What is the Scripture? Are all of these books inspired?
There are some odd teachings creeping within the Modern Church for years, inherited from te past. Certain religious traditions have been cherished for centuries and haven´t been dealt with contempt. Some of these unrealistic things conventionally accepted are: If I were a Priest (a Pastor), according to the law of Moses, I should be married to a young virgin… Are they easily found (and dealt with) today? Could I cope with a teen, being an old man?
At my age and just being once divorced, could I make it with some success? Since women are allowed to do -socially- many things as they are pleased, the way men do.
I´ve seen how people needed some fresh love elsewhere than in a church. A leading relationship within a new group, with nurturing friends. Sometimes I disagreed re-reading certain “Pastoral Letters” just because some “Teachings” are personal opinions of the writer, just human advice (I´m not telling they absolutelly lack some divine inspiration, but these are personal biased, these are human reasoning, same as I´m writing now).
The church we´re invited to attend has certain jewish roots it denies or neglects. Personal interpretations prevails over Jesus teaching, His personal insight and earthly work. So I beg you to let me point out just to a few, three things, that I consider wrong practices within the Christiany I´m engaged to.
• Is it the Lord´s “breakfast”?
What time (and date) do we have to celebrate or conmemorate it?
Is it a supper time or a breakfast celebration?
For me it´s clear we banned the passover. Jesus celebrated as jew, but don´t know how to engage in that jewish tradition, since Christianity is oppose to jews.
The passover was a covenant for those who belonged to that race (Exo. 12:43-45) and those who wanted to share in it (Exo 12:48-49). The appointed time was “night” (Exo.12:8, John 13:30) and the blood would serve to spare lifes, such as Christ´s spares ours, today (Exo. 12:23, ). The passover celebration was ordered for ever, as we can read in the Old testament records (Exo. 12:24-25, 42).
The traditional church is wrong in this subject, as you can see by yourselves. And some may argue that Christ made a “new” covenant(Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:19, John ), as we traditionally read on the Gospels, but most of the older versions do not have the word “new”, so this word seems to be added, to make the issue different. It´s true! There´s a new covenant (Heb. 8:8, Jer. 31,31-34) and that is believing Jesus, the Christ. Obviously, few jews would like a “new” covenant, since they thought the former would save them well, same way those who like old wine seldom like a brand new to drink (Luke 5:39). Do I have to circumcise then? John 13:34 is a broader extension of the passover prescription (Exo. 12:48-49). John reminds me of the same word God said to Israel, just to keep it and fulfill it, as it reads:
Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deut. 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods (Angels and Human beings?), and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deut. 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Can you see the same old covenant in the “new” extension? (John 13:34-35) This is the same covenant, but openly blessing all nations, as He said He would do to Abraham... and the new Israel. (Jonh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.) He is the pure and best pascal lamp! (Luke 22:20) In fact, He updated the same stuff to spare lives, just to include gentiles... like me!.
According to what I see and undestand, it wasn´t anything “new”, but the fulfillment of the progressive promises God made to His people; But churches commemorate the Lord´s supper at breakfast time, out of the appointed season, which is separated from the jewish tradition of the Passover.
Was it to be eaten all sunday mornings?
I better learn about the jewish feasts.
• Public recognition, is it needed?
At those days, like today, people needed to be “organized”. Jesus set his 12 disciple to help organize people, but the question is: Do they need hierarchy?
Often, some of His disciples wanted to be first, but He gave several lesson on being alike, iquals and just brothers. Some were selfcentered and wanted to rule over “their” team, by the time the Master were gone. Some disciples wanted to control “their” movement, but Jesus said something different (Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49). There was a mother asking for the best seat, but Jesus rebuked that (Matt. 20:20-27), and gave humanity a lesson of service to be in a leading position, but no leadership. (Matt. 23:10)
What was Jesus´teaching?
The Master, the Son of God, gave a practical lesson on humble service, in His last supper (John 13:3-17). He humbled himself -coming down to earth- to bring us into a relationship with the Holy Father. The traditional churchs is showy and love to be hierarchycal, just the way we see on both catholic churches and protestan ones.
One thing is disbeliving, another is disobeying, but this comes by ignorance. Jesus wanted His disciples to be a family, as simple brothers with one Father. Personal desires could seem legal, but some are to be banished. It´s normal to fight against this feeling that is unwillig to obey and do what God wants us to do, but we have to obey men also?
God´s kingdom is within us, but it is also paralled with human´s hierarchy. Here we see one wants to rule over God´s issues, not only Satan, but also men. What was Jesus´teaching? (Matt. 23:8-12).
First, follow Him (John 15:5). I cannot do anything better without him.
Second, human hierarchy could be convenient to ease certain things (Eph 4:2, 12), but not to rule His freedom. I don´t believe Eph. 4:11 is a vertical structure, but a horizontal “ministry”, although I believe the ministry is God´s, and no men or women is set to rule His people or house, besides Jesus. In fact, it is logically believed that no other men were set to be apostles like the former 12, but people believe what they want to, just as Paul thought of himself. In the wide sense, all christians are called to be apostles, ambassadors of the Gospel (Matt. 28:19-20) since Christ said so.
Paul, in that letter, explains the reasons for such offices in God´s ministry:
Eph 4:13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
I don´t see Paul telling “this is abosolutelly true” (Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers...). I just see he wrote what he thought, and these are not the only ways christians serve God. Jesus came to earth to make perfectly what the mosaic law could not. He is an inclusive second chance to repent (Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.) and convert, to avoid being eternally punished. Formerly, the problem was disobedience. Now is disbelieving (plus the former unsolved things).
Why John, the Baptist, came saying: “Behold! Here´s the lamp of God, He who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Something has to be dealt with (and Jesus did it). Are the law and the sins taken away?
Mosaic sacrifices served, but a little. Godly punishment to transgressions needed satisfaction... Have I paid for my faults? Have you? Just think about it! (about them) and Follow Him.
When people come to insist on five of “the ministries” (Eph 4:11) I show the contradiction I´ve found, since Jesus named only 12 apostles, and Revelations announces their place in Heavens, forming 24 elders (Rev. 4:4).
The great commision has three mean commandments: Go and teach the nations, and baptize them. The teaching are the observances Jesus followed, with the promise of being “always” present.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:G5213 and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Did Jesus fulfilled the Law?
Did He wanted His people obeyed it? I have the whole Bible. These are not the original writings, but they have many things I can count on (Matt. 24:35).
There are several arguments to believe the law is abolished, that we´re freed!
Is it true?.
But how come I will follow jewish traditions? Things are very different now. Todays culture is quite different and secularism rules over some creeds and controls most parts of any church. Save us God!
• Mercy and forgiveness, overstressed.
Many boast about salvation. Proudly say: “I´m saved”. Really? The time is not yet come. Nobody knows is he or she is absolutelly accepcted to be in Heavens, but some insist on: “I´m going to live with Jesus”.
First, all have to be present before God´s judgement. He is the One to make that decision, with Christ (as lawyer). We have the right to boast (in secret), but He also has the right to say we were wrong (pretty wrong, sometimes).
Jesus, himself, said: Many will say to me in that day, “¡Lord, Lord! Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
Such boasting is foolish! This is the same mistake jews made when considering themselves better than other nations and hindering gentiles the entrance to the benefits of the former covenant... They didn´t realized God took them for a reason: His Love. ( Deut. 7:6, 7, 8.)
The main condition to be there is Obedience (Matt. 7:21), not such religious boasting that seems to be a biased faith.
Mercy and forgiveness are overstressed. Many say He is willing to forgive and very slow to correct in holy discipline. Some think He is dead, blind or gone. He is there! Loving, willing to forgive if we are willing to change. That´s the Father I´d like to love and meet (If He wills).
Some preachers “sell” mercy and forgiveness as detergents. They promise salvation and a cleansing without being sure they´re totally renewed. But I know God, and Jesus, are willing to help is we´re willing to change.
I will not offer what it is not up to me. Jesus is the answer, but I have to commit myself in obeying response.
Church people: Do not overstress anything to make “you are right” and the rest are wrong.
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