As longtime readers of this blog know, I came out of a church (the Worldwide Church of God) that rejected most of the rituals of traditional Christianity. They reasoned that anything which had its origins in pagan religious practices should be avoided by "TRUE" Christians. And, as was the case with many of the doctrines which they adhered to, they based this belief on a prominent scripture in the Pentateuch.
In the twelfth chapter of Deuteronomy, we read: "Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God. When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." Deuteronomy 12:28-32, KJV
However, in quoting this and other scriptures to support their arguments against the use of pagan rituals within Christian worship services, they failed to mention the context of the scriptures which they were using - that these were instructions to the Israelites of old in regard to the covenant which God had established with them. If we are truly going to understand and properly employ these scriptures, it is imperative that we notice the reasoning behind the instructions quoted above. This rationale emerges in the first few verses of the same chapter.
Beginning in verse one, we read: "These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 12:1-4, KJV
We notice in these verses that God begins by instructing the Israelites to destroy the places of worship which were used by the former inhabitants of the land. YHWH clearly didn't want his people using these old sacred places. This becomes even clearer as we read on into the account. "But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee." Deuteronomy 12:5-7, KJV
Continuing, the principle that the Israelites would have one place of worship in their new home (the Promised Land) was further reinforced in the scriptures which followed. We read: "But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord..." Deuteronomy 12:10-11, KJV And, just to make sure they got the point, we read: "Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee." Deuteronomy 12:13-14, KJV
Now let's take a moment to review what we've just read. What have we gleaned from YHWH's instructions to the Israelites about His expectations regarding the way(s) in which they would worship him? First, God expected them to worship him in one place (eventually Jerusalem). Second, God did not want them to employ some of the abominable rituals that had been used by the former inhabitants of the land (things like sacrificing their children to their gods).
With that background in hand, an account in John's Gospel of Christ's encounter with a Samaritan woman takes on new meaning. The meeting takes place at a well, and Christ reveals to the woman there that he is the source of a "living water." John 4:5-14, KJV In the verses that follow, Christ also tells the woman (which he has just met) that she has had five husbands during the course of her lifetime. verses 15-18 Astonished that this stranger would know this about her, the woman replies: "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." verses 19-20
Continuing with the account, we read: "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:21-24, KJV - emphasis mine
Jesus revealed to this Samaritan woman what the Jews of his own day, and the church which I used to attend, could not comprehend. New Covenant worship is not centered on a physical place or dependent on rituals. The kind of worship which Christ expected of his followers was to be sincere, relevant and heartfelt - the physical manifestations of which were rendered largely irrelevant.
In the twelfth chapter of Deuteronomy, we read: "Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God. When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." Deuteronomy 12:28-32, KJV
However, in quoting this and other scriptures to support their arguments against the use of pagan rituals within Christian worship services, they failed to mention the context of the scriptures which they were using - that these were instructions to the Israelites of old in regard to the covenant which God had established with them. If we are truly going to understand and properly employ these scriptures, it is imperative that we notice the reasoning behind the instructions quoted above. This rationale emerges in the first few verses of the same chapter.
Beginning in verse one, we read: "These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 12:1-4, KJV
We notice in these verses that God begins by instructing the Israelites to destroy the places of worship which were used by the former inhabitants of the land. YHWH clearly didn't want his people using these old sacred places. This becomes even clearer as we read on into the account. "But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee." Deuteronomy 12:5-7, KJV
Continuing, the principle that the Israelites would have one place of worship in their new home (the Promised Land) was further reinforced in the scriptures which followed. We read: "But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord..." Deuteronomy 12:10-11, KJV And, just to make sure they got the point, we read: "Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee." Deuteronomy 12:13-14, KJV
Now let's take a moment to review what we've just read. What have we gleaned from YHWH's instructions to the Israelites about His expectations regarding the way(s) in which they would worship him? First, God expected them to worship him in one place (eventually Jerusalem). Second, God did not want them to employ some of the abominable rituals that had been used by the former inhabitants of the land (things like sacrificing their children to their gods).
With that background in hand, an account in John's Gospel of Christ's encounter with a Samaritan woman takes on new meaning. The meeting takes place at a well, and Christ reveals to the woman there that he is the source of a "living water." John 4:5-14, KJV In the verses that follow, Christ also tells the woman (which he has just met) that she has had five husbands during the course of her lifetime. verses 15-18 Astonished that this stranger would know this about her, the woman replies: "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." verses 19-20
Continuing with the account, we read: "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:21-24, KJV - emphasis mine
Jesus revealed to this Samaritan woman what the Jews of his own day, and the church which I used to attend, could not comprehend. New Covenant worship is not centered on a physical place or dependent on rituals. The kind of worship which Christ expected of his followers was to be sincere, relevant and heartfelt - the physical manifestations of which were rendered largely irrelevant.
Yep, the scripture in Deut. was intended for Israel. Why was it even written in the first place?
ReplyDelete1 Cor. 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
They were written for examples, for OUR admonition. What else does it say?
1 Corinthians 10:7-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
How was this idolatry if they were trying to worship YHVH?
Exo 32:5 - And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Lord is YHVH. Weren't they sincerely trying to worship the one who just brought them out of Egypt, but with a golden calf? Who are we to judge their heart?
1 Cor. 11 continues:
8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Now, what does it say for good intentions?
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Here is a similar warning in Hebrews speaking of the same events:
Heb 4:1 - Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Fear, why should we fear if our intent is good?
Heb 4:11 - Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Don't assume the english word unbelief covers the meaning of this verse. Look it up, the Greek word is apeitheia, and it means an obstinate and rebellious disobedience.
Can we disobey God as long as our intent is good?
What does the bible say?
Heb 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This is serious, not something to take half heartedly.
Question. Since Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, just how can one worship God in spirit and truth without at least trying to obey him?
Kevin McMillen
Kevin,
DeleteThis boils down to which view of God you subscribe - The stern and uncompromising titan who dangles humanity at the end of a thin rope over Gehenna fire or The loving father who is willing to move heaven and earth to save us from ourselves. You can find both views in Scripture. And, as with most things, maybe there is some truth in both perspectives. I, however, clearly lean toward the more benign view of God. I simply cannot fathom a God where the intent of the heart is not given great weight in the final assessment of an individual. Moreover, I believe the weight of the scriptural evidence comes down on my side of this. Check out the fourteenth chapter of Paul's epistle to the saints at Rome. I am thankful that God is God, and we aren't - I think that we would be much harsher in our judgments of each other than "He" is.
I don't think that I consigned anyone to hell in my above comment. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, in understanding the bible we must understand that God isn't trying to save the whole world right now. He will eventually. I realize that's a cog position, but it's completely biblical, and scriptures need to be neglected or twisted in order to come to a different understanding.
There is a first resurrection. That's biblical. Then there's a general resurrection after the millennium. Sure it's possible to reject certain scriptures in order to deny this, but that makes the whole bible pointless. No, I'm not saying it's infallible.
Did Jesus consign the Pharisees to hell when he said it wasn't given for them to understand him?
Not according to Romans 9, 10 and 11. God is working out a plan for the salvation of all of mankind. Just because of the errors of HWA or GTA, or Bill or your dad, or whomever, we shouldn't outright reject that.
I think that I've shown enough of myself on here to show that I'm not harshly judging anyone. I believe 100% that God only looks at the heart and not what we do, but the fact remains the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. We lie to ourselves all the time.
I've said before that my grandparents kept Sunday as the Sabbath and I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the first resurrection. Why? Because they were trying to obey God with what they knew.
Though I'm no ones judge, there are so many today who won't even listen, thinking they understand the bible. They think Paul taught against Sabbath, Feasts or any day, and they refuse to even listen to a different view. Their mind is made up, if that's not what Heb. 4:11 is talking about when it says obstinate disobedience then I don't know what that is.
I've studied Sunday keeping, I've studied no day keeping and yes, I can give a logical explanation for all of Paul's supposed hard scriptures and most are not what the WCG taught.
Why aren't they just as willing to study other views? You'd think the warnings in the bible would scare them.
They can believe in an all loving God who wouldn't judge them harshly all that they want, that's not the God that the bible presents. I just showed a couple scriptures out of the New Testament warning people not to automatically think that they stand. There are many!
Kevin McMillen
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the graciousness which you have shown me in both your public and private statements. Like you, I continue to observe the seventh day Sabbath. And, like you, I believe that there will be many Sunday observers in the First Resurrection. I believe we are responsible for what we know - to put those things into practice in our lives with the help of God's Spirit. I also believe that Christians can stumble, repent, get back up and keep on going.
True unity in Christ is coming to understand that we are all unique individuals, that we start our Christian journey at different points (in understanding and behavior) and that we all vary in the degree to which we submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. When we understand these things, we can still see each others as brothers and sisters in Christ - even when we reach very different conclusions.
Do you think that maybe Deut 12:30 states a broader principle, which is that we generally ought not to inform our worship of God by the methodology of idolators?
ReplyDeleteYeah, we can say that this was an instruction to Israel, but the theology outlined in the main NT treatise of theology, Romans, is that to be Christ's you have to be part of Israel by adoption. And that other great NT treatment of theology, Hebrews, explains that Israel has a new covenant that includes the law of the old in the hearts of its members. So I think we should be careful about excluding and excusing ourselves from such principles as Deut 12:30.
"Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:17-29, KJV
DeleteI am not sure what you intended to be gleaned from posting Romans 2, but to me the passage reiterates that to be Christ's we are Jews inwardly, keeping "the righteousness of the law" "of the heart, in the spirit" as predicted in Jeremiah and as acknowledged in Hebrews. And maybe that is your point also.
ReplyDelete