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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| Greek (Western) |
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 The Greeks learn in order to comprehend.
We read the Bible to try to understand more and more about God. We endeavour to develop a 'systematic theology'. We want all our questions answered, all our problems solved, and all contradictions (in our mind) to be resolved. We use the Bible as a textbook, in order to build up a concrete but abstract picture of what an infinite and incomprehensible God is like. We try to reduce God to our own level of understanding.
This trend is intensifying as our levels of human scientific understanding increase in this post-industrial, information age. We are rapidly replacing 'God' with the 'god of science and technology'. We learn in order to use. We want theological answers that can be instantly applied to overcome the problems of life. We try to make the Bible into something it is not, distorting it in the process.
Sadly, we no longer preach the Gospel, cast out demons, heal the sick and make disciples, but rather, we market CD's, books and religious paraphernalia. Preachers are glorified who attract people and money. Books are published, not necessarily for the principles they contain, but because they will appeal to a mass market.
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| Eastern (Hebrew) |
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 The Hebrews learn in order to revere.
REVERE: To show devoted deferential honour to: regard as worthy of great honour
SYNONYMS: adore, deify, glorify, worship, reverence, venerate.
Reverence engenders unconditional acceptance rather than analytical understanding.
The Bible teaches, from earliest times, that we are to revere God.....
Deuteronomy 13:4
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 Faith is not built by ultimate understanding, but through experiencing God's actions in one’s life.
Jesus taught.....
Matthew 22:36-8
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 And seeing the result of His actions in the lives of others.....
John 13:34-5
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 This is why we will never truly witness to Jews and Muslims through words only. The Eastern way is to learn from personal experience and the witness of the result of other's personal experience, as reflected through their behaviour.
Experiential love however is not an excuse to justify and accept ungodly behaviour. For reverence and sinful living are mutually exclusive concepts.
This is illustrated in the teachings of Paul, who was regarded as a leader of, what we would call, the fundamentalist 'Nazarene Sect', who preached the 'tough stuff' which scared the governor, Felix, one who thought basically with a Greek mindset!
Acts 24:5,25
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 If we truly revere God we will humble ourselves in order to let God develop the 'fruit of the Spirit' in our lives.....
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Understanding is helpful, but application, godly.
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| SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY |
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1. Discipleship (obedience to God) rates higher than theology (knowledge of God) every time.
2. Our behaviour is more important to God than our understanding.
3. Worship is not singing spiritual songs to God, but rather, a lifestyle of deep reverence of God, 24/7.
4. Our church structure needs to reverse the current infatuation with theological degrees and appointed position, to one of seeking for, and honoring, holiness and righteousness in leadership and people alike.
5. Lord, forgive us, for we have sinned.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues..... |
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 ..... looking at THE RESURRECTION 'BODY'
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Point 4 in the Summary sums it all up....
"Our church structure needs to reverse the current infatuation with theological degrees and appointed position, to one of seeking for, and honoring, holiness and righteousness in leadership and people alike."
Amen
IMAGES AND ART: Jerusalem
Mount of Olives
Olives Trees in Gethsemane
Adjacent to the Church of All Nations is an ancient olive garden. Olive trees do not have rings and so their age can not be precisely determined, but scholars estimate their age to anywhere between one and two thousand years old. It is unlikely that these trees were here in the time of Christ because of the report that the Romans cut down all the trees in the area in their siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
739. - 809. God has shown me that...
..... God is God, is God, is God.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
Life's a Laugh: http://www.wwj.org.nz/lifelaugh.php
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An explanation from a Jewish perspective follows.....