If religion is a blockbuster movie then Christianity is the sequel to Judaism. Jesus was Jewish and so were the disciples and most of the early church. The canon we read is really the Jewish sacred texts with some testaments from disciples and apostles added. By definition Jewish people are descendants of the ancient Hebrew group whose story is delineated as fact throughout the Bible. In fact, it is the most widespread, universally acknowledged narrative of their history. While it isn't always counted as accurate, it is understood to be the text that gives us insight into the heritage from which this particular people group descended.
The Bible speaks largely of the God of the universe communing with the progeny of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then, at the turn of the century, Jesus comes and sees that their leaders aren't accepting the message of grace. So, it is Jesus who opens the door of Heaven to everyone else. That strikes me as odd now. Don't misunderstand, I don't know where I would be had I not been pointed in His direction by the Bible. It's difficult to imagine life without Him and even more difficult to envision life without the profound wisdom found in the Bible. Still, did He seek to alienate all other people groups throughout the earth when He chose Abraham and those of his bloodline to know Him for centuries and even millenia?
I would contend that the answer to that is no. In Acts, the only historic book in the New Testament, the apostle Paul, who is Jewish, makes it clear that there is one Creator for all mankind and that this one Creator produced a way for all of us to come and commune with Him through Jesus's sacrifice, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and good living. So, what about Revelation and Isaiah when it points directly to the Israelite nation being the center of activity for end time phenomena? How does that connect with what Jesus and Paul said about all believers being Jews? And, if there is still an obligation to respect or protect the Israelite people, calling them the chosen ones, where does that leave Christians? So many of the Israelite people did not and still do not accept that Jesus was Messiah, but in the Christian faith that is exactly what you need to do to be approved by God. While the Bible makes it clear that His "chosen" people of the twelve tribes are blind to the truth, it also makes it clear that someday He will allow some to see clearly and be saved as a result. That's great, but still mysterious.
Did He favor a group and leave all the others on earth to flounder, chasing after Him to fill the spot He created in us to seek Him, only to fail at finding Him? Since the beginning of time people have searched for Him and found a kajillion substitutes that don't really make the grade. Was this His purpose? It couldn't be.
So, the questions endure. The wisest thing is to hold out faith and seek His true message for us, to pray, meditate, and pause to consider who He is. We should see evidence of an all knowing, all powerful, lovingly kind, generous God manifesting Himself in those who hold Him in their hearts. It's not by name or religious rules, but by our lives that we will be able to reflect Him, thereby leading more of us to Him. Our integrity, character, and faith point directly to Him.
The Bible speaks largely of the God of the universe communing with the progeny of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then, at the turn of the century, Jesus comes and sees that their leaders aren't accepting the message of grace. So, it is Jesus who opens the door of Heaven to everyone else. That strikes me as odd now. Don't misunderstand, I don't know where I would be had I not been pointed in His direction by the Bible. It's difficult to imagine life without Him and even more difficult to envision life without the profound wisdom found in the Bible. Still, did He seek to alienate all other people groups throughout the earth when He chose Abraham and those of his bloodline to know Him for centuries and even millenia?
I would contend that the answer to that is no. In Acts, the only historic book in the New Testament, the apostle Paul, who is Jewish, makes it clear that there is one Creator for all mankind and that this one Creator produced a way for all of us to come and commune with Him through Jesus's sacrifice, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and good living. So, what about Revelation and Isaiah when it points directly to the Israelite nation being the center of activity for end time phenomena? How does that connect with what Jesus and Paul said about all believers being Jews? And, if there is still an obligation to respect or protect the Israelite people, calling them the chosen ones, where does that leave Christians? So many of the Israelite people did not and still do not accept that Jesus was Messiah, but in the Christian faith that is exactly what you need to do to be approved by God. While the Bible makes it clear that His "chosen" people of the twelve tribes are blind to the truth, it also makes it clear that someday He will allow some to see clearly and be saved as a result. That's great, but still mysterious.
Did He favor a group and leave all the others on earth to flounder, chasing after Him to fill the spot He created in us to seek Him, only to fail at finding Him? Since the beginning of time people have searched for Him and found a kajillion substitutes that don't really make the grade. Was this His purpose? It couldn't be.
So, the questions endure. The wisest thing is to hold out faith and seek His true message for us, to pray, meditate, and pause to consider who He is. We should see evidence of an all knowing, all powerful, lovingly kind, generous God manifesting Himself in those who hold Him in their hearts. It's not by name or religious rules, but by our lives that we will be able to reflect Him, thereby leading more of us to Him. Our integrity, character, and faith point directly to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome. Please let me know what you think. Keep it PG though!