Lord, Teach Us To Pray.

On the TV program Jeopardy yesterday, the answer was "Our Father who art in heaven blank be thy name." All three contestants could not provide the question to the blank! Comments from social media included, "I am an atheist and even I know the answer". I was certainly surprised to hear this story from people who know some of the most weirdest things imaginable!

Most people... even atheists... are very familiar with what has been titled as "The Lord's Prayer." We know that several times in the Gospels we are told the Jesus went into a solitary place to pray. According to Luke, this prompted the disciples to ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Luke 11:1-4  " And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

It is not unusual that a rabbi's disciples would ask their teacher to teach them how to pray.  However it is not as though their whole lives have not been in a constant state of saying prayers many times throughout the day. The whole Jewish culture of the time was centered around their faith in God, and the centuries of living their lives centered around feasts and festivals and holy days and sacrifices, and prayers! When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, it is not like they did not already know how to pray. Disciples would often ask their Rabbi to teach them to pray, and even mentioned that John the baptist taught his disciples. They wanted to know how to pray like Jesus prays! The answer Jesus gave them was very similar to a prayer they were already familiar with called the Amidah. 

"The Amidah means Standing. It is the central prayer in Jewish life that is said while standing also known as the shmoneh esreh meaning eighteen because the prayer originally consisted of eighteen benedictions. Sometimes called simply Tefillah because it is the prayer par excellence!" (David Blivin) This Amidah would be prayed everyday by the Jews of Jesus' day. They would also pray the "Shema." Shema Yisrael meaning Hear Israel, is a Jewish prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH is our God, YHWH is one", found in Deuteronomy 6:4.

The Lord's prayer or what some call the disciples prayer, (since Jesus was giving this prayer to the disciples as a guide for their prayers), is not meant to be just a rote recitation of just those words, but rather almost like bullet points of a prayer that covers those topics.

There is a translation called the Passion Translation that my wife and I have been reading from lately. We both like how the translator Brian Simmons has worded so many of the beloved Scriptures into a more readable modern language.

 Pray like this: Our Beloved Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your Name be the center on which our lives turn. Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven. We acknowledge you as our Provider of all we need each day. Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

I have that printed out and am determined to commit that to memory, which gives new life to a familiar prayer (except to the Jeopardy contestants). 

Another very familiar part of the Bible that is often memorized is Psalm 23. Often quoted at funerals, and while most could not quote the entire psalm from memory at least a few verses are well known. But check out the Passion's translation. 

Psalm 23:

1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.
3 That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name.
4 Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
5 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows.
6 So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!

Lastly, check out the most famous verse in the bible from the Passion translation John 3:16

"For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life."

I confess that I for one, believe that a closer walk with the Lord in our everyday life would be much better if we adopted a better prayer life. And as much as I know this to be a fact, I have still not included it into my daily life. And while I do believe that saying words without connection to those words just for the sake of obligation to a supposed requirement defeats the purpose, perhaps even that can be helpful to say positive things to overcome the negative things we say about ourselves in our minds! 

The advantage we have now is that Jesus has left us with the Holy Spirit to abide in us,  "For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom 8:26. And while our prayers are often for help when we have a problem, or for asking for things.... As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school... it is a great way to sense the presence of the Father. And I think it can be just as simple as repeating the request the disciples had for Jesus. Lord, Teach Us To Pray.

What God Has To Say About Himself.

In the second century there was a religious teacher by the name of Marcion of Sinope. He started a religious movement that became known as Marcionism. Marcion was declared a heretic because he held to many errant views, but he is primarily known for his belief that the Old Testament Scriptures were not authoritative for a Christian. He denied that the God of the Old Testament was the same God presented in the New Testament. For Marcion, Jesus was the Son of the God of the New Testament but not the Son of the deity described in the Hebrew Scriptures. 

And while some 18 centuries have passed since his time, there are still many people today that pretty much believe the same thing. They have separated the God of the Old Testament from the God that Jesus reveals in the New Testament. This is made known every time someone talks about the God of the O.T. who destroys His enemies, and sends down wrath and punishment upon the people. Even the God who will send much of His creation to an eternal Hell! One does not have to read very far into the O.T. to find this God who urges His people to wipe out every man woman and child, even the animals. For example 1 Sam. 15:2-3 "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."

So it is no wonder that when Jesus appears on the scene, and talks about loving your enemies, doing good to those who spitefully use you, etc. it appears that Jesus is talking about a different Heavenly Father than the one the O.T. seems to reveal Who would not do the same to His enemies. So then what is going on here? Why the difference?

The truth is that the Father God that Jesus reveals IS the God of Old Testament. The discrepancy comes from the God depicted in the Old Testament writings being a distorted record told by a people who had an incomplete understanding of this God that was being revealed to them piece by piece throughout history. Each time God reveals a new Name to be called, the Children of Israel get another revelation of a Character of His Nature. But each Name was an incomplete understanding of who God is in the fullness of Himself. In the meantime, God lets His people tell the story. 

Does that mean that the Biblical account is not inspired Scripture? Of course not. It is a record of the nation of Israel being led out from among other nations to be separated unto God, to be blessed, and a blessing to the other nations. It is the process of this nation of Israel acting out according to the incomplete knowledge of God as they were coming to know Him. They also were acting out in a manner that was contrary to the full True Nature of God who is Love. It is also a record of the Israelite's failure to obey the purpose God for which He had called them.

 So do we do away with the O.T. because they got it wrong some of the time as Marcion wanted to do? No, because each experience of successes and failures are part of the nation's process along the journey of coming to know God. It would be no different than getting rid of a record of your understanding and experiences of coming to know God because you got some of it wrong, and dare I say we all STILL are getting some of it wrong! The question isn't can we find it in the Bible, the question is can we find it in Jesus.

If you want to know about the True Nature of the God of the Old Testament, the sure fire way to do that is to look at Jesus!  Jesus is the revelation of what God has to say about Himself.  Phil 2:9-11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"  Meaning that the nature of Jesus is the fullness of All of the Names of God revealed in the O.T. in bodily form!... "in that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

 Jesus is the revelation of what God has to say about Himself. In Colossians 2:9 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;" Colossians 1:5 Amp.  "He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation."

In the Gospel of Luke 24:16-17 Jesus is talking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection, and he says this: "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Don't you wish that more was recorded about that conversation? But it is not hidden from you. All that is needed is to read the Old Testament with the realization that God and the Son are ONE, and if you can't see Jesus doing the things the Scriptures depict God as doing,  you can then realize the Children of Israel did not know the God revealed in Jesus like you do. John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" 

There are many who say that Jesus never claimed to be God in the Gospels, but that is simply not true. Jesus made it very clear to the religious leaders of His day exactly who He claimed to be, and they crucified Him for it! 

God is NOT schizophrenic. He is not vengeful in the O.T. and loving in the New Testament.  God does not change. God is not malleable. God IS LOVE, all of the time!

In fact, as I learned from listening to Brian Zhand, pastor of Word of Life church in St. Joseph MO., "God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus. We have not always known this, but now we do!"

Just remember: Jesus Is The Revelation Of What God Has To Say About Himself! Amen.

That SEEMS Right.

TLAR, is an acronym for "That Looks About Right". It is usually used by someone who is not interested in taking the time to be accurate, when only a close enough is good enough to get by. If it looks about right, then it will be okay. 

Proverbs 14:12 says: "There is a way that seems right unto a man but the end thereof is destruction." Well that certainly would lead you to think that accuracy is of utmost important in this case! No room for error there! The question then becomes if you end up in destruction from just going the way that seemed right to you, then  how do you know what right way to go so that you don't end up in destruction?

What about the verse in Matt 7:13-14  where Jesus says  “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

That is usually preached in such a way as to mean, that it is the way of the world that seems right to a man. As a way to separate from living the life of a Christian rather than living the life of the world system. But the truth is that the way of the world does not really seem right at all even to the world. In fact if you asked someone if worldly ways of sin etc seem right even if they were not saved, would have to agree that it doesn't seem right. Even the worst criminal has some sort of standards of right and wrong, though there is a line even they won't cross. 

So if the wide gate is not the way of the world, then what is Jesus saying? This verse is within the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is not preaching to a bunch of Gentiles, He is speaking with people who are Jews, and who are very familiar with the Scriptures, and who would already be living their lives by the laws separated from the world, so it would not make sense to warn them to not do what they are not doing anyway. 

So what He is telling them is that the way they are living that DOES seem right is the way of following the LAW. But following the law was NEVER meant to make them right with God. It was always meant to be self proof that you cannot by your own works make yourself righteous! It was to constantly remind them of their sin consciousness! To keep them always aware of their need for forgiveness. Sacrifices and rituals and prayers were a daily reminder of their sinfulness. Thus they placed the emphasis on the sacrifices as if that is the point God was making, which is why Psalm 50:12  If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: For the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?" Heb. 10:8 "Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law"

So what is going on here? Wasn't it God who gave the Law to Moses, and laid out the whole sacrificial system? Yes. But the point was not for the same reason pagans would sacrifice to their gods. The pagans would do it to receive favor in exchange for the sacrifice to appease their gods. Instead the God of Israel wanted the Israelites to sacrifice as a reminder of the Covenant He has with them to become the ultimate sacrifice for their sin in the person of Jesus Christ. They lost the point of what Hosea writes in 6:6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

The Pharisees were a group of religious leaders that believed that the Messiah would come when everyone started becoming as righteous as they saw themselves. That is why they had so much disdain for "publicans and sinners". The Pharisees blamed them for preventing the Messiah from coming. They also berated Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, claiming that he endorsed their lifestyle and was part of the problem why the Messiah isn't coming, never believing for a moment that the Messiah had come and it was Him; Jesus, who they were condemning! They were promoting a "way that seems right to a man..."

"Wide is the gate and many there be that find it, and it leads to destruction." Well, Jesus did not say that it leads to eternal torment in hellfire! But that is what gets preached in order to scare people into churches! But the fact is that preaching the law IS the invitation to the wide gate. Rom.6:23 " For the wages of sin is death,... Oh how we like to preach that to put sinners under condemnation (Notice that it does not say the wages of sin is eternal torment in the fires of hell!) ...but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Speaking of condemnation, Paul addresses that in Rom. 8:1-2 "There is therefore now NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." 

 Paul is teaching that the outcome of the Mosaic Law could only produce sin and death. But now since the sacrifice of Jesus, we now live under a NEW LAW of the Spirit of LIFE! We are a NEW creation, and therefore have entered into the narrow way of abundant life in Christ! We are now free from a conscientiousness of sin. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Definitely; once your eyes have been opened by the Spirit of God, then looking with the new eyes of the Spirit, you will now see the path of truth. Now: That SEEMS Right.

The Jesus Revolution

I have been going through a little bit of nostalgia the last few weeks. My wife and I just went opening weekend, to see the new movie that just released called "The Jesus Revolution". We have been seeing trailers, and I have watched lots and lots of videos of interviews with the cast, and some of the people who experienced the events of this movie. It was very good, and I highly recommend anyone to go see it if you are wondering. 

It is based on the true story of a pastor of a church in California during the late 60's and early 70's into what became known as the Jesus freaks and hippies of that time.  His church was on the verge of closing because of the poor attendance, and a hippie named Lonnie Frisbee, who met with the pastor, Chuck Smith; who didn't like hippies, but who softened to the idea of opening his church doors to invite those hippies in to hear a message of the love of God. Within a short time the church could not contain the converts and they had thousands attending services in a large outdoor tent. And they baptized thousands of people in Pirate's Cove Bay.

 And while I was never a part of the hippie movement, I did leave home when I was 16 in 1973 and through an unusual series of circumstances I gave my heart to the Lord when I was around 17 or so. I don't really remember the date, but just the circumstances of praying to ask Jesus into my heart in my bedroom with the woman who would soon be my wife. To be honest, I did not really feel "Saved". I did not feel much different at the time. 

Perhaps the next summer, or the one after that, (I am not good with dates) there was a Jesus Festival held at Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle Ont. and we went to it, where they had Christian singers, and preachers and teachings in different areas of the park for the weekend. Bennie Hinn preached there; a singer named Honeytree, who was one of the hippies that got saved sang there. One of the days I heard a preacher named Brian Ruud, and for me, it seemed like there was just God and me and Brian there, and I would argue that I received the Baptism of the Spirit right then!

I used to smoke, and got delivered from smoking that day, by just throwing my pack on the stage. And I had an immediate desire to learn more about God and go to church Wednesdays and twice on Sunday!  I even sensed a calling to study for the ministry. Well, the studying happened, which let to a ministry of sorts in a few years, leading bible studies for a group of mostly poor people who were being helped by a lady who opened up a store front called Operation Blessing, based from an idea watching the 700 Club. That would be about 1983?

This would be the first of a few life changing encounters I have had with God. Another was more detailed in my earliest posts having an encounter again with God after listening to a video sermon by Willie Hinn in 1993. The most recent I have been writing about more in the posts from the last couple years after God filling a deep hunger for more of Him. Some very up and down times in the more than 48 years since that prayer in the bedroom.

It is clear from even my nostalgic look down memory lane, that not  everyone who were mightily used of God led the kind of life they preached about, and were full of human failures. But that does not take away from the countless people who did hear from God, got saved and who went on to follow Jesus themselves, including me. 

At the time of this writing, there has been an awakening or revival or some move of God happening at a bible college in Asbury KY. for the past several weeks. Thousands of people have flocked to the town with more than twice the visitors than residents. It started after a handful of students stayed to worship God after chapel services, and it grew from there going non stop for weeks. Like always there are also those who will voice fervent objections to this event, claiming it is NOT of God, just like was done during the 70's and yet at the same time nothing seems to deter from the Spirit of God changing lives in very real ways! 

There is a saying that goes: "A person with an argument is no match for a person with experience." And so I have heard some "Pharisaical" comments full of the law and condemnation instead of realizing the "fruits" of what God is doing! And while not everything bore fruit, it did not stop God from working in the lives of people in mass numbers in every revival in history!

And really, with all that is going on in the world today, and with the turmoil and division in our Country; With the atheism of the youth who have not been exposed to church or the salvation message, and instead are force fed garbage like the world will end in 10 years, and life in the womb has no value, and there is no distinction in genders, and there is no hope, no God, no reason to live. School shooting and gun violence being blamed on the guns instead of realizing it is not a problem with guns, but rather these are all  the symptoms of a value problem with a society rejecting God. It is hard to love one another and still find the need to shoot the "another".

This world is ripe for another move of God, and it is the longing of my heart and soul that God would sweep down on this land with His Holy Spirit, and renew the hearts of the people back to God in a very real and profound way! It is time we stop cursing the darkness, and let the light of the Life of God shine forth in a glorious fashion to the astonishment of all who are lost and without hope! Do not quench the Spirit. 1Thes 5:19 And do not suffer loss, ...because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:44

Even so, come Lord Jesus! Rev 22:20  It is time for this generation to experience personally for themselves The Jesus Revolution.

 

The New Printing Press.

 Paul Young (the author of The Shack  mentioned in a video interview, that the best way to explain how there is such a rapid increase in the number of people going through what they call Deconstruction is that: "The Internet is the new printing press". By comparison: "It’s estimated there were about 30,000 books in all of Europe before Gutenberg’s press. Less than fifty years later there were as many as twelve million books, and the book that was printed was often the Bible. As people became more interested in studying the Bible, Bibles were printed not only in Latin, but in German, French, and even ancient Greek. Many believe that without the Gutenberg press, the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century might not have been possible. His invention of metal movable type in 1450 has accurately been called “an invention that changed the world.”

The exponential increase in knowledge around the world that took place after the invention of the printing press can be compared to the exponential increase in knowledge around the world because of the Internet!! "January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the Internet. Prior to this, the various computer networks did not have a standard way to communicate with each other. A new communications protocol was established called Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol (TCP/IP). the World Wide Web announced that it was for everybody. On April 30, 1993, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) put the web into the public domain a decision that has fundamentally altered the past quarter-century."

I have wondered for several years if God was about to "do a new thing, that has never been done before"? Almost like we are on the cusp of a world changing event, and yet with that understanding of the impact of the Internet, then perhaps we are right in the middle of it!!

When the printing press was discovered, it took a few years to really "get off the ground" so that it was a common thing. And of course the writings and the books that became available after that was astounding and life changing for the multitudes! People that used to have to spend large amounts of money to get something hand written to read, if they could read at all, now becomes mass produced at a fraction of the cost! It was impossible to keep the bible out of the hands of the common people written in the common language. It also make it possible to pave the way for Martin Luther and the Reformation that got started by reprinting his 95 Thesis on the church door. 

Not much different with the Internet. I remember getting my first computer with Windows 3.1 operating system. Some sort of word processor so that I could write essays for a correspondence course without having to retype from scratch any changes I needed to make. And there were a few simple games like solitaire and mine??? Oh, and a dot matrix printer.

 It wasn't long after that when my brother convinced me of the possibilities of a connection to an unlimited source of mostly free information all over the world. Which also eventually made this blog possible for anyone in the world to read and gain knowledge from what I write. 

The vast wealth of information that can be accessed through the use of the internet even in countries that have laws forbidding such access, cannot be contained by laws! At one time bibles had to be sneaked across the border of such restricted countries. (read the book called: God's Smuggler by  Brother Andrew for exciting stories about that.) Now, those same countries are able to have greater access through this miracle of the information highway. 

The miracle of the Internet has provided the life changing multi season series based on the life of Jesus called  The Chosen to reach a Billion lives around the world with the Gospel message! It has also allowed virtually unrestricted access to virtual books written by the Patristics of the faith; the church fathers. It has provided access to check up the answers provided on any question anyone might have about any subject, especially faith and beliefs and doctrine and truths and even false teachings. 

As I write this post, there is real time videos of what is being called the  Asbury Revival, taking place at a bible school in Asbury KY as just one example. And while I strongly disagree with any teaching of some sort of Rapture theology, and a literal place of eternal torment called hell, nor that this or any other event being a sign of that teaching being Biblical; the Internet also provides a place to discover other teachings and interpretations that are more aliened with Truth. The Internet provides information to show you that you don't have to believe the one teaching that has been put forth to you as the only truth. There are different points of interpretation.  

This and a never ending supply of Spiritual revolutionary thoughts and ideas are available which is also discovered and verified by a simple access to the Internet search, so there is no excuse. Of course just as the printing press has been used for evil purposes, so also the internet, so it is important to protect the free access to information rather than censor what some are allowed to know by those in control, through a sort of cyber "book burning" which is a word of caution  to this generation's version of  The New Printing Press.

 

Is God's Forgiveness Conditional ?

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture, and thought to yourself, "That doesn't sound right"? I mean, when what you are reading seems to not fit in with other things that you believe in other passages of Scripture? 

How often have you prayed the Lord's Prayer? We are so familiar with having memorized and repeated it so many times, but have we really thought about what is being said here?

Matthew 6:12 of the Lord's Prayer says: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."  So does that mean that God's forgiveness is conditional on our forgiving others? What about this verse in Matthew 6:14, is Jesus doubling down on the condition of our forgiveness from God when He says:  "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Just recently these verses came to mind. It drew my attention to the implications of what it could be saying about the very opposite of the nature of God I have also believed. Is Jesus actually saying God's forgiveness is conditional? From this verse, it sure sounds like it. And in fact, from many of the commentaries I have read, that is the conclusion they come to as well.

One commentator says this: "Difficult or not, Jesus is speaking with the authority of God, and He always means what He says. We should never dismiss Jesus' teaching because it is hard to understand or to reconcile with other teachings." 

The first thing that stands out to me is what Jesus SEEMS to be saying, is that God makes His forgiveness to you, a condition of your forgiveness to others. In fact, the verse does not qualify how extreme the offense might be you are being asked to forgive. Not all forgiveness is the same. Forgiving someone who bumped into you, is not the same as forgiving someone who murdered your family member for instance. Is that what Jesus meant?

Does that even sound like the character of God to you and the message of Scripture? If it does, then there is a different problem to work out, but if it doesn't then that should be a strong indication that there is something else to what Jesus is actually saying. 

What are we are missing out on at first glance? This is why it is so important to establish a baseline of a firm and solid belief and assurance of the Sovereign and Loving and Merciful, and Forgiving Grace of God! So let's go beyond the first glance and see if we can't get to a better understanding of the verse.

This verse is found in the middle of Jesus teaching the sermon on the mount, and He has already had some shocking things to teach,  so it is not isolated in it's context, and yet it seems to be isolated when it is being quoted, usually by one wanting to put another person under guilt for not wanting to forgive them, or to impose an impossible standard of forgiveness.  But is that verse meant to be used as a weapon?

What makes sense to me out of what Jesus was teaching is that He is giving people a gauge  of the condition of their own heart. We worship the God of our imagination. In other words, if you set a standard to not forgive others, then you will also believe that God has a standard to not forgive you, and you will condemn yourself in your own mind.

Have you ever heard someone say; or said something like this yourself?: God could never forgive me. If He knew what I have done. Our own conscience bears witness against us for our own sins. So we might compare ourselves with others in order to make ourselves feel more worthy, like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican."

I think it is similar to the verse that says: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matthew 7:1-2. It is not saying don't make a judgment, but rather consider if you would be guilty of the same thing, what would you want others to do to you?

How about deciding on who you think is worthy of salvation? How many Christians believe that God is going to send the vast majority of His creation to a version of a fiery torment in eternal hell? Will Muslims be saved? Will Atheists be saved? Will criminals be saved? Will...(name your category) be saved? If your answer is no, then how have you limited the capacity for the forgiveness God bestows on His creation? What then do you believe about the Character of God? Is He fickle with His forgiveness? 

 To be very clear, one of the characteristics of God is that He is immutable. Meaning He does not mutate, or change. He is the same yesterday today and forever! So then since we know God does not change who He is, then the Scriptures have made it clear that God forgives unconditionally! That IS the message of the cross! But I think what is being said here is that if you hold onto unforgiveness, then you will believe that God will judge you by the same standard you judge others. If you are unforgiving, then you will think God is just as unforgiving toward you.

In an earlier blog post on October 30 2021 I wrote this: "When you harbor un-forgiveness, then it is a prison of self torture! Hate, bitterness, anger, rage, fuming, all of these things are torture to your own well being and peace of mind. But if you learn to absorb the debt that others owe to you, like God has absorbed the debt of our sin, then you now have the key to get out of the prison of your own making, and living a life of peace and joy!"

I will admit that I could be totally wrong about what my reasoning is here. Perhaps all the commentators are right, and I just don't see it? That is what Hermeneutics is all about, which is the interpretation of the text. There are many more confusing texts that become clear once the right understanding is applied. Proper interpretation is key.

In this case, a proper interpretation will give you the answer to the question posed by the title: Is God's  Forgiveness Conditional ?

I Was Left Unsupervised!

We all want our life to have meaning. We want to know that our life matters, and that it has a higher purpose than just getting through the day. When we get to the end of our life, we want to know that our life made a difference in the world.  And even if we do not know the meaning of our life's purpose yet, it is not unusual for everybody to want to know how the unplanned events in their life fit into the bigger picture. Especially the bigger events. The events that usually alter the direction you are going or planning to go, for the good or the bad. The most often asked question is "Why me Lord?"

On January 14th 2023  I climbed on the kitchen chair to take a Happy Retirement banner down that I put up for my wife's retirement celebration. While stepping down I lost my balance which landed me on the floor with a thud, only to find out that I broke the ball off the femur in my right hip! With a total hip replacement a couple days later,  I am now home to endure the next several weeks to recover. 

Yet, while I knew that the moment I hit the floor my life was going to be changed for the next several months, I also had the resolution to just accept the results and take it one step at a time (no pun intended). I had an inner peace that God was guiding this whole detour, so I tried to have a good attitude with everyone that was involved in taking care of me. I was very moved by all of my friends who quickly sent me their well wishes.

 I talked later with a friend on the phone about the accident, and was regaling my foolishness to fall, and joked how when I get to heaven, God will say to me:

 "What did you do with the body I gave you?" To which I thought at the moment of this meme I have seen many times before, shown here. I said: "In my defense, I was left unsupervised".

 At the time I was making a joke, and then I thought about it some more afterward and realized THAT is the way most people see God in their life anyway!

It is more obvious for those who don't believe in God. If you don't think God exists, then there is "no supervisor." And if you think that God does exist but He is not involved in creation, then you would say you are left unsupervised by Him. In fact I would suggest that maybe they believe if there was a God, He would have more noticeable control and assume the so called, bad events are proof that He doesn't.  

 But what about those who are believers? What about the ones who know that God is real? The ones that profess Jesus as Lord? We are the ones who are supposed to know, and trust. How often do we quote Romans 8:28 All things work together for good... Until one of the ALL things happen? 

I tell you an important truth! You are never left unsupervised by our Creator! There is never a time in which God is not present with you right in the midst of whatever tragedy or circumstance or difficulty you are going through. Deut. 13:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Even if you do not know the why at the time. We don't know the future, or how future events are shaped by present circumstances. But we do know who holds the future. Very likely you will not see the end from the beginning at the time. Many stories are told of people who get checked out for a small thing, that catches a more fatal hidden issue. Those times can let you know the why. But is knowing the why that important to trusting God who knows the why?

 Does it really matter if you understand all the implications or not? Does trust and faith only apply if you can see the bigger picture, and know the outcome? Or can you have faith enough to put it all in the hands of the Father, without question? Can you trust, not questioning motives, or reasons, or purposes, or outcomes? Can you just walk in the light you are given? That is all God asks us to do. Trust Him. 

I read something a while back something that sticks with me, which said: "A child will ask his father why, but a SON never has to ask". Meaning, that it is a sign of maturity to trust the father's good will and intentions, so the father never has to be questioned. Therefore, if you find yourself still questioning, then take it as a sign that you still have some maturing to do. There is nothing wrong with that. Children are not blamed for acting like children. But adults can be blamed for acting like children. Expecting the adults to be more mature because of experience. Are you a child in the faith? Then you know you have some growing to do. Are you an adult in the faith? Then your response will confirm or question your maturity.

I can write these things because I have lived them! It is not just how many years you have been a believer, but how much experience you have with trusting Jesus during those years. Many times in the past, I remember something would happen and I was devastated knowing that the outcome would be so much trouble to deal with, and I would plead an beg God that I would not have to go through the consequences of that trouble and I would question God why, when I did have to suffer those results. But I learned through the experience and the passage of time, that God was indeed faithful, and most of my fears were just bigger than my faith. 

It has been pointed out that every time a heavenly being manifests itself in the bible the first words are: "Fear Not."  That is the "faith-boosting" you may need today! Fear Not! Therefore, be encouraged as you read these words in this post! God does love you. God is intimately involved in every aspect and circumstance and detail of your life. And most importantly you will never say in your defense I Was Left Unsupervised!

Christmas In The Midst Of Tragedy

I am writing this post the day after Christmas 2022 in the hopes that it can provide some comfort for someone whose Christmas time; now or in the past; has not been the joyous occasion they expected because of some tragic events so near to this season, that has violently ripped the joy right out of their hearts. What follows is an email that I wrote to someone close to me in response to our conversation, followed by the very post I wrote 10 years ago:

                                                    *********

"I am so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law passing away, and the sad news about your dog's condition! What makes it harder is that it happened before Christmas, because Christmas is such a family time of celebration!
Many people remember the dates of events like this based on how close it came to Christmas, either before or after, which then some might say "At least they got to spend Christmas together".

Seems to me that when something like this happens before Christmas, then it taints the joy of the whole celebration. With that in mind, I remembered that I wrote a post on a blog that I have after the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012. Ten years ago just before Christmas, and while I wrote it, I did not send it in to be published because no matter the good intent, I did not want to offend someone not ready for any other perspective than grief.

And so, I am offering this writing to you in a link that you can read or not, in the hopes that it might help put these sad events into a endurable place of memories that helps to heal the grief of a sad occasion in the middle of a joyous occasion."

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A Reason For The Season

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10,11

This quote from the angels to the shepards watching over their flocks that night, which is recorded by Luke in his Gospel IS the reason Christians celebrate this season we call Christmas (and part of the reason some others do not)!

Now, there has been a controversy for years about the meaning of Christmas, and the war on Christmas, and the commercialism of Christmas. Some Christians get upset for fear that Christ is being taken out of Christmas, and others believe that He was never "in" Christmas. We do not know the actual date of the birth of Jesus, and it was very likely that it was not during December anyway. There is a lot of myths and traditions surrounding this particular holiday that some object to, and others defend.

While I am aware of the many arguments from both sides, the brevity of this post cannot do more than to acknowledge such controversy, in order for me to focus the emphasis of this post mostly on a comment I have about a very recent and public tragedy, shed in the light of an important reason for this season.

The recent public tragedy I am referring to is of course the mass shooting, and murder of 20 kids and 6 adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. During one of the many news broadcasts, and human interest stories that I listened to, it was mentioned that some of the families were taking down their Christmas decorations because they did not feel it was appropriate to celebrate the holiday in light of fact that their children were killed. And who am I to say any different? Indeed they have every right to express their grief in whatever way that gives them some relief.

There is no right or safe way for me to comment from the outside about what those on the inside choose to do, but I am hoping that since it is after the fact, and this Christmas will have passed by the time this is posted, my thoughts may be considered with less emotion and more reason, whether agreed to, or disagreed to by the reader.

The first thing that came to mind after hearing about the desire to "cancel Christmas" was; that if Christmas was just a holiday, and had no other meaning other than a secular celebration of Santa, and toys, and days off school, and parties, then by all means, take the decorations down! There is no joy available, nor hope of any goodness nor reason to celebrate so soon after such an event. And every year for years to come, this time of year will bring fresh memories to tarnish any future joy or happiness in the Christmas' to come.

But, if indeed, the True meaning of Christmas; yes the True Reason for the Season is understood to be in fact, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, then there is no more appropriate NEED for Christmas than right now! "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." I Thess. 4:13

The school shooting replaced their hope with despair, but Christmas is all about the One who is the Hope of the world! The school shooting is all about an evil act, and yet Christmas is all about an act of the highest Love! The school shooting was an act causing death with weapons of warfare, and yet Christmas is all about an act of the giving of life with an announcement of "Peace on earth, good will toward men!"

For those families in Connecticut, this Christmas season came with a terrible act of violence, causing much weeping and sorrow. Likewise, at the time of the birth of the Savior of the world, it was also filled with a great act of violence and bloodshed. " When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Matt. 2:16-18

If Christmas is a time of celebration for celebration's sake, then by all means take the decorations down! If it is just another holiday, then take the decorations down. If it has no meaning or significance, then everybody; take the decorations down! What are you celebrating anyway? If it is just so that the stores can add profit enough to get out of the red, and into the black, then that is not enough of a reason for anyone to bother with all of the trouble and expense.

This post is not meant in anyway to chastise anyone for their sorrow, or their handling of their sorrow, but if it can be received in the way it is intended, then my hope is that by reflecting on the greater hope that we have because of a death, that began as a birth, in a little town in the Middle East, some 2,000 plus years ago; then whether we are talking about this tragedy, or any other at any other time of year, there is one who came to heal the broken hearted, and to set those who are captive free.

The Christmas season can hold a lot good and bad memories for a lot of people. I think everyone has Christmas memories they can share. I remember some of the gifts I got for Christmas when I was younger, and the traditions we had as a family growing up. We even have some traditions of our own now, and memories that we have fostered over the years.

 I watched videos of soldier dads surprising their kids by coming home on Christmas, which will be remembered by them for a life time,  but their are never videos of the dads that don't make it home which will be remembered too. My friend's dad died just a few weeks ago, and my dad is spending this Christmas in the hospital.

All of these are strong memories tied to a very memorable time of year, which is either just memorable because it is just another holiday, or it is a special holiday, because it has a special reason for it's existence. Special because it is used to celebrate the promise of Hope, and Love, and  Salvation, and Joy to the world!

Perhaps, it is a good idea to keep the decorations up. Perhaps, such promise can heal the wounded hearts. Perhaps hope can replace despair. Perhaps, we can once again discover that out of the dung pile of evil, the Rose of Sharon can still bloom, in our hearts and provide for all mankind, A Reason For The Season?

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I know that I do not get very many readers to my blog postings, but I am not writing this to the MANY, I am writing this to the ONE who would read them and have it mean something! And if you are reading this far, then perhaps you are the one I wrote this for? Perhaps this post will be the one post you needed to read to give you back the joy of Christmas In The Midst Of Tragedy

When You Ponder The Christmas Story.

 Christmas Day December 25 2022.  At the writing of this post, this day is coming to an end. 

As I already mentioned, for the first time ever, Cindi and I have been following a daily Advent book written by Brian Zhand called The Anticipated Christ. The Scripture reading for Christmas Eve, is of course the account in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2:1-20. Probably the most read and familiar Scripture of all during the Christmas season. Parts of this Scripture story is even quoted by the character Linus in a Peanuts Christmas cartoon! (an interesting background how that came about is worth researching) And so it still surprises me how many times you can see or ponder something new when reading something so familiar! 

While last year I wrote what I pondered, about Joseph and Mary, knowing that she conceived the Messiah and was carrying the Son of God in her womb, how strange that must have been, and almost surreal! She is great with child, and yet traveling to Bethlehem by coincidence(?) probably not even knowing they were fulfilling prophecy! At the same time what could Joseph have been thinking? As the man, responsible for the safety and welfare of his betrothed who was great with child! 

Instead of just reading the verses, put yourself in place of the Biblical characters, and force yourself to only know what they knew about the events at the time! Consider that we know how the whole story played out, they were living it one day at a time, one event at a time.

And so today, I pondered different Biblical characters in this story like never before. Consider the shepherds. It has only been the past year or two that I learned the likelihood that the shepherds might have indeed been young teenage girls! (that is another story).

 Okay but either way, that night a heavenly host appears before them proclaiming the first thing angels always proclaim: "Be Not Afraid". This is because as the King James bible puts it: "they were SORE afraid"! But the angels have "Good tidings of Great Joy..."  It then goes on to say in 2:16-20 "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

So we notice that there is a couple of verses detailing the reaction of the shepherds after having seen and heard the angels, and seen the baby Jesus, and of course their proclaiming all that they had seen and heard as it was told unto them. And then my pondering mind questioned... Now what? I was kind of curious for the first time, if you put yourself in the place of a shepherd that day... then what? 

Consider that suppose they were teenage girls tending the sheep, just for the sake of argument. That would be a pretty traumatic event. One they will not soon forget! But they just seen the Messiah as a baby. It is then 30 years in obscurity before Jesus begins His ministry! Seeing Jesus as a baby, and then nothing for 30 years!

Thirty years! These supposed teenagers would now be in their mid 40's before the fruits of what they saw began to take place. Now, we do read about Jesus in the temple at 12 years old, but that is something private between Jesus and his parents, and almost no one would know until it was recorded by the Gospel writers. Certainly not the shepherds either.

So, I ponder, what did the shepherds do after those days for the next 30 years? I don't think they even knew where He went when Joseph was told by an angel to take the family to Egypt. Matt. 2:14 "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt," And while this verse says they departed, the voice of the angel in verse 13 said: “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt,". This makes me think that is was done in such a secret that even the shepherds did not know they left or where they went. Is it possible that when the 30 years had past, and Jesus began His ministry, did they know it? Did they find Him? Did they become His followers? We are not told any of this, but what do you think when you ponder this?

Of course the wise men who came to visit the new born King, left after bringing their gifts, and returned home by a different route than they came, after being warned in a dream. What were their lives like after that? Who could go through all that they went through traveling some 1,000 miles there and 1,000 miles back, and not have it forever change their lives? What do you think when you ponder this?

And so we know that while the birth of the Savior of the world took place in obscurity in the humblest of circumstances, it changed forever the lives of those who witnessed it and took part in that event. And during His ministry Jesus changed the lives of everyone He met. And for 2,000 years, Jesus is still changing the lives and hearts of EVERYONE He is still meeting to this day! Perhaps even as a reader of this blog no matter how familiar this story is to you, and no matter how many times you have read it or heard it read, your own heart will be made to change a little more again When You Ponder The Christmas Story!

A New Perspective On Life.

 I have been a regular supporter of the series; now in it's third season called The Chosen. I remember hearing about it when it first started, but did not know how to access it. And then upon further investigation, after the first four episodes I managed to find it and have been a fan ever since. 

I have watched all of the episodes so far, and most of the videos put out by the Chosen explaining it's beginnings, and the process, and the cast interviews, and the behind the scenes etc. And I have put my money where my mouth is, both in donations and buying Chosen gifts. 

I am also well aware of the countless videos from those who are against this series and it's director Dallas Jenkins. I don't even bother with what they have to say past knowing they don't like it. It is obvious that while they think they might be defending the faith, they do not consider the millions of people who this show has impacted for the Gospel, and the renewed interest it has made for those to restore or discover a relationship with God and to pursue finding this Jesus through Bible studies, and going to church, and fellowship with other believers! All that one has to do is to pay attention to some of the videos where Dallas would read letters that he received from people whose lives were changed!

The content of a scene in episode two in season three is one of many that have stirred the hearts of people around the world who can relate to the very things that are discussed between the character "little James" and Jesus. And to get an understanding of how that episode is able to impact viewers, then you must watch this interview between Dallas and Nick Vujicic seen here  The Chosen Interview .

I have watched an interview by Nick some years ago, and he is certainly an inspiration to be thankful for what you do have, instead of focusing on what you don't. But there was one thing that struck me in this Chosen interview more than anything else, and that is the part of the interview around the 18:15 mark, where he said: "I have a cousin who said to me, 'I will never believe in your god because he made you like this'". I was astounded that his cousin could say such a thing! Here Nick is the believer, and the one with no arms and no legs, and yet his cousin said that he is the one who can't believe in a god who would "do that to him"? Little does his cousin know of the value God places on everyone He creates! Even more so with those who are outcasts and valued little by others.

Nick said there is 1 in 10 people in this world with a disability, and yet I might argue that it is 10 in 10! It is God who created ALL and put ALL under the curse and consequences of sin so that He would have Mercy upon ALL! (c.f. Rom. 11:32.)

There is a saying that goes like this: " I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." I can't imagine what our excuse for crying is after meeting a person like Nick who has no arms and no legs. And yet it is not like we don't ALL have episodes of our own pity parties! I have had plenty of my own, that I would be ashamed to admit, but we have these reminders from Nick, and this episode of the Chosen, that can give us A New Perspective On Life.

On Earth, As It Is In Heaven

As I write this post, we have begun the Christmas season. About three weeks into the Advent calendar, which I have begun to pay more attention to this year than any other as a new way to discover deeper truths in the Scriptures. And I am learning new things that also shed light on some old things I knew.

All of this contemplation has made me consider the comparisons between how the Hebrews in the TeNaK (Jewish Old Testament) interpreted the coming Messiah and His purpose in the earth, compared to how Christians interpret the New Testament and the end of the age.

It is common knowledge that most of the Jews before Jesus, were looking for a Messiah to rule on David's throne, and to be the one who would finally release them from the occupation of Rome. This is how they  misinterpreted the Messianic prophecies to be fulfilled. So when Jesus came, and began His ministry they did not recognize Him because of their preconceived ideas. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." John 1:11.

In fact most Jews today do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and instead believe that a Messiah is still yet to come; of course not to release them from Rome; but to set up the Kingdom of David in Israel and to restore it's former Glory in fulfillment of prophecy. 

As far as some Jews believe, Jesus is not the Messiah because like all of the former Jews who claimed to be the Messiah before Him; and even including Jesus; failed to fulfill all of the Scriptures concerning the Messiah's reign. In fact how the Jews interpret the Scriptures of the Messiah coming is; they believe it would be a one time event taking place, fulfilling all of the prophecies at once; even the ones that Christians have Jesus fulfilling at the end of the world, rather than a process.

"Peace on earth, good will toward all men". This would be a sign of the reign of the Messiah having come.  Do we have peace on earth since Jesus came and died on a cross? In fact we can all agree that the history of Christianity against the Jews, and to other non believers over the past 2,000 years have been horrific! Is that the fulfillment of Messianic Scripture? It would also not take much convincing to prove how badly Christianity has represented the life and calling of Jesus to His disciples in the earth!

Let's just admit how poorly we all live the life that Jesus has called us all to live. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." John 13:35. Can all men know that we are Jesus' disciples by our love for others; how about our love for other Christians? We can't even decide on that! And what do you suppose might be a reason for living a life other than what we are clearly called to live by the very Savior we profess?

We might explore that just as the Jews thought that their enemies were God's enemies, so do we think that our enemies are God's enemies. In fact, that is where we both get it wrong! God has NO enemies!! And if WE DO have enemies, then we are NOT fulfilling the commandment of Jesus, or the purpose of God! "God so loved the world..." John 3:16 also, "We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:19-20.

Just as most of the Jews believed; and some still do; that God will still send the Messiah, and rid the earth of His enemies, so also most of the Christians believe that Jesus is still yet to come a second time and destroy all of  His enemies, (the non Christians), And take the select few with Him to heaven so that He can have one last battle on earth to wipe it out and then create a new heaven and a new earth where peace finally reigns.

If there is one thing this Christmas (Advent) Season is to teach us; the whole Reason for the Season, so to speak; is that it is a reminder to live out the same love of the God who loved the world; not just then, or later but now, as that which expresses the reality of the Savior of the World who lives and reigns in our hearts here on earth.

 The Jews do not have to wait for some future Messiah to appear, just like we do not have to wait for some future "Second coming" to happen. The same as the Jews misinterpreted the Scriptures and did not recognize the "time of their visitation", so also it is important for Christians to not misinterpret the Scriptures, and thereby miss out on the truth that Jesus is NOT coming in vengeance to destroy the earth, and murder millions in a great bloody battle, but rather the only blood that needed shed was His own on the cross!

Eschatology is a study of end time events. There is a difference between the times of the end, and the end of time. Just as many of the Jews did not interpret Scripture in a manner that revealed the Truth about Jesus being the Messiah, so also it is important for Christians today to interpret Scripture properly, or miss out on how Jesus destroys His enemies with Love, just as He calls us to do, until "the last enemy which shall be destroyed is death,"  1 Cor:15:26.

During this time of year, let it serve as a reminder that we are not waiting for the world to be destroyed, but for the world to be saved by Jesus Christ. And the world WILL be saved, since Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world!

 God's aim is not about getting Christians to heaven but rather getting Heaven to operate in the earth. Father, may it be as it is written: "...Your kingdom come Your will be done On Earth, As It Is In Heaven

  

Taking The Lord's Name In Vain?

In several of my previous writings, I have talked a lot about context. The idea of interpreting Scripture based on the context of who is talking, what is being said, who they are talking to, what is their purpose of saying what they are saying in context with the whole passage or writing. How often we take verses that we perhaps have memorized and use those verses in a way that contradict the very meaning of the verse?

As another example of seeing how context matters, I am including a copy of a writing by a minister, and YouTube video channel person by the name of Brandon Robbins. You can find a link to his channel HERE. I would recommend checking it out, he has some great content on his channel that can teach you many things. 

Having said that, I got an email lesson from Brandon, who has actually wrote about a subject that I have believed and known for years, and since I intended to write a post about this very thing, I am including what he wrote instead, which does express very well my thoughts.

"What if I told you that "taking the Lord's name in vain" has nothing to do with cursing?

 

Well, consider this for a moment... 

 

When police tell someone to stop in the name of the law, they aren’t claiming that the word “law” has any power.  What they mean is that they are invoking the authority of the law.  They bear its name.  They represent the law.  

 

This is also how the word "name" is used throughout scripture.  The Hebrew word for “name” is shaym.  And shaym refers to more than just the word you use to address someone.  Shaym refers to a person’s identity, their authority.  To bear a person’s name means that you are that person’s representative.  

 

This actually changes the way we understand many familiar scriptures. 

 

For instance, when God says “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7), God isn’t talking about using God’s name as part of a curse word.  God is talking about how we represent God in this world.

 

This is also the case when Jesus says, “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me.” (Mark 9:39)

 

Jesus isn’t referring to people who simply say the word “Jesus.”  Jesus’ name isn’t a magical phrase.  His name represents his identity, his authority.   Those who do things in Jesus’ name are representing him.

 

So, in the end, this isn’t a matter of simply saying the right words.  It’s deeper than that.  It speaks to our relationship with Jesus, how we represent him in the world.

 

Do we truly bear his name well?

 

Or do we take his name in vain?

This is something that James often asks his congregation throughout the Epistle of James. They are fighting. They are harming one another. And he forces them to ask themselves: how are we bearing Jesus' name?"  end of quote.

I remember years ago, when I was a new Christian, and this lady from the church I attended, talked about how she chastised someone in line at a store for cursing when he said: "Jesus Christ". She said how she shouted at him to "Stop taking the name of my savior Jesus Christ in vain!" I never realized until after how negative of a witness that was. She thought she was defending His Name, but instead  she would have better defended His Name if she showed this person love and grace instead. 

We have all heard people use the Name of Jesus as a cuss word, however  now that we know what taking the Name of the Lord in vain means, I do think that rather than changing their way of talking, we can change our way of thinking, One way I have considered is recognizing that it can be a way of the spirit within that person expressing a prayer! (I know but hear me out) If someone says " God damn it". What are they expressing? That this God they don't believe in would stop or damn up what ever is frustrating them. 

When Peter walked on the water, and then began to sink he cried out, "Lord please help!" Matt 14: 22-33. It was not a long prayer.... Lord I come to you at this time, and I ask that you would please rescue me in a time of my distress.... etc. It was just three words! How is that much different than others, even though it is not necessarily mixed with faith? And yet, perhaps unknown to them, it is indeed their spirit crying out to the Lord? Since we know that "for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Rom. 10:13 EVERYONE! Of course we know that it is not a cry unto salvation as we profess as a believer, but being saved is more than just a one time act. 

So, there we have more insight into the context to know if we or others are, Taking The Lord's Name In Vain?

What Is The Vengeance Of God?

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."  Romans 12:19

"Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."  Romans 12:14-21

In many of the previous posts that I have written, I have talked about context giving us the best understanding of what is being said, and how to apply those Truths to our own lives. I separated Rom. 21:19 to show how it is often only quoted out of context, and how easily it can be taken to mean something other than what it does mean in context to the other verses.

Most times this verse is quoted, it is in response to our personal desire to; "let someone have it", or to payback someone in retaliation for their wrong doing, or to "even the score"! The idea is that God in His wrath and anger and vengeance will even the score and make them pay on our behalf. He will stand up in our defense and then they will regret they ever messed with us as God's servant! However, this reasoning is because of a long believed error about the nature and character and purpose of God held by most non Christians AND Christians!

The long held belief is that God is angry! That God is watching and waiting for man to slip up so that He can let them have it! The wrath of God is believed to be His natural state. It is believed that God is just mad at mankind all of the time, and is just trying to fix what went wrong in the Garden of Eden, so that he can salvage something in the end with a few trusting souls.

Oh, dear reader, that is such a centuries long held error designed to keep people in fear hoping that such fear would prevent people from doing evil things. The truth is that we have been fed and believes such a distorted view of God for such a long time, we think the distorted view is the truth, but nothing could be further from the Truth!

While there are Christians that believe this distorted view of God, they also believe that Jesus came to stand between God and man so that He could mediate God's wrath upon Himself in our place. Even I was taught and believed this error for quite some time, just like I was taught and believed this wrathful God would send the majority of His creation to a fiery torment in hell forever. But oh how much I am grateful to no longer believe such a slander against this merciful God of love and kindness!

In the last couple of years I have listened to about five years of sermons by Brian Zhand, whom I have mentioned in previous posts. A common declaration he makes has also become a mantra of mine. While we think that Jesus is kind and loving in the New Testament appeasing an angry God in the Old Testament, this mantra corrects that false belief. It goes like this: "God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus. We haven't always known this, but now we do!"

  We are told in several places in Scripture:

 "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power" Heb. 1:3

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Cor. 4:4

"I and the Father are one.” John 10:10

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

There are many more verses that confirm what these verses are affirming, which is that God is not schizophrenic Jesus and God are one in the same. Jesus is the visible manifestation of the invisible God! If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father. If you see a different image of the Father that is not like Jesus, then the image you are seeing is False!

Okay so what about the: "...Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."  Romans 12:19? That is true of course, but not the vengeance we think. God does not tell us to love our enemies, and He hates His. But rather it is "...not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance?"  Rom. 2:4.

In the beginning verses of this post, I separated this one verse Romans 12:19 out from the verses before and after in order to show how when separated it has been so easily taken out of context and the meaning distorted, to give an grossly inaccurate portrayal of God. So now read those verses altogether again, and begin to see the more accurate portrayal of God which is one in which God's vengeance against anyone is to Love them with such a perfect Love that they have no choice but to stop resisting that Love which leads them to repentance! God will do what He asks us to do, which is to Overcome evil with Good!

Indeed, the wrath of God is NOT against men as some misquote, but rather  "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness OF men," Rom.1:18. It is against the ungodliness and unrighteousness; not against men. This is not un-similar to to the verse in Psalm 1:6 "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the WAY of the ungodly shall perish."  Notice it does not say the ungodly shall perish, but the WAY of the ungodly perishes. Since the way of the ungodly perishes, then what is left but a Godly way! Evil has been overcome with good.  Now you know the answer to the question asked in the title, What Is The Vengeance Of God?