Perhaps the same hold true of the New Testament.
Comment left by Toaster802 on this post-
I know the type of Pharisee. Working with homeland security, preaching the Romans 13 lie.
These clowns can't even understand that all of the disciples of Christ were eventually murdered by the state. That Paul's greatest works were written in prison.Truth.
The example and words of Christ and his disciples do not demand obedience to the state. They demand, if one is honest and objective, resistance, defiance, and death, if necessary.
I could write a book on this. In fact, I have...in a "prior life".
A Christian minister, after coming to realize that he could not dissuade me from taking a costly physical stand based on spiritual conviction, told me that "truth, taken to an extreme, is heresy."
I will never forget those words. Never.
There are another few words, paraphrased here, that I will never forget when thinking about that exchange.
"I am truth."
Who said that again...?
Oh yeah, that Christ guy.
The same one who grabbed a bullwhip and beat a bunch of bankers straight out of his AO, and who took the the sport of embarrassing pretentious religious leaders to a whole new level.
WWJD? Heh. You might not want to know.
Truth, taken to extremes, is heresy?
That's "good enough" company for me.
Sign me up.
Dunamis, dunamai, didomi, arche, ischus, ischuros, kratos and energes all appear in the New Testament as forms of the word 'power' but have decidedly different meanings than exousia. The appearance of the word 'power' in the translated text of Romans is misleading many people concerning the consistent ideas expressed by the authors of the Bible. In fact the confusion and misunderstanding is rampant in these modern times due to this subtle but pervasive sophistry.
ReplyDeleteFor those interested:
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/romans13.php
He also has some articles at News With Views:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Gregory/williamsA.htm
Practices what he preaches:
http://www.christianexodus.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167:christian-exodus-meets-his-holy-church&catid=3:keith-humphrey&Itemid=8
Brilliantly written. Traditional Christianity, which is today often called "Identity" Christianity, is the diametric opposite of modern Judeo-Christianity. Matthew 10:34
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:19-
ReplyDeleteAn interesting statement. I have tried now several iterations of following denomonations claiming "original" or "traditional" Christian status.
I am looking for the type faith that leads men to be crucified upside down.
How is what you describe more traditional?
How is it diametrically opposed to Judeo-Christiandom?
I sincerely would like to know. Feel free to post here or contact me via the form on the main page.
I would give almost anything for the unshakable faith. Even my soul.
AP
"Render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's, but God's things to God."
ReplyDeleteSeems pretty straightforward to me; we owe God our very lives. Ceasar, in the form of human government, we really 'owe' nothing in context.
AP, you said "I would give almost anything for the unshakable faith. Even my soul."
Some believe that is the one thing you must relenquish to God in order to have unshakeable faith."
Heresy is going against "church" teachings. Blaspheme is going against God. Many a prophet was called a heretic, and many a reformer as well.
ReplyDeleteHowever, taking one truth of the Bible to an extreme without the wisdom of the rest of it is a quick way to be led astray. I think that pastor who said that "truth, taken to extreme, is heresy" could have done a better job explaining what he was trying to get across.
Love your brother? Sure, but the Bible also says if you don't work you don't deserve to eat.
So, the man who denies his brother food because his brother doesn't work is doing the work of the Lord right? But what about the parable of the Good Samaritan? Someone who gave charity to someone in need? Obviously the Bible wants us to help the helpless and let the able bodied work their own life.
But you have to take the teachings as a whole set, and use some wisdom and common sense to figure out how it applies to your situation and your life. God didn't want us to mindlessly follow a set of rules, but enter into a relationship of grace and salvation.
Sometimes He asks us the hardest thing to get anyone to do, which is think, reflect, and act in that order.
Take my life and let it be
ReplyDeleteConsecrated Lord to Thee
Take my heart and let it move
At the impulse of Thy Love,
At the impulse of Thy Love.
AM-
ReplyDeleteI understand your point. Christ came and spent a large part of his ministry fighting true blasphemy, and he was called a heretic and a blasphemer.
There is a point- perhaps it is subjective- where people begin to rationalize away clear teachings.
Your example of the common sense application of loving one's brother yet refusing to feed him is instructive. However, should said brother refuse to work when able -the correct interpretation of that passage, IMO, as the Bible is clear on charity- the best form of love would be to deny him food as a motivation to work.
I can even cede that it is likely possible to not violate this commandment while fighting a defensive war, brought upon one's nation by an aggressor.
I cannot cede however, that it is an example of "loving one's brother" to initiate an unprovoked military strike based on fear, what-ifs, and partial -even the Israelis do not agree on the threat- intelligence.
And there is no way -absofreakinglutelynofreakingway I can be convinced that this war -if it begins- is strictly about defending one nation against another.
It pisses me off to no end that you may be sent into harm's way over this, a completely avoidable fight. I know it's part of the job and all, but this nation -and your family- needs you more than do the causes of regime change in Iran, Israel's protection, or American dollar defense / strategic resource interests.
Having rambled on, I do acknowledge your point about the statement.
Further context is that my case had been clearly made based on mutually agreed on interpretations of scripture. The debate was over, and -in my opinion- "heresy" was thrown out as a last resort, as it did indeed fly in the face of that church's teachings.
You may have a point, though.
I believe that it is a pastor's job to always point us to God's way, to the way of Christ...
Not to scream and slobber all over himself screaming for war when even unbelievers can see that not all non-violent options have been exhausted.
AP