Musing – Would Jesus Post on FaceBook?

Hebraic Musing – Would Jesus Post on FaceBook?

We get a kick out of cartoons like this but this technology is here to stay and has become the today’s M.O. (Modus Operando). Should we embrace it and utilize it?  WWJD? 

In Deuteronomy 6:6-9 we are told to talk 24/7 about God’s plan for us - “These commandments … are to be upon your hearts. 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.  Tie them as SYMBOLS ON YOUR HANDS and bind them on your foreheads….”  NIV  

I didn’t think I’d ever support social media’s infringement on face-to-face communication; however, I have come to admit that use of FB keeps me in touch with way more friends and family than I could without it.  Phones and e-mail lack the spontaneity of FB or texting. 

The biggest objection I’ve heard from Christians has to do with the casual nature of relationships in social media.  Can or should FB and Twitter be accepted and supported by Christians?   BTW I still do have meaningful relationships and face-to-face access to friends, family and associates; and communication with FB friends & family represent contact that I would not otherwise have if it were not for FB, and texting.  Since social media is often viewed as impersonal without depth of relationships; how can we develop an accountability relationship?  Is it too easy to ”unfriend” someone with whom you disagree? 

Let’s ask a bigger question, how would Jesus use social media?  WWJD?

·      Would Jesus fear being “unfriended” for posting photos of those outlandish miracles as testimonials?

·      Would He want ushers to confiscate phones being used during the service for texting, posting, etc.?

·      Would Jesus use the posts to preach?  Or to tell people His location and where he will be going next for those interested in following Him?

·      Would He “friend” someone who smokes, drinks or posts smutty stuff?  Would He “friend” non-Christians?  Would He “Un-friend” someone who posts stupid stuff?  Would He ever “unfriend” anybody?

·      Would He put His phone down when talking to His Father?  Or when ministering, talking to or counselling with someone in need?  Or when He’s talking to you?

·      Would Jesus use FaceBook to replace face-to-face meeting opportunities with people?

·      Would Jesus be “unfriended” if He posted too many Bible verses?  Or would He wisely mix in a goodly amount of fun pics and humor? 

·      Would He critique bothersome examples of hypocrisy in the news?

·      Would Jesus post content of those private moments He has with friends, family, you or anyone?

If you think too much time/space is wasted with FB postings of meals and pets, etc., how can we make our own posts and tweets more purposeful, and Christ-like? 

Point to ponder

What do you think?  Would Jesus “friend” you on FB?  Twitter?
Would He “unfriend” you if you disagreed with Him?
Is there any reason why you would “unfriend” Him?

Shalom y’all                                                                                        December 1, 2015      

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,   Author:                       

“Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical_Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com

For Facebook---

Would Jesus Post on FaceBook?

We get a kick out of cartoons like this but this technology is here to stay and has become the world’s way. Embrace it or utilize it?  WWJD? 

In Deuteronomy 6:6-9 we are told to talk 24/7 about God’s plan for us - “These commandments … Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as SYMBOLS ON YOUR HANDS …… ”  NIV  

I didn’t think I’d ever support social media’s infringement on face-to-face communication, but I’ve come to admit that use of FB has kept me in touch with way more friends and family than I could without it. 

Let’s ask a bigger question, how would Jesus use social media?  WWJD?

·      Would Jesus fear being “unfriended” for posting some of those outlandish miracles as testimonials?

·      Would He want ushers to confiscate phones being used during the service for texting, posting, etc.?

·      Would Jesus use the posts to preach?  Or to tell people His location, and where he will be next, for those interested in following Him?

·      Would Jesus “friend” somebody who smokes, drinks or posts smutty stuff?  Would He “friend” non-Christians? 

·      Would He “Un-friend” someone who posts stupid stuff?  Would He ever “unfriend” anybody?

·      Would He put His phone down when talking to His Father?  Or when ministering, talking to or counselling someone in need?  Or when He’s talking to you?

·      Would Jesus use FaceBook to replace face-to-face meetings with people?

·      Would Jesus be “unfriended” because He posted too many Bible verses?  Or would He mix in a goodly amount of fun pics and humor?  Would He critique bothersome examples of hypocrisy in the news?

·      Would Jesus post content of the private moments He has with friends, family or anyone?

If you think too much time/space is wasted with FB posts of meals and pets, etc., how can we make our posts and tweets more purposeful? 

Point to ponder

Would Jesus “friend” you on FB?  Twitter?

Would He “unfriend” you if you disagreed with Him?

Is there any reason why you would “unfriend” Him?

What do you think? 

Musing – How many times did God test Abram’s faith?

How many times did God test Abram’s faith before giving him a character from His own name, changing Abram’s name to Abraham?  This list of 10 tests is supported by familiar Bible passages:

1.      God tells Abram to leave his homeland to become a stranger in the land of Canaan.

2.      Immediately after his arrival in the Promised Land Abram encounters a famine.

3.      Egyptians take beloved wife Sarai, and bring her to Pharaoh.

4.      Abram faces incredible odds in the battle of the four and five kings.

5.      Abram lays with Hagar after not being able to have children with Sarai.

Note – Abram is 99 years old and God renews His covenant and give Abram an “H” and renames him Abraham.  See Hebraic Insight #20 reprinted below to understand the significance of the name changing in Genesis 17.  

But the testing continues…

6.      God tells Abraham to circumcise himself – at the age of 99!

7.      Abraham argues with God about Sodom and Gomorrah and rescues Lot’s family.

8.      Abimelech, king of Gerar captures Sarah, intending to take her for himself.

9.      God tells Abraham to send Hagar away after having a child with her.

10.  Hagar and Abraham’s son, Ishmael, have to be sent away.

11.  God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, upon an altar.

Thank you Lord for not testing me this much!  But On-the-other-hand, I heard that God only tests those He loves. 

Point to ponder

Has God tested us to this degree?

Did Abraham earn the title “Father of Faith”?

Consider the covenental significance of giving someone a part of your name?
Are you called a “Christ”ian?

Shalom y’all                                                                                        November 24, 2015   

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,   Author:                       

“Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical_Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com

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Insight #20 from: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of Christian faith” 
            by Yosef  March 2015   (Requires Hebrew font capability to fully appreciate)

20. Ha Shem (the Name) Yeshua
Or  Why is His name to be lifted up?    On the cross?

The special name of God is to be revered and is thus unpronounceable:

Yod Hei Vav Hei in Hebrew, h w h y (ßHebrew reads R to L)

We have heard it pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah.  The powerful symbolism says God’s hand, God’s breath, secured by, God’s breath. This name of God is so sacred that Jews refuse to pronounce it for fear of violating the third commandment. But then:

In Gen. 17:5 God gave Abram part of His name, an H, to become Abraham.
            (minus) Hei (breath of God)—h

In Gen.17:15 He gave Saria part of His name, the other H, to become Sarah.
            (minus) Hei (breath of God)—h

That left God with Yod ___ Vav ___    or   _ w _ y (ßR to L)

But man needed to have the original sin dealt with. The original sin was seeing and consuming from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So God took man’s sin into His name by replacing the missing letters with letters that represent the original sin.

·         Seeing the fruit with knowledge of good and evil.
       So He added to His name Ayin (eye, see, know)—u

·        Consuming from the tree of good and evil.
       (plus) Shin (teeth, consume)—v

Thus God’s name became Yeshua:
          Yod Shin Vav Ayin   or   u w v y (ßR to L)
which means salvation (in Greek “Jesus”).

Yod Shin Vav Ayin or the name Yeshua (Jesus) symbolically means God’s hand,   consuming teeth,   securing nail,   seeing knowledge.

Is this what it means to “pray in His name”?

Another thought, is this possibly what Yeshua meant when He said in Matt. 5:38 “You have heard that it was said,
            “Eye for an eye,  (Ayin (eye, see, know)  u ))   and a  tooth for a tooth (Shin (teeth, consume)  v )” ?

Points to Ponder

Consider the covenantal significance of giving someone a part of your name?

Are you called a “Christ”ian?

Musing - What might happen if we do not take the bypass?

Hebraic Musing - What might happen if we do not take the bypass?

Chapter 4 in John’s book describes a strange choice by Jesus that occurred right after John the Baptist testified about Jesus' identity.  Why did Jesus ignore the bypass and go through Samaria?  Was it because He was in a hurry, or was he on a memorable mission to talk to the Samaritan woman?

The word "bypass" often refers to a highway around the heavy traffic of a city, which is busy because of people, sights, cultures, churches, schools, historical attractions, etc.  So we take the bypass because we are in a hurry. Why are we always in a hurry?  Who gives us time?  Jesus bypassed the bypass because "Now he had to go through Samaria." John 4.4.  Maybe we should do what Jesus would do and talk to a Samaritan woman.  Notice that he developed a relationship by approaching, listening and letting her ask questions.

A little background will help us to appreciate the deep schism between the Jews (Southerners) and the Samaritans (Northerners). Note that these differences are not unlike differences we experience with "other people groups" in our daily walk, e.g. our continuing “civil war.”  Who are the Samaritans?

Because of their imperfect adherence to Judaism and their partly pagan ancestry, the Samaritans were despised by ordinary Jews. Rather than contaminate themselves by passing through Samaritan territory, Jews who were traveling from Judea to Galilee or vice versa would cross over the river Jordan, bypass Samaria by going through Transjordan, and cross over the river again as they neared their destination. The Samaritans also harbored antipathy toward the Jews (Lk 9:52-53).  

That the Samaritans were separated from and looked down upon by the Jews makes them important in the New Testament. Jesus indicated a new attitude must be taken toward the Samaritans when he passed through their towns instead of crossing the Jordan to avoid them (Jn 4:4-5).  He spoke with a Samaritan woman, contrary to Jewish custom (Jn 4:9).  He said a time would come when worshiping in Jerusalem or on Mount Gerazim would not be important (Jn 4:21-24). When asked whom to regard as our neighbor, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan precisely because Samaritans were despised.

Source - Catholics.com  (I realize some may stumble over the message in this musing because I cite a Catholic source.  I could not bypass it.  It was the clearest statement found in the Google search.)

Do we find ourselves taking a bypass so as to avoid meeting and having to deal with  people of different dress styles, skin colors, languages, education, criminal pasts, body art, drinking habits, socio-economic status or (worst of all) denominations or belief differences?  They too are created by and loved by Almighty God.

Point to ponder

What Would Jesus Do?
Would He take a bypass and miss an opportunity?

P.S.  Years ago there were two young ladies in our church who attended every service but observed from a seat in the foyer.  I don’t think they felt welcome because of their wildly colored hair styles and enough body metal to fail a metal detector scan. 

One Sunday after completing ushering duties, I invited them to come and sit in our pew and be a part of our family.  They accepted, enjoyed and made new friends.  Shortly thereafter, we moved to Europe for three years.  When we returned those two ladies were in leadership roles in the church.

Shalom y’all                                                                                        November 17, 2015   

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,   Author:                       

“Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical_Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com