Ma Get The Sword

In the 32nd chapter of Exodus there is an interesting story not to mention an interesting parallel. Just as Mosses went to the mountain of G-D for the Ten Commandments so too is Christ Jesus taking a while to return. The golden calf it seems was a foreshadowing as the church has taken off their jewelry and cast an idol in the shape of a cross, they dance, sing, and commit revelry around it. As Mosses stood at the mouth of the camp so too does Christ Jesus stand and call those faithful to G-D to himself. Mosses commanded the Levites to strap a sword to their side likewise Christ Jesus says “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The Levites where ordered to strike and kill their Brothers, Friends, and Neighbors. So too I wonder if those who have set themselves apart and answered Christ Jesus’ call are ready to take up the sword, to kill their Brothers, Friends, and Neighbors? Have you set yourself apart reader? Where is your sword? Are you ready to Kill those against the will of G-D?

Indeed the Apostate Church is a Dangerous enemy, it takes the shape of the ones we love. Matt 10:32-39 says “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ” ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother in law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Fools Gold

My friend sent me a quote from a Christian forum, the quote says “You’re Friends Can Reflect Your Future”. Setting aside the fact that this quote has no purpose and its vague implications can be interpreted in many ways, I was very interested in the responses from the forum. There was a majority consensus that having rich friends can impart beneficial wisdom and knowledge. This concept is nothing new the idea comes from the Prosperity Gospel or my favorite name the Doctrine of Dough, which says that G-D wants Christians to be Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise to the extent that money should serve man so that man can serve G-D. The Logical Negative being that man can’t fully serve G-D without money but that is better left to another article, In short the idea says that Christians can be both Master of Money and Servant to G-D at the same time.

Now Scripture says in Matt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” And while the English language has grown numb in its reservation of words for intense emotion the word despise clearly fits this category. In fact in the Greek Context this word would be better translated as “Extreme Hatred”, plus in my few short years I have noticed that when children despise something like vegetables they will do whatever it takes to avoid eating it whether they play sick, hide it in a napkin or feed it to the dog. Grownups aren’t much different, take my wife for example, she hates fish and will not eat it even if means she would have better health. Just try and feed any medicine to a cat and I’m sure you will understand extreme hatred of something. In short I find it hard to believe that a Christian would despise money and yet turn around and devote much of their adult lives to learning and practicing principals that get them more money, simply put why would a Christian live their life to get in abundance something they supposedly Hate in the Extreme?

In closing I have seen people who despise money and people who love money, and I have seen Christians and non Christians in both camps. The one thing that remains the same is that when money walks out the door, those who despise money do not change their lives they have a calm peace about them. While on the other hand those who love money will turn their lives upside down to get or even keep money plus they have a fear and a sense of loss about them. As to whether or not there can be a Christian Master\Servant I will leave that up the reader, and I will close with the Scripture Rev 3:17-19 “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”

Promises Promises

The bible promises us that G-D will never give us more than we can bear, the catch to this statement being that in order for G-D not to give us more than we can bear, we must never take more than what G-D gives …

Many would be surprised or even taken back to learn that the Bible never for a second mentions this promise. G-D’s word is often referred to as a double edged sword. Just when you think you have it figured out you meet it’s equally sharp back hand. What you just witnessed is neither the back hand or even the blade, you saw the handle – a pretty but dull representation of G-D’s word, if you seek truth you will see your blood on the blade.

G-D can, will, and has given man more than he can bear from Cain’s unbearable punishment in Genesis, to King Nebuchadnezzar’s twig being snapped until he ate grass like cattle. While G-D restored Nebuchadnezzar he increased Cain’s punishment with a mark ensuring that Cain would live his whole life driven from the land, hidden from G-D’s presence, and being a restless wanderer. No one could kill Cain to ease his misery. Then there was the torment of Christ Jesus, G-D’s only begotten son, until he cried “… ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’“. To often G-D’s mercy is confused with a false notion that G-D will never let anything bad happen. G-D lets bad things happen, and the back hand : G-D causes bad things to happen …

At this point your in one of three camps, you completely disagree, you fully agree, or you are waiting to hear the punch line. Now if I where to tell you that satan had inflicted someone with a injurious or evil spirit most would agree this to be bad (the Charismatics would probably unleash some demon hiny woop on the enemy), now what if I where to tell you that the Bible lists an account of G-D HIMSELF inflicting someone with a injurious or evil spirit. 1 Samuel 16:14-15 no need for interpretation there, how about G-D striking dead King David’s nephew, because the nephew tried to protect the Ark of the Covenant from falling when two oxen stumbled. 2 Samuel 6:1-8 A few would also agree that the destruction of Jerusalem would be a bad thing yet G-D has destroyed it no less that three times Jeremiah 14.

Hopefully you see my point, the wrath of G-D is a very bad thing not something that I would wish on any one and it is carried out by the hand of G-D alone, but G-D who is Just and Merciful has decreed it for the wicked including the final judgment. To those that resist the will of G-D he shows HIMSELF an unbearable terror, to those who turn to G-D HE is a shield and a strong tower. I can only hope that in the day of wrath I will escape … Matthew 24:4-25 indeed I know what it means to work out my salvation with fear and trembling.