Musing – Aren’t you glad you are not perfect?!?!

Hebraic Musing – Aren’t you glad you are not perfect?!?!

There are two kinds of people – those who think too highly of themselves, and those who put themselves down. For that second group, is it possible that you are worth a lot more than you think?  Here are two ways to address this personal value question.

The first has to do with gemstones to which we are compared in Exod.25:7; 35:9 and 35:27.  God wants ‘gems’ mounted on the breastplates of the leaders – close to the hearts of the leaders.  And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece,  ESV   In-other-words, the leaders were to keep these gems close to their hearts as constant reminders of the 12 tribes and all the people under their care. 

Can ‘gemstones’ be compared to people?  Suppose you’ve been given two ‘diamonds’ and one is perfect in Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut; the other diamond is flawed in each of the 4 C’s.  Which one is worth more?  Hint – No real diamond is perfect in the 4 ‘C’s so it must be artificial or man-made.  The imperfect one is genuine and therefore worth much more than the artificially man-made stone.  We the people, us folk, with all our imperfections are very valuable in our Maker’s eyes.  Which people did Yeshua come for?  And, with whom did Yeshua hang out with before He died?  The perfect folks (those who thought they were okay) or the imperfect ones like us who cannot be made perfect by man’s efforts?  We are the imperfect people the leaders were told by God to keep close to their heart. 

The prophet Jeremiah understood the value of the people in God’s eyes.  Lamentations 4:1 starts with a sub-title “The Holy Stones Lie Scattered.”   How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed!  The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street. ESV  The priesthood and the leaders had forgotten the value that Father God put on His people.

A second way to look at our personal value by using a parable – if I think my 2005 GMC pickup truck is worth $25,000 and I put it on the market, did I determine its value?  No.   But a potential buyer comes along and offers me $17,000 for my pick-up, and I decide to sell it for that amount.  Who determined the value?  The Buyer, not the seller, ultimately determines the value?  Our value has already been determined when "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” and when Yeshua paid the price of his life for His purchase of our souls – Mark 10:45  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ESV   Yes, Yeshua purchased us by paying the ultimate price.  He deemed each of us, both you and I, to be worth dying for.  That’s how valuable you are!

We can become overly proud of our accomplishments (“I’ve got it together”) or just as wrong, we become self-deprecating.  But Romans 12:3 says Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  NIV

As Rabbi Eckstein said “This week, let’s focus on polishing our own diamonds – our own souls. Don’t mind the flaws – they just prove you’re a living, breathing person with value beyond comprehension.”

Points to Ponder

Do we tend to lose sight of the value of all the ‘gems’ around us?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                   March 4, 2014

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

Musing – Are we disputing or arguing?

Hebraic Musing – Are we disputing or arguing?

Paul tells us in 1 Tim 2:8  I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. NIV   This verse does NOT say we cannot ‘argue’ or ‘question’.  After all, Paul also complimented the Bereans because they did question and search – …for they … examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  Acts 17:11  NIV   Finding the truth was the goal!

The word ‘question’ or ‘questioned’ appears 32 times in both the ESV and NIV.  In almost all cases the truth was being sought; AND many of the ‘questioners’ became believers!  They found the truth!

Now the word ‘dispute’ appears 14 times in the NIV and in each case it clearly implies an angry disagreement frequently requiring a third party to judge between the disputing parties.  Also, there were ‘disputers’ trying to disrupt the Gospel message in order to defend their personal beliefs and interests, disregarding truth in the process.

A similar word study of ‘argue’ resulted in this interesting passage where God wants us to argue with Him!  Isaiah 43:25-26 – "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.” NIV    From other uses of ‘argue’ it is clear that arguing is a methodology to either seek the truth or to attempt to convince another of one’s own belief. So, when we argue with our brothers about Biblical interpretation or theology, are we open-minded enough to be truly seeking the truth?  Or, is the defense of our own preconceived position paramount in our mind?  In a meaningful and fair argument, one should be able to re-state the other party’s position to show that one is listening to and understands the other party’s point.

I’ve mentioned this before, but let’s consider it again.  It has been said that New Christian believers are systemically taught to 1. Come to church; 2. Sit down; 3. Shut up; and 4. Listen.  They quickly learn that discussing, arguing and participating are discouraged.  Passivity is encouraged.  Maybe this is an over-statement, but there is enough truth to deserve attention.  My pastor recently expressed this same concern but used different words. He said he does not want to create “Sit, Soak and Sour” Christians.

The Jews have been known for their Socratic style of Bible or Torah study.  The movie Yentl portrays a yeshiva (school for Talmud* and Torah study) in which the room is full of students in pairs arguing loudly over each verse in the Talmud and Torah.  This style of learning is one of the unique features of the yeshiva, and of the Jewish learning process.  And the purpose of arguing is always to find the truth.

Points to Ponder

When we argue Biblical interpretation or theology are we open-mindedly
 seeking the truth?       Or, are we defending preconceived positions?

Maybe this is why I love interactive Bible studies.                            February 25, 2014

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                  

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

* The Talmud, in Hebrew means "instruction, learning, teach, study", is a central text of Rabbinic Judaism comprised of two parts:  1) Mishnah, the written compendium of Judaism's Oral Torah 2)  Gemara, an elucidation of the Mishnah and related writings expounding on the Hebrew Bible.  The Talmud is oft quoted in rabbinic literature and is over 6,200 pages long containing teachings and opinions of thousands of rabbis on Halakhah, Law,  Ethics, Philosophy, Customs, History, Lore, etc.

Musing – How to distinguish between Critical and Arguable ‘Truths’?

Hebraic Musing – How to distinguish between Critical and Arguable ‘Truths’?

Christianity has certain foundational doctrines to determine if a person, church, denomination is truly Christian. I propose that the only critical doctrinal belief issues are – (1) Full deity and humanity of Jesus; (2) Authority of Scripture; (3) Justification by Faith; (4) Triune nature of Our God; and (5) Birth, Death and bodily Resurrection of Jesus.  Folks may disagree with some of these, but I hold these as non-arguable, foundational truths.  They represent the undeniable, unarguable, defining distinctives of Christianity.

However, Denominations, Pastors and even some Churches hold some other distinctive beliefs or tenets that are defended, debated, argued and become strongly held beliefs. These beliefs become known as Denominational Distinctives; and they become cause for division in fellowship among Christians. But should they?  But God has combined the members of the body … so that there should be no division in the body…. 1 Corinth. 12:24-26

Denominations differ on issues of Beliefs, Practices, Social issues, Ethical issues, Theology and Worship Styles. Here’s a sampling of Denominational distinctives. Are any of these worth losing fellowship over?

·         Baptism as infant or adult

·         Baptism by sprinkling or immersion

·         Ordinations of Women pastors

·         Confession to Priests as intercessors

·         Significance of Mother Mary

·         Infallibility--of Pope or Denomination

·         Teachings of a Mega-Church pastor

·         Torah as Law or guide or irrelevant

·         Sabbath or Sunday worship

·         Pre or Mid or Post or Pan-trib

·         Salvation – Secure or worked out

·         Which Bible version is Authorized

·         Role of the Holy Spirit (or Ghost)

·         Nature and role of Angels

·         Views toward other denominations

·         Alcohol consumption

·         Rules of communion

·         And on and on the list goes….

I repeat the question - Are any of these worth breaking fellowship over?  I am not trying to diminish the importance each of the above issues, but maybe we should spend more time understanding where our Brothers in Christ are coming from.  Being multi-denominational myself, it has been an adventure!  If you disagree with someone, can you state their position and reasoning?  It is only fair.

At my Father’s funeral, I became the patriarch of the family. My siblings, seven of them, represent a variety of denominations and sought me out for understanding.  While flying home at 35,000 feet, I thanked the Lord for all the different denominational ways He gave me to bless Him.  The Lord spoke to me almost audibly – “Joe, those are all the ways I have to bless you.” 

Last Sunday my son suggested that each denomination reflects the different characteristics and nature of Our Almighty God.  So in the multi-denominational church service that afternoon we had each person share their denominational background – and we identified the strength, blessing and Godly nature of each denomination.  How uplifting it was to experience God’s perspective!

Points to Ponder

Can we have Christian Unity while discussing non-critical, non-salvific differences?

Do any Denominations or Churches live in ‘glass houses’? 
Besides ‘Crystal Cathedral’    :<)

I really would like to hear your opinion on these points!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                   February 18, 2014

Musing – Can we argue and still have Christian Unity?

Hebraic Musing – Can we argue and still have Christian Unity?

Yeshua argued a lot with the Pharisees.  Why?   They were seeking the truth.  In Luke 14:3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"  Arguing was the interactive teaching method used by the Jews and especially the Pharisees. 

Yeshua dealt with Sadducees quite differently.  (I recommend studying or ‘googling’ the differences between Pharisees and Sadducees)  What did Yeshua say to the Sadducees?  Matt. 22:23-24  That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry .....  They were asking a trick question; they were not seeking truth. But Jesus did answer and in vs 33-36  When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them … tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  The Pharisees were questioning to seek the truth!  And many Pharisees became believers. 

Do we as Christians question or argue to seek the truth?  Or are we trying to convince others that our personal belief is correct?  Are Christians engaged in Bible study environments that encourage discussion, arguments, disagreements, pondering, musing, meditations, etc.?

I recently heard a description of what happens to a ‘new believer’ in traditional church settings.  “New Christians are taught to 1. Come to church; 2. Sit down; 3. Shut up; and 4. Listen.  They learn that discussing, arguing and participating are discouraged. Passivity is encouraged.”  To the extent there is truth in this statement then truth-seeking is being discouraged early in the Christian’s walk. 

A respected pastor recently said he does not want to create “Sit, Soak and Sour” Christians.  

Points to Ponder

Do we encourage Christians to question or argue to seek the truth? 
Or do we argue to convince others that our personal belief is correct?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                   February 11, 2014

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