From the Inside Out or the Outside In

A struggle among conservative Mennonites today is whether to legislate good actions and intend for it to become what people want to do, or to put up with some diversity and below-standard actions with the intent of helping the person change the desires of their heart so that the outside actions will change. This is a major controversy which has been near the heart of many church splits and been the cause of many disdainful glances and L.D.N.’s (Look Down Nose).

One side tries to cause right living. They feel there is no excuse for doing what is wrong. They feel that the person should first and foremost be committed to submitting to the church and God and that if they are, they will submit and eventually learn to appreciate what they are now being required to do. They tend to have a large set of standards for the church which they hope will create unity and a clear presentation of what it means to be an obedient follower of Christ.

The other side feels that requiring good actions does not truly change people’s hearts and that it will probably make a bunch of hypocrites who are doing right only because of social pressure. They prefer to put those things which are wrong, but are done by the person without guilt, under the grace of God and work to call that person to change through a change of heart. They tend to have fewer rules and seek to cause their members to do right by accountability and dialogue.

So, which is right? Which is more like what Christ intends for his church? I have decided to which side I lean. I have tried here to present a balanced view of both. I believe that I see the purposes and desires of both. I appreciate to a greater or lesser degree both sides. If you feel that your side has been misrepresented, please let me know so that my understanding may be broadened. If you do not respond with any corrections, I will assume that my overview is correct according to all my readers. : )

Not By Might, Nor Power, but as a Glowing Light

I thought this was very fascinating. I looked up the symbalism of the menorah when I was reading Rev. 1:12-13 “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.” I found the following at http://www.jewfaq.org/signs.htm

Menorah

One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in Ex. 25:31-40.

It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be “a light unto the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit.”

The lamp stand in today’s synagogues, called the ner tamid (lit. the continual light, usually translated as the eternal flame), symbolizes the menorah.

 

The Enemy of Islam

The leaders of Iran and Venezuela met in the latter country on Sunday to sign a number of cooperative treaties. Iran is providing a large transfer of technology to Venezuela and is investing money there. They are working on treaties for manufacturing various items including gunpowder and ammunition.

My question is, if America is the enemy of Islam because it is Christian and infidel, does Venezuela not fall in the same shoes? Venezuela is a country with very strong Catholic and Christian base. In 2001, approximately seventy percent of the population was Catholic, twenty-nine percent Protestant, and one percent atheist or other, according to the U.S. State Department. This puts Venezuela far above the US as far as being a “Christian nation” goes. Not only is Venezuela largely Christian, but it is 70% Catholic which should really put it in the dog house considering recent Muslim opinions of the pope. But we do not see Iran, the new Muslim stronghold, having problems with Venezuela; we see them declaring this “Christian nation” a partner against their enemy the US.

All that I can conclude from this is that Islam’s problem with the US is not that it is Christian or infidel, but that Muslims are scared of the American worldview, which is very antithetical to that of Islam, or that they hate the US for its support of Israel. It is not about infidels, it is about fear of US cultural domination or anger at the US support of Islam’s worst enemy, Israel.

About Me

This is an usual post. It is about me and my activities instead of my thoughts. I have been spending a lot of time working here of late, 47 hrs. a week. Not that out of the way for Americans, but really a lot of time. Working is very time consuming. I do enjoy it most of the time though. I am still doing quite a bit of service work, but I may get into some sales. The last two days I have been filling in there, and enjoyed it.

Robin and I are getting ready to send wedding invitations finally. Hopefully in the next few days. That is a pain: collecting addresses, deciding who, remembering missed people, and, did I mention digging for addresses. Actually it is not that bad. The printer is more frustrating.

I have just completed a large writing project. Robin proof read it today and I hope to email that to a few friends who are writing with me.

It kind of feels like time is moving, but I am not. The wedding is getting closer, but I am just sitting here waiting for it and every so often working hard and getting a little done to get ready for it. It is a strange feeling. This weekend I hope to help dad in the shop, go to Philly on Sat. and ride bike, maybe go to a coffee shop, and ……. . . . . . . . . …………………….

If We Evolved, Why ….?

If we evolved and there is no God, why do we continually search for a god to worship? Why do we have sentiments for the past? Why do we love anyone but ourselves? If we evolved and there is no God, why do we enjoy and create “worthless” beauty? Why do we have this incredible desire and ability to screw up? Why do we look for divine help and comfort in times of trouble? Why do we seem not to be able to shake the reality of the nonphysical and the miraculous? If we evolved and there is no God, why do we bother to exist?

Revival of the Ancient Belief in Pluralism in American Culture

There is a growing trend in America to accept any form of religion as great for anyone. If you are from Africa and have your traditional tribal gods, that is great. If you are from India and worship a group of Hindu gods, that is dandy. If you are a Muslim and worship Allah, that is fine. If someone goes to the Africans house, they will happily follow the rituals related to the family’s gods. If they go to the Indians house, they will meditate with the others. If they go to a Muslim’s house, they will kiss the Koran. Different gods are fine for different places. If you visit Japan, Iraq, or Nunavut, you worship the god that is there. In America, if you are any religion, that is fine as long as you don’t force it on anyone else.

One of the ways that this is seen in America is the rise of Japanese comics. They include a varying mix of ancient mythology, magic, fantasy, spiritualism, “light vs. dark”, and pop marketing. Americans are eagerly absorbing these things and a large fan base is entering into the varying and all-embracing world of aneme and manga. Good and evil are sometimes paired to beat a common enemy. Magic words are chanted. Ancient Egyptian spells are chanted to release the spirits of the dead into battle. Relics are worn as protection. Fighting is done in parallel universes and the winner is the one who holds possession of the most powerful demons, monsters, or spirits. Powers, spells, spirits, demons, and anything else thought to contain power from any religion or culture are pulled in. Any god is fine as long as we can use it to accomplish our “good”.

I had to think of the story in I Kings 20 where the Syrians are attacking the Israelites. They are defeated in the hills and they decide that they will try to fight again in the valleys. They figure that the God of Israel must be a god of the hills and He cannot be strong in the valleys. They try again and are defeated. It seems that God was trying to make it clear to Syria that He was not just a place god or a god among gods. He was trying to tell them that He was the only true God. He was YHWH.

He still is God. He is not one of many. He will not share His place with any. He will not be lowered to a limited character that has to partner with evil to defeat. He is God supreme and in control. He is God over all.