Christianity

God’s Dwelling Place

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

First, there was a Garden of Eden. This was the first dwelling place of God amongst His people. Adam and Eve, as you know, were said to be naked and to know nothing of clothing. This may have been literal, but it was certainly figurative. They were without sin because they didn’t know anything of good and evil or the separation it could give them from God. Therefore, they had nothing to hide and lived vulnerable, unafraid, and unashamed. Once they did sin, they covered themselves in fig leaves to symbolically hide their sins. (It’s interesting to note that the fig tree came to be a constant symbol of the tribe of Judah, who would come to be known as simply Jews, throughout the Bible.)

They attempted to cover their own sins, but fig leaves did an inadequate job. So, God made the first sacrifice, performed in the first type of temple, the garden. There, he slaughtered a lamb (symbolic of Jesus) and covered their nakedness (which exposed their sins). There was now death that stood between God and mankind.

Later, the tabernacle and then temple would be a new type of garden for God’s people to be in His presence and make necessary sacrifices for their sins.

However, in the temple and tabernacle, there was a place called the Holy of Holies, the only place God would visit His people. It was an area of the structures that was separated from everything else, even normal priestly rooms. The high priest himself only went into the Holy of Holies once a year, and it was covered with a thick curtain to keep it from stray eyes (symbolic of the sins and death that separated God and mankind). When Jesus died, that veil was torn, ripped from top to bottom. Let’s put this into more perspective. The curtain was about sixty feet tall, thirty feet wide and four inches thick. Four inches thick. This was torn from top down, because it was an act from above.

It is important to note that Jesus rose again because God’s people never die. True death would never again stand between God and His children, so neither would the curtain that stood for it.

As His children, we are now filled with the Holy Spirit that once only came to Earth within the Temple and Tabernacle’s Holy of Holies area. We are literally His temples.

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

This should be a sobering thought. First, God communed with us in his garden, then his tabernacle and temple, and now, he communes WITHIN us.

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 7:3-11

We must be careful where our heart lies, as we are not only symbol of God’s people and His message. We are literally His temple! If you wouldn’t do or say something before God’s face, you should not do or say that thing at all. You are an organic church, made to reach the world! It’s not enough to say “I am a temple” as if you being a “believer” is enough. What stems from your heart will show. The seeds you water in your heart will grow.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27

A garden, tabernacle, and temple are teeming with life. The opposite would be a tomb, filled with death and decay. Don’t cover your sins with fig leaves and white-wash paint. You can’t cover up sins or its stench with your own actions. The only one who can eradicate death and fill you with life is God, and as His child you, as His temple, can spread that life and light to the world.

****

Sources besides Bible:
https://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-temple-and-the-tabernacle/
https://heritagebbc.com/bible-question-and-answer-archive-1/i-1-why-did-adam-and-eve-cover-themselves-with-fig-leaves/

Faith with Eyes Wide Open

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

There’s a reason Jesus healed the blind: God wants love and faith with eyes wide open.

Occasional doubt is normal. Humans are unused to the greatness and perfection that is God. Nothing like Him exists elsewhere in our experience. Even when others have the best of intentions, they can still, through internal or external circumstances, let us down. So, complete and utter faith is a rarity that is difficult to obtain.

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

‘Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.’

But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:1-6

Introducing Abraham and his wife Sarah, in this verse, Abram expresses his doubt that God can reward him, but by the end of the conversation, he decides to believe Him. However, he wasn’t done doubting yet and neither was his wife.

“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.'” Genesis 16:1-2

She still believes God’s power is limited. She’s barren and elderly, and she’s clearly not thinking God will bless her own body with the ability to conceive. Now, pause. There seems to be a time difference between when God made his promise to Abram (already considered old) and when Sarai made this decision as it states she did this “after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years.(16:3). Then, when Hagar gave birth to his son Ishmael, Abram was eighty-six years old. Fast-forward thirteen more years to when Abram is ninety-nine. God speaks once again.

“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations… God also said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’ Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’ Then God said, ‘Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.’ When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.” Genesis 16:17-22

Abram once again expresses his doubt that his elderly wife will give birth, and she has never had any indication yet that she was indeed the one to bear God’s reward. Time is passing, and it’s becoming harder and harder to have faith in this already fantastical promise.
Sarah was about ninety years old when she gave birth to Isaac, his name meaning “he will laugh,” reflecting the fact both of his parents laughed in disbelief at a miracle child.
One important thing I’ve gathered from these passages is that God didn’t bash anyone for their disbelief or momentary doubt. God gives us a brain to think. He doesn’t want blind faith as in sheeple. You can find numerous instances in the Bible where He denounces people being “blind” or how evil people “blind” others into following them. He even states He gave us ears to hear and eyes to see. You may have momentary doubts. Use your head to understand God, try to understand God and not merely fall away.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.” Proverbs 3:13
We need to grow. Some things will never be understood about God’s nature. We need to know that we won’t always have the answers for everything, but that doesn’t mean we should be blind.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14
Even God is evidenced using our senses that God gave us.
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

He is the light, and that means He loves understanding, wisdom, and the truth. Seek the truth, and He will guide you. Don’t wallow in the doubt but use it to strengthen your faith in a God who will surely always follow through on His promises. Trust in Him because He wants you to know Him, eyes wide open.

Kingdom of the World

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

We all end up making something our master, whether it’s our family, career dreams, bill collectors, or really anything. Anything can end up being your guide for living in this world, and you follow what it asks from you every day. We’ve all allowed the world to be our master at some point in time. If we serve the world, we don’t serve God.

If you ever wonder what or who actually qualifies as “the world” to God, well the Bible actually answers that.

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

Basically, “the world” is anything or anyone which is not of the kingdom of God. It is of the kingdom of the world. The children of God are citizens of the kingdom of God, which existed yesterday, today, and forever. It’s never disappeared, even if humanity hasn’t always been a part of it (since we were kicked from Eden). God’s kingdom is like Him, immortal. The kingdom of the world is continually dying, eventually fading away to non-existence.

“A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.” Isaiah 40:6-7

We do live in this kingdom that is “the world,” but we do not belong to it. We are made to be immortal as we are in God’s image. However, God gives us freewill to choose the path we wish to walk down, whether that is of death or life.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The kingdom of this world is led by none other than Satan. This is what I’ve found.

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

When judgment day comes, who is called the “ruler of this world?”

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” John 12:31

I’ve used this verse in another post, but it’s relevant here.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” John 15:18-21

If the world murdered Jesus, it will treat you no better. You will encounter resistance, argument, anger, and possibly even ostracism. That’s while living in a country based on freedom of religion. It’s then, you will know you have faced “the world.”

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

However, you have no reason to fear the world or the people who belong to it. They will all be in yesterday soon enough. Fear makes us a servant of the world. Our true master, Yahweh, is loving and immortal, a rock that stands in the midst of a vast, tumultuous ocean.

Commandment Series: The Tenth

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17

Scientists theorize the existence of what’s known as black holes:

“A Black hole is an area in space in which the pull of gravity is so great that not even light can escape it once it enters. Since the escape velocity from a black hole is greater than light, escaping it is impossible.” (1)

Coveting is a black hole, and almost all of us are guilty of it. It is the sin that can easily beget other sins. If you covet, you may steal for it, kill for it, pray to another god for it, commit adultery for it, dishonor your parents for it, etc. When you’re pulled into the black hole of envy and forbidden desire, it’s hard to see the light and it’s hard to escape the drug of your obsession.

“How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
(Isaiah 14:12-14)

The first sin, noted in the Bible, to hit the universe was Satan coveting God’s power. It didn’t take long for humanity to fall.

“‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Genesis 3:4-7

Eve coveted the fruit of the tree and the wisdom she believed she would gain by eating it, and sin was ushered into the world. Generation after generation.

“…but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.” Genesis 4:5

Cain broke almost all of the ten commandments the day he killed Able, but the catalyst was jealousy. He coveted Able’s favored position with God.

“Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.” 2 Samuel 11:2-4

David coveted a married woman, committed adultery, stole her from her husband, and had the husband killed. The catalyst of greed was passed on through every generation, and there are too many stories in the Bible detailing the trail of blood and tears that it caused. Suffice it to say, this sin might be under the last commandment, but it isn’t the last in its impact upon the world.

Do you struggle with coveting? You may have experienced desiring something or someone which or who is unattainable, at least without sinning. This may be a straightforward passage for you. However, some “things” are not material or even physical. Have you ever desired respect from people who’ll never give it to you? Have you ever felt bad looking at other people’s lives on Facebook, wondering why yours isn’t as exciting or your family isn’t as cooperative? Have you ever stared at flat-bellied models in magazines, spurring yet another diet phase? Looking further, have you ever had to work overtime or hold down two jobs just to keep up with the non-essentials in your life? Let’s be honest here: they really are non-essentials aren’t they?

“A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!” Ecc. 4:8

Coveting is a black hole that is never satisfied. The man in Ecclesiastes realized an important lesson. What exactly is he working for? He covets endless riches, but he’ll never be able to keep them without living in unending work and misery. His wealth doesn’t even go toward building others up as he has no one. Are you sweating for something you’ll never really gain?

I believe God wants us to not be blinded by the things or people we don’t have. You’re blessed in innumerable way daily, and coveting not only leads us to other painful sins, but we’re too focused on the things we don’t have that we don’t find joy in the things we have. As much as He loves for us to be hard workers, He also loves for us to rest. He wouldn’t have built a Sabbath into His ten commandments if rest wasn’t important. Rest in your blessings, open your eyes to the joy already in your life, and you’ll find peace.

What is coveting but a misplaced yearning for something to fill an emptiness inside? We are meant to be filled with the peace that can only come from God, and this world can’t satisfy us even if we had everything we wanted. God, and God alone, can give us everything we need or want if we only seek Him and His love.

As we come to the end of the commandment series, we should remember the basis of the commandments and all of God’s laws.

“For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:9-10

Sources other than Bible:
1)http://hepguru.com/blackholes/characteristics_frame.htm
2)https://algundiamereiredeesto.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/hole_in_my_chest_by_thesearchingeyes.jpg (picture)

Commandment Series: The Ninth

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

The 9th commandment is a very specific requirement based on the ancient Jewish court system established in the Old Testament. Witnesses were called to testify against wrongdoers before any sentences were carried out against them. In this way, if you lied that someone was guilty in court, they could very wrongly be punished for someone else’s transgressions. Punishment, of any type, given to an innocent would be horrible, but the sentences spelled out in the Old Testament were many times death. No wonder lying in court was forbidden in the very important ten commandments; it has to be one of the worst things a person can do.

Many say the 9th commandment itself is, strictly speaking, only touching upon the situation in which a person would lie, causing an innocent to be punished wrongly. However, as with all of God’s laws, they are all about matters of the heart. Jesus brought this idea up during his Sermon on the Mount.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37

You, as a child of God, need not make promises to others. The words you speak must be so consistently true that, when you open your mouth, every thing you utter is considered in stone. That is the way God is, and He expects us to follow His ways.

What about lies spoken/done in love? God is all about love, right? Satan, get thee behind me. If you think this, than know the world has twisted a truth into a lie, and made you believe it.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33

He even gives examples in the Bible where people lied in love and caused trouble. In Genesis, we see Rebekah wrapping her son Jacob in furs and deceiving the blind Isaac into giving blessings to him. She certainly was thinking this was done in love for the betterment of her son, but it only caused strife between brothers that lasts for years, making Jacob run away from a murderously angry Esau. Another example is when Abraham feared for his and his wife’s life, causing him to lie to the pharaoh that Sarah was his sister and not wife. This caused the pharaoh to almost commit adultery, expelling them from his kingdom when he found out his deceit.

What about bending the truth , half-truths, or concealing the truth? Well, if anything you say has the intention of deceiving the other person, whether your words are literally truth or not, your heart is full of deceit. So, yes those are lies too. If you stand near a cliff, you don’t see how close to the edge you get before you fall, you see how far BACK you can get. The Bible gives many examples of just this, but the most prominent one I can think of is that of Joseph. Remember Jacob? His most beloved son was Joseph for whom he made a beautiful coat of many colors. His brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy. In order to lie without lying (they thought), they covered his coat with animal blood and showed it to Jacob, saying only “Does this look like your son’s coat?” They never lied, with words, but their hearts were full of the intent to deceive Jacob into thinking Joseph was dead.

So, you can lie with words, actions, half-truths, or simply concealing the truth with the intent to deceive. If you’re lying in court or any other situation that would cause an innocent person to suffer, that’s obviously the worst lie you could commit. However, every lie is wrong, and we should adhere to the truth even when it’s painful. It is God’s way, the way of light and love.

Need more verses about God’s view on lying? They’re innumerable. Well, maybe there’s a number, but it’s a really high one, so we won’t be putting the vast majority here. Instead, here’s a hand-selected few:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-20

“‘You will certainly not die,’ the serpent said to the woman.” Genesis 3:4

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15

Commandment Series: The Eighth

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

There are many ways to steal. One is obvious, that of actively taking someone else’s possessions. Despite the glaring wrongness of this, many people in the world still have problems keeping their hands to their own stuff.

“Theft from retail stores costs the American public 33.21 billion dollars per year.” (1)

In 2014, it was estimated by the US Chamber of Commerce that “75% of employees steal from their workplace and do it repeatedly.” (2)

“Identity thieves… hit a record 15.4 million Americans” in 2016 (3)

There’s a great poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox called “Two Kinds of People.” I’ll only post the portion that relates to our subject:

“No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses
Are ever divided into these two classes.
And, strangely enough, you will find, too, I wean,
There is only one lifter to twenty who lean.

This one question I ask. Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of worry and labor and care?”

Stealing is a heart problem, as is every sin. Stealing is about not respecting others and their possessions, not giving in love, it’s about taking and selfishness, which is against everything God stands for.

There are other ways you might steal. If you write up incorrect information on your taxes (stealing money), take longer on a work break than you’re allowed (stealing time and possibly money), sell products with misleading advertisements (stealing money), or taking advantage of the goodness of others out of laziness (time, money, etc). We can add kidnapping to the list. You could probably think of other things that are actually theft. If the spirit of your actions are selfish, you might be stealing.

Hosea 12:6-8 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.” Leviticus 19:13

You could also be stealing from God. He is the Creator and owner of all things big and small, and that includes time, energy, material possessions, living beings, etc. If you have the ability and possessions available to you that, after you and your loved ones’ needs are met, could help others, you have the obligation to do so. Nothing is really yours, after all. If you hoard things, you’re stealing what is God’s, and God wants everyone to be blessed. If you have an excess of anything, He wants you to share in the joy of blessing others.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. “Ephesians 4:28

Another way others have stolen is by being false prophets and teachers. This is also a way of stealing from God. They steal His people and lead them astray.

“This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” John 10:6-8

Jesus was clear that stealing is undermining everything it means to be Christian. God wants to give generously out of love, and He wants us to emulate Him in this way.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

When we take, whether that’s material possessions, people, identities, time, energy, anything, we could have been giving. Use what He has given us to bless the world, and you’ll be blessed in return.

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” Proverbs 11:25-31

Sources other than the Bible:

1) crimedoctor.com/shoplifting-facts.htm

2) pinkerton.com/blog/who-took-that-preventing-employee-theft-in-retail

3) nbcnews.com

Commandment Series: The Seventh

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

Statistics show 19% of married women and 21% of married men admitted to cheating on their partners. Those are just the ones who admitted it. However, some people will define cheating as physical, some emotional, and others are deluded into thinking its not cheating if it’s an “open” relationship. By the way, humans never defined marriage, so they can’t define adultery. Only God can do that. So, how does God define it, anyway?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” Matthew 5:37-42

The Greek for woman in this verse is “Gunh” which stands for “a woman; specially, a wife:–wife, woman.” (Strong’s) If adultery is to covet someone who isn’t yours, it is essentially about both envy but also the beginnings of theft. Now, of course humans are not objects which are actually owned by others, but they “belong” to one another in the sense of marriage. Their life together is for one another. In the same way as with any sin, even to foster the seeds of coveting a married person is a sin. As an aside, I believe it is not a sin to lust after an unmarried person. They belong to no one. However, if you are yourself married, be careful to focus on your partner. It is ok to observe and appreciate the beauty of this world and God’s creations, but remember to tend your own grass so the other side doesn’t begin to look greener. Once you water the seeds of that thought process, you are walking down the path to causing someone else to sin… which is a sin for you as well.

Does Jesus mean for us to literally pluck our eyes out if they cause us to lust? Well, I’m not saying no. I’m not telling you to do something so extreme, but the point is that you do whatever it takes, however painful it may be, to remove the things in your life making it easy to sin. Chances are good that the sin itself would be ten times more painful for everyone if you continue in it.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

This is connected to the idea that, for pre-Greek Hebrews, the soul with the body was the soul. If you sin with your physical self, you are sinning against your soul and vice versa. If other sins are all abstract, sexual immorality is a double whammy, hurting yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. As much as the modern world wishes to believe we can do things with others with no internal consequences, it’s not true. We are connected to everyone we physically connect to, which can be a problem to those involved in adultery or pre-marital relations.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-16

One flesh, like a married couple. I’m sure there are some things we don’t understand about the connections forged, even unwillingly, between couples. Relations are meant for connecting and re-connecting emotionally between married couples. If this is taken outside that institution, it can bring more than just the possibly of a child (always a blessing!). It can bring emotional hang-ups, mental scars, loss of trust and connections with even future partners, etc. I can see some may not believe that, but I can also see that many who have never forgotten their past partners or the somewhat brief connections they shared that was ripped apart by the transitory nature of their relationships.

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4

“But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.” Proverbs 6:32

“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.” Romans 7:2-3

Alluding to a prior post about the symbolic nature of marriage, the husband, wife, and children can be considered a mirror of the Holy Trinity. The Trinity is permanent, not in the sense of mankind’s “permanency” which always ends even if it’s at death, but wholly, immortally permanent. A marriage is also meant to be as permanent as we can make it as humans so the rest of the world knows that there’s a sense of stability with God. We represent God is all we do, and that includes our marriage. Jesus would never serve another God than the Father, and the Father would never disown Jesus. It is unthinkable and impossible. We need this rock of trust in God and in our spouse. If we can not trust in the permanency of our spouse, the most permanent relationship we can forge with another human being, we can trust in no one. That’s not a world I wish to live in.

“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.” Proverbs 5:18

Adulterers punish themselves and those around them for their selfish motives. Marriage is hard because we’re broken humans, but as Christians, we aren’t just humans. We are children of God, the God of selfless love. We must strive hard to not even entertain the seeds of adultery so that our paths are easier to walk and clearer to view.

Sources other than Bible:
http://www.divorcestatistics.info/latest-infidelity-statistics-of-usa.html
Greek Strongs Concordance

Commandment Series: The Sixth

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13

On the surface, this seems like an easy one. I mean, sometimes you might get angry at others, but you’d never exactly kill anyone unless you’re a psychopath… right?

Not so fast.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:21-26

Um. So, is Jesus saying murder is equal to simply being angry and calling someone an idiot (the meaning of Raca in Aramaic “reqa”)? Yes.

Why?

Here’s the crux of the matter, and it’s an important one because it may change how you interpret the Bible in many other places as well:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

Although it matters whether you literally kill someone or not, it also matters equally whether you are harboring the beginnings of murder in your heart. Both the seed of faith and the seed of sin lie within our hearts. We cultivate it with our thoughts and the external influences we allow in our lives.

There’s a good story attributed to the Cherokee tribe, and I’m sure you’ve heard it:

One evening, an elderly Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, “my son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace love, hope serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson though about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “the one that you feed.”

It’s natural to occasionally become angry. In fact, I believe every feeling is natural and not evil in and of itself. It’s whether you harbor it, whether you feed it, which determines whether you sin or not. I believe there’s a fine reason for every emotion, but there’s not a good reason for every emotion in every situation. If it’s not righteous anger, which does NOT attach it itself to an individual but rather to the sin itself, it is heading toward sinfulness.

What is sinfulness, but the potential of harm toward others and ourselves?

God doesn’t leave you to deal with your internal tempest alone. He gives many pointers throughout the Bible on how to not break his 6th commandment, how to starve the angry wolf within us.

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Ephesians 4:26-31

Here’s some advice on avoiding the feeding of anger. Don’t let it sleep in your bed with you, so that it may grow and turn into something uglier as you feed it angry thoughts. Another good idea is get busy, give yourself something to do to divert your mind for awhile and give yourself the ability to give help where needed. Charity will calm an angry heart fast. Don’t speak out of anger; when you open your mouth, let it be to build up others not tear them down. Speaking ill of others only breeds more anger within you and now within others.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20

Here, it is suggested that we close our mouth and open our ears. It may help to slow our anger if we hear the whole story and consider another’s point of view.

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:1-2

One sin begets another. Stop it at the source. What is anger but the sense of not getting what we feel entitled to, be that respect, time, material things, etc.? We are entitled to nothing but what God gives us. Be humble and understand that we may not get all things we want from this corrupt, crumbling world. We have better things in store for us than that anyway.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Don’t you love when another person gets angry that you’re angry? Doesn’t that calm you right down and bring a shared connection with one another? Haha. Fight fire with cooling water, not more fire. This is easier to say than do, but it’s easier the more you practice it, believe me.

I’m sure if you look for it, you’ll find even more advice on how to starve the wolf of anger within you. At first, the wolf will howl inside and pace in what it’s not receiving. Keep going. The more you practice the above, the stronger you will become over it, and the weaker it will be become. This applies to more than just anger.

May you have peace today or as in Hebrew, “Shalom.”

Commandment Series: The Fifth

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

There are many reasons for this commandment.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

In an earlier post, we mentioned submission and how submission acknowledges the Trinity and our governance, as followers, by love and humility. In the Trinity, one might equate the Father to the husband, the Son to the wife, and the Holy Spirit to their child. Now, the Holy Spirit is a being in and of Himself, but He defers all attention to the union above Him. In the same way, a child does represents his/her parents and their character and family name. We must teach our children this fact as well as we can by teaching them the commandments.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7

Understandably, not every parent in the world is honorable him/herself, and this law does not necessarily mean to obey evil commands given by corrupt parents. One must always keep in mind the order of authority given to us by God. Parents (or husband after marriage) is an immediate authority; above them is the Holy Spirit, and above the Holy Spirit is Jesus and the Father. If you worked for a company and the owner told you to lock the door by 9pm but the manager told you to keep it open until 10pm, you would defer to the owner’s words as she is higher in authority. So, although all authority is in place for a reason, you are not expected to do evil for parents, spouses, bosses, or government officials. If forced, it will be the authority’s head on the block, believe me.

So, what does God mean by honoring our parents?

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” 1 Peter 5:5-6

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Colossians 3:20

Children should obey in everything but evil. This must be assumed. Obedience is one way of honoring your parents, as they are in a position of authority in your life. It’s difficult to be a parent, especially in this world of corruption that we have to prepare you for and defend you from, and it can be very difficult to be a child, too, navigating in the confusing maze of deciding between good and evil. Make it easier for everyone by doing what your mother and father ask of you. You will be lifted up in time.

“If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.” Proverbs 20:20

Don’t wish harm upon your parents, and don’t speak badly of them; this is another way of honoring your parents. I hope this is obvious, but sometimes, we become angry and frustrated with everyone in our lives. That includes our parents. You stand for your parents’ name, so if you speak evil of them, what does that make you?

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22

From the moment we hit puberty, many of us think we know better than our parents. This is not so, and if you are wise, you’ll listen to the words of your elders. You may learn something or not, but you certainly won’t if you turn a deaf ear. Just being a good listener is a way of honoring your parents. Also, sometimes, as our parents get older, they become less physically and mentally able. Try not to become resentful of the extra attention, assistance, or patience they may need. For most of us, our parents were there for us when we were incapable of doing anything but crying, and it is little to ask for us to do the same for them. You will be in their position soon enough, too.

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

This also ties in with the prior verse in that your parents may need you to provide for them whether that is because of age, financial disruption, or disease. You honor your parents by caring for their needs. As followers of Christ, we are called to love others and meet needs in the world with that love. If you can’t love and care for your own relatives, you certainly can’t love and care for strangers. Even unbelievers take care of their loved ones.

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32

If you should be respectful of your elders due to their authority and experience , the same goes doubly for your own parents. Let it be said that not all parents are biological. I feel strongly that if someone raised you, no matter who they are, they are also your parents. The 5th commandment pertains to them. Jesus honored both His earthly and heavenly parents.

“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51

Not only your parents, but also your children, will treasure all you do for your mother and father in their hearts, whether they always show it or not. Don’t expect any more honor from your children than you give your own parents. Most importantly, your Father God will certainly be moved by your actions, and He will exalt you for the love you show them in word and deed.