Musing – What is the ultimate purpose of Life?

Hebraic Musing – What is the ultimate purpose of Life?   
or   Donate your life as suggested in Leviticus 16:8-10

We are all familiar with the ‘scapegoat’ story and typically consider the scapegoat to be the lucky one who is allowed to live.  “On the other hand” let’s look at Leviticus 16:8-10 from a different perspective.    He is to cast lots for the two goats — one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.  Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering.  But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. NIV

This sacrificial process was central to the Yom Kippur service and message. Drawing ‘lots’ determines the fate of two identical goats. One of the two goats becomes a sacrifice before the Lord.  The other would symbolically be given the sins of Israel and sent off into the wilderness where it would obviously die later.  Which one was the ‘lucky’ one?  What can we learn from this?  How is it relevant to us today?  Are there two different ways of living, and dying? 

We will all die at an unknown time someday.  In the meantime, we get to decide how we live.  Rabbi Eckstein* says it well – “The goat that is sacrificed to the Lord represents a life lived in service to God, full of purpose and meaning. The other goat represents a person who wanders about aimlessly in this world without any clear sense of purpose, contribution, or meaning. Both goats die in the end, but only one goat lived a worthy life.”  The first goat’s life is deemed worthy because his life was a sacrifice to the Lord; and the second goat lived with sin all the while he wandered in the desert for the rest of his days.

God has given us life and all the blessings associated with our ability to do things here on earth. The first goat, the one sacrificed to God, reminds us of the challenge to believers to die to ourselves and live our lives as living sacrifices. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  NKJV Romans 12:1    

In summary – We need to be giving our lives in service to God, dying to self, so that others may live.  Unsaved, unredeemed or selfish folks have selected the option to live their lives as the scapegoat – wandering around in a spiritual desert, still living in the sins of the world and finally dying without having served God.

Points to ponder

How can we be a living sacrifice to God now?  

What is your purpose for living?  Are we still living for ourselves? 
Have we died to ourselves, so we can live for others?

Romans 14:8 “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  Paul said in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” NIV

L’Chaim (To Life)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                   April 29, 2014

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly “Hebraic Musings” e-mails
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

*  Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s “Donate Your Life”  April 8, 2014

Musing – Can there be a positive view of Denominationalism?

Hebraic Musing – Can there be a positive view of Denominationalism?

Paul tells us in 1 Tim 2:8 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” NIV   A few weeks ago we pointed out that questioning and discussing are healthy ways to learn from someone who has a different view. Assuming they meet key criteria as ‘Christians’, each denomination has different practices, focuses, traditions and methodologies for worshiping Jesus as Lord. What would the Church of Jesus Christ look like if all members recognized and honored the positive attributes of neighboring churches as their unique way to worship and honor God. 

I recently conducted a service with elderly folks and had them share their denominational heritage. Then we processed the positive attributes, character and nature of each of their denominations. When I told my son Joseph that I planned to do this, he said “Dad, you’re just exploring the various attributes, characters and nature of Almighty God, who is many faceted.” Is it okay if the Church of Jesus Christ is also many faceted? Are His people many faceted?  My friend, John R., claims “Very few people do an extensive study of ‘the names of God’ as revealed in the scriptures. They do not understand that in part, the Bible is the ‘resume of God,’ and that He offers His resume as a reason to ‘be hired as your God, and to displace whatever God is now in charge’."

Consider the positive, Christ-like, attributes of each these denominations (my understanding of each):

·      Presbyterian and Anglican – Heavy focus on social justice and helping the poor and disenfranchised.

·      Methodist – Focus on social justice and missions in Asia; founded by John Wesley, a great evangelist.

·      Roman Catholic – Held Christianity together through the early years, the middle ages and the years of illiteracy.  They established, past & present, a moral culture in the Western world. 

·      Lutheran – Provided an appreciation of the role of ‘Faith’; and about that time the printing press was invented, allowing people to read and understand the Word of God more deeply and personally.

·      Church of Christ – Known for not using musical instruments; they use their God-given voices to praise Him, and do it well without electronic supplement. Maybe practicing for singing in heaven!?!?

·      Baptist – Known for the divisions but each was a concerted effort to know and obey the Word of God.

·      Assembly of God – Giving a lot of recognition to determining the ever-present role of the Holy Spirit.

·      Charismatic & Faith – Recognizing and expectantly claiming the blessings God promised His people.

·      Non-denominational – Searching for freedom to worship without the hindrances of religiosity. 

These are my views based solely on my understanding.  I’m seeking ways to emphasize and preach unity rather than division.  “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Ps 133:1 

I do have my preferences and am more than willing to discuss the varying traditions, methods, customs, practices and non-salvific beliefs with fellow Christians.  With non-Christians or none-spiritual persons, I would prefer to support the attributes of the denomination of their preference until they know Jesus Christ personally. Then we can sort out the best avenue for them to worship Him and seek His truths.

Points to Ponder

What do weak Christians, non-Christians and un-churched think
if and when they over-hear Christians criticizing one another’s denominations?

What would happen if they heard Christians supporting denominations
 other than their own in a Spirit of unity?

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith…”  Eph.4:13                               April 22, 2014

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                  

Musing – Are some Christians ‘professionals’ and the rest ‘amateurs’?

Hebraic Musing – Are some Christians ‘professionals’ and the rest ‘amateurs’?

It is an all too common feeling that if a person really wants to be serious about serving God, then he/she needs to become a pastor or a missionary or work in a Christian ministry.  And to be serious one must therefore go to a seminary or Bible college to learn God’s Word.  The rest of us have to be content to adjust our lifestyle to convenient truths in Scripture so we can be comfortable with our level of commitment. Do Christian ‘Professionals’ have different roles than Christian ‘Amateurs’?

Many Christians wrestle with the time pressures and activities in their lives that limit, or eliminate, time to study and learn God’s Word.  They go to church; they get a weekly message from their pastor which includes at least a few bible verses; and they feel it is the church’s job to provide good youth and children’s ministry programs and group leaders.  Isn’t that abdication of responsibility? 

This sounds similar to something a friend encountered. She shared a Biblical nugget in a group and one of the ladies in the group said “Thank you for sharing that. Since you studied, learned and that, then I don’t have to read the Bible myself.”  What’s wrong with that all too common picture?

When God gave us the 10 Commandments (Mitzvot -- good deeds), did He expect only ‘professionals’ to know, live and deliver His Word?  Was He only talking to ‘professionals’ when He spoke His Words in Deuteronomy 6:7?  “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” NIV   And while we call them the “Ten Commandments”, the correct translation from Hebrew d’barim would be “Spoken Words” (from our Loving Heavenly Father).

Here is how my friend, Buddy Hansen, explained this issue:
Intended Beliefs (by Satan):
● The Christian “pros” have different roles than Christian “amateurs.”
● The “amateurs” are held to a lesser standard of obedience than the “pros.”
So, the Unintended Beliefs (by us):
● We should delegate the responsibility of civil government to elected officials (pros) so they can hopefully legislate we amateurs out of our cultural difficulties.
● We live like conservatives  living according to traditional values, instead of Christians who (should!) live according to the revealed ethics of our triune God. 
● There are two kinds of Christians: Those who are really serious about the faith become full-time Christians, and the rest of us do the best we can at being part-time Christians who live law-abiding, moralistic lifestyles.

This ‘musing’ would not meet favor with Bible College administrators, but hopefully will challenge us ‘amateurs’ to step up to our God-given responsibilities.

Point to ponder

Does being an ‘amateur’ Christian excuse us from any responsibilities?

Chag Pesach Samach

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                   April 15, 2014

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly “Hebraic Musings” e-mails
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

 (1) Inspired by Buddy Hanson’s TGIM ministry, April 7, 2014

Musing – What is important about a Gate or Threshold?

Hebraic Musing – What is important about a Gate or Threshold?

The bible mentions threshold (or gate or entrance) more often than we realize.  Why?

Consider the two definitions of ‘threshold’ – (1) a piece of wood, metal, or stone that forms the bottom of a door and that you walk over as you enter a room or building; (2) point or level at which something begins or changes.  (The purpose of the barrier at the bottom of the door is to keep out unwanted animals and people unwilling to surrender to the will of the master of the home.)

Irene’s son has two massive Mastiff dogs weighing about 200 lbs. each. That breed is reputed to be used as guard dogs in China because they are family friendly; they welcome guests; they lay down across the threshold (gate/entrance/doorway) and they do not let the guest leave until the owner gives permission. Their massive size and tenacity enables them to also effectively guard the entrance against unwelcome intruders. The words ‘Threshold’, ‘Gate’ and ‘Entrance’ appear a total of  381 times in the NIV, mostly referencing the guarding and protecting function.  When we enter a home across the threshold, or a city through the gate, or a country through passport control, we are then subject to the laws, customs and expectations as guests of that home, city or country. Here are just a few of the relevant Biblical references:

The god Dagon couldn’t cross the threshold -- 1 Sam 5:4  …Dagon had fallen face downward … before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. ESV

Lot’s concubine sought the threshold -- Judges 19:27-28   her master… opened the doors of the house … behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold. ESV

Zephaniah tells there is trouble for the unwelcome -- Zeph 1:9  On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud. ESV

Abram met the Lord at the entrance -- Gen 18:1  The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.   NIV

Jesus stressed the importance of using the right entrance or gate -- Matt 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,and only a few find it.”   And John 10:1-4 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep …“  And  John 10:7-9  "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  NIV

Ultimately Jesus will carry us across the threshold to be a bride in His new home -- John 14:2-3  In my Father's house are many rooms…. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  NIV

Points to ponder

If we sheep have entered through the gate into the Good Shepherd’s sheep-pen,
are we subject to the rules of the house as good guests?
Welcomed, Protected, Provided for, Loved, Cherished…

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                   April 8, 2014

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly “Hebraic Musings” e-mails
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Inspired by Johanna Hocker on March 17, 2014