Are you toying with me? Did you have a little to much church wine today?
Guy's sorry for the long post but I don't know any other way with all of this. Plus I am a preacher so go figure...
Too much wine Hmmm….. Could be! Well, there would have been a day when that would be true but no more. Occasionally I might have a beer with a buddy but that may happen 2-3 times a year.
The One God religion started before Abraham and that it eventually became known as the Jewish faith.
The Jews and Christians share most of the same Bible. Christians call it the Old Testament. The Jews turning their backs on God is common practice. People do it every day. It is a human problem.
At the time of Jesus there were horrible abuses in the Jewish faith by the Pharisees. The Pharisees tried to cater to Roman Empire just to keep peace but at the same time used them to keep the people under control. Taxation was outrageous hmmm… like today. Naaa… I won’t draw that parallel. Laws were being written to suppress the people even further.
Many people responded to Jesus and the Pharisees didn’t like it. They all but called it a riot but to the followers it was celebrating a new king and they were looking for deliverance from oppression. The Pharisees called it a riot and were afraid of a rebellion because they knew they would lose power. Out of all of the Pharisees only one stood up for Jesus, I imagine there would have been more but there too were afraid of losing their positions within the hierarchy of Judaism.
Even today in Israel there is oppression with the Jews. If they were to confess that they were a Christian or believed in Jesus as the son of God they would lose their citizenship in Israel. If I understand it correctly they can still live there but they cannot vote, they do not have access to state healthcare, or any of the benefits provided for by the government. If they make noise and become activist they are deported. Outside groups (Christians) are allowed to come in because they are looking for that tourist money but they have to be careful with what they say or they have to leave. I have been there twice.
At the Temple Mount Institute in Jerusalem I have had the opportunity to talk with some of the leading professors there and have asked many questions that they simply refused to answer. The second time I was there they remembered me and one of the professors pulled me to the side and told me that I asked questions that if they answered them they could lose their funding and citizenship and they will not risk it. We’ve had many great conversations but there are areas they will not go.
I spoke with an archeologist who has spent most his life in Israel with archeology as his career. As we discuss certain digs there will be questions he will not answer. On one occasion we were talking about the war in 1967 where bombs landed in a cemetery just outside of the eastern gate of the old city. It is a Palestinian graveyard. You may know that the eastern gate is sealed even the one below the current wall that was during Jesus time. The bombs blew a hole down and through the gate of the Solomon rock. He said that he was able to go down there and look at it and found several interesting artifacts. I asked him what he found. His answer was “State secret can’t tell you.”
There is a theory that the Ark of the Covenant is buried there. The Temple Institute says they know where it is. We will not know until it has been revealed. Side note: Last week there was a report that it was found in Ethiopia and experts are trying to authenticate it. I am not holding my breath.
Sunday vs. Saturday. Christians worship on Sunday because it was the day Jesus rose from the dead. Stand, kneel, and sit? All non-essentials to the faith but standing and sitting keeps people awake. Singing vs. non-singing, instruments vs. acapella all non-essential issues. Divorce is over interpretation of the passage say man should be a husband of one wife. Still a non-essential but can hurt feelings. There is a huge difference between religion and denomination. Most of what you mention is personal preference. But the essentials must be the same. I.E. One God, Jesus the son, Born of virgin, Born again, 10 commandments, baptism, forgiving, truthful, and a few others we can talk about later.
The different account and being destroyed? They still exist I have copies of them in my library. Have read them. The Gospel of Thomas starts out, “read this and you will be saved.” It doesn’t even begin to measure up to the other books written that are in the Bible. It appears to me that you’ve become real syndical of man but blame God or religion. Put it where it belongs. You do not trust man and I can understand that.
Now, Vince please do not take the next few questions personal or like I am trying to single you out personally. There are millions of people who share your opinion and they are questions I ask all the time. But let me ask you. Is there not one man that you can trust, completely? Does that person exist? Do you trust yourself? Why is it impossible to believe that the God who created the universe and mankind cannot believe that He cannot convince one man to write what He wanted written for all mankind to read?
I will close with this scripture passage written long before you and I ever came up with these non-original thoughts and comments.
The apostle Paul wrote Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16)
