard hours, days, weeks and even years
of diligent study. Often, money is
required to buy the needed books, concordances, lexicons, commentaries and
Hebrew study books (which are typically not available in local public
libraries). Either a person must have
money to buy this material or he or she needs access to it from a friend or
some other source.
Additionally,
the student of truth needs some perception about what all is going on in the
contemporary society around him. This
process likewise requires some books, magazines and source material. Either one must lay out some money to get
this information, have access to it in a good library, or be able to learn from
friends and others about what all is happening in the current Christian culture
and civilization.
In
terms of a conclusion to this topic, “Mekilta de Rabbi Ishmael,” a very ancient
Jewish Midrash, says that "He who is proud of heart causes the earth to
become defiled and the Shekinah (RUACH HA KODESH) to withdraw."
Like
the Word repeatedly declares--YHWH hates and resists the proud (Ps 101:5; Prov
6:16-17; 8:13; 16:5, 18-19; Jer 50:31-32; Am 6:8; Matt 23:12; Lu 16:15; Jas
4:6; I Pet 5:5-6).
Chapter
100--Apathy in Action
The Information Problem
The
well known writer Murray Rothbard says:
“The fact that the highest levels of the U.S. government are all too
capable of lying to the public, should have been clear since Watergate and
Iran-Contra... For in a day when the moderate left to moderate right constitute
an increasingly monolithic Establishment, with only nuanced variations among
them, we can only get the truth from people outside the Establishment, either
on the far right or far left, or even from the highly respectable supermarket
tabloids” (Jun 23, 2003, “American Free Press,” p. 3).
Rothbard’s
words open the door to the problems present in the current controlled US media
(which will be addressed below and in subsequent chapters herein), and to the
need for “alternative” sources of news.
The “Spotlight” Illustration
Over
the years, this writer was often a subscriber to the “Spotlight”
newspaper. “Spotlight” was one of the
few alternative newspapers in existence which did print some semblance of truth
from time to time.
Powerful,
super-rich, Amalekite plutocrats pretty well own and/or control almost all
other newspapers, along with their control of Hollywood and television (and
they have the support of government and the public!). This reality opens up the reason why
“Spotlight” was a good paper.
“Spotlight”
was not perfect. But at least, it did
not stupidly march to the ideas of political correctness or to the tune of the
plutocrats (who call most of the shots in the US). Without “Spotlight,” the controlled media has
had its hooks into virtually all news being spoon fed to the American
people. “Spotlight” was one of the rare
exceptions in the world today.
However,
a paper like “Spotlight” had its work cut out in order to try to exist and stay
in business (it had many enemies and little public support).
The
paper was owned by Liberty Lobby, a small non-profit group with no pull or
influence of importance in US affairs.
Most of the staff of Liberty Lobby and “Spotlight” were volunteers or
lowly paid people--who were there only because of a personal commitment to
truth and their hope of turning the US around to allow its survival.
Of
course, the paper did take in a little money in advertising and some
subscriptions. But this was generally
inadequate to allow staying in business and meeting the costs and demands of
publishing. Furthermore, as just
suggested above, “Spotlight” not only faced the normal and usual business
problems of costs of operation, but there was another more subtle feature about
“Spotlight.”
Many Enemies
Because
“Spotlight” was politically incorrect and because “Spotlight” had chosen to
reveal many of the nefarious deeds and acts of the evil, liberal, leftist, New
World Order crowd to promote oppression and a dictatorial one world state, “Spotlight”
was routinely under assault from the plutocratic leftists (who have vast sums
of money and government support to fight and attack their opponents).
The
ruling plutocratic Amalekites are essentially behind the move to a one world
government in the United States (as will be described in later chapters). Accordingly, “Spotlight” pulled no punches in
revealing the wickedness of the wretched, plutocratic Amalekites. This infuriated them. With their enormous wealth, they reacted by
constantly trying to attack, hurt and oppress “Spotlight” in various ways.
Amalekite
lawyers frequently launched lawsuits and legal actions against “Spotlight” or
they used disgruntled people to infiltrate and try to take over Liberty Lobby
or “Spotlight.”
This
subversion was possible because it was a membership organization with a
reasonably open door for anyone to come in and become a member--like even some
evil, deceitful, Amalekite masters or janissaries who could infiltrate the
organization (note--the Amalekites and Amalekite masters and janissaries will
all be defined in later chapters herein).
Probably,
the biggest hope of survival had hung on the independence and integrity of many
Liberty Lobby members; and of course, donations made by people who donated money
or left money in a grant or gift to Liberty Lobby or the paper when they
died. Otherwise, there weren’t many
donors around. But the few who did come
through helped insure the paper’s future.
The Final Edition
But
the pressure finally came home to roost for “Spotlight,” as indicated in its
July 6, 2001, issue (which had a headline reading “Final Edition”).
Based
upon a takeover action by enemies, “Spotlight” filed for bankruptcy protection
(with a view of staying in business and using the protection to ward off
creditors and enemies involved in the takeover attempt).
In
a surprise legal maneuver, federal bankruptcy judge S. Martin Teel ordered the
newspaper shut down. The people involved
with the old “Spotlight” merely went down the street and started a successor--a
new spotlight. This one came out on
August 20, 2001, as the “American Free Press.”
Some
years ago, this writer had a friend in Oregon who tried to have a “Spotlight,”
coin-operated, paper dispenser. He made
absolutely no money from it and actually ended up always having to shell money
out of his own pocket to keep the dispenser alive.
The
reason? Simple! The loving, compassionate, hateful,
politically correct liberals and janissaries would come by his dispensing
machine and steal and destroy all of the papers.
It
must be allowed that they would also steal the money where possible. But it was easy to put in a coin to open the
container door and take out all of the papers.
Many enemies of truth did this routinely.
For
my friend, he regularly lost money trying to buy the papers. For him, it was a labor of love in his
efforts to try to help lethargic, hateful Americans who could care little about
the future of themselves and/or their children.
Dedication
The
point of this is that there were some very dedicated and committed people who
donated their labor, either free of charge or at a token remuneration, and/or
contributed money or at least subscribed to “Spotlight” to try to keep this
alternative source of news in business.
Without
these very limited, dedicated and committed people, almost all hope for
alternative news would have been quickly lost in the modern controlled
society.
Many
of these courageous people were committed nationalists to the future of the
US. They actually believed in this
country and were concerned for the future--not only of their own children and
grandchildren; but indeed, for the children and grandchildren of all Americans
(both their rea and others).
They
simply did not understand that America’s future was lost many years
ago--because of too much pride and apathy in the people.
While
the writer of this study at hand has been largely a poor person through the
last thirty years, i have at least tried to subscribe to and advertise in
“Spotlight” and/or be a member of Liberty Lobby whenever possible (simply to
help it as much as possible). My
contributions have been little or nothing in comparison with the several others
who have sacrificed and given so much.
Truly,
“Spotlight” benefited us all and the paper badly needed our collective help to
stay in business. There was always a
question of how long the paper could last without help from as many interested
people as possible.
With
my subscription, it had been my practice to routinely pass along the read
“Spotlights” to other people, as much as possible, and/or to enter trial
subscriptions for them whenever feasible.
When passing along these papers or entering trial subscriptions, i
routinely tried to encourage recipients to subscribe to the paper.
People Didn’t Care
The
amazing thing is that most people who got those papers and actually enjoyed
them had little or no care or concern at all about subscribing. Not only were they apathetic and indifferent
about subscribing, but you can bank on it that they would never have donated
any money or time to “Spotlight.”
Most
such persons were totally takers, ready to take all they could from others--and
even when the others were striving and working hard for the takers’ own
children and grandchildren (as well as other Americans). Clearly, these takers were very evil-eyed
people who could have cared less about the future of America, themselves, or
their own children and grandchildren.
They
simply were not going to lay out any of their money for a good cause. Someday, when an invading army comes to
murder them, they may look back and wish that they had laid out some money for
a noble effort to possibly protect them and their children. But it will then be too late.
Byron De La Beckwith
In
about 1989, this writer was privileged to meet Byron De La Beckwith (a marine
veteran of WWII)--who had been accused, persecuted, prosecuted and sent to a
federal prison years earlier in the late 1960s by Big Brother prosecutors for
an alleged conspiracy to violate the rights of innocent, loving, Black people
in Mississippi in the 1960s (when the leftists’ war against the American South
commenced full blast).
In
a separate allegation against Beckwith, and in order to get Black votes and
finally put Beckwith away, a Mississippi state prosecutor in the 1990s dug up
an old charge against Beckwith that he had murdered the Black Civil Rights
activist, agitator and trouble maker Medgar Evers some 27 years earlier (in
1963) in Mississippi.
The
resulting injustice that the modern liberals heaped upon poor Beckwith with
this charge will be discussed in a subsequent chapter.
However,
the importance in mentioning it here is on another matter relating to pride,
vanity, apathy and indifference. Whether
Delay (as he was called) did or did not murder the Negro leader is totally
irrelevant at this point in time (he denied it--all the while that a packed
majority Black jury convicted him of the charge in 1994).
What
is important is a realization that Beckwith was a fighter. He was not a lethargic, indifferent and
could-care-less individual.
Back
when the evil crop of liberals and leftists (under Amalekite leadership) was
busy destroying the United States and introducing very hostile, new, government
programs and concepts to the public, Beckwith was a man who tried, in his way,
to stop the diabolical progress of Balaam’s scheme of racial integration and
amalgamation--which would, has and will act to utterly destroy this nation (to
be later described).
Millions
of people who have their children destroyed by Black crime and drugs and by
Black miscegenation and interracial sex should have had brains enough to
understand that Beckwith’s fight against racial integration and amalgamation in
the schools and public places in the 1960s was not simply a fight for his
children and grandchildren. But it was a
fight for the children and grandchildren of all Americans.
What Did They Do?
Anyway,
when i had the honor of meeting Beckwith, we were in the presence of a number
of other persons who were well known to me.
It was depressing to hear them act like they had cared during all those
years that Beckwith was struggling for them--when, in fact, the evidence is
that most or all of them did little or nothing to try to stop the diabolical
Amalekite motion of destroying the US.
From
what i know, most or all of them never complained to their elected officials
when the US civil rights bills were coming down the pike. They never sent money, help or encouragement
to the few groups (like the citizens councils) who tried to stand up and oppose
the racial amalgamation being pushed by the Kennedys, Amalekites and other
liberals who were dedicated to the destruction of the White majority in
America.
In
mentioning this event, this writer is not questioning the need for the true
believer to be apolitical in the secular society.
But
of all of us present with Beckwith that day, none of us were evidently
apolitical in the 1950s or 1960s. In
fact, back then, most or all of us were secular and non-religious. Hence, we were seemingly voters and political
followers just like the rest of the secular society.
Otherwise,
this writer is not interested in tooting my own horn. But in fairness, i did do a few things back
in the 1950s and 1960s to try to block the dictatorship that was taking over
the US. However, the man Beckwith did
much and certainly more than i could have ever dreamed of or perceived. He was a fighter who spent many years and
much money trying to oppose the Amalekite push of the theology of Balaam.
Beckwith
clearly was a man who foresaw what would happen to America as racial
amalgamation became public policy (as it has over the years). He refused to accept the evil coming from
Washington.
Since
he was politically incorrect, the FBI came in and charged him with conspiracy
(and successfully sent him to jail for years, as noted above, long before the
state of Mississippi decided to try him for Evers’ murder).
The
purpose in mentioning this situation is not so much over the enormous work of
Beckwith (and others like him), but the fact that a later room full of people
could stand and applaud his efforts--when they, themselves, essentially did
nothing back in those days. In 1960,
Beckwith and many others (who were trying to oppose the Amalekite and leftist
takeover) could have used some money or help from other people.
If People Cared
If
enough Americans would have done “something” in the 1950s and 1960s, maybe the
war over the schools and the future racial mongrelization of the US would not
have been lost back then. Instead, most
Americans did nothing. They sat on the
sidelines and allowed the loss of their own freedoms, the US Bill of Rights and
the destruction of the future for their own children and grandchildren.
By
the time that the liberals and leftists began their active assault on the
public schools, most supposedly concerned people manifestly sat back and did
nothing. They never contributed money or
help to those persons willing to fight.
And
you can forget if you think any of them ever wrote a letter to the editor,
attended a town council meeting, protested or wrote letters to their leaders in
Congress. In terms of voting, most of
them gladly voted for the status quo.
Of
all of the great needs in our modern society--perhaps, the greatest need is for
some knowledge and truth about reality.
People must be informed in order to do anything productive in the way of
trying to block a dictatorial takeover, as occurred over the American schools
back in the 1950s and 1960s. Papers and
information sources (like “Spotlight”) were needed. And they needed subscribers and/or
contributors.
Where
were these needed people back then? If a
significant number of persons would have gotten up off of their duffs and taken
some positive steps (especially in terms of spreading knowledge and truth
around to others about what all was happening) to stop the work of the
Amalekites, things would be different today.
However, very few cared one way or the other.
Most
were in no mood to spend their time and money to disseminate information,
knowledge, understanding and truth about what all was happening. Most were very apathetic, indifferent,
lethargic and proud. Most didn’t care
whether their own children and grandchildren would one day be destroyed or not
(as with Hizkiyahu, who will be further commented upon in a later chapter--II
Kg 20:19; Isa 39:8).
It
is tragic that people will procrastinate when they could help--only to come
along after the war has been totally lost and look back and reminisce over what
should have been done. The tragedy is
that many of these same people were alive and present back when something could
have been done and they did nothing. In
a sense, this may be the situation with Charlton Heston (who will be addressed
in a future chapter).
The JoAnn McGuckin Case
Later
chapters will outline and discuss the situation with a woman named JoAnn
McGuckin of North Idaho and her trial from an oppressive evil government. JoAnn became an indigent widow with six minor
children on May 11, 2001, when her husband died. Three weeks later, she was arrested and taken
to jail for alleged child neglect (the truth was that she owned some land and
the locals wanted to steal it).
In
any case, the case really upset this writer.
The “Spotlight” paper of Jun 18, 2001, gave her a full page story--that
revealed her plight and how local politicians and land dealers were in the
process of ripping off her 40 acre farm, which adjoined Beaver Lake in Bonner
County Idaho.
Naturally,
the controlled national media and the local, sorry, Christian people all sat
back and effectively agreed that the theft was OK. As discussed elsewhere herein, Christian
Identity leader Dave Barley (who should have had “some” knowledge about the
diabolical efforts of Big Brother) came out to support the evil government
oppressors and attack and oppose the poor woman.
In
order to make a contribution to try to help her, this writer took the
“Spotlight” story and attached two Scriptural quotations to it (Ex 22:22-24 and
Jas 1:27) and prepared an 8 1/2 by 14 inch hand out--which was passed out to
several people or placed on community bulletin boards in North Idaho, near
where JoAnn lived.
Gross Selfishness
In
the course of passing this write-up out, this writer stopped at a supposed
church near Hope, Idaho. A man was
working in the yard and a copy of the paper was given to him. The church congregation had moved on some
time earlier and the man owned the then vacant building.
The
man and this writer discussed the JoAnn McGuckin case briefly. He agreed that she got a dirty deal from the
county officials. Thereupon, he
forcefully asked me why was i out passing these papers out. What was my connection to her and her case
and what was in it for me. Thereupon, my
reply was that there was no connection and that i did not know the
woman--beyond the newspaper story of her plight.
The
man could simply not understand that a person would go out and actually do a
good deed or favor for someone else without getting something out of it. He really was dumbfounded or perhaps just
thought that i was lying to him.
Actually,
this writer was simply not very swift that day because he could have been told
about the Christian people known to me on the subjects of pride, apathy and
selfishness.
For
instance, an acquaintance of mine was cited earlier. Like this Idaho man, my acquaintance would
agree that the poor woman in Idaho was being abused and hurt by authorities. Then, if my acquaintance was asked to do
something to help the poor woman, he probably would say-- “What’s in it for
me? Look, I don’t owe that woman
anything and I don’t owe you anything either!”
Actually,
this response is the same response which almost everybody in today’s world
either would speak, or at least mentally think, if they were faced with the
prospect of doing something for someone else.
Almost
all modern Christians love primarily themselves. They are extremely selfish--which, in realty,
is pride and self worship. Their pride
and selfishness makes them become very apathetic and indifferent about
things.
Issues
like this McGuckin case happen because the people, who should care and should
get up off of their duffs and do something positive to help the woman and
change things, do nothing and instead sit back and watch all of it from the
sidelines (even as they mentally disagree with what has happened or is
happening).
If
the prospect comes up of helping someone or doing something positive or
spending some of their precious money, most Christian Americans (including even
the Sardis Sacred Name and Christian Identity people known to me) will either
say or mentally think--what’s in it for me and I don’t owe you or anyone else
anything.
Martin Niemoller
This
discussion on JoAnn McGuckin brings to mind the words and wisdom of Martin
Niemoller. Niemoller was a German
Protestant Christian leader. Per “The
Concise Columbia Encyclopedia” (p. 600), Niemoller was born in 1892. In WWI, he was a submarine commander. Thus, Martin was in his prime in the 1930s,
when Adolf Schicklgruber came to power.
Subsequently,
Niemoller become prominent in Germany as a Protestant theologian (in 1947, he
became President of the Evangelical Church in Hesse-Nassau; and from 1961 to
1968, he served as President of the World Council of Churches).
While
his role with the World Council of Churches does not speak well for himself, he
nevertheless made an impact upon world history for several reasons. Importantly, he opposed the political, social
and religious policies of Schicklgruber and the Nazis. This made him an enemy of the state. So the Nazis responded by throwing him in
prison from 1938 to 1945.
Despite
some of his problems in understanding truth and righteousness (at least, in
terms of the World Council of Churches), Niemoller did leave for history a
short story of how apathy and indifference can destroy peoples and
nations. Per the Jul 2001 issue of “End
Time News” (p. 4), Martin Niemoller said:
“In
Germany, they first came for the Communists, and I did not speak up because I
was not a Communist. Then they came for
the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
“Then
they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up because I was not a
trade unionist. Then they came for the
Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me--and by that time no
one was left to speak up.”
It’s
hard to improve on the wisdom of Martin Niemoller in this instance. However one may approve or disapprove of
these different groups in Germany, it matters not. What does matter is the power of a tyrannical
and dictatorial state to slowly and methodically eliminate its opposition, one
stroke at a time, until all of the opposition is destroyed and history.
The
amazing thing is the incredible apathy, indifference and don’t care of many or
most people, as the dictatorial state makes its move to absolute power. If just some number of persons would step
forward and take a stand, the tyranny could be stopped or at least slowed down
considerably. Tragically, this is
precisely what is not happening in America right now. And the problem on this is pride of the people!
Edmund Burke
These
remarks on Byron De La Beckwith, JoAnn McGuckin and Martin Niemoller and their
do-nothing contemporaries bring to mind the words of Edmund Burke (1729-1797),
the famous, British, conservative writer and statesman. Burke once said-- “The only thing necessary
for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” (back cover, “The Hidden
Tyranny”).
A Parting Sample
Someone
known to this writer used to look forward to whatever articles, books and
writings that were produced by me over the years (as noted earlier, a
newsletter, in particular, which described, discussed and presented some
information on the great issues and problems facing man today, as found in this
study at hand). Interestingly, this
person liked the material providing it was free and never cost him any
money.
With
his very “evil eyes” (he was an extremely selfish, tight and stingy person), he
always had better places for his money, rather than on the pursuit of truth and
understanding. He liked knowledge and
understanding about some of the big issues facing man. The problem was that he was just in no mood
to spend any of his money in order to obtain such information.
He
cared less whether he or his family faced destruction from a lack of knowledge
and understanding or not. For instance,
he once received a settlement of something around $35,000 or so on a job. He was so impressed with the need for truth
that he graciously (in his evil eyes) put $100 into publishing some of the
material now in this study at hand.
This
man had at least one copy of the KJV of the Scriptures. But evidently, he never found any occasion to
buy any further books or writings to help him in pursuit of truth--despite
making good money in his work for several years.
In
terms of study, he has never demonstrated any particular desire or interest in
studying the Word even in his KJV Book.
He periodically would express some interest in some of the publications
of this writer--again, provided that they didn’t cost him any money and were
laid in his hands at no expense or trouble to him. Usually, he wouldn’t even have been willing
to pay postage if that was required.
With
his attitude, one can bank on it that if he had to physically walk down the
road some distance or even across the street to gain some knowledge of truth
and righteousness--forget it! He
wouldn’t do anything or spend any money to have truth. His entire focus was on
his life and his family, and their collective needs and desires (in other
words--on selfishness and his array of personal idols).
Obviously,
truth was not high on the agenda of this person because he has been quite busy
buying land, providing the good life for his home and family, pets,
entertainment, pleasure, assets and on and on in terms of what whets the
appetite of carnal, fleshly man. Truth
and righteousness were not on his agenda.
Typical
This
person under discussion is not unusual.
Instead, he is typical. He is
just like the rest of fleshly, carnal people.
People collectively are filled with pride and vanity over the loves,
idols, gods and aspirations of their lives.
Carnal, fleshly people are just not interested in truth, justice and
righteousness. And they certainly have
no interest in spreading truth, righteousness or justice around to others
(including their own rea).
They
could care less about anything beyond their immediate fleshly needs and
desires--right now. As far as their
children and the future, most could care less.
While many would say and pretend that they care, their actions always
prove that they don’t care.
Most
modern Americans simply aren’t concerned if the schools are destroyed, and if
Balaam’s thinking prevails (as will be described in a later chapter herein); so
that one day they will have descendants of mixed blood lines.
Tragically,
most carnal people care only about themselves and the here and now. They simply are unconcerned about profoundly
important things in the future. That
seems to be the way most of us are unless and until YHWH YESHUA intervenes to
change us.
The Bottom Line
The
essence of the above described state of apathy and indifference eventually
devolves to the subject of pride and vanity (which was assessed in some detail
in the preceding chapters).
For
a conclusion, the wise Shlomo wrote a grand piece of advice which we all need
to ponder and think upon whenever we pray for ourselves. He said "Give me neither poverty nor
riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, Lest I be full and deny You,
and say, Who is YHWH? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my
ELOHIM” (Prov 30:8-9).
Chapter
101--Real Brotherly Love I
The Attributes of Philadelphia
As
will be discussed in a later chapter herein, the whole book of Philippians
describes the issue of deportment which will surely characterize the people of
the emerging Philadelphia Congregation.
Otherwise, many of the other OT and NT Scriptures have relevant
information on them as well.
Certainly,
Yohanan’s writings focused on love which is important (yes, love is obedience
of YHWH’s laws). Even YESHUA’s Words in
the first books of the NT focus on this very elect group as well.
Also,
as elsewhere herein, most of YESHUA’s dissertations (particularly His famous
Sermon on the Mount) address the true fellowship of the election and how to
practice brotherly love in that context.
Evidently, these persons will eventually receive reconciliation in the
flesh. They will surely be important to
YHWH’s plan and purpose.
The
two issues here with Philadelphia concern who is thy brother (described earlier
in the Hebrew word “rea”) and what is love (obedience, as just noted)? Accordingly, the writer of this work has
spent some time looking at these questions of deportment and brotherly
love.
From
this study, it would seem that a student of truth might be able to categorize
some 25 or so points which summarize the application of brotherly love in a
true community of believers. This
outline of 25 points is not supposed to necessarily be complete. There could be more. Of course, references to brothers obviously
include sisters as well, in terms of gender.
True Brotherly Love in
Christendom?
At
the outset, it would be useful to set the record straight that this writer has
never found any evidence whatsoever which would indicate, suggest, imply or
allow that true Scriptural brotherly love has ever been practiced in
Christendom in total, to include its modern Sacred Name and Identity
offshoots.
Not
only is there an absolute void in practice, but this writer has found it
impossible so far to even find any writings, talks or speeches whatsoever in
Christendom and its fragments, indicating that any of her leaders, preachers,
elders, pastors, etc, have ever even taught, advocated, or suggested real
brotherly love.
In
short, Christianity seemingly knows little or nothing about this concept which
is perhaps one of the most important teachings in the Book. It is true that over the ages huge numbers of
Christian spokesmen have written and talked an awful lot about this subject of
brotherly love.
But
somehow all of these writings and speeches seem to have skirted around the real
issues involved and have actually missed the point (or points) of it. Thus, all of this talk we've heard is just
that--talk with no substance. It is
amazing here how many persons like to talk and write, but never produce any
truth worth mentioning.
Evidently,
the place one must ultimately come to on this matter is that while these many
(false) churches, assemblies, houses, congregations, and groups have generally
talked and written about brotherly love, the verity is that they really don't
understand what really is involved in it and what the true issues are that need
to be addressed.
Hence,
that's the purpose of this presentation--to summarize the relevant points from
a fresh, new perspective. Brotherly love
is, in actuality, a fairly complex and complicated doctrine which even the best
of “Bible” scholars have seemed incapable of assessing--perhaps because they
were and are locked in belief in a false system and are unable to break out of
it on really important themes.
But
whatever the cause for the resulting confusion, the fact remains that
Christendom has missed the point, as true students of the Word can detect with
just some open minded study and consideration, if such is possible in limited
humans/humanoids entrapped with the carnality of pride and vanity, as we all
are.
And
while this work may not have the concept correct either, any intelligent person
will plainly see a major demarcation from what traditional “Bible” teachers
have advocated.
Examples from Secular History
In
mentioning this void in traditional Christendom and its modern fragments, it
would be well to observe here initially that there have been at least two
possible examples of "some" aspects of brotherly love in action over
the centuries (besides the first century CE Apostolic Assembly), as this writer
can best determine at this time.
By
focusing on these two samples from history, this writer would not dare try to
suggest that there are no others from history.
It's just that they're the only ones which this writer has been able to
identify and establish with verity.
First,
in this regard, one might look at the earlier mentioned Essene community of the
first century and particularly the Qumran group near the Dead Sea (which
evidently left us the invaluable Dead Sea Scrolls).
One
writing in these scrolls, the Manual of Discipline (apparently the Essene rule
book), focused on the internal operations of the sect. And while this congregation did have some
faults (after all, they weren't the Apostolic Assembly), they also had some
very fine attributes which are well worth considering.
Especially,
their writings seem to indicate that there was, in the group, a great emphasis
on brotherly love and certainly from a unique perspective. In this regard, some consideration of their
teachings will be examined in some detail later on in this study.
Among Physical Brothers
In
respect to the other possibility from history, this writer will share some
things learned over the years, while dabbling in personal genealogy. It has been interesting to me that often,
from 100 to 400 years ago, immigration patterns from Europe to the New World
and later, across the frontier, frequently involved two or three physical
brothers moving, settling and just being together in much of life's happenings
and events.
This
fact is borne out repeatedly in old court and family records and traditions for
long ages. So often, these linkages
would continue, on and on, until death finally intervened to change things. And it wasn't only physical brothers traveling
and living together or being near each other, but the relationships also
frequently extended to a sister and brother-in-law.
On
the American frontier, these family groupings would last and last as brothers
and sisters traveled West, facing a setting sun. And you could virtually be sure that when
these brethren traveled and moved together, they almost inevitably settled near
each other and left many court records where they were named together in common
documents (especially those dealing with the death of one of them).
In
this writer's own family, this situation has surfaced over and over again. In this regard, the one instance which i best
recall concerned my own grandfather and his two brothers (there were no other
children--just the three sons). In the
early 1850's, they traveled with their parents, grandparents and several uncles
and aunts from North Carolina to Missouri.
My
grandfather and his brothers grew up in Missouri and the two older boys married
there. By around 1890, all three of the
brothers packed up and moved to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The youngest brother, who was still
unmarried, died shortly after arriving in the new land.
However,
the other two brothers and their wives and families survived and settled near
each other, close to the South Canadian River in central Oklahoma. And one of the things which i now remember
from my father and his sisters, over the years, was that whenever they were
together, they inevitably would reminisce and reflect on their early years and
the bonds and links they had with their uncle and his family.
Although
the two families lived fairly close to each other over the lives of my
grandfather and his brother, it never altered or acted to curtail or limit them
in any way possible from regularly and frequently visiting each other. i have heard many, many stories of these two
families getting together, especially on weekends, to do all kinds of
things.
Once
for a short period of time, my grandfather and his family moved across the
river into an area that required some time to reach by horses and a wagon. But even then, the two brothers and their
families continued to get together every weekend--for church and general
socializing. With the distance and time
problems, the visiting family would come and spend an overnight--usually
Saturday night.
This
phenomenon of regular visits and close contacts continued all of the years of
these two brothers--until death finally intervened to cut them down.
And
while this writer doesn't have the details of the extent of sharing and helping
each other during those years that the two brothers were together, i am fully
persuaded that they did share often and gave aid and assistance to each other
whenever and wherever the situation warranted it.
Truly,
they loved each other much and they must have showed this love and affection in
positive acts and deeds. From the
evidence, it was far more than just talk and pretense.
With
these preparatory remarks out of the way, this writer will now present in this
and the three succeeding chapters, a summary or listing of twenty five points
about Scriptural brotherly love, as now seems evident.
Some
of these points have already been or will be mentioned elsewhere in this
study. Because of these related explanations,
no particular effort will be devoted to them in the following presentation on
the twenty-five.
First--of the 25 Points
First,
brotherly love logically can only be practiced and put into effect among racial
kinsmen and legitimate ger converts to the true faith (as will be covered later
herein).
While
respect would clearly be due nokri/nekar, chaiyah or behemah persons who
undertake to live obediently to YHWH's Word (if this can happen and does
happen), the exclusion of these individuals from The ELOHIM's congregation
would likely draw a line of demarcation between them and Israelites and ger
converts--at least, in terms of exercising true brotherly love.
Since
the concept of brotherly love is predicated upon a brotherhood functioning
together as a family unit, it would be useful to pause here and examine the
Hebrew word for family and togetherness which is “mishpahah.”
In
his book on “Our Father Abraham,” author Marvin R. Wilson notes that mishpahah
extends beyond the immediate family and reaches to grandparents, uncles, aunts,
cousins and ultimately even unto a whole clan or social unit whose members are
bound together and share a common destiny.
In
the broader sense, family meant all of racial Yisrael (and her ger
converts). Consequently, there are still
more reasons available, suggesting the presence of racial considerations in the
practice of true brotherly love in the flesh and in the present
environment.
Two
Second,
spiritual brotherly love can only exist in a situation where the brethren are
truly converted and changed from worldliness and carnality. There seems to be no way that unconverted
carnal people, still dominated by the flesh, with its evils of pride, vanity,
lust, envy, jealousy, greed, selfishness, competitiveness, covetousness, etc,
can practice and realize true brotherly love.
There
is a fabulous legend in Judaism about the interplay between Moshe and
Aaron Per the story, there was enormous
love between the two brothers. Yet,
neither brother ever displayed any envy or jealousy over the work and blessings
of the other brother (“The Book of Legends,” p. 93). Instead, each brother was happy and joyful
over the benefits that came to the other brother. They cherished each other greatly.
Brothers
must have experienced the true gift of repentance and this can be a difficult
state to achieve. With true repentance,
the evils of pride and trying to be more important than other persons come to
an end. There is no allowance for
competitiveness, envy, jealousy and selfishness in a brotherhood. Brethren must be thrilled and happy when
their brothers make advancements in blessings and benefits.
Beyond
the clear fact that the brethren in a group must have dealt with the repentance
(pride/carnality) issue, it is crucial that the group’s leadership involve men
of integrity who have experienced true repentance and will set the right
example for the brethren. Tragically,
most Christian groups have the carnality problem--from the top down.
This
discussion brings to mind the situation with the Worldwide Church of God and
its fall-out groups (since its break up)--where the leaders (like the
Armstrongs) were the most carnal and evil of all. Previous remarks have already addressed both
Herbert W. Armstrong and his son Garner Ted.
So there is no need to repeat all of those findings.
Suffice
to say, Herbert’s father and Herbert himself showed enormous evidence of
behemah genes (as will be described in later chapters herein). The small size of Herbert and Ted further
suggest the presence of genes from Kain (too, Ted’s mother had a negative blood
type as a matter of fact, which also will be later described). The point is that the case can be easily made
that these two men were children of Satan.
Both
were drinkers and Ted’s favorite pastime was shooting craps in Reno/Las
Vegas. Both were sexual perverts of the
worst kind (the evidence is that Herbert was an incestuous pedophile and son
Ted gained notoriety when a book came out on “In bed with Garner Ted” and when
he later was filmed masturbating in a massage parlor).
Both
of the Armstrong big shots were devoted to lavish and extravagant living while
they sucked blood (figuratively speaking) and the very last nickels and dimes
out of poor people who could not afford to pay three tithes plus frequent
offerings (this Armstrong problem will be more fully addressed in the next
chapter). Too, HWA was an outright thief
as he plagiarized and stole material from others without giving credit.
But
all of this was only the tip of the iceberg because both of them and the
religious group they spawned were filled with pride, arrogance and meanness at
the leadership level (as described elsewhere herein, and as continuing to
affect all of the fall-out groups which have come forth over the years). While they hollered for the dumb sheep to be
repentant, they themselves were far removed from repentance and conversion.
Finally,
in terms of the carnality point, Marvin R. Wilson has some connecting ideas in
his discussion of the marriage situation in the Scriptural world of the ancient
Near East where marriages were “arranged,” usually by parents or matchmakers.
Often
newly married couples had seen little or nothing of each other before the
marriage ceremony. Wilson observes that
the new couple had to grow to love each other after marriage and not before, as
modern society speculates.
To
this, this writer would just add that while they may have had little or no love
or affection for each other before marriage, there is reason to believe that
with the event, there had to be a certain level of acceptance, love and
respect, probably from the point of marriage--which could grow and prosper over
the years, as Wilson states.
The
point being, in terms of a true brotherhood, perhaps the exact same situation
prevails. Consequently, the brethren
don’t go through an initial process of acquaintance-ship, social intercourse
and getting to know each other, only to later discover that they are brethren
and have brotherly love.
No! Instead, they become brethren and are bound
together when each experiences the process of true conversion. Thus, with conversion, they accept, love and
respect each other. Then with the
process of time, this initial love and affection grows and abounds. Therefore, brotherly love is not a cycle
which develops before conversion. It
surfaces upon conversion.
Carnal
people are, of course, in pursuit of life from a strictly fleshly point of
view. It is generally impossible to get
a proud, carnal fleshly person to realize that he can have problems and
shortcomings (pride will not allow proud people to appreciate their
problems). Too often, proud individuals
want to attribute problems and evil to other people and never to
themselves.
The
matter of dealing with carnality is broached in some detail elsewhere
herein. And truly, it must be conquered
in a true fellowship. But here, in
recognizing one’s shortcomings, the converted person must be ever aware of the
dangers of the flesh surfacing--even momentarily/on rare occasions (as happened
with Moshe and Kepa, as cited earlier).
Too
often, proud people get mad and hateful over almost anything that happens to
them to question their greatness and glory (and which would deter from their
elevated status and especially if their pride is hurt in someway). In a true fellowship, a person must be aware
of his own shortcomings and propensity for pride and carnality to surface.
In
general, believers must be broad minded and not sensitive and prone to become
mad and upset over the very least of things said to them. Once a person gets mad, hate takes over and
hate is enormously evil and cannot satisfactorily function in a true fellowship. The brethren in a true group of believers
cannot allow their emotions and the flesh to take over and impose hate.
In
previous chapters, this writer has commented upon a couple of examples from my
life where the least little thing said to some people upsets them. They become mad and filled with hate and
bitterness. An enemy usually
results. And sometimes, one will never
know for sure what was said or what happened to precipitate the hatred,
opposition and separation from fellowship.
Obviously,
this type of thing cannot be allowed to surface in a true fellowship. People have simply got to be broadminded and
overlook many of the nebulous, petty, unimportant things which upset and make
carnal persons mad and filled with hatred.
And
always, if a person has been improperly offended (in the form of lashon hara,
in reference to an evil tongue, as will be described in a later chapter
herein), then he must go to the offending brother and make it right and resolve
the conflict (as will be elaborated upon in further comments herein).
Incidentally,
there is a mutual duty here. Certainly,
all participants in a true fellowship should go out of their way and walk the
extra mile to not offend and hurt a brother in the faith (in the form of lashon
hara). In that sense, we all need to
practice the Hebrew concept of shmiras halshon--which is guarding the tongue
(Jas 3:2-13).
Otherwise,
brethren in a true fellowship must pull their heads out of the sand and not get
upset, mad, hateful and emotional over every little thing said to them.
In
having social intercourse with others, all participants need some freedom of
speech without having to clam up and not talk at all for fear of causing an
offense and hate. It is pride which
causes hurt feelings and true believers must get rid of the pride in their
lives.
Three
Third,
the brethren involved must have some perception, realization and understanding
about their own personality and temperament problems. In particular, persons who are strong extroverts,
feelers and perceiving in type (which may involve significant behemah
genes--Jer 31:27, to be later described) must be on guard and alert, lest their
shortcomings surface to cause problems in the fellowship and in true worship.
People
with these limitations need to be cognizant of their situations and exercise
care and concern that hurt is not put upon their brethren because of their own
shortcomings.
Four
Fourth,
the practice of brotherly love involves perfection. Like the Book says--we are to be perfect just
as The MOST HIGH is perfect (Matt 5:48).
On this subtopic, one might wish to go back and look at the earlier
chapters on the Torah. Clearly, there is
a need to live sinless lives after conversion and in the true fellowship.
Five
Fifth,
brotherly love requires true professionalism among the brethren. This concept counts on total dedication,
commitment and hard work--all of the time with no slacks or breaks in between. You can't be practicing brotherly love part
of the time or once in a while. It's
mandatory 100% of the time and requires full concentration and effort.
By
the way, on this theme, possibly one of the most professional military officers
in a thousand years was a man named Thomas Jackson. He was a Confederate hero and made his mark
by being a stonewall in battle--hence, Stonewall Jackson. If you want to read about real
professionalism, read a biography of General Jackson.
Six
Sixth,
brotherly love involves deliberate and rational decisions, made logically and
intelligently for the attainment of clearly defined goals and objectives. Put another way, the brethren must know and
understand what they're doing and why they're doing it--for benefits,
blessings, happiness, joys, opportunities and rewards in this life and the age
to come.
Seven
Seventh,
the practice of brotherly love does not hinge on coercion or pressure. It involves a voluntary choice (as in true
conversion) where one chooses to love the brethren.
It's
really something the brethren want to do and elect to do without force. Yet, a paradox may seem to arise on this
because the practice is not really something optional in the fellowship that
one may or may not do, depending upon human wishes and motivations. It is mandatory and required!
Eight
Eighth,
brotherly love cannot be judged, measured or determined on the basis of human
emotions since it involves ethical and moral duties, responsibilities and obligations. Again, it is not something that is optional
that may or may not be done. On the
contrary, there are duties and requirements, demanding the practice of
brotherly love.
Also,
on this, please note that while we may do single acts of a love type, like
giving some aid and help to needy brethren because of human emotions (as
arising from compassion and mercy), this is not the way that real brotherly
love operates.
Brotherly
love is not something to be done on the basis of emotions. It is something to be done because it is
specified as a duty, obligation and responsibility. Duties aren’t done on the basis of emotions,
nor are they optional choices. They are done because they are required to be
done.
Finally,
on this point, the slogan at West Point has historically been--duty, honor and
country, as was mentioned by General Douglas MacArthur at his farewell
address. Surely, this concept from a
secular school training professional soldiers would have some partial
application in brotherly love.
Nine
Ninth,
while brotherly love is not done because of emotions, it should be noted that
in terms of the practitioners, there is a need for the presence of emotions and
a concrete inner disposition. Consequently,
it is heartfelt or from the heart.
Put
another way, brethren must possess emotions and feelings of attachment;
however, their conduct towards one another is not perpetuated on the basis of
those emotions. Instead, their conduct
is regulated, controlled, propelled and prompted by the ideals of duty,
obligation and responsibility, as discussed above.
True
brotherly love involves a passionate, enthusiastic and zealous commitment
towards another. And in this context,
passionate means "having or showing strong feelings" (per
Webster's).
So
while brotherly love is not ultimately predicated or dependent upon emotions
and feelings, true brotherly love manifestly involves real emotion and
attachment of the brothers, one for another.
Few
persons seem to be able to grasp or comprehend what all is involved in passion
and enthusiasm. But the Scriptures use
the words zealous, zeal and diligence (in English translations) to convey those
feelings (Rom 12:10-12; Titus 2:14; II Pet 1:5, 10).
Incidentally,
if the brethren are to be zealous and diligent, as is required, please be
assured that there is no place in the brotherhood for apathy, indifference and
don't care. These evils are not to be
found in truth.
Ten
Tenth,
in terms of the professionalism, duties, obligations and presence of heartfelt
emotions and attachment among the brethren (as described above), there has to
be a presence of loyalty among the brethren (involving the Hebrew concept of
hesed, as was discussed in a previous chapter).
Of
course, it goes without saying that the brethren must have loyalty to The MOST
HIGH. And along with that loyalty, trust
and devotion to The ELOHIM, the brethren must exercise the same loyalty, trust
and devotion to each other (second, after that due The HIGHEST).
When
the chips are down, the brethren must understand and know that they can count
upon the brotherhood for love, support and assistance. Assuredly, this trust and loyalty simply does
not exist in the secular society, nor is it to be found in Christendom or in
any major Christian denomination.
Eleven
Eleventh,
the practice of brotherly love involves wanting to be physically with or near
another. It includes the emotions,
attitudes and feelings of wanting to be with someone and in their
presence--absolutely as much as is possible.
In
brotherly love, i want to be with you and you want to be with me. Now, having said that, it is clear that there
are limiting considerations. Even in a
marriage, there are times when it is prudent and right for the married
individuals to be alone.
Obviously,
spiritual brethren cannot and should not be together physically in a constant
presence, 24 hours every day, 365 days a year for extended periods. After all, brethren have obligations to be
alone and to be with their wives and children.
But aside from the evident, brethren must want to be with each
other.
In
this regard, “The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament,” by Harris, Archer
and Waltke, observes that love draws (together) while hate separates and keeps
distance. And for a classic example of
this reality, please consider the earlier remarks about this writer's
grandfather and uncle.
The Essenes
Also,
one should take note of the Essenes who placed great emphasis on "being
together" and especially in their communal arrangements.
In
his “Jewish Wars” (2:124-127), Josephus wrote that whenever an Essene traveled
away from his home or community, he would be welcomed as a member of the family
at the home or community of any other Essene.
All of the resources of the community were placed at the disposal of a
visiting Essene.
And
as Josephus also observed about Essenes, "they enter the houses of men
whom they have never seen before as though they were their most intimate
friends. Consequently, they carry
nothing whatever with them on their journeys, except arms against
brigands. In every city there is a
person of the order expressly appointed to attend to strangers, who provide
them with raiment and other necessities..."
Regarding
these Essene practices, there are a couple of Scriptures which may link in some
way to this hospitality idea toward brethren.
For
example, in YESHUA's charge to the 70, He told them "to carry no purse, no
provisions bag, ...whatever house (of a believer) you enter, first say Peace be
to this household."
In
another text, Yohanan commended Gaius (a believer) for the faithful work which
he was doing in giving service to strange brethren traveling away from home
(III Jo 1:5).
On
one more Essene point, Professor David Flusser, formerly of Hebrew University, in an article in the
May-June 1990 “Jerusalem Perspective,” reflected that, per the Manual of
Discipline, Essenes were forbidden to accept anything on credit or enter into a
partnership with outsiders. It was not
that they considered money evil, per se; but as Flusser noted, it was the
involvement with outsiders which money led to that was evil.
This
Essene practice makes one think of III John again where the context is clear
that the very elect, while traveling, did not get involved with
non-believers. They received their needs
and help from fellow believers on their journeys.
Christian Views
In
terms of Christendom, this writer had an interesting experience with a
Christian "elder" once, who just happened to be involved in a
religious work which i had some interest in.
Over the years, we had had some correspondence and one day by chance, i
happened to be in a town not far from his house. i contacted his home and left word with his
daughter that i wanted to stop by to meet him.
She
saw no problem with it so i came by after he came home. But boy was i surprised. The man called me "brother"
regularly and often, but that's about as far as it went on this brother
stuff. He made it plain in his actions
and other words that aside from saying hello, shaking hands and exchanging a
minimum of talk, that's about all he was interested in. He was most anxious for me to leave.
By
the way, while he may have had thoughts that we were brethren by his religion,
please be assured that by my religion there was no way that we were brethren,
and i certainly didn't call him brother.
So he didn't insult me any either by being inhospitable.
This
writer has found over the years that Christian leaders and big shots can be
very friendly and some may even be hospitable, if they look upon someone else
as a prospective convert or proselyte.
But believe me, when it becomes apparent that one is not going to join
up with them and be a follower, they can turn awfully cold and icy fast.
Perhaps
the best illustration of how much Christians want to be physically with their
"brethren" surfaces in a brief look at reality.
For
many of them, they only want to be with and see their brethren about twice a
year, at church services near Easter and Christmas (as noted earlier, this is
one of the reasons people go to church--for the Christmas and Easter events). During these two brief encounters, most get
to shake each other's hands, brag and boast on all of their blessings and
accomplishments and that's just about it.
And
even for those who attend the pagan services weekly, the brotherly love stuff
is about the same thing, but with just a little more frequency. Moreover, on this subtopic, the Sacred Name
and Identity people generally react in a similar fashion.
Incidentally,
in terms of the outright, modern, secular world of real physical brothers and
sisters, one finds just about the same thing.
Sometimes, brothers and sisters live fairly close together. Yet, they think so little of each other that
they see each other and get together maybe once every several years--again, to
brag and boast about their greatness.
In
many families, being physically together means an annual rendezvous to exchange
some gifts and to have a common meal at some pagan Christian celebration. Isn't it clearly obvious to any thinking
person that these vain and idolatrous customs of the people do not and cannot
constitute true, spiritual, brotherly love.
Togetherness
Thus,
the importance of this concept of togetherness must not be overlooked. It has to be one of the backbone principles
of true brotherly love. Any favorable
comments about the Apostolic Assembly and perhaps the Essenes must be due, in
part, to them being physically together in communes and their separated (Hebrew
kodesh) style of living.
It
is this community environment and its attendant reality of being physically
together and literally sharing in all aspects of life which promoted and
encouraged the full development of real brotherly love.
There
seems to be little if any doubt about it, Philadelphia (meaning brotherly love)
must eventually exist as a community and one that is separated (kodesh) from
the world and fully capable of surviving in a wilderness setting for 3 1/2
years at Petra, during the great tribulation and while awaiting the return of
YESHUA The MESSIAH.
Twelve
Twelfth,
brotherly love involves an attitude toward brethren of respect and
dignity. There is no way in the fellowship
for the degradation of a brother.
Consequently, there is no place in the brotherhood for gossip,
backbiting, or questions about the personal integrity, honesty, motives or
uprightness of a brother.
In
fact, if there is any cause for concern in this regard, the observing brother
is duty bound to pray about the matter (I Jo 5:16) and then go immediately to
the brother in private to try to bring about reconciliation and repentance, as
appropriate (Lev 19:17; Prov 25:9; Matt 5:23-24; 18:15; Lu 17:3; II Thes 3:15;
Titus 3:10).
Chapter
102--Real Brotherly Love II
Continuing From the Prior Chapter
Some
twelve specific points on describing brotherly love have been delineated in the
former chapter. This chapter continues
with a statement of the next twelve points.
Thirteen
Thirteenth,
brotherly love involves implicit trust.
In making this point, it should be observed that in the apostolic age,
as well as in our time, trust is a problem when one is faced with governments
which are dedicated to terror and persecution of true believers.
As
noted elsewhere in this study, it can be very dangerous for people in our time
to trust and have confidence in others--even in close, physical, family members
(Matt 10:16-23; 24:9-12; Mk 13:9-13; Lu 12:51-53; 21:12-17).
In
a sense, one can only trust and have faith in YHWH YESHUA (II Sam 22:3; Ps
2:11-12; 7:1; 11:1; 16:1; 18:30; 25:20; 31:1; 34:22; 37:40; 141:8; Zeph
3:12). Of course, this translates into
the Spiritual brethren having to also trust each other.
But
perhaps, in all situations (including the brotherhood), here on earth, YESHUA's
counsel prevails for us to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matt
10:16). As should be pointed out, the
FBI and other police powers have infiltrated agents, spies and informers en masse
into all types of groups which they consider to be enemies of the
state--especially the Identity groups, Ku Klux Klan units, etc.
In
this context, persons in the Aryan Nations group, previously mentioned, have to
be particularly careful of what they say and do. You may remember that in 1989, some three
members of this religious group allegedly planned to blow up a queer bar in
Washington state. One of the three men
(an Italian American) was an FBI informer and you know the rest of the
story.
The
two Anglo rednecks involved were arrested and went to jail for conspiracy. All of this goes to make one wonder why Anglo
Saxons would even be involved on a religious plane with a mixed blooded
Italian, but then things like this may happen in the Aryan Nations.
The
July 1983 “Instauration” pointed out that in one KKK Klavin in NC, seven of the
eight members were FBI informers. Paul
Hall’s article on “FBI Declares War on Christians” in the Sep-Dec 1999
“Jubilee” (p. 12), as is covered in some detail elsewhere herein, noted that
the FBI does not consider the Ku Klux Klan a threat because it acts alone and
is heavily infiltrated by law enforcement.
Hall
thoughtfully added that today the Ku Klux Klan is almost an exclusive US
government operation (the editor of this study would just add that Amalekite
hate groups, like the Anti-Defamation League and others, have also infiltrated
the Klan extensively--to be proven in later chapters herein).
The
Dec 1990 Instauration followed up by suggesting that anytime three people of
one of the right wing groups get together, one of the three most likely will be
an FBI agent or FBI informer. Based on
YESHUA's advice, one would argue that there can be a problem even in two people
getting together.
Loose Talking
Of
course, the problem over trust is more complex and extensive than just the
fears that one's brother in the faith can be or may be a member of or informer
for the state's thought police.
No--because, in addition, there is the prospect that one of the brethren
may just have a big mouth which can't seem to be controlled, regulated or
tamed.
In
this regard, Hollywood made an interesting picture with Humphrey Bogart, over
fifty years ago, which pretty well tells the tale. The movie was "Treasure of the Sierra
Madre" and it won and/or was nominated for several Academy Awards. In the film, the three main stars were in a
partnership involved in illegally mining gold in an isolated part of the
Mexican mountains.
As
it turned out, one of the men had to go to a nearby town occasionally to buy
supplies. To avoid tipping off the town
people on their real purpose, the partners had a cover story that they were
hunters looking for wild game. However,
in this touchy environment, there was always a question of trust surfacing
whenever one of the men would leave the campsite.
For
example, the person going to town might decide to sell his friends out for
possible personal gain from the authorities.
But even more significantly, there was always a danger that even a well
meaning partner in town may accidentally and unintentionally say something
which would tip off authorities that things weren't like they were supposed to
be.
A Stupid Phone Salesman
In
a related matter, this writer in September 2002 answered an ad in a paper on
some material on why gold and silver is a good investment. In a phone call with the company in
Minneapolis, MN, one of the company’s agents was introduced to me. A few days later, he called me back and
started trying to sell me some gold/silver.
The point was made to him on the prospects of government confiscation
when trouble comes.
This
ignorant and incompetent fool proceeded to give me his view over the phone on
how gold and silver can be hid from government agents if there is a
recall. The point was made to him that
the phone lines are tapped and government dossiers are being maintained on all
people in the US. With fools like this,
the only thing to do is hang up the phone (which i stupidly did not do until he
ended the conversation).
Here,
the idea is that one must be very careful whom he talks to and what words are
said. It is utter foolishness and
stupidity to stand there and discuss violating a federal law and particularly
when one knows that all phone calls are tapped and that the state is looking
for law violations. As a minimum, if Big
Brother does not arrest someone at once, the critical information is filed in
the person’s dossier for later attention.
Religious People As Well
This
writer has known a number of people over the years and in a religious
perspective who had very definite personality limitations (extroverts, feelers
and perceiving). Though sincere and well
meaning, they would be extremely untrustworthy in any trying and difficult
environment.
Feelers
making decisions on their feelings instead of on factual truths, coupled with
the likelihood of talking too much (as extroverts tend to do), could open the
door for all kinds of problems in terms of trust. And when one adds in the perceiving
personality which can be awfully irresponsible and careless, the probability of
something going wrong intensifies.
Perhaps
all of this combines to translate that in the future Philadelphia congregation
(which will be addressed in some detail in later chapters herein), the group,
collectively, must be very careful and prudent of whom it allows into
fellowship with them. The "Big
Brother" government has big eyes and long ears and could be a threat to
truth.
But
despite the reality of this eventuality, the fact remains that in the
brotherhood, there must be absolute trust among the brethren. Without explicit trust, brotherly love cannot
exist. And the love factor is far more
important than the extent of risk present.
Fourteen
Fourteenth,
Scriptural brotherly love includes real, genuine, honest, true, factual,
outgoing care, concern and affection for another. It is simply not a hypocritical show off
designed to impress observers. And
likewise, it is not something to just talk about. Furthermore, it is not just something to use
as a complementary close in a letter.
In
this regard, some people actually suppose that if they use the word “love” in a
letter and at least in closing it, then “love” is being communicated to the recipient
whether there ever are acts and deeds of love or not. For sure, anyway we may try to cut it,
brotherly love must be predicated on genuine care and concern towards another
and not just pretended affection with vain, empty words of little or no true meaning.
Fifteen
Fifteenth,
brotherly love consists of wanting to share benefits, blessings, resources,
emotions and life with another generally and in a close relationship.
This
relationship must extend to almost all facets of life and things which brethren
face daily in their sojourn here on earth.
It involves being closely knit together and bound together for good and
for bad in regards to what the future may hold for the brotherhood and in the
collective sense.
Here
also, this concept includes being with, sharing and participating with a
brother in times and moments of joy, happiness and blessing as well as the
converse times of sorrow, trouble, sadness, affliction and trial. And in the latter cases, a brother wants to
be a good listener able to sympathize and empathize with another, as may be
appropriate.
Additionally,
in this context, love is not just a time for a social get together in order to
have fun, eat, be merry, exchange flatteries and to boast and brag about one's
greatness and accomplishments. It's not
to say that in sharing, brethren may not eat and make merry (in times of joy
and happiness).
But
that's not the purpose or motivation for the sharing in times of good and
bad. No!
The purpose and motivation is because the people involved are brethren
and it is important to share in these moments with someone who is truly loved. Clearly, brethren want to be with and to
share with brethren whenever and wherever possible because of love.
On
this theme, it is useful to note that the Catholic "wake" is
theoretically such a time, when Catholic brethren get together and share with a
grieved one upon the death of a family member.
And truly, all of this sounds good.
But
in practice, this writer has found that even in the wake the
"brethren" there, supposedly to console the grieving relative,
generally end up involved in a social get together where most concentrate on
their own affairs and business dealings; and of course, eat and enjoy a banquet
of sorts.
How Much?
However,
the idea of sharing has to be far more broader and extensive than just a
sharing of emotions and feelings in particular moments of time. It has to include a complete sharing of most
everything (except one’s husband or wife and perhaps some personal effects,
obviously).
Really,
the sharing must be of the same type as is commonly found in a real
family. After all, that's what brotherly
love is all about--where the members of YHWH's Body become brethren in His
family.
And
in this context, the sharing of resources, benefits and blessings extend beyond
the point of obligation to render aid, assistance and help to a needy brother
(as will be addressed below in point number sixteen).
Thus,
the concept of the sharing of life in its totality compares with the way a
physical brother is supposed to share with physical brothers and sisters
(instead of being selfish as this writer was as a child)--especially in the
home and in some ways similar to married persons who love and share with each
other in all things and/or how parents normally share with their own children
and particularly their small children.
Consequently,
if a brother is preparing to enjoy the pleasures of a bowl of delicious ice
cream or a slice of cold watermelon on a hot, steamy day and perceives his
brother in a position to also partake and enjoy, then the idea of sharing
becomes a point of paramount importance to dictate a division of the food.
People
who truly have love for each other actually want to share and participate
equally in all blessings, benefits and resources available (Phil 1:5-6;
4:14-18). Of course, this participation
extends far beyond the limits of giving aid and assistance to a needy
brother.
Selfish Motivations
It
is amazing that so many individuals live under the delusion that they don't
"owe" anybody anything and whatever they've got is theirs totally to
enjoy. Of course, a few may want to
carry this thinking into the brotherhood and persist in believing that the
brethren are involved in a dog eat dog world of greed, selfishness, get,
acquire, competition and strife.
Some
operate on the premise that what belongs to them, belongs to them, and what
belongs to a brother, belongs to them as well.
Others
function on the theory that it's good for a brother to give and share with them
and do good things for them; however, such is a one way street with a "no
way Hose" on any of that sharing business or doing good things in
return. They are takers for whatever
they can get, as long as it is free to them and they're out nothing in return
for the favors.
Also,
even if such were to share, it would be a token of almost nothing--like if one
wins a $50,000 prize, then they "may" be willing to share with a
brother or the brethren perhaps $50 or some other insignificant amount that
would compare with a puff of cigarette smoke in a wind storm.
Clearly,
such carnal people are still unconverted (actually selfish) and under the pulls
of the flesh (and technically could not be a part of a true brotherhood, as
outlined previously in item #2). In the
secular world of greedy, selfish, wicked persons, one might expect this
attitude to prevail.
But
surely, in a true fellowship, it must not be allowed to surface. In the brotherhood, brethren are expected to
be converted from carnality and are supposedly in a family relationship where
everyone in the family sinks or swims together.
It's not an environment where it's every man for himself. Instead, it's a case of one for all and all
for one.
Community
In
a community living situation, as prevailing in certain historical settings, the
practice of selfishness would destroy any hope of brotherly love. In this context, can you imagine a person in
the group receiving a nice, fat, healthy, retirement check each month and then
keeping all of the money for himself while ignoring the brethren who do not
receive such a check?
Or
how about the case where a person owns many assets of value which the brethren
just don't possess? Can't you see that
in the community, sharing is absolutely crucial for success? And this sharing arrangement cannot be
perpetuated as a secular, business partnership where each partner is expected
to put up equal sums of money or other assets in order to participate as a
partner.
Of
course, in this case, the partners review, monitor and check upon each other
regularly to be sure that they all have put up their own contributions. While these actions are commonly done in the
secular world, this is not the way things work in YHWH's Congregation. This greed and selfishness cannot be a part
or parcel of a true brotherhood founded on love.
Therefore,
the man that has given or gives a lot to the fellowship must be in no better
(or worse) of a position in the fellowship than those who have had little to
give in terms of riches and wealth.
Everyone is in the same relationship and is equally committed to the
duty and requirement of sharing possessions and resources with the brethren. It must be automatic, routine, usual and
normal.
And
how much should one share? If you were a
parent and had small children at home, how much would you want to share and
give to your children in terms of the blessings, benefits and resources you
have and enjoy? In the fellowship, there
are no limits in this business. It's
important all the way and all the time.
Knowing
A
final aspect of this point was brought out by Marvin Wilson in his book on “Our
Father Abraham,” previously cited, when he wrote about the Hebrew view of
knowledge. Wilson noted that in Hebrew
thought, “to know” something was to experience it, rather than merely to
intellectualize it. Thus, to know
someone was to share an intimate, personal relationship with that person.
In
commenting upon the Hebrew verb “yada,” meaning “to know,” Abraham J. Heschel,
in his book on “The Prophets,” wrote that it means an act involving concern,
inner engagement, dedication or attachment to a person and to have sympathy,
pity, or affection for another.
By
the way, and as a matter of information, the Scriptures use this exact word of
yada in the context of sexual intercourse between husbands and wives (i.e. Gen
4:1, 17, 25). Therefore, the
participants in a true brotherhood are involved in a most intimate family
relationship where all members are firmly bound together by YESHUA for a common
purpose and destiny.
Sixteen
Sixteenth,
true brotherly love requires that the brethren willingly, joyfully, eagerly,
and zealously provide aid, help and assistance automatically to a needy brother
without excuses or questions. Moreover,
this help must be extended without it having to be asked for. And this concept involves some real, tangible
help and not just a vain show of words of sympathy and encouragement (Jas
2:14-20).
In
terms of giving help to a brother, the Book equates such to giving to YESHUA,
Himself (Matt 25:31-46). Obviously, it
is a very important duty. In previous
commentary herein, this writer wrote at some length on this requirement and
cited several specific examples of giving help/assistance. Clearly, this is a brotherly obligation which
cannot be overemphasized.
Manifestly,
there could be thousands of instances where a brother has an opportunity to
help a brother. Since the idea of the
brotherhood is one of family, this giving of help must be done--just as
physical brothers would help each other in the secular world. Thus, if a brother is in business providing a
product or service, brethren would be privileged to trade with him on
appropriate occasions.
Rendering
help to a brother is a top priority item and one that must not be relegated to
the trash can. Although it may not be
readily apparent to all students of the Word, but the giving of help and
assistance also includes the rendition of all kinds of service or help to a
brother in need of that assistance (even beyond commercial activities).
Providing
service to a needy person can certainly take on many different forms and
manifestations in terms of execution.
And while some opportunities for such contributions can be quite
evident, there are also instances where the need for service and help can be
more vague and obscure.
Take,
for example, the situation at YESHUA's final Passover, when The MESSIAH rose
from the table, took a towel, some water and a wash basin and proceeded to wash
the feet of His disciples (Jo 13:4-16).
Now, some may suppose that He merely splashed some water on lily clean
feet and dried them off with the towel.
On
the contrary, one can be sure that their feet were dirty and needed to be
washed for appearance, smell and comfort.
After all, in those days, they wore open sandals and their feet did get
awfully nasty in the dry, dusty environment.
Too, it seems to have been a custom at feasts that people washed their
feet, as well as their hands.
Certainly,
in some instances, domestic servants were available to also wash the feet of
guests. Consequently, The KING OF ALL
took the role of a humble, domestic slave to serve His disciples. But also, please note that in the context of
what happened, YESHUA said that they (and we) should provide the same service
to the brethren.
Before
leaving this idea of service, it should be observed that the elders of Yisrael,
Aaron and Jethro had a feast once (Ex 18:12).
As discussed formerly on pride, no mention was made in the setting of
the man Moshe. “Mekilta de-Rabbi
Ishmael” suggests that Moshe was not named as sitting and participating in the
meal, since he was the person standing and serving those in attendance.
Likewise,
as also outlined earlier on the pride theme, the Word says that at the future
wedding supper of the bride, it will be The ELOHIM, Himself, Who will prepare
the table (Ps 23:5). The BRIDEGROOM
YESHUA will wait on tables and serve the invited guests (Mk 10:43-45; Lu
12:35-37). There can be no mistake on
this, the requirement of service to brethren in need goes a long way and covers
a multitude of ground.
Another Example
Mention
of this item also brings to this writer's mind a situation of how this
responsibility typically translates to action (or rather inaction) in
Christendom. Some time ago, a
"Christian" man showed up on my door step in Parma, Idaho--broke,
down and out and needing some help.
Although this Christian and yours truly were not brethren, i did provide
him with some food, a bed for the night, a bath and some clean clothes.
The
next couple of days, the man used my telephone to call all of the churches,
preachers, etc. in Parma trying to find among his fellow believers, someone who
would give him some help. The
findings--not a one of them offered or agreed to do anything for their
Christian brother, traveling on the road and in need.
Now friend, anyway we might try to cut it, the
Christian method of brotherly love for brethren is just not the Scriptural
method. There are clear and distinct differences.
According
to the Book, a true believer has a moral, duty-bound obligation to render help
and assistance to a needy brother. And
this help and assistance must be extended willingly and anxiously without
hesitation and without having to be asked for it when the need is evident.
Especially Widows and Orphans
In
respect to this matter of giving aid and service to the brethren, the Book puts
a great deal of emphasis upon the urgency and priority of providing help and
assistance to widows and orphans in the brotherhood (and above all else, in
one’s own family).
Many
texts focus on this teaching. But
particularly, Yakov wrote that pure and undefiled religion is to care for the
fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from
the world (Jas 1:27). Obviously, the
giving of help and service to widows and orphan children is a priority one item
for the very elect and especially in a true fellowship.
Years
ago, this writer (then in my twenties) had a widowed, elderly aunt (long since
deceased). She was economically poor
(living on a meager social security check), had health problems and had no
children or anyone else to turn to but me.
While i occasionally went by to see her and say hello, i cannot now
recall (forty years later) if i ever asked her if she needed anything or if i
could help her.
The
tragedy is that i loved this aunt (or i thought so). But somehow, her well being never became a
focus of mine in the years that she lived after i was an adult. The truth is she badly needed some help from
me and i failed her. i am ashamed of my
great sins and i have repented for years over my wretchedness to dear loved
ones who were in need of help that i too often failed to supply.
Back to 16
There
is another aspect of this giving of help and assistance that needs mention at
this juncture. This issue was correctly
brought out by Jim Myers (of the Center for Biblical Analysis in Cleburne, TX)
in an article on “The Five Pillars of Judaism” which discussed “kindness” in
terms of Jewish thought.
Myers
observed that the “greatest kindness is that which one performs but can’t
possibly receive any reward” (in return).
For an illustration of this concept, he went on to note that when an
individual assists in the burial rites of a deceased person, the act can’t
possibly be repaid by the one receiving the benefit. Consequently, it is a performance of great
kindness.
By
extension, one might argue that it isn’t much of an act of kindness to do
something for someone in the expectation of receiving a return favor or
reward. As Myers noted, the greatest act
of kindness occurs when no return or reward is even humanly possible.
Obviously,
this practice must be present as the basic thinking, philosophy and motivation
in the true brotherhood. Participants
have to do things for the brethren regularly, routinely and often in the
context of service with no expectation or possibility of receiving rewards or
benefits in return. Acts of kindness and
help must be freely given and extended on the basis of love only with no other
purpose or motivation.
For
another point, the giving of help, aid, assistance and service to a brother in
need is not exactly the same thing as the sharing of resources which was
discussed earlier, although the two ideas are very similar. The difference surfaces in that sharing is
not necessarily predicated on a concrete need; while giving aid, assistance and
service so materializes.
Consequently,
giving help, in some instances, is far more involved than just sharing. In a sense, giving help means to give all
possible aid and assistance to satisfy the need above and beyond the matter of
sharing.
Thus,
if one had $100 and gave $50 or one half of it to a brother, in the absence of
a clear and precise need, this gift would be just an act of sharing. But if one on the other hand had $100 and a
brother had an urgent, pressing need for $100, it would be an act of giving aid
and help to give the needy brother all of the $100.
In
another case, it would be sharing if brethren divided up some fruit juice or
herbal teas. But if there was a sick
brother in an extreme and trying need for this juice or herbal tea, then it
would be an act of giving help to give all of it to him without regard to any
thought of "sharing."
In
a word, the idea of giving help, assistance and service involves the practice
of “sacrificing,” and perhaps doing without, if necessary, in order to give aid
to a needy brother. Before leaving this
theme, this writer would like to also briefly recall a classic case of this
concept in action on the American frontier all of the way from Jamestown to
well after Mr Lincoln's Civil War.
In
those earlier days, whenever a new person arrived in a community or when a young
couple got married, the neighbors would assemble early one morning and in one
day they would completely build a new house for the new resident. By nightfall, the house raising was finished
and the people were ready for a feast and a night of dancing and
merrymaking. As you can see, times have
changed in America.
Seventeen
Seventeenth,
there is no place at all in brotherly love for any allowance or surfacing of
favoritism or partiality between brethren.
All persons in the fellowship must be treated alike and by the same
standards of justice and fair treatment.
There is absolutely no provision or allowance for partiality and
discrimination. Justice and fairness is
the name of YHWH's game.
Eighteen
Eighteenth,
brotherly love must be effectuated and practiced in an atmosphere of positive
acts/deeds. There is no way that love
can exist in words only. Words of love
must include the accompanying actions and works of love. Thus apathetic, lethargic, indifferent and
don't care people just can't be members of a true fellowship. Brethren must care for each other and have to
produce visible works, fruits and deeds of love.
Nineteen
Nineteenth,
brotherly love must emanate from brethren in an environment of humility and
meekness. Not only is it true that pride
and vanity must be abolished and destroyed in the fellowship, but the reverse
positions of humility and meekness must be likewise nurtured and encouraged to
grow and prosper.
Twenty
Twentieth,
brotherly love among true believers must transcend even love of parents and
physical brothers and sisters, as YESHUA cogently observed (Matt 12:47-50; Mk
3:33-35). And in this regard, brotherly
love cannot ever displace the duties, obligations and requirements that an
individual owes a parent. After all, the
Decalogue charges that one must honor parents (Ex 20:12).
And
by the way, this commandment to honor parents is the first one with a promise
(of long life) and must not be taken lightly.
Therefore, there is nothing in the Word to diminish or compromise this
need. But also, there are the laws and
commandments requiring brotherly love which also cannot be ignored. A believer must fulfill both duties and
commitments.
Twenty-One
Twenty-first,
the love of Spiritual brethren must be equal to the love which YESHUA, Himself,
expressed to all of us (Jo 13:34). Clearly,
this statement is saying an awful lot because His love for little, limited men
is incomprehensible. Perhaps the only
way to broach it is to recognize that just as He died for the brethren, the
brethren should likewise be prepared to die for each other (I Jo 3:2, 16).
Twenty-Two
Twenty-second,
brotherly love reaches a pinnacle in the charge that brethren are to love one
another as they love themselves (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39; Mk 12:33). There is little doubt or argument that all of
us love ourselves. In fact, most of us
love ourselves first and most (which is the basis of selfishness and violation
of the first and second commandments in the Decalogue, as noted earlier).
But
there must be a transformation and change on this. We have to be changed to love The ELOHIM
first and to love the brethren as ourselves.
This is precisely what is required in the Book. It is a hard task to fulfill.
The
former chapter briefly touched upon the Herbert and Garner Ted Armstrong
problem of lavish and extravagant living while many of their dumb sheep
followers were surviving in abject poverty.
Obviously, this is one of the dangers of religious groups; when people
at the top have all power, and when they use it to extort the tithes and
offerings from the sheep to fuel their own every wish and fantasy.
The
Armstrongs habitually had their own private jet aircraft and the use of the
biggest and most costly sedans. They
traveled around the world like they were rich potentates with an unlimited
source of funds. Ted was noted for
weekly hunting trips and frequent access to beautiful whores and college
coeds. The old man, in his
autobiography, was thoroughly devoted to first class traveling and living.
Both
Herbert and his flamboyant son obviously bought and used the most expensive
clothes possible.
HWA
furthermore must have really enjoyed wealth because he even went to the extreme
of buying and using gold plated door knobs and bathroom articles in his plush
mansion in Pasadena. In his world
travels (in his private jet), Herbert bought the most expensive gifts possible
to spread around the world to whomsoever he could visit in far away lands (like
Steuben crystal).
While
the dumb sheep givers and donors thought that HWA’s travels were to take the
“Gospel” to the world, the obvious truth is that he could not and would not
dare discuss truth, righteousness and repentance with any of the peoples he
visited.
Dan Gayman
This
plundering/confiscating of religious tithes/offerings for personal use is
routine in Christianity. Besides the
Armstrongs, it must be said that the Dan Gayman Church of Israel does the same
thing. Gayman specializes in using huge
amounts of church funds to spend on his church leaders (who are almost all
relatives of some sort--Gayman’s sons-in-law are important leaders in his pagan
group).
Gayman
used $230,000 in church funds to build mansions for two of his co-leaders,
$30,000 for renovation of the homes of three other leaders, and $10,000 for a
swimming pool for one of his daughters.
A wealthy man named Jerry Gentry of Texas was conned out of $ one
million to pay for the Gayman family to live high on the hog (per Jerry Gentry
at www.gaymangate.com).
The
ex-members of the Order, now in jail for largely politically incorrect views,
have spoken against Gayman because they gave him some large gifts of stolen
money. They say that Gayman gladly
accepted the money.
When
the FBI went after Gayman, it is alleged that he gave the money to the
government and became a government informer to prosecute and hurt his former
friends (thus, to avoid jail, he double-crossed his friends who gave him
money).
Manifestly,
it is not brotherly love for people in charge at the top of religious groups to
extort and appropriate the tithes and offerings for their own personal benefit
and pleasure. There must be some
“brotherly love” in leaders which make them want to sacrifice and do without in
order to allow available money and assets to be used in a more honorable way of
working for YHWH YESHUA.
As
a minimum, all members of the group must share equally in the benefits and
blessings of the group, without the leaders plundering group assets for their
personal benefit and pleasure. Leaders
cannot live in mansions while their sheep followers live in mobile homes (as
has happened with the Armstrongs and Gaymans).
Twenty-Three
Twenty-third,
brotherly love must be practiced, controlled, regulated, monitored and judged
continuously by YHWH's written Word--the true and only standard of
righteousness. Since all aspects of love
is addressed and focused on in His Word, it is evident that Scriptural love
consists of obeying the Word, as this publication outlined in the earlier
comments on “Love.”
In
stating the many requirements of brotherly love, one finds situations which
could be construed to be questionable in accordance with what secular society
judges as "good or bad." For
example, it might be perceived that when men want to be physically with women,
who are not their wives, that adultery or fornication is involved.
But
YHWH's laws govern and regulate such relationships. It demands that "no" adultery or
fornication be allowed to surface in the fellowship.
Of
course, brethren in the true brotherhood would never allow themselves to get
into a compromising situation in the first place which could even open the door
to the possibility of an impropriety regarding the other sex. Brethren must use their heads in this
matter.
David
and Jonathan (Yehonatan in the Hebrew) loved each other very much, as the Book
declares (I Sam 18:1-4). Some enemies of
truth have used this reference to speculate that David and Jonathan were
queers.
Assuredly,
anyone with any brains or honesty at all knows that the love of David and
Yehonatan was on a spiritual plane and did not involve anything, but that which
was legal and proper in the Book.
Simply
stated, the Word does not allow homosexuality in brotherly love. So one can be sure that brethren in a
fellowship are not faggots, simply because they want to be physically together
and to share with each other.
YHWH's
laws must and shall control and regulate all aspects of all relationships
between persons in a brotherhood.
Suffice to say, there is no allowance for improper or questionable
conduct in an atmosphere governed and controlled by the only standard of
righteousness (YHWH’s Word) which is available to man.
Twenty-Four
Twenty-fourth,
brotherly love must exist and be practiced and perpetuated in an environment of
unity, accord and agreement. You just
can't have brotherly love, if and when the so-called brethren are in a state of
disagreement, confusion and division.
Definitions and descriptions of what is brotherly love and the rules and
standards of measurement must be known and agreed to within the fellowship.
Obviously,
disagreement and strife over duties, obligations, laws, etc, would
categorically destroy any hope of practicing brotherly love. Since this writer has written at some length
on this paramount duty in earlier comments on the Torah and love, there is
little need to repeat those comments.
However, one remark needs repeating.
This
one concerns the fact that perceiving (in temperament) people are basically
opposed to closure, agreement, accord and having things decided, as is
fundamental and basic in YHWH's teachings.
Since
Ps like to have things unsettled and in the air, they have definite problems in
trying to adjust to the regimen manifest in a brotherhood. They need to be cognizant of their
limitations, as cited earlier in this study (in item #3).
One
more thought on this theme comes from the “Theological Wordbook of the Old
Testament.” This source states that
“love unites.” Obviously, division and
disagreement are not the work of The RUACH HA KODESH. Therefore, such adverse eventualities must be
traceable to an evil source.
Chapter
103--Real Brotherly Love III
Continuing
Some
twenty four specific points on describing brotherly love have been delineated
in the former chapters. This chapter
continues with a statement of the discussion on the twenty fifth point.
Twenty-Five, the Last One
Twenty-fifth,
brotherly love of necessity has to include mutual exchanges of acts,
expressions, deeds and thoughts of love (in the context of loyalty, as was
described in previous chapters).
Brotherly love can't be a one way street for just a part of the
brotherhood. One brother can't have the
obligation all alone for brotherly love.
Clearly,
brethren must reciprocate, share and exchange love--mutually. It's so easy for any one of us to want to be
on the receiving end and obtain acts of love from another. But if we expect to be loved, then we must be
prepared to love back in a like exchange.
A Religious Friend
On
this point of mutual exchange, it should be noted that some years ago, a
"Christian" man wrote to this writer wanting some literature items
that were being offered free to the public.
His request was honored and the material was mailed to him at no
charge.
In
time, this man and yours truly became more acquainted and it developed that the
man himself was distributing some literature and holding periodic religious
meetings which were of interest to this writer.
So a request was sent to him for a literature production he was
distributing (consisting of some Xerox copies of some news items he had
discussing some problems in his old church denomination).
This
acquaintance was selling this stack of Xerox copies of news reports for
$25. While they contained virtually
nothing of real value to me, there was some appeal to me and in the prospect of
benefiting some in my search for truth.
Perhaps this motivation prompted me to write him for his offering.
You'd
think that after he received a stack of material from me that he would want to
reciprocate and send something back without a charge or at least offer a discount. But no, not so.
The
man wrote back stating what the charges would be ($25 and with no discounts or
price reductions either). Well, his
demand was complied with and he was sent a check. It seems that money was the name of his game
at that time. He was in no mood to give
anybody anything (or at least, not to me).
The Significance
Now,
this whole story wouldn't be particularly significant, but the man involved has
regularly and frequently referred to this writer as “brother,” whenever we were
in contact. And on this point, i have
not reciprocated. This man's religion
has been really quite different from mine and we have not been spiritual
brethren.
However,
it must be relevant that he believed that we were brethren. And in that context, he willingly wrote for
free items from yours truly and called me brother with some regularity. But then, when the chance came to mutually
exchange and share, it was no way Hose.
Actually,
over the 20 years or so that this person has been known to me and as we have
had some occasional contact over those 20 years, this almost same phenomenon occurred
several more times.
This
writer shared much religious oriented literature, information and books on
several different occasions (of some real revelations, as is contained in this
present study of some 6,000 pages) with this individual over the years. Frankly, i would have shared substantially
more if he would have shown just some interest in the material and especially
if he would have demonstrated some reciprocity.
Years
ago, this man was given a lengthy study on the Hebrew origin of the Greek New
Testament. He must have read it and got
something out of it because thereupon he became extremely interested in Hebrew
writings and pursued this subject passionately.
It
was just too bad for me because he either was not overly concerned about the
material furnished by me to him or just too selfish, lethargic and indifferent
about sharing anything he had with me (as he had an opportunity to do so later
with other information on a Hebrew book of Matthew that came to him).
Of
the several literature items given to him over the years (until recently),
there was only one occasion when he actually bothered to say “thank you.” In this one instance, he later expressed an
oral “thank you” for the first stack of literature sent him (after we had
become better acquainted). Normally, he
was very proud and filled with ingratitude!
Though
he was not willing to say thanks or verbally express any appreciation, it was
clear that the material sent by me did benefit him. (Otherwise, it must be noted that this writer
has given religious material to still one other person who merely plagiarized
it and put it out in his own name. This
stealing possibly did not occur with the man under discussion. So this was a plus point for him in that he
did not plagiarize the writings).
A Very Selfish Man
In
any case, this recipient of my favors and sharing of religious material
sometimes had data which would have been of enormous value to me. But he never shared it (even when he had some
valuable follow-up data on Matthew, in the vein of the Hebrew NT, which
apparently was introduced to him by me originally). His whole outlook was only on his own selfish
interests. He simply was not interested
in sharing--no way, Hose!
It
seems that all along, brotherhood in his view was merely something to talk
about and to use in addressing someone.
Categorically, it was not something which this man saw as having any
linkage to actions, deeds, obligations, commitments and duties. Since he was very proud, ungrateful and
selfish, all of this thank you stuff was foreign in his mental thinking (which
probably paralleled that of the typical Christian).
A Follow-Up
For
a follow-up in later years, this person, as a much older man, developed some
very serious health problems and was on the verge of death. Somehow, this condition appeared to have
changed some of his conceptual attitudes on religion.
All
of a sudden, he seemed to begin to take religion a little more seriously, and
not just as a hobby (as he had exhibited earlier when he was evidently in good
health and apparently just a religious hobbyist).
And
all of a sudden, he appeared to want to know more about the Book and expressed
some interest that he might possibly go out of his way to get some more
information by coming to see me to discuss the Scriptures (this is a real fluke
because the typical Christian would not walk across the street for any involved
look at the Scriptures).
In
these later years, he also came into contact with some of the Sardis Church of
God (7th day) and Sacred Namers, the feast day requirements in the Book, and
the reality of three days and three nights for YESHUA’s death, all of which
should have generated some new interest on his part (these issues have been
discussed before or will be addressed later in some detail in other chapters
herein).
Tragically,
for him, he could have had all of this information 20 years earlier from me if
he would have just shown some interest, said thank you, and/or maybe
reciprocated on exchanging religious data (although it perhaps mattered not one
bit to him--because even after exposure to deeper issues, the man apparently
continued in his former state with no evidence of obedience to the new truths
which he had supposedly learned. Up to
the year 2002, he still was a pig eater and a Sunday-keeper).
More Follow-Up
At
the time of this writing, in 2002, this man did exchange some valuable
information with me (in one page of information which contained a remark of
interest to me, as he copied it on his copy machine from a book he had in his
possession). This event was a real fluke
because he was much out of character. So
maybe, the state of his health had awakened him (a little) to new thinking (for
the better).
The
next week, following his above generosity, he seemed to revert back to his old
selfish self again because another thing came up wherein he had an opportunity
to help me and he effectively turned it down cold (and on another religious
issue). In background, on this incident,
he had scheduled a religious meeting with some of his colleagues (to take place
in four weeks).
This
writer had offered a volume of this production with some relevant information
(then in draft, but now split into volumes one and two) as a hand out to his
group (in a printed form, which would have cost me a lot of money), if things
fell into place for me to complete the editing and publication by the date of
his meeting (historically, i have sometimes made promises and then for some
reason failed to keep those promises.
So, in this case, i specifically made the offer on a contingency basis
to avoid being made a later liar).
In
our discussion about these topics on the telephone, he mentioned a second piece
of information (besides the one discussed above that he did supply) which could
also be profoundly important and would add much value to this production (some
of which i was trying to finalize and have ready for his meeting some four
weeks later).
As
in the above cited case, where he did help me with one small quote, this second
referenced piece of information was in a passage in a book he owned. It may have covered a paragraph or two. As he seemed to be familiar with the passage
and since books are indexed and have tables of contents, it would have been no
big deal for him to have quickly located the remark involved and read it to me
over the phone.
Of
course, i wanted the details behind this new information; which, per his
comments to me, would have been of great help to me in finishing the early
volumes of this study. In view of the
stacks of stuff sent by me to him over the years, it would have a simple and
honorable task for him to look up the quote and read it to me and/or, if
necessary, to make a copy of the quote (on his copy machine) and mail it to
me.
Because
of the time factor and my efforts to complete the applicable volume in this
writing under discussion, the clear thing for a real person of truth to do was
to read the quote over the phone. If he
couldn’t do it or didn’t feel like it, he could have had his wife read the
passage to me. As a minimum, the
passage, if true, would have been revolutionary and of major benefit to the
production of this study at hand.
He Didn’t Care
However,
he was fairly indifferent and lethargic about digging out the quote and sharing
it with me (although he sort of left it that he would look it up later, when he
got “around tuit”). In effect, he didn’t
care whether school kept or not. After
thinking more about it, i called him back and tried to politely and in a
friendly manner encourage him on it right then.
In
our conversation, he did offer to send me a copy of the title page with a view
that i could order the book by interlibrary loan (but i am fifty miles from my
library and interlibrary loan can take me up to three weeks to get a
book).
i
suggested and tried to encourage him (without offending him) to just read the
passage to me over the phone or copy the page in question and mail it to me (as
i had asked in the former case). He
finally allowed that he would just sent me the title page, or i could come to
his house 240 miles away and check the book out (and others that he owned).
My
response was that i would try to locate a closer library (than having to drive
to his house some 240 miles away) which had the book to allow me to look at it
in person.
Actually,
all of this was wasted motion because he could have simply read the passage to
me over the phone (and in his phone service, he has long distance dialing
privileges without charge on certain days because he pays a flat rate).
As
a minimum, he could have even read the title and author over the phone and i
could have written it down. This would
have allowed me to pursue the issue immediately (which would have been no big
deal on his part). He did mention what
he thought was the title, but he had it wrong.
So it was of no help.
He
turned down all of these options, but finally did mail me a copy of the title
page with a view that i could either find the book in a local library or order
it out by interlibrary loan. As it
turned out, he mailed the title page on a Sabbath and his local mail had
possibly already left that day. In any
case, his letter did not come to me on the next Monday or Tuesday.
So
i called him back again to try to just get the name of the book or quote over
the phone. He said he would look it up
and call me right back. Well, the hours
and days passed and there was no return phone call. In time, i simply gave up on him.
Some Results
In
the meantime, the next day (a fourth day of the week), his letter did come with
the title page and i began an intensive effort to locate the book by
interlibrary loan. A week later the book
arrived at my library (some 50 miles away) and i went there immediately and
picked it up. Sure enough, the passage
he spoke of so definitely was not in the book.
So it was all wasted motion.
The
passage could have been of profound importance.
It just wasn’t in the book he cited.
Maybe he read it elsewhere or perhaps some one else mentioned it to him
and he confused the source of his information (as he seems to be an SP in
temperament, this alternative makes sense).
Anyway, the passage was not found by me at that time. And even if i did find it then, there still
would have been questions about its propriety.
Obviously,
this whole boondoggle created an enormous problem for me and much delay in
finishing volume one and two of this effort (which would ultimately affect and
benefit him since copies would have been given to him to hand out at his
meeting--at my expense and not his expense).
All
along, he could have taken just a few minutes of his time and aided me
greatly. But he was never interested in
giving me just a few minutes. His whole
concern and outlook was only on his own selfish interests.
All
along, he was inconsiderate and was very much unconcerned about going out of
his way to do me any favors at all--although he probably felt he did me a big
favor in mentioning the book and eventually making a copy of the title page on
his copy machine and mailing it to me (and even still later, he did mail me a
few more pages of material of possible interest on the subject).
True,
he didn’t have to even go that far in his minimum effort. So, at least, he did something for me--not
much, but something.
After
i received his letter with the title page, i sent him a short letter of thanks
without any commentary on the sorry, pathetic, irresponsible and lackadaisical
way he had dealt with me.
Sure
enough, the days passed and he called me on the phone to give me a song and
dance about loosing my phone number (as being the reason why he did not call me
back two weeks earlier as he had promised).
i reminded him that he could have gotten the number through an
operator. He knew the town where i lived
because he had talked to me earlier about coming to see me for a visit.
Of
course, there was no real apology or remorse and he was much unconcerned about
the whole matter. He lied to me
(although he probably never looked upon it as being a lie) and caused me great
pain, trial, trouble and expense. If
there was any foolishness or stupidity involved, it was on my part for being so
stupid to even bother with this man.
Still More Follow-Up
Months
later, this same man pulled this exact same trick on me again on a matter. He promised to call me right back on a matter
and then didn’t. This particular person
seems to have a significant problem in making promises and then not delivering
(thus he becomes a liar, as well as being ungrateful for favors done for
him).
Afterwards,
this man went about his business as if nothing happened or at least nothing
happened from his actions or because of him and what he may have done. He never seemed to express any real concern,
regret or genuine apologies over his own lies or irresponsible actions.
As
this person is an extremely proud individual, there is a strong possibility
that some or many of his irresponsible actions (in making promises which he
simply will not deliver on or fulfill) are due entirely to pride (in that he is
so great that he can do no wrong, or be accountable for his actions).
Years
ago, this writer must confess that i, too, have made promises on occasion and
failed to keep them. This is an easy
trap to get into. Now, i am usually
concerned and try to go out of my way to simply not make promises (for fear
that i might drop the ball and fail to carry through on the promises
made). Of course, the guilty person
becomes a liar!
Later
In
another follow-up, several months later, this writer sent the subject person
three books of interest to him. He did
respond with a short thank you and he returned a gift of two books (he seems to
carry a stock of some Christian books which he apparently sells to
others--perhaps these two books he sent me came out of his inventory).
He
was much out of character on the note and the gift (because normally, he is so
selfish and proud that he won’t even return the time of the day when favors are
extended to him--at least, favors from the writer of this production. Maybe he shows some gratitude to others who
are generous and sharing with him).
Still
later, in another gift of a book from me to him, he reverted back to his old
self--with no thank you or anything. He
was truly a very selfish and proud man who was too big to say thank you.
In
his dealings with me, this man always demonstrated his own selfishness (self
love) and clearly no interest in real brotherly love (or even interest in love
of The MOST HIGH since the issue involved this study at hand in an attempt to
share some truth about what The ELOHIM has given man in His Word).
Almost
all the way through my involvement with him, he always demonstrated
selfishness, ingratitude (he rarely would come off of his high and mighty perch
and say thank you), pride and lies (in the sense of unfulfilled promises). Importantly, the man finally dispensed with
calling me brother (for whatever the reason might be).
The Point Here
The
point of these remarks is that we sorry humans are extremely selfish and only
concerned with our interests and our own world.
We are pretty indifferent, careless, irresponsible and inconsiderate of
others and their needs even when an opportunity arises where we can help some
one in a way to further truth and righteousness and even when we may ultimately
benefit ourselves from the fallout of our actions.
In
short, it is a very rare person who will go out of his way to do a favor or
offer any help to someone else. Secular,
unconverted people (whether Christians or not) are totally devoted to self and
self interests (though they may run around and refer to others as
“brother”). Generally, they are in no
mood to go out of their way and offer assistance to someone else. Obviously, this mentality cannot be a part of
a true brotherhood.
Mutual Exchange
Again,
the overview of mutual exchange means that brotherly love must be a two way
street (and in the vein of loyalty).
Thus, there is clearly an absolute urgency for me to express brotherly
love to you, to want to be with you, to share with you, to have passionate
commitment for you, etc.
But
there is also the contrary profile of you expressing brotherly love to me,
wanting to be with me, to share with me, to have passionate commitment for me,
etc. Brotherly love must be executed on
a reciprocal basis. Just as i have
duties, obligations and requirements toward you, you also have the same duties,
obligations and requirements toward me (in the sense of loyalty, as discussed
in a previous chapter).
Like
this writer has said a number of times in this publication, brotherly love
cannot be measured, identified, recognized or thought to exist in just talk and
the way someone signs a letter. It's more
involved than the exchange of birthday and Christmas cards and presents once a
year.
It's
more profound than when a child sends a parent a mother’s or father’s day
card. Manifestly, the truth is that
brotherly love must be present in positive actions and deeds regularly and
often. It's far more extensive than mere
talk and an occasional letter or a card.
Reproof, Correction and Reconciling
Differences
There
is a Hebrew concept called “tokhahah” --which means admonition and chastisement
for the purpose of restraint or correction.
“Encyclopaedia Judaica” (v. 13, p. 1605-1606) describes this idea in the
sense of a brother rebuking or correcting a brother who is in sin.
It’s
basis lies in the Torah, which says--You shall not hate your brother or racial
kinsman in your heart (the Hebrew amith, described earlier). Reprove him, but incur no guilt because of
him (Lev 19:17). The Torah is saying
that the believer is obligated to reprove and correct a brother in sin and in
jeopardy of judgment.
According
to the “rabbis,” this reproof involves two aspects. First, to confront your brother with a
personal grievance held against him and two, to chastise evil doers in the hope
of bringing about their regeneration.
Manifestly, these actions combine to bring discipline and correction by
the brethren to the whole brotherhood.
Judaica
goes on to say that it is not sufficient to rebuke the wrongdoer once, rather
that one must rebuke him incessantly so long as he is recalcitrant. R. Johanan says to keep rebuking him until he
(becomes angry and) insults you in return.
Correctly, Judaica notes that these rebukes should involve violations
that are explicitly in the Torah.
Both
YESHUA and the Apostle Shaul were assuredly familiar with these teachings. Likely, it was this position in Judaism which
prompted YESHUA to say that if your brother offends you or you are angry with
him, then go to him and tell him his fault and try to be reconciled (Matt
5:22-24; 18:15-17).
If
he won’t hear you, then get two or three witnesses to go back with you and try
again (per Deut 17:6). If he still
refuses to listen and change, then take the matter before the Assembly
(obviously, with the participation of the witnesses).
Of
course, the objective is to encourage the brother to repent. As YESHUA also elsewhere noted, one must be
prepared to forgive him if he repents.
If he trespasses against you seven times in a day and repents seven
times, then you must forgive him each time (Lu 17:3-4).
Probably,
it was this same reality which prompted Shaul to write a dissertation on the
subject to the Corinthians (I Cor 6). He
opened the prelude to his discussion by wisely saying that the people in the
election should not be judging (correcting, reproving or chastising) outsiders
(not in the elected group); but rather, should be judging people in the
fellowship (I Cor 5:12-13).
There
are several points to these remarks. If
one sees his brother in sin, he is duty bound to go to him and try to change
his path. If one has a conflict with a
brother (which surely would involve sin on someone’s part), again go to him and
attempt to achieve reconciliation. If he
won’t listen, then take two or three witnesses.
If this doesn’t work, then take the matter before the Assembly for
judgment and resolution.
There
is a great reward for any person who successfully follows this practice and is
able to promote repentance or reconciliation with a brother. Yakov wrote it by saying that the person can
cover a multitude of his own sins when he converts a brother from one or more
sins (Jas 5:20).
Chapter
104--Real Brotherly Love IV
What Brotherly Love is Not
Preceding
chapters have broached the theme of brotherly love and attempted to offer this
writer’s assessment of what constitutes brotherly love. While this focus in this presentation has
been upon attempting to define what brotherly love is, there is here an
opportunity to offer two fantastic illustrations of precisely what brotherly
love is not.
Back
in the early 1970s, this writer attended a small Seventh-day Adventist Church a
few times near Morganton, NC. The people
there really were void of any real truth and it was a waste of time. But i went a few times on Sabbaths (for
networking purposes).
This
particular church had a middle aged woman in a wheelchair who was an attendee
or member. She had two small girls. The oldest was about 12 or 13. She and her girls seemed to be usually in
attendance the few times i was there.
She was effectively a widow woman.
Her husband was either dead or he had abandoned her and the children
(the latter was suggested to me by a person in attendance at the church).
This
writer had a couple of friends in the congregation. So i would chat with them after services for
a few minutes. Otherwise, it was a very
sad experience for me to observe this woman and her girls after services were
concluded. It seemed that no one in the
congregation made any effort to help the woman out of the building.
The
two girls would struggle with her and the wheelchair to get them both down the
church steps and push her home (she apparently lived a few blocks down the
street from the church, so getting her home was not normally much of a problem
for the girls--once they could get her down the church steps).
Being
a stranger, i didn’t really understand what was happening with her or even why
it was happening the first time or two i saw her and her children in their
pitiful, pathetic and hurting condition.
Finally, it dawned upon me that no one in this small church made any
effort to help the woman down the steps.
The girls struggled with the task and eventually reached the street
level.
Perhaps
the second or third time of viewing this hurt, i intervened to go and help the
woman down the steps. She was
appreciative and courteous and said “thank you.” Thereafter, the few times i went to that
church, i did help the woman.
This
story is being told not because of me or any attempt to inflate any of my
actions. As elsewhere outlined herein,
my life has been one of much evil and wickedness. It has been a rare thing that i have ever
helped anyone--including women, orphans, blind or needy people of any
sort. And i am ashamed to have to say
that.
It Is Indicative
But
this account is being offered to raise a question about that congregation and
particularly the men in it. It
completely has boggled my mind on why no one in the group had any interest or
concern about her plight at all. They
were all so cold, icy and hateful--maybe not only to her, but to each other as
well.
Since
none of them made any effort to help her on Sabbaths, it seems questionable
that they otherwise tendered other help or assistance to her and the
children. This was in the 1970s when
there was an enormous US welfare program in place in America. So possibly she and the kids were on
welfare.
But
otherwise, there are thousands of occasions when a disabled person and some
small children would need help. And even
when not needing help, surely it would have been honorable and the Scriptural
thing to do to go to her and offer help.
Certainly, she would need transportation to the welfare office or to the
stores to get food and other needs.
In
bringing this situation up, this writer must confess that i know nothing about
this woman and her condition, beyond seeing her a few times on Sabbaths at this
small SDA Church. Maybe people in the
congregation did do some things for her and the girls. Apparently, one man in the group was her
brother-in-law. He and his wife must
have done something for her.
But
from my limited viewpoint and without attempting to pry into her affairs, it
seemed to me that the people in the congregation were very cold and indifferent
to her. Clearly, none of them made any
effort to help her out of the church when services were over. So, above all else, this story is an
illustration of what is not brotherly love.
As
mentioned in former comments, and as will be addressed in succeeding chapters,
the Torah enjoins Israelites to perform acts of charity for not only needy
brethren, but even dumb animals that may have fallen into a ditch. It is a sin to bypass an opportunity to
perform a mitzwah. Manifestly, one must
wonder whether this Adventist Church had any brotherly love in it or not.
In
going beyond this illustration, it must be pointed out that there are real
questions about the presence of brotherly love, aid and assistance among all
Christian Churches, respecting their memberships or as Christians at large (as
was addressed in some of the preceding comments on brotherly love).
Some Who Do
About
the only one of the Christian Churches this writer knows of which does seem to
go out of its way to give some aid and assistance to needy members is the
Mormon Church.
Now,
the Mormon Church is filled with much paganism and evil. It is not being cited here as an organ for
good. It is not good. But in fairness, it does seem that Mormon
Churches do have some programs to help needy members. One simply does not typically find this
reaction in most Christian Churches.
Many,
if not most of them, are like the Adventist Church under discussion. They are indifferent, lethargic, cold and
could care less. This is an awful
indictment to have to make toward Christianity.
But it is the real world. What a
tragedy it is that Christian preachers do not spend some time to read the Torah
and discover the duties and obligations which their members have toward racial
brethren in need.
While
Christians are generically not very hep on helping other Christians, one finds
a different profile in traditional Judaism.
Jews help other Jews. While some
of this is because of the Amalekite propensity for being clannish, much of it
is because of the mitzwot in the Torah which expressly demands that Israelites
practice brotherly love and charity to their racial kinsmen. Christendom is ignorant of these
mitzwot.
One
of the guiding principles of the World Jewish Congress is stated in their
slogan--All Jews Are Responsible for One Another. Many Jews take this message seriously.
Right
after WWII, the British limited immigration into Palestine (per the existing
“White Paper” policy). Thousands of Jews
were displaced into refugee camps in Cyprus.
Jews from around the world reached out and took all possible measures to
help those Jewish refugees. One simply
does not find such concern among Christians for Christians. Christians typically could care less about
other Christians.
One More Story from the House of
Yisrael
In
Second Temple days, the Pharisee “rabbis” used to tell stories to illustrate
important teaching points (as pointed out earlier). Many of these stories found their way into
the Talmud (where they form some part of the modern gemara). And of course, some became part of the NT
(where they are known as parables).
Since
YESHUA was a Pharisee RABBI, He, too, told many stories which go to prove that
the adverse features of lashon hara (the evil tongue, to be described later)
are not triggered by stories which can be told for teaching purposes (just as
lashon hara did not surface when the prophet Nathan told David “you are the
man,” in terms of Nathan’s remarks on sin in David’s life). Both types eventually became part of the
Scriptures.
With
this backdrop, this writer has freely told some stories herein (of true events)
which contained important teaching points that needed to be highlighted. Accordingly, the present subject brings up a
story this writer is familiar with which needs to be told because it is such a
powerful illustration of what brotherly love is not. Like the parable of the prodigal son, this
one is tragic, but it has enormous teaching value.
There
once was a man in Yisrael who had a wife and some children. He died leaving the widow with his property
(two nice tracts of land and two houses, one tract was in the city limits of a
large city--thus, making it quite valuable).
She also was provided a monthly income (which she needed to support the
man’s two small daughters).
In
a few years, the widow entered into a relationship with another man, who was a
philander (in time, it became known that he had a wife somewhere) and who
apparently floated around somewhat without roots and marriage
responsibilities. However, to the
woman’s credit, she did not do anything in front of her children. That means that when the boyfriend came
calling, they had to sneak around on the QT.
So,
one day, the woman was living on her farm of 80 acres in a rural area and the
boyfriend arrived. The weather was brisk
and cold and she had an old wood stove burning.
She left the two little girls alone inside the house (one age three and
the other one about age six) while she and the boyfriend were outside the
house.
Then Trouble Came!
While
the woman and her boyfriend were in the woods, the little three year-old girl’s
dress caught on fire and she almost burned up before the older girl could
locate her mother and get her back into the house. In the meantime, to add to the woman’s
dilemma, she became pregnant with a child during the boyfriend’s visit.
She
rushed the badly burned child to a nearby city where various doctors tried to
treat her (the burns covered most of her little chest and part of her arms,
legs and other portions of her body). In
the meantime, the woman was pregnant and brought the matter to the attention of
the boyfriend. He effectively said
“that’s tough” and took off in the other direction.
The
matter was brought before the country welfare office and/or other county
authorities and they ordered him to make a monthly payment on behalf of his
child (a little boy, who was undeniably his since the child looked just like
him). The man did make one payment of
$25 and then he skipped out. The woman
had to use the money coming in for her deceased husband’s children to raise the
illegitimate child of the boyfriend.
So
the years passed. The illegitimate child
was always treated and loved as one of the family by the girls. Neither of them really understood exactly
what had happened. And it would not have
mattered because they both loved their little half brother.
With
the passage of time, the woman sold, traded and bought some different real
estate (the real estate was different, but her deceased husband’s property
provided the money for the real estate transactions). Ultimately, the woman ended up with two
houses in town (next door to each other) and the children were all grown.
In
time, the girls’ half brother married and was allowed by the woman to move into
one house for a long term (rent free or largely rent free). While living in the house, he did do some
work on the other house which had had some water pipes frozen up one
winter.
Since
he did almost nothing in help for his mother over many years, it would have
been very proper for him to do the repairs on the house--simply to help his
mother in her plight. For years, after
he was grown, his mother was in great need and he gave her no financial or
other visible help at all (although in later years he did bring her to his
house to stay when she was greatly ill and some days just before she
died).
The Rewards
His
historic attitude seemed to be-- “what’s in it for me” and “I don’t owe
anything to anybody.” Somehow, he
promoted, persuaded, conned or swindled his mother out of the house he worked
upon. She ended up by deeding it to
him. Soon she died.
The
other house was sold and he took a full share of the proceeds, along with the
other children of the woman. Thus, he
ended up with one house plus a survivor’s share of the other house--both of
which came from money from the father of the two girls.
In
fact, the deceased man ended up feeding and supporting the illegitimate boy for
much of his childhood, plus giving him substantially more than a share of the
assets.
Now,
anyway this thing can be cut is that the property correctly belonged to the
children of the man who provided it in the beginning. It’s not to say that the girls didn’t want to
share with their half brother. They
did. They both loved him and treated him
as one of the family. They wanted him to
have a full share. But the bad thing
about it was that he ended up with much of the income and property which came
from the girls’ father.
In
the meantime, the burned up girl (who was by then grown and married) went to
her half brother and allegedly confronted him over taking the one house for his
own. This was the Scriptural thing for a
sibling to do.
The
Word is clear, if a person has a problem with the actions of a bother, he
should go to him privately and try to revolve the difficulty.
Selfishness
Well,
the half brother was so evil-eyed that it was no way that he was going to give
his sister anything except the finger and say “I don’t owe you anything.” The girl dropped the matter. But thereafter, the half brother allowed
enormous hate to come into his heart toward his half sister because she
seemingly dared to question him on the property (her birthright, which he had
gained possession of).
His
hate and bitterness toward the burned up girl grew and he actually tried to
slander her (lashon hara) to some others by claiming that she was born
illegitimate.
Not
only was he trying to cast reflection upon her, but he effectively was calling
his own mother an adulterous whore.
There was no basis for the allegations he made against his sister and
mother. Some who knew the family said
that they were outright lies.
But
apparently, the girl never understood that her half brother had grown to hate her,
perhaps because she had dared to question his action of taking her inheritance
(or actually, more than one share, based upon the theory of him being a sharing
sibling).
The
girl had a small daughter whom she could not provide for. Her legal husband, the father of the child,
had abandoned her and she was left to go on welfare to try to support the
little girl. She realized that she could
not provide for her daughter and decided to take her to the half bother and ask
him to raise her (she chose him on the basis of her love for him, instead of
other family members).
Again,
he effectively gave her the finger and said “Look, I’ve got enough children of
my own to raise” (he had a wife and three children).
The
burned girl simply never understood the reality of his hatred for her. She actually supposed that he loved her like
she loved him. Thus, she died as a
middle aged woman (and much too early in her tragic life--perhaps from the
burns she suffered as a child because of his parents).
The Essence
The
moral of this story is that it is not brotherly love to turn someone (a rea)
aside (without cause) when he or she comes asking for help.
It
is not brotherly love to take the inheritance of another sibling. It is not brotherly love to develop hate in
one’s heart for another sibling because that sibling made the mistake of trying
to discuss a problem or conflict.
And
above all else, the illegitimate half brother is the last one in the world who
should stand up and proclaim-- “Look, I don’t owe you anything.” Maybe, he didn’t. But it was criminal what his father and
mother did to that little girl. And he
should have always had a soft spot in his heart for her and her needs. Morally, he should have always went out of
his way to try to help her.
Instead,
her money was spent raising him (and money which could have bought her some
needed clothes from time to time and maybe sent her to college). And ultimately, he consciously and willfully
cheated her out of part of her inheritance.
A Restatement of the 25 Points
Now,
having gone through these twenty five features or facets of brotherly love,
there only remains a brief need to recap and summarize them one more time. Therefore, in conclusion, brotherly love
involves and/or consists of the following:
1. Racial Kinsmen and Ger Converts
2. Conversion from Carnality
3. Awareness of Personality Problems
4. Perfection
5. True Professionalism
6. Rational Choices for Specific
Purposes
7. Voluntary with No Coercion
8. Ethical and Moral Duty and Obligation
9. Inner Disposition, Heartfelt and with
Passionate Commitment
10.
Loyalty (the Hebrew Concept of Hesed)
11.
Being Physically Together
12.
Respect and Dignity
13.
Implicit Trust
14.
Outgoing Care, Concern and Affection
15. Sharing of Life, Blessings, Resources, Joys and
Trials
16.
Rendering Help, Assistance and Service
17.
No Favoritism, Only Justice and Fairness
18.
Positive Actions and No Apathy or Indifference
19.
In Humility and Meekness
20.
Higher Plane than Love of Parents and Fleshly Brothers and Sisters
21.
Equal to YESHUA's Love of Man
22.
Equal to Love of Self
23.
Regulated, Controlled and Governed by YHWH's Word
24.
Unity, Accord and Agreement
25. Mutual and Reciprocal (Involving
Loyalty, as Discussed Earlier)
Chapter
105--Redemption
The Problem
Quite
naturally, the Tanakh generally and the Torah specifically address one of the
great subjects of life. In the Christian
mentality, the English expression of this theology is normally couched in the
vein of salvation. In Judaism, the more
popular expression in English is redemption.
Probably,
the word redemption is closer to what the Scriptures say--since it is not a
question of whether Adam will be saved; but rather, a question of when, as
discussed in the former chapters on election.
The ultimate redemption of Adam is therefore the objective of The MOST
HIGH, as opposed to the idea of Christian salvation of just some limited, few
people.
“Encyclopaedia
Judaica’s” (EJ, v. 14, p. 1-9, 654) article on redemption presents the
consensus of Judaism over the centuries on this important issue. The essence of the problem is that the
Scriptural statements are really quite complex and therefore subject to a lot
of interpretation (which, of course, Jewish sages have done over the
ages).
Christianity
for the last 2,000 years has also had a multitude of differing
interpretations. But generally, since
the Protestant Reformation, the ideas on salvation have become simplified to
the point that all a supposed believer must do is signify a belief in the Christian
Gee-Zeus and he is saved in the broadest possible context.
This
basic idea actually involves a particular act of work in order to obtain
salvation (by expressing a belief in Gee-Zeus, per Christendom). From it, a number of different Christians and
Christian groups have added a number of other works or rituals also as
conditions for salvation. Here, one can
refer to Christian baptism, laying on of hands, standing up in a meeting, going
to an altar, attending a tarry meeting and so forth.
An Obvious Differentiation
While
both Christians and Jews speak of redemption/salvation as a singular concept,
there is, practically speaking, two different aspects of it. First, there is the clear condition of being
physically redeemed, delivered or saved from hurt, injury, punishment or
judgment here in the flesh; and second, being spiritually redeemed from the
dead to a state of immortality to enjoy the afterlife.
The
Scriptures add to the definition dilemma in these two conditions because often
the Word does not seem to differentiate any differences. However, a study of the totality of the Book
does reveal some distinctions which will be highlighted in this and the
succeeding chapter.
EJ
illustrates the difficulty of distinguishing between these two ideas in
offering its definition of redemption as-- “the states or circumstances that
destroy the value of human existence or human existence itself.” Of course, this definition is addressing both
the physical in the here and now and the spiritual in the sense of immortality
in an afterlife.
The Hebrew Words
As
EJ outlines, there are two Hebrew words which discuss this idea (padah and
ga’al). Padah and its cognates are used
in the sense of commercial law where the payment of an equivalent is made for
what is to be released (Ex 13:13; 34:20; Lev 27:27; I Sam 14:45 with Ex 21:7-8;
Lev 19:20; Job 6:23). Thus, a person or
animal is released upon the payment of money or a suitable replacement.
Ga’al
and its derivatives address family law and indicate the Israelite conception or
duty of preserving the solidarity of the clan.
Therefore,
the redeemer (go’el) is the next of kin who acts to maintain the integrity of
his family group by preventing any breaches from occurring in it (by acquiring
the alienated property of his kinsman at Lev 25:25, purchasing it when it is in
danger of being lost to a stranger at Jer 32:6, redeeming a kinsman from
slavery at Lev 25:47, avenging the shed blood of a kinsman at Num 35:17-19 and
supporting a widow of a next of kin at Ru 4:4).
Please
observe the incredible racial overtures in this word. EJ notes that while there was some question
among the sages of the duty bound nature of the above injunctions, the
Scriptures did clearly indicate that the kinsman was expected to accomplish these
acts, unless there was a good reason to the contrary (Ru 4:6). Hence, it is manifest that the Scriptural
idea involves duty and being duty bound.
In
terms of the purview of YHWH, padah takes on a meaning of “deliver” and does
not involve the notion of the payment of an equivalent value (since everything
belongs to The ELOHIM automatically).
After
all, the purpose of The EL is not to retain the right of possession, but to
liberate people, both individuals and groups, from their woes (II Sam 4:9; I Kg
1:29)--to include bondage (Deut 7:8; 13:6), oppression (Isa 1:27; Ps 119:134)
and death (Ps 49:16; Hos 13:14).
Consequently,
padah is used to describe The ELOHIM’s redemption of Yisrael at the time of the
Exodus (Deut 9:26; 15:15; 21:8; 24:18) and future redemption as well (Isa 1:27;
35:10; Jer 31:11). Interestingly, it is
also used in the context of deliverance from sin (Ps 130:8).
Ga’al
also takes on the meaning of deliver.
Hence, Iyov believed that he was the go’el of the persecuted (Job 19:21-25). Moreover, The ELOHIM is the go’el to protect
orphans (Prov 23:10-11), Ha AV (The Father) of orphans and defender of widows
(Ps 68:6) and The REDEEMER of His people (Isa 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4;
48:17).
YHWH Takes the Lead
Though
the Scriptures indicate the necessity for repentance to precede YHWH’s
deliverance (which was addressed in former chapters herein), they also
communicate that The MOST HIGH, Himself, will take the initiative because of
His boundless love (Isa 54:8) and passionate concern for justice (Isa
59:15-20).
The
finality of life comes when there is an end to all pain and suffering and
Yisrael is restored to the land of Canaan to dwell safely in it and be in the
presence of YHWH, Himself (Jer 32:37-44; Ezek 11:17-21). Yisrael’s REDEEMER would then be made
manifest through His wonderful acts of redemption and the redeemed persons will
give thanks to Him (Ps 107:1-2).
Thus,
the above outline is the Scriptural position of Judaism on the words padah and
ga’al, as commented upon by “Encyclopaedia Judaica.”
Please
note that the above Scriptural references are to the Jewish numbering system in
the Tanakh and may differ slightly to what one finds in Christian “Bibles”
(especially in Psalms where there are often slight differences in the numbering
of verses).
The Church of Israel
Dan
Gayman of the Church of Israel in Schell City, Missouri (cited earlier herein)
goes further on addressing this subject by teaching that there is really a
distinction between redemption and salvation (both concepts of are often
combined into one theme in Christianity while Judaism separates them in the
sense of ransom and redemption).
In
his book on this issue (“Do All Races Share in Salvation?,” p. 69-75), Gayman
teaches that the act of redemption involves a buying back or ransoming of
people captive of sin (or condemned to punishment for sin). Salvation means the deliverance,
preservation, and safety of the redeemed persons. In other words, in the NT, The MESSIAH
redeems/ransoms the election so that they might be delivered and saved.
Clearly,
per this thinking, the ideas of both redemption (or ransom) and deliverance
likely apply in both situations addressed above--in terms of the problems of
now living here in the flesh, as well as for the afterlife in the future.
As
Gayman recognizes, there is a racial implication in this discussion (ibid, p.
72). The Word teaches that the election
involves Israel. Therefore, of
necessity, YESHUA had to be a fleshly Israelite in order to provide the
redemption/ransoming outlined in the Torah (as a substitute sacrifice to
provide the atonement) in the mitzwah defining the work of the kinsman redeemer
(as cited above).
In
fact, the Torah specifically stipulates that the redeemer is to be the next of
kin (per the Boaz example, in the book of Ruth, the next of kin requirement
focuses upon the next of kin willing to undertake the redemption). While YESHUA is not the closest next of kin
to almost all of Yisrael, He is the next of kin willing and qualified to
undertake the task of redemption (since all other Israelites have become
unqualified from sin).
Gayman
next asks how could The MESSIAH, being of the genetic seed of Abraham, qualify
to be a kinsman for all races of all so-called humans on planet earth (ibid, p.
84). Thus, this teaching would seem to
limit redemption (or ransoming) and salvation in the Scriptures to
Yisrael. In terms of the applicable mitzwot,
this certainly seems to make sense.
However,
there is the mitzwah at Exodus 12:48 which allows the conversion of
non-Israelite ger aliens to Yisrael (as discussed elsewhere herein). So fellow ger Adamites seem to become Yisrael
for all purposes, in terms of being members of the congregation of Yisrael when
they properly convert, per Exodus 12:48.
Surely, YESHUA’s redemption/ransoming covers them as well as
Israelites.
Finally,
there is the situation involving nokri/nekar aliens in Isaiah 56. The prophet Yeshayahu seems to promise
rewards and blessings in the afterlife to these people who attach themselves to
YHWH and keep His Sabbaths and laws. Can
YESHUA’s redemption cover these nokri/nekar aliens? This writer is unsure of how to address this
question--but allows that Yeshayahu knew what he was writing about.
Whether
YESHUA’s sacrifice and redemption/ransom cover these nokri/nekar aliens or not
must be left as a question mark. But
based upon Isaiah 56, it seems a certainty that they can share in the afterlife
by some provision when they accept YHWH’s Torah and live by it.
The Talmud
“Encyclopaedia
Judaica” (v. 14, p. 1-9, 654) goes on to describe the redemption ideas
communicated in the Talmud. While both
padah and ga’al are used for redemption in the Scriptures (almost
interchangeably, although padah is usually associated with YAH’s deliverance of
Yisrael in the Exodus), the Talmud uses padah for ransom and ga’al for
redemption.
Reportedly,
the Talmudic sages do not discuss any failings in man collectively or
individually which require an intervention from The EL. Thus, redemption is not broached as a
remedial need (since the Torah itself is sufficient for the guidance of man in
the context of repentance and good deeds).
In the Talmud, ge’ullah becomes a reference used for the national
redemption and national freedom of Yisrael.
Though
there are references to The MESSIAH as A REDEEMER of Yisrael, His role is much
like that of Moshe and other redeemers of the past in the sense of being an
instrument in the hands of The MOST HIGH.
Because
the Talmud is a production expressing the (different) opinions and ideas of the
ancient Jewish sages, there are some contrasting views on this question of
redemption. For example, one
presentation suggests that even proselytes will not be acceptable during the time
of The MESSIAH (Yev 24b).
Conversely,
another Talmudic text indicates that the redemption of Yisrael will produce the
redemption of the world (Song R. 2:2, No. 3), and that the gentiles will become
proselytes and will call upon the name of YHWH (Tosef., Ber. 7:2). The EL will bring all of them under His wings
(Tanh. B, Gen. 108).
Later Ideas
While
much of the Christian view of sin and redemption is focused upon a theory of an
original sin and man’s need for redemption from it, Judaism does not entertain
such thinking. Man, being created
finite, is subject to despair and eternal death. In this state, he is in need of
redemption.
EJ
(v. 14, p. 4) claims that medieval Judaism believed that sin does not actually
produce the unsaved state in man; but rather, serves to prevent the redemption
of man. Regardless of the source of sin,
the fact remains that it does create the need for redemption.
In
Judaism, The HIGHEST provides the needed redemption if man adheres to true
beliefs and performs righteous deeds (of obedience to the Torah). This is the classic Jewish position. It is one predicated upon works--just like
the Christian position is predicated upon works, as described in former
comments.
The
Jew must perform works of righteousness, as defined in the Torah, while the
Christian must perform acts of work, as prescribed by the different Christian
denominations (like baptism, standing up in a meeting, saying some words like
belief in Gee-Zeus, attending an altar call, having hands laid on him, speaking
some gibberish, attending church services and so forth).
As
bad as the Jewish idea of works is (and it is bad and is not the message of
this study), at least, it is predicated upon obedience to the Torah while the
Christian idea of works has no Scriptural foundation at all. The Christian theories of reconciliation (as
was discussed in prior chapters) are seemingly made up by Christian leaders for
the dumb sheep under their control.
Perhaps
the most glaring difference between the two is that Judaism accounts man’s sins
to man while many Christians focus upon man’s so-called original sin. Perhaps it is because of the emphasis on
original sin that the Roman Catholic view of baptizing (by sprinkling or
pouring) of infants immediately grants grace and salvation to infants. This Catholic view is shared by several
Protestant groups.
Joseph B. Soloveitchik
EJ
(v. 14, p. 8) quoted the position of modern, Jewish Orthodox, thinker Joseph B.
Soloveitchik. He describes redemption in
terms of faith and performance of mitzwot.
He also asserts that the human capability of renewal and self
transformation manifests itself especially in times of human distress.
Though
Soloveitchik may not have it all right, his thinking on renewal in times of
human distress is on the right track.
When collective or national troubles come upon a people, they can more
easily turn to spiritual matters and reconciliation with The CREATOR. This reality was outlined and described in
preceding chapters herein in the context of pride and vanity.
As
was previously established in those discussions on pride, people who are fat
and prosperous, with no needs, are generally too proud to repent of their sins
and turn to The MOST HIGH for forgiveness.
However,
national calamities can bring on spiritual renewal. Evidently, it will be such an environment of
national catastrophes for seven years (in the context of Yakov’s Trouble) which
will finally force Israelites to turn to YHWH YESHUA as REDEEMER.
Spiritual Salvation for the
Afterlife
The
issue of physical protection, safety and deliverance, in the context of the
present human existence, will be covered in remarks to shortly follow
below. But for now, the focus will shift
to the spiritual aspects of future salvation in the afterlife (which should be
the primary concern of all Adamites).
Early
on, as noted in other commentary herein, the Tanakh writers described the sins
of man and man’s need for a redeemer.
The NT came along and recognized this condition, and went on to clarify
that YESHUA was indeed The Promised REDEEMER.
As
both the Old and New Testaments plainly communicate, Adam man can be redeemed
and granted eternal life based upon repentance and faith which are free grants
of grace from The HIGHEST (as is established elsewhere herein). Since it is the will and purpose of The
ELOHIM to save all of Adam, all of Adam will one day be saved--not whether on
this; but rather, of when.
Though
YHWH will ultimately save all of Adam, He has mapped out His plan to do so
sequentially over a vast amount of time.
He starts with specific groups of Adamites that He chooses for salvation
in specific periods of time. These
selected people do not make the choice themselves. The choice or decision is made by The MOST
HIGH from the foundations of the world.
It involves predestination (as determined by the lot).
These
chosen persons are called the election (as described in former chapters
herein). Assuredly, The SOVEREIGN will
work out conditions in each elected person’s life to be sure that the elected
person ultimately reaches the point where the free gifts of repentance and
faith can be given to him/her. Previous
chapters herein on reconciliation have proven this theme.
While
many people have thought that they were saved now in this lifetime for the past
1,930 years, and though many have been extremely sincere and worked hard on
believing and following the teachings of their Christian Churches, they have
nevertheless died without receiving redemption/salvation. Their situations have been or will be
discussed in other chapters herein.
The Christian View
In
mentioning the reality of the redemption of Adam, it must be noted that many
Christians become quite angry and upset when this thinking is first introduced
to them. Most Christians are not very
tolerant towards other people on the questions of righteousness and salvation
(though this historic thinking is now changing with the move to a one world
religion, as will be described in later chapters herein).
In
any case, there has been some presence of the theology of universal
reconciliation for many years now, which this writer does not completely
endorse (as discussed in former chapters herein on the sovereignty of
YHWH).
The
very mention of these words on universal reconciliation or the actual reality
of the salvation of Adam generally throws most Christians into a panic and
rage. Christian people love the story of
hell and they almost without exception are happy to see other persons thrust
into that terrible place (the truth behind hell will be addressed in a later
chapter and needs no explanation here).
Furthermore,
most Christians typically are quite exclusive with their own personal
denominations. Most of them accept that
all of their denominational brethren are reconciled, saved and destined for
heaven upon death. But all other
Christians and the world of so-called pagans are lost in sin and will be cast
into hellfire and brimstone (though some Christians do allow eternal death for
persons outside their own cliques).
Incidentally,
in mentioning this exclusiveness by Christians, it would be well to pause
momentarily and recognize where this theology comes from. The Jul-Aug 2002 “Tzemach Letter” (p. 1) had
an article by Ken Garrison on “Why There is Confusion about Salvation and
Judgment” which is interesting.
Garrison
suggests that the theology of saving only a few people and damning most others
in this life (before the final destruction of the earth arrives) evolved in the
early Christian Church from Greek influence.
Thus, this view has it that this theory of damnation for many comes from
Greek sun worship. Maybe Garrison is
correct in his presentation since the Christian thinking is not Scriptural.
When?
The
remaining issue is to attempt to Scripturally understand when this state of
redemption/salvation occurs. The problem
arises because of Christianity’s use of the word salvation in the context that
a person alive and functioning in the flesh has “obtained” or “received”
salvation in the here and now.
Evangelicals particularly like to brag and boast about being born again
and saved--right now!
But
because various Christians brag and boast about being born again and saved,
there is no proof that they are, in fact, born again and saved. Actually, the evidence is conclusive that
they are neither. While the subject of
being born again is profoundly important in any discussion of salvation, it
must be deferred until the succeeding chapter herein.
The Kingdom Idea
In
the NT, there are many references to the Kingdom of Heaven and/or the Kingdom
of EL (or The EL). It seems that either
or both terms are used in the sense of the place where the saved will
eventually abide or make their home.
Sometimes, it seems that the two Kingdom terms are synonymous and many
scholars believe that they are.
However,
this writer is suspicious that the two terms are not exactly synonymous. As described elsewhere herein, it might be
that there is a Kingdom of or in Heaven phase for part of the election as a
part of the Kingdom of EL to precede the eventual coming Kingdom of EL on earth
during the millennium when YESHUA rules here as KING.
In
either case, the point remains that the persons elected to be redeemed have
been and are redeemed when they abide in and enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom
age. Redemption and salvation are not
synonymous terms with the Kingdom ideas.
Instead, redemption/salvation is the process or the state of being for a
person to enter the Kingdom age or place (during the wedding supper of
YESHUA).
Physical Deliverance and Safety
Although
the whole theme of spiritual redemption is still future for the election of
this age, there remains the issue of physical deliverance of people in the
flesh from the standpoint of the oppression, hurt, punishment, bondage, slavery
and so forth people have faced for the last 6,000 years.
Of
course, it is clear that trials, tests, punishment, discipline, judgment and so
forth come largely upon selected persons from The MOST HIGH as corrective
actions (which were discussed in preceding chapters). This is especially true with the election (as
was defined earlier). YHWH is going to
punish, chastise and correct all 144,000 as necessary, so that they may taste
His ultimate redemption.
The
person undergoing punishment from The HIGHEST is hardly expected to be
delivered from it until its purpose has been accomplished. Surely, if YHWH is correcting someone in the
election (as was described in previous chapters on reconciliation and
repentance), there is no hope of having that correction stopped or removed
until YAH’s purpose is completed.
However,
there probably is a basis for people to pray for deliverance, safety and
protection from various calamities of life, as those befalling on a collective
people without representing specific correction for certain individuals. Thus, there is the question of a person
praying for deliverance from a hurricane, storm or other crisis coming upon a
whole group of people.
The Historic Examples
The
Scriptures do give many illustrations of YHWH’s physical deliverance or
redemption of His people in various circumstances. Perhaps the best illustration was His
deliverance of collective Yisrael from Egyptian slavery in the days of the
great Exodus, as commented upon in some of the above remarks.
But
this deliverance was not a spur of the moment thing with The EVERLIVING
ONE. It was planned and designed from
the beginning of Yisrael. In the Exodus,
YHWH not only saved both good and bad (evil) Israelites, but He saved the
strangers and other camp followers attached to them as well.
This
deliverance was not predicated upon the specific righteousness of the
collective people (although there were some persons who certainly performed
more acts of righteousness than others).
This
condition was almost the same thing that occurred a number of times in the
theocracy when YHWH ruled Yisrael through judges. These human judges were used as The ELOHIM’s
instruments of deliverance.
Therefore,
as the people progressed into more and more wickedness and sin, YHWH would
bring hurt and punishment upon them collectively in various forms. This punishment was on the whole of the
people--both good (to the extent that a person can be called good) and
bad.
When
the punishment had run its course and had accomplished YHWH’s objectives (when
the generic people were in pain and suffering and cried out to The ELOHIM), He
then raised up judges to deliver the nation.
These deliverances of the collective people were made in the sense of
national Yisrael. The good and bad
persons were delivered together.
Perhaps
this is the message behind the great curses and blessings (which certainly
include physical safety and deliverance) in the Torah (Deut 28:1-20). It’s easy to read these curses and blessings
and perceive them in the context of individual persons. Though they most likely have some individual
application; they seem to be, at least partly, and perhaps even largely,
national in scope (as seems to be true with Lev 26).
Evil People
In
looking at these historic illustrations of YHWH’s physical deliverance of the
aggregated peoples of Yisrael, one must always remember that the generic people
were always evil and wicked. Some
persons might try to suppose that the people were good people; but no, not
so. The collective people were always
wicked, just as they have been wicked for the last 3,500 years (as proven by
the prophets).
But
there were different degrees of wickedness.
The same is true with the modern House of Yisrael in the last 200
years. The collective people and nations
were evil and wicked in 1800. But they
become far more evil and wicked in 1960 and still more wicked and evil in
2003.
Hence,
Yakov’s Trouble is now on the horizon to correct, discipline and change the
House of Yisrael in the next several years.
And again, Yisrael will face another great Exodus from this coming
slavery and bondage. There will be one
primary difference, however. Instead of
Moshe, The Coming DELIVERER will be YHWH YESHUA.
When
He comes, YESHUA will begin a process of teaching and instructing the Torah so
that the people will at last begin to quit sinning. Sin will end in Yisrael during the
millennium. This may seem like an
impossible task, but it will be done.
Yisrael, in the future, will stop sinning and be redeemed.
Individual, Physical Redemption
Beyond
national redemption, there are, of course, a number of examples from the Word
of the physical redemption of individual persons. Preceding chapters have outlined and
described some of these in the context of pride and vanity. Nebuchadnezzar, Iyov, Moshe, the Apostle
Shaul and others all underwent personal deliverance once YHWH’s purpose was
accomplished in their lives.
Otherwise,
the Scriptures plainly communicate the need for repentance and prayer always
for man to be delivered from his hurt and pain in this life and age. As outlined elsewhere herein, YHWH will not
listen to the prayers of people who are in rebellion against His Torah (in the
sense of awon, maal and pesha transgressions).
But
otherwise, a man can always have hope of deliverance (which will assuredly come
eventually to the election).
Importantly, hope is one of the fruits of THE RUACH HA KODESH. The believer must continue to have and
maintain hope.
Some Complications
While
there is no question about YAH being The Ultimate DELIVERER of the election
(certainly spiritually, and even physically in this life for the very elect),
one must always wonder about the non-elected in this age or any age for that
matter (in the sense of physical safety, healing and deliverance--in terms of
the flesh and the here and now in this life).
Does
YHWH deliver and/or redeem the non-elected people individually in the flesh
while they are in this life-time facing trouble and trials? In this sense, is there any difference
between so-called religious Jews and Christians (who are not in the election)
versus other secular people at large, in terms of physical protection and
deliverance (from illness, injury, poverty, trouble, hurt, pain or whatever)?
This
writer cannot answer these questions. It
would perhaps be well to think so. But
the dilemma surfaces on the question of repentance and the reality that man
cannot and will not truly repent from his sins on his own, aside from the
precise action of YHWH to intervene and grant him a gift of repentance.
Apart
from very small, infant babies (who in the flesh have been sinless and/or good
enough in life so that The ELOHIM would indeed listen to their prayers), we all
are unrepentant and in sin (thus, would YHWH even listen to our prayers in that
sense?). Yet, even small, infant babies
die and are often not delivered from the pain and hurt associated with living
in this life, in terms of sickness and health.
Of
course, such babies cannot pray and there is some question about whether they
really have any understanding and comprehension of their plight. But some parents do pray. Perhaps the issue then becomes one of the
righteousness of the parents.
Then
the next question surfacing would have to address the issue of whether YAH will
indeed physically deliver, rescue, heal and protect unrepentant persons still
in sin--especially since the Book says that He will not even listen to the
prayers of unrepentant sinners (as all of so-called humanity is in sin--unless
and until YHWH puts His hands on a person to be corrected--as will happen
eventually with the coming election, which was described in the preceding
chapters on reconciliation and repentance)?
The
point of this is that there are enormous complications in trying to understand
how, when, where and why YHWH will intervene on an individual, personal basis
to be A DELIVERER to non-elected people, in the physical sense of the here and
now.
Prayers
We
know that multitudes of people (including huge numbers of unrepentant Jews and
Christians) pray prayers for physical deliverance, safety, healing, protection,
etc. But will The ELOHIM even listen to
their prayers--since they are unrepentant and in sin?
Future
chapters will assess the question of healing which certainly is a form of
deliverance and redemption. In the NT
environment, people were usually healed indiscriminately. In other words, YHWH YESHUA did not limit His
healing power to only His followers. He
routinely healed all (certainly all rea Israelites who were receptive and with
good attitudes).
The
same situation applies to the Apostolic Assembly. The apostles healed all
indiscriminately. But those days and
situations (where YESHUA and the Apostolic Assembly were present and
functioning on planet earth) ended in c70 CE.
Assuredly, no organization today has that authority at this time, as
will be assessed in the later chapters.
More on Promises
A
future chapter herein will address the messages to the seven assemblies in the
book of Revelation in some detail. There
is no need to cover them now. But the
point must be made that for each of these congregations, there are promises
made to each class of overcomer.
Probably, it is these overcomers who become the election in this age at
hand--just as also likely occurred in the Apostolic Assembly.
In
six of these groups, even the overcomers will apparently have to go through the
great tribulation without physical deliverance in this lifetime.
Probably
most, or perhaps even all of them will have to ultimately pay the supreme price
of their life. Though they will likely
lose out in the context of physical redemption, here and now, they will ultimately
be redeemed spiritually for the Kingdom--perhaps in the resurrection.
However,
one group is a little different than the others. This one, Philadelphia, has been and will be
more carefully addressed in other chapters hereafter. But for now, it can be stated that
Philadelphia, of all of the Messianic assemblies mentioned in the NT, has a
promise of physical protection and deliverance in this age and lifetime (Rev
3:10).
In
the sense that the individual congregations in the Apostolic Assembly of the
first century CE were found in the Roman Empire with the same attitudes and
beliefs as those to be found in the age end (as outlined in Rev 2 and 3), it
seems likely that there was a Philadelphia congregation in 66 CE which was
delivered from the then coming tribulation (66-70 CE).
The
evidence is most persuasive that the age end will see a similar organization of
possibly 7,000 men and perhaps a like number of women. This then brings up another fascinating point
to consider.
The
case can be made that the men in Philadelphia will be there by the process of
election--in other words, by the choice and will of The SOVEREIGN OF THE
UNIVERSE. But what about the women? Will they also be there by the election and
choice of The Great I AM?
As
discussed elsewhere herein, there is the possibility that some of the women in
this entity will be there precisely because they were married to the elected
men and were faithful and obedient wives.
In other words, a good woman, who stands by her man, stands to likely
receive the same physical rewards in the flesh as her husband. If he is delivered, she probably will be
delivered.
If
the man’s faith falls short and/or if he is not in the election, the woman may
be doomed to the same fate as her husband.
She possibly will go down the tubes with him--unless The ELOHIM
otherwise elects to rescue her.
The Bottom Line
The
essence of this presentation is that there has to be a distinction between
physical redemption, deliverance, protection and safety here in this life, as
opposed to spiritual redemption and deliverance in the life to come in a
subsequent age.
But
as far as a believer is concerned, everything hinges upon YHWH YESHUA Who is
THE REDEEMER AND DELIVERER of His people, both physically and spiritually. To achieve this state, the believer faces the
necessity of faith, belief, appropriate repentance and obedience.
Chapter
106--More on Redemption
Nakdimon and Being Born Again
One
remaining big issue is to attempt to Scripturally understand when the
previously described state of redemption occurs. The problem arises because of Christianity’s
use of the word salvation in the context that a person alive and functioning in
the flesh has “obtained” or “received” salvation in the here and now. As noted earlier, Christians love to brag and
boast about being born again and saved--right now!
In
the vein of prescribing what some would say is another condition for entrance
into the Kingdom phase of life, YESHUA broached the born again subject with a
man named Nicodemus or Nakdimon in the Hebrew (Jo 3:1-21). This Nakdimon was a leader of the Jews
(perhaps a member of the Sanhedrin).
Nakdimon
seems to have come to The MESSIAH in secret with some personal need to get some
information or clarification on the question of redemption. YESHUA then proceeded to tell him that unless
a man is “born again” (or born from above, as the Greek can be read), he cannot
see or be in the future Kingdom of EL.
This idea was discussed in a former chapter. But it needs some further remarks now.
In
defining and clarifying His comments, YESHUA noted that a man must be born of
both water and spirit to enter the Kingdom.
He then linked spirit to the movement of the wind--which is not seen,
but can be heard or observed in terms of effect.
The
ANOINTED ONE then proceeded to make a most fascinating revelation. He acted surprised that Nakdimon was a
teacher in Jewish Yisrael and did not know or understand this doctrine which He
had just enumerated (Jo 3:10). This
remark seems to suggest that what He said was something known and understood in
Judaism collectively (the point of this is discussed elsewhere herein).
Understanding the What
In
the “Jewish New Testament Commentary” (p. 165), David H. Stern indicates that
the born again idea is indeed Jewish since it is alluded to in the Talmud which
says that a proselyte must become as “a new born infant” (Yevamot 62a). Stern also notes that the Talmud reflects the
concept of becoming a new creation.
George
M. Lamsa’s “Gospel Light” commentary (p. 323), on the NT from the Aramaic,
likewise has some perceptive points.
Lamsa reports that the Aramaic word for born is “yalad” and the word for
boy is “yalda.”
Thus,
per Lamsa, to be born again means to become like a small child, that is to
become simple like a child and start all over to learn anew. Going on, Lamsa indicates that a common
expression in the East is “He is simple, pure and harmless like a child.”
These
two excellent writers, Stern and Lamsa, clarify precisely what YESHUA had in
mind. Of most importance, the would be
elected believer must be born again--that is, to be correctly converted and
reconciled with the destruction of carnality (pride and vanity) in the context
of the circumcision of the heart, as discussed in former chapters.
In
other words, to enter the Kingdom, in the sense of redemption and/or salvation,
one must be reconciled and have the carnality of the flesh dealt with so that
the resulting believer becomes as innocent, simple and pure as a new born
baby. This whole thinking was elaborated
upon in prior chapters and needs no expatiation here.
But
otherwise, Lamsa makes a most interesting and perceptive comment in further
explaining the concept by linking it to the need to be teachable (since a
disciple is a learner). New born infants
and babies are assuredly very teachable, as they start to mature. There is no question about it, pride and vanity
in more mature people will not allow a person to be taught much of anything.
Positively,
pride and vanity must be crushed before an individual can ever become teachable
once again (as was the case in the person’s infancy). Once the born again experience is realized,
the teachable individual can learn the doctrines of milk and in time graduate
to meat, as Shaul outlines in his epistles (I Cor 3:2; 10:3, Heb 5:12).
In
mentioning this born again concept, please understand that some Christian
groups (like the old Worldwide Church of God, under its founder Herbert W.
Armstrong) believed that the meaning in John 3 really concerns the begettal in
the sense that man is begotten or conceived by The RUACH HA KODESH in this life
and is born again when translated or resurrected to immortality.
Despite
this belief by Armstrong, some of his followers and several other Christian
sects, the truth is that John 3 addresses a new birth in this life (as coming
from the womb, as Nakdimon seems to wonder about in John 3:4-5).
The Baptism
Please
note that this born again condition comes about as a result of both water
baptism and the Baptism of The RUACH HA KODESH (and/or the Baptism of Fire,
unless the Baptism of Fire is a totally separate and distinct baptism as it
probably is, to be discussed later), in the context of the free gifts of faith
and repentance, which have been broached in former presentations.
A
future chapter on the ministry will describe the qualifications and role of a
true apostle. Suffice to say, it was
only a true apostle who could grant the real Baptism of The RUACH HA
KODESH. Future discussions on this theme
will conclusively prove that there are now no visible true apostles present to
dispense the baptism at this time in early 2003.
The
evidence is overwhelming that a legitimate apostle will make an appearance in
the age end (as one of the two witnesses, perhaps sometime in Yechezkel’s
30th-35th years) to dispense that baptism to the election chosen as the
firstfruits of the Sukkot harvest.
This
means that since the close of the apostolic age (c70 CE), there have been no
spiritual baptisms of The RUACH HA KODESH.
Therefore, from 70 CE up until 2003, there have been no people
undergoing the born again experience.
Thus, no one has been “saved” since 70 CE.
Manifestly,
all those Christians bragging and boasting about their salvation and born again
condition are liars. They simply do not
understand the issues involved. For
sure, pride is still present in their lives.
More
There
is another fallout on this discussion.
Manifestly, as outlined heretofore, no one has undergone the real born
again experience since 70 CE.
Thus,
there assuredly have been no elected people present to receive salvation in
these past 1,930 years. This conclusion
is in keeping with the former discussions beforetimes on reconciliation.
Actually,
when one talks and thinks in the context of redemption, it should be plain that
spiritual redemption (for the afterlife) has not occurred to any person still
alive in the flesh today in the early 21st century (at least by 2003). Redemption plainly must still be a future
event--as a minimum.
Again,
it is pure and simple pride and vanity for Christians to run around and brag
and boast about being saved right now.
Categorically, no one is saved right now--until they undergo the born
again experience and are resurrected from the dead (or changed from life to
immortality) to live in the Kingdom age (later on earth). This writer knows of no one presently who has
undergone the needed transformation.
Will
there be people saved (redeemed) in this age?
Seemingly yes! As described in
former chapters, YHWH has apparently elected and chosen some 144,000 Israelite
males (and perhaps a like number of females) for redemption. But these persons have not yet been born
again or redeemed (and they certainly are not yet saved). These processes are still future here in
2003.
As
suggested in prior comments, the so-called or alleged believer, at best, in
this age and system seems to be in the status of a betrothal--which becomes a
reality at the wedding supper of The LAMB when the Renewed Covenant is realized
with the bride. For sure, all of us in
2003 are still miles away from reconciliation, the Baptism of The RUACH HA
KODESH, and being saved.
The Status of the Non-Elected
Believers
Preceding
commentary has built the case that YHWH is A Total SOVEREIGN Who will, Himself,
make the decision on the persons who He will save in this age of the
flesh. The MOST HIGH does this in the
form of His selection of the election.
For these elected people, YHWH grants them the free gifts of faith,
repentance and life. As necessary, He
changes them to experience the circumcision of the heart.
Beyond
these persons He selects, the question must come up about other so-called
believers who are/were not selected.
Generally, these people have gone to the grave without receiving
salvation in this life (meaning that all of this Christian hype about being
redeemed and saved right now is absolutely false and wrong).
Since
the election and salvation of the 144,000 (males and probably a like number of
females) during the first century CE, numbers of people, both Christians and
Jews, have been believers of sort who have been extremely sincere, and who have
worked hard at trying to obey and have a relationship with The ELOHIM. All of them so far have apparently died
without receiving the gift of life in this lifetime and age.
The Paradox
Is
it not a paradox that these persons have seemingly lost out on salvation and
the future simply because they were not among the election chosen by YHWH? The following comments will attempt to assess
their status and why it works out this way.
First,
it must be understood that once each of us become a sinner (as we all become in
this life, once we live past infancy), it is totally impossible for any one of
us to ever do anything to receive life (because, by the Torah, we have earned
death). We can never ever do anything to
obtain life and salvation thereafter.
Yes, we are then dead forever.
The
only way we can have life is if The HIGHEST grants us the free, unmerited gift
of life in the vein of the gifts of faith and true and complete repentance--which
paves the way for the circumcision of the heart and the Baptism of The RUACH HA
KODESH.
But
the second interesting feature of YHWH’s plan is that He has stated His desire
to save all of Adam--not whether; but when, in accordance with His plan of salvation. For the election, they will receive life and
salvation in this age underway. For
others, they must wait until a future time (when they will be resurrected from
the dead and granted the gifts of life, faith, repentance, circumcision of the
heart, and the Spiritual baptism).
However,
beyond the chosen ones in the election, it is true that a number of people over
the centuries (since 70 CE) have become sincere and dedicated believers of sort
(both Christians and Jews), and have worked hard at obedience in a mental state
of believing that they have received (earned) salvation in this life and
age. Without exception, these
individuals have died over the years.
Per
The ELOHIM’s plan, these persons at a first glance would seemingly be in the
same state as the rest of the world, including the most gross of sinners. But no, there is a third interesting
feature. It is a promise of rewards, not
of life (which we cannot earn), but of position and status in the world to come
(as discussed in prior chapters herein).
So
all Adamites (and perhaps certain others) who have lived will be rewarded for
their deeds in this life. But they will
never be rewarded with the gifts of life and salvation which can only come by
actions of The MOST HIGH (whenever and however He chooses to exercise His
election).
Therefore,
it appears to this writer that all persons will be appropriately rewarded in
some future time frame for his/her works and deeds in the flesh in this
lifetime.
While
different people will receive the gift of life in different time periods, all
of Adam will ultimately be saved. Thus,
all persons will ultimately be rewarded for his/her deeds of living this life
in the flesh. No one will be
shortchanged on this reality.
The Dilemma
The
next big question is why is that a sincere man who works hard and long at
righteousness cannot achieve life and salvation in this age. Well again, once we earn death, we can never
earn life (life can come only as a free gift of unearned grace). But there is still more to the problem.
The
real crux of the issue is that we must repent and undergo the true circumcision
of the heart in order to have life and salvation. This writer has known people who did work on
a form of repentance and on trying to achieve a sense of humility (although
obviously not reaching this state in this lifetime). Yet, they died and are clearly not in the
election for this age. And why is it
that some people have faced this dilemma?
Of
course, the answer is that we will not correctly and properly repent and allow
our hearts to be circumcised on our own.
This writer is convinced that indeed YHWH would grant the gift of life
to anyone of us alive in this age and lifetime if we would truly just repent,
change and undergo the real process of circumcision of the heart (in becoming
correctly humble).
The
problem we all face is that while theoretically we could repent and change, the
truth is that we will not repent and change--on our own without the
supernatural involvement of The ELOHIM in our lives (and He only does this for
the election in this lifetime and age).
In other words, our fate is our own doing! Yes, there is an element of our free will
throughout this whole process.
There
have been millions of very dedicated Jews; and today, there is near one billion
Christians. A large part of this
multitude of people would and have stood up and claimed that they have indeed
repented and changed. Some would even
say that they are humble people who have experienced the circumcision of the
heart.
None?
The
truth is that an observer would be hard pressed to find any of them who really
understands the full implications of sin and who has truly repented of those
sins. True, the Jews know that sin is
the transgression of the Torah.
But
almost all Christians are totally lost on this reality. Hence, most Christians have not the foggiest
idea of even what is sin. Even those few
who do know something still miss the big picture.
Thus,
for most, there has never been any total repentance. Of course, some persons have repented of some
single sins in their lives. This writer
has done this and probably most readers have also undergone some limited forms
of repentance. Thus, anyone of us can
discover that adultery and certain sex sins are wrong and repent of those
sins. The same is true with Sabbath
breaking and other sins.
Numbers
of people have discovered the ten commandments and have made some effort to
obey them. As noted earlier, some
persons have even learned that sin is the transgression of the Torah (I Jo
3:4). But typically, these persons never
fully repent of all of their sins (in fact, many do not even understand the
mitzwot in the Torah).
But
none of this is the complete and total repentance YHWH demands for
salvation. We must repent of all, 100%,
of our sins; and not just some part of them.
And how can we repent when most of us know absolutely little or nothing
about what is sin.
We Will Not Completely Repent on Our
Own
Simply
stated, we are not going to repent on our own.
And manifestly, we are not going to correctly become humble and destroy
the passions of the flesh which we all entertain. We may struggle and try in some respects to
deal with the greed, selfishness and covetousness problems to some extent. But we never really properly address
them.
Rarely,
if ever, will anyone of us try to focus upon the pride problem. After all, most of us do not have the
foggiest idea of even what pride is.
Even when we might detect a little of pride in other people, we
generally can never see it in ourselves.
Truly,
it takes a fantastic act of intervention by YHWH for anyone of us to ever focus
upon the carnality problems of the flesh.
We just aren’t going to do it on our own.
Some Final Words
Frankly,
this writer is now an old man, entering my 70th year. In my lifetime, i have never known a person
who has truly repented, nor have i ever known of anyone who has really focused
upon the carnal problems of the flesh. i
have known many people who have claimed repentance and humility (obviously
including many, many Christians). i have
just never met anyone who has told the truth on this matter.
Yes,
the essence of this discussion is that it takes a supernatural intervention by
YHWH in the life of a person in order for that person to undergo true
repentance and the circumcision of the heart.
We humans are simply not going to do it
on our own (even those of us who try will always fall short). That’s why salvation is a gift of grace, to
include the gifts of faith and repentance (which come from YAH, not us).
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