Return Home
In the days when the chieftains ruled, there was a famine in the land; and a man of Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab. Ruth 1:1 JPS
To reside – You were never intended to leave forever. That’s the idea behind lagur, “to reside temporarily, to sojourn.” Just like the ancestors before him, Elimelech does not plan to stay away from the Land forever. Abraham sojourned in Egypt. So did Jacob. Isaac spent time in Gerar. God even told him to temporarily live there (Genesis 26:3). Elimelech followed this pattern when he left Bethlehem. He planned to return.
But he died in Moab.
The tragedy of leaving is that we are not in control of returning. Life sometimes alters our well-laid plans to go back. Even John, Paul, George and Ringo recognized that getting back sometimes doesn’t happen. Sometimes death gets in the way.
Put yourself in Elimelech’s place. There is chaos in the land. There is hunger and strife. Perhaps it is best to leave. Perhaps safety and security can be found elsewhere. Perhaps Elimelech is like Hagar, running from his pain. “Where have you come from and where are you going?” asked the Angel of the Lord. Life’s two most important questions. Unfortunately, most of us can only answer the first one. We only know what we are leaving behind. It takes the Angel of the Lord to point us in the direction where we need to go, and most of the time that seems to be “Go back!”
Elimelech planned to go back. Elimelech hoped to go back. But he died away from home.
We don’t know anything about the circumstances of Elimelech’s death. Neither do we know anything about the death of his two sons. All we know is that journeying to Moab left three widows and even more tragedy than the family hoped to escape. Oh, yes. We know one more very important thing. God used these circumstances for His good. Dying away from home did not mean purposeless failure. God may not have intended Elimelech to move to Moab. God may have wanted Elimelech (“God is my King”) to act like a servant of the Most High right where he was. But Elimelech’s choice did not erase God’s reconstruction or restoration. In fact, one might argue that had Elimelech actually returned to Bethlehem, Ruth’s demonstration of hesed would not have been quite so poignant or revealing. God uses even the tragedy of death to bring about reconciliation.
If that last sentence sounds a bit like the description of Yeshua’s death, then you are connecting the dots. Do you suppose that Ruth is a foreshadowing of the role of the Messiah? Could it be that the story is repeated once more? And if that is true, can this story be a foreshadowing of your life too? Do you need to go back to where you once belonged?
Topical Index: Elimelech, lagur, sojourn, reside, go back, Ruth 1:1
Today is the 20th birthday of my daughter, Rachel. She is this day with the wing command of the flight squadrons of the John C. Stennis carrier on military exercises before she deploys again to the Persian Gulf for 8 months. Please offer a prayer for her. She is far from home and family. We miss her.
Yesterday’s TW set my heart for the family reunion, and today’s TW gives me even more perspective as I am packing to return to my AZ home. I have moved so many times and lived in so many places, I sometimes don’t remember where home is. They tell me home is where the heart is. Is it? It seems to me that home is where the Root is planted; the Source that supports my life. It is the Root that supports me, not I who supports the Root.
“Do you need to go back to where you once belonged?”
Yes. I did. Yes. I am. For me everyday is about returning.
This week, my parents will settle on the sale of our family home. We moved there in 1959 so I could begin school. As I walked through the house, picking up the last pieces of what was my childhood home, I shed tears for the memories, good and bad, in each room. While I left that home a long time ago, and have actually lived in my current home longer, I realize I can never go back to that place. But the memories I live with of the people who lived there, are always with me and thriving through the legacies of them I have built into my life, and the lives of my children and grandchildren. When the “home” is in your heart, you can always go back. When it is merely physical, its only temporary.
I go back in my memories and sometimes in my dreams. I’ve been back to my childhood home site–long since burned to the ground along with the barn. The pastures are reconizable no more, but in my minds eye I still can see the horses grazing and swiching their tails lazily and the great birds that soared and slid down the sky. Sometimes I think the wind remembers me at the old place. High in the tops of the pines, the sighing song is the same as when I played beneath them. Only me and one other person who walks this earth still know where the grape arbours and smoke houses were, and can point out the place where lies the pit, now covered over, where we used to throw old broken jars and such. (antiquers would love it). I can still head straight thru the woods to the mouth of the springs where its been 40 years since I rolled up a tender leaf into a cone shape to drink from, like my grandfather showed me. When I crossed the shallow stream where one long ago afternoon Daisy shied at a snake and threw me, I even can feel the pain of minutes with my breath knocked out! (I rode bare-backed without even a bridle, Daisy was a tame mare, but snakes are a problem.)
I left before the shadows climbed back into the trees and said goodbye.
I have a question that likely you or many of your readers are able to answer right off the top of their head without any searching. I have spent time searching online in many directions and can’t get at the answer, or even the thought, I am trying to trace.
In the Western hemisphere, we read left to right, of course, and Hebrew (Eastern hemisphere) is written right to left. . . (except for numbers? why?)
Right to left readers also start in what I would call the back of the book and end where I am naturally inclined to begin.
So that being a fact, at what point around the globe does the writing switch? Where is the epic center of words, maybe Jerusalem? And of the nations that read and write up and down, all combined, do you see it make a arrow toward Israel?
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Despite the suggestion of the biblical account, there is no scientific evidence that all languages either have a common base or a common history. There is no epicenter of words. And , in fact, the direction of written language is not only right to left and left to right but also up and down and circular. As far as I know, there is no explanation for these diverse representations and neither West or East seems to actually make a difference.
All throughout the Scriptures the heartbeat of our Elohim is “Return to Me”. So where is “home?” For me, I can tell you where I was born, where I grew up, where I was educated, married, raised my family,- but assuredly,- this world- is NOT my final home!. This life, the life I now live in the flesh, is temporary. Here I am, (or if you prefer here am I) along with a host of others, not only a stranger, but a pilgrim, -“just passin’ through!”
Now, before you go all Mr. Potter on me and say (with a scowl) “sentimental hogwash!” – ask me (please) how I know this? Hmm..- how may I put this another way? I live “here,” but my home (and heart) are there? For this life is temporary. Short and sweet and then it’s over.- (or is it?)
What did our good brother James say?- ~ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ~ (James 4.14) One blip on the radar screen. A man was born, he lived,- and he died. And have you (by now) noticed the Biblical pattern? …and he died, and he died, and he died. Me? – well – the statistics are stacked against me, one out of every one people die. Not a happy prospect. What about the singing shepherd? What was his perspective? ~ You (who was he talking to?) have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man’s life is but a breath. Selah ~ (Psalm 39:5) and now David is dead. And yet, because David lived “by faith”- he being dead “yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11.4)
I hear you David, – loud and clear and identify fully with your words! (Written when?- and where?)- and yet, here am I- thousands of years and miles away and yet tremendously impacted and involved Why do these written words once spoken by a Jewish shepherd have such marvelous meaning to me?
~ For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers ~ (Psalm 102.3) – (David wasn’t feeling too well that day!)
Friends, Heaven is my home, and Heaven is where Jesus is. I have a little piece of heaven living within me today. But it is only a glimpse of the glory, – for I really don’t think my brain could handle the full revelation of what is yet to be. Were God to reveal to me, in my present frail form- what heaven is all about, it would put 500,000 volts on a 12 volt light bulb and the result of this would be? -Ruination. I need a new light bulb please, -my mind is melted. Why do I say this? But, as it is written, (love those three words!- may I?- “It is written”- ~ What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him”— (1 Corinthians 2.9)
I’ve seen a Ferrari, a Lambo, and even a Maserati (never have driven any of these- but I’v laid my eyes on them)- and I’ve seen some pretty fancy and desirable looking resort places- (palm trees and waterfalls included of course) but here’s the deal; Friends,- there is some place “reserved” and I’m talkin’ RSVP for those who love the LORD (according to the Scriptures) that’s going to be (in Hebrew of course!) a 5 star -“wow!” – The song says “I Can Only Imagine” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqU42CPuMU&feature=related ) but no, (I hate to break it to you)- you can’t! Why? because -“it is written!”- (1 Corinthians 2.9)
Yes, My God is King!- why are you leaving the city of bread and your wonderful family God has given you? Did He not promised to meet all of your needs? Ask and you will receive! Bread will be provided when you sir, “bow the knee”- humble yourself before your Creator, your King of Righteousness, Master and Commander of the universe and ask Him to enable and empower you sir, to provide for your family, for this King we serve is a Faithful King who ever loves and cares for His own.
That dead guy, David, is speaking again and says: ~ I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread ~ (Psalm 37.25) And yet another saint, (probably dead too) speaks and assures my anxious heart:
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you!
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you!
God will take care of you,
Through every day o’er all the way;
He will take care of you;
God will take care of you!
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you!
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you!
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you!
Trust Him, and you will be satisfied,
God will take care of you!
Lonely and sad, from friends apart,
God will take care of you!
He will give peace to your aching heart,
God will take care of you!
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you!
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you!
God will take care of you,
Through every day o’er all the way;
He will take care of you;
God will take care of you!
Elimelech, allow me to reciprocate. I know you’re dead and gone, but because your God is also my King, allow me to share this. I have this book I’ve been reading, and I find every word contained within it to be incredibly, wonderfully, marvelously true. It’s like any other book I’ve ever read, and I’ve read one or two. But this book instructs me, “to whom much is given- much shall be required”-(Luke 12.48) and this weighs on me, for I feel as if I have been given much, and I’d like to be a good steward of all God gives me, so allow me sir, to say this: “Only”, a mere three hundred sixty-six times, in this book, the book God wrote, I have been instructed to “fear not.”
Now I know if God says something once, I had ought to listen. And if He says something twice, I really need to heed what He’s saying. But if something is repeated three hundred sixty six times- I’m believing this time, something here is definitely goin’ on!- and I gotta ask: “what’s up with that?” Why would anyone as hard headed and as hard-hearted as me have to be told three hundred sixty six times about something? Fear factor to the max! Are we, the human creatures, top of the food chain- (except for lions and tigers and bears) that fearful? and just what then, are we so afraid of? (oh…- it’s gettin’ good here! lol!- and the list of “stuff” is gonna be too “awful long!” Isn’t it easier to say and to know and to rest in His (I’m talkin’ to you, “My God is King”) – “fear not?”
Carl, I’m stopping off to say goodbye to you, I’ll keep praying for you as you take you stand here.
God bless you.
Shhhh, don’t try to talk me out of it this time, I think Father wants me to go now.
Unsubscribing . . . in 3, 2, 1 .
Do you suppose that Ruth is a foreshadowing of the role of the Messiah?
The book of Ruth or the person of Ruth?
from The Spirit-Filled Life Bible, NKJV, Introduction to Ruth:
In Boaz we see a foreshadowing of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. “Ruth’s inability to do anything to alter her estate typifies absolute human helplessness (Rom. 5:6); and Boaz’s willingness to pay the complete price (4:9) foreshadows Christ’s full payment for our salvation (1 Cor. 6:20; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19)”.
The story of Ruth takes place between the seasons of Passover and Pentecost. (Pentecost came at the end of the grain harvest season.) In the Hebrew Bible, Ruth is one of the Megilloth (Festival Scrolls) and is read during Pentecost. In accepting the God of Israel, Ruth foreshadows the gentiles becoming a part of spiritual Israel, the church. This became possible only after the Pentecost that followed Christ’s ascension (Acts 2).
But of course, this interpretation and foreshadowing takes place from a Christian perspective. Let’s start by asking what the story would mean to those who first heard it.
I suppose I ought to mention that Ruth is NOT in the position of being unable to do anything for herself. She actually does a great deal. In fact, without her actions there is no story. So the “Spirit-filled” Bible reflects Luther-Augustine theology with its foreshadowing of Man’s inability, a theology that isn’t found in Scripture (but certainly is in Augustine). Once again we are challenged to examine the paradigm before we endorse the conclusions.
Hi Dorothy, I didn’t know where exactly to place this, so I posted it here. Although it doesn’t have much to do with this particular article, I thought you might find it informative as well as interesting in regards to your post in “back to the garden.” It may help you define some of the concepts discussed here and perhaps allow you to understand that many of the things that may seem in contrast to your beliefs are actually beneficial, not in opposition.
whoops!! here’s the link! 🙂
http://www.aish.com/tp/i/sacks/158350795.html
Thank you, Robert.
This article is smoothly written, I have been to Aish.com before, and I give him the benefit of the doubt that he means well in his heart, –as I know you do you most certainly. Please know that I’m not making issue with any of that.
But the article contains untruths. I’ll show you just one. “Most of the commentators assume that the spies were guilty of a failure of nerve, or faith, or both. It is hard to read the text otherwise.”
NO! they were guilty of failure to obey and BELIEVE Almighty God. They saw their enemies and forgot to see how big God was/is. (“These things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1Co 10:11)
God inteneded to take them from slavery to the Promised land, but they rebelled in the wilderness and refused to go fight, –refused to believe Gid had already won the battle. They liked the promise but not the method He was using. They second guessed God, even voted two to ten in favor of not obeying God.
The children of Israel had been only eleven days from their God-appointed destination.
May I give you some links as well?
http://www.dtm.org/lessons/1367a.htm
http://www.dtm.org/lessons/1367b.htm
http://www.dtm.org/lessons/1368a.htm
http://www.dtm.org/lessons/1368b.htm
http://www.dtm.org/lessons/1369a.htm
http://www.dtm.org/lessons/1369a.htm
These are from a series titled: POSSESSING THE LAND: THE PROCESS OF MENTORING.
. . . and there are many more, but I leave it with you at this point. You can see the main site to find many, many lessons is http://www.dtm.org, go and browse there. Everything is free. Russell Kelfer is a well respected teacher and has been one of the men God has used in my life to teach me. Ray Vander Laan is a man God uses to teach me the Jewish perspective. I invite you to try just one short, tiny teaching of his:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7noqtXPrXE
Skip tells me* (and therefore everyone else) things like man is NOT helpless. But I’m still waitng for him to explain exactly how he thinks mankind has any power to help himself. Oh, we needed a Savior! Man is like a turtle on a post, not sure how he got there, has no way of ever getting out of his predicament without help. and no, that saying is not original with me.
(*see his reply to my Ruth capsule)
I look forward to furthur discusion with you, I hope chance for it exists in the future.
**I want to point out here that I am drecting you to things I believe myself. I am not swallowing with gulliability what someone else feeds me, –no, it MUST match with what the Holy Spirit tells me is wholesome. God is the Author of the Bible and He is well able to explain it to me and you. He is able to speak in 2012. I know He gifts teachers, I love teachers of God’s Word, but God Himself lives in us to back it up or to set off alarm bells when something seems ‘fishy’.
While I will not enter into a prolonged discussion of the impact of the Augustinian-Luthern idea of original sin, nor into Calvin’s idea of total depravity, I will only point out (since much of this has been covered innumerable times in Today’s Word) that saying man is not helpless is not the same as saying that man need NO help. Think about how obvious the is. Your child is not helpless, but he or she still needs help. Your child is not so rife with depravity as to be unable to do ANYTHING, but we all recognize that a child needs help and should be given help. Does God treat us less kindly than a parent treats a child?
Since the PARADIGM on depravity sets the parameters for all interpretation of the verses, it is useless to try to argue the case from the text. But examine, please, the history of this doctrine. You will NOT find it prior to the influence of Platonism on the Church. That should give you a clue.
What is a failure of faith but an unwillingness to obey. These people made a choice (activity) to disbelieve and disobey. You can’t serve (activity) 2 masters, you’ll serve (activity) one or you’ll serve (activity) the other. (btw, that’s the short version 🙂 ) There’s no neutrality in scripture, not quite the turtle on the fence post paradigm.
What I was hoping for however was that you would see the connection between leaving the garden and leaving the wilderness. Israel, like Adam could never be fruitful until he left the garden just like the Israelites weren’t meant to stay in the desert. It was a place of preparing to become fruitful. My purpose in sharing this is to perhaps allow you to understand that the way we think, because we have been taught that way, keeps us from seeing the true impact of scripture for ourselves. Case in point is the “expelling of Adam from the garden. Why do we think that was a bad thing? Where does it say in scripture that it was a “bad” thing? If it was, then why was the serpent allowed into the garden in the first place?
I do hope to continue in conversing with you as I have many thoughts and concerns regarding your approach to scripture and people. What I most desire though is to not cause offense to you or anyone else insofar as I’m concerned. You’re much like myself a few short years ago and maybe I’ll get the chance to share some of that with you.
YHWH bless you and keep you…….
“I do hope to continue in conversing with you as I have many thoughts and concerns regarding your approach to scripture and people.”
I’m all ears. This is a place of two “biggies”, Scripture and people.
You have my full attention. Proceed please. Be totally honest, please, I’m sure I
need to know. I’m not offended nor being smart-alecky.
I honesty want and need to know what caused you to say this.
Begin the operation on the beam in my eye! I’m holding very still.
Beings that the eye is an extremely sensitive organ we’ll start softly. (had a few stickers in mine, probably still got some and definitly have the scars! 🙂 )
Before we delve into scripture, allow me to start by attempting to show you a concept that’s relevent, though not through scripture.
I’m a mason by trade and have trained a number of young men in that regards. One of the things I found out over the years is that those who had no experience in the field of construction were the easiest to school. No big revelation yet, I know.
The other side of that is that the most difficult, of all the tradesmen, were the accomplished carpenters. The odd part is this, one would think that someone who is quite comfortable with measurements, squares, layouts and a diversity of tools would take to another trade quite easily, and they often do with other trades, but not masonry.
Here’s the problem, a carpenter starts from a level base and he builds to a disclosed point by measuring up. As a mason, I start on unlevel ground so I have to set an “imaginary” point up and I measure down to achieve it. In my area the differences can be quite drastic.
Try as I might, most of the carpenters couldn’t adjust and although they could eventually lay some block or brick they never became “qualified” masons but rather they were carpenters doing a mason’s job.
I posted that because it’s similar to the dillema that’s occuring here. (where’s my spell checker!!) Jewish culture is defined in hebraic terms, not the other way around. While I understand that is a broad term, the point I’m attempting to make is that the scriptures are as opposed to western greek thought as masons are opposed to carpenters. While I appreciate and even commend your reservations in regards to the rabbinical teachings (only because it’s prudent to be diligent in discernment) I would suggest that simply because they are ingrained in their thinking in a hebraic mindset that they would probably get more things right by accident than a greek would on purpose. I couldn’t tell you how many men told me that my approach to building was wrong (because they didn’t do it that way) and how much of an idiot and how incompetent I was. Maybe so, but it worked and I usally responded (under my breath, walking away) “let me know how that works out for ya.” That was their frustration showing through.
Frustration can be good if used properly, just like anger. It often helps us see that the world is a lot bigger than we think it is and it helps us see past the end of our nose. The admonition is, “do not sin in your anger.”
My encouragement to you is to be humble, learn to appreciate the tension and frustration but rein it in, it’s power in reverse. The “diversity” of opinions are just as prevailant between denominations of christianity as it is between a hebraic view and the modern church. That’s why I threw away my commentaries and began to search every word and concept in scripture on my own, I want to know what God says not what someones opinion about it is. I found out it’s far different than what I thought. Surprise, doesn’t it say somewhere that His ways are not like our ways and His thoughts are not like ours?
Man, I musta thought He was kiddin’.
Thank you, Skip.
While you hate Augustinian-Luthern-Calvinism (I’ve never met an izms I didn’t hate, too), I don’t see how it affects the pure Word of God I hold in my hands. Are you telling me outside things have marred God’s Holy Word?
The Bible is written and preserved by God. God’s Word is TRUE, I can trust it even if I am so uneducated I can’t argue my way out of a paper sack. God is able to watch over His Word.
You make frequent use of the words of Rabbis to teach us with. I don’t recall Jesus telling the disciples to go teach what the priests and rabbis said. He told them to teach what HE had poured into them in those years He was with them day and night, teaching, expounding, commissioning.
I don’t want to read all the junk and man’s philosophy and errors. I want to cling to the Words from HIS mouth.
And I am not trying to kill you with aggravation, really I‘m not.
Jesus did, at least in some cases, endorse some of the other teachings in His time: “therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds ; for they say things and do not do them. ” Matthew 23:3
One good question I’ve asked myself is, “Did Jesus teach anything entirely new?”. And,… I’ve taken seriously Jesus’ admonition to better understand Moses:
“”For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47 “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words ?” John 5:46-47
There is harmony between Moses and Jesus, and the answer usually lies in accepting that fact and then asking, “If Moses, Jesus, and Paul were in harmony, what is the other interpretation of the scriptures that make it seem like he’s not?
Rodney’s essay on John 8 is a great example:
https://skipmoen.com/2011/08/30/some-comments-of-john-8-by-rodney-baker/
Here is Jesus upholding Mosaic law in His treatment of the woman caught in adultery. Hopefully, you can see how some historical interpretation needs to be shed in order to see this harmony between Moses and Jesus.
” Are you telling me outside things have marred God’s Holy Word?”
Dorothy, Methinks this is exactly what is being said- and that is not the whole of it. WE have been marred by the false teachings of men such as Luther, Calvin, et al. Even if you aren’t a Lutheran or Presbyterian their ideas soak our thoughts and permeate our spiritual views. And that, dear Sister, spells Danger with a capital D. Read what Jeremiah had to say about it: “O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.” Jeremiah 16.19.KJV
I have spent the last year of my life in in-depth Hebriac studies, including Skip’s Daily Word, tearing down, casting out, pulling up, treading & shredding most, if not all, of my previous 36 years of Christianity that Protestant theology had taught me. If you had told me a year ago I was going to break branches, cut limbs and even chop the very roots of my faith- I may have stoned you or at least laughed at the thought. Yet here I am at age 60 starting over … yet again. Finally a few days ago I had to ask Yah to be born anew so that I could truly learn to hear Him and trust Him as Abba. Not an easy thing for a Charismatic hyper-Calvinist Pharisee to admit, but better to be humbled and turn than continue to walk in my own- or anyone else’s- way towards death. Not that I was never “saved” or didn’t have a new heart and the corresponding testimony and good works, I did; but there was an accumlination of man made religious “philosophies” that kept getting in the way of my relationship with both YHWH and Yeshua. So I stand today a new man- not quite sure of my self- and yet sure of the Way. Although my future has never been so murky, it is also never been more sure. Be of good cheer- this road you have recently begun to follow may lead you ….to ruin; but that is a good thing in God’s topsy turvy economy. I read a quote once from The Biblical Heritage Center. It is their
“Informed Believer’s Primary Guideline”:
“My Belief System will be large enough to include all of the facts;
I will be open enough to allow it to be tested;and I will be flexible enough to change it when I become aware of errors or new facts.”
My belief system was inflexible for 36 years and I didn’t even know it. Now I know it. But I wasn’t flexible enough to change it so, God had to break me. I think all of us who are “the called” have the same choice. Trust me the first option is the easier, but not easy. Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
So keep asking questions and seeking answers. I know that no one on this site will ever try to dissuade you from your beliefs, nor twist your arm to their viewpoint, but take it from someone who has been where you are today- a little skeptical, and perhaps a little too sure their view is true, yet open to the Spirt’s wooing. So I would recommend being open to, not just Skip’s teaching, but also to his prophetic heart. Who knows where it will lead in a year …. or in eternity.
Amen Michael and or Arnella, ditto and well said.
Michael, (such a namesake), you could not have known the True God if you had to start over from your first meeting with Him.
No one/nothing is in the way of my relationship with YHWH and Yeshua. I lack nothing, not because of anything of my own, its because of Him that I lack nothing and come behind in no good thing. If this sounds like pride, you’re not understanding me–this is my assurance in His Word. I am blessed, I am in His family, no one can take me away from Him.
Your last sentence make me gasp! I would be afraid of Skip’s teaching for an eternity!
Dorothy,
I’ve only been coming around here for about a year or so, which means I don’t really speak for Skip or anyone else here. Just one man’s opinion. I found that there are quite a variety of beliefs here, but a few important things seem to tie most everyone together. It’s a motley crew. From what I can tell, most of the people here do a fair amount of research and reading elsewhere, as well. So if your afraid of group-think, I wouldn’t be. Skip’s site first came up when I was researching something online about ezer kenegdo (help-meet). It was enough to keep me coming back for the other gems. It seems to me that Skip has a REVERENCE for scripture (although not translators), and he has the credentials so as not be led astray by weak, superficial, or contrived arguments and interpretations. It’s a rare combination I think – both reverence and academics.
As far as Skip’s online persona goes, (sorry Skip), yeah, he can come off as a bit arrogant and over-credentialed, but I think he doesn’t have the time to beat around the bush. And I believe most of the time, he gets the same challenges over and over and over — so he just identifies the bias – “Luther-Plato-Calvin-Ect” – and calls it.
Also,…when you say you lack nothing – remember, many of us came from Christian cultures where surety of salvation was continually stressed as a doctrinal necessity. ‘Belief’ became reminding ourselves over and over that when Christ died for us, we became Christ in God’s eyes. The pastor would say, “Don’t let ANYONE convince you or make you second guess your salvation!!!” (1 John 5:13) Admitting a lack of surety would be equated to a lack of faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. So then PSYCHOLOGICAL CERTAINTY becomes evidence of being saved, and we are prompted to go to our other Christian friends and say, “If you died today, do you KNOW that you would go to heaven?”.
Revelation 3:17-18
” ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,”
Let that not be us!
Dear Gabe,
Thanks for the clarification and criticism. Yes, I get the same issues in different clothing over and over, and not just on this blog. So I do get a bit short when I have been writing about this stuff for 8 years now. I often feel as if bloggers don’t actually READ what I write but rather simply react to it out of their own understanding. SO, I need to be more gentle for those just coming on broad. Sorry. I don’t mean to be arrogant or critical and I do believe we all GROW into this stuff (me too). But there are times when I just want to throw up my hands and say, “But I already said that about 100 times!” I’ll try to restrain myself.
Thanks Michael, your articulating some of the same stuff I’ve been feeling better than I could myself – the unsurety, but knowing that this ‘Way’ is a more firm foundation than what was laid before.
As I’ve learned more, I’ve read and investigated more than ever – part of me even hoping it isn’t all true,… almost wishing it was a spiritual fad, but being too excited to stop since this paradigm seems to be the key to everything that didn’t fit or make sense before.
Why not start with Matthew 23:2-3. Did Yeshua tell his disciples to practice what the rabbis taught? Sure looks like it to me.
Then consider this. The “isms” are theological paradigms. Everyone has one. So when you say you only want the “pure word of God,” you also have a paradigm for interpreting that “pure word.” It doesn’t come to you directly from the mouth of the Lord. And who told you that God preserves His word so that it is never “marred” by human intervention. I believe that the evidence presented in Today’s Word for the last 8 years clearly shows that human hands have been at work altering the Word for a long, long time. You might ask why you believe this, in spite of the history. Where did this idea come from?
The greatest danger with the “pure Word” view is that it ignores the interpretive paradigm that infects it. This view really amounts to “God told me.” In other words, it implies that the Bible you have in your hands is trustworthy and reliable AS IT IS (God oversees it) and the understanding that you have NOW of the verses in translation is ACCURATE as they stand. But both of these are quite tenuous. If someone who holds this view is not open to historical, cultural and linguistic criticism and learning, then there is little left to say. Unfortunately, most Christians have been taught exactly what you have espoused – and as a result they question very little and actually know even less.
Skip, in reply to your reply above:
In all fairness, “It’s not you, it’s me.” Or, at least a lot of it is me.
I’m sure you’ve had people try to pull an academic trump card on you before. When I first got here, you referenced a book you wrote, and because of my baggage with small-minded, largely-credentialed academics – there was an echo of intellectual elitism. But don’t feel bad, it’s more what I associated you with, than you yourself. It’s the negative expert bias, and it’s the result of years and years of Hebrew, Greek, Archeologic, and other “experts” trying to use logic, reason, and rationality to tear down Christianity.
…praying for Rachel.