Pledges, Oaths, and Service to the Nations of This World?

In the Hebrew Torah, pledges and oaths, along with the service which flows from them, are regarded as sacred responsibilities to God and/or the people to whom they apply. Indeed, this concept is nowhere more apparent than in the Jewish Shema (a daily declaration of faith). In their article on The Shema, Chabad.org informs us that "Shema Yisrael (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל) ('Hear, O Israel') are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services, encapsulating the monotheistic essence of Judaism: 'Hear, O Israel: G‑d is our L‑rd, G‑d is one.'" They go on to tell us that "the Shema consists of three paragraphs: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41."

The really critical passage is as follows: "You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates." In other words, The Shema was intended to be a reminder to the Jews that their primary allegiance was to the God of Israel and "his" standards. In the New Living Translation, that critical verse is translated: "Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders."

In short, Israel was expected to be devoted to God. This, of course, would make them very different from the nations which surrounded them, and the peoples who had previously inhabited the land which had been promised to them. In Deuteronomy, we read: "When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods." (Deuteronomy 12: 29-31, ESV) A little later, in the same book, we read: "When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations." (Deuteronomy 18:9, ESV) Clearly, the other nations did NOT serve the God of Israel - they served other gods.

Later, it is important to note that Israel grew tired of being different and wanted to be more like the nations which surrounded them (I Samuel 8:4-5). Continuing in this account, we read that Samuel was displeased with this request, but God told him to "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." (I Samuel 8:6-7, ESV). Clearly, God expected "his" people to be different from the other nations of the earth, and their failure to do so would have far reaching consequences for them, and the covenant which God had made with them. Indeed, throughout the major and minor prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel's bad behavior is contrasted with that of the nations which surrounded them (and Israel often did not fare well in the comparison).

Even so, the greatest examples of how NOT to act as a nation, are found in the book of Daniel, and the nation which would become the epitome of human governance and service to false gods was BABYLON! In that book, we see the king of Babylon subjugating the people of Israel (as well as many other peoples in that part of the world). Indeed, that king's relentless pursuit of wealth, power, and glory became legendary! Nevertheless, throughout this narrative, the human king at its center (whichever of the four kingdoms he represented: Babylon, Persia, Greece, or Rome) demanded the absolute allegiance of his subjects. And, like Nebuchadnezzar before them, they pursued military might and used it to conquer the peoples of other lands. Moreover, they viewed both the human and natural resources of the earth as being at their disposal - as theirs to exploit and use to garner even more wealth and power. In fact, the way that human governance is portrayed in this book would become the symbolic standard for the apocalyptic writings of the New Testament book of Revelation.

In the thirteenth chapter of that book, we read about a human kingdom referred to as "the beast." John wrote: "And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority...the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?'" (Revelation 13:2-4, ESV) Notice that, like the kingdoms and the beasts which represented them in the book of Daniel, that this beast exercises great authority and influence throughout the earth. We are informed that it is WORSHIPED (as a false god), and it is boasted that no one can stand against its military might! A little later, we are informed that this beast "opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it..." (Revelation 13:6-8, ESV)

Now, in light of what we have already discussed, it is of particular interest to us that a second beast is mentioned in this chapter which we are told "exercises all the authority of the first beast." (Revelation 13:11-12, ESV) Moreover, it is revealed that this beast deceives the whole world into worshiping the first beast and has the power to kill anyone who doesn't do that! (Revelation 13:13-15) Finally, this beast also "causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name." (Revelation 13:16-17, ESV) Notice, that just like the symbol which reminded the Israelites that their primary allegiance was owed to God, this "Mark of the Beast" is worn on the right hand or the forehead! Hence, this mark is a symbol of the people's allegiance to the beast! Indeed, we are told that one cannot even participate in its commerce without it!

Interestingly, for Christians, Jesus identified Two Commandments as comprehending the entirety of the Law. According to him, the greatest commandment was "You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." The second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself (See Matthew 22:34-40). Moreover, he said that after just having been asked about paying taxes to Rome. His reply? "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God." In other words, Christians were to be good citizens of the empire - subject to it, but NOT serving or worshiping it (that was reserved for God)! In that same account, Christ was reported to have said: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Matthew 6:24, ESV) And, although Christ contrasted service to God with service to money in this instance, the context makes clear that we could substitute ANY other thing for money!

Jesus also made it very clear that he did not want his followers to exercise authority in the same way that the leadership of the world exercised the authority that had been given to it. He said: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28, ESV) Clearly, Christ did NOT want his disciples to follow human notions about authority. Indeed, Christ demanded that his followers walk a fine line - they were to be subject to human authorities, but NOT be like them!

Christ's perspective on this was underscored in his own prayer to God shortly before he was put to death by the Roman Governor of Judea. He prayed: "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (John 17:14-18, ESV) Clearly, Christ believed that following God's instructions would distinguish his people from those who were part of the world around them. And, once again, he said: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)

Finally, Christ's attitude toward human authority was underscored by what he said to the Roman governor just before he was to be beaten and crucified. He said: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." (John 18:36, ESV) Later, we read of this exchange between Jesus and the governor: "So Pilate said to him, 'You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?' Jesus answered him, 'You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.'" (John 19:10-11, ESV) Notice that Christ acknowledged his authority (and later submitted to it), but he clearly understood who had the ultimate authority - the final word!

This is also consistent with what the Apostle Paul wrote to the disciples at Rome. He said: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:1-8, ESV) Peter said the same thing in fewer words: "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (I Peter 2:17, ESV)

Clearly, Christians in the First Century understood that there was an invisible but very real boundary between their responsibilities as citizens, and their actual participation in the human system which reigned over them. They understood that people of faith must be strangers and exiles on this earth (Hebrews 11:13-16, ESV). In short, Christians must seek a better country - the one that has been prepared for them by God! We must understand that our primary citizenship is in God's Kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Indeed, in the verses which preceded the one quoted above from Peter's epistle, we have a very articulate summary of the boundaries between the two systems. He wrote: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God." (I Peter 2:9-16, ESV)

Hence, when we return to the book of Revelation, the text of that book begins to make even more sense in terms of participating in the "beast's" system. Indeed, whatever your views on the proper interpretation of that book (past, present, or future), we can see that the text is clearly about man's system being fundamentally at odds with a Christian's participation in it! The text of that book refers to a "Great Prostitute" who rides the "beast," "And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: 'Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.' And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." (Revelation 17:1-6, ESV) Of course, eventually, this unholy alliance will fall apart (Revelation 17:7-14). Continuing in this text, however, we learn: "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages...And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:15-18, ESV) Whatever you and I think about this passage, it is clear that folks in the First Century would have recognized that "great city" as Rome! Notice too, that the woman is symbolically referred to as "Babylon" - clearly suggesting the same kind of human authority dealt with in the book of Daniel.

The story continues into the next chapter, and we find out there that the city falls (Revelation 18:1-3). Continuing, we read: "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow and mourning I shall never see.’ For this reason, her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her." (Revelation 18:4-8, ESV) The very clear implication is that God doesn't want "his" people participating in Babylon! Indeed, the chapter ends with this observation about the woman: "in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth." (Revelation 18:24, ESV)

Let's take a moment and review. From a Scriptural perspective, Christians are expected to remember at all times that their PRIMARY allegiance is owed to God and "his" kingdom - that we are, first and foremost, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Second, we are expected to be good citizens of the nation/kingdom/empire where we live, and that means obeying the laws, paying our taxes, and praying for the leaders. Third, we are NOT supposed to become a part of its political system. So, where do we draw the line? Each of us must ultimately answer to the dictates of our own consciences and Almighty God. For me, it seems very clear that holding office or serving in the military would constitute participating in the human system of a nation. Now, I understand the reasoning of some folks who would add voting and serving on juries to those things. Personally, I believe that those two areas are seen by some folks as one of the duties of citizenship, but I think that the answer must depend on to what degree one feels comfortable in participating in the human system. I did serve in the United States Army once upon a time and felt that it was compatible with my conscience at the time. Would I make the same decision today? Obviously, I would NOT!

"But a democracy is different!" some will insist. Is it? Does the United States demand the allegiance of its citizens? Does the United States glory in its military might? Do the President, Congress, and the Courts exercise their authority over the folks they are supposed to be serving? Does partisanship in American society lead to compassion, mercy, forgiveness, honesty, patience, peace, kindness, joy, etc.? Do the institutions of the United States require oaths and/or pledges of allegiance to them? Does America employ its power in the areas of trade and economic dominance over other nations? Has the United States ever employed military might to advance its agenda? Has the United States government ever exploited its own citizens or resources? I ask again: Is the United States really that different from the Babylonian model?

I think that there is another question that is even more important in determining our degree of participation in a human system: What does the Government of the United States expect from its citizens who participate in its governance? Of course, most of us who live in the U.S. have recited "The Pledge of Allegiance" from time to time: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." In this connection, we should also note that it is proper protocol to stand facing the flag with your right hand over your heart when reciting the pledge. I remember when I took the "Oath of Enlistment" in the Army, I was required to say: "I, Lonnie Hendrix, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." Likewise, the President and other officers of our government are required to swear allegiance to the United States Constitution. Hence, we should all be asking ourselves as citizens of THE KINGDOM, what does it mean to swear or affirm allegiance to a nation of this earth?

Could that be why Jesus had something very specific to say about oaths during his earthly ministry? In his famous "Sermon on the Mount," he said: "you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil (or the evil one)." (Matthew 5:33-37, ESV) Hence, for those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ, I would say that we all need to ask ourselves: "To what extent should I participate in the Babylonian governments of this world?" OR "How close can I get to this flame without being burned by it?" OR "Do I want God's mark on my forehead and hand, or the Beast's mark there?" One last question: Is that old profession of "God and country" really consistent with having no other gods besides (or next to) THE GOD? What do you think?

CGI Can’t Decide About Whether or Not to Allow Politics in Church!

The leadership of the Church of God International continues to try to straddle the fence on whether pastors and members should be involved in secular politics. Folks like Jeff Reed, Mike James, and Vance Stinson argue in favor of neutrality - while folks like Bill Watson, Adrian Davis, and Murray Palmatier see absolutely nothing wrong with their partisanship. Indeed, in spite of severe criticism, the politicians continue to be loud and proud about their foray into that realm. In reality, although most of the membership of CGI is very conservative and very Republican, the membership remains very divided on the issue of political involvement on a corporate level. Moreover, neither side appears to be satisfied with the leadership’s wishy-washy “neutrality.” In other words, it feels awfully lukewarm within CGI these days!

Although the Church of God International’s leadership has apparently decided to mothball their Armor of God program and have removed Bill Watson from their payroll, in the latest edition of their Prove All Things: Politics and Voting webcast (Reed and James) interviewed ACOG member and proud Montana Republican, Bill Lussenheide. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Mr. Lussenheide, he is completely comfortable with his role as a partisan officeholder and supports the Republican Party’s platform in his state “one hundred percent!” In other words, he feels absolutely no conflict between the religion he professes and fully participating in partisan politics! Indeed, just like Ohio Bill, this Montana Bill believes that he is defending his faith and proclaiming the Gospel through his participation in the political process.

Speaking of that other Bill, Mr. Watson recently defended his own messaging on politics on his News Alert Blog on CGI Medina, Ohio’s website. Bill wrote: “I recently read an article by Caroline Woods (from The Blaze) that was rather interesting, especially since I have been accused of being ‘political’ more times than I can count. There are people today that think the pulpit should be exclusively reserved to address the Bible and only the Bible. They claim, to use the pulpit to address social issues, underscored by the Bible, is wrong and is out of order. That those pastors, should simply remain on point and only speak on Christian Living––stay away from social issues!” He went on to point out that pastors have addressed current events throughout the history of the United States (the old they did it before me excuse). Mr. Watson continued: “Keep in mind, those who shrink back in ‘cowardice’ from addressing the issues of our day forget; it’s not the Church that has become political, but rather, politics has become more excessive in violating our religion and God’s Church needs to stand firm and show our people their sins (Isa 58:1).” Watson clearly believes himself to be courageous and right, and that he consequently can’t be wrong in what he is doing!

If that doesn’t sound like circular reasoning to you, it should! In a recent post on my own blog The Allure of Politics for Christians, I pointed out that “In their desire to promote righteousness and God's will, Christians have too often found themselves drawn into the political systems of this world. Unfortunately, instead of influencing things in a better direction, the Christian often finds him/herself participating in a process which interrupts his/her focus on God, distorts the distinction between good and evil and causes him/her to compromise with the dictates of his/her faith and conscience. One candidate or policy seems to be the right one at the time we are considering the alternatives, but we often learn later that our choice(s) produced unintended negative consequences. In other words, in our attempt to avert an evil outcome, we often set the stage for an even worse future than the one we were trying to avoid!”

Next, I proceeded to point out many of the Biblical warnings against participating in the affairs of this world and to avoid being drawn into idolatry of the state. I also pointed out that Christ NEVER challenged or criticized Rome or its representatives in Judea, that he reserved his harshest rhetoric for the Jewish religious leaders of his day. Finally, I concluded with some advice that I think folks within CGI’s leadership would do well to heed: “Unfortunately, we Christians sometimes forget that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, and that our primary citizenship resides in heaven (Hebrews 11:13-16). Our salvation, spiritual and physical, is found in God's plan. In short, the political systems which humankind has devised are flawed, and they will fail someday. We must not forget that our faith and hope is found in God, and him alone! (Psalm 118:8)” While there is certainly nothing wrong with setting a good example and helping others in the here and now, it is NOT our commission or responsibility as Christians to fix the flawed political systems of this world!

A Blast from CGI's Past: God Is Not a Capitalist or a Socialist

It's hard to believe that the above title was the lead article for CGI's The International News in the Winter 2009 edition of that paper. When I think about how partisan some of the folks in that organization over the fifteen years since I penned that article, it blows my mind! At any rate, thought I'd share this blast from the past with my readers:

In the atmosphere of rancor and poison

 that permeates our political discourse,

 do we Christians sometimes forget that this

 is not God’s world/system? (2 Corinthians

 4:4). Over the last decade, we have all heard

 various people state or imply that capitalism is

 GOOD and socialism is EVIL. Nevertheless, we

 as Christians have to remember that both of

 these systems were created by men influenced

 by Satan the Devil, and that neither one of

 them represents the ideals and ultimate de

signs of our Creator. Actually, from what is

 revealed to us of God’s mind in Scripture, we can safely assert that God’s

 Kingdom will not be a capitalist or a socialist society! That is not to say there

 will not be elements of BOTH systems present in God’s system.

 Capitalism has been defined as the private ownership and control of

 capital—where goods and services are traded in a market, and profits are paid

 to the owners of capital, who then reinvest them or pay wages to labor.

 Moreover, capitalism has been associated with what Adam Smith referred to

 as the “invisible hand” of the marketplace—the notion that the pursuit of

 self-interest tends to the benefit of everyone. For Christians, this notion should

 raise an immediate red flag. The entire basis of Christ’s teaching was against

 selfishness; remember the Golden Rule? (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31). Even

 so, the principles of private ownership and payment for labor rendered are also

 clearly established throughout Scripture.

 Likewise, socialism has been defined as governmental or collective

 ownership and control of capital—where the value of goods and services are

 not dictated by the market. Socialism and communism have long been

 associated with the famous principle laid down by Karl Marx, “From each

 according to his ability, to each according to his need.” The underlying

 premise is that capital or wealth should not be concentrated in the hands of a

 few, and that it should be redistributed by some central authority whenever

 it does begin to concentrate. However, it should be obvious to Christians that

 mankind has individually and collectively proven his inability to administer

 any system fairly or impartially. Who, then, is to decide how wealth is to be

 distributed? Even so, the principles of equality before the law and fair

 treatment for all people are also clearly established throughout Scripture

 (Leviticus 19:15, James 2:1–6).

 God’s system is different from both of these systems existing in various

 forms and degrees throughout the present world. God’s system is based on love

 and outgoing concern for God and each other (1 John 4:7–21). It is not based

 on greed and self-interest. God’s way includes fair wages, impartiality, loaning

 without usury (interest), and helping and giving to the poor. Everyone is

 expected to contribute.

 For those of us who might think that God is strictly a capitalist, or that He

 favors that system, we would do well to remember what God has to say about

 the fate of a society built on the backs of the poor with greed and profit as the

 principal motivators of their actions (Amos 4:1; 8:4–8). We should also

 remember what God has to say about not paying your workers a fair wage

 (Leviticus 19:13, Jeremiah 22:13, Malachi 3:5). See what God has said about

 charging interest on money, and how that applies to modern banking and

 lending practices (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35–36, Deuteronomy 23:19,

 Proverbs 28:8, Ezekiel 22:12). Proponents of capitalism should read God’s

 instructions to the farmers of ancient Israel about not harvesting all of their

 crops, but leaving some for the poor (Leviticus 19:9–10, 23:22). Moreover,

 God has clearly instructed His people to help the poor in both the Old and New

 Testaments (Deuteronomy 15:7–11 and 1 John 3:17). Yes, we are our brother’s

 keeper. However, unlike many of the “socialist” persuasion, God does expect

 everyone to work and contribute—laziness is not tolerated as part of God’s

 system (2 Thessalonians 3:10)!

 What is the end of the matter?  This world and its systems are NOT God’s

 world or systems (Revelation 18:4). We should be among those who confess

 that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” and that we clearly seek

 another country (Hebrews 11:13–14). That is precisely why Christ instructed

 us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”

 (Matthew 6:10). Brethren, in spite of any patriotic or sentimental attachments

 we might have to a particular system, we should all remember that God is not

 a capitalist, socialist, Republican, or Democrat.

Looking back at what I wrote in 2009, I am pleased with my own consistency on this issue. Nevertheless, it saddens me to see just how much the group with which I formerly affiliated has changed since 2009.

Is God Champing at the Bit to Condemn and Punish Sinners?

Over the years, I've written several articles about the way that some folks view God as a harsh and angry entity who standing at the ready to ZAP sinners into oblivion. A classic example of this king of thinking is the famous sermon delivered by Jonathan Edwards back in the 18th Century entitled "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God." Nevertheless, we have to ask: Is this a legitimate view of God? Is this view of God consistent with what is revealed in Scripture?

Let's consider just a few of the passages of Scripture which point to another view of God:

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 145:8)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (John 12:47)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like someone who is champing at the bit to condemn sinners! Indeed, it sounds to me like "he" is ready and willing to forgive and forget! What do you think?

The Rituals of the Old and New Covenants Compared

Unfortunately, Christians often confuse or blend the rituals of the Old Covenant with those of the New Covenant in Christ. Moreover, all too often, ritual takes precedence over the reality to which they point. In other words, Christians sometimes lose sight of the significance and purpose of the ritual - Why they are performing them (the Hebrews did the same thing).

Before delving into the rituals of Scripture, we should define our terms to avoid some of the confusion which will be inherent to this topic. When I type "ritual" into my search engine, it is defined as "a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order." Merriam-Webster defines it as "the established form for a ceremony." Interestingly, the English word "ritual" does not appear in the King James Version of the Bible. However, it does appear six times in the New Living Translation. The Hebrew word "aboda" is translated into English as "service" or "work" in the King James Version. Moreover, this is very consistent with the way that the Hebrew Scriptures view the rituals associated with the Old Covenant - as works or labors on behalf of God, the Tabernacle, etc. Like the other laws of Torah, these rituals were seen as things to do or to perform.

In the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament to Christians), Torah outlines a rich tapestry of rituals related to the priesthood, sacrifices, offerings, clean and unclean, festivals, and everyday life. From the Christian perspective, it is important to understand that ALL of those rituals of Torah pointed to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said that he came to this earth to fulfill them! Paul described them as shadows of the reality found in Jesus Christ. But how exactly did Christ embody those rituals? Well, the New Testament reveals that Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the one who actually carries away our sins. He sacrificed/offered himself to God on our behalf. Jesus provided his own blood so that we would have access to the true Holy of Holies in Heaven. He is the first of the firstfruits presented to God in Heaven. He is our Sabbath rest from our own works. He is the one for whom the Trumpet sounds. He is the one who tabernacled in the flesh for us. Jesus is the one who washed away our filth and made us clean before God! He is our High Priest, and the One who made it possible for us to receive the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts and make us a part of God's people!

In the New Testament, however, Christians are only given a handful of rituals. They are the Eucharist, baptism, the laying on of hands, and the model prayer (the one some folks refer to as "The Lord's Prayer). "What about marriage?" some of my friends will ask. Interestingly, you will NOT find any ritual related to marriage in either the Old or New Testaments. Scripturally speaking, marriage is viewed as a special covenant between two people. Hence, it is NOT regarded as a ritual in Scripture. Now, admittedly, humans have developed their own ceremonies and rituals associated with this covenant; but there are NOT any Scriptural rituals mandated for it. Unlike the Old Covenant ritual which pointed to Christ, we should also note that the four New Covenant rituals all point to what Christ has done for us! The Eucharist is symbolic of us accepting the body and blood of Christ. Likewise, baptism is symbolic of the death of our former sinful self and our rebirth to a new life in Jesus. The Laying on of Hands is symbolic of the transference of the Holy Spirit to each of us, the ordination of the different offices of the ekklesia, and the healing which we can receive through Christ. Finally, the model or "Lord's Prayer" relates to how Christ expects us to pray to our Father in Heaven. That's it! There simply aren't any Scriptural formulas for how religious services, marriages, or funerals are to be performed.

Interestingly, in all of the rituals related to both the Old and New Covenants, we must understand that they were given to remind us (the participants) of spiritual truths/realities. Again, their ONLY purpose was to remind us about what God will do or has done for all of us! In other words, they are symbolic of spiritual realities, they are NOT the reality! God gave them to "his" people to help us, NOT to give us more to do! Under normal circumstances we should follow them, but we must NOT lose sight of the fact that Christ actually died for us and shed his blood to enable us to stand before God free of our sins. Likewise, Christ washed away our sins and gave us the Holy Spirit. In other words, the rituals do NOT accomplish these things for us. They are a means to an end, they are NOT the end!

God LOVED Them!

When I hear the hateful rhetoric of "Christian" people against LGBTQ folks, it makes me think about what happened to a young Wyoming man named Matthew Shepard almost 26 years ago now. Matthew was a kind, gentle-natured young man who had attended college and was majoring in Political Science and had a minor in Languages. Even so, he had previously been beaten and bullied because of his sexual orientation and had suffered from depression and severe anxiety as a consequence of those assaults on him.

At the time of his death, he was just a few weeks shy of his twenty-second birthday. He was beaten, tortured, tied to a split rail fence, and left to die in the cold. Matthew died a few days after he was found as a consequence of the pistol-whipping he had received from the homophobes who had so viciously and mercilessly attacked him. Later, at his funeral, the pastor and congregants of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church treated those who mourned him to signs that suggested that God hates "fags", and that Matt was in HELL!

More recently, another beautiful young gay and Jewish man named Blaze Bernstein was stabbed to death by a neo-Nazi homophobe in California. He had previously graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts and was enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania at the time of his murder. He was stabbed twenty-eight times simply because his homosexuality and Jewish heritage enraged a young man with a pocketknife. Blaze's parents loved and accepted him, and most of us cannot even imagine the pain and suffering that his loss has engendered in them. Not to mention that the heartless murderer and his attorneys put on a defense that attributed Blaze's death to his own sexual aggressiveness. Try to imagine what sitting through that trial was like for the parents who loved him!

I don't know about you, but the God that I worship IS LOVE. Moreover, he commands everyone, everywhere, to love one another as we love ourselves! My Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, said to treat others in the same way that you would like to be treated by them! The man who authored many of the New Testament writings which I revere, the Apostle Paul, defined love as being patient, kind, forgiving, hopeful, and persistent. He also said that love does NOT dishonor others, and that it is NOT easily angered. Hence, I have to conclude that GOD LOVED Matt and Blaze. All of this prompts me to ask a couple of questions: Why didn't the men who murdered them love them? What possible justification could they have had for hating them? What do you think?

YES, Our Need for A Rest Is Even Greater Today Than It Was in the Past!

The following comment was made in response to an article by COG Catholic posted over at Banned by HWA:

Anonymous said...

Usually just one or two scriptures answer these type of discussions. e.g. the Sabbath was made FOR man - and not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). And Christ is Lord of the Sabbath, and we should 'Call the Sabbath a delight'' (Isaiah 58:13). If it was given to the human race as a 'delight' and a rest day in the past - do we not today need even more of a rest from this crazy world? Tell me if you think my reasoning is wrong.

Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 11:06:00 AM PDT

My answer to this anonymous commentator's question is contained in the title of this post. Yes, we need even more of a rest from this crazy world today than folks in the past did, and that rest is found in the ONE whom the physical seventh day Sabbath pointed to: Jesus Christ! Indeed, he once said: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT) And another anonymous commentator once said: "For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest." (Hebrews 4:10-11, NLT) We have this invitation to accept the true rest and peace of God. It is found in accepting and obeying Jesus Christ, our Savior! 

The United Church of God and Its Demonic Assault on Reality

In the latest issue of Beyond Today, Tom Robinson wrote an article titled Kingdom of Lies: The Demonic Assault on Reality. The hook for the article reads: "Efforts to destroy the family to remake society have sunk to now redefining sexuality on a fundamental level. These attempts arise from utopian dreams of reshaping the world into an imagined paradise free from biblical morality. Dark forces are driving the false hope and means of trying to realize it, posing an existential threat to humanity. But Truth will ultimately prevail." Robinson then proceeded to cite a number of examples from popular culture of folks who are trying to promote tolerance of folks who fall outside of traditional sexual and gender norms.

Continuing, in the article, we read: "This wishful, magical thinking is at the root of lawlessness, false religion and the godless utopianism sought through progressive or woke ideology and outright Marxism that ends up oppressing fellow man. For it’s not enough for people to live in their own reality. They must have everyone else live in it—lest it be revealed as false. There is no kingdom of authenticity in this. It’s a kingdom of lies, being ruled by self-deception advanced through demonic deception! That won’t stand in the end. For when it all comes down to it, there is no reward in denying what’s real. It’s the truth that sets us free." For Robinson, anything which contradicts his church's notions about personal or societal morality is delusional and evil - the product of "demonic deception."

Where was he headed with all of this? After asserting that there are two genders: male and female. He went on to assert that "a liberal U.S. Supreme Court justice was not able in her recent confirmation hearings to define what a woman is!" Unfortunately, Mr. Robinson believes that everyone should conform to what he believes to be God's reality. In other words, if you were born with a penis, you MUST be a male. If you are a male, you MUST be attracted to females. If that isn't how you feel, Mr. Robinson doesn't care. He sees folks who experience gender dysphoria or same sex attraction as purposely living outside of God's reality. For him, these folks have made a personal decision to be in a state of rebellion against the way in which God ordained things to work! Mr. Robinson lives in a fantasy world where DNA, hormones, and nature never goes awry. If you ask me, that sounds an awful lot like a frontal assault on reality - gaslighting all of us into believing that we aren't really seeing what is right in front of us. After all, in the real world, folks are occasionally born without limbs and organs or functioning bodily systems!

There Are NO Apostles Today!

Although many have claimed the mantle of being the modern equivalent of an "APOSTLE," the reality is that NO ONE alive today meets the criteria established for that position by the New Testament. In the Gospels, it is revealed that Jesus Christ had twelve apostles (Matthew 10:12, Luke 6:13 and 22:14). These same scriptures also make plain that these were men whom Jesus knew personally, and whom he had chosen to be sent out with his message. Later, after one of them (Judas Iscariot) had betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, we are informed by the book of Acts that the remaining apostles chose another one of the disciples to replace him among the twelve (Acts 1:15-26). It should also be noted that they chose someone who had personally known Jesus of Nazareth and had been in his company.

Now, we should also note that these apostolos were given a specific mission by Christ himself. Indeed, the Greek word itself suggests one who is sent forth with a message - an ambassador of the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ. We read at the end of Matthew's Gospel: "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:16-20, ESV) This is also consistent with what we are informed that the Christ told these men just before he ascended into heaven. Again, in the book of Acts, we read: "So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." (Acts 1:6-9, ESV)

Notice, that the apostles were designated to act as "witnesses" for Christ in Judea, Samaria, and all over the earth. Notice also, that there isn't any indication in any of these passages of a great position of authority in the affairs or governance of the ekklesia/Church. Indeed, we are informed in the Synoptic Gospels that Christ had previously told these same men: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28, ESV) Moreover, in deciding whether or not Gentiles would be required to be circumcised and observe the tenets of Torah, we are informed in the fifteenth chapter of Acts that the Jerusalem Church settled the matter through discussion and reaching a consensus. In other words, no one appears to have been recognized as being in a position to decide the matter for the others! Now, some have suggested, in times past, that Peter was the preeminent apostle - the one in charge; but we are informed elsewhere that Paul apparently felt no compunction against correcting him about what he characterized as hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-14).

Still not convinced, some will ask: "What about Paul?" They will note that he was NOT one of the original twelve apostles, and that he had NOT personally known Christ. In answering this point, we should first point out that Paul claimed to have personally experienced the Christ and to have been instructed by him! In defending his claim to be an apostle, he told the saints of Corinth that he had seen Christ (I Corinthians 9:1). He also told the saints of Galatia that he had received his Gospel "through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12, ESV) Moreover, in the account of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, we read: "Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' And he said, /Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.'" (Acts 9:3-6, ESV) Now, anyone with even a limited knowledge of the New Testament, will understand that Paul was designated to do something that the other twelve had failed to do. Paul went on to become Christ's apostolos to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). Before Paul, the twelve had focused on Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. In short, they had failed to fulfill the commission which Christ had given to them. Of course, some will discount the theophany which scripture tells us Paul experienced, but most of them reject the validity of Scripture anyway!

Hence, it should be very plain to all of us by now that NONE of the folks who have claimed to be apostolos in our own time have ever experienced anything approaching what the fourteen men named in the New Testament experienced. None of them have experienced Jesus Christ in person. None of them have been directly commissioned by him to do anything. Moreover, we have seen that the men who were actually named as apostolos in the writings we refer to as the New Testament did NOT claim (nor was it attributed to them) any special prerogatives or authority. Simply put, THERE ARE NO APOSTLES ALIVE TODAY IN THE CHURCH!

The Allure of Politics for Christians

In their desire to promote righteousness and God's will, Christians have too often found themselves drawn into the political systems of this world. Unfortunately, instead of influencing things in a better direction, the Christian often finds him/herself participating in a process which interrupts his/her focus on God, distorts the distinction between good and evil and causes him/her to compromise with the dictates of his/her faith and conscience. One candidate or policy seems to be the right one at the time we are considering the alternatives, but we often learn later that our choice(s) produced unintended negative consequences. In other words, in our attempt to avert an evil outcome, we often set the stage for an even worse future than the one we were trying to avoid!

This is not a new phenomenon. For centuries, various Christians have seen themselves as acting to defend God, their faith, and their way of life. Christians have found themselves drawn into participating in the persecution of others and taking up arms to repel the heathen hordes of the world. Indeed, when we take an impartial look at the long history of our faith, we see numerous instances where the saints sought to use the secular governments of this world to defend or advance their agenda. Unfortunately, people of faith have taken up arms against those whom they perceived to be their (or God's) enemies, or imprisoned and/or executed them! In more modern times, we have seen Christians flood into the political system to try to influence policies related to morality, freedom, abortion, capital punishment, war, and peace. Moreover, those of us who have been tempted to jump into the fray often fail to give any serious consideration to the effects of our intervention. Did our vote make things better? Did our policy prescription solve the problem? Did our candidate improve the circumstances which originally compelled us to support him/her? In other words, how many times have we been disappointed by our political choices?

Hence, while the impulse to make a positive difference is noble and good, we find that the devil is often found in the details of what comes next! Perhaps this is why Jesus prayed that God would not remove his disciples from this world, but that "he" would protect them from the evil inherent to it (John 17:14-19)? Perhaps this is why Christ said not to worry about what is going to happen in the future, but to be prepared for what is to come (Matthew 6:25-34 and 24:36-44)? Perhaps this is why Jesus told his disciples to render unto Ceasar the things which belong to his realm, and to render unto God the things which belong to "his" realm (Matthew 22:21)? Perhaps it also accounts for the fact that Christ told his disciples to pray for the day when God's Kingdom and will have encompassed the whole earth (Matthew 6:5-13)? Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul advised the saints at Rome to be subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7)? Perhaps this is why Paul told Timothy to pray for the governing authorities so that Christians could practice their faith in peace and without harassment (I Timothy 2:1-4)? Also, perhaps this is why that same apostle later told him that Christians should not become entangled in civilian affairs (II Timothy 2:3-4)? Perhaps this also accounts for Paul's instructions to the saints at Philippi not to fret about ANYTHING, but to ask God to supply their needs (Philippians 4:4-7)? Finally, in the book of Revelation, Christians are warned against participating in the corrupt Beast/Babylonian system which is symbolic of humankind's polity (Revelation 13:16-17, 18:4-8, and 20:4).

Unfortunately, we Christians sometimes forget that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, and that our primary citizenship resides in heaven (Hebrews 11:13-16). Our salvation, spiritual and physical, is found in God's plan. In short, the political systems which humankind has devised are flawed, and they will fail someday. We must not forget that our faith and hope is found in God, and him alone! (Psalm 118:8)

The Plainest Truth

Readers of my last post may also be interested in a few other of Paul's thoughts about the proper relationship of Christians to the Law of Moses:

Romans 3:19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. (NLT)

Galatians 3:10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. (NLT)

The Mystery of the Ages Revealed!

Followers of the teachings of Herbert W Armstrong will recognize in this post the title of the book which elucidated the most comprehensive and succinct statement of those teachings. According to Armstrong, God had revealed to HIM seven mysteries from the Judeo-Christian canon which had eluded mankind's awareness for centuries: the true nature of God, the nature of angels and demons, the nature and destiny of humankind, the origins of our civilizations, the nature and purpose of Israel, the nature and identity of the Church, and the future scope and structure of God's Kingdom on this earth. Unfortunately, most of the perspectives provided in that book were deeply flawed and based on the faulty reasoning and understanding of its author.

More recently, Pastor Vance Stinson of the Church of God International delivered a sermon on "The Mystery of the Ages" in which he approached the subject from a slightly different perspective, but which resulted in many of the same conclusions which Herbert Armstrong reached about a Christian's obligation to obey parts of the Law of Moses. To his credit, at least Mr. Stinson appealed to Paul's usage of the term in his letter to the saints at Ephesus. Unfortunately, instead of following the scriptural evidence wherever it landed, he ended up twisting it to conform to the teachings about the Law which his church received from Herbert Armstrong!

At any rate, we will begin where he began and take another look at what is revealed in that passage and elsewhere in Scripture. Paul wrote: "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel<good news>. Of this gospel<good news>, I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him." (Ephesians 3:1-12, ESV) What or who is this mystery of which he is speaking? Clearly, the mystery is that God is saving humankind through the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth!

Mr. Stinson interprets the passage as revealing that "The mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs," which is certainly a part of the message. Here, and elsewhere, Paul reveals that this salvation is available to both Jews and Gentiles. Nevertheless, the context clearly demonstrates that Jesus Christ is what has been revealed to them - that HE is the vehicle of humankind's salvation. Before leaving this particular passage, we should also note that the phrase "The mystery is...." was added by the translators of the English Standard Version - it does not appear in the King James Version. Moreover, the New Living Translation makes clearer that Paul was speaking about the entire plan of salvation (of which Christ was the focus). This is underscored by the eleventh verse of that translation: "This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:11, NLT)

That this was the mystery that Paul was discussing is made even clearer in the opening to this epistle, and in its conclusion. In the first chapter, we read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." (Ephesians 1:3-10, ESV) Likewise, toward the end of the epistle, Paul asked the saints to pray "that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it." (Ephesians 6:19-10, ESV) Clearly, the mystery which Paul was speaking about is the plan to save humankind through Jesus!

Indeed, this is the mystery which Paul proclaimed in all of his epistles to the saints of the First Century. In the conclusion of his letter to the saints at Rome, he wrote: "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." (Romans 16:25-27, ESV) Likewise, in one of his epistles to the saints of Corinth, he wrote: "When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. (I Corinthians 2:1-8, NLT) Also, in his letter to the saints of Colossae, he wrote: "I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:25-27, ESV)

Nevertheless, in his sermon, Pastor Stinson continued to insist that Christians are obligated to observe some of the tenets of Torah. Indeed, the Armstrongist practice of lifting a few passages out of context and using them as prooftexts was apparent throughout his message. His treatment of the second chapter of Paul's letter to the saints at Ephesus is a case in point. In addressing the Gentile Christians of this congregation, Paul wrote: "Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called 'uncircumcised heathens' by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." (Ephesians 2:11-18, NLT) What had created this wall of hostility? Could it have anything to do with the fact that the Torah was given to Israel, and that made them very different from the Gentiles who surrounded them? Clearly, Paul thought that Christ had accomplished this by "ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations."

Even so, after reading the italicized portion of the above passage as part of his text, Mr. Stinson pointed to the different courts of the Temple: One for the Jews, one for the Israelites, and one for women. He then proceeded to associate this with the "wall of hostility" which existed between the two peoples (Jews and Gentiles). Wondering where he was going with this? Pastor Stinson asserts that the Law of Moses was intended for EVERYONE, both Jews and Gentiles. What? He proceeded to point out that some Gentiles worshipped the God of the Hebrews and were included in many of the provisions of Torah. To underscore his point, he quoted many of the passages from the Torah which include "the stranger who sojourneth among you." (like Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 16:29, 17:12, 18:26, 25:6, Numbers 15:15-16, etc.)

The problem with Mr. Stinson's thesis, of course, is that ALL of these instances involve aliens/Gentiles who were then residing within the boundaries of the Promised Land. In other words, the Law of Moses did NOT generally apply to the Gentile peoples of the earth! Indeed, over and over again (as I have pointed out many times), we read in Torah "Speak unto the children of Israel." In other words, there is absolutely no disputing the fact that the Law of Moses was addressed to the "children of Israel!" Now, sure, illegal immigrants to the United States are still subject to the laws of this nation, but there is no escaping the fact that those laws were designed and intended for the citizens of the United States - NOT them.

No, Armstrongites can try to twist and reason their way around the PLAIN TRUTH that God's plan to rescue humankind from sin and death through Jesus Christ is the "mystery of the Ages" which God has revealed to the ones "he" has called out of this present system! The truth remains undiminished that the Law of Moses was an iteration of God's Law intended for the people of Israel and embodied the tenets of God's Covenant with THEM! As Paul wrote long ago to the saints of Galatia about his confrontation with the Apostle Peter over this very question of Christian observance of the Law: "When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, 'Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.' But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So, I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:14-21, NLT)

Christianity Needs Reformation and Revival, NOT A New Denomination or Organization!

When Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the castle church in 1517, it was the culmination of many years of frustration and chagrin with what many believed had become a corrupt and worldly church. In short, many of the saints decided that it was time to reform their faith and remove many of the abuses, extra-biblical traditions, and authoritarian structures which had become an integral part of the Universal Church. In short, for many, the Church had evolved into something that many no longer recognized as being consistent with the values and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the founder and foundation of their faith.

Unfortunately, although the Roman Catholic Church, both reformed itself and initiated its own Counter Reformation, the folks who had protested the various corruptions of their faith devolved into a number of alternative theological camps which competed with each other for the hearts and souls of the faithful. Hence, instead of promoting greater transparency and righteousness, the whole movement devolved into a chaotic brawl which resulted in even greater dissension, dissatisfaction, intolerance and divisiveness. Far from cleaning up and restoring the ekklesia to its original purity and simplicity, Christianity focused on doctrinal and theological differences and encouraged disharmony and even more squabbling among the saints than had existed before the schism!

Over the years since, the faith of many Christians has been challenged by scientific and historical developments, which has engendered a cycle of falling away and revival. Once again, however, when we look at the health of the Christian movement as a whole, we see that this "boom-and-bust" cycle has not made a significant contribution to the growth and/or sustainability of the overall faith. Instead, in our own time, we have witnessed the stagnation of the faith on the global stage, and even its decline in both Europe and North America.

Unfortunately, too many of us have attributed the current state of our faith to secularism, science, and Satan and have failed to recognize the fault in our own course and behavior! In short, we have not set a good example of practicing what we preach and have ignored our responsibilities vis-a-vis the Great Commission. Instead of focusing on things like brotherly love, compassion, kindness, service to others, and forgiveness, we have concentrated our attention and energy on doctrine, theology, judgment, and condemnation. In short, too many of us have focused on the piece of sawdust in our brother's and sister's eyes and have ignored the large beam in our own eyes. Too many of us have devoted ourselves to the identification and condemnation of sin in others, while ignoring our own shortcomings and failures.  

Stop for just a moment and try to imagine how this appears to folks on the outside of our faith. Do the words hypocrite and heartless come to mind? They should. After all, who would want to be part of a system that doesn't embrace and practice the tenets of their own faith! What is the solution to all of this? I can assure you it isn't to be found in the formation of a new sect, denomination, or organization! No, the only real hope of correcting the current trend is in changing the hearts and behaviors of the saints themselves. If we can do that as Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, and Anglicans, there is hope for the future. For, not only will we initiate renewal, growth, and more grace and unity for ourselves, we will present a more appealing posture to others and make a better impression on the rest of the world! Indeed, that might just start filling up those empty seats in many of our churches! What do you think?

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ARE Christian Values AND Loving God and Your Neighbor

In response to the statement that "a TRUE Christian is going to be all in on DEI," one of the commentators at Banned by HWA replied: "Do you even know what DEI is? It is contrary to Christ's teaching and Christians would never get involved in such a thing. Apparently, you are confused as to what true love is, believing it to be the acceptance of sin." From my own experience, this is standard fare for many of the folks involved in Armstrongism (not all of them). They claim that most of the folks who claim to be Christian are NOT, and that they embrace a "touchy-feely" kind of "false" love! Personally, I'm thinking that it's the other way around - the folks who say such things are the ones who are NOT Christians!

First, the Apostle Paul defined love as: "patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing <like discrimination> but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." (I Corinthians 13:4-8, ESV) In other words, things like cliquishness, exclusivity, discrimination, and racism are INCONSISTENT with Paul's definition of love. Moreover, those things are also INCONSISTENT with Christ's example and teachings!

Jesus of Nazareth declared: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16-17) Likewise, Paul wrote to the saints of Galatia: "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:26-29, ESV) He also wrote to the Christians in Rome that "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Romans 3:22-30, ESV)

Indeed, Jesus was criticized for healing those who were disabled and keeping company with sinners. In the Gospel of Luke, we read: "And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'" (Luke 5:30-32) In the same spirit, James wrote: "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." (James 2:1-10, ESV) Hmmmm, I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like diversity, equity, and inclusion to me!

The Helper/Comforter

In the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ had this to say about the Helper or parakletos (one who helps/aids/comforts):

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:15-17, ESV

"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:25-26, ESV

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." - John 15:26, ESV

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." - John 16:7-14, ESV 

A Guest Commentary: Serving Disabled People

True Christians or truly good people in general It should sadden our hearts to see the great suffering of the disabled people. Like the Shriners hospital for children, we should remember the disabled members of our community and those who care for them.

UCG supports law enforcement but when they had the opportunity to do justice, the pastor said we should leave the justice up to God. He thought the courts and police were working for God. How come, if God is real, he never punishes people himself like striking them down with a lightning bolt? The only things God ever does is stuff that is humanly possible, and that is done by humans themselves - never God himself.

We ought to feel saddened by the suffering of disabled people. A minister said, "Don't take them to the feast because you have to watch them." That's discrimination because the UCG minister told someone not to take them to the feast because they would need to be watched. After all, they are disabled. If they truly had an outgoing concern, they wouldn't mind watching someone who's disabled I would want them to have a good time at the feast. That is what he told someone who invited us to the feast last year.

IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF GOD, there is an arrogant ableist that is prejudice towards disabled people so a United Church of God member told someone, pointing at me and my brother, "I can't hang out with these guys." Someone asked, "Why can't you?"  Who was this man? Only the most arrogant and hateful person, who claims to follow Jesus Christ but does not live up to it! He said that we talk funny and are socially awkward. Even though the bible says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." He also called us "retards" to our face!

Jesus commanded to invite the disabled to feast with you. "Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them. Then you will have your reward. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they cannot pay you back. They have nothing. But you will be rewarded when the good people rise from death.'" - Luke 14:12‭-‬14 ICB 

Persecution is a crime that is defined as severe discrimination that results in the denial or infringement of fundamental rights. Practice inclusive love as Jesus loved. Treat everyone as if they were an angel in disguise. One of the people who refused to help disabled people said, "We need a president who can speak!" - putting down Joe Biden on a Facebook post for his speech impediment. It is commonly believed Moses had a speech impediment too. Would you say he is not a good leader because of how he talked too, really? They like Moses but pick on people with speech problems in our time. Moses’ own description of himself is that he had trouble speaking, and God allowed his brother Aaron to act as spokesman for him (Exodus 4:14–16; 7:1–6).

People will know the distinctiveness of Christians by the nature of their sacrificial love for one another. Loving one another invites a test of the validity of genuine Christian living. Love is the badge of a Christian. I wonder why Christians would treat someone with a speech impediment in our time badly when the Bible says Moses had one? Even though you shouldn't pick on someone for having a disability, did you imagine they would pick on someone who for something that someone in the Bible also had, like Moses was known as a stutterer, but they pick on Joe Biden for also being a stutterer, they love Moses, but they pick on Joe, but he has the same thing that Moses had?

The person who bashed Joe Biden for his speech impediment also has a Facebook account he shares with his wife. Isn’t the Bible talking about how we should behave with humility and sacrificial love? Interestingly, that goes against our nature. We tend to want to be the best, the strongest, the first in line. Jesus teaches being a servant. The church called "The United Church of God" discriminates against the disabled apparently their churches college doesn't offer any accommodations for people with disabilities. 

What does Judaism say about this? The commandment "Thou shalt not oppress the weak" applies to all individuals, including those who are disabled. In Judaism, every person is valued and worthy of respect, regardless of any physical or mental disabilities they may have. We are taught to treat all individuals with kindness, compassion, and empathy, following the principle of "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Disabilities are not a measure of a person's worth or value in the eyes of our faith. In Judaism, every individual is considered to be created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), regardless of any physical or mental disabilities they may have.

The Torah teaches us to treat all people with respect, kindness, and compassion, including those with disabilities. In fact, there are specific commandments and laws in Jewish tradition that emphasize the importance of caring for and supporting individuals with disabilities. For example, Leviticus 19:14 states, "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. | am the Lord." This verse teaches us not to take advantage of someone's disability or mistreat them in any way.

 Additionally, Jewish tradition places a strong emphasis on the concept of "tikkun olam," which means repairing the world. This includes working towards creating a more inclusive and accessible society for people with disabilities. Overall, Judaism values the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, and teaches us to treat all people with compassion and respect, regardless of any disabilities they may have.

The Bible teaches that every person conceived in this world is a unique creation of God. Ultimately, in the eyes of Judaism, individuals with disabilities are valued members of our community, deserving of love, respect, and support just like anyone else. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to fully participate in society and have their needs met with dignity and compassion. There is a commandment in the Jewish 613 commandments it says " Not to oppress the weak—Exodus 22:21 "

About the disabled, we should show them compassion and serve them as equals. Remember, Jesus healed the blind, the mute, and the lame during Jesus's time on earth. Each one of them was a precious child of God, deserving of dignity and respect. We must not look upon them with condescension or sadness, but rather with understanding and empathy. For we are all in need of healing, whether from physical infirmity or spiritual blindness.

Additional notes: Bullying is hurting or threatening people who seem weak. If a church does not give disabled people the same equal opportunities as non-disabled individuals, it could be considered discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of people with disabilities goes against the principles of equality and fairness. All individuals should be treated equally and without discrimination regardless of their disabilities and abilities. 

About the Bible: The four gospel accounts record that Christ performed many miracles during His ministry. Many of His most dramatic were healings. He made the lame walk—gave sight to the blind—healed lepers—healed others with the palsy—and “healed all that were sick” (Matt. 8:16). He also performed many healings of the mind by casting out demons from those who were possessed.

My brother was going to Suffolk Community College now, but UCG bullies were so arrogant they were trying to recommend a day program. I remember when someone even said, "They can walk!" And the church also didn't punish someone who made disabled people cry or want to hang out with them because of their disabilities and punched another church member in the face when they were fighting! 

When we see Christians who mock the disabled, It means that there is a disconnect between the teachings of Jesus, who showed love and compassion towards the disabled, and the actions of some individuals who claim to follow him. By mocking the disabled, these individuals are not embodying the values of kindness, acceptance, and empathy that Jesus exemplified. This behavior is not in line with the teachings of Christianity and goes against the principles of love and respect for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

NOTE: The author of this post, my friend, is a very articulate, bright, and thoughtful young man with a cognitive disability. He is curious about the world around him and wants to be a part of it. I believe that he and his brother should be treated with the same respect and compassion which Scripture enjoins us to do for others. I should also note that I edited out some individual names from the original and inserted a few pronouns and punctuation marks. What do you think?

The Holy Days Point to Jesus Christ as Our Savior!

Although Herbert Armstrong and his followers have maintained that Christians are obligated to observe the Sabbath and Festivals of Torah, they have largely NOT understood them or their purpose. Even though Jesus once said that he came to this earth to fulfill the Law (Torah), and Paul said that they were shadows of the reality found in Christ, they have maintained that all of those symbols pointed to God's "great plan of redemption." Ironically, although that is technically true, they mostly leave Jesus - the central feature of that plan - out of the picture! (See HWA's Pagan Holidays - or God's Holy Days - Which?)

After over eighty years of trying to observe these festivals, modern Armstrongists still don't fully understand the Holy Days they insist we are required to observe. In its latest issue of Beyond Today, the United Church of God proclaims: "Besides His weekly Sabbath, our Creator has revealed seven annual festivals starting in the spring, each one depicting some great event in the ongoing mapping of God’s salvation for humankind...Each represents a decisive turning point in human history." The article goes on to say that "The Feast of Trumpets maps the arrival of Jesus Christ." Continuing in the Armstrongist tradition, they go on to say that "The Day of Atonement maps Satan’s removal," and that "The Feast of Tabernacles maps universal peace and prosperity." Really?

Likewise, the Systematic Theology Project of the Church of God International states that "These seven annual 'appointed feasts' picture God’s plan of salvation for mankind." The document goes on to assert that the understanding that Satan should be associated with the Azazel goat of the Day of Atonement is derived from a book outside of the canon. They state: "In later literature 'Azazel' was considered a name for the chief of the demons, i.e. another name for Satan (1 Enoch 9:6; 10:4)." Regarding Tabernacles, the document states: "This festival metaphorically illustrates the Millennium—the 1,000 years of Christ’s reign on earth. The true harvest of mankind can now take place. Without Satan—the original source of evil finally removed—all nations can now be brought to God. For 1,000 years, a Golden Age shall reign: happiness and peace shall be reality and worldwide salvation shall be possible."

But, do these interpretations of the meanings of these days really conform to what Scripture reveals about its own symbolism? We will demonstrate in this post that the Armstrong Churches of God fundamentally misunderstand what these observances foreshadowed! 

In Torah, God revealed his Sabbath to the Israelites by teaching them how to gather manna - the bread from heaven. Likewise, for us, Jesus is both the bread from heaven and our rest. Just as the Sabbath was the sign of the Old Covenant between God and Israel, Jesus is the sign of the New Covenant. Moreover, just as the Israelites were expected to work for six days and rest on the seventh, Jesus represents our rest from our own works. (Compare Exodus 16:1-31, Exodus 20:8-11, Leviticus 23:1-3, Matthew 11:28, John 6:30-41, John 7:37, Hebrews 4:1-11)

Jesus was the young lamb without blemish whose blood was painted over the door posts of our dwellings (these temporary bodies which we now inhabit) to make the destroyer (Satan) not enter our houses. Christ is the Passover Lamb whose shed blood causes death to pass over us.  Just as Moses led God's people out of slavery in Egypt, Jesus leads God's people out of slavery to sin. He is also the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth that we must partake of to be reconciled to God. Moreover, Jesus is the wave sheaf offering - the firstfruits of the harvest waved before Almighty God during the days of unleavened bread. (Compare Exodus 12:1-27, Leviticus 23:4-14, John 1:29, I Corinthians 5:7, I Corinthians 15:20 and 23, I Peter 1:19)

Now, just as the wave sheaf represented the first of the firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost represented the rest of the fruits from that first harvest. Christ's sacrifice and offering to God had made it possible for God to harvest even more fruit. In this way, Christ's disciples became part of that first harvest. Prior to his sacrifice and death, Jesus had promised his followers that God would send them a Comforter to assist them in their growth and maturation - until they were ready to be harvested. Remember too, that ALL of the offerings to God associated with these festivals pointed to the offering of Jesus Christ to God. (Compare Leviticus 23:15-22, Deuteronomy 16:9-12, John 14:16 and 26, John 15:26, John 16:7, Acts 2:1-36, I Corinthians 15:23, Ephesians 5:2, James 1:18, Revelation 14:4)

Just as silver trumpets were used to summon the assembly in the wilderness and to summon them to move and to celebrate and to go to war, Jesus has summoned humankind to reconciliation and salvation and has commissioned his disciples to "trumpet" that message to the world. Moreover, the New Testament makes clear that Christ will return to this earth with the blast of a trumpet, and that the dead in Christ will be resurrected at that time. (Compare Leviticus 23:23-25, Numbers 10:2, 8, 9-10, Numbers 29:1, Numbers 31:6, Matthew 28:19-20, I Corinthians 15:52, I Thessalonians 4:16)

In the Old Testament, Aaron was God's High Priest who performed the annual rituals associated with the Day of Atonement. Christ, of course, is the High Priest of the New Covenant. Unlike Aaron, Jesus presented his own blood before the true altar in heaven. Also, instead of placing all of the peoples' sins on the head of a goat, Jesus himself bore our sins away from us and God's presence. Moreover, by removing our sins from us and God's presence, Jesus has reconciled us to God and made us at one with Him! Also, unlike Aaron's yearly ritual, Christ's atonement was a one-time event that does not ever have to be repeated. Moreover, just as Jesus was afflicted and suffered, his followers are expected to accompany him in his affliction and suffering. (Compare Leviticus 16:1-32, Leviticus 23:26-32, Isaiah 53:1-12, John 1:29, I Peter 4:13, Hebrews 5:1-10, Hebrews 8:1-7, Hebrews 9:1-28, Hebrews 10:1-14)

Finally, the children of Israel were instructed to dwell in temporary shelters for the duration of the last festival to remind them that they had been forced to dwell in temporary shelters while they wandered in the wilderness. In similar fashion, Christ was made to tabernacle in the flesh for a little while so that he could experience what we all experience in these mortal bodies and pay the penalty which our sins have incurred. Moreover, just as the Feast of Weeks celebrated the first or Spring harvest, this festival also pictured the second or fall harvest in the Holy Land. Also, Christ's tabernacling in the flesh paved the way for the great spiritual harvest at the end of the age - the time when the majority of mankind will finally be harvested and receive salvation and life through Jesus Christ! (Compare Leviticus 23:33-43, John 1:14, I Corinthians 15:20-28, II Corinthians 4:7, Hebrews 2:9 and 14-18, II Peter 1:14)

As for the so-called "Last Great Day," we read in the Gospel of John that Christ delivered a specific message on that day. In that account, we read: "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39) Hence, we see that, once again, the day is all about Jesus and salvation through HIM! Unlike the voluminous writings of the ACOGs, this post represents the real Scriptural meaning of these days.