Brilliant. Thank you for such an insightful piece, Jack. Something we can really use in our everyday lives, and a good reminder to strive to walk with God and closely follow His word.
That's interesting, I haven't read Moby Dick so I wasn't aware of this. You do bring up a good point, that many people feel like they have to be worldly or "cool" to be more approachable or attractive or less "set-apart".
I have 2 comments:
1. "holy" as Miriam Webster's dictionary defines it (not the Bible), is being perfect in goodness and righteousness. In a Biblical context, hagios (Greek) and kodesh (Hebrew), mean set-apart, separate, and dedicated (to something/someone).
Personally, I have tried to be "cool" to others, by showing them I could be like them, I could do the things they were doing, that even though I was religious, I wasn't too proud or snobby or "holier than thou" and it never had a good result!. I didn't really understand that holy means set-apart from the world, separate and dedicated to God. It's very helpful for me to have that mindset now. :)
2. the other day I was wondering if the command to not bow down to or serve idols ( which is one of the 10 commandments, Exodus 20:5) was present anywhere in the New Testament, and it is: (I've been studying about the split in the Catholic church over bowing down to images/icons and how it effected what words were translated as "worship" by Bible translators who opposed it) and wondered what the New Testament said on bowing down to idols:) so I'm glad you brought this up!
Revelation 9:20-21
"But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as to not bow down to demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts."
*side note: many English Bibles replace "bow down" or "serve" with "worship", in both Exodus and Revelation ( as interpretation, not direct translation into English, as there's no Greek or Hebrew word that means worship). I know that's a random side note there, but just in case someone is wondering why they don't see the word "worship" in my comments and they see it in these verses in Exodus and Revelation in their Bible.*
Overall, great thoughts! thank you for sharing!!!!
I was just studying something related to that recently, forgive me if you know this already. in the Roman empire everyone (for example the people that 1 Peter was written to) who lived in a Roman province was expected to honor the Roman gods and participate in the many feasts and share the food/meat of the animals that were sacrificed to pagan gods during those feasts.
Jews had an exemption, but Christians did not.
Not participating in the feasts and eating the meat of the sacrifices was dangerous because it was viewed as treasonous and disloyal to the Roman empire, and Christians were persecuted, imprisoned and killed because of this perceived disloyalty and treason against Rome.
anyhow, that has helped me understand 1 Cor. 10:18-20 about the meat sacrificed to idols of pagan gods and demons, I didn't understand how common it was or that it was expected of all Roman citizens except for Jews.
Exactly on point. The only thing I find intriguing is that people think this has only been going on the last 10-20 years. This all started with Peter Drucker's influence on Rick Warren, Bill Hybels and Robert Schuller to see out those "seekers." Rick Warren's entire premise in the "Purpose Driven Church" was to ask the world what they wanted the church to be and the church was to "go and do likewise." The doors of the church were swung open through a very heavily marketed PR campaign and pastors wanting to develop their church into the next mega church with more "nickels and noses." It became about how many rear ends sat in the chair and how much money was received each week. Didn't matter that the most Biblically illiterate generation this country has ever seen is the result. Wonder why more people worship at the altar of sports? It all goes back to the late 1980's.
I would argue we can trace it back farther to the theological liberals in the alte 1800s and their desire to make the Bible fit with "scientific consensus," but it's all the same playbook, really. Those guys you mentioned have certainly been disastrous for Christianity.
THIS is what Jesus shows will happen in John 4 where He is talking to his true bride. The ones that drink the 2nd cup in the cross.
Matthew 26:29 KJV
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
THAT MEANS A NEW WINE THAT'S WHAT JOHN 3:5 when it uses the word born as in john 3:3
John 4:6,8,31-32,34 KJV
Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. [8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) [31] In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. [32] But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. [34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Now Jesus says I have a meat you know not of. That is a message or teaching the 12 which represents the church! Went and bought meat of man (theologian teaching )
Excellent. Sadly, this is a path too many are walking too often.
Indeed
Brilliant. Thank you for such an insightful piece, Jack. Something we can really use in our everyday lives, and a good reminder to strive to walk with God and closely follow His word.
That's interesting, I haven't read Moby Dick so I wasn't aware of this. You do bring up a good point, that many people feel like they have to be worldly or "cool" to be more approachable or attractive or less "set-apart".
I have 2 comments:
1. "holy" as Miriam Webster's dictionary defines it (not the Bible), is being perfect in goodness and righteousness. In a Biblical context, hagios (Greek) and kodesh (Hebrew), mean set-apart, separate, and dedicated (to something/someone).
Personally, I have tried to be "cool" to others, by showing them I could be like them, I could do the things they were doing, that even though I was religious, I wasn't too proud or snobby or "holier than thou" and it never had a good result!. I didn't really understand that holy means set-apart from the world, separate and dedicated to God. It's very helpful for me to have that mindset now. :)
2. the other day I was wondering if the command to not bow down to or serve idols ( which is one of the 10 commandments, Exodus 20:5) was present anywhere in the New Testament, and it is: (I've been studying about the split in the Catholic church over bowing down to images/icons and how it effected what words were translated as "worship" by Bible translators who opposed it) and wondered what the New Testament said on bowing down to idols:) so I'm glad you brought this up!
Revelation 9:20-21
"But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as to not bow down to demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts."
*side note: many English Bibles replace "bow down" or "serve" with "worship", in both Exodus and Revelation ( as interpretation, not direct translation into English, as there's no Greek or Hebrew word that means worship). I know that's a random side note there, but just in case someone is wondering why they don't see the word "worship" in my comments and they see it in these verses in Exodus and Revelation in their Bible.*
Overall, great thoughts! thank you for sharing!!!!
Great thoughts! It is a hard balance to strike of being holy without being holier than thou, but it's important for us to work at it.
Good NT references on idols, too. It's not a direct reference to worship/bowing, but I think 1 Corinthians 10:18-20 is connected, too.
I was just studying something related to that recently, forgive me if you know this already. in the Roman empire everyone (for example the people that 1 Peter was written to) who lived in a Roman province was expected to honor the Roman gods and participate in the many feasts and share the food/meat of the animals that were sacrificed to pagan gods during those feasts.
Jews had an exemption, but Christians did not.
Not participating in the feasts and eating the meat of the sacrifices was dangerous because it was viewed as treasonous and disloyal to the Roman empire, and Christians were persecuted, imprisoned and killed because of this perceived disloyalty and treason against Rome.
anyhow, that has helped me understand 1 Cor. 10:18-20 about the meat sacrificed to idols of pagan gods and demons, I didn't understand how common it was or that it was expected of all Roman citizens except for Jews.
Exactly on point. The only thing I find intriguing is that people think this has only been going on the last 10-20 years. This all started with Peter Drucker's influence on Rick Warren, Bill Hybels and Robert Schuller to see out those "seekers." Rick Warren's entire premise in the "Purpose Driven Church" was to ask the world what they wanted the church to be and the church was to "go and do likewise." The doors of the church were swung open through a very heavily marketed PR campaign and pastors wanting to develop their church into the next mega church with more "nickels and noses." It became about how many rear ends sat in the chair and how much money was received each week. Didn't matter that the most Biblically illiterate generation this country has ever seen is the result. Wonder why more people worship at the altar of sports? It all goes back to the late 1980's.
I would argue we can trace it back farther to the theological liberals in the alte 1800s and their desire to make the Bible fit with "scientific consensus," but it's all the same playbook, really. Those guys you mentioned have certainly been disastrous for Christianity.
Thanks Brother 🙏🤟
THIS is what Jesus shows will happen in John 4 where He is talking to his true bride. The ones that drink the 2nd cup in the cross.
Matthew 26:29 KJV
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
THAT MEANS A NEW WINE THAT'S WHAT JOHN 3:5 when it uses the word born as in john 3:3
John 4:6,8,31-32,34 KJV
Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. [8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) [31] In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. [32] But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. [34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Now Jesus says I have a meat you know not of. That is a message or teaching the 12 which represents the church! Went and bought meat of man (theologian teaching )