Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Musing – Accept a Free Gift or Go to Hell

Hebraic Musing – Accept a Free Gift or Go to Hell

I received a message from a scholar friend who is starting to question a foundational Christian teaching by asking – Can Hell be a place of “Eternal Conscious Torment”? Further, he questions whether and how a loving God could possibly send people, His creation, to “Eternal Conscious Torment”? See Note 1 below for the natural extension of this line of reasoning.

The counter argument has to do with the over emphasis on saying and preaching “God is Love.” We know Love is not God’s only attribute. He is also Just, Gracious, Forgiving, Righteous, Generous, etc. etc. etc. Note 2 below reveals the way the prophet Nahum described our Lord in the introductory verses of his message.

Losing sleep about all this until… I just read that most cultures deem not accepting a gift to be an insult, an unforgivable affront. That statement resonated with my personal experiences with other cultures I have encountered around the world. The giving of gifts is taken seriously; and not accepting is an affront.

Ephesians 2:8 comes to mind. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—“ Clearly this is not the only reference in the Bible to God’s gracious gift of grace. (Redundancy wasn’t intended but I like it!)

BTW, the Bible has many warnings about rejection? The words “Reject” and “Rejected” appear 101 times in my NIV! And Jesus Himself did not mince words when He said (in red letters) “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone”? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." Luke 20:17-18

Quick clarifications:

The “gracious gift of God” was freely offered to us; BUT it was not without a cost. The Father and the Son paid a heavy price. And the gift was not given to us; it was freely offered to each of us and we had to personally accept the gift.

Admittedly, this discussion does not answer the salvific questions applicable to peoples in unreached nations who have not yet heard the Gospel.

Points to Ponder

How do you feel when someone offends your child?
Or does something worse to your child?

How does it feel when your own children do not appreciate
a precious gift you sacrificially gave to them?

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd September 27, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life” “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings” www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note 1. - The natural extension of contrasting “Eternal Conscious Torment” with “God is Love” results in justifying “universalism.” Simply stated, it means that since God is Love, He will find a way for all His creation to make it to heaven – justifying “many ways”.

Note 2. - Nahum 1:2-3 “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.” NIV

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Musing – Tree of Life

Hebraic Musing – Tree of Life

This was the first HEBRAIC Insight originally distributed in January 2009.

Both Ezekiel 47:12 and Revelation 22:1-2 have interesting and allegorical significance that requires Hebraic or Jewish insight to fully appreciate:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Rev.22:1-2 NIV.

I have been viewing that last sentence in isolation. It simply mentions a tree in heaven that had leaves with healing power. I assumed that the Tree Of Life Missions team adopted that reference because their vision and purpose is to elevate and heal the nation of Honduras. But how can a tree be “on each side of the river”?

Applying Hebraic thought and imagery to the combined verses in Revelation, we have a picture of a Torah scroll which every Jew in Biblical times would recognize.

The two fancy dowels, one on each side of the Torah scroll, are called Eitz Chayim (Trees of Life). Opening the scroll reveals the pages of parchment (the pages of a Torah Scroll are referred to as leaves). God’s written word is on those pages (leaves) and God’s written Word flowing between the trees is God’s truth which in Hebrew is symbolized by water. The Hebrew letter < (MEM) is a symbol of water and represents truth. God teaches truths to His people and those truths are words of life. And if those words are accepted, applied, and written on people’s hearts, then a nation will be healed — Israel or Honduras or your nation. You may want to read Revelation 22:1-2 again in light of this Hebraic Insight.

Point to Ponder

Can we fully appreciate the New Testament without knowing Hebraic symbolism?

Simchat Torah! (Joy of the Torah!)

Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd September 20, 2016

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Musing - The Privilege of Serving God

Hebraic Musing - The Privilege of Serving God

Have you ever had moments when serving God felt more like a burden than a privilege, even though deep down we know the opposite to be true. Let this be the encouragement we all need from time-t-time.

Whether you are a Christian or a Jew, if you have accepted God as your King, you have committed to living your life according to God’s will. This means taking the moral high-ground even when it might be easier to lower your standards. It means doing the right thing even when it is unpopular. It means being generous and kind even when you are tired and spent.

In Ecclesiastes 11:9 we read, “You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see . . .” This refers to the typical young man or woman in all of us who wants to have fun and do whatever he or she wants. We all have the younger person inside us who never grows up and who seeks immediate gratification and ignoring the potential ramifications. Solomon gets our attention by saying to us with tongue in cheek, “Go ahead. Do whatever you want. Follow your desires. No one is forcing you to accept the yoke of God’s Kingdom.”

However, Solomon continues, “but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” No one forces us to live a moral and ethical life, but the verse reminds us there will be consequences for doing the opposite. Deep down we know that eventually, righteousness will be rewarded while wickedness will endure harsh consequences. Are we seeking immediate gratification or longer-term rewards?

Here is the whole reference:

“You who are young, be happy while you are young,
     and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
     and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
     God will bring you into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 11:9

If we think living a life unbound by morality or God’s will is better, then we aren’t seeing the full picture. If we look only at a little slice of life, we might see non-believers and the immoral having a grand old time. However, we don’t see the unhappiness and unhealthy side of living a life without self-restraint.

We who have accepted the Lord as God in our lives are privileged to see the big picture and know that although serving God may be difficult at times, the reward is unimaginable and the benefits unfathomable. Jesus did say “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:30

Points to ponder

Have you experienced the peace, joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing
you are doing good deeds – being loving, giving, caring, etc.?

Do we have the patience to wait for the final judgement?

How long will we experience the reward for righteousness or for unrighteousness?

Shalom

Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd September 13, 2016

Note - Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein November 25, 2015

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Musing - I Will Not Be Silent

Hebraic Musing - I Will Not Be Silent

We’ve been told “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” And because of that, we are chastised if we do not say the “Politically Correct” thing. These modern day teachings are in direct conflict with Isaiah’s message:

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. — Isaiah 62:1

And I just listened to Ezekiel 33 in my audio Bible where God holds the watchman responsible if he does not warn the people. The blood of the people will be on the watchman if he does not blow the trumpet.

Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, recalled asking his father in the midst of the Holocaust; “Can this be true? This is the 20th century, not the Middle Ages. Who would allow such crimes to be committed? How could the world remain silent?” Wiesel later explained that “… the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

And yet today, victims are tormented around the world and the world remains silent. Rabbi Eckstein bemoans the fact that “Nowhere is this more evident than in Israel. When terror attacks occur anywhere else, social media is flooded with sympathy, condolences pour in from nearly every country, and almost all condemn the act of terror. However, Israel seems to be the exception. … The silence is deafening.”

Today, in our nation we encounter Biblical truths and morality being ignored. The Judeo-Christian morality upon which our nation was founded is being ignored and even scoffed at. (Do you need a list?) Are we to be Politically Correct and not risk offending others? They are offending Our Almighty God!!!

As I interpret Isaiah’s message, Zion seems to represent the government of God – His Kingdom. And Jerusalem seems to refer to home, now and forever. So it is for the sake of Zion and Jerusalem that I need to speak up. For the sake of our nation and our home I need to speak up. Why? Others around me need to hear the truth, the only true truth that comes from Almighty God. They need it for their salvation and for the salvation of their nation and for the world around them. And for our children and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren and neighbors.

And so I ask you, Christian friends, please do not be silent.

Points to ponder

Is my short-term friendship with the deceived person(s) more important
than their long-term salvation?

If I don’t speak up, who will? Is God counting on me?

Will you read the addendum below?
Even though it is long and thorough? And, as a watchman, will you share it?

Shalom

Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd September 6, 2016

ADDENDUM. While drafting the above musing “I Will Not Be Silent”, this message arrived - “ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTION”. And this is a Biblical issue since the coming election is promoting many blatantly Progressive and Socialistic policies, which are contrary to the Theocracy which we should be striving for. Here is a pastor’s unedited article: ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTION

BY: Dr. Jim Garlow who is pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego. He is also co-founder of The Jefferson Gathering, a weekly worship service for members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I have been asked "the question" so many times regarding Trump or Hillary. By way of background, I have followed every national convention-Republican and Democrat-from the time I was age 9, and have attended most of the GOP Conventions from 1984 to the present. I have watched the news virtually every day from the age of 8. I have never seen anything like what we are observing.

In spite of the unprecedented nature of this election cycle, I will attempt to respond to "the question." I am not demanding that anyone else share my view. But I was asked. Here is my best attempt to answer as I am able to see things at this time:

1. The Democratic and Republican party platforms are as different as night and day, in my opinion, as far apart as evil vs. good. The 51-page Democratic platform is the most leftist ever. (I don't care for the "right vs. left" nomenclature. I am far more concerned with "right vs. wrong.") The Democratic platform contains many points which are anti-biblical. (Time does not permit me here to identify what is meant by "anti-biblical," which is covered in my new book Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues.) It is thoroughly socialistic (a socialist is a communist without a gun). The 54-page GOP platform is one of the strongest GOP platforms ever. A biblically alert person could be comfortable with almost all of it. Party platforms are a big issue to me. Although some "blow off" party platforms, I do not. Nor do many people up and down the ballot who are running for office. This is a serious and very important item. I have a hard copy of both platforms in front of me now. Most people have never checked out what the party platforms say. They should. If a person is not drawn to the "top-of-the-ballot" candidate, they ought to at least consider voting for the candidate attached to the best party platform.

2. Analogy #1: Both candidates are flawed. We all know that. But permit me an analogy: As a pastor, I would rather deal with a church attendee who is blatant and brash in his sinning than one who is devious, lying, cunning and deceptive. Both are problematic, but one is easier to deal with than the other. If I were a pastor bringing correction to a parishioner, I would prefer dealing with a "Trump-type" any day over a "Hillary-type." The chances of making progress with the "Trump-type" is many times greater than the "Hillary-type."

3. Analogy #2: When my (late) wife's remarkable and much loved oncologist said, "Don't take Carol to that alternative (non FDA approved) treatment." I asked, "Why not?" He said, "The unknown." I said, "Doctor, your 'known' is much worse than the alternative treatment's 'unknown.'" (I took her to that alternative treatment. One year later that same oncologist went to the alternative treatment doctor to see how it was that Carol had improved so much. While this alternative treatment did not ultimately save her life, it likely stretched two to three years of life to six years of life-by the admission of another one of her brilliant young oncologists who later said, "Without any medical training or scientific fact, you have put together a protocol of treatment that has moved her into the top fraction of 1 percent of survival rates of all patients with Carol's particular cancer). Application of the analogy: Hillary's "known" is considerably worse-many times over-than Trump's "unknown."

4. Trump has lots of sins in his past (actually, we all do), and-in the present-says things he should not say. I make no attempt to defend any of the things he has said. There is no need to rehearse the wrong things he has said. We know what they are. He should not have thought or said them. But there is no need to rehash them here. So we won't. But let's turn to the other candidate. Although America has had some scandal-ridden candidates in its history, we have never seen any one major party candidate more constantly scandalous as Hillary (along with her husband). She seems to exceed all previous boundaries for wrongdoing. The scandals just don't stop. In the same way we did not take time to list all of Trump's misstatements, neither will we here rehash the seemingly continuous string of horrific scandals of the Clintons.

5. Trump is slowly being surrounded by increasingly good people. From time to time, I receive encouraging calls regarding this. Can these good people impact Trump? We will see. In contrast, I see no reason for any encouragement regarding the people who surround Hillary.

6. Trump is right on approximately 75 percent of the issues. I wish it was 100 percent. It is not. I am in hopes that those beginning to surround him can help him connect the dots on more issues. Hillary is wrong on 100 percent of the issues.

7. This next issue might be one of the most important, but I suspect few will understand its significance. Trump opposes globalism. Hillary thrives on it. Globalism is far more than "geographical" or "eliminating national borders and boundaries." It is spiritual, that is, demonic at its core. Few-very few-understand this. This is quite likely one of the main reasons why Trump is hated. Do your homework on this one. Think "principalities and powers." Serious. Extremely serious.

8. Not voting is not a viable option, contrary to what the "purists" claim. It is not my intention to begin a war of the issue. I know that some radically disagree with this. My view? They have the right to be wrong.

9. Voting for a third party candidate is-regardless of what is said-a complete "throw-away." No third party candidate will be elected, or even come remotely close to being elected. And yes, that matters to me. And for the record, the Libertarian ticket-Johnson and Weld-is nearly as bad on many issues as Hillary. When I listen to them, I am stunned people of their ability have ever made it to elective office.

10. Trump has moved pro-life. Hillary is pro-baby killing, and prides herself on that, and honors the organization-Planned Parenthood-that actually traffics human parts from dead babies whom they have killed. This is below anything we have seen since Nazi Germany. The gall of Hillary! The Clintons have evaded justice for decades and likely will continue to. But they will someday stand before the Great White Throne. They will have to give account of their support of the ripping babies to shreds in the womb. For the record, those who vote for those who support the genocide of pre-borns will also have to give an account.

11. Trump wants to defend the nation (which is the purpose of government). Hillary has a horrific track record as Secretary of State, and due to hundreds of millions of dollars given to her and her husband's foundation, she is beholden to those who want us dead.

12. Hillary claims "everything is fine" in America. This defies every single fact, but facts have never been an interest of Hillary's. Trump understands that it is 11:59 p.m. on the "cultural clock." America is near the end-morally, economically, militarily and, sadly, spiritually. There are very clear identifiable indicators-measurable ones-that America is no longer the world's leading power. That day is over. Hillary will hasten the final destruction. Trump could either slow that down-or possibly, with God's help-reverse it. Maybe.

13. Trump will address the massive government spending. Hillary will expand it above the existing unsustainable debt the U.S. currently is carrying (almost $20 trillion plus unfunded liabilities to Social Security, etc).

14. Trump will expose-and I pray, bring down-"the systemic evil" (crony, deceitful, misuse of capitalism) that reigns among many high-dollar lobbyists. Hillary thrives because of them.

15. Trump will stop the massive overreach of government. Hillary will extend it.

16. Freedoms come in "threes." Political freedom, economic freedom and religious liberty coexist together. Take one away and the other two will eventually disappear. One cannot exist without the other two. The genius of America is that it had all three, until recently. Trump fully grasps the loss of religious liberty. I have heard him speak on it in person on several occasions. He knows that economic and political freedoms are evaporating. He will reverse that. Hillary will decimate all three.

17. Every rational person knows the Supreme Court appointments are paramount. Trump has listed 11 superb potential nominees. Hillary's appointments would snuff out the tiny vestige of the three freedoms that are left (mentioned in the statement above). Think Supreme Court Justice Barak Obama………….

18. I make no excuse for wrongdoing or wrongful, hurtful words from either candidate. Candidly, I want King Jesus. He rules in my heart. And yours too, I suspect. And I want him to rule here-now. But that day is not fully manifested-yet. In the meantime, we prayerfully, carefully navigate this challenging election season, with great concern that above all, we honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every arena of our lives, including the voting booth. That is my hope. It is yours as well.

Amen? A M E N !