Musing – Are We Discipling Whenever We Speak?

Hebraic Musing – Are We Discipling Whenever We Speak?

In Leviticus 21:1 the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die . . . ’”   Couldn’t God have simply told Moses to “Say to the priests . . .”  Why did He give a double command -- “speak to” and “say to”?

Remember the TV show with Art Linkletter featuring “Kids say the darnedest things”?  He was showing us that children’s minds work differently than adult’s minds.  Adults (sometimes) think before speaking and have (or should have) developed filters to protect from absorbing and repeating thoughtlessly.  Among the funniest things that children say are direct quotes overheard from the adults in their lives.

So why did the LORD give Moses a double command?  The first message is about what Moses is to speak to the priests. The second message is what the priests need to be careful about when they speak to their children, or their people, or any peoples.  We need to be extremely careful with what we say, especially when speaking to our children.  The words we say today will be the words they speak tomorrow.  And not just to our children; as Christ’s ambassadors, we set the example for all of God’s children around us who listen to us and repeat what we say – that’s the good news and the bad news!

Every time we speak to our children or any of God’s creation, we have an amazing power over what they will say and believe for the rest of their lives.  And God’s children are listening and overhearing us even when we don’t realize it.   Weren’t we commanded in red letters to “go and make disciples of all nations”?  We cannot make disciples with harsh, destructive words.

In order to teach our six children to be careful with what they say, my wife, their mother, would frequently break into a children’s song based on Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”   If I remember correctly, the song goes something like this:
♫ Watch your talk, watch your talk.  No bad words should be coming from your mouth. (2X)
Say what is good, say what is good. No bad words should be coming from your mouth. (2X) ♫

 Points to ponder

Do adults sometimes say “the darnedest things”?

Ever heard someone repeat something you said and
 then you wished you hadn’t said it? 

How might we impact the world if
when we speak
we only speak words of love, faith, and understanding?

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matt. 12:34   NKJV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                           May 30, 2017

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s IFCJ publication  “Speak Responsibly”  May 8, 2017

Musing – What did God mean by “Foreknew” and “Predestined”?

Hebraic Musing – What did God mean by “Foreknew” and “Predestined”?

Have you encountered people who throw up their hands and say “What’s the difference?  God already knows”?  What did God mean when He had Paul write Romans 8:29-30?  “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”  NIV

The meaning of this passage is debated within the Christian community. Does it say that God predestines some but not all people to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, implying that some are not chosen, called, justified, etc. but that others are?   That sounds unjustly unfair, doesn’t it?

Apart from the Greek, consider that God loves all of us, believer and non-believer alike.  Recall John 3:16 for example.  Therefore it’s difficult to argue that God foreknew and predestined a select group of people whom He loves.  

It is obvious both from the Bible and from personal observation that not everyone turns to God through Christ Jesus. This fuels the first interpretation, that God chooses some but not others to be saved.  However, that interpretation contradicts other Biblical passages which indicate that anyone who comes to Him will be received John 6:37 “…and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”  Those same passages complement the interpretation that God foreknew everyone, not just some.

The Greek uses the accusative pronoun (denoting the direct object of the action of a verb) ‘those’ (οὓς, hoos) as the subject of an equative infinitive verb (εἶναι, aynai).  This verb, part of the ‘to be’ set, appears later in the passage but is not translated as such. But it’s there in the Greek. What is meant in the Greek? 

It means that ‘predestination’ in this passage refers not to a selection of some people, but to the outcome for any who turn to God. (You might want to read that sentence again!)  The predestination refers to what God will do for those who turn to Him; it does not refer to His choosing some but not others. All are free to turn to God; and those who do so will be conformed to the likeness of His Son. This will happen sooner or later depending on the degree to which those who turn to God yield to His sanctifying work during their lifetimes here.  Ultimately all who are truly saved will be conformed, whether here or as we stand before the King.

This understanding clearly contradicts the Calvinistic view that God chooses some for salvation and condemns others. But the understanding that predestination refers to outcomes, not to a selection of people, more correctly represents what Paul is saying.  God turns no one away who will come to Him. On the other hand, some say that of those who freely come to Him, God foreknew that they would make that decision. No one can say that is wrong!  But it’s too great a stretch for that idea to become a basis for selective salvation.  Remember a fundamental truth – “[Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

Points to ponder

God gave all of us the Power to Choose.  Would He take it away?

Parents sometimes foresee some of the consequences of their child’s choices;
does God in His infinite wisdom foresee ALL the future consequences
of His children’s bad and as-well-as their good choices?

“God is not willing that any should perish” 2 Peter 3:9    Thank you Lord!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                               May 23, 2017

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Excerpted from Kurt Johnson’s Greek Insight - EXACTLY WHAT IS PREDESTINED?  April 27, 2017

Musing - Why aren’t we doing what we’ve been called to do?

Hebraic Musing - Why aren’t we doing what we’ve been called to do?

Or as our pastor challenged us men – “Why aren’t we living up to the things we were called to do?”  I think he was rubbing our noses into the red letters in Mark 16:15-16 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” NIV   Our pastor said that to us men while we were studying the book of Acts; we were marveling at the repeated examples of testimonies, boldness, encouragement and Holy Spirit reliance.  And those were the actions that resulted in explosive church growth as “many were added to their numbers daily”.

We are in a Western culture that has bought Satan’s lie – “Religion is a private matter”.  Here is a little testimony from a brand new Christian who excitedly tried to share his new-found faith. 

“Shortly after I became a Christian, I talked with some non-Christian friends and neighbors about my newfound faith. They were genuinely delighted that I had found ultimate meaning and purpose for my life. But when I invited them to join me to hear more about my new discovery, they demurred. It seemed that, for them, faith was strictly a private matter of personal choice.”

I too have difficulty with those who say “Your religion is a private matter”; my Savior died naked and humiliated on a cross/stake at the Damascus Gate, the most public gate in Jerusalem.  No!  My religion is not a private matter; my religion started as a very public matter.

Study of the book of Acts reveals the reasons for the explosive growth of the early church.  What were they doing that we might not be doing now?

·      Personal testimonies – People argue with teachings and preachings, but cannot dispute our testimonies.

·      Going boldly – Believers in the book of Acts were willing to die for their Lord!

·      Sent to other people groups – Yes, they even met with and witnessed to the dogs – the gentiles!

·      Healings & miracles – God supported their effort; it started with the miracle of Resurrection!

·      Scripture quotations – They quoted Scripture to supported the messages, and all from the OT!

How often is the Holy Spirit’s voice squelched when we do not speak up?  How often has the Holy Spirit already prepared the other person to listen?  I wish I had a nickel for every witness I rejected before I accepted Christ!  Each played a critical role – I remembered what was told me, even though I pretended not to be paying attention.

Does evangelistic fervor come more frequently from those who accepted Christ as their Lord when they were adults?  Adults have to overcome a lot more of the worldly stuff they have accumulated in their lives?  A child’s decision does not require as striking a change in friends, habits, behaviors, etc.  When we are older we  process, appreciate and testify to the changes required when we made Jesus our LORD.

Points to ponder

Why does the word “Go” appear 189 times in the Gospels alone, and mostly in red letters?

Why are we are willing to argue with others about political candidates, but…?

Are we like the church in Ephesus? “You have forsaken your first love.” Rev 2:4

Does salvation require more than just simple belief that Jesus existed?

Just because your loved ones go to church, does that mean Jesus is their Lord?

Didn’t we learn in Kindergarten to SHARE?

Who will I meet today who does not know Jesus as their Lord?

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:47

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                               May 16, 2017

Musings - Teachings by the Twelve Apostles to the Nations (2 of 2)

Hebraic Musings - Teachings by the Twelve Apostles to the Nations (2 of 2)

The book almost included in the Bible is a short book called “The Didache”, commonly known as “The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations”.  It is one of the earliest preserved writings, dated from AD 50 to 80.  Last week we explored behavior, morality and Christian attitudes in chapters 1-6. This week in chapters 7 to 16 “The Didache” deals with affairs, practices and conduct of the early church.  How do these selected quotes/statements in italics line up with our practices today?

7:1 Concerning baptism, you should baptize this way: After first explaining all things, baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in flowing water.  (the flowing, living water requirement is Jewish custom)  7:2 But if you have no running water, baptize in other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, then in warm. 7:3 If you have very little, pour water three times on the head in the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. (The practice of some denominations) 

7:4 Before the baptism, both the baptizer and the candidate for baptism, plus any others who can, should fast. The candidate should fast for one or two days beforehand.  (How significant were their Baptisms?)

8:2 And do not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in the gospel: Our Father …  .  8:3 Pray this three times each day.  (An alternative to the Jews’ custom of reciting the Sh’ma 3x/day)

9:5 Allow no one to eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized in the name of the Lord. … the Lord has said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs."  (Advocating “closed communion”)

10:1 After the Eucharist when you are filled, give thanks…: (Jews pray after the meal per Deut. 8:10) 

11 Welcome the Teacher …  11:2 But if he turns and trains you in another tradition to the destruction of this teaching, do not listen. 11:4 Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord.  11:5 But he must not remain more than one day, or two, if there's a need. If he stays three days, he is a false prophet.

11:6 And when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread to last him until his next night of lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet. 11:8 But not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; only he is a prophet who has the ways of the Lord about him. By their ways will the false prophet and the prophet be known.   11:10 And any prophet who teaches the truth, but does not do what he teaches, is a false prophet. (They had the problem of “false prophets” then too!)

12:1 Welcome anyone coming in the name of the Lord. … but then, test them and use your discretion. 12:2 If he who comes is a transient, assist him as far as you are able; but he should not remain with you more than two or three days, …  12:4 But if he has no trade, use your judgment …; for a Christian should not live idle in your midst.   (Should Christians be anxious to get off welfare.)  12:5 If he is dissatisfied …, he is a Christ peddler. … keep away from such people.   (“Christ peddler” - interesting concept.)

13:6 If you open a new jar of wine or of oil, take the first fruit and give it to the prophets.

14:1 On the Lord's day, gather yourselves together and break bread, give thanks, but first confess your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure. (The Catholic mass opens with a time of introspection & repentance)  14:2 However, let no one who is at odds with his brother come together with you, until he has reconciled,…

16:1 Watch over your life 16:5 Then humankind will enter into the fire of trial, and many will be made to stumble and many will perish; but those who endure in their faith will be saved from under the curse itself.  (Teaching that the chaff gets burned up first; the good grain remains --the belief of the early church!)

Points to ponder

Should we re-examine some of our practices which have been relaxed?

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,”  Eph. 6:7

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                           May 9, 2017

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:  Quotes in italics from The Didache -- complete text translated and edited by Tony Jones, Creative Commons license.  And references are those used in that translation.  The entire “The Didache” is attached.