Jesus

Nice & Polite: What Would Jesus NOT Do?

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

So, being a good Christian means being super nice to others and using your manners, right? Wrong. Here’s another episode (er… post) on things the Bible doesn’t say!

Jesus was not always a nice guy.

Does this statement make you feel uncomfortable? If you’ve grown up on WWJD bracelets, you might be surprised that what He would do is a lot less politically correct than you thought. He never gave us an example of him being polite. He was not always well-mannered. He was always kind and loving – but not always nice. “What’s the difference?” I hear you ask.

“A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.” Matthew 15:21-28

Some like to avoid this verse because it speaks of a different Jesus than we’re used to discussing, the one who welcomed children onto His lap and wept over friends’ deaths. This Jesus essentially called a woman, pleading for help, a dog. Who is this man?!

Well, let’s dive in. Do you remember that in the book of Matthew, there are two stories of Jesus and His disciples miraculously feeding an innumerable crowd? This verse is right in the middle. The first story of feeding describes 5000 people waiting to be fed where the disciples ask Jesus to send them away. Besides, there’s not enough food to feed them all. Jesus simply states, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16) After everyone ate, there were only crumbs left, twelve basketfuls (twelve for the tribes of Israel).

Then, this woman states even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table (an allusion to Jesus’ parables of the Kingdom of God being compared to a banquet, perhaps).

After, we get the story of the crowd, 4000 people strong. His disciples ask, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” (Matthew 15:33) Again, everyone is fed, and this time there are seven basketfuls of crumbs left (seven is the number of completion, wholeness, the number of all nations).

The number of all nations. So, although this woman was a Canaanite and not a Hebrew, she was a feisty and determined individual whom Jesus actually rejoiced over. Jesus didn’t just speak parables, He lived them, and this woman was the first example of a gentile being shown as worthy of salvation. Jesus was telling a parable of how the many nations, not just the Hebrews, would be saved, and He did it while being a bit mean.

“The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’” John 2:13-16

We can’t forget Jesus’ tirade at the temple. He was angry that they turned this sacred place, meant to be all about the relationship between God and humankind, and turned it into commercialism and greed.

This might give you a good idea of how He’d react to many modern-day “religious” swindlers.

He wasn’t being nice when He yelled at merchants and “macgyvered” a whip to beat and chase people out of the area. However, He had a kind purpose and that was to preserve the sanctity of the temple. He acted out of love for the Father represented there and the true children of God who were there to worship.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are…You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel…Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” Matthew 23:1-39

This is only part of the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees, those revered at the time for their “holiness.” They spent most of their energy trying to undermine and sabotage Jesus in anything He did. And I mean anything: eating corn with His disciples caused them to rain anger on His head.

Jesus has many names He calls the Pharisees, including hypocrites, children of hell, greedy, self-indulgent, whitewashed tombs, and many more. He sure wasn’t being nice or polite.

He was warning them and others of the dangers of talking the talk but not walking the walk. They spoke many things of holiness while they ignored the poor, the sick, and “shut the door of the kingdoms of heaven in people’s faces.” (Matthew 23:13)

To be nice is to be pleasant or satisfactory to another person. To be kind is to be generous, sympathetic, or considerate. I believe being kind is innate while niceness is a social construct.

As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus. The world may desire nice, polite, well-mannered, and tolerant of evil. God does not. It’s nice to be nice, but sometimes, we have to forgo our manners in order to be kind. It’s good to be respectful, but it’s more important to walk the walk of righteousness, standing up for what’s right. If you must forgo respect to accomplish that, so be it.

Jesus wasn’t always nice, and I guess that’s called tough love.

Sources other than the Bible:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-kay-lundblad/on-scripture-matthew-15-teaching-jesus_b_921497.html

Anxiety & Depression: It’s Ok to NOT Be Ok

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

In the ebb and flow of life, there are times and situations where we all fall into despair or pull our hair in anxiety. It’s a normal reaction to the darkness of the world. This is not our final destination, this is not our true home, and we are surviving in the acidic environment of humanity’s many downfalls. The above verse helped me through many times and continues to do so, which is why I posted it in its entirety.

There are also those of us who have “imbalances” in our body chemistry that causes higher levels of worry, fear, and depression even during times of relative calm. I firmly believe that these are the attributes of those people with higher levels of empathy and soulful connection to others in ways we don’t yet understand.

Either because of circumstances or the make of their bodies, there have been innumerable Biblical characters who’ve shared in their fair share of the darkest valleys. Every time, there’s been a repeated message from God.

Elijah:

“He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough Lord, he said. Take my life, I am not better than my ancestors.'” 1 Kings 19:4

He ran away from Jezebel and her threats of death, tired and afraid for his life. Though he fled despite God’s instructions, God showed up with a gentle heart. He first sent an angel who laid down sustenance for him. This is when God tells him to wait for him on the mountain.

“Then, a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'” 1Kings 19:11-13

God was in the soft whisper, always by Elijah’s side no matter what his state of mind.

Jonah:

“Now O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live…I am angry enough to die.” Jonah 4:3-9

Instead of rejoicing at the people’s turn around at his prophecy, he despaired that he would no longer be considered a true prophet since his prophecy didn’t come true. Despite his obstinate behavior, God showed up with a gentle heart.

“There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.” Jonah 4:5-6

God also used the plant to give Jonah a message on anger, but He’d stayed by Jonah’s side through the good and bad times.

Moses:

He killed an Egyptian without due process and fled for his life for forty years. When God showed up in a burning bush, Moses seemed to find himself unworthy based on past failures, and God never stated he was worthy. This is important to remember.

“But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Exodus 4:1-14

It was through Moses’ weaknesses not his strengths, that God would show His grace and power. Again, after the Israelites were wailing over their hunger, Moses stated:

“I am not able to bear all these people alone. The burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now if I have found favor in Your sight and do not let me see my wretchedness!” Numbers 11:10-15

These are the words of a man in despair. Yet, God showed up with a gentle heart.

“I will take some of the power of the spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11:17

Moses is still ranting and ruminating on his problems when God cuts in.

“Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” Numbers 11:23

So, He got a little snarky with Moses (which is hilarious to me), but He was always there for Moses and ready to lift his troubles. All Moses had to do was ask. What’s equally memorable about this and the others who yell and rave at God is that He is always listening with patience and never do I find Him getting angry just because they are upset. He understands and wants them to pour their heart out, even if it’s anger toward Him.

Job:

Ah, yes, good ol’ Job. We can’t speak on anxiety and depression without mentioning him.

“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” Job 3:11

“I have no peace, no quietness, I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Job 3:26

“I loathe my very life, therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in then bitterness of my soul.” Job 10:1

“Terrors overwhelm me… my life ebbs away, days of suffering grip me. Night pierces my bones, my gnawing pains never rest.” Job 30:15-17

His book is a plethora of depression and anxiety and no wonder as everything and everyone had been taken from him, except his wife. Yet, he blames God for all this. God shows up in full effect, and honestly, you need to read the full reply to understand how awesome it really is.

” Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
‘Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

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 it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

…Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!

…Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.'” Job 38-44

Yet, He, again, shows up with a gentle yet stern heart. He sets the record straight and good thing, since He’s the only One who can set Job’s life right again, which He certainly does.

David:

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11

David lost both of his sons, Saul was forever chasing him, and he had guilt of sin that tormented him. He asks a controversial question, “Why have you forgotten (or forsaken) me?” (Psalm 42:9).

Again, God steps in with a gentle heart. The fact is, God considered David a “man after my own heart.” Do you really think He forsook him? God says, “My love will never be taken away from him.” (2 Samuel 7:15)

God established David as king of Israel and promised him that his kingdom would endure forever. (Some claim Queen Elizabeth and her family are direct descendants of David, but that is a controversial subject.) Point is, God would not only be by David’s side forever but also by all of his descendants.

Jesus:

Yep, Jesus.

David’s Psalm 42 is nearly identical to Psalm 22 that was spoken by Jesus on the cross.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1

This is said by Jesus while in agony on the cross; dying for our sins, He stood for all of us sinners feeling lost and abandoned. There is an answer to that question.

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Just because you can’t see God in the darkness doesn’t mean He isn’t there. In fact, Jesus says this:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

In Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus, he is described as “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Is. 53:3

The night before He was captured, when no one else but Him knew what the next day would entail, Jesus was understandably upset.

“‘My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death, remain here and keep watch.’ and He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying ‘Abba, Father! All things are possible for You, remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.’ then, an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44

What’s sad is that although He’d been there for us all through our tribulations again and again, as documented in the Bible, His disciples could not even keep their eyes open to comfort Him in His distress. Yet, He wasn’t alone. The Father and the angels He sent were there for Him.

Here are some other times God reminds us that He will always be there, even through our darkest days:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

God reminds us that through doing our purpose in life, loving and caring for others, our spirits will lift as well:

“’Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday… then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.’ The mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 58:1-14

Please remember, dear soul, whatever you’re going through that God is with you even if you can’t see Him. Forget that old saying, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” It’s a lie. God never tests you nor gives you evil, but the dark world will definitely give you more than you can handle alone. That is when you need to lean on the One who can handle anything. Give it to HIM. In the same way God wanted to show His grace and power through Moses’ weaknesses, He wants to show the same through yours. Don’t hold the world on your shoulders. You weren’t made that way. God made the world, however, so He can lift your worries while sustaining you in ways you never knew you needed. Be still and listen to that gentle whisper because there is God, forever by your side.

Feminist Christian: An Oxymoron?

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

You’ve possibly read the book “The Handmaiden’s Tale” or even watched the new show. It’s a sci-fi dystopian story about a futuristic U.S. which has become an overwhelmingly patriarchal society, deeming women as basically objects for procreation. It’s pretty disturbing, to say the least. The worst part of it isn’t really the men who carry out this crushing oppression, but the women who subject their own gender to those demeaning roles.

Watching the show (it’s been a while since I’ve read the book), I noticed how the camera would pan to things like churches or religious objects. It made me think, what does God have to do with misogynists? Do people think being a feminist Christian is an oxymoron?

Of course people think this of religion. Many people have not represented God very well in this aspect as they succumb to corruption and power-hungry domination.

It’s sad that people think of God as a misogynist because who said God was male? The Bible uses male pronouns as a way to indicate power and authority. The world is patriarchal. Language has adapted to that.

I personally don’t believe he’s either gender. He’s a being above procreation and so has no need for Earthly gender. Why would He hate or denigrate females? Ok, let’s look at the moment of creation, when humans were created.

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

Let’s look at the Hebrew meanings of the words translated as helper and suitable, shall we?

Helper: Azar = help, further, ally, support, protect, restrain

Suitable: Nagad = in front of, in sight of, opposite to, comparable to as in mate

He needed a being “comparable” or equal to man. So, he created a woman. That’s right. The above verse is basically stating that women are equal to men. Notice also that he says it’s not good for men to be alone. That’s because we are made to be supported, love, and in community with others, just as God is in the Trinity. We are made in His image, after all. Together, men and women share life together.

So, equal means the same, right? Why not just make another man or something? Okay, no. Notice one way to translate the Hebrew word for “suitable” is “opposite to.” Another good word might be complementary. The strengths and weaknesses of each offset the strengths and weaknesses of the other. Women are physically weaker (generally) but mental gymnasts (multi-tasking and high pain tolerance for the win!). Men are mental marathoners (singular focus) with low pain tolerance (generally) but more physical prowess. There’s a lot more to our complementary features, and they differ from individual to individual.

So, they were equal companions, though different, in the Garden of Eden until everything fell apart. There are hints that their relationship was never the same either. Notice what God says as he throws them out of Eden:

“The LORD God said to the serpent,
‘Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life;
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.'”

This is BIG. The serpent is representative of evil and the fruits of evil. Although he harms Eve’s children (that is all of us), her seed will harm him. Yes, that would be Jesus. Please note that, although much of the Bible focuses on the male lineage and how father begat son, God focuses on Eve here. She is the beginning of the end for Satan, and Mary, another female, will physically bring that Hope into the world.

“To the woman He said,
‘I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.'”

So, it seems that Adam’s authority over Eve wasn’t truly fleshed out in the garden. Now, women will be more focused on serving their husbands, and husbands will naturally stand in the dominant role. (Side note: Check out my last post on Marriage to read how marriage reflects the Trinity.)

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.’
Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.” Genesis 3:14-20

Now, men are the breadwinners for the household, which has held historically true. Adam was to give name to every being on Earth. So, he names her Eve, which is “khav-vaw” in Hebrew: life-giver. This has a double meaning that honors her and the hope she holds within her. She gives birth to the nations, sure. However, I believe he was also focused on the fact that she is the first of a line that leads directly to the true Life-Giver, Jesus. They were thrown out and are in the depths of despair, so it is at this moment Adam holds onto the hope God has given them: “…her seed; He shall bruise you (Satan) on the head.” God will turn their evil back to good again one day.

As time passed, there were many more notable females born to bear God’s legacy. Most of them, just like the men of the Bible, serve as examples of what God and His people stand for, but let’s look at the strongest women.

Ruth displayed a love and loyalty to her mother-in-law after their husbands’ deaths. She stated, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16-17 This is a great example of how one can follow the unity of the Trinity even outside of marriage. Through her actions, she shows the loyalty and permanence that God also has for us, and she is brave though she doesn’t know where life may lead them next.

As mentioned in the post about submission, Esther, wife of King Ahasuerus and queen of Persia, secretly lived as a Jewish woman in a pagan court. When her blood-hungry husband was going to kill her people, she risked death by approaching him to fight for their lives. (Esther 4-5)

Hagar, an Egyptian servant, was neglected and abused for jealousy’s sake. Although she was abandoned to the wilderness just as she needed support the most, soon after having her son, Hagar held onto her faith and love of God, and He pulled her and her child through those difficult circumstances. (Genesis 16-21)

Mary Magdalene is a popular name; and although people state she was a prostitute, it never states that anywhere in the Bible. She was, however, financially secure and somewhat independent for her time period, and after Jesus had delivered her from possession of demons, Mary made sure to financially support Him and His ministry. She is also a main witnesses to Jesus as she was present during the crucifixion, burial, empty tomb, and Jesus, risen again from the grave. Her importance is undeniable. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

I believe Martha and Mary perfectly show two types of female disciples. Jesus visited them and their brother Lazarus in Bethany. They were both very faithful, but they were very different women. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to converse, just like the other male disciples, while Martha scurried around serving them dinner and making Him comfortable. They were both serving Him in different ways, and Jesus expressed his joy in them both. Some of us just aren’t domestic, and that’s ok. (Luke, John)

There are some verses people like to pull out in order to “prove” that the Bible is misogynist, but here’s a couple big ones:

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:12

“As in all the congregations of the saints, women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.” 1 Corinthians 14: 33-35

Yikes. But, wait. What about these verses?

“He (Apollos) began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” Acts 18:26

If it isn’t clear enough, Priscilla is a female, and she taught Apollos along with her husband Aquila. Unconventionally, in a culture where men are in a place of authority, Priscilla’s name is mentioned before her husband’s. This may mean nothing or everything, but some sources state this means she was the more prominent teacher. Paul was very confident of the couple’s teaching capabilities as stated in 1 Cor. 16:19. He names them both as church leaders in Ephesus.

“I commend to your our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worth of his people and to give her any help she may need from you for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me .” Roman 16:1-2

Pheobe was in an important position of her church, and some believe she served in the same capacity as Paul, Apollos, Tychicus, and many others also mentioned in the Bible. The word “benefactor” is also translated as “presiding officer” in some Bibles.

How about Deborah, a prophetess, military warrior, and judge who held the greatest authority in Israel during her time. Plus, as one source states, “She is also one of the few judges of whom the Bible reports no failures.”* (Judges 4,5) She was not the only prophetess in the old or new testament. Consider Miriam who was sent alongside Moses and Aaron before the Pharaoh (Micah 6:4), Huldah (2 Kings 22 & 2 Chronicles 34) who fearlessly gives a grim prophesy to a king of whom she unceremoniously refers as “the man” instead of his title (“Tell the man who sent you to me”), Isaiah’s wife who gives birth to a son with an extra long name (Isaiah 8:3; Seriously, look it up.), Anna who bears witness to the baby Jesus, joyfully telling everyone of His birth (Luke 2:36-38), and the daughters of Phillip (Acts 21:8-9). A prophet or prophetess was not simply a “foreteller” as many think of them. They are people who speaks God’s truth to others, typically serving as both teacher and revelator with their especially close relationship to the Creator.

There are many mentions of females in leadership or teaching positions of churches and synagogues in the New Testament. It’s likely they allowed women to serve in those positions because of Jesus’ attitude toward female disciples. See the many instances female disciples are spoken as following Jesus throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Some travelled with Jesus and some stayed behind in their homes but still served Him. There were many names unmentioned, but here are those who were: Mary Magdelene, Mary Salome, Mary and Martha (What’s up with all the Marys?), The Three Marys (ha!), Joanna, Susanna, Priscilla, Tabitha, Lydia, Phoebe, Junia, Trypehna, Julia, Nympha, and Apphia. Many unnamed women also received the Holy Spirit during the Pentecost. Discipleship, if you’re unaware, is a student position that eventually leads to teaching. These females spread the gospel through TEACHING.

So, whatever that first verse meant (and there are many who disagree), it did NOT mean that ALL women couldn’t teach. Consider it may have had something to do with the place or circumstances of which we are unaware. If the author had something against all women teaching the gospel, it sure doesn’t mesh with the rest of their teachings. It’s important to understand that the Bible was written in a time of extreme patriarchy where people, even women, were less likely to listen to a female (who generally had no formal education like her male peers). They were called to not even give the appearance of wrong-doing so that others would be more likely to listen to God’s message through them. The females within the Bible and those who weren’t, whether teacher, deacon, prophetess, or simple disciple, sometimes had to fight twice as hard against the unholy culture of their time in order to be God’s light in the world.

If you ever hear that the Bible, God, or Christianity is misogynist or against females in any way, understand that the WORLD is against God and will lie in many ways to turn you against Him. Do not let them make you underestimate your place in God’s will or undermine the power He has placed within you. You are the hope of the world. Women, be the light and love, and shine bright.

Sources besides the Bible:
http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/did-priscilla-teach-apollos/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_disciples_of_Jesus

http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/did-priscilla-teach-apollos/

The Christian Dirty Word – Submission

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Even among many Christians, this Biblical word is cringe-worthy, anxiety-inducing, and angering: submission. In the good US of A, where we pride ourselves on independence and rebellion, the word conjures an idea of cowering in the face of authority and accepting our fate. For women and feminists everywhere, the word brings to mind The Stepford Wives and living solely for our men’s comfort and praise, pretending to be lesser beings.

Yet, invariably, although we may try to avoid it, someone will bring up this verse, usually twisting it for whatever purpose or point they’re trying to make:

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:22-33

We’re lucky if they even mention that the verse afterwards is all about husbands loving their wives. Most of us hang, as if to a life raft, struggling to explain it’s not what they think, trying to keep our heads above the water before we drown in their disgust at our beliefs.

How about this verse?

“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

How can you be a feminist if you believe in the same Bible that tells us women to subjugate ourselves to even abusive men? How do you reconcile being a patriotic American and also a doormat to corrupt leaders?

You can’t, and you don’t. Submission doesn’t mean those things. Let’s see what it means to God and His followers who wrote those words.

If anyone could be called a rebel against corrupt leaders, it would be God. If anyone could be called a feminist, it would be God. How do I know?

In the book of Exodus, God poured down wrath on a pharaoh who enslaved His people. In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar and King Darius of Mede did many evil things to his subjects, but Daniel and his friends refused to compromise to their demands on matters of faith, refusing their food and refusing to bow down and worship a human. Jesus stormed into the temple courtyard, yelling, overturning tables, and driving people out with a whip because of greedy and hypocritical leaders. He stood up in innumerable public places and risked his life to teach radical ideas that ran counter to what religious and political leaders were teaching. He rebuked and challenged those leaders to their faces.

As concerns both the power of a female and facing a corrupt authority figure, consider the story of Esther. She became the wife of King Ahasuerus and queen of Persia. Secretly, she was a Jew, and she found out the king was to kill her people. There was a law that anyone who came before the king unbidden would be instantly killed. She wasn’t bidden, but she came into his presence anyway to petition him for her people, thus becoming their hero at risk of her life.

Jesus had twelve main disciples, but many, many more followed his footsteps, including women. In His time, men were the only accepted students of Rabbis. However, Jesus taught women and accepted them in His travelling group of discipleship.

The stories of standing against corruption in leadership and illuminating the power of God’s female followers are many if you take the time to find them.

Then, what on Earth does God mean when He says we must submit? I’ll tell you that it doesn’t mean what the world means by submit. The world is overrun by corruption, power-hungry authorities, and people of all kinds who will run you over if you display any weakness.

God is certainly not a doormat, so if He wants you to be just like Him, do you think He’s asking you to be one?

So, what is submission to God? When in doubt, check out Jesus’ actions:

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44-45

A servant puts others before him/herself and respects those around them. Jesus displayed this when He washed His disciples’ feet, an action only done by inferiors, not figures of authority.

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.'” John 13:12-17

Do you understand? He expressed, with his actions, how to be submissive. It’s interesting to note that submission shouldn’t only come from inferiors but from leaders as well. Here’s another verse:

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

As followers or “inferiors” must submit to authority, authority figures must serve those below them. When you refuse to submit, to serve each other, as if you were above it all, you make yourself more inferior than anyone actually considered below you. This is not the worldly view nor is it the view the world wishes you to see God.

Okay, so what about women submitting to their husbands? I believe it is the same in many ways. Both spouses should submit to one another in the sense that they serve one another. Otherwise, as the authority figure in the household (Yes, the husband is indeed considered the authority in the hierarchy of a marriage. Hang with me for a moment.), the husband is not a good leader if he doesn’t know how to submit (see Jesus’ quote above about first being last). As concerns a man’s authority in a marriage, the institution of marriage is a God-created relationship. As humans, we are transient, easily straying, very distractible creatures. Marriage and family is a symbol of the trinity, the unity of the Father (husband), the Son (wife), and the Holy Spirit (children). As such, there is a component of hierarchy, but it means to portray the unity and inseparableness of the relationship of God, born in love and respect.

Let me add this as I feel compelled: The Father would never abuse Jesus nor the Holy Spirit. He is Love. A husband is supposed to be walking in the footsteps of Jesus in this respect. If a husband is abusive, the entire unit breaks down. Jesus died so we could live and lived so we could thrive in joy and freedom. I am under the strong belief that God would not want anyone to stay within a harmful environment. You can be respectful but strong, loving but leaving, forgiving but not forgetting. God loves you.

To submit to authority of any kind, you must understand that the ultimate authority is God. If any authority figure of any kind wishes for you to compromise your relationship with God, you are not only encouraged, you are under obligation to not obey or comply. As shown in the examples above and throughout the Bible, you are a servant to the King of Kings before all else. All of God’s children in the Bible and history in general refused to compromise their submission to Him.

So, to wrap up, submission is all about love, honor, respect, and living as Jesus would. God was never a doormat nor was he a woman-hater. Jesus is a rebel against all corruption even if it came from authority figures, protesting in love while remaining loud and strong. He is a true feminist. Although God has had to spread His message in many clearly anti-feminist environments (in the past and present), His message has always been empowering to women. Women was, is, and has always been considered equal to men in value. Don’t mix up the world’s message with God’s.

I initially planned to write a post about feminism and another separate one about marriage. However, I had to first write this one as confusion reigns when it comes to the concept of submission, and that concept is tied to both of those subjects. Stay tuned!

Would Jesus Make Me a Disciple?

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A couple years ago, there was a month or more that I had one verse stuck on repeat in my head, one that I hadn’t ever really analyzed before. So, I didn’t truly understand it: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

When I looked it up, I found it’s actually only part of the verse that actually appears in the Bible, so let’s look at that:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

That is both a very inspiring (Go make waves!) and comforting thing (I’ll never leave you.) for Jesus to say. Yet, what on earth does it mean? What is a disciple, and how do we make someone one?

Of course, I knew of the twelve original disciples who walked with Jesus, and I assumed it meant student, follower, or fan. Let’s see what I found out.

Back in Jesus’ day, a disciple was a devoted follower of a great religious or philosophical leader. Apparently, Judaism at the time had a system of education where primary education was taught by parents and schools until a boy turned age 13. When a boy turned that age, they usually went into an apprenticeship for a trade (like law, fishing, carpentry), but if they were particularly promising in the field of Hebrew scripture, they may have the chance to become a student or ahem disciple under a Rabbi. The Rabbi would only choose a select few from a pool of applicants to become his disciples among the most promising . The disciple would aim to become just like his Rabbi. He followed his Rabbi’s interpretation of the scripture to the letter. A boy who heard the words “follow me” would be ecstatic as becoming a disciple was a rare and honored position.

However, Jesus turned the whole process on its head. He took the initiative. Instead of waiting for potential followers to approach him, he approached them. They were all seemingly random men, who were generally deemed not promising, who were already trying to make their way in a trade instead of discipleship. These men were sometimes considered scum (like the lawyer). No one would be making them disciples. Yet, Jesus did. He walked up to them while they were going about their day and said “follow me.” No wonder they dropped everything and went to his side.

The first followers of Jesus considered themselves his disciples even after his death. The word Christians (Acts 11:26) was invented by outsiders who generally meant it as a derogatory term. So, if you consider yourself a Christian, you’re a disciple. Yes! You! How do you become a true disciple?

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

You become His shadow and student, forever learning and humbling yourself to His interpretation of the scriptures. There are many ways to “deny yourself and take up your cross,” one of which is to put God first in life. This brings to mind a church sign I saw the other day. It said “You can’t follow Jesus if you’re going in the opposite direction.” If you’re following your own path, you’re not following His. Deny yourself and understand it may be difficult. It was difficult for Him too.

Now, how do you make disciples? Good question.

Let’s read part of that verse that ran through my head incessantly:

” – baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

The verbs in that sentence are baptize and teach. You can teach people many ways, but I like to look to how Jesus taught. He stood in front of the masses, sure. He told stories with morals, yes. He also sat down in houses with families, in public with strangers. He went out of his way to heal, to comfort, to express affection (especially toward children), to lift up, to warn, to console and empathize (“Jesus wept”). He taught with words and action.

You don’t have to walk the desert with just a staff in order to be a disciple. Love, baptize, teach, and remember you’ve already been selected as Jesus’ disciple. Now, show the world what that means.

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

But a Sword: Schism of Faith

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“Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn

‘A man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”

Matthew 10:34-36 & Luke 12:49-53

And thus began the struggle between Jews and Christians (who called themselves the New Israel). Jesus’ death was only the beginning, a battle cry that began a war of faith. Most of His disciples died for their beliefs. Peter and Paul were both martyred in Rome about 66 AD. After Andrew spread the gospel to what is now the Soviet Union, Turkey, and Greece, he was crucified. Thomas traveled with the word through Syria and possibly India where he was stabbed through by soldiers. Bartholomew went to many places including Arabia and Ethiopia, and although the details of his death are unclear, they mostly point to martyrdom as well. James was mostly within Syria, where he was stoned and clubbed to death. Matthias (the replacement for Judas) ministered in Persia (Iran) where he was killed for not sacrificing to their sun god. John was the only one generally accepted as escaping the others’ fate and dying of old age after writing Revelations.

Paul himself, before becoming a Christian, was a very successful hit man against Christians, a hired hand of the Roman empire. The Roman government, although outwardly very tolerant of various religions, hated anything considered superstitious (although what that would mean might change). Many of their emperors would also execute anyone who didn’t follow the Roman practices of sacrifice as not sacrificing to their gods meant possible devastation for everyone.

Christians were greatly persecuted in the early years, eventually enacting some sort of revenge through growing anti-Semitism. There is no clear cut delineation where one side rose as definite victor, but there are certainly eras where Christians or Jews could be considered more as the aggressor or oppressor.

By the Middle Ages, many Christians had fed on a steady teaching that Jews were the devil. Jews were already blamed for everything from pestilence, to upheavals, to diseases. Then, the Black Plague hit Europe.

They didn’t keep very accurate records, but some claimed Jews died at half the rate of others in Europe. The reason for this: far better sanitation practices. Within the book of Leviticus, one can see teachings of washing hands, disposing of human filth and corpses properly, and even determining contagious diseases for quarantine purposes. This made Christians, who generally had very little access to the Bible in their own language, very suspicious.

Pope Clement VI declared Jews were innocent, but most people, who by now resented both the Church and the King, seemed to believe Jews poisoned the drinking wells. In the 1300’s several Jewish communities were exiled and burned to the ground. The town of Mainz defended and killed several attackers, but Christians returned for revenge and destruction. Several communities were destroyed by mobs & some were entirely exterminated. By 1351, there were almost no Jews left in Germany or Low countries.

After the age of enlightenment in the 1500-1600’s, religious ideas began to wane. So, leaders used more secular outlets for anti-Semitism, which brought perverted versions of evolution, used already ingrained hatred and fear of the masses, and created a ticking time bomb that Hitler used to create the Holocaust in the 1930’s.

Is all this what was meant by Jesus when He said He came to bring a sword? Possibly. His life and death created a schism in Judo-Christianity for generations because we’ve had a hard time considering each other brothers and sisters. The problem with this is ironic and obvious: We are all followers of the same God. In the present times, we are experiencing a relatively unusual peace between the two faiths. As the world turns against both Jews and Christians, there is a need for brotherhood as it will only get worse. As it says in Mark 3:25, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

“When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Matthew 27:50-51

Sources:
jewishhistory.org
sixmillioncrucifixons.com
christianitytoday.com
Bible

To Christmas or Not to Christmas

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That is the question.

For much of my childhood, my family celebrated Christmas. We did the whole Santa, reindeer, lights, cookies and milk, gifts, tree thing. My parents even wrote a letter to me in calligraphy as if it were from Santa (cute!).

Then, around when I was seven, they decided to move away from that celebration. There are, as most people know, roots of the holiday in paganism, and they felt it didn’t honor God. So, I was enlightened as to the nature of Santa (which I had already suspected by then), and eventually we stopped observing that holiday completely.

Now, with a child and husband of my own, my little family celebrates Christmas. There is no tree, and I don’t encourage the whole Santa & reindeer idea. Instead, I try to focus on Jesus as well as I can. We have a figurine set of the manger scene, and the Jesus baby is the only part that isn’t stuck to it. Jesus is in the 25th tin of our Advent calendar, and my daughter gets to open it up and put the baby in His manger on Christmas. We read stories about God around that day. Our church has a Christmas Eve program, which reiterates the focus on the birth of Christ for even children with song, dance, and fake snow for the children run around in as it falls.

Our Christmas isn’t very traditional, but it is perfect for us.

I honestly don’t think either way is incorrect, and as Christians, we must make many decisions about life that may not conform to the ways of the world. As a friend of mine once said, there are closed-handed issues for Christians: those ideas which are essential for being a follower such as believing in God, His grace and salvation, and loving God and others. Then, there are open-handed issues for Christians: those ideas which must be made by each individual and are personal to the way he or she feels called by God. I personally feel Christmas is one of those open-handed issues. As long as you honor God, your Christmas (or lack thereof) is blessed.

Rom. 14:4-9 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

What do you think? Do you celebrate? Why or why not? Also, if you do, how do you keep Christ in Christmas?