Best Religion

Dear Friends;

This is the third of a series of posts, to deal with the prejudice posts we have seen, so those interested can see the legitimate differences between our faiths.… This is not to be negative to any religion, but for you to better understand Judaism and the origins of you faith.

Shalom;

Yechiel

Yechiel/faith      I don't believe much of what faith is trying to convey. I think it has more holes in it than a screen door. It blocks out much of the light but the wind goes right threw it. This idea of subjective vs. dualistic thinking to me is a far fetched theory that never got off the ground let alone to be considered valid. This idea doesn’t last because it simply does not hold water. To change or infer that the name God or Christ should be undermined by a made up name of "grace bestower" is insulting to say the least. This term "grace bestower" is simply a ploy to undermined the importance of the God of Abraham. The one true God/Christ !

The following is a quote from Frontline's website regarding the conflict we see today between the Christians and the Jews.

Most of the gospel and traditions of early Christianity were written down after the first war, and they reflect a period of theological disagreement. And the new narrative history that evolved, in the form of the New Testament, tells a story of a broken relationship, and that's part of the sad story that evolves between Jews and Christians, because it is a story that has such awful repercussions in later times. But it is not necessarily reflective of all of the local situation in the first three centuries.

, and therefore find themselves

From the Frontline letter written by Tamara Johnson

Isn't that the gist of it all?  To find Christ, and therefore find themselves?

THE FULL QUOTE.....

Many people would be better served by their own thoughtful study of these historical teachings than to sit somewhere once and week and listen to some guy yell at them for how bad they have behaved all week. They just might find Christ then, and therefore find themselves.

Tamara Johnson

I am speaking in general terms here. This is not aimed as any specific person.

Man has been given the creativity on earth that is a characteristic of God. Man has been given the power to think, reason, act, respond, love, hate, ignore and react. These are all characteristics of God but are far from being God. To me, those who think they are God, are fools of the highest level. They out smart themselfs and are void of common sense whereby making it known that they know how to read but do not no how to transcend beyond the written word of God. The Torah and the Bible are both the words of God. They are not to be taken lightly, abused or mis used. It is one thing to be wrong on interpretation or a misunderstanding of what is written. That to me is understandable by God. It is quite the other thing to purposely undermined, change intent, manipulate words, not for the benefit of God but for the benefit of mans ego. I have a responsibility to love my neighbor but I also have a responsibility to tell the truth as I see it.

If the neighbor hates me, that is his/her problem.

Anonymous     I don't think you understand me, but that is O.K. You seem to look at things written in scripture and take everything literally. I believe there is strong wording to convey a strong message. I also believe not everything that is written is to be taken literally. God gave us the Ten Commandments first. Simple wording so all could understand. The Ten Commandment is to be taken literally without exception. On the other hand, to me the Bible is a more general outline that is to be taken as a whole. Not in parts, bits and pieces. Even when you where writing to Njoy with scripture, she came right back to you with scripture in her own defense. I would be wrong to tell you or her that what was said is wrong. I have said before, first thing to me when reading scripture is how does the reading relate to the Ten Commandments ? If there is no clear choice than there is no clear answer. Why the introduction of the Ten Words, why was the introduction of the Bible ? I believe Christ Jesus was the introduction of God to humankind in the physical side but at the same time there was a motive for his coming, what was it ? To me the sins of Adam and Eve where forgiven by the coming of Christ Jesus. From the time of Christ Jesus there is no sins of Adam and Eve, there is only our sins. Our mistakes, our weaknesses. Adam and Eve have nothing to do with our weaknesses, that is over, that is history. As far as accusing you of telling people they are going to hell. I just know that you or I have no authority, we have no understanding of who goes or who does not go where God wants them to be.

Read what you will, that is the only thing you can do. Preconceived notions are useless and are better left unsaid. Sometimes the silent is just as important as the verbal. A child does not grow when all things are given to them. Maturity even in the Spirit has to be learned, experienced and desirable. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. They have do it on there own.

MikeC, to answer your question to me about Jesus: If you are meaning "does Jesus have the same value as you and I have" My instinct is to say that I cannot begin to compare myself to Jesus, so I would personally value Jesus far more than myself.

If you mean "value in the eyes of God" then my instinct says that God would value us both. But by asking it the way you are asking it, it sounds to me as if you are separating Jesus from God, and I don't see Jesus as separate from God. I don't see you or me separate from God either. 

    We are God's children and we are in Him and He is in us. The more I learn, the harder it is for me to believe in the separation from God. We are always tied to God spiritually, just as any child is always tied to his mother spiritually, even though he leaves her body, he remains with her his whole life...spiritually.

     I don't think literally; materially; physically about these spiritual things. I think of Spirit spiritually and I don't judge the value of one person over the other as to who is going where and when. I am not concerned with being judged "one day" as so many are. God is with me here and now and He judges me as I move and breathe and make my daily choices. I feel His guidance, his hand on my shoulder, so to speak.

 Heaven for me is being with God and Hell for me would be separation from God.

     Christ's Presence within me, because I accepted him willingly into my heart, does not desert me in times of trouble. He is my steadfast "buddy system."

     This spiritual life of mine is the best thing that has ever happened to me, just being aware of it moment by moment. There is a warmth to it and a feeling of satisfaction and great JOY. And it does not leave me no matter how difficult the circumstances. There is absolutely no negativity in my life...none. There is no room for it.

The ones online who have decided to post negative things about me are people who despise me for various reasons. They have to live with themselves, and all I can say about them is that I am glad I am not that upset and angry with anyone. It must be awful to feel the way they do about a fellow sibling.

      I don't despise them, but I do pity them. Their words anger me often, but they seem to be very angry with me too...so...there you have it...I am at peace and I wish they could be as well.

     Value? I feel valued. Am I valued more than Jesus? Valued to whom? God? The question is too "either/or" "black/white" it seems to me. Do I value myself more than Jesus? NO! Do I consider myself the same as Jesus? NO! Am I hoping to become One with God, my heavenly Father someday? Yes... When that happens, will I then be as valuable as Jesus, I don't think there will be comparative and competitive thinking at that time, at least I hope not. I don't compare now, why would I then?