Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen. 2 It was by faith that our forebears were approved. 3 Through faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God; everything we now see was fashioned from that which is invisible. - The Voice
For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.
- Stuart Chase
Although I am NOT a Fundamentalist (one who believes in the inerrancy of Scripture), I continue to be amused by the arguments of atheists and other non-believers against God and the Bible. For folks who pride themselves in their devotion to logic and skepticism, it never ceases to amaze me just how irrational and obtuse some of them can be when it comes to the topic of Scripture. They point out the obvious inconsistencies, inaccuracies, contradictions, and moral failures inherent to the Judeo-Christian Bible and dismiss the possibility of any Divine involvement, and/or they see those things as proof that the God it purports to represent does not exist! For them, the imperfections constitute absolute PROOF that both God and the Bible are just outdated relics of a superstitious past!
Unfortunately, the standard Christian apologetics do NOTHING to discredit these folks or disprove the imperfections which they point out! In fact, more often than not, their answers and explanations only serve to reinforce the criticisms of the non-believers! Instead of acknowledging the role played by fallible humans in the writing and editing of Scripture, they insist that all of the discrepancies found therein are merely illusions and that all of the historical, geographical, and scientific information contained therein is absolutely accurate. As a consequence, the non-believers simply smile, shake their heads, and correctly assert that the "Christian" response is delusional and demonstrates the validity of their criticisms.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the answer to these folks is NOT to be found in the beliefs and arguments of Fundamentalists. Indeed, if we are to rely on the teachings and beliefs of the Fundamentalists, we have already lost the argument! On the other hand, if we wish to have an intelligent conversation about Scripture and God, it must begin with an acknowledgement by both sides that Scripture is NOT a historically, scientifically, or geographically reliable text! (Indeed, I would argue that it was NEVER intended to be that kind of book.) Likewise, both sides must be willing to acknowledge that these writings have human fingerprints all over them - that they are literally full of the evidence of human error and frailty. Of course, we should also expect that these acknowledgements will be somewhat disorienting for our non-believing friends. After all, we've automatically eliminated most of the arguments which they quite effectively employ against the Fundamentalists!
The TRUTH is that God decided long ago to make Scripture a project in which "he" invited human collaboration/participation. Moreover, it is also imperative that we reject the Fundamentalist notion of what does and does not constitute inspiration. According to both Scripture and our own experiences as humans, inspiration is much more subtle and nuanced than what the Fundamentalists or their opposites would have us believe! The TRUTH is that God's Spirit is portrayed in the Bible as guiding, leading, educating, suggesting a course of action - it is NEVER portrayed as controlling, forcing, demanding, or dictating a course of action. And, as suggested, when we appeal to the creative experiences of artists, musicians, architects, athletes, etc., we find that inspiration is most often found in the midst of solitude and simplicity. In other words, within the context of the human experience, inspiration is rarely associated with something that is imposed or forced on an individual. Hence, the entire notion of Divine dictation of Scripture is shown to be absurd and without foundation!
In addition to all of this, we must understand that there are limitations/problems/difficulties inherent to the process of human communication. Indeed, whether most of us realize it or not, human communication is always a process. In the article, The Communication Process, we read: "The Communication Process can be broken down into several commonly accepted steps that are comprised of the following components: The Sender – This is the individual or group who is initiating the message. This message can be verbal or non-verbal, can be ongoing or a one-off, can be conscious or unconscious. The Sender can also be referred to as the Communicator. The Receiver – There must be a message sent if there is one to be received. The Receiver – sometimes known as the Interpreter – is the individual or group to whom the message is sent. Sometimes, a message received was one that was not necessarily intended to be. The Message – This is the particular content that is sent and received. The message is coded by the users in a process that we will describe shortly. The Channel – (or Medium) is the means by which the message is sent. Some common channels are: spoken voice/telephone/radio/television, written word, computer, The Context – This is the setting or environment in which the message is conveyed. Feedback – This is the response by the Receiver as to the success of the communication." Moreover, among these various components of the process, we should all be able to discern the potential for problems.
On the Communication Theory website, the article Barriers to Effective Communication, lists a number of potential problems which can and do interfere with human communication. In this regard, the article groups them together in the following categories: physical barriers (space-proximity, time, place, medium, etc.), psychological barriers (anger, depression and stress, mental states and disorders, drowsiness, fatigue, frustration, excitement, boredom, disinterest, nervousness etc.), cultural barriers, language barriers, semantic barriers, personal barriers (personality, social style, level of confidence, clothing, emotions, lack of knowledge etc.), physiological barriers (loss of eyesight, mental illnesses, physical illnesses, hearing and speaking impairment, even the learning disabilities like dyslexia, loss of memory, excessive fatigue and tiredness etc.), gender barriers, etc. In addition to these more general threats to human communication, there are also more specific challenges to written communications (as in Scripture).
In the Clearinfo, article Advantages And Disadvantages of Written Communication (from a business perspective), the following disadvantages are listed: no immediate feedback, misinterpretation and ambiguity, time-consuming, non-verbal cues not available, accessibility, rigidity, impersonal, etc. What about the advantages inherent to written communication? In the same article, we read: "One of the key merits of written communication is its ability to provide a permanent record of information that can be referred to in the future...Additionally, written communication can be easily disseminated to large groups of people, making it a valuable way to communicate important messages to a wide audience. When communicating orally, it is easy to miss or forget important details. However, with written communication, one can take the time to carefully craft a message that includes all necessary information. All in all written communication is a vital form of a communication channel as It allows for the permanent record of information, provides a means of disseminating important messages, and enables the conveyance of detailed and precise information. " The article also points out that oral communication is subject to certain advantages and disadvantages. In other words, all forms of human communication are imperfect and are subject to important limitations.
In an article for Psychology Today, How the Language You Speak Influences the Way that You Think, Dr. Neel Burton wrote: "Language may not determine thought, but it focuses perception and attention on particular aspects of reality, structures and thereby enhances cognitive processes, and even to some extent regulates social relationships. Our language reflects and at the same time shapes our thoughts and, ultimately, our culture, which in turn shapes our thoughts and language. There is no equivalent in English of the Portuguese word saudade, which refers to the love and longing for someone or something that has been lost and may never be regained. The rise of saudade coincided with the decline of Portugal and the yen for its imperial heyday, a yen so strong and so bitter as to have written itself into the national anthem: Levantai hoje de novo o esplendor de Portugal [Let us once again lift up the splendour of Portugal]. The three strands of language, thought, and culture are so tightly woven that they cannot be prised apart."
"Alright, Lonnie, I get that human communication - in particular the written word - is imperfect and not always efficient in communicating thoughts and ideas, but what does this have to do with the Judeo-Christian Bible?" my unbelieving friends will acknowledge. My answer: "EVERYTHING!" If the process is inherently imperfect/flawed, then it is literally impossible to fashion something which is completely reliable and error free! "With God all things are possible!" my Fundamentalist friends will quickly retort. I would respond by pointing out that the messenger (God) can be perfect and error free, but the vehicle of a humanly devised language is imperfect and must necessarily yield an inferior product. Let's say that the message is crafted in a flawless Divinely created language - that both the Sender (God) and the Message are perfect, we still have to account for the imperfection of the Receiver (us) - the way that we receive and interpret the message! Even so, I would say that God has employed a very flawed process to successfully communicate a message to humanity. In other words, God has made the impossible possible!
In the introduction to my copy of the New Living Translation (NLT), I found some valuable insights into the way that the ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts are translated into English. We read there: "English Bible translations tend to be governed by one of two general translation theories. The first theory has been called 'formal-equivalence,' 'literal,' or 'word-for-word' translation. According to this theory, the translator attempts to render each word of the original language into English and seeks to preserve the original syntax and sentence structure as much as possible in translation. The second theory has been called 'dynamic-equivalence,' 'functional-equivalence,' or 'thought-for-thought' translation. The goal of this translation theory is to produce in English the closest natural equivalent of the message expressed by the original-language text, both in meaning and in style." The NLT translators went on to acknowledge that both theories have their strengths.
Continuing, we read: "The pure application of either of these translation philosophies would create translations at opposite ends of the translation spectrum. But in reality, all translations contain a mixture of these two philosophies. A purely formal-equivalence translation would be unintelligible in English, and a purely dynamic-equivalence translation would risk being unfaithful to the original. That is why translations shaped by dynamic-equivalence theory are usually quite literal when the original text is relatively clear, and the translations shaped by formal-equivalence theory are sometimes quite dynamic when the original text is obscure." Once again, the process of communicating this message is an inherently imprecise exercise!
"Alright, Lonnie, we understand the theoretical implications that this has for any written document - including the Bible, but what does this mean in practical terms?" My Fundamentalist and non-believing friends will demand. In answering this question, I think two examples will suffice. In the second and third chapters of Genesis, we find a narrative about a nude couple placed in the midst of a garden paradise with two magical trees and a talking serpent. Should this narrative be understood literally or figuratively? Is it happenstance or intentional that the serpent in this Hebrew Old Testament narrative is later identified in the Greek New Testament as being synonymous with Satan the Devil? Likewise, when we read in the King James Version: "Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men," is it clear what the author is talking about? OR Does this passage from the New Living Translation make its meaning clearer: "Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes"?
Hence, we return to our original question: Does the Judeo-Christian Bible prove that God doesn't exist? Would a perfect being with unlimited resources at his disposal author such an imperfect book? If God is love, why do we read of instances where "he" commanded the Israelites to murder innocent women and children in cold blood? How can we believe in a God or a book that claims the Sun and Moon were created after the Earth?
I would answer all of these questions by saying that even if God had personally written every line in the book (a notion which the book itself clearly contradicts), the audience - we who have received the intended message - would misinterpret and misuse the book! The God in whom I believe decided to involve the receivers in the formulation/writing of "his" message - decided to involve them in the entire process! Humankind has been an integral part of the process of communicating this message from the very beginning. Humans have participated in ALL of the components of the process: Sender, Receiver, Message, Channel, Context, and Feedback. "So, you're admitting that humans wrote, edited, produced the Bible?" my friends on both sides of the divide will demand. "YES," is my answer.
Even so, I would also add that I see clear evidence of another set of fingerprints all over this collection of writings we call "The Holy Bible." Moreover, I would suggest that this evidence is spiritually discerned - ONLY recognizable by the indwelling of the Divine Spirit within me. In other words, I see a book that is both very human and flawed, while simultaneously communicating that there is someone (God) with a beautiful purpose and plan behind all that we experience, have experienced, or will experience in the future. What do you think?
“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
So, the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium. --Acts 23:26-35, ESV
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So, I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”-- Acts 24:1-21, ESV
On some level, all of us are aware that everything has a beginning and an end - even us! Cosmologists tell us that our universe began with a Big Bang and will eventually come to an end (continuing to expand and die a cold death or collapse on itself in a fiery cataclysm). Interestingly, the Judeo-Christian Bible projects the same kind of narrative - that the universe had a beginning, and that it also will come to an end someday.
For humankind, the scientific/scriptural narrative of a beginning and an end makes sense. After all, our tombstones and obituaries mark the parameters of our time on this planet with a birth date and death date. In the United States, everyone has a birth certificate and a death certificate. In other words, we think of our own lives as having a beginning and an end. In other words, the concept is very familiar to us. In fact, if we really think about this, we come to the realization that this "beginning and end" narrative is foundational to the reality we inhabit!
Scientists speak of the birth and death of our Sun, and the formation and destruction of our solar system. They tell us that the earth was formed about four and a half billion years ago, and that our dying sun will one day expand into the orbits of the terrestrial planets and completely destroy the planet we currently inhabit. Moreover, many scientists speculate that humankind may very well face extinction long before the sun finally swallows the earth!
In the first chapter of the book of Genesis (which literally means the beginning), we read that God created the heaven(s) and the earth. The same chapter goes on to record the origins of plant and animal life on the planet's surface, and the origins of humankind itself (the creation of the first man and woman). The book goes on to explain the origins of the Israelites, beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and continuing through the stories of the patriarchs of the twelve (13) tribes.
Indeed, the Hebrew Scriptures tell the story of how the Israelites came to inhabit the "Promised Land" and recounts the story of how their kingdoms began and eventually ended - of how the Temple was built and eventually destroyed. In fact, much of the writings of the prophets are concerned with the predicted end of the kingdoms as Divine punishment for their sins. Likewise, these same writings recount the origins of God's covenant with the Israelites (Mount Sinai), and the Israelites refusal to abide by its terms, and God's eventual decision to end his covenant with them.
In the New Testament, the oldest Gospel account (Mark) of Christ's life and ministry speaks of "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." In the Gospel of John, we read: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." In the book of Revelation, the glorified Christ declared that he was "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," and "the first and the last."
Christ also spoke in terms of the "end of the world." In his first letter to the saints at Corinth, Paul wrote: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
Likewise, in his second epistle, Peter spoke in these terms about the end: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
In the book of Revelation, we read of a Great White Throne judgment and a "Lake of Fire," and a new heaven and earth. Moreover, in the chapters which follow, a glorious paradise is described where death, sorrow, and evil will not exist - a new beginning for the faithful. Now, this brings us to the major difference between the scientific and the Scriptural narratives about beginnings and endings. The scientific narratives are generally devoid of both meaning or comfort. There is either an eternity of cold nothingness or an endless contraction and Big Bang cycle where the Universe begins and ends over and over again - in a meaningless and never-ending exercise in futility. Which scenario makes more sense to you? And what about a being which claims to exist outside of our reality of beginning and endings?
Herbert Armstrong and his followers often scolded traditional Christians for their focus on the New Testament and their apparent disregard for the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). He and his followers bragged that they used the WHOLE BIBLE - NOT just a small portion of it. Now, while we should all be willing to acknowledge that traditional Christianity's use and understanding of the "Old" Testament has often been woefully inadequate, other folks (like Armstrong and his followers) have swung to the opposite extreme and have over corrected for the insufficiency of their more traditional brothers and sisters in the faith!
These folks point out that the early Church was entirely Jewish in nature, and that the only Scriptures available to Christ and his apostles were those of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). Once again, while I would not characterize this observation as inaccurate, I would point out that it doesn't represent the WHOLE story of First Century Christianity! Unfortunately, in their attempt to correct how more traditional Christians have used and understood Scripture, they have often ignored the work and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples in the New Testament! To put it more bluntly, they have effectively placed themselves under the terms of God's Covenant with Israel! (Armstrong adopted Torah Sabbath and festival observance, clean and unclean meats, tithing, etc.)
In this connection, notice these statements taken from a website of the Hebrew Roots Movement:
The Hebrew Roots Movement is a general term used for an emerging grassroots spiritual awakening taking place worldwide with Christians returning to the original first century faith, beliefs, and understanding of the Scriptures as taught by the Messiah, Early Church and Apostles. Hebrew Roots is not a denomination or church, but rather a mindset seeking to emulate Jesus (Y'shua) as much as possible.
Hebrew Roots Christians are often called "Whole Bible Believers" due to our teaching of and obedience to the Word of God (All of It). We follow the first-century foundation of the faith: that every disciple of Jesus (Y'shua) is to walk (live) just as he did, in obedience to the Old Testament laws and commandments of God.
The 1st Century Church and apostles, in following the example of the Jesus (Y'shua), also obeyed and taught the Torah as the foundation to the walk of every disciple. This included the Apostle Paul as seen in Acts 24:14, Romans 2:13, Romans 2:20, Romans 3:31, and Titus 2:13-14. Hebrew Roots Christians do not obey God's laws to be saved, they obey God's laws because they are saved. They have a deep love and passion for God (1 John 5:3) which produces a deep desire to live their daily lives in a way that is pleasing to God - that is, in a way that attempts to live without sin (without offending God).
See - Hebrew Roots of Christianity (above quotations)
See - The Hebrew Roots Movement: What It Is and What It Isn't
In defense of these teachings, like Armstrong, they employ a number of "proof-texts" (some of the same ones used by Mr. Armstrong and his followers):
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. - I John 3:4, KJV
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. - I John 3:4, ESV
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. - I John 5:3, KJV
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. - I John 5:3, ESV
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets...Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19, KJV
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:17-19, ESV
The problems with both the Hebrew Roots Movement and Armstrongism originate in a bunch of false assumptions which are NOT rooted in Scripture or the history of early Christianity:
1. They assume that the provisions of Torah represented the eternal and universal manifestation of God's Law - instead of the terms of God's Covenant with the ancient Israelites.
2. They assume that because Jesus, his apostles, and the Jerusalem Church observed the Sabbath and Holy Days that all Christians are obligated to follow that example.
3. They assume that the New Covenant is really only a slightly modified/enhanced/updated version of the Old Covenant.
4. They assume that their devotion to Torah identifies them as the obedient of God and is proof that they revere ALL of the Bible, not just some Proverbs, Psalms, and the New Testament (like those poor misguided Traditional Christians).
5. They assume that the original teachings of Christ and the Apostles were corrupted over time, and that most of the visible Church adopted pagan customs and celebrations and strayed from obedience to God's Law.
Now, as this blog has pointed out in many different posts over the years, ALL of these assumptions are FALSE! The TRUTH is that they are guilty of the very thing which they accuse Traditional Christianity of doing! They cherry-pick the Scriptures and history to support their teachings about Torah observance - instead of reaching conclusions based on an objective evaluation of ALL of the evidence. Consider the following (think of this as an abbreviated summary of a number of the past posts on this blog):
1. Over and over again, the commandments and rituals of Torah were addressed to the Children of Israel! (Exodus 12:3, 47, 50, 19:3-5, 20:1-2, 25:2, Leviticus 4:2, 12:2, 23:2, Numbers 5:6, 6:2, 27:8, Deuteronomy 1:1, 4:1, 5:1, etc.)
2. Jesus, his apostles, and the Jerusalem Church were all practicing Jews (including Paul). Hence, we would EXPECT to find them observing the provisions of Torah! Moreover, as Christ came to this earth to fulfill the Hebrew Scriptures (Torah, Prophets, and Writings), we would EXPECT to find him doing just that!
3. Once the Church finally began to carry Christ's Gospel to the Gentile world, the great Jerusalem Council decided that Gentile Christians would NOT have to become Jews and observe the provisions of Torah! (Acts 15:1-35 and Galatians 2, 3)
4. The Old Testament makes very clear that the Children of Israel repeatedly violated the terms of God's Covenant with them, and that he eventually divorced and disowned them! (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:8, 11:10, 31:32, Hosea 8:1, Zechariah 11:10) Likewise, both testaments make plain that God intended to make a NEW Covenant with the people of Israel and the other nations of the earth. (Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:1-13, 12:24)
5. If we truly accept Jesus as the Messiah/Christ, we must believe that he represented the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures. We must believe that he came to this earth to fulfill them, and that he accomplished that mission. Indeed, this is the basis of the Christian faith: that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the symbolism AND requirements of Torah perfectly, and that he offered himself as an innocent - an entirely righteous individual - to pay the penalty for OUR SINS! (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 1:21, 5:17, Mark 15:28, Luke 4:16-21, 24:44, John 1:29, 45, 13:18, 17:12, 19:24, 28, 36, Acts 5:31, 13:38, 28:23, Romans 3:21, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, 2:17) I have also written a number of posts demonstrating that the Hebrew Scriptures pointed to Christ (especially Torah).
6. Christ identified two of the commandments of Torah as encompassing the whole of the Law: Love for God, and each other. Christ identified these commandments as the ones to be written on the hearts of his followers, and the things that would identify them as his disciples to the world. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 7:12, 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28, John 13:31-35, 15:9-17, Romans 13:9-10, I Corinthians 13, James 2:8-13, I John 2:7-11, 3:1-24, 4:7-21) Please note that the Two Great Commandments summarize the Ten Commandments given to Israel, and the Ten summarize all of the 613 individual commandments of Torah which reflected the terms of God's covenant with Israel. In other words, ALL of the other commandments of Torah are elaborations of the TWO! Why did Israel need such a detailed list of commandments? Because they were mostly a carnal people who did NOT have access to the Holy Spirit!
7. ALL of the practices of the early Christian community reflected an emphasis on Jesus of Nazareth and his work (including the celebration of the Eucharist, Resurrection, repentance, baptism, fellowshipping, gift of the Holy Spirit, birth of Christ, his mother, works and writings of his apostles, prayers, songs, healings, exorcisms, etc.). Indeed, history reflects the fact that Christianity was very effective in almost completely eradicating paganism and supplanting it with faith in Jesus as Messiah! In other words, the narrative that paganism eventually swallowed up and supplanted Christianity is the exact OPPOSITE of what history reveals on this subject!
Now, having said all of that, more traditional Christianity has tended to neglect the Hebrew Scriptures. Indeed, many of them seem to have forgotten that those writings ALL pointed to Jesus Christ, and that the apostles and early Church employed them to teach about him! Nevertheless, they have generally understood that Christ has fulfilled the requirements and meaning of Torah for them. Likewise, they have generally understood that they will NOT be justified or rewarded by/for obeying the commandments of Torah! (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:11, 24)
Now we come to the question of Paul's Ethnic Gospel (a post by James Wood about a book by Jason Staples for First Things. Wood writes:
According to Staples, Paul’s gospel represents not an abandonment of Israel’s ethnic identity but its restoration—accomplished paradoxically through the incorporation of Gentiles. The inclusion of Gentiles is not a detour from Israel’s story but a key to its fulfillment. Paul proclaims not salvation from ethnicity, but rather an ethnic salvation. His gospel is steeped in the “restorationist” hopes of Second Temple Judaism. In this historical-theological framework, a distinction emerges: “Jews” designates the descendants of the southern kingdom of Judah, whereas “Israel” refers to the full twelve tribes, especially the lost northern tribes who were exiled and assimilated by Assyria. The northern tribes’ exile constituted an “ethnic death,” as these Israelites were scattered among and absorbed by the Gentiles—a process Staples calls “gentilization.” Their recovery required not merely return but resurrection. And this resurrection, Paul proclaims, occurs through the in- gathering of Gentiles—its partial accomplishment during Paul’s lifeand its future complete fulfillment. Since Israel has been scattered among and assimilated by the nations, her salvation depends on salvation’s coming to Gentiles (Rom. 11:11–26). God, in his providence, uses this dilemma to accomplish his original promise for his chosen people: that the blessing of Abraham should come to all nations (Gal. 3:14; cf. Rom. 11:12). As Staples provocatively puts it, “Where Israel had become gentilized, now Gentiles were effectively being Israelitized, transformed from one ethnicity to another and integrated into the ethnic people of Israel.”
Yes, Paul certainly did teach that Gentiles had been transformed into Abraham's descendants and coheirs of the promises made to him (Romans 2:28-29 and Galatians 3:5-9). He also taught that 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 3:28-29, ESV) And, in that same epistle to the saints at Rome, he wrote: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17, ESV) In other words, whether we are Israelites or Gentiles, our faith in Christ (and what he has done for us) makes us God's children and co-heirs with Christ of the promises made to Abraham.
We must never forget that both Abraham and his physical descendant(s) were chosen to bring the blessings of God to all of humankind, NOT because they were special, or the sole object of his attention and affection! In a sense, Paul's teaching is that God has used the Israelites to bless humankind, and humankind will be employed to bless the Israelites - and BOTH are SAVED through Jesus Christ! What do you think?
One of the major themes that runs through the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament is the contrast between the way of life (goodness/righteousness) and the way of death (evil/sinfulness). Indeed, this theme begins in Genesis and is present in the final chapters of the book of Revelation! As a consequence, religious leaders have mused about the meanings of Biblical representations of these concepts and have offered various interpretations of exactly what constitutes the way of life and the way of death.
As Scout recently reminded those of us who were familiar with the teachings of Herbert Armstrong (see Exegeting the Tree of Life), sometimes our thinking strays from what Scripture has to say about the two ways! At times, we are too literal. On other occasions, we ignore what is clearly symbolic/metaphorical/allegorical. Moreover, as this post will demonstrate, sometimes we get into trouble when we don't follow the thread of an idea throughout the totality of Scripture!
In the second chapter of the book of Genesis, we read: The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden, he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (2:9, NLT) A little later, in the same chapter, we read: The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (2:15-17, NLT) Notice, that one tree represented life, and the other tree represented death; and that the humans were free to eat/ingest the former but were warned of the deadly consequences involved in eating/ingesting the fruit of the other. Of course, we all are familiar with the role that the Serpent (Satan) played in enticing the woman to eat the forbidden fruit, and the curses which resulted from the humans partaking of this fruit (body shaming, pain, hard work, expulsion from the Garden, and no longer being able to eat the fruit of the tree that represented life! (Genesis 3:1-24)
As we have already noted, we see this choice being offered to humans again and again throughout the Scriptures: Trust in and obey God and live OR go your own way and die! We see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob presented with this choice. Moreover, at the conclusion of the Law, we see Moses presenting this same choice to their descendants. In the book of Deuteronomy, we read: Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (30:15-19, NLT)
Likewise, Joshua chose the way of obedience. Saul chose to disobey God and lost a kingdom and his life. David chose obedience and was rewarded with a promise of eternal life for his dynasty! In the book of Proverbs, we read: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (14:12, ESV) In the book of Daniel, we read: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (12:2, ESV)
In the New Testament, we see the theme continued. Jesus is reported to have said: Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV) He is also reported to have said: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV) The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints at Rome: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, ESV) Christ's righteousness and goodness make eternal life possible for those who accept what he has done for them! Likewise, Paul wrote to the Christians of Galatia: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8, ESV)
Then, in the last book of the Christian canon, we read: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:7, ESV) A little later, in the same book, we read: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15, ESV)
And, finally, this promise for the future: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5, ESV)
This them was also reiterated in the earliest Christian Catechism available to us, The Didache. In that book, we read: There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. (Chapter 1) And a little later, in the same book: And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and accursed: murders, adultery, lust, fornication, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rape, false witness, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, not pitying a poor man, not laboring for the afflicted, not knowing Him Who made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him who is in want, afflicting him who is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered, children, from all these. (Chapter 5)
This all brings us back to the question: What did the two trees in the Garden of Eden symbolize? Based on this theme that runs throughout the text of the Bible, I would answer: A choice between obedience to God and going your own way - A choice between life and death! What do you think?
Relative to the whole question of our place in the grand scheme of things, and central to both Herbert Armstrong's and Scout's musings on the topic, the eighth chapter of Paul's epistle to the believers in Rome is almost universally recognized as relevant or essential for Christians who contemplate the answer to it. In his magnum opus, The Incredible Human Potential, Armstrong had this to say about what Paul had written: Now understand please. Why should the whole universe -the creation - be waiting with eager longing for the actual birth and appearing of all these Sons of God, to be born into the Family of God? The following verses portray a universe filled with planets in decay and futility - yet as if subjected now to this dead state in hope! "Because the creation itself [the universe not now capable of sustaining life] will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God."
Likewise, in his post, Riders on the Earth, Scout offered his own assessment of Paul's statement: This is one of my favorite scriptures and I admit that in the past I viewed it through the lens of HWA’s Unfinished Furniture model. HWA’s model has Trekkie value. The final frontier. Now I believe that this may mean something quite different from that view. What is implied by this statement is that the Creation that we know now, is in bondage to corruption. And this bondage is going to be abrogated by a time of liberty in the future. But what is that bondage to corruption? Is it the natural entropic tendency of the universe? If the organization of the universe breaks down, it becomes just stuff. Is our destiny to become cosmic custodians who wage war everyday against the insinuating randomness that is growing in the physical universe?
First, in the previous post, we have already established that Paul was most assuredly NOT talking about decaying/lifeless planets in his remarks to the saints of Rome (that notion would have been alien to both the apostle and his audience). So, what does the passage of Scripture mean? Let's take a closer look at this passage from Paul's letter to the Romans.
Paul had been discussing how Christ has freed us from the written commandments of Torah, and the sins which had resulted from the human failure to fulfill it and replaced it with the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:1-6). He then proceeded to explain to the Christians at Rome that their failure was rooted in their own natures, and that Christ had made it possible for them to have a new nature (Romans 7:7-25). Continuing, in the next chapter, Paul explained how the Spirit helped them to live in harmony with what God wanted for them - righteousness with eternal life (Romans 8:1-11). He went on to say that the presence of that Spirit within them made them God's children and fellow heirs of God's promises with the glorified Christ (Romans 8:12-17)! This is the context of what preceded the passage in which Herbert was so interested.
Continuing, we read: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25, ESV).
The Greek word here translated into English as "revealed" is apokalypto, which means to uncover what was previously hidden, to disclose, to make known, to manifest that which had previously not been apparent. Likewise, the Greek word here translated into English as "revealing" (and in the King James Version as "manifestation") is apokalypsis - a different form of the same root word! Also, we should note that instead of "revealed to us," the King James translates this passage as "revealed in us." Hence, according to Paul, whatever this manifestation or revealing was, it was intimately related to something that was going to happen to all of them (Christians) in the future.
The other word that stands out in this passage as critical is the word "creation." Interestingly, the original Greek word is ktisis. In terms of the Greek New Testament, this word is translated into English eleven times as "creature" and six times as "creation." Obviously then, the word refers to that which was created by God. In this sense, the word could refer to the Roman Christians, humanity as a whole, or everything that God had created (the world, the spiritual realm, the universe). Moreover, in the King James Version, the word is translated into English as "creature." Indeed, the same passage in that version reads: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." By the way, the original Greek word translated into English as "futility" and "vanity" suggests that which is devoid of truth, depravity, perverseness, and frailty (see mataiotes).
Hence, when we consider the context of these remarks, we are forced to conclude that Paul was writing about the fallen state of man and how that state had impacted the world which God had created for us. That Paul was thinking in terms of humankind and earth - all things which are subject to being corrupted, destroyed, or perishing becomes very clear within the context of the remarks which surround the targeted passage. In other words, what Christ had done for them (and all Christians) had made the renewal of all things possible!
In this connection, we should also consider what follows. Paul wrote: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:26-30, NET) Notice, that Paul returned to his theme about the Spirit working on our behalf - to remake us in Christ's image.
This, of course, was followed by one of the most inspirational and hopeful passages in all of Scripture: We read: "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39, NLT)
Thus, we must conclude that Paul was speaking of Christ's redemption of his people. He was explaining to the saints at Rome that Christ's work would result in the healing of humanity and the world which they inhabited - that their salvation would accrue to the benefit of all! In short, Paul was certainly NOT thinking or talking about lifeless planets, solar systems, or galaxies. And, while we can all imagine how our salvation might also impact the Cosmos someday, Paul was clearly NOT addressing that in his remarks to the Romans. Instead, Paul was focused on what Christ's salvation meant to his audience - both then and in the future. God's Spirit would make life better for them in the present and in the future and would eventually heal everything which they had perverted and twisted. Unfortunately, for some folks this simply isn't glorious enough - they want more. Not content with what Christ has done for them; they turn greedy eyes to the night sky and imagine themselves terraforming planets!
A recent post by Scout over at the Banned by HWA blog (Riders on the Earth) which addressed Herbert Armstrong's teaching that humans would one day colonize an "unfinished" Cosmos. Scout wrote: "We are all riding on this bright cerulean planet as it moves through the grand expanse of the Cosmos. And the grand expanse is thickly populated by celestial objects. These shining celestials pose a constant question to us as we look up at the vault of heaven about human destiny that is not answered." Of course, this brought up a whole host of memories and subjects which I haven't addressed in a while.
In considering these big questions like those related to our place in the Cosmos, I'm afraid that too many of us tend to forget that the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments were NEVER intended by the Almighty to be used as a science textbook! Does the Creator know all about the Cosmos? YES, of course, God knows all there is to know about "his" creation. Humans, however, do NOT know very much about the Cosmos. Granted, we know a great deal more about it than the ancients did, but we are still in the infancy of exploring and understanding the Cosmos. Indeed, consider this, scientist only discovered the first planet outside of our own solar system in 1995!
With this context in mind, we are better prepared to tackle the subject of references to the Cosmos in Scripture. Hence, when we read in the book of Genesis that "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day" (Genesis 1:3-5, ESV), we understand that the primitive people for whom this was written had no understanding of a planet spinning on its axis and rotating around a star! Clearly, the intent of the passage is to identify God as the Source of light, and the time period that constituted an earth day. This is made even clearer in what follows.
Continuing, we read: "And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day." (Genesis 1:14-19, ESV) Once again, it is self-evident that the inspired author of this passage intended to identify God as THE Source - THE Creator. For me, it is also abundantly clear that this person believed that God had created all of those lights out there in the great dome which humans of his age believed surrounded them (as in, there purpose being "to give light upon the earth." In other words, no awareness that those lights were other stars with planets spinning around them!
Thus, when we read things like the eighth Psalm, we must remember the context of what must have been David's understanding of the Cosmos. He wrote: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him. Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas." (Psalm 8:3-8, ESV) Once again, those remarks were made by an individual who did NOT have our understanding of what the moon and stars actually are. Clearly, David was contemplating what he saw in the night sky as reflecting God's greatness compared to the seeming insignificance of humankind.
Hence, when the anonymous author of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote about Christ as the current and most perfect representation of the Divine ever made available to humankind and asserts his superiority to the angels (Hebrews 1), we understand that what he/she wrote in the second chapter of that epistle really had NOTHING to do with the Cosmos! We read there: "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:1-4, ESV) So, we see that the author is focused on salvation through Jesus of Nazareth - NOT on the Cosmos!
Continuing, we read: "For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, 'What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.' Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source." (Hebrews 2:5-11, ESV) Clearly, God intended for humankind to have an eternal relationship with him and to rule with Christ in his Kingdom (as supported by other passages of Scripture).
Now, there may be a role for humans to play in the Cosmos someday, but the ancients didn't really have any comprehension of what they were seeing in their night sky. They had no concept of the universe as we understand it, and our own understanding is very incomplete. In short, the people whom God chose to write the Bible did not understand what stars or solar systems actually are. They simply had no comprehension of an atmosphere surrounding a round globe. They knew nothing of the Big Bang or had any awareness that some of those lights which they saw in the night sky are entire galaxies - a vast collection of stars. Concepts like black holes, and the multiverse were completely unknown to them. Moreover, they wouldn't have understood any of those things if God had shared those concepts with them! So, it's great to speculate about our role in the Cosmos, but we have much to be thankful for in the fact that Christ has made it possible for us to someday understand our place in the Cosmos in a much more comprehensive way than we do now.
Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. - (Romans 12:3, NLT)
CGI Pastor Bill Watson chose the Sabbath following Independence Day to declare his semi-separation from the Church of God International (headquartered in Tyler, Texas). Bill announced a new website for the Medina Church (Church of God International, Medina). He went on to say that their former website (CGI Medina) would no longer be updated by them (because it's owned by headquarters).
Watson also announced a new program produced by the Medina Church called Wall Watchers (which corresponds to Medina's new mission statement, which reads in part: "The Church of God International, Medina is committed to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ on behalf of our Father. Our teachings are underscored by the adherence to the original Apostolic Teachings of the early church. Our “Work,” in Christ’s name is to witness, warn, and make disciples for Him––building His Church by the blessing He provides (Matt. 28:19-20). Utilizing a variety of technologies, we are dedicated to “crying aloud” about the impending calamities coming upon mankind that precede the glorious return of our Lord and Savior; who is destined to establish His world-ruling Kingdom on Earth..." appears prominently on the new homepage.
Although Mr. Watson protested that he was still a minister in good standing of CGI, those of us who have been following developments within that organization have noted a cooling of the relationship between Tyler and Medina over the last several years (which began back in the days of the Covid Pandemic, before my own father's death). Many of my readers may be unaware of the fact that Medina has been keeping its tithe income for itself for many years now (only a small portion is sent to Tyler). In fact, Mr. Watson's announcement is just the latest chapter in the story of that congregation's drift from headquarters.
Tyler had previously taken Bill off of their payroll and reprimanded him for some of the things that he had been saying from the pulpit. They also effectively demoted him from being the voice of their longstanding "Armor of God" program (and introduced new programs led by folks like Mike James). While many of the ministry of CGI have abandoned British-Israelism, Bill continues to fully embrace the teaching and prominently features it in his sermons.
In other words, from this observer's perspective, I only see the gulf widening between Medina and the parent organization and would not be surprised if an official separation was declared in the near future. Mr. Watson has a big ego, and a very high opinion of his own talents and abilities. Moreover, like his favorite president (DJT), Bill enjoys being in control - in the driver's seat, so to speak! He has been uncomfortable in a subordinate role and acting as a servant of Tyler's for many years now. Finally, I will be expecting a number of declarations from both sides that nothing has changed, and all is well. Nevertheless, the evidence is what is happening right before our very eyes (and I choose to believe what I'm seeing over what someone else is trying to sell me)! What do you think?
Predictably, Continuing Church of God and self-proclaimed prophet, Bob Thiel has taken our humble little anti-Armstrong Church of God blog to task for daring to question his credentials as a historian of early Church history. In a post entitled Banned from the Truth About Church History, Bob accuses us of not telling the truth about him or the early history of the Church (see Is Our Favorite Crackpot Prophet A Real Historian?).
For Bob, a response to my post was an imperative, because it went to the heart of his claim to fame - that he is an "authority" on the early history of Christianity. In short, his narrative about the First Century ekklesia is the bedrock of his defense of the teachings of Armstrongism. More particularly, he repeats the story that Sabbath observance was the norm within the ekklesia of the First and Second Centuries of the Common Era, and that the celebration of Sunday was a late, pagan, and heretical corruption of primitive Christianity. Thus, any contradiction of this false narrative naturally excites "Dr" Thiel's passions.
True to form, Bob began his little diatribe by quoting a Scripture from Proverbs: Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5) Hence, we will attempt to craft an answer to Bob's response which precludes him from appearing wise in his own eyes!
Next, Bob attempted to refute my assessment of his own statement that "The Church of God has the Right Name and the Right Size." He wrote: "Well, most scholars do believe that Church of God was a name used by Christians–and that is not limited to 'the King James Version of the New Testament.' And while the term assembly could be used as well, it basically meant the same thing." Actually, the body of believers/disciples of Christ is most often called, simply, ekklesia in the original Greek (or Church in English). The phrase "Church of God" appears just eight times in the King James Version of the New Testament. Whereas "ekklesia" or "church" appears about thirty-five times! Moreover, according to Blue Letter Bible, the word means "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly." We should also note that the Church is often tied to a particular geographic location in Scripture (as in the Church of the Laodiceans, Church of Ephesus, etc.). Bob ignored my comments about the "right size" of the Church.
As for those writings from the First and Second Centuries that I mentioned in my post, Bob directed his reader's attention to a number of articles penned by him which attempted to discredit them as proof/evidence that his narrative is false. I am happy to let the reader peruse these passages and decide for him/herself whether Bob's commentary on their meaning fits the context:
But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations." (Early Christian Writings: The Didache (Roberts translation) - Chapter 14
14:1 And on the Lord's own day gather yourselves together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.
14:2 And let no man, having his dispute with his fellow, join your assembly until they have been reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled;
14:3 for this sacrifice it is that was spoken of by the Lord;
14:4 {In every place and at every time offer Me a pure sacrifice;
14:5 for I am a great king, saith the Lord and My name is wonderful among the nations.} (Early Christian Writings: The Didache (Lightfoot translation) - Chapter 14
Further, also, it is written concerning the Sabbath in the Decalogue which [the Lord] spoke, face to face, to Moses on Mount Sinai, "And sanctify ye the Sabbath of the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart." And He says in another place, "If my sons keep the Sabbath, then will I cause my mercy to rest upon them." The Sabbath is mentioned at the beginning of the creation [thus]: "And God made in six days the works of His hands, and made an end on the seventh day, and rested on it, and sanctified it." Attend, my children, to the meaning of this expression, "He finished in six days." This implieth that the Lord will finish all things in six thousand years, for a day is with Him a thousand years. And He Himself testifieth, saying, "Behold, to-day will be as a thousand years." Therefore, my children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will be finished. "And He rested on the seventh day." This meaneth: when His Son, coming [again], shall destroy the time of the wicked man, and judge the ungodly, and change the-sun, and the moon, and the stars, then shall He truly rest on the seventh day. Moreover, He says, "Thou shalt sanctify it with pure hands and a pure heart." If, therefore, any one can now sanctify the day which God hath sanctified, except he is pure in heart in all things, we are deceived. Behold, therefore: certainly then one properly resting sanctifies it, when we ourselves, having received the promise, wickedness no longer existing, and all things having been made new by the Lord, shall be able to work righteousness. Then we shall be able to sanctify it, having been first sanctified ourselves. Further, He says to them, "Your new moons and your Sabbath I cannot endure." Ye perceive how He speaks: Your present Sabbaths are not acceptable to Me, but that is which I have made, [namely this,] when, giving rest to all things, I shall make a beginning of the eighth day, that is, a beginning of another world. Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead. And when He had manifested Himself, He ascended into the heavens. (Early Christian Writings: Epistle of Barnabas (Roberts translation) - Chapter 15
But if any one preach the Jewish law unto you, listen not to him. For it is better to hearken to Christian doctrine from a man who has been circumcised, than to Judaism from one uncircumcised. But if either of such persons do not speak concerning Jesus Christ, they are in my judgment but as monuments and sepulchres of the dead, upon which are written only the names of men. Flee therefore the wicked devices and snares of the prince of this world, lest at any time being conquered by his artifices, ye grow weak in your love. But be ye all joined together with an undivided heart. And I thank my God that I have a good conscience in respect to you, and that no one has it in his power to boast, either privately or publicly, that I have burdened any one either in much or in little. And I wish for all among whom I have spoken, that they may not possess that for a testimony against them.
If any one preaches the one God of the law and the prophets, but denies Christ to be the Son of God, he is a liar, even as also is his father the devil, and is a Jew falsely so called, being possessed of mere carnal circumcision. If any one confesses Christ Jesus the Lord, but denies the God of the law and of the prophets, saying that the Father of Christ is not the Maker of heaven and earth, he has not continued in the truth any more than his father the devil, and is a disciple of Simon Magus, not of the Holy Spirit. If any one says there is one God, and also confesses Christ Jesus, but thinks the Lord to be a mere man, and not the only-begotten God, and Wisdom, and the Word of God, and deems Him to consist merely of a soul and body, such an one is a serpent, that preaches deceit and error for the destruction of men. And such a man is poor in understanding, even as by name he is an Ebionite. If any one confesses the truths mentioned, but calls lawful wedlock, and the procreation of children, destruction and pollution, or deems certain kinds of food abominable, such an one has the apostate dragon dwelling within him. If any one confesses the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and praises the creation, but calls the incarnation merely an appearance, and is ashamed of the passion, such an one has denied the faith, not less than the Jews who killed Christ. If any one confesses these things, and that God the Word did dwell in a human body, being within it as the Word, even as the soul also is in the body, because it was God that inhabited it, and not a human soul, but affirms that unlawful unions are a good thing, and places the highest happiness in pleasure, as does the man who is falsely called a Nicolaitan, this person can neither be a lover of God, nor a lover of Christ, but is a corrupter of his own flesh, and therefore void of the Holy Spirit, and a stranger to Christ. All such persons are but monuments and sepulchres of the dead, upon which are written only the names of dead men. Flee, therefore, the wicked devices and snares of the spirit which now worketh in the children of this world, lest at any time being overcome, ye grow weak in your love. But be ye all joined together with an undivided heart and a willing mind, "being of one accord and of one judgment," being always of the same opinion about the same things, both when you are at ease and in danger, both in sorrow and in joy. I thank God, through Jesus Christ, that I have a good conscience in respect to you, and that no one has it in his power to boast, either privately or publicly, that I have burdened any one either in much or in little. And I wish for all among whom I have spoken, that they may not possess that for a testimony against them. (Early Christian Writings: The Epistle of Ignatius of Antioch to the Philadelphians)
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, is not of God. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour ye shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God.
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. For "if Thou, Lord, shalt mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? " Let us therefore prove ourselves worthy of that name which we have received. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, he is not of God; for he has not received the prophecy which speaks thus concerning us: "The people shall be called by a new name, which the Lord shall name them, and shall be a holy people." This was first fulfilled in Syria; for "the disciples were called Christians at Antioch," when Paul and Peter were laying the foundations of the Church. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the corrupt leaven, and be ye changed into the new leaven of grace. Abide in Christ, that the stranger may not have dominion over you. It is absurd to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to cherish in the mind a Judaism which has now come to an end. For where there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism. For Christ is one, in whom every nation that believes, and every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. And those that were of a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God; and in his seed all those have been blessed who were ordained to eternal life in Christ. (Early Christian Writings: The Epistle of Ignatius of Antioch to the Magnesians)
But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to genoito [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.
And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.
And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration. (Early Christian Writings: The First Apology of Justin Martyr)
In response to my assertion that the events of 70 CE were of much greater significance for Jews and Christians, Bob went on to say: "The historical fact is that until c. 135 A.D. the Christians in Jerusalem did keep the Sabbath, Holy Days, avoiding unclean meat etc. When they were not allowed to, they once again fled." Once again, Mr. Thiel avoids the events of 70 CE because they destroy his narrative about the celebration of Sunday amongst early Christians!
After all, Jesus Christ had prophesied the events of 70 CE during his earthly ministry. In the twenty-fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, we read: "Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, 'You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.' (Matthew 24:1-2, ESV) Speaking of these events, Josephus wrote: "These Romans put the Jews to flight, and proceeded as far as the holy house itself. At which time one of the soldiers, without staying for any orders, and without any concern or dread upon him at so great an undertaking, and being hurried on by a certain divine fury, snatched some what out of the materials that were on fire, and being lifted up by another soldier, he set fire to a golden window, through which there wion, passage to the rooms that were round about the holy house, on the north side of it. As the flames went upward, the Jews made a great clamor, such as so mighty an affliction required, and ran together to prevent it; and now they spared not their lives any longer, nor suffered anything to restrain their force, since that holy house was perishing...thus it was the holy house burnt down...Nor can one imagine any thing greater or more terrible than this noise; for there was at once a shout of the Roman Legions, who were marching all together, and a sad clamor of the seditious, who were now surrounded with fire and sword... the people under a great consternation, made sad moans at the calamity they were under...Yet was the misery itself more terrible than the disorder; for one would have thought that the hill itself, on which the Temple stood, was seething hot, as full of fire on every part of it." (Jewish Virtual Library: The Destruction of the Second Temple - Flavius Josephus - Antiquities, xi. 1.2)
Most historians readily acknowledge that the events of 70 CE marked a decisive turning point in the history of both Judaism and Christianity. Notice what one article had to say on the topic: "The fall of Jerusalem had dire immediate consequences for the Jewish people. Thousands had been killed during the siege, and those who survived faced enslavement, exile, or life in a ruined city. The loss of the Second Temple was particularly devastating, as it was not only the center of religious worship but also a symbol of national identity. It marked the beginning of a long diaspora for Jewish people. With the city in ruins and the Second Temple destroyed, many Jews were displaced, sold into slavery, or chose to leave the region. They established communities throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, profoundly shaping the Jewish experience and identity. With the destruction of the temple, the practice of Judaism had to adapt, necessitating a major shift in religious practice and thought, leading to the development of Rabbinic Judaism...The destruction of Jerusalem also had a profound impact on the early Christian movement. Many followers of Jesus had fled the city before the siege, spreading their beliefs to other parts of the Roman Empire. The destruction of the Temple and the city validated, for some, Jesus' prophetic warnings about Jerusalem's fall. Without a central Jewish authority in Jerusalem, and with Jewish communities scattered, Christianity began to evolve as a distinct religion, increasingly separate from its Jewish roots." (The Cataclysmic Siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 and Its Impact on Judaism and Christianity)
Like most Armstrongites, "Dr" Thiel also ignores and distorts what happened at the great Council of Jerusalem (see Acts 15). The same group responsible for the previous article had this to say about the significance of that event (which happened some twenty years before the destruction of the city and Temple by the Romans): "As the Christian mission expanded, particularly among Gentiles, a crucial question arose: Did non-Jewish converts need to follow all of the Jewish laws? The original disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem were ethnically Jewish and continued to observe the Torah, so when Gentiles started joining the movement in significant numbers, this became a pressing question. Some Judean Christians that were often called ‘Judaizers’ by historians argued that Gentile believers should undergo circumcision and keep kosher laws. Paul and others, however, contended that this was not necessary, since they taught that faith in Christ was sufficient for Gentiles. To resolve this dispute, the apostles and elders convened a meeting known as the Council of Jerusalem around AD 49 or 50. At it, leaders like Peter and James discussed the status of Gentile converts. The council reached a landmark decision: Gentile Christians would not be required to fully observe the Mosaic Law. This was a turning point in Christian history, as it opened the door for a much broader Gentile inclusion and helped Christianity develop its own identity distinct from Judaism. Over the next decades, the Gentile proportion of the Church grew rapidly." (The History of Christianity in the First Century)
Finally, the Scriptures of the New Testament affirm the importance of the day we call "Sunday" to early Christians (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, Acts 2:1, Acts 20:7, I Corinthians 16:2, and Revelation 1:10). I have also noted in previous posts that there wasn't any pagan tradition of weekly "Sunday" observance for Christians to inherit!
Hence, for anyone willing to do a modicum of research into the subject of the early history of Christianity, Bob's narrative will appear false and self-serving. "Dr" Thiel has looked for writings, explanations, and historians who support his narrative - that all Christians observed the Sabbath for the first two or three hundred years of the Church's existence. Wrong Bob! This is only a small slice of the evidence which discredits your narrative!
