VIEWPOINT

Is there a biblical equivalent for the modern term "Abortion"?

2020-09-03T19:55:00.001-07:00

This is not my first attempt to write on the subject of abortion, or as it is known today as, PRO-CHOICE. One of the main arguments in favor of this decision is that a female has the right to decide what she does with her body. It's against the law to commit suicide, but that's another discussion. Let's explore the premise that our body belongs to us from a higher perspective than a human one.

Exodus 34: 19a. All that open (issue forth from) the womb are Mine...

Now, what is so special about a fetus or embryo laying in the womb?

Psalms 139: 13, 15b-16a. For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother's womb. When I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my my (invisible) substance, being yet unformed.

There are those who contend that they have the right to terminate a fetus because of some birth defect.

Exodus 4: 11a So the Lord said to him (Moses), "Who made man's mouth; or who made the deaf, the seeing, or the blind; Have not I, the Lord"?

Matthew 19: 12a. For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb... NOTE: In Acts 3: 2a, a certain man was lame from his mother's womb; Acts 14: 8a, a man was cripple from his mother's womb).

While the medical procedure of performing an abortion was unknown in Biblical times, yet the very act of destroying the 'fruit' of the womb was seen as evil.

2 Kings 8: 12 . And Hazael said, "Why is my lord (Elisha) weeping"? He answered and said, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword, and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child. NOTE: rip "open" their women with child; Hmm?

2 Kings 13: 16 . Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tipshah and all who were there, and it's territory because they did not surrender; therefore he attacked it. All the women who were with child he ripped open. NOTE: I have heard of using "rape" as a weapon of war but 'ripping open the belly of a pregnant woman' (abortion) is terrorism and a war crime if it were done today!

Jeremiah 20: 17a . That he did not kill me from (in??) the womb, that my mother (het womb??) might have been my grave. NOTE: Interesting!!

Hosea 13: 16. Samaria is held guilty, for she has rebelled against God. They shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed to pieces, and their women with child ripped open.

Amos 1: 13. Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four I will not turn away it's punishment because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead.

CONCLUSION: Is the term "abortion" mentioned in the Bible? No, however, the deliberate termination of a pregnancy, which is the modern definition, then several examples have been presented in this study. Even God is shown as giving birth in Isaiah 46: 3.

So, why were women specifically target by ripping open their bellies? I believe this was a deliberate attempt to destroy the 'seed' and of course, the mother died too. Even in modern times, a female who undergoes an abortion she can still die from medical complications; including an infection. This article probably won't dissuade a female from having an abortion, because if she wants to get one, she will. As a final point, Margaret Sanger, the founder of 'Planned Parenthood' ehich inspired NARAL and the PRO-CHOICE movement believed in having a vehicle where only desirable traits would be preferred births, and other undesirable ones should not be allowed to be born ("eugenics").

Robert Randle. 79 79 Westheimer Rd. Apt 1105. Houston, TX 77063. September 3, 2020. robertrandle51@yahoo.com

When a tragedy happens is it God's Will?

2018-10-12T13:04:00.002-07:00

Genesis 2: 17

17 But of the tree of the knowledge (Heb. da`ath) of good (Heb. tob) and evil (Heb. ra), thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

NOTE: It is NOT the tree, in and of itself, but rather the “knowledge” of good and evil; this awareness will be achieved only through experience.

Ecclesiastes 9: 2-3a, 11b-12

2 All things come alike to all; One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the [b]good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. But time and chance happen to them all; 12 For man also does not know his time; Like fish taken in a cruel net; Like birds caught in a snare; So the sons of men are snared in an evil time; When it falls suddenly upon them.

Ecclesiastes 9: 11

11 I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift; Nor the battle to the strong; Nor bread to the wise; Nor riches to men of understanding; Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

Job 2: 10b

What? shall we receive good (Heb. hatob/the good) at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil (Heb. hara/adversity)?

NOTE: Let's look at the events in Job 1: 13-19 and 2: 7-9: The entire book could also be a metaphor for Life; too. God is in this narrative representative of Nature or Life; in the sense of experience in this Reality. Job has this mysterious lone servant who is present at all these disasters but somehow escapes to tell him the bad news. There is also a repeating pattern. Sabeans steal livestock and kill servants; fire from heaven destroys livestock and servants; Chaldeans plunder livestock and kill servants; a great wind from the wilderness, or, out of nowhere (without warning; suddenly) strikes the house of eldest son where Job's sons and daughters were partying, and the roof collapses, killing the men (fate of daughters not mentioned??). After all this great loss, Job's wife turns on him; and if that wasn't bad enough, he contracts a terrible itching and painful skin disease. The rest of the book, which even be an elaborate parable, show Job's closest friends turn on him. Becoming a victim of a theft or robbery; natural disasters, property damage, death of loved ones, suffering from health issues, a devoted, loved one or life partner criticizing you and friends turning their backs on you at your lowest point and most vulnerable moment when you most need their sound advice and support- "This is Life."

COMMENTARY:

There is a tendency, or perhaps it is resignation and acceptance at the inevitable conclusion that things are beyond your control. Natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other extreme weather conditions) as well as diseases, being a victim of criminal conduct, social injustice and all other outcomes are perhaps seen as simply, God's Will. God is not always seen just as Creator but sometimes acting as an unseen, non-moral agent in the planetary disruptions and violent activity demonstrated in nature. Maybe, just maybe the things that are happening around us are simply Life; in all of it's sublime beauty, complexity and often wretched ugliness. Starting with Adam in the garden of Eden, is perhaps a metaphor for the harshness of this Life. God doesn't need to always micro-manage us because We are created in the image and likeness of God; thereby having an aspect of divine characteristics or qualities within ourselves. There are things we can control or influence, to the extent that we are able, and there are things we cannot because we are flesh and blood. God may be seen as directing, causing, or allowing things to happen but it just could be, and is, what the wisdom of Solomon says: Chance and circumstance happens to every living thing; that's just the way it is. He admonishes us while in this life to fear God and keep His commandments; that is the whole duty (opportunity??) for Man (Ecclesiastes 12: 13).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St. Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

October 13, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Why Christians don't manifest the miraculous Spiritual gifts anymore? EDIT

2018-10-08T11:21:00.002-07:00

There are a few believers who claim to have been given the gift of healing and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit, but the vast majorities within Christendom believe that such ability was temporary, ending with the death of the Apostles and the complete canon of Scripture; but is this really the case?

*Mark 16: 20* (Primary text)

And they went out and preached everywhere, the LORD working with [through] them and “confirming” the word through the accompanying [miraculous] signs. Also, in the online KJV Dictionary the word 'confirming' means giving additional evidence or proof; establishing.

NOTE: This is the reassurance of authenticating the truthfulness (veracity) of the Word and the power in serving the only True and Living God.

1 Corinthians 2: 4

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of [a]human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (Heb. g’burah),

1 Corinthians 4: 20 (Secondary ext)

For the kingdom of God is not in word [preaching or teaching, only] but in power (Heb. g’burah) [of the Holy Spirit].

Acts 10: 38

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power (Heb. g’burah), who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4, 8-9

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit,

1 Corinthians 14: 12

Even so you, since you are [a]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the [b]edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Philippians 2: 25-27

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

1 Timothy 5: 23

23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

2 Timothy 4: 20

20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

James 5: 14-15a

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;

NOTE: Do these 3 passages mean that the supernatural healing gift of the Holy Spirit has ceased?

1 Corinthians 1: 7

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

NOTE: Did Jesus mean for miraculous works to be available for the fortunate few in His generation up to the First Century, but not continue in effect until He returns again?

COMMENTARY: If only the Christian Church today really understood the awesome responsibility and authority that she has, namely, to proclaim and re-introduce to an unbelieving world that the Kingdom of God is more than just a religious experience but rather it is the divine government and power of the Creator impacting and changing society in all areas. There are far too many individuals in hospitals, mental institutions, or living with cancer, diabetes, immune disorders, heart attacks, birth defects, addicted to alcohol and drugs, pornography, sickness, diseases, blindness, paralysis or lameness, suicidal tendencies or clinical depression, etc., and all the average believer does [including the author] is attend worship services for the traditional Bible study and hearing a sermon preached, singing hymns, praying, and tithing. On a few limited occasions when a visitor seeks a miraculous healing and it doesn’t happen, the petitioner’s lack of ‘faith’ is often used as the reason for this failure.

Among various denominations within Christianity are echoes of the popular refrain about receiving the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost but what is the evidence of this experience? It is more than just “repentance” [teshuvah] and living under the Lordship of Jesus [Yahshua], even if a believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (Cp. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). To be sure, there are members of Pentecostal and Holiness congregations who speak in tongues and even priests in the Catholic Church practice the centuries-old rite of performing exorcisms, but outside of these and a few scant other such practices, the Christian Church as a whole is woefully lacking in manifesting to a significant extent the miraculous healing gift of the Holy Spirit.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St. #B-11

Tacoma, WA 98402

October 6, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo

Can a Christian lose their Salvation?

2018-10-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

One of the most contentious issues facing Christians is the doctrine of eternal security, or to put it simply, can someone who is saved become unsaved? There are 2 separate things that need to be unpacked, I think, is the free gift of salvation through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross/tree, which is offered an act of unmerited favor to us on God's part. This involves the forgiveness of sins, receiving the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; etc. Now, this other part, which is misunderstood pertains to receiving the inheritance, which is “CONDITIONAL.” Let me repeat that, again. The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, but the inheritance is CONDITIONAL; and is based on our “good works.”

In most Scriptures that are read on this matter the issue is not Salvation, but rather Destination (the Heavenly inheritance). The two blessings are NOT the same but certainly related. There is also the matter of type and anti-type: The children of Israel was in Egyptian bondage, which is symbolic of sin. They were delivered or separated from their bondage to the slavery of Egypt by going through or rather down into or underneath the waters of the Red Sea; seeing the Egyptians no more. This is a type of baptism (1 Peter 3; 20-21; Rom 6: 1-7;16) where sin no longer has them as captives or slaves. The next or intermediate phase is the "Wilderness Experience" to prove whether we will obey God's commandments as a holy nation for the children of Israel; and us, now (1 Peter 2: 9). Lastly, is the promise "actualized" such as inheriting or possessing all the things that as heirs we are entitled to; but it does not necessarily mean we will receive them.

Exodus 3: 8a

I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey...

1 Corinthians 10: 1-2, 5

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; v5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Hebrews 3: 14, 16-17

14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?

Hebrews 4: 1-2, 11

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Acts 20: 32

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

1 Corinthians 6: 9-11

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[b] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5: 19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5: 5-7

5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them;

1 Corinthians 15: 50

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

1 Peter 1: 3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Colossians 1: 12

12 giving thanks[a] to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Colossians 3: 22-24

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Ephesians 1: 13-14

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee[a] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[b] to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 2: 10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

NOTE: The word ordain means, according to Merriam Websters Dictionary to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law.

Revelation 21: 7

7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son

NOTE: You must overcome the things of this world (struggles in the flesh) and then you “shall” (future tense) inherit all things (the Kingdom of God/Christ).

Romans 7: 22-25

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

NOTE: Does this mean since the Apostle Paul was struggling so mightily with sin that he lost or in danger of losing his salvation?

Ephesians 6: 12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Peter 1: 1-2, 4-9

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Galatians 5: 2-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Titus 2: 14

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. WEB

CONCLUSION:

We have been redeemed or purchased like Gomer, the prostitute who became the wife of the prophet Amos from the slave market of sin. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for our sins but will we be like Gomer, although she belonged to another man. she continued to run away and found herself right back in the brothels indulging in her whoredoms; and yet, Amos would search to find her and bring her back, Why?? Because he loved her.

Romans 6: 12-13, 16

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as [b]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Luke 16: 13a

13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.

Philippians 2: 12

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Hebrews 10: 29, 31

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Romans 5: 6, 8-10

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we “shall be” saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we “shall be” saved by his life.

John 16: 33

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” Berean Study Bible

Jesus says: “He that Overcometh”

1. Eat from the Tree of Life Rev. 2: 7);

2. Not be hurt by the “Second Death” (Rev. 2: 11);

3. Eat the hidden manna; receive a new name written in white stone (Rev. 2: 17);

4. Have power over the nations (Rev. 2: 28);

5. Become a pillar in God's Heavenly Temple and have Jesus' new name written upon you (Rev. 3: 12);

6. To be seated “in” the Heavenly Throne alongside Jesus (Rev. 3; 21);

7. Will inherit all things (Rev. 21: 7);

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

October 4, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

How was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed?

2018-01-29T23:22:00.000-08:00

Genesis 14: 1-3

At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). [Heb. Hamelach Yam]

NOTE: Zoara, the biblical Zoar, previously called Bela (Cp. Genesis 14:8), was one of the five "cities of the plain" – a pentapolis apparently located along the lower Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea plain.

Genesis 14: 10a

Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits (bitumen), and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them.

NOTE: Bitumen- (also known as “asphaltum” or tar) is a black, oily, viscous form of petroleum, a naturally-occurring organic byproduct of decomposed plants. It is waterproof and flammable, and this remarkable natural substance has been used by humans for a wide variety of tasks and tools for at least the past 40,000 years. Natural bitumen is the thickest form of petroleum there is, made up of 83% carbon, 10% hydrogen and lesser amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and other elements.

It is a natural polymer of low molecular weight with a remarkable ability to change with temperature variations: at lower temperatures, it is rigid and brittle, at room temperature it is flexible, at higher temperatures bitumen flows. Bitumen deposits occur naturally throughout the world--the best known are Trinidad's Pitch Lake and the La Brea Tar Pit in California, but significant deposits are found in the Dead Sea, Venezuela, Switzerland, and northeastern Alberta, Canada. The chemical composition and consistency of these deposits vary significantly. In some places, bitumen extrudes naturally from terrestrial sources, in others it appears in liquid pools which can harden into mounds (Cp. Genesis 14: 10a), and in still others it oozes from underwater seeps, washing up as tarballs along sandy beaches and rocky shorelines.

Genesis 19: 12-13

The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”

Genesis 19: 15-17

With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

NOTE: Why was there such an urgency?

Genesis 19: 18a 19b

But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! …and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die.

NOTE:Is Lot now too elderly (infirm) or injured where he can't make the journey? He mentions that the disaster will “overtake” him, so does he know what kind of destruction it will be, and/or had it already started initially?

Genesis 19: 21-22

He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.

NOTE: The town of Zoar was promised to be saved and not destroyed.

Genesis 19: 23-26

By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur/brimstone (Heb. gaph`r'ith) on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Heb. n'tsib melach).

NOTE: The same Hebrew word here is also used in chapter 14, so lot's wife's body was vaporized or disintegrated into some kind of form like a pile salt crystals (glazed over with a silicon-permeated saline crystallized substance??

COMMENTARY: Sulfur has been known since ancient times. In the Bible it is called “brimstone.” It can be found in its elemental state around volcano vents. Sulfur is also believed to have been a component of ‘Greek Fire,’ a weapon similar to a flamethrower used by the Byzantine Empire. Sulfur burns with a very satisfying blue flame – its old name is brimstone, which means ‘burn stone’ or ‘stone that burns.’ When sulfur burns it produces sulfur dioxide, a poisonous gas. Let's just imagine for a moment, outside of supernatural or divine judgment, ancient catapults launching burning stones of sulfur, where the explosive, fiery impact releases poisonous gas destroying all life; human, animal, or vegetation. Not only, that, but since these cities were in the vicinity of tar pits (bitumen), if a fiery missile of sulfur hit those pools or mounds of tar, that could have been quite frightening, as well as deadly. This bombardment would have possibly engulfed the entire plain with dense smoke, exactly as described in Genesis 19: 27-28, which reads: Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.

This reasoning has some merit, but a better scientific explanation is that the destruction was caused by the ignition of combustible gases and hydro-thermal explosions by earthquakes from shifting of tectonic plates in the area; which can be found in the Open Source scientific research paper below:

Reference:

Citation: Gilat AL, Vol A (2015) Sodom and Gomorrah: Fires Created by Ignition of Combustible Gases by Earthquake-Impelled Thermobaric-Hydrothermal Explosions. J Geol Geosci 4: 202. doi:10.4172/2381-8719.1000202

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

January 29, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Does the Bible mention anything about Fate or Destiny?

2018-01-28T15:50:00.001-08:00

Judges 11: 30-31, 34-36, 39a

Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’S and I will offer it up as a burnt offering. When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back (Cp. Numbers 30: 2).” So she said to him, “My father, you have given your word to the LORD; do to me as you have said, since the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made.

NOTE: Was the sacrifice of Jephtha's daughter random chance, bad luck, fate, or was it her destiny?

1 Samuel 6: 9

"Watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great evil But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance." (Heb. miq'reh)

1 Kings 22: 29-34, 35b-37, 38

So the king of Israel (Ahab) and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.” and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot. They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the LORD which He spoke (Cp. 1 Kings 21: 19, 27-28).

NOTE: Ahab's end was prophesied but was the manner that this event happened to him by coincidence, bad luck, random chance, fate or was it destined to conclude exactly like it did?

2 Kings 20: 1-2, 4-6a

In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.“ I will add fifteen years to your life.

NOTE: The “death sentence” was pronounced by the prophet but God changed course; so, was King Hezekiah able to change his “fate” or just delay it for a few more years? He was still “destined” to die anyway??

2 Kings 13: 14-19a, 23b

Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.“Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it.

NOTE: This is very interesting because the actions of King Jehoash determined the fate or was it destiny of Israel and his reign.

2 Kings 23: 29
While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo.

2 Chronicles 35: 20-24a

After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.” Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers.

NOTE: This is also interesting because King Josiah didn't have to die and King Neco tried to talk him out of fighting against him. Why didn't the Lord send word for him not to do this, and so, his actions sealed his fate; or was it destiny?

Job 20: 24

He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.

NOTE: Does this mean you might be able to effect, alter, or escape your “fate” but your “destiny” is unalterable?

Isaiah 65: 11

"But because the rest of you have forsaken the LORD and have forgotten his Temple, and because you have prepared feasts to honor the god of Fate and have offered mixed wine to the god of Destiny, NLT

NOTE: Gad is the Babylonian god of Fortune and Meni is the god of Destiny. Amplified Bible

Jeremiah 15: 2

And it shall be that when they say to you, 'Where should we go?' then you are to tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity.

NOTE: The Hebrew translator used the word “asher” (who), which I think he didn't want to consider the word “destiny.”

Job 20: 24-25

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

NOTE: Is this Destiny or Fate?

Ecclesiastes 9: 11

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.

NOTE: This seems to say that one cannot escape the unavoidable grip of “destiny.”

Luke 13: 1-3

At that time, some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. To this He replied, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? (Heb. Kadabar) No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.… Berean Study Bible

NOTE: You can change your “fate” by repentance through the choice of freewill, but that doesn't necessarily make you immune from destiny

Acts 1: 23-26

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

NOTE: The voice of the Lord or the Holy Spirit did not command the Apostles to choose Matthias but they left the decision up to “Fate” (casting of lots/ or chance??)

Acts 25: 8, 10, 11b-12; 26: 32

while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. I appeal to Caesar.” Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.” Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

NOTE: Paul would have been released and not have had to make the trip to Rome at this time, but along the way he was “destined” for other experiences (Cp. Acts 27: 1 – 28: 16).

Acts 28: 4-6a

When the islanders saw the snake (Heb. 'eph'`eh) hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the (Spirit)/goddess Justice (Heb. w'ruach naqam) has not allowed him to live. However he shook the creature (Heb. ha sherets) off into the fire and suffered no harm. But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him. NIV

Romans 9: 22

In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. NLT

John 17: 12

I have kept those whom you gave me, and no man among them has perished, except The Son of Destruction, that the scripture should be fulfilled.”

John 18: 9

This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: "I have not lost one of those You have given Me."

COMMENTARY: I wanted to conclude this study with the passages from the gospel of John as a challenge to understanding fate and destiny. Did Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, really have a “choice”

(Cp. Mark 14: 21). The Bible makes it clear that God is All-Powerful and All-Knowing but there are passages that also reveal that chance, circumstance, fate, and destiny are part of reality as well. Adam and Eve were told about the tree of the knowledge of “Good and Evil” but their conscience was a blank slate until they experienced what it meant. Was this their “destiny?” And what if God had not made this prohibition known about that one particular tree, or what if the Serpent didn't ask a 'negative' question to Eve, would she and Adam have partaken of the forbidden fruit? There are people who believe that God is actively involved in human affairs, but in what way; or rather, if God is, then why do certain events happen to some and not to others? God does not show partiality (Cp. Matthew 5: 45b; Romans 2: 11), so if this is not the case, then our exercise of freewill sets in motion, like the tumbling over of dominoes arranged in an infinite set of patterns, which go this way or that way, and the result is what we call-either; fate, bad/dumb luck, chance, or circumstance. I think that an event can be “predestined” but not a person, and at the end of the day, God controls “Destiny” because no matter what we do, we can't escape or outrun it.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

January 28, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Are the "Flat Earthers" right or is the Earth round as it appears to be?

2018-01-25T18:58:00.001-08:00

Genesis 1: 2

The earth was formless (Heb. thohu) and void (Heb. bohu), and darkness (Heb. choshek) was over the surface (Heb. p'ney) of the deep (Heb. th'hom), and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters (Heb. hamayim).

Genesis 1: 6-8a

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse (Heb. raqi`a) in the midst of the waters, and let it separate (Heb. mab'dil) the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated (Heb. yab'del) the waters which were below (Heb. mitachath) the expanse from the waters which were above (Heb. me`al) the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven (Heb. Shamayim).

Genesis 1: 9-10a

Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place (Heb. maqom), and let the dry land (Heb. hayabashah) appear” (Heb. thera'eh); and it was so. God called the dry land earth (Heb. 'erets), and the gathering (Heb. miq'weh) of the waters He called seas (Heb. Yamim).

NOTE: The Earth is simply the “dry land” as opposed to the gathering of the waters called “seas” and has nothing to do with the planetary body.

Psalms 136: 6a

To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters;

Isaiah 40: 22

He sits enthroned above the circle (curvature??) of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. NLT

NOTE: Do these terms relate to a spherical or non-spherical shape?

-Alternative translations:

Isaiah 40: 22

He is the one who sits on (above??) the earth's horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent. NET

Isaiah 40: 22

It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

New American Standard 1977

Job 9: 6

He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.

Job 38: 4-6

Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across (not around??) it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone

NOTE:This seems to imply linearity and not spherical.

Proverbs 8: 27

When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth:

NOTE: Does this refer to the Freemason compass and straight edge instruments to make such measurements?

COMMENTARY:

The controversy regarding a “flat” Earth or a round one is perhaps simpler than most people are willing to accept. In fact, both sides are right; but only partially. The Bible does really support both viewpoints. I think the land called “earth” is flat and it is surrounded by an canopy or dome that is spherical or circular in appearance, and it gives an illusion, like that of the end of a rainbow. This effect seems like the circumference of the planetary body as one looks at it from space, but this is a distortion caused by refracted from the twin light sources of sun and moon. The earth is probably, at the best guess, shaped more like an ellipse than anything else.God never said for the earth to have light in and of itself, but rather to receive it. There are those who will say that the Hebrew words for land and earth are used interchangeably, and that might be in a very few cases, but remember that earth is always translated as 'arets or 'erets, and land is “yabashah.” In Job 37: 3; 38: 13 the Hebrew word “kan'photh” does refer to ends of the earth, in the general sense of the word. However, in Ezekiel 7: 2; Isaiah 11: 12; Revelation 7: 1, the Hebrew uses the specific term “'ar'ba`ath kan'photh” four corners (as in structure or foundation) of the earth. Besides all of this, wouldn't surveyors instruments have to be adjusted with a pre-determined offset to account for the earth's curvature if it were round? Hebrew word reference website: bayithamashiyach.com

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

January 25, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Is the claim of a “Hollow Earth” just fantastical mythical lore?

2018-01-23T18:07:00.001-08:00

1 Samuel 28: 11-12a

Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? And he (King Saul) said, Bring up Sh’muel (Sh'muEl/Samuel) for me. When the woman saw Sh’muel, she cried out with a loud voice;

1 Samuel 28: 13

The king said to her, Do not be afraid; but what do you see? And the woman said to Shaul, I see [an??] elohim being coming up out of the earth.

NOTE: This is very curious, and not what one envisions coming up from the grave or dreaded Sheol??

1 Thessalonians 5: 23

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit (Heb. ruachkem), soul (Heb. naph'sh'kem) and body (Heb. guph'kem) be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Why do none of the words in the passage use “elohim” or similar root as in 1 Samuel 28?

1 Samuel 28: 14

He said to her, What is his form? And she said, An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe. And Shaul knew that it was Sh’muel...

NOTE: Saul wanted proof that this was not some kind of deceitful magical or demonic trick, and it was authenticated by the robe that the departed Samuel wore before he died.

1 Samuel 28: 15

Then Sh’muel said to Shaul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? And Shaul said, I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and Elohim has departed from me and has not answered me any more, neither by the hand of prophets nor by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do.

NOTE: Since Elohim (God) had departed from Saul, why would a desperate king break the law and risk death by using a medium (witch) to summon the spirit of a dead and departed prophet to help him in the “land of the living,” or did he know something that we do not?

1 Samuel 28: 16

Sh’muel said, Why then do you ask me, since YHVH has departed from you and has become your adversary?

NOTE: Why the switch here? Is YHVH one of the Elohim?

Job 2: 1-2

Again there was a day when the sons of the Elohim came to present themselves before YHVH, and the satan also came among them to present himself before YHVH. YHVH said to the satan, Where have you come from? Then the satan answered YHVH and said, “From roaming about [on] the earth and from walking around [on] it.” SEE also Job 1: 6-7.

NOTE: The Hebrew tries to be faithful to the correct translation, but in this case I think the words should be [through] and [in].

Genesis 6: 4

The Nephilim (Heb. haN’philim) were on the earth “in those days,” and also afterward, when the sons of the Elohim came in to the daughters of the man, and they bore to them. They were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 10: 25

Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided (Heb. niph’l’gah) ; and his brother’s name was Jothan.

NOTE: In Genesis 6 and 10 the same Hebrew root (“niphl”) has to do with some kind of “division” (separation, gulf, chasm, impassable region, or barrier between types of unique 'kinds' of people. There could very well have been surface dwellers and those semi-divine beings that lived “inner Earth” or “Hollow Earth" or Middle Earth after the Tolkien series. "Middle-earth", or Endor in Quenya (Ennor in Sindarin) - and in The Book of Lost Tales the Great Lands -are the names used for the habitable parts of Arda after the final ruin of Beleriand, east across the Belegaer from Aman.

Genesis 2: 8a, 10-14

And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

NOTE: Havilah is associated with southern Egypt and Gihon is thought to be in Ethiopia. That one river for these other 4 must have been one powerful flow of water, and what was it's source, anyway?

1 Peter 3: 18-20

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit, in which He also went and preached to the spirits (Heb. ruchoth) in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls (Heb. n'phasoth), were saved through water.…

NOTE: The particular people were part of the inbreeding with the sons of God and daughters of men (Cp. Genesis 6: 1-7a). Everything on the “surface” of the earth was going to be destroyed but what about those who lived “in” the earth?? This does not pertain to those of us who die because when we do we are asleep (Cp. Daniel 12: 2; Matthew 27: 52; John 11: 11). Hebrew root words taken from bayithamashiyach.com

COMMENTARY:

The legendary garden of Eden might very well have not been on the Earth, but “in” it or perhaps Cain's punishment to be a restless wanderer “on” the earth and worrying about someone (??) finding him and slaying him (Cp. Genesis 4: 12-16). In that same chapter Cain not only finds a wife in the land of Nod, east of Eden but instead, builds a city; quite a feat I would say. Not only that, but I would think he met some people in the land of Nod where he found a wife. This is before Adam had other sons and daughters (Cp. Genesis 5: 4-5) and when men began to increase “on” [ not “in”] the earth and daughters were born to them (Cp. Genesis 6: 1-2). The land of Uz of the prophet Job, which seems like quite an ancient text, at least in it's deep and profound perspective on God (Elohim) could be an 'inner/Middle-earth)” literary work. The land of Uz could be on the Earth's surface but the conversation between the Lord and the satan and the meeting with the sons of God at an appointed time could have taken place in the “Hollow Earth..” One last point is found in Isaiah 37: 12, which reads: Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar (Cp. 2 Kings 19: 12)? Was this Eden and its people on the earth or "in” the earth?

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

January 23, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

The nakedness of Adam and Eve

2018-01-21T12:51:00.000-08:00

Genesis 2: 25

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. ESV

NOTE: Why is this part referencing being naked mentioned? It seems a bit early for some kind of moral qualification, and what was shame, anyway? Did a priestly redactor include this part??

Genesis 3: 5

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3: 7a

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. NLT

NOTE: The opening of Adam and Eve's eyes caused them to feel shame about being naked, which led to becoming like “gods” in the knowing Good and Evil-why??

Genesis 3: 8

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3: 9

The LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?"

NOTE: Why did the Lord God call out to just the man (Adam), and not both Adam and his wife?

Genesis 3: 10

He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

NOTE: Adam hid because he was naked, and not from disobeying God's command (Cp. Genesis 2: 16-17).

Genesis 3: 11

"Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?" NLT

NOTE: What did eating from the tree have to do with being “naked” regarding the 'knowledge of Good and Evil”? There seems to be an overemphasis on “naked' and not so much on disobedience; which seems puzzling??

ADDENDUM:

Genesis 3: 27

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. NIV

NOTE: What were those garments of “skin” that the Lord God clothed Adam and Eve? The narrative does not say they were clothed with animal hair or fur but skin; meaning that whatever their appearance (epidermis and dermis), it was not as we humans have now.

Genesis 2: 17b; 3: 19b; 22

...for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” ESV

For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." NLT

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— NAS 1977

COMMENTARY:

Adam and Eve were not immortal at the Beginning, but even in their so-called “fallen” state, there was still concern from deity (the Godhead) that the couple could still partake from the 'Tree of Life” and live forever. It would seem at first glance, that the effects were irreversible and they were prevented from doing so and banished from the garden. Not only that, but so important was this matter that a celestial guardian or sentry was sent to protect this secret source to the way of obtaining immortality (Cp. Genesis 3: 24b). Also, Adam and Eve might be long-lived like the mythical Asgardians, and in fact, the Nordic lore is taken from this story?? The Golden Apples of Idunn grow only in Asgard, and can only be picked by the goddess Idunn. They are what grants the Asgardians their youth, vigor, and virtual immortality. They grew on a tree in a garden on the east side Hall of Valhalla in Asgard. The cherubim (not cherub, singular) was placed on the east side of the Garden with a flaming sword... Lastly, Adam lived 930 years and then he died but there is no mention about Eve (Cp. Genesis 5: 5). If Adam and Eve continued to eat the fruit of immortality, none of us would be here; so everything happened as it was planned beforehand (predestined or preordained).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

January 21, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

What the Serpent originally wasn't in the Beginning

2018-01-21T01:10:00.000-08:00

Genesis 1: 24

God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals, each according to its kind." It was so. NET Bible

Genesis 1: 25

And God made the beasts of the earth after their kinds, and cattle after their kinds, and every thing that creeps upon the earth after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2: 19

Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.

NOTE: The man (Adam), not the Lord God, named the serpent, and it was associated with the 'kinds” of beasts of the earth and not creeping or crawling things (such as reptiles are)..

Genesis 3: 1

Now the serpent (Heb. nachash) was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? ERV

NOTE: The word “subtil” is different from subtle in that some of the various meanings are these: mysterious; rarefied; nebulous; refined; arcane' veiled; or insubstantial (ethereal??).

Genesis 3: 14

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Micah 7: 7a

They will lick the dust like a serpent, Like reptiles of the earth.

NOTE: Is this passage to be taken literally, too?

CONCLUSION:

Tradition or myth is a powerful shaper of concepts, but the Old Testament of the Bible clearly associates the 'serpent' as one of the animals or beasts; and not reptilian, originally. It is difficult to get a mental picture of what sort of creature it was, and as we know from evolution there are many species and types of creatures that once existed back in the dawn of time, but did not survive to the present era, or their fossil remains have yet to be discovered by scientists. The curse of the serpent might have been an evolutionary process over millennia and not necessarily an immediate event. Whatever the creature called the “serpent” at the beginning, be it shapeshifter or whatever, must have had the ability to communicate with the Adam and Eve, somehow; which would indeed have made it unique among all the “other” beasts of the field. Also, since God created “kinds” or pairs of every creature on the earth (Cp. Genesis 6: 19-20), why only one serpent, or was there more than the one in the narrative?

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

January 21, 2018

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Should a Christian be elected to serve in secular human government?

2017-08-16T14:58:00.001-07:00

One of the things that is most striking in American politics is that a prospective civil servant has to have a religious ideology. Since it requires significant funding to organize a campaign and to get your message out to the voting public, the resources marshaled by the faithful are of significant value. This support however, doesn’t come without a price. The issues that will be advocated by a particular official carry with it, the religious ideology and legislative agenda from constituents desiring to implement their brand of morality and family values on the rest of society. The thing is, though, are the followers of Jesus Christ to be so invested with the ways of the world. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this matter.

John 17: 6a, 9a, 14-16

I have revealed youto those whom you gave me out of the world. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

NOTE: Jesus said that He was not praying for the world and emphasizes twice that His disciples are “not of this world.”

John 18: 36a

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.

1 John 2: 15-16

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Fatheris not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

NOTE: Not only is this an admonition not to become attached to the world but Satan is called the god of this world (Cp. John 16: 11a; 2 Corinthians 4: 4), and the ways of the world are under the influence of Satan (Cp. Ephesians 2: 2). Since this is the case, why would or should a person of faith think that their involvement in the human government of this Age is going to make a difference, or for that matter, is pleasing to God? There is a good principle of “separateness” found in 2 Corinthians 6: 17. Besides, according to 1 Corinthians 6: 1a, 2a, believers will judge the world as well as angels, so why not be content to wait for God’s government to be inaugurated when Jesus returns?

Let’s take a step back and look at things from a Constitutional perspective. The last sentence in Article VI says: “but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” The First Amendment which stipulates government ‘neutrality’ in matters of religion, prohibits as a practical matter of governance, any entanglement between elected officials and religious groups, organizations, affiliates or PAC’s representing a particular religious ideology. This also means that someone who is a person of faith taking an oath to obey the U.S. Constitution cannot exercise the duties of their elected or appointed office, authority invested in them to endorse or enact public policy resulting from a religious motivation or agenda; which offends the Constitution.

CONCLUSION: So, how are believers to conduct themselves in this present world system? I mentioned earlier about the notion of being “separate” from the world [in a sense] because its form is passing away (Cp. 1 Corinthians 7: 31), and to reiterate, Jesus said that He and His followers were “not of this world.” I think perhaps Jehovah’s Witnesses have the right idea; at least, in principle. So, what are we supposed to do? Some helpful guidelines are found below in the following:

Romans 13: 1-8a

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right; but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.

Titus 2: 12

. . . teaching us, that denying the impiety and the worldly desires, soberly and righteously and piously we may live in the present age, Young’s Literal Translation.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA

August 16, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

The abortion issue and where or when Life begins

2017-08-15T14:58:00.003-07:00

The biggest issue in the debate over abortion is not just about women’s health, the right to choose, family planning, access to contraceptives, or even ‘privacy’ but rather, defining when or where does human life begin. To many, if not most Christians, the answer is obvious; but is it, really? I am not taking sides on the abortion issue between those camps of the PRO-LIFE or PRO-CHOICE; the reader will have to decide that for themselves. In this brief study I will start with the bedrock passage from the Bible on where all of this is centered, as below in the following:

Jeremiah 1: 5a

Before I formed you in the womb I knew

you, before you were born I set you apart;

NOTE: Sound pretty convincing, does it not? However, there is a little problem here that is often overlooked, the word “before.” It does not say I knew you at the moment of conception in the womb, or as you were being formed in the womb, but pre-existent to that. If indeed, Life begins “at” conception then clearly this verse cannot be used to support that position. This is a knowing that exists on a level in the mind of God (??) prior to human existence or biological conception.

The prophet Job seems to have some interesting things to say about being born while suffering in his despair and trial of afflictions.

Job 10: 18-19

Why did you bring me out from the womb?
Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
and were as though I had not been,

carried from the womb to the grave.

NOTE: Is Job saying in the underlined portion that it would be better if he had been aborted?

Job 34: 4

The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Job 27: 3

As long as my breath is in me,
and the spirit of God is in my nostrils

NOTE: It appears that “life” has to do with receiving the breath/spirit of God, so does this happen prenatally in the womb or after emerging from it?

Now, let’s look at the first man (Adam).

Genesis 2: 7

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

NOTE: This is consistent because it is only “after” the breath of life was received from the Creator does one become a “living person/being/ or soul.” Again, when does this happen?

Job 3: 16

Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?

Ecclesiastes 6: 5a

Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious (Ref. Holman Christian Standard Bible).

NOTE: If a stillborn baby is not conscious, then it would also be logical or rational to conclude that the embryo never was, and an indication of life, being alive or having “liveness” is to have sentience or conscious awareness.

CONCLUSION: There certainly is no sanction in the Bible for an abortion but at the same time, there is no passage in the Bible that definitively mentions that life, at least in the sense that humans experience or understand it, begins at conception in the womb. This does not mean that there are not some places in the Bible that strongly suggest that the practice or the closest modern equivalent was known in times past. The term used was typically “ripping open the pregnant women” (Cp. 2 Kings 8: 12; 2 Kings 15: 16; Hosea 13: 16; Amos 1: 13).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

August 15, 2017

Randle51@yahoo.com

Letter to the Churches of Christ

2017-06-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

Dear beloved in Christ Jesus:

I just finished reading “Reclaiming a Heritage” (2002) by Richard T. Hughes, and this is one book that should be recommended reading by every church member; especially the leadership. The author grew up in the Church of Christ and is therefore eminently qualified to write this book, not only from a scholarly perspective but he has an insider perspective about the mindset and inner workings of this religious group. The first thing that has to be admitted is the influence of such men as Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, David Lipscomb, James Harding, and others in the Restoration Movement in general and Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ (The Christian Church) in particular. Although Jesus Christ is the founder of our ‘Faith’ these reformers are the founders of our religious tradition. In this article I will use the author’s words mostly taken from his book to help better explain the Churches of Christ from a perspective that is seldom taught, or if at all, in the congregations.

The main point that Hughes wants to make is that the in the beginning the foundational principle behind the movement was that everyone had the right and privilege to search out the truth for themselves, and that such an endeavor may take a lifetime because humans are imperfect and our understanding of Scripture is constantly evolving. Since we are imperfect and not infallible, no mere human person can fully capture, possess, comprehend, preserve, dispense or attempt to codify the full measure of God’s eternal truth. The central theme of the Restoration Movement was first, to return back to the ancient order as presented in the New Testament and secondly, Christian unity (p. 30). There are those among the Churches of Christ who believe and teach that they have already restored the foundation or structure of the ancient Church in all its purity and perfection. I suppose they think they have fulfilled what it says in Ephesians 4: 13: until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Barton Stone said: “View all children of God as your brother, whatever [religious] name they may bear” (p. 32).There seems to have been a seismic shift from that viewpoint where in modern times there is an overemphasis on being “the One True Church” as opposed to unifying all Christians on the basis of following the ancient faith as outlined in the New Testament, and not following sectarian creeds, dogma, ritual or ecumenical authorities. Churches of Christ claim not to be a denomination because they do not have a written creed or that each congregation is autonomous, but they follow an unwritten code where they exclude (dis-fellowship/withdraw) from their fellowship anyone or entire groups of people who disagree with the standard or accepted orthodoxy. On page 47, the author correctly opines that in our zeal to restore the primitive church in its purity we deny the history of the human founders of our faith tradition.

Churches of Christ claim to follow the Bible and the Bible alone and that our congregations are nothing more or less than those of the first Christian Age. The other Churches are a product of the powerful forces of history, culture and tradition; but not Churches of Christ. The thing is, though, what started out as a sincere movement to restore New Testament pattern of faith practice and teaching has instead, become a religious organization with our own particular ‘brand’ of Christianity as evidenced by our own distinct Churches, lectureships, publications, colleges, disciplinary measures, and theology- hence a denomination. Perhaps the one fatal flaw in all of this is that since we are so preoccupied or convinced of our restorative perfection then whenever the Gospel is preached among and out from us it has the seal of approval from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Plan of Salvation almost seems to lose some of its meaning because it is presented as a series of steps to do instead of as it pictured in Ephesians 2: 8-9, which says: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Richard Hughes, near the end of the book goes on to say that Churches of Christ are facing enormous challenges over forms and methods- worship, baptism, administering the Lord’s Supper (p. 121).

He concludes by saying that we need to restore the passion of the former times by what is referred to as “radical discipleship,” which is similar to the commitment of the Anabaptists/Mennonite/Amish believers. Instead of withdrawing from society in separatist communities there should be a more proactive engagement in society and the world for the cause of social justice; which the Churches of Christ have been somewhat derelict in this area as opposed to other Christians. The Cross of Christ is more than facts, forms, methods and structures (p. 132), it must be engagement with or in the world where we shine as a beacon of light on a hill (Cp. Matthew 15: 14-16). Another Bible verses worth considering are found in Titus 2: 14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; Colossians 1: 10: that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Further information regarding the Churches of Christ is suggested below in the following:

Sounding Brass and Clanging Cymbals by Choate/Woodson; Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement by Foster/Blowers/Dunnavant/Williams; Distant Voices: Uncovering a Forgotten past for a Changing Church by Leonard C. Allen; Evangelism & the Stone-Campbell Movement by William R. Baker; Radical Restoration by F. LaGard Smith

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

June 3, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Is being right more important than maintaining unity?

2017-05-19T15:15:00.004-07:00

There are some Christian Churches or congregations who have withdrawn fellowship from one another based upon doctrinal differences, and decisions arrived at by a consensus of the membership and their congregational leaders; but is this the way it should be done? This brief study will examine whether the New Testament authorizes such an action as to ex-communicate entire faith communities over issues that may or may not be all that serious.

Acts 15: 1-2a, 12-13, 19-21, 28

Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:

Acts 16: 1a, 4

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.

1 Corinthians 8: 1, 4, 7-8

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

Acts 21: 17-18, 25

When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”

NOTE: The leadership of the Church in Jerusalem had heard some disturbing news about the Apostle Paul’s teachings and they wanted to know whether the things they heard were true; and they were which was in odds with the decrees that all who were present back in Acts chapter 15 agreed upon. So, should the believers separate or disassociate from the Apostle Paul and those he led to Christ because he no longer taught the same thing as they did in this matter?

Here’s another example:

Galatians 2: 15-16a

We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3: 11

Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

James 2: 18, 21-24

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Now, what would the Apostle Paul’s reply be to James interpretation?

Romans 4: 1-3

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4: 18-24

Who (Abraham) against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

NOTE: Should the congregations that are taught justification by works separate from those who are taught justification by faith; I mean, who is right, Paul or James- can both of them be right?

Ok, one more point:

Acts 21: 17b, 20-21

Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

Well, what did the Apostle Paul teach and were these rumors true?

Galatians 5: 6a, 12

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Galatians 6: 15

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Colossians 2: 11, 6

In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the fleshwas put off when you were circumcised byChrist; therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

CONCLUSION:

The apostles and early leaders of the Christian movement didn’t always agree on everything, even after Paul admonished the believers in Corinth “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1: 10). There are examples of instructions to withdraw from any believer who lives in a manner contrary to the teachings of Christ or the indwelling Holy Spirit, but that is only as a measure to bring the individual to repentance and to be welcomed back into the fellowship and support of the local congregation. The practice of splitting and forming a separate group or church is without authorization in the New Testament and is counter to the injunction against divisions, factions, and violates the spirit of unity. You can be right but if the price is withdrawing from other believers over perhaps some small matter of Biblical interpretation, then that might be too high a price to pay. The thing that the Lord wants is, again, not to have division or cause a stumbling block for other believers (Cp. Romans 14: 13; 1 Corinthians 8: 9; 10: 23; Galatians 5: 19a; and Proverbs 6: 16, 19b). Even the Apostle Paul wrote that all things are lawful for him but all things are not expedient (Cp. 1 Corinthians 6: 12; 10: 23).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

May 19, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Which day is the Lord’s Day, Sunday or the Sabbath?

2017-05-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

This article might be a little difficult for believers of mainstream fundamentalist or evangelical Christian Churches, not to mention those who practice another religious faith or spiritual tradition. As a matter of fact, I doubt the remaining secular humanist, agnostic, rational pragmatist, atheist, free thinker, philosopher, metaphysical or esoteric adept, as well as the average person on the street ill agree that the Sabbath is still sacred to God. I wrote a couple articles about this subject back in 2009, but the more I continue to read the Bible I am increasingly convinced of the certainty of this conviction. However, I want to state for the record that I am not a Seventh day Adventist, Hebraic Christian, Messianic Jew (“Netzarim”), or Christian Sabbatarian; just a believer who has a love for studying the Word of God. So, with that out of the way, let’s begin this fascinating study (again).

Genesis 2: 2-3

And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

NOTE: God sanctified this special day as a memorial for the work of creation which had now been accomplished, and it had nothing to do with religion or even a racial/ethnic group of people.

Exodus 20: 8-11

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

NOTE: According to “Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary” 10th. Ed. remember 1: to bring to mind or think of again. This commandment was not to inaugurate something new or unfamiliar, but rather to remind the Israelites to set this day apart by observing it as it was originally intended by God from the beginning.

Leviticus 25: 1-2, 8

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, when you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord.” You shall count seven weeksof years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years.

NOTE: Not only are people required the Sabbath but it applies to the land (agricultural practices) also.

Psalms 92: 1

A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

Ezekiel 22: 8

You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths.

Ezekiel 23: 38

Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths.

Matthew 12: 5

Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

NOTE: In “Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary” 10th Ed. profane 1: to treat something sacred with irreverence. In this particular it carries the meaning of treating this “day” as ordinary, without any particular special significance or meaning.

So, what about the “first day of the week”?

Matthew 28: 1

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Cp. Mark 16: 1-2; Luke 24: 1; John 20: 1).

NOTE: There is nothing mentioned here about this day replacing the Sabbath or as particularly special in and of itself. It just so happens to be the day the Lord Jesus arose from the grave, but this is explained below, in the following:

Matthew 12: 40

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mark 8: 31

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and by the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

John 2: 19

Jesus answered and said unto them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Ok, so what about other places in the New Testament mentioning the first day?

Acts 20: 6-7, 11

And we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread and came unto them in five days at Troas, where we stayed seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight. When he therefore had come up again, and had broken bread and eaten and talked for a long while, even until break of day, he departed.

Acts 2: 42, 46

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

1 Corinthians 11: 18-21

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that those who are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye therefore come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.

For in eating, every one taketh his own supper ahead of another, and one is hungry and another is drunken.

NOTE: The main purposes of these meetings were more social than religious observance or worship because “breaking bread” had more to do with eating than anything else. Even today, Christians often pray together before partaking of their meals. The Lord’s Supper” or ‘Eucharist’ doubtless started from these common meal gatherings.

1 Corinthians 16: 1-3

Now concerning the collection for the saints: As I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, even so do you. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay aside in store as God hath prospered him, so that there need be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomever you shall approve by your letters I will send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

NOTE: This was a special occasion to send relief to the saints in Jerusalem, and this was the day the Apostle Paul chose for that purpose. Again, nothing special about that day, even if the primitive Church decided to worship on that day.

Still not convinced?

Matthew 12: 8b

For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” (Cp. Mark 2: 28; Luke 6: 5)

NOTE: Jesus as the Son of Man is Lord of, not “over” the Sabbath day. The conjunction “of” gives the meaning as pertaining to deriving its source or origin from.

Hebrews 4: 4, 9-10

For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.” here remains therefore a rest for the people of God.For he that has entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.

Revelations 1: 8-10a

I Am Alpha And Omega, The Beginning And The Ending,” says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet,

NOTE: It is doubtful that the meaning applies to the first day of the week.

CONCLUSION (short):

There isn’t anywhere in the entire Bible that the “First day of the week” is given any mention as being sanctified, consecrated, or holy to God. It (Sunday/”Sol” day) has become a day of worship for Christians thanks to the pagan sun worshiping Emperor Constantine. The blessings of observing the Sabbath are included below and I think it not only refers to the Israelites but to anyone who honors this day because it is for all people, and not just a certain Semitic family out of all the nations on earth.

Isaiah 56: 2

Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

Isaiah 58: 13-14

If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

May 3, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Why are you really a Christian?

2017-04-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

This almost sounds like a trick question from a Bible class on “Christian Fundamentals 101” but in truth, it is a very serious and personal appeal to introspection as well as perhaps, brutal honesty. I mean, this is not asking about “how” you became a Christian-such as the formula, technique, ritual, or reciting the ‘Sinner’s Prayer,’ but rather the modus operandi or reason for such a decision. So, with that thought in mind, let’s pull back from looking too closely at the canvas and see the larger framework surrounding your faith portrait. Where you stand in Christ or your introduction to the gospel of salvation has very much to do with where you were born. Unlike in many parts of the world, the United States of America has a rich history and tradition which allows for religious freedom, and Christian is the most dominant one; in-spite of all its sectarian and doctrinal variations. There are very few households absent a King James Bible or some other popular version, and what hotel room hasn’t included a copy of the Gideon’s Bible?

Even if someone were not already a Christian it would still be easier to convert someone to the faith just by virtue of the cultural and social proximity to this religious belief system. There is hardly anyone who is not acquainted with a Christian, whether it is a classmate, friend, co-worker, or family member. This last part is my main argument, namely that probably the reason many people become Christians is because of ‘family ties.’ Just like in the case of Timothy, it was due to the influence of his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1: 5). It is a rare person indeed, who can be dragged to Bible class all the time or preached to by relatives of a particular denomination, and yet choose to join a different Church or remain a non-believer for the rest of their lives. So, why did you want to receive God’s saving grace- was it parental pressure; a condition of marriage (like Ivanka Trump embracing the Jewish religion); was it a promise made to a loved one on their deathbed; how about a traumatic life experience such as a terrible accident or incurable disease that after recovering you promised God your service; was it a near-death experience where you saw the divine light and glory of God? Would you have come to the Lord without any of these occurrences or influences?

I think much of the growth in some of the Christian Churches comes from families passing down through faith practices and values down through their generations as opposed to active evangelism outside kinships. Of course, there are always people seeking salvation when a catastrophic event happens like a World War, terrorist attack, rumors of a Martian invasion or UFO sighting, and any time there is a movie like “Left Behind” (the Rapture) or hearing a prophesy about the Apocalypse or End of Days. During these times Church membership swells but when the danger passes the pews slowly but steadily empty out or return to the pre-crisis numbers. Being a Christian is more than being ‘convinced’ but are you truly converted? One last time: Did you become a Christian because it was a last ditch effort and desperate cling to reality before going completely off the rails? Maybe attending church services gives you a sense of belonging, value, worth, attention; a feeling of being a ‘somebody’ as opposed to being unnoticed, neglected, shunned, underappreciated, ignored, unacknowledged, or feeling like a nobody? For others to be a Christian is like belonging to a family, or it could be a sort of social status especially if one belongs to a Mega-Church and is involved in one of the ministries there. Again, why are you really a Christian?

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

April 21, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

The poor have the gospel preached to them

2017-04-15T14:23:00.001-07:00

Jesus gave the “Great Commission” to the disciples fifty days after His resurrection, before ascending back to heaven (Matthew 28: 18-20), and this imperative has become the driving force behind Christian missionaries in a multitude countries around the world. Having planted the seed of the Word in many places, the gospel fruit seems to spring from among the most impoverished, illiterate, and poorest people on the planet- so why is this the case? It is one thing to convert an individual who is malnourished, shabbily clothed, sickly, feeble, and diseased; or where there aren’t schools, safe drinking water, no hospital or doctor, working toilet, and whose parents can’t read and write or living in a dilapidated house that is a makeshift construction of whatever is available.

I wonder what would be the results if missionaries would take the “Good News” to some of the most secular and high standard of living countries like Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Canada, The Netherlands, or New Zealand? Of course, this is not to say that there are not Christian missions or Churches in these countries but the concentration appears to be overwhelmingly among those living in the most dire and urgent circumstances of poverty, and experiencing all the ills of what this condition brings with it. With these thoughts in mind, I want to find something in the New Testament that would give me a picture of how the first missionary efforts were conducted, especially who were the targets of receiving the message of salvation. Let’s look at the following:

Acts 8: 26-27

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch (royal official) of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship.

NOTE: This was not some poor illiterate villager.

Acts 10: 1-2

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with his entire household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

NOTE: This man was a military commander in the Roman Legion.

Acts 13: 1a, 2, 6-7

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Now when they had gone through the islandto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

NOTE: This is technically where the Christian missionary work [outside of Judea, Samaria, and Syria] begins as it launches into Asia Minor and Europe. Also, this named person is a high ranking official of the entire province and educated as well.

Acts 16: 12a, 14

and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a [Roman] colony. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

NOTE: Philippi was an important metropolitan city and Roman colony, not some remote village somewhere. Lydia was a successful businesswoman and most likely was educated or quite literate at the very least.

Acts 17: 1-2, 4

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

NOTE: These were intelligent and educated people in all likelihood, too. Paul “reasoned” with them which is another way of saying that he used philosophical argumentation or ‘inductive reasoning’ or some type of logic. Interestingly, a few of the leaders, or socially prominent Greek women, whether business owners or officials of some sort, were part of those who were persuaded.

Acts 17: 10-12

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures (Old Testament) daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

Acts 17: 18, 21, 34

Thencertain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him (the Apostle Paul). And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

NOTE: I think Athens was a very important cultural learning center and metropolitan city that valued intellectual debate and reasoning. Dionysius was a judge in the Areopagite Court.

Acts 18: 1, 8

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

NOTE: Corinth was not a small village, either.

Acts 19: 1, 8-9

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples. Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

Acts 19: 17-20

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

NOTE: A Greek “drachma” was about a day’s wages so these adepts of the magic arts must not only have been literate enough to read the scrolls, but they must also have had the financial means to practice their craft.

CONCLUSION:

Author Wayne K. Meeks wrote a book titled: “The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul” in which he makes several valid points, as cited by blogpost below:

Paul was a city person and planted small cells of Christianity in households "strategically located" in cities around the northeast of the Mediterranean. Meeks argues that city life created a stable and secure atmosphere for urban people - local government, law, consistency in application of law, roads built and maintained, stable taxes, education, etc. (12) Road maintenance and military presence also make travel much easier/safer, which plays into Paul's story. (17) Sea travel is also faster and cheaper than travel by land. (18)

City life allowed for more, if perhaps still limited, social mobility. Physical and social advantages weighed in favor of city living. Cities "were where power was." (14-15) Paul's role as an artisan tent-maker made travel easier for him, natural relationships for him with artisans in places he visited. (17) Movement of artisans and tradespeople facilitates movement of religions/cults: Foreign settlers find neighbors, set up shrine to gods, and increase in numbers, demand government recognition. (18) Cults spread not just through intentional 'evangelism', but through chatter and 'gossip.' (19) Families and households of individuals are important starting points for Paul, with connections of work and trade. (28)

Ephesus is the center of Paul's and his circle's activity. (41) Takes root in 4 provinces in Empire: Galatia (although what region this is exactly can't be determined), Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia. (42) Trade centers. (44) Philippi (Asia) has a more Latin character than other of these because of "double colonization" and constant passage of military through area. (45) Also different because was primarily a center of agriculture, not commerce. (46) We know less about Thessalonica because of modern city built on top of remains without less disaster/destruction through history. Was a free city, with own coins, government, no Roman garrison, etc. (46-47) Achaia: Corinth. Italian. (47) Wealthy. Commerce. Entrepreneurs. Many freedmen, who, in unique setting, could actually be local aristocracy, (48)

Paul's world, his target, is the Greek-speaking Jew of the Roman world. (50)

NOTE: References supplied by bethquick.blogspot.com

I think this information reveals that the earliest missionary endeavors centered on reaching Jews living among the Greeks of the “Dispersion” living in the cities and larger metropolitan areas of Asia Minor; not remote villages. The purpose of this article is not to demean or criticize the tremendous success and personal sacrifice s made in the Name of Jesus by Christian missionaries, but why not follow Paul’s example? Why not take the gospel to the Philosophers, Scientists, government officials, police, and military? There is a big difference between persuading a poor laborer who works for a dollar a day and someone else who can afford to stop by a local Starbucks for a “Frappuccino.” How about a quick look at some of the Apostle Paul’s coworkers and/or probable converts- Erastus was the Director of Public Works (Romans 16: 23-24); Caesar’s household (Philippians 4: 22); Luke the Doctor (Colossians 4: 14a); Zemas the Lawyer (Titus 3: 13); Philemon who had a servant/slave named Onesimus (Philemon 1: 1). I know the gospel is to be proclaimed to the poor (Luke 4: 18a; 7: 22b) but I am sure that Jesus didn’t mean “mainly” or almost exclusively to the poor.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

April 15, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Were the sources of the other gospels “Alternative Facts”?

2017-04-12T13:24:00.001-07:00

The one thing that this 2016 presidential election in America has brought to the forefront is the integrity of professional journalism and fact-checking. The importance of this practice cannot be understated, especially when it involves the dissemination of relevant information to the public. There are two terms which have been tossed back and forth in the media coverage of the campaign, election, presidential inauguration and its aftermath, namely, “Fake News” and “Alternative facts.” I was thinking about this conundrum while reading the gospel “according” to Luke. In the opening introduction the anonymous editor, reporter, or redactor says: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilledamong us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly (chronological??) account for you, most Excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1: 1-3).

Since Luke was corresponding with a government official, I think it would seem prudent to provide accurate information. There were apparently other written versions of the New Movement and its controversial leader, but hearsay and oral testimonies have to be corroborated by the facts as they existed back then. Rumor had to be investigated, witnesses interviewed and vetted, and document sources authenticated for accuracy. If you stop and think about it for a moment, this just might have been the only gospel that had a historical basis. The information was not something spurious like an unofficial entry in ‘Wikiperia’ but rather, these claims were more closely subjected to the rigor of a one-person modern version of FactCheck.org. I mean, it is from this lone gospel that gives us the Annunciation, Nativity, and Christmas imagery which has been so profitable for Hallmark greeting cards and national retailers during the Winter holiday season. This study will comprise the first twenty one chapters of Luke’s gospel as more of a comparative overview, highlighting some of the information not included in the other narratives, as well as listing these broader themes in chronological order.

Luke 2: 41-42

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

Luke 3: 1a

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea.

NOTE: Since the emperor ruled from 14 to 37AD, this time period would be 29 AD.

Luke 3: 21, 23a

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph.

NOTE: Jesus was 30 years old in 29 AD so that means he was born around 2 BC, and eighteen years has elapsed between the second and third chapter.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Jesus is rejected at Nazareth (Luke 4: 1-30); The Beatitudes: Woes (Luke 6: 24-27); Jesus raises a widow’s son in Nain (Luke 7: 11-18); the parable of the Sower (Luke 8: 4-15/short version); The Transfiguration (Luke 9: 28-36/short version); the disciples wanted to rain down fire on a Samaritan village (Luke 9: 51-56); Jesus sends out the seventy-two missionaries (Luke 10: 1-12, 16-17, 19-20); parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 28-37); Jesus teaching on Prayer (Luke 11: 5-8); Jesus talks about an impure spirit (Luke 11: 24-28); Jesus pronounces the Six Woes (Luke 11: 37-54); parable of the rich fool (Luke 12: 13-21); interpreting the Times (Luke 12: 54-59); repent or perish (Luke 13: 1-9); a cripple woman healed on the Sabbath (Luke 13: 10-17; the narrow door (Luke 13: 22-30); Jesus at a Pharisee house (Luke 14: 1-14); the cost of being a disciple (Luke 14: 28-33; parable of the lost coin (Luke 15: 8-10); parable of the Prodigal/Lost Son (Luke 15: 11-32); parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16: 1-15); parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31); Jesus teaches about having mustard seed faith (Luke 17: 6-10; Jesus heals ten lepers (Luke 17: 11-19); coming of the kingdom of God and the example of Lot (Luke 17: 28-29); parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18: 1-8); parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18: 9-14); Jesus predicts his death (Luke 18: 31-33, esp. 34); Zacchaeus the tax Collector (Luke 19: 1-10); Jesus at the Temple (Luke 19: 45-48/NOTE: This is a lot different than Matthew 21: 12-17 or Mark 11: 11, 15-19, and Luke omits Jesus cursing the fig tree);

Signs of the End of the Age: Luke excludes the Lord shortening the day and the gospel must be preached to the nations; Luke includes Jerusalem trampled until the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled; Luke excludes mentioning false Christs and false prophets; Luke includes the phrase “your redemption draws near.” Luke includes the admonition about watchfulness (Luke 21: 34-36); Luke excludes “No man knows the day or the hour” (Mark’s version in 13: 32-36 is really short and totally different from Matthew 24: 36-51); the last few things that are excluded in Luke’s narrative for this study are: Parable of the Ten Virgins/Parable of the Talents/Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25: 1-13; 14-30; and 31-46), respectively.

Final Points: Luke doesn’t say that the other accounts “according to” the writers of Matthew, Mark, and/or John aren’t true, but possibly suggests that they just might contain some ‘alternative facts’ to the sources that he used. This is sort of a freebie- Jesus’ fate was sealed (in this narrative) the moment when his actions or statements affected economic issues, such as, the interruption of temple revenues controlled by the banking cartel (money lenders), and the unpopular issue of paying taxes (Cp. Luke 19: 45-47 and 20: 20-22).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

April 11, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Traveling along the road between Jericho and Jerusalem

2017-04-07T14:17:00.001-07:00

This is one of the more interesting parables that Jesus taught His disciples. It has profound meaning as it relates to practical Christian principles of showing compassion to someone in dire circumstances. Before I get to unpack some of this, a little comparative analysis might serve as a necessary background. This life lesson taught by Jesus comes after He successfully refutes the Sadducees about the resurrection, which they don’t believe in.

Matthew 22: 34-40

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Cp. Deuteronomy 6: 5). ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself (Cp. Leviticus 19: 18b). ‘All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

NOTE: Matthew’s version omits the “Shema” found in Deuteronomy 6: 4.

Mark 12: 28-34

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Cp. Deuteronomy 6: 4-5). ‘The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these.”“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Cp. Leviticus 19: 18b) is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

NOTE: Mark’s gospel expands the narrative even more, including not only the ‘Shema’ but adding the word “strength” as well as mentioning the connection with or the superiority over ‘offerings and sacrifices.’

Now the main text for our study a in the following below:

Luke 10: 25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind ‘and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denariiand gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

NOTE: Luke’s gospel expands the story even more than mark’s version to include this parable. This account omits the “Shema’ (Deuteronomy 6: 4) but it includes narration that seems unexpected here. It is interesting that one event can have such variation, especially when comparing Luke with the other gospels of Matthew and Mark.

APPLICATION:

Now that the theological musings are out of the way, let’s see what spiritual nuggets of wisdom can be uncovered. At first glance it doesn’t go unnoticed that there is a stark cultural tension between two of the most pious religious officials of the Jewish religion, and a person who is despised. The identity of the victim is unknown, which adds more intrigue to the story. The Levite was assigned the work of ministering in the sanctuary and the function of the priests was primarily concerned with offering sacrifices on the altar. These two men who represent the piety and holiness of Israel see a person wounded and distress but show no empathy at all; they don’t even speak to the person but avoid him by walking on the other side of the road. I would not be surprised if either one of them wasn’t going up to Jerusalem to perform some service to God at the Temple/sanctuary. So, what does this story have to do with believing Christians today? Jesus asked a poignant question in verse 36: “Which of these three do you think was the neighbor?”

It is very possible that many Christians are so busy traveling down the road between Jericho and Jerusalem so that they can get to Bible class on time; or choir rehearsal; or to make the altar call; or to hear the homily, tithe, partake of the Lord’s Supper, and other Church functions that when they see a man holding a “HOMELESS” sign they pass by on the other side. There are believers who attend Christian worship but rely on public transportation, and yet after the conclusion of the closing benediction, walk outside to wait at the bus stop during adverse weather conditions but not one of the fellow parishioners who previously shook your hand and smiled in your face, greets you lovingly, and yet, never thinks about offering you a ride. Of course, there are some congregations who, upon learning of your circumstances if you volunteer the information, will provide for you to ride in the church van or bus; just so long it is not their personal vehicle. That’s a little different from the ‘Samaritan’ who put the wounded and probably bloody person on his own donkey. This would also imply that this caring person had to be inconvenienced all the way to the inn; let alone pay for the victim’s lodging, meals, and whatever other charges he might have incurred.

It is more than just being religious because in Hosea 6: 6 God says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

1 John 3: 17, 4: 20

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

Hebrews 13: 2

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers (your neighbor??), for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Matthew 25: 44-45

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

As you travel down the road of Life ask yourself this one question, do you want to live it as the Levite, Priest, or the Samaritan?

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

April 7, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Does the Name of your Church really matter?

2017-04-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

There are literally thousands of Churches in Christendom with varying modes of worship, liturgy, faith practices, theological doctrine, rituals, hermeneutics and homilies; so is there one particular Church that has the “right” name, and teaching that makes it stand out as the One True Church? Let’s just investigate this claim and see what the Bible has to say about it.

Matthew 16: 18

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Acts 8: 1a

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. . .

Acts 11: 25-26

So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

NOTE: What were the believers called before this time and what was the Name of the Church?

Acts 12: 1

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church (Name??).

Acts 18: 22

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church (Name??), and then went down to Antioch.

Acts 20: 28

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God,which he obtained with his own blood.

NOTE: This is this first time this is mentioned, other than the generic “Church.”

Acts 24: 5, 14

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. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way (Heb. ha Derekh), which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets.

NOTE: Is the apostle Paul saying that he is a member of or associated with the Church of the Way, or Church of the Nazarene (Nazarene Church)?

Romans 16: 16

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of (in??) Christ greet you.

NOTE: Church of Christ; Disciples of Christ Church are possibilities.

1 Corinthians 15: 9

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Corinthians 16: 16

If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

2 Corinthians 1: 1b

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Galatians 1: 13

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

1 Thessalonians 2: 14a

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.

NOTE: Another possible Name can be Church of God in Christ.

1 Timothy 3: 15

If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

NOTE: The Church of the Living God is possible, too.

Hebrews 12: 23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. . . KJV

NOTE: This General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn is as viable as any Name mentioned, and as a matter-of-fact, this denomination used to be around but I don’t know if they are anymore.

COMMENTARY: By the sheer frequency of times that it is mentioned, Church of God would be the most likely for any for saints and believing Christians to identify with; as opposed to any of the other Names listed. However, this fact alone does not validate this or any other Christian Church as the “One True Church” based solely on this occurrence in the New Testament, but it would make a strong debate point. Of course, one can counter that it isn’t the Name but whether you are following the example of First Century Christians in the manner they practiced the “pure” religion from the beginning. There were definitely significant differences in the ministry of the Apostle Paul and the leadership of the Mother Church in Jerusalem. I don’t want to get too far afield in this area but I did want to make note of some earlier teaching in one Christian Church that used Acts 20: 7 as Biblical sanction to observe the Lord’s Supper (“Eucharist”) on Sunday. Is that really the case or was it part of a social custom that was incorporated into the fellowship of believers?

Acts 20: 7a, 11

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day. . . When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left.

Acts 2: 42, 46

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house (not in the Church or assembly), they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.

As a final thought, it is not what Church you belong to but rather, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5: 17).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

April 5, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

What does the Bible have to say about slavery?

2017-04-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

This is an emotionally-charged topic as well as a sensitive hot-button social issue that offers no middle ground- either you are aggrieved by its barbaric practice or you are not. I think from the standpoint of African-American descendants of slaves brought to the shores of this continent in chains, this is an extremely painful subject to discuss. That being said, slavery is not unique in the human experience but the practice of perpetuating this unjust institution solely on the basis of color is quite recent; at least as far as millennia of years of world history goes. In this study it will be to look at what the Bible has to say about this subject, and does it offer any perspective that is helpful in determining the moral justification or negative sanction for such cruelty.

Genesis 16: 1-2, 6-10a

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, ¹⁰and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. . . (Cp. Genesis 21: 10)

NOTE: Sarai/Sarah is considered the epitome of a God-fearing, faithful, loving and compassionate woman.

Genesis 30: 1a, 3, 9

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children. And she said, Behold my maid (female slave/bondmaid)) Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid (female slave/bondmaid), and gave her Jacob to wife.

Joshua 9: 21

And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water (slaves/forced labor) unto the entire congregation; as the princes had promised them.

Joshua 9: 23

Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers (slaves/forced labor) for the house of my God." NET Bible

Joshua 9: 27a

But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers (slaves/forced labor) for the community of Israel and for the altar of the LORD. NLT

1 Kings 5: 13, 14b

Then King Solomon drafted (“conscripted”) forced laborers from all Israel; the labor force numbered 30,000 men. He sent 10,000 to Lebanon each month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon, two months they were at home. Adoniram was in charge (the Overseer) of the forced labor. Holman Christian Standard Bible

NOTE: The magnificent temple that King Solomon dedicated the Lord, the House where the Name would be memorialized, was built with a large pool of slave labor.

Jeremiah 34: 9, 14a

That everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother. At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you six years; you must set him free from your service (Cp. Exodus 21: 2-6; Deuteronomy 15: 12-17). ESV

Leviticus 25: 39-42, 44-46

If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life (Wow!!), but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

NOTE: This is a lot more expanded than other parts of the Old Testament.

Now, let’s look at the New Testament:

Ephesians 6: 5-9

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

NOTE: This is a fine thing if you just so happen to have a God-fearing master.

Colossians 3: 22-25

Slaves obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Titus 2: 9-10

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them (complain about reasonable grievances or mistreatment??), and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

CONCLUSION:

It is interesting that one of the reasons that God liberated the Israelites was that they were slaves in Egypt and harshly treated, but somehow it is acceptable for them to enslave other people, consider them as inherited property, and they can be subjected to a lifetime of servitude. Even if another Hebrew enslaved one of his fellow countrymen that person was to be treated like hired labor, or as an “indentured servant” for a temporary period lasting no more than seven years. The New Testament admonishes slaves to just be faithful and bear with it, looking toward to a heavenly reward but when it came to the plight of the Israelites the response from on High was quite different- Acts 7: 34a says, “I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free.” It isn’t just slavery in the past that is of paramount importance but the psychological as well as the socio-cultural, economic, educational and mental components that can affect people generations into the future. Maybe the sins of the fathers are not passed down past the third and fourth generation, but what they went through could; especially if, as in the Bible a generation can be anywhere from forty years to a thousand.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

April 4, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

The interesting history about King Josiah

2017-04-01T14:20:00.002-07:00

The Old Testament mentions about the exploits of King Josiah as one of the most prominent when it pertains to restoration of the pure worship of God and destruction of Baal and Asherah worship, but there are other interesting things in this story, too. These things will be detailed in the following below:

2 Chronicles 34: 1, 3b

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reined in Jerusalem one and thirty years; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

2 Chronicles 34: 8, 14b-16a

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king. . .

NOTE: The Book of the Law must have been lost for Hilkiah the priest to have found it; or at least he came upon parts of the total number of scrolls out of many others. It seems that the priests or more importantly the Levites were more guilty than the people when it came to idol worship because surely they would have been the ones who safeguarded the Law, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 31: 24-26 : It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete, that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,“Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you. Also Exodus 40: 20a says: He (Moses) took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark. Just one more point on this: 2 Chronicles 35: 3 He (King Josiah) said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.

So, what happened to the Ten Commandments that were placed ‘inside’ the ark or the Book of the Covenant (the other statutes and ordinances) that was placed beside it? Your guess is as good as mine.

2 Chronicles 34: 18-22

Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.

2 Chronicles 34: 22a, 23-25

And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college :) and they spoke to her to that effect. And she answered them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

2 Chronicles 34: 29-30

Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord.

NOTE: One has to ask, “What were these words in the covenant that had such dire warnings; I mean were they found in the Ten Commandments or elsewhere?” I think Hikliah the priest came across some fragments of the Deuteronomy scroll, as below:

Deuteronomy 26: 16-17

The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.¹⁷You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.

Deuteronomy 28: 15, 20, 58-59, 61

However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God. The Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.

Now let’s go back to:

Deuteronomy 5: 22a

These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he (God) added nothing more.

NOTE: This is interesting because Deuteronomy 29: 1 says: These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.

A few more interesting things during the reign of King Josiah:

2 Chronicles 35: 1, 12, 16, 18

Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the subdivisions of the families of the people to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle. So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem.

NOTE: That might not be exactly true because King Hezekiah seems to have celebrated the Passover quite elaborately (Cp. 2 Chronicles 30: 1 thru 31: 21).

A final point is found here:

2 Chronicles 31: 3 mentions “New Moons” observed by King Hezekiah as one of appointed feasts written in the Law of Moses, but the earliest passage mentioning it is found in Numbers 10: 1-10 where it associated with blowing of 2 silver trumpets that are to be used when confronting an oppressive enemy. This is mentioned along with New Moon festivals but no details about the observance are given. Later in Numbers 29: 1-6 (Cp. Leviticus 23: 23-25) a more elaborate set of instructions are given for the Feast of Trumpets but nothing is said about a New Moon feast. According to “Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible” New Moon feasts involved commencement of the autumnal year’s celebration of the passing of the darkening of the moon, which was an ominous sign in ancient times. The restoration of the solar disk was seen as a time of rejoicing, and as such, it became ritualized among the cultic people of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Semites such as the Israelites, too. Doubtless, the Feast of Trumpets/New Moon celebrations were incorporated into a dual festival as they were both observed in the seventh month (Tishri/September-October).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 23, 2017

Robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Response to the book, "50 Simple questions for every Christian"

2017-03-23T14:03:00.001-07:00

This is a copy of the email that I sent to the author, as below in the following:

Hi Mr. Harrison:

The first thing I want to do before making the attempt to answer the title in the subject line is that I recently purchased “50 Simple questions for every Christian” on the FOR SALE shelf at my local library. I am always looking to read something that satisfies my curious nature, especially as it pertains to questions or answers to the ultimate mystery as presented in some of the world’s religious systems, and Judaism/Christianity in particular. I was hooked after reading the first few pages, and if you will pardon the expression, “it’s a Godsend” (blessing). The writing is masterful, probing, direct, and the questions are provocative, poignant as well as challenging; the book should be read by every Christian in my opinion. I was thinking about the resurrection narratives as recorded in several New Testament passages, which to me would be a skeptic’s treasure trove. In the gospel of Matthew 27: 62-66 and 28: 11-17 there seems to be some confusion with the temple guard and the soldiers; what story would be told about how the body of Jesus was missing; the payment of a bribe; soldiers falling asleep on duty; and the last part of verse 17 where it says of the disciples of Jesus: “. . . and some doubted” – (what??); These were people who were right there and part of this supernatural event, and yet, these unnamed followers and disciples/apostles were not convinced; which says something for those of us who believe two thousand years later.

Before I move on to another matter, the stone that was removed from the tomb or sepulcher is interesting because according to the story, Jesus had already been resurrected and could simply materialize and appear suddenly as He did where the disciples were gathered. I think the resurrection story would have been more credible if the stone had not been removed and Jesus was seen walking around because it would have avoided the rumor that Matthew 28: 13 talks about. There is at least the name of one skeptic as recorded in John 20: 24-25, which reads: Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see for myself the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (wow!!). This is a man that followed Jesus around, heard Him teach and perform miracles but instead of taking the word of the other disciples, he wanted verifiable proof, empirical facts, and not hearsay, or eyewitness accounts/testimonies- which should serve as a good lesson for us today and food for thought instead of just believing or accepting everything on “faith” or rather Church tradition, ritual and dogma.

Now that I have said all of that, let’s get to the main issue. I have given some thoughtful consideration to the proof of God’s existence, and if you don’t mind I would like to answer this concern by “flipping the script” or turning the question around. I would like to ask, “can you offer proof that you exist; of for that matter, proof that you love someone?” Are numbers real or letters of the alphabet- how can you prove this, and by what measure? And what about the concept of time or what is perceived as this phenomena? Isn’t everything composed of atoms or smaller subatomic particles, and isn’t there space or a void between each atom? Aren’t we really dealing with concepts or constructs of the “Mind” that are merely symbols and serve as building blocks in this illusion called “Life” but don’t really exist, in and of Itself, in reality. Whatever or Whoever is cosmic ‘Mind,’ it casts a wide net where there is reality-bias that skews any true knowledge and distorts sense perception. Therefore, all what we experience is essentially subjective and non-quantifiable (“Cogito ergo sum”).

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 17, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

The feminine face of God

2017-03-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

To most readers of the Bible, God is almost universally accepted as male; with the exception of the Holy Spirit, who is presented as female. But is the gender of deity always gendered as tradition and Church history says it does, or is there possibly more to the story than what we have been told and led to believe? I guess the first place to start in the journey of inquiry is the start at the beginning (‘Bereshith’).

Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God (“Elohim”) created the heavens and earth.

In “The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words” (1985) by Lawrence O. Richards, the word ‘Elohim’ is the most frequently used name for God in the entire Old Testament, occurring nearly 2,570 times. Lon Milo Duquette writes in “The Chicken Qabalah” that this word stems from the root word ‘Eloh/Eloah’ which is a feminine singular noun for Goddess (or divine feminine); “im” is merely the plural masculine suffix. Duquette, who is a Kabbalist, or Jewish esoteric/metaphysical practitioner or teacher, is not the only person to make this same association. So, taken together the word “Elohim” gives the meaning of Goddess/God; Dual-gendered deity/ Creatress-Creator; Feminine/Masculine divine Principal; or something like that. Ok, maybe this is a little bit to much to swallow, but keep reading, as in the following below:

Genesis 1: 26, 27

Then Elohim said, “Let Us make man in Our image after Our likeness.” So Elohim created man in His (not their??) own image, in the image of Elohim He (not they??) created him (Adam); male and female He (not they??) created them (Cp. Genesis 5: 1-2).

NOTE: The male and female (Adam) was created in the image and likeness of the Us/Our-“Elohim.”

There’s more:

Exodus 6: 2-3

Elohim also said to Moses, “I am the Lord (Yahuwah), I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai (“The Almighty”). . .

NOTE: The word “Shaddai” is plural of the root ‘shad’ which refers to a female breast/ or teat [as it pertains to the female mammary gland], and the “ai” is just the plural suffix for breasts or teats. A literal translation for El Shaddi might be something like: God of breasts or breasted God (hermaphrodite??). Since men do not have breasts it seems reasonable to conclude the deity of the patriarchs was dual-gendered, or a Goddess, at the very least.

Continuing further: the book of Job is considered the second oldest in the entire Bible and this great great man is believed to be a contemporary of Abraham, so it is certainly worth the time and effort to see what he perceived or understood of deity’s (God’s) nature as it was revealed to him.

Job 38: 1, 8, 29

Then the Lord (Yahuwah) answered Job out of the storm, “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb?” “From whose womb comes the ice?” “Who gives birth to the frost from heaven?”

NOTE: The language in the above rendering would seem a little odd to be spoken by a male, wouldn’t it; does a man have a womb or give birth to anything?

Job 22: 26-27

Surely then you will find delight in Shaddai (Mighty), and lift up your voice to Eloh/Eloah (God). You will pray to him (??) and he (??) will hear you.

NOTE: Curious why Job would use feminine references (Shaddai and Eloh) and then include such pronouns as him and he if God were strictly gendered as male (Oops)? Interestingly, David B. Clark maintains that the single book, Job, makes heavy use of ‘Shaddai’ and comprises roughly 2/3 of all the uses of the word mentioned in the Old Testament. Some other biblical passages that seem to juxtapose Lord (Yahuwah) with God/Goddess (Elohim) are: Genesis 24: 3; 1 Samuel 6: 20; Psalms 50: 6; Isaiah 30: 18; 37: 16; 40: 28; 45: 15; 54: 5; 65: 16; and Jeremiah 10: 10.

I have covered the Old Testament in quite some detail, so what about the New Testament?

Luke 11: 27

And it came to pass, as Jesus spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps (Heb. Hashaddayim) which thou hast sucked.”

Revelation 1: 13

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle (KJV).

COMMENTARY: This last part is quite revealing and controversial because paps are another word for breasts. In Luke’s gospel the Hebrew is the plural suffix (“ai” or” im”) of singular breast/teat (shad). The translation of most modern bibles uses the “chest” or “breast/bosom” (singular) but some other translations do not, such as: Jubilee Bible 2000; American Standard Version; Darby Bible; Easy-to-Read Version Bible; and American King James. A few other versions use “paps” as in: Webster Bible; Douay-Rheims; King James. This matter might just be far from being settled as a certainty, so the reader has to draw his or her conclusion. The inclusion of the feminine into the exclusive male godhead as co-equal in all aspects of divinity can have a profound effect socially, theologically, psychologically, and culturally; impacting not only the role of women in society and the Church, but will reshape the future evolvement of life on planet Earth.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 20, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Are the Bible prophecies about the end of the world so much hype or sobering truth?

2016-11-02T17:13:00.002-07:00

The Bible solemnly warns about God’s day of wrath on evildoers, but when is this dreaded event supposed to happen, or more importantly, will it ever take place as the Scriptures describes? It seems that situations in the world are getting worse as there is increasing poverty, vanishing or shrinking permafrost, destruction of rainforests, pollution of water, soil, and the air, global financial insecurity, increasing crime rates and acts of violence, as well as the constant threat of nuclear conflagration or another world war; and this is just the short list. Either it is time to take the Lord’s warning seriously, or if not, and all of this doom and gloom is just so much hype, then let’s embrace the philosophy of life found in Isaiah 23: 13: “let us eat, and drink [and be merry??], you say, for tomorrow we die.” However, I think before throwing in the towel and give in to despair and nihilism, maybe the Bible can offer some perspective. Let’s begin with the words of Jesus in Matthew 16: 3b: You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

2 Peter 3: 2-3a, 4, 8-9

I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all, you must understand that in the “Last Days” scoffers [doubters] will come. They will say, “Where is this coming,” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you [us??], not wanting anyone to perish (Cp. Ezekiel 18: 23; 33: 11), but that everyone would come to repentance.

Now, let’s see what is written in the prophets:

Isaiah 13: 10-11a

The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil; the wicked for their sins. Therefore I will make heaven tremble, and the earth will shake from its place.

Isaiah 34: 1-2, 4a

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the [entire] earthy hear, and all that is [are] in it, the world and all that comes out of it! The Lord is angry with all the nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. All the stars of heaven will be dissolves [shaken/moved??] and the shy will be rolled up like a scroll.

What did the Lord tell his apostles about these things?

Matthew 24: 3

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately; “Tell us,” they said, “When will this [these things] happen, and what will be ⁽¹⁾the sign of your coming and ⁽²⁾the End of the Age [world]?”

NOTE: I think there were actually two questions asked here; the first part was contemporary in their time and the latter part reserved for the future. It is also possible that this was a compound single question which wrapped together both parts with the expectation that Jesus was going to usher in the kingdom of God and finally defeat evil when he returns in their lifetime.

Now it’s time for some details, as in the following:

Luke 21: 9

“. . . when you hear of wars and revolutions (Cp. Matthew 24: 6; Mark 13: 7).”

Luke 21: 11

There will be great earthquakes; famines (droughts??) and pestilence in various places, and fearful events [like 9/11??], and great signs from (in??) heaven [Blood Moons or unusual alignment of the planets/stars??] (Cp. Matthew 24: 7b; Mark 13: 8b).

Luke 21: 25-26a

There will be signs in the sun, moon and the stars. On the earth nations will be in anguish and perplexity and the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from [fear of or from??] terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world.

NOTE: This last part could be pulled from today’s newspaper headlines among the nations of the earth. All this uncertainly could be compounded by not only severe weather patterns, but concerns over a potential pandemic from the Zika virus, AIDS, or new strains of super bugs that are resistant to the latest antibiotics. There are no answers for the acts of terrorism by ISIL and al-Qaeda, the war in Syria and the refugee humanitarian crisis. What is to be done about an aggressive Russia and economic powerhouse China and her military exercises in the South China Sea? Will the EU hold together or will Brexit signal the exit of other countries as well?

Luke 21: 34

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and the day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap; for [assuredly] it will come upon all those who live on the face of the earth.

Luke 24: 32

I tell you the truth; this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

CONCLUSION:

That generation has passed away and those things which pertained to them have been fulfilled, now there is another “this generation” of human still living on the planet and there are events still waiting to occur; especially up until the final consummation of all things when the kingdom of God will finally be among men. The main point I want to make is that the world is a lot closer than many of us want to think about regarding the day of God’s wrath. Matthew 24: 10-12 talks about many people turning away from the “true” faith, mainly due to false prophets deceiving people. Because of the increase of wickedness the love (compassion/empathy/ sympathy of people will [has] turn cold. Despite all the technological advances and social media, there is an increase in cyber bullying, shaming and other predatory practices; mostly among teens and the most vulnerable members of society. Although there is a great desire for acknowledgement, connectedness, social interaction or companionship; quite a few people feel lonely, isolated, not valued, apprehensive about the future, and more disconnected than ever.

Before I forget to make this point: The gospel of Jesus Christ has reached the four corners of the earth but one wonders if it is the same “Good News” that was first preached by Jesus and later by those who first saw, heard and handled the Word of Life and first-begotten of the Father. Today, the preaching is mostly the politically-correct, non-offensive kind that tastes good like honey; and is sweet in your mouth as well as in your belly. The old “Fire and Brimstone” sermons of the past are not preached from the pulpit and not as welcome in modern society today as opposed to times past. It seems that quite a few Christian Churches are trying to model a welcoming, Starbucks-friendly atmosphere offering a variety of homilies in as many flavors as there are lattes and cappuccinos.

I was thinking about Micah 3: 11a where it says, “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money.” Now, this is not to criticize those faithful stewards of God who are to be supported and teach the truth in sincerity (Cp. Luke 10: 7; 1 Timothy 5: 18), but this is my polemic against those who are wolves in sheep clothing. A final thought comes from Zechariah 14: 12b: “Their flesh will rot [turn black and discolored??] while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” This scene kinda reminds me of an episode of “The Walking Dead” and could this possibly be a prophesy about some experiment that goes horribly wrong where a plague is unleashed on the public after spores, gas or mist from biological or germ warfare research that escapes from a containment module or chamber?

Anyway, to wrap this all up, Jesus leaves us with this sobering thought found in Matthew 24: 37-39: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt 701
Tacoma, WA 98402
November 2, 2016
robertrandle51@yahoo.com