In Modern Times

What if Paul or John the Baptist were alive today, doing what they did 2000 years ago?  What do today's prophets and apostles look like and sound like?  Does it seem Pastors and Teachers/Rabbis are as abundant as Evangelists were in the previous generation of America?  I mean where would Christian television have been without televangelists?  We have an abundance of internet Teachers, and a generation of "Pastors" between the evangelists and teachers.  It seems there has been much name dropping or title claiming of the five fold ministry, but there's been so little power with minimal to no repentance.  The believers don't seem to be fairing any better in society than the unbelievers.  Why is this?  What are we missing?  In my search for The Way, The Truth and The Life, I've come across the information that we simply have a preconceived plan to protect our traditions and often truth just will not fit in that picture.

Paul's writings are generally interpreted or have been interpreted to render Torah, null and void.  There are many modern preachers teaching that very thing, but why?  If 137 pages of a 2000 page book render the rest of the book obsolete, why claim to believe any of it?  And even more thought provoking.  If the author of the 137 pages has defined and set the standard for nearly 2000 years, just what it is to please a Deity that changed His mind?  Who are we really serving?  How can we possibly know He won't change His mind again?

We also have to consider Paul's original claim of authority, after Messiah said, don't follow those who would claim to see Him in various places . . . So, Paul is on the road to Damascus, gets knocked off his donkey, sees a bright light and hears a voice . . . No doubt, this account would be readily received by the thinking crowd of today, am I right?  If the modern day Christians are correct in their interpretation of his letters, and he did teach against Torah, then by definition in Deuteronomy, that would make him a false apostle.  I do not believe Paul is a fake.  I believe folks have misinterpreted his writings, and he never intended to present Torah to be obsolete, but rather make obedience a matter of the heart, rather than outward appearance.  All of his references to Messiah . . . following Messiah is to walk as He walked, live as He lived and that is obedience to Torah.

John the Baptist would more than likely be grouped with any number of preppers or modern wanna be cult leaders.  I mean, I've been called some pretty horrendous names, myself; and I'm relatively obscure.  Fortunately for John, he did have the support of his family.  His parents may have been deceased by then, but there is documentation that he had full support from his cousin, who is Y'hshuwah Messiah.  In all likelihood, just as is recorded, the "vipers" would be gathering to offer their judgment, but . . . he wouldn't align himself with such religiosity and hatred.  John the Baptist would tell it like it is, regardless of where he was.  He'd speak just as boldly at his family gatherings as he would on social media.

Throughout Scripture we see that those who received a message from YHWH often found themselves "detained," imprisoned, or completely shunned by society.  Joseph was thrown in a well, then later, in prison.  Jezebel hated Elijah.  Obadiah hid prophets in caves.  Jeremiah was thrown into a well, then a dungeon.  The three Hebrew boys were cast into the fiery furnace, and Daniel into the lion's den.  We know John the Baptist was imprisoned for telling Herod the truth about his adulterous relationship.  

It could be comedienne Joy Behar gave a truthful reason, although wrapped in mockery, as to the way our society would deal with a modern Paul or John the Baptist.
I have a theory that you can't find any saints anymore because of psychotropic medication. I think that [in] the old days, the saints were hearing voices and they didn't have any Thorazine to calm them down. Now that we have all of this medication available to us, you can't find a saint anymore.

Be ready, saints, they will call us crazy!

Pagan History

This past holiday season, I almost turned off the computer.  I simply didn't know how to share and respond to all the comments and arguments against any celebration.  Social media seems to afford a great many folks a confidence and assuredness that I just can't relate to.

I celebrate Hanukkah, although I have set aside the gift giving, and don't even try to gorge on fried food for eight days.  It seems every year, as more Christians leave the church, many bring with them the same perspective that "this is how it's to be done."   All religions, of course, believe they are correct, but when one changes beliefs, coming in as an expert is simply not possible.  I was truly saddened at the number of times I received a message or read a post calling the eight days of oil, a myth.  I've witnessed and experienced several miracles in my life, but they aren't included in Scripture!  The last verse of the Gospel according to John, says the world couldn't hold all the books, if all the great works of Messiah were recorded . . . so whether or not the oil lasted eight days, there was clear victory and deliverance by the hand of YHWH.  Then there were all the research sites about the origin of every part of pagan tradition . . .

 I don't celebrate Christmas with a tree or Santa or anything else, but I do pause on December 25 to tell Y'hshwuah I'm thankful he came to this earth, and I'm really sorry about the day.  I also thank Him for bringing me to Himself and showing me this holiday is not a Holy Day in his honor.  I thank Him frequently, but I feel badly that a false image of him has been created, and the day of materialism attributed to him, while the season really screams self, materialism, and lies.  Not just ridiculous myths and fables, but big horrible lies!

Acknowledging the obvious lies and taking note of Jeremiah 10:3-4 seems sufficient to discredit Christmas as a holy day.  How much does one need to know about Nimrod's reproductive anatomy or Ishtar's fertility celebrations to know YHWH is Creator?  I remember 20 years ago, the church spent more time talking about the power and deception of the enemy than the power and truth of our Creator, and twenty years before that, the power of the devil and eternal damnation . . . Now, another generation is hearing about pagan rituals . . .  I've pondered aloud many times, "if the pagans spoke of our Creator as much as "believers" speak of the enemy, the Good News would cover at least twice as much ground . . ."  How much wrong do we need to know, to recognize what is right?

I realized years ago, I did not need to know about the devil and hell to seek a loving G-d!  He is difficult to find, however; in the local church.  I also realized, once I found our Creator in Messiah, a devil had no authority; none whatsoever!  And I soon discovered pagan rituals had no hold on my spirit!  I was a new creation in Messiah, old things had passed away, all had become new.  It seems we spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on what we don't believe and studying traditions that have no value.  Could this be what Paul was referencing with the term [vain babblings?]

I knew I had no questions for any of the folks posting anti-Christmas and anti-Hanukkah messages, but I also know I didn't do all I could to proclaim the Good News through this recurring holiday debate.  What if my silence led someone to research some of the pagan history posts and embrace any of that?

But sanctify YHWH Elohim in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  I Peter 3:15