The Bible - and False Teachers and Militant Reaction

Militant Religion has always been a dangerous thing. Radicalism on any part can lead to the adaptation of stances that cause harm to many, and prejudice against any who don't conform. This is seen in many places in history, from Hitler to the KKK, to Radical Islam. We cringe at these, yet, often do not stop to consider ourselves.

The Torah (written law or first 5 books of Moses) warns against listening to the false teacher or prophet in Dt.13:1-3. Yet, have you considered that Dt.18:20 specifically states that the false prophet should die.

Other passages in the NEVI'IM or the Prophets that mention punishment regarding the False Prophet are Jer.14:13-16; 20:6; 28:16-17; Jer.29:32; Zec.13:3 All of them, mention that the one guilty of such practices is to be put to death.

The Talmud, the most significant collection of the Jewish oral tradition interpreting the Torah adapts a stance that if read openly today, would rank with militant Imams of Islam today. Among the more radical of the Rabinnical teachings, The Schulchan Aruch, written by Joseph Caro (1488-1575). Choszen Hamiszapt 425.5. "Those who do not confess the Torah and the Prophets must be killed. Who has the power to kill them, let them kill them openly with the sword. If not, let them use artifices, till they are done away with."

Therefore, it is likely that the Jews of Nazareth in Luke 4, Mt.13 and Mk.6 felt totally justified in what they were doing with Jesus.

Luke 4:28,29 On hearing this, everyone in the synagogue was filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of town and dragged him to the edge of the cliff on which their town was built, intending to throw him off.

However, what becomes wrong is that they do not consider any evidence that they could be presented with, no do they take the time to weigh the statements or claims given by Jesus with any actual study or proof. They simply react with hostility. The Torah specifically taught (Num.15:30-31,36; Deut13:6-10; 17:2-13) that two to three witnesses were required to verify the accusation before one could be put to death. To simply react with hostility and prejudicial towards anyone, without fair hearing and trial of evidence, has never been God's way.

We do not like what we see in the world today with radical extremism. It makes the world a very unpleasant place to live and fosters ungodliness in many forms. The warning I believe of the scripture, of God, and to the world is to be careful lest there exist within us the same type of heart.

2 Cor 6:17,18 "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

Royal theater box at the Herodium | Ferrell's Travel Blog

Royal theater box at the Herodium | Ferrell's Travel Blog

Monday, September 20, 2010

AN ANCIENT SAMARITAN SYNAGOGUE has been excavated in Bet She'an (Bet Shean, Beit Shean):

Archaeologists in Israel Find a 1,500 Year Old Samaritan Synagogue

JERUSALEM.- The remains of a synagogue and farmstead that operated in the Late Byzantine period, which were unknown until now, were exposed in an archaeological excavation conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, prior to enlarging a residential quarter south of Bet Sheʽan, c. one half kilometer west of the Jordan Valley highway (Route 90).

[...]

The building that was exposed consisted of a rectangular hall (5 x 8 meters), the front of which faces southwest, toward Mount Gerizim, which is sacred to Samaritans. Five rectangular recesses were built in the walls of the prayer hall in which wooden benches were probably installed. The floor of the hall was a colorful mosaic, decorated with a geometric pattern. In the center of the mosaic is a Greek inscription, of which a section of its last line was revealed:
T[]OUTON NEWN
meaning “This is the temple”.

[...]

POSTED BY JIM DAVILA | 4:55 PM

http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2010_09_19_archive.html#2117035041078549576

John Maxwell - Thoughts on Leadership

Here's an article worth reading! Check it out!!

http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2010/09/20/change-your-thinking-change-your-life/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+JohnMaxwellOnLeadership+(John+Maxwell+on+Leadership)

Storied Theology � Den of Thieves, House of Prayer

Storied Theology Den of Thieves, House of Prayer

Been studying lately on this event and this article is an interesting one

MinnPost - Scientists question accepted wisdom on what killed Pompeiians when Mt. Vesuvius erupted

MinnPost - Scientists question accepted wisdom on what killed Pompeiians when Mt. Vesuvius erupted

This eruption was slightly shy of a decade after the fall of Jerusalem and now quite two decades from when John wrote Revelation

Missional Small Groups: Becoming a Community That Makes a Difference…

Missional Small Groups: Becoming a Community That Makes a Difference…

M.Scott Boren

BakerBooks

My story behind reading this book is interesting. I came across it reviewing my blogs one day and though eh...I'll order it. It wasn't that expensive and I've read other books like this one before. Like the author, I've been looking for ways to engage people more into being what God wants them to be. I had just gotten the book the day previous, and had skimmed through it. What I found peaked my interest even more. I intended giving the book a good reading more later in the day, but first I had a breakfast meeting to go to. When I got to the meeting, one of the guys couldn't make it, so it was just two of us. Low and behold, during the conversation, we began to speak about teaching those we were in contact with. Ah-ha, I thought. My chance to see if what I had learned so far would pay off. Wow - was I surprised. The discussion centered on the subject of this book. The more we talked, the more I thought, I wonder if he has read this book. I pulled the book out and he had not. So... I let him take the book.

A couple of days later, I was messaging with him, and asked him had he read it. He said not only that he had read it but that it was like he had always been reading it. It was affirming everything that he was thinking, and you could hear the excitement in his voice. So - I told him he could have it, and promptly ordered me another copy.

The book is well worth the money and time to read it! It will definitely enlighten you if you're into building small Christian groups and helping people better their lives. But be prepared to heat a different drum beat in this book.