Often I hear people talking about pre-Christianity. Typically they are referring to writings or traditions that 'supposedly' date to times before Jesus, and yes... much was written before 1 a.d. However, John the apostle wrote:
Joh 1:1 ESV
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
When we realize that Jesus IS the Word, and in the beginning was the Word, it's difficult to date any of your stuff prior to that point. This was a sticky point even to the Jews of Jesus' time, to which Jesus stated:
Joh 5:39 ESV
(39) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
When speaking to His followers on the Road to Emmaus, Jesus showed them how He had been the one that all of scripture had been written about.
Luk 24:27 ESV
(27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Some would argue that even the writings of Moses were pre-dated by other writings. These same people first argued that Moses could not have written what he wrote because there was no established written language during his time. Once science disproved this, they adopted the idea that older writings existed. Perhaps.
But since we are limited to what we have faith in - what we believe - then I must state that I do not believe there is 'anything' that pre-dates Christianity. Jesus was the anointed one, and He was there in the 'beginning'. Gen 1:1 says "In the beginning, God..." Why is God plural?
Showing posts with label science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science. Show all posts
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Monday, April 20, 2009
"Priests"
Back in the apostle John's time, there were a group of people called the Nicolaitans. These guys did not get rave reviews from Jesus.
(Rev 2:6) But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
(Rev 2:15) So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Here are two very strong sentences from the Lord. Why would He have such a hatred for the teachings of these people? Most scholars on the subject believe that this was a group who were interested in profiting from religion. Nico - means 'control', and 'laitan' from the word we get 'laity' - or church folk. So, a group who wanted to control the church members. They did it by telling them that only they (the 'priests') were able to translate the text properly. Therefore, the common folk were to come to them for all matters spiritual - including forgiveness. No wonder Jesus had nothing good to say about that. It's exactly what He died to remove - the need for an intermediary between us and Him!
I was watching TV this weekend - the History Channel. There is some good stuff on the History Channel... it's never on when I'm watching. Actually some of this was good. It was a bunch of scientists talking about the validity of end-time prophecies: could they happen... could they be imagined...
Basically they were asking a bunch of scientists if there was a chance the Bible could be true (or any other apocalyptic books). As you might think - some said yay, some nay. They all had these highly scientific reasons why or why not.
It struck me. Science has its own priesthood. If some high-educated person is telling me that the depletion of the earth's magnetic field could in fact draw in more sunlight, thus warming the globe, thus creating dangerous fungal blooms in the oceans, thus creating red-tide, thus granting credence to the biblical promise that the oceans will turn to blood, who am I to argue? What do I know about that level of science?
What does anyone know about that level of science? Only a scientific priesthood, of sorts. What a dangerous thing - seeing as a good portion of the world puts much more faith in science than they do the word of God. Why be sheep to a scientific shepherd? Be a sheep of the Good Shepherd - who has shared His plan with you and wants to educate us all! But beyond that - know that it's a safe place. God is never wrong - nor does He abandon His sheep. If we are His - He takes care of the details.
(Rev 2:6) But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
(Rev 2:15) So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Here are two very strong sentences from the Lord. Why would He have such a hatred for the teachings of these people? Most scholars on the subject believe that this was a group who were interested in profiting from religion. Nico - means 'control', and 'laitan' from the word we get 'laity' - or church folk. So, a group who wanted to control the church members. They did it by telling them that only they (the 'priests') were able to translate the text properly. Therefore, the common folk were to come to them for all matters spiritual - including forgiveness. No wonder Jesus had nothing good to say about that. It's exactly what He died to remove - the need for an intermediary between us and Him!
I was watching TV this weekend - the History Channel. There is some good stuff on the History Channel... it's never on when I'm watching. Actually some of this was good. It was a bunch of scientists talking about the validity of end-time prophecies: could they happen... could they be imagined...
Basically they were asking a bunch of scientists if there was a chance the Bible could be true (or any other apocalyptic books). As you might think - some said yay, some nay. They all had these highly scientific reasons why or why not.
It struck me. Science has its own priesthood. If some high-educated person is telling me that the depletion of the earth's magnetic field could in fact draw in more sunlight, thus warming the globe, thus creating dangerous fungal blooms in the oceans, thus creating red-tide, thus granting credence to the biblical promise that the oceans will turn to blood, who am I to argue? What do I know about that level of science?
What does anyone know about that level of science? Only a scientific priesthood, of sorts. What a dangerous thing - seeing as a good portion of the world puts much more faith in science than they do the word of God. Why be sheep to a scientific shepherd? Be a sheep of the Good Shepherd - who has shared His plan with you and wants to educate us all! But beyond that - know that it's a safe place. God is never wrong - nor does He abandon His sheep. If we are His - He takes care of the details.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)