choir loft

Trees don't need salvation in the blood of Christ. We do. Suggesting that one trip to the altar requires no further REPENTANCE is entirely off the rails Biblically speaking. "UNLESS I WASH YOU YOU HAVE NO PART IN ME." - Jesus as quoted in John 13:8b This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. - 1 John 5:6 The blood of Jesus is shed for the redemption of many, according to the LAW. Benefits of the blood are applied by faith when believers ask for it. This is initially taught by the passover requirement of blood being applied to the doorposts and lintel of one's house so as to cause the destroyer (death) to pass over those who were inside. In the same way, those who accept the blood of Christ shed for them inherit eternal life. BUT IT DOES NOT END THERE. Washing of water is a reference to cleansing of SIN after meeting Christ. If Jesus needed to demonstrate this principle to His disciples does not the same principle of spiritual responsibility apply to us today? As we go through life we acquire the vagaries of SIN. We stumble into SIN. No one is exempt from this fact of life. We struggle to remain clean, but simply being exposed to the world risks SIN. REPENTANCE must be repeated so as to be forgiven of this newly acquired SIN. Shall we hide our wickedness from God who sees all? Certainly not. Shall we play games with God by declaring our church membership card is up to date and that He cannot hold us accountable for our SINs? Absolutely not. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. - Galatians 6:7 Do we want to be taught of God the folly of SIN after being accepted for redemption? If we refuse God's gentile admonitions and repeatedly SIN we shall pay a terrible price for which there is no healing. Therefore it is of major importance that we run and not walk the paths of REPENTANCE in our relationship with Christ. He is faithful and just to forgive us of our SINs and wickedness (1 John 1:9) but the caveat is that we must repent and ask for it. Indeed it is time and past time for judgment to begin with the house of God (1 Peter 4:17) because of our hidden iniquities and masked wickedness. Do not think O man that you can SIN and escape God's justice. One way or the other your SINs will find you out. (Numbers 32:23) It is time to REPENT and seek peace with God. Anyone who tells you differently is an agent of the opposer, the devil itself. Spiritual responsibility is not taught in churches today because it's linked to repentance. Preachers risk losing donation$ when they speak of repentance. One must not tell people they need to repent when they think they are holier than everybody else. Our churches are all about the money, not responsibility before God. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

I'll try to answer some of your misunderstandings as completely as possible. I begin by reminding the reader that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SPIRITUAL ISRAEL. Any references to Supersessionism/Replacement Theology are unBiblical propaganda of the Roman Catholic Church. Spiritual house - Your interpretations of 1 Peter suggesting the church is some sort of alternate Israel are false. Please read the introduction to the letter 1 Peter 1:1. The letter is addressed to "exiles of the Dispersion". This is a direct reference to JEWS. More specifically it is Messianic Jews who have accepted (believed) Y'shua (Jesus' Hebrew name) as their King - as GOD in the flesh. One cannot spin this direct reference any other way and remain true to Biblical intent. Bear in mind the ENTIRE Bible, except for Luke and Acts, was written by JEWS for JEWS and is shared with gentiles. Jewish tradition history and philosophy affect all that is written therein. Gentiles, who know not the LAW (mostly they reject it) and who also reject Jewish tradition (Christian traditions won't save either, btw) thus fall into error when they attempt to establish their own pagan interpretations. Who is a Jew? According to Romans 2:29, which you quoted above, "he is a Jew who is one inwardly"/ believes in the heart. Jews are invited to believe, while gentiles are asked to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Jews already knew who Jesus claimed to be. They simply had to accept it. Gentiles didn't know anything about Jewish issues and had to be built up from square one as for example Paul's sermon on Mars hill. St. Paul's letters to gentiles mention their adoption into God's family (the Jews) or in other examples as being grafted into the true vine (Jesus) or root (Jesus). It isn't necessary to remind Jews who they are. JESUS IS KING OF THE JEWS. Being one with Jesus or surrendering to Him implies allegiance to and inclusion in Him AS A JEW in Jesus' eyes. The Romanized church declares church membership as valid and rejects both Israel and its King. "The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in heaven and earth." Barclay Cap. XXVII, p. 218. Cities Petrus Bertrandus, Pius V. Your reference to RCC ideology in the form of Tribulation, Rapture, Replacement Theology, Holy Communion and all the rest are bogus doctrines of demons thrust upon Christendom by the Vatican. In the late 16th century Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera published the doctrines of FUTURISM, which established Catholic aberrations of Revelation and the book of Daniel. In the mid-19th century American con artist John Nelson Darby put a new coat of paint on the dogma and called it DISPENSATIONALISM. Nearly all of it is rubbish including the fantasy that redirects Protestant Christians away from Biblical knowledge to the aberrations of Rome instead. I recommend you learn how to study the Bible and keep away from faux Christian novelizations of RCC dogma and YouTube talking heads - all of which are intended to rip off your money without giving you a speck of Biblical knowledge. hope this helps. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

It's my understanding you are correct about the lack of other uses for grapevines. CL

The Jewish candle holder is called a Menorah. Just in case some readers are unaccustomed to reading the Bible, the book says JESUS IS A JEW. Those who are saved and given to Him as Lord and Savior become Jews. (Romans 2:29) Your tree with many branches (actually the Bible uses GRAPE VINE rather than a tree as the metaphor to describe the relationship) may signify the Kingdom of Heaven. Grape vines are amenable to grafting. Trees generally are not. When we look at a menorah we see one of the candles either in the central position or raised higher than other candles or both. The highest candle is called the Shamash or servant candle. This candle is lighted first. The Shamash candle is then used to light other candles. Thus we see the Shamash candle as representative of Jesus Christ from whom we all receive light and life. Jesus, the King of the Jews, is the servant who gives us light and life. Hope this helps. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

You quoted my post and generally agreed with it. So what's all the fuss about? Your words proudly declare, in opposition to God's Word, that nobody can keep the LAW. Therefore Christians take the low road and yield to SIN. In doing so we declare to ourselves and to God either that 'we can't help ourselves' or that 'the devil made me do it.' These excuses are tissue thin. God doesn't buy it. "For this commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ And it is not beyond the sea, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it." - Deuteronomy 30:11-14 Q: What is the purpose of the LAW? A: The purpose of the LAW is to convict of SIN. Do you not know, O reader, that most Americans and indeed most Christians don't know what SIN is? The attitude is that SIN is something like religious naughtiness - not really something to get worked up about. Consequently our moral compass points in the wrong direction ('if it feels good, do it"). We suffer violence in our streets, fight endless meaningless wars, watch our income shrivel before our eyes, suffer the indignity of a society gone wrong and a church that's become a joke in the eyes of the community. Once upon a time, not so long ago, the church was a respected institution. No one dared speak irreverently against it. Today the LGBTQ community has usurped respectability once enjoyed by the Christian church - AND WE'VE LET THEM DO IT. IF GOD DOES NOT JUDGE AMERICA HE WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH. Instead of upholding the LAW, Christians choke on it as though it was something to be ashamed of, to be ignored and to be flushed down the toilet. NO ONE CAN BE SAVED APART FROM THE LAW. Christians choke on these words because they don't know what they mean. The LAW provides a pattern for God's plan of redemption. It points to Christ who can save us. It tells us how to live AFTER we are justified by the blood God shed upon the cross. It even provides a blueprint of the actual layout of heaven. Christians choke on the LAW claiming its dietary restrictions are absurd and then go out and buy into every extreme diet that comes down the road. Christians choke on the LAW claiming Jewish traditions won't save anybody - AND THEN spend more attention than is appropriate on Christian traditions that can't save either. Christmas Easter and the holidays of pagan ritual such as Halloween, garden statues of Mary and even Holy Communion can't save anybody. Christians choke on the LAW even as they nurse anti-Semitic theology and overt dislike of Jews. Meanwhile they embrace every pagan tradition known to man and justify the act with perverse versions of scripture taken out of context. The basic issues I mentioned earlier don't seem to be in question. What IS questioned is our ability to observe them. Childish responses claiming "everybody else does it" don't carry any currency in heaven. It's not a SIN to be born human. It's not impossible to keep the LAW. Indeed we can't be saved without it. It IS possible to rise above the LAW with God's help, but it DOES require work on our part (read the book of James - "faith without works is dead"). Neither of us are arguing about the wages of SIN or the gift of God. What IS important is that living by the LAW has been abandoned by the church. What IS important is that an attitude of passive indifference toward God has become the status quo in our churches. God hates passive indifference. To Him it's the same as active malice. As has been written earlier, it is our duty to obey God. What has God ordained for us to obey but His LAW? Why then is it disdained ignored and foolishly hated? that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

You mean well, but your patchy references do not support Biblical history accurately. Mostly your statement stumbles over Roman Catholic theology that's replaced Biblical truth in the eyes of American protestants who've lost faith with the Reformation. Specifically I intend to bring attention to one line you wrote, "Today it is known as the Body of Christ/Christians/The spiritual house of Israel, all made one." THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SPIRITUAL ISRAEL. The concept is unBiblical because St. Paul wrote that when one is saved one becomes a Jew (Romans 2:29). Salvation is dependent upon the blood of Christ, NOT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. (Ephesians 2:13) Historic trends in tradition and doctrine establish precedent over Biblical intent. Religion supersedes the will of God. This isn't what God intends, but that's what happens. The Bible illustrates this trend with the history of Hebraic SIN against God and His subsequent destruction of their nation and removal of their liberties. (America today is in jeopardy of the same form of divine judgment.) Jews established tradition as the principle of their faith and rejected God when He visited them in Jerusalem. Judaism became a religion of tradition, which it is to this day. In the late 16th century, Roman Catholic priest Francisco Ribera established the doctrine of FUTURISM. This doctrine was later refurbished by John Nelson Darby and sold to American protestant Christians as DISPENSATIONALISM. This anti-Semitic and unBiblical doctrine supports the dogma of Supersessionism or Replacement Theology. This doctrine of demons suggests that God has abandoned His people Israel and the LAW of Moses. HE HAS NOT. (Matthew 5:17 & Romans 11:2). Replacement Theology (Supersessionism - look it up) falsely claims; a.) a false covenant with the Church has been established to replace Mosaic LAW b.) the church has replaced Israel as God's blessed people on earth Nothing could be further from the truth either historically or Biblically. As a result, the foundations of faith, based upon the LAW, have been abandoned. Consequently the church has SEPARATED itself from Christ its root and is at present a ship without a rudder, a withering flower without sustenance. The church is ICHABOD (1 Samuel 4:21), the spirit has departed from it. Judgment is upon it. (1 Peter 4:17) NO ONE CAN BE SAVED APART FROM THE LAW. Today, most Christians cannot tell you what SIN is when in fact it is the LAW that tells us. Denial of the LAW or ignorance of it doesn't qualify one for salvation. It only keeps one from the benefits of the LAW; repentance, forgiveness, salvation and redemption unto God. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

At its core apologetics is nothing more than philosophy with a holier-than-thou coat of paint. In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus warned us against it. The passage in Matthew teaches about two houses. One is built on shifting sand and the other is built upon a rock. Biblical interpretation of Jesus' parable has been hijacked by the Roman Catholic Church to justify apostolic succession - religious thought control. In point of fact Jesus used the parable to compare Subjective philosophical argument, of which apologetics is one, with Objective Mosaic LAW. The two are not the same. Philosophy and Apologetics are kin, except their parents don't speak to one another. Both are based upon SUBJECTIVE argument. A subjective argument is one that's changeable. Mosaic LAW is OBJECTIVE. It doesn't change. There are 10 commandments, not four (as in Islam). They are commandments not suggestions (as in philosophy). Therefore Jesus' parable may be said to compare Subjective changeable thoughts of man with the Objective unchanging Biblical LAWs of God. Philosophy and its sister Apologetics is based upon changeable human society. Every ten to fifteen years society changes those things it deems important - it's philosophy. It's very much like a chess game except that it plays games with one's head. In chess the winner memorizes clever moves to win. In the same way, philosophy and apologetics players fashion new arguments (moves) to oppose an assertion (a basic argument from which a debate proceeds). The winner of such a contest maneuvers his opponent into a position that cannot be opposed. Christian witnesses of such an event applaud and yell, "we win". It's the same as taking the king in a game of chess except it's all in the head - a mind game. In apologetics, the pastoral conundrum is to play catch-up with the social philosophy of the day. Unfortunately the process takes about five to ten years for religious philosophical arguments to be conceived and to percolate throughout the religious community. By then social philosophy is very near another change. When it comes the whole process begins anew - move and counter move, argument and counter-argument. When social philosophy changes faster than pastoral apologetics can keep up it's the religious community that's pinned. Christians begin to doubt God - when it's actually their mind game that's in doubt. At present, social conditions in America have reached a philosophical point of no return - a tipping point leading to social disaster. Pastors can no longer keep up with philosophical change. Their arguments seem outdated and irrelevant because apologetic arguments aren't matching social philosophical changes fast enough. The game is lost before the contest is engaged. Philosophy and Apologetics are subjective in nature. They are houses built upon shifting sand. ENTER MOSAIC LAW. Mosaic LAW is objective in nature. It doesn't change. This is the house built upon the solid rock of God's unchanging Word. Society may change, but the LAW of God doesn't. It's still wrong to kill even though society may legalize war abroad and abortion at home. Adultery is still a violation of the LAW despite it's entertainment value. SIN is still punishable by death even though society has forgotten what SIN is. God still dies upon the cross as a requirement of the LAW so as to enable our forgiveness and salvation. Christians embrace lawLESSness and lose credibility in society for abandoning their moral and spiritual compass - their principles. Philosophy has no answer for human guilt except denial of it. Apologetics has no answer because its outdated. The LAW always has an answer because it does not change. The answer is REPENTANCE leading to FORGIVENESS and SALVATION in Christ. Salvation is in Christ because no other presumed god DIES for the SINs of man and no other presumed god rises out of His own grave to prove His power of Life and Death. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Belief means nothing for the devil also believes. (James 2:19) R E A D T H E B O O K O F J A M E S. All who seek to follow Christ Jesus are required to REPENT of their SIN, according to the LAW. - The LAW convicts us of SIN, which drives us to the altar of mercy to REPENT; to cease deny and refuse to SIN any more in life. - There is NO forgiveness apart from REPENTANCE for SIN. - If God accepts our REPENTANCE we are justified before God. - Having been justified we are granted the gift of GRACE which enables us to live ACCORDING TO THE LAW, apart from SIN, before God and man. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LICENSE TO SIN. Christian tradition is hollow and futile. It has no purpose except to enlarge the bank accounts of those who promote tradition for sale. Christian tradition won't save anybody. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Halloween pumpkin, the Virgin Mary and Holy Communion won't justify or save anybody. These traditions are tissue thin religious aberrations that God neither honors nor accepts. "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies." - Amos 5:21 Belief is not a rubber stamp of some deities' approval. It is the working of God within us that inspires us to WORK unto REPENTANCE according to His LAW. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26), which is why the apathetic Protestant church in America today is a joke. Their congregations are only concerned with a dog and pony show on Sunday morning (*). Spiritual responsibility is not part of their gospel message. Sloppy agape and greasy grace are the themes taught today - inspired of the devil and human passive indifference. It is not of God. Belief without repentance won't save anybody. Read Exodus and Leviticus. REPENTANCE means to deny SIN and all its works. There is no salvation without it. One must cease and desist from SIN in order to receive the gift of salvation and to walk in it. "whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" - Jesus as quoted by Luke 14:27 that's me, hollering from the choir loft... (*) Heavy entertainment production is a key ingredient in Protestant worship these days. If a live performance isn't financially available then pre-recorded performances are employed. It's all about the SHOW. There is no worship value in show biz. Some Protestant leaders know this but do it anyway because without it donation$ would decline and their salary would be affected. "Protestant clergy don't believe in anything except their well-being and office". - Adolph Hitler

I agree with you entirely both in experiences and observation. In my opening post I referred to the Methodist church, which is on the verge of splitting as I write. Actually they've been on the fence for several years. There are multiple issues involved, not least of which are theological statements that one must repent of one's SINs and "carry one's cross" (Luke 14:27) in order to follow Jesus. Also during my initial observations on this subject, I visited a second Methodist church. The outside of the building was festooned with the rainbow flag known as PRIDE. When I asked about religious instruction for the congregation I was told they meet in the bar across the street. For purposes of instruction to the reader, the Methodist church now suffers from several ailments, not least of which are the social disagreements voiced by members. I once attended a Methodist church locally. It was small and suffered, as many do, from an overextended debt. When the old pastor retired a younger one was requested of the DC (district conference/leaders). Our idea was to bring in young ideas, young energy and young/smaller salary. We were refused. We were refused three times. After the third refusal the DC caused an older less energetic and less dedicated person to lead. Financial difficulties prevailed and the church eventually went belly up. Therefore I conclude that two additional causes of Methodist inability to decide future action is based not on social issues, but on financial ones and leadership control issues. No leader wants to give up control, but that is what division requires. No leader wants to own up to financial distress, but that is what fuels failure. No leader wants to come down on social issues, but that is what the members want decided. Therefore the church sits on the fence of indecision. I surmise the "light gospel", which does not insist upon repentance or offer redemption (spiritual responsibility) is being offered as a substitute for the real thing, the real message of Christ to be saved. Some have also called it the "greasy gospel" or "sloppy agape". I remain interested in the observations of others and their opinions in this thread. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Or if I rephrase the question I could have written it as; what is "gospel light" (as in Coors light or Bud light). It's difficult to pin down the phrase via google search as it's normally been used to describe what one might refer to as a legitimate church position statement and/or church Sunday school publishing programs. The normal definition or understanding of the words 'gospel' and 'light' are in reference to Biblical truth and dedication to following Christ. Since He has been described as the light of the world His message has been normally construed to serve as a beacon for right living or righteousness. Not any more, apparently. During a recent discussion with a Methodist preacher I was told that she preaches, "a light gospel". When I attempted to engage her in a further refinement of its meaning she seemed to indicate that the doctrine does not allow for 'righteousness' or 'repentance' as is normally understood by those who've been exposed to traditional doctrines and definitions by members of that denomination (or the Bible). When I attempted to define what I understand as repentance and righteousness she disagreed. If I understand the conversation I had with this "minister of the gospel" we are now treading upon unholy ground when we refer to this subject. What then is it? What is gospel light or a light gospel? Is it like light beer or filtered cigarettes? What is religious observation without some form of righteousness and repentance? I'm at a loss to go further here. Perhaps you can. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

It has been said that "passive indifference" is the same as "active malice". If the Bible is to be believed, then an attitude of passive indifference toward God is the same as demonic opposition to the Lordship of God Almighty. What is passive indifference and how does it manifest itself in American culture? In the 1950's and early 1960's many evangelists, including the well known Rev. Billy Graham, preached against passive indifference toward God. Some of them, including Rev. Graham, suggested it would lead to a decline in fortune for America. Indeed it has. For the rest of the 20th century, books and speeches suggested a connection between passive indifference toward God as a leading cause of political apathy, which in turn led to the decline of the American Republic, the liberties enjoyed by its people and respect for the nation abroad. Passive indifference is/was manifested in polite but insincere references to God in the news media, Hollywood entertainment and the general population. Passive indifference was practiced by believers who thought Christmas and Easter were the only holidays they were required to attend worship services (in addition to weddings and funerals). Passive indifference assumed Christian traditions such as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Halloween witches, church pumpkin sales and the occasional baptism would be sufficient to stamp a personal passport into heaven. Passive indifference forgot to thank God for our prosperity, our protection as a nation and our personal safety on the street - all of which have been lost amid the smoke and violence and deprivations of the twenty-first century. For decades, the President of the United States has requested a day of prayer on the part of our people for our nation. We have asked for healing for the land, but no measurable amount of it has arrived. Nearly half of the country is on fire as I write and the other half is suffering from flooding, plague and the horrors of natural assaults. What went wrong? Why didn't God hear our prayers? The Bible says God does not hear the prayer of the SINNER, except that of repentance. The reason our prayers haven't been heard is because we've practiced passive indifference toward God. We have NOT REPENTED OF OUR SINS AND WICKEDNESS. Until and unless we repent, our attitude of passive indifference will only be a closet attitude of malice toward God. Such malice cannot and will not be blessed. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

I agree with your brief assessment of the normal Christian life. What is often overlooked is that statements made by Jesus and the apostles opposing the law often refer to two laws. Christians know little or nothing about the LAW of Grace/Mosaic LAW and less about the law of works/Talmudic law. Confusion results on the part of Biblically illiterate Christians. In fact there is NO confusion in scripture itself. The LAW of Grace was given by God to Moses and the world. It speaks of God's plan of redemption and how it is to be accomplished by means of the sacrifice God provides. The law of works was written by the Jewish rabbinate during their captivity in Babylon. It speaks of Jewish tradition and how salvation can be accomplished by deeds and contribution$. In Jesus' time, as well as our own, it is Talmudic law/law of works that is studied in Jewish Yeshiva and preached in most synagogues on shabbat. In reference to Mosaic LAW/law of Grace Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the LAW, but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17) Jesus and His apostles also made mention of Jewish addiction to their cultural and religious traditions and claimed they would save anyone either. It can also be said that Christian traditions won't save anyone any more than Jewish traditions might. Santa Claus the Easter Bunny and the Halloween pumpkin & witch won't save anybody despite the church's attention being paid to these religious occasions as though they would. It is only the blood of Jesus Christ, specified by Mosaic LAW, that saves. Thus it can be said that apart from this LAW nobody can be saved. America has become a lawLESS society. Every day we are exposed to violence corruption and murder on a national scale. Much of this is sanctioned and approved by special interest groups for their own reasons - militias of the lunatic fringe, ethnic groups inspired by entitlement attitudes and even the police. Major denominations of the Christian church have denied the Bible itself as the inspired and unique Word of God. Social media destroys any reference to a socially acceptable standard of behavior or the consequences of toxic attitudes. Suicide rates among our young are approaching epidemic proportions. YET THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO REJECT ANCIENT LAW given by God for the benefit of society and solid Biblical teaching. As a result everyone is their own god and everyone acts according to whatever religious celebrities dictate as behavior and belief. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LICENSE TO SIN. Chief among the offenders are our churches. They teach free forgiveness that isn't suggested in the Bible. Repentance must precede any relationship with God in Christ, but it is commonly denied and even opposed. In these days of lawLESSness only a rigid understanding and application of the LAW can provide a solid rock upon which to build and sustain our lives. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Jesus said, "I DID NOT COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW, I CAME TO FULFILL IT." (Matt 5:17) The last time I looked the Bible was offered to all - gentile and Jew alike. It's words are applicable to all SINNERs Jew and gentile alike. Do you read the New Testament? You do well, but when you disregard those references made by the NT to the Tanakh (Old Testament) you do err. What is the difference between OT and NT, do you know? The LAW is not destroyed or abolished, but fulfilled BY CHRIST JESUS. Those that know not the LAW and who are obviously anti-Semitic in their theology if not their liturgy cannot and WILL NOT understand the moral spiritual underpinnings/foundation for that which was once called Christianity. Jesus fulfilled the LAW, but those who reject it or don't know it at all have no idea what the Master was talking about. There are those who accuse of legalism. What is wrong with legalism in a society that is riddled with murder, thievery, adultery, occultism, lies, false religion and all manner of sexual licentiousness? Nothing is wrong with the LAW. Nothing at all. America could use a little legalism. We are all of us under the wrath of God because of the importance we place in our opinions as opposed to the Word of God. There are those who accuse of Judaizing. One could do worse, I admit. I seek here not to promote Jewish tradition, but DO wish to point out that CHRISTIAN TRADITION CANNOT SAVE either. Such a tradition is today composed of members of a dead religion that use bits of scripture (only the NT of course) as a corrupt form of religious slogans and buzz words. It means nothing to those who use them because they only parrot the words. Devoid of spirit, the modern church is now a hollow shell of its former glory. Heed these words and heed them well. The wrath of God is near to us - truly at the door. If you think COVID was something, history will bear out that it was only a warm up period. Something much worse and much more wicked is coming. It will reach into every home, every institution, every government office and every imaginable aspect of society. It will wreak havoc upon everyone. Only those who know and understand and embrace the spirit of the LAW will be spared. The purpose of the LAW is to convict of SIN. This godless nation has turned its back upon righteousness BY THE LAW and has embrace all the works of the devil and its kingdom. Where does the love of God go when wrath turns every minute of suffering into hours of fear? The time to repent is at hand. Instead of arguing AGAINST God's holy LAW it is time to embrace it and to hope its direction will lead each of us to mercy and hope and salvation from above. The 1st five books of the Bible are also known as Torah or Pentateuch. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy more than any other book. ALL the apostles quoted from the Tanakh (Old Testament). If you will not read Torah, then try the book of Hebrews. It's the abridged version of Torah and speaks of the LAW throughout. We will certainly not find it in our churches, debauched and corrupt as they are, and we won't find it in empty TRADITION be it Jewish or Christian. Repent and be saved - or be swept away when the wrath of God is revealed BY THE LAW. It is coming soon. Time to get ready and abandon foolish arguments against God's Word. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Philosophy vs. Theology The question invokes error either way, for neither one adequately or accurately interprets the Word of God. Luke chapter 6 quotes Jesus, not a philosopher and not a theologian. The Son of God teaches the way; Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I say? I will SHOW YOU what is is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell - and great was its destruction!" philosophy/theology vs. The LAW Doctrine is religious bias which is read INTO scripture. Biblical truth is that which is gleaned FROM and is based upon an unbiased study of the LAW. The rock and the shifting sand/foundation are references to methods of interpreting God's Word - philosophy/theology vs the LAW. Following the formation of the early church, toxic gentile anti-Semitic attitudes infiltrated the new religion. Despite 33% of Jews in Jesus' day being converted to the faith, they were gradually forced out of the fellowship along with their traditional interpretations of scripture. To this day gentiles want nothing to do with Jews in their midst, Jewish LAW, Jewish tradition or Jewish interpretation of the Word God gave them in the first place. Many Christians don't even admit that Jesus IS a Jew. Instead of Jewish context, gentiles preferred their own pagan traditions. Instead of God's LAW gentiles created religious doctrine, instead of Jewish interpretation of God's Word gentiles adopted Greek PAGAN philosophy. Christian philosophy MUST CHANGE every ten to fifteen years to accommodate secular whims and attitudes. Consequently, theologians must hustle to create arguments to counter the winds and waves of secular bias so as to promote membership and support their religion which no longer admits to God's Word as a foundation. It takes another five years for theological apologetics to percolate throughout the churches. The house of religious thought is thus swept away by secular attitudes. It's swept away because its not based upon the unchangeable nature of God's LAW. Today our social attitudes change much faster, perhaps as fast as every five years. We have now reached a tipping point where it is impossible for theologians and apologists to keep up. The philosophical basis of arguing the gospel has eroded to the point of extinction. Thus the church founders in a sea of incoherent social tempest. The unchangeable nature of God's LAW tells us why things are the way they are in the kingdom of heaven, what God expects of us, convinces us of SIN, and tells us how to be saved (to whom we should go to receive it and why). Because of our innate hatred of Jews and everything associated with Jewish LAW we ignore it and hold it in derision - along with the very Word of God itself. Today the church is Ichabod (1 Samuel 4:21). Today the church is simply an expression of Retail Religion, having the appearance of faith while denying the substance of it. Today our opinions of things are more important than God's LAW. Therein have we lost the vision. This is why we and our nation are in grave danger. (Proverbs 29:18) that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

But in the Colossians , Paul seems to warn people against legalistic behavior. How should Christians view bible passages( like in Psalms) that seem legalistic(and maybe even sanctimonious) with Colossians verses warnings against legalistic behavior? Colossians 2:18-23 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, [c]taking his stand on visions he has seen, [d]inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and [e]ligaments, grows with a growth [f]which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ [g]to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish [h]with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. But in the Colossians , Paul seems to warn people against legalistic behavior. How should Christians view bible passages( like in Psalms) that seem legalistic(and maybe even sanctimonious) with Colossians verses warnings against legalistic behavior? Religious types who accuse God's Holy Word of having a sanctimonious attitude know neither the Bible they criticize nor the LAW they disdain. However their anti-semitic attitude does tend to convey the sulfurous stench of Dante's 9th level of hell into Bible studies everywhere. WHICH LAW DO YOU HATE? For the information of the casual browser of limited passages of the Bible, as well as limited understanding, be it known unto them there are two laws. One of the LAWS was given by God to Moses and is called the LAW of Grace. The other was formulated by the Jewish rabbinate during the Babylonian captivity and is generally referred to as the law of works. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus is quoted as saying, "I did not come to ABOLISH the LAW. I came to fulfill it." If the LAW is not destroyed or deleted in some manner, then it is fully in effect. Indeed Matthew 5:18 also quotes Jesus as saying "not one jot or tittle shall disappear from the LAW..." Jots and tittles are the tiny marks one sees written with Hebrew lettering. They magnify or otherwise clarify what is meant by the letters they accompany. In other words, THE LAW IS STILL IN EFFECT. Those that deny it or otherwise reject God's LAW prove themselves unworthy of eternal life for one cannot be saved apart from the LAW. Jesus lived His whole life in absolute observance of the LAW as did St. Paul. By today's standards Jesus would have been called a Karaite Jew. Such persons reject the Talmud - the law of works formulated by the rabbinate. Such persons embrace Torah, the first five books of the Bible. They also teach from other books of the Tanakh (prophets & writings). When Jesus or Paul speak against the law they are generally expressing their opposition to the law of works, the Talmud. This is one of the reasons Jesus was rejected by most of the pharisees. Torah came from God to Moses. (grace) Talmud came from the Jewish rabbinate. (works) These are the two laws we need to be aware of when we study the Tanakh/Old Testament and the New Testament/B'rit Hashanah. Thus we see that the Bible as conveyed to illiterate post-protestant religious types is God's gracious gift and is consistent with its theme. The only inconsistency and hypocrisy is on the part of those who pretend to know what they're writing about when they accuse God of hypocrisy. Therefore all those who follow Christ are encouraged to "study to show yourselves approved". (2 Tim 2:15) There's a great deal more to be learned and shown regarding this law business. Most post-protestant religious types live in a bubble of ignorance and anti-semitism - refusing to educate themselves regarding God's gracious gift of the Torah/LAW. Possible retorts to this post will no doubt accuse me of being a Judaiser or misrepresenting grace. Let's have them. I can't wait. Regarding the LAW, we are saved by GRACE so as to please God according to the LAW's precepts. Grace helps us do so, not to ignore the LAW altogether. The concept is easy to grasp if one isn't predisposed to reject it altogether. that's me, hollering from the choir loft....

Most commentators suggest Y'shuah was speaking of Pharisees who claimed the sole authority and right to admit or exclude people from joining the nation. Joining the nation, becoming a Jew, was considered a ticket to ha-shem's (God's) blessings in life. This would be similar to our modern day religious exclusivity - Roman Catholic church, protestant churches, Islam, Judaism, etc. Membership is approved or disproved by human leaders in the line of authority. The entire passage here from chapter 10 verse 1 to 21 is a discussion about divine authority, not gentile superiority over Jews in general, not membership in a spiritual club. Most discussion devolves into a mutual admiration group that claims Y'shuah was focused on their particular version of the kingdom of God rather than Who admits to it - namely Y'shuah. It isn't about gentiles being admitted as 'other sheep'. Its about who allows them in - Y'shuah. Read the whole passage instead of focusing upon one line of scripture to form an opinion. If you read the whole passage AGAIN you'll see that twice during the discussion those that were standing in Jesus' presence didn't understand what He was getting at. Twice they misunderstood Him. Today we still do, focused as we are on membership as salvation instead of Who does the saving. It isn't about gentiles being admitted to the kingdom of God. It's about the gate keeper's authority - said gatekeeper being Jesus/Y'shuah. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

The CONGRESSIONAL BUDGE OFFICE reported on Thursday February 12, 2021 that the Federal debt will exceed the size of the US economy (GDP) this year - not counting the new bail-out. (CNBC 02/12/2021 Jeff Cox reporting) America has now entered the largest debt period in its history. Can any economy survive such fiscal abuse? Experts have sounded alarms for years, but no one in a position of Federal leadership has acted in a responsible fashion to address the issue. Indeed, Washington believes it can continue to create money out of thin air without fiscal repercussions. What does this mean for taxpayers? It means the horror of hyper-inflation looms on the horizon. It means a pound of hamburger might sell for twenty or thirty dollars or more. It means a loaf of bread would cost nearly as much and a gallon of milk, if available at all, would cost twice as much as a gallon of gasoline. It means that instead of responsible fiscal leadership, our fearless leaders in Washington may act to seize up to fifty per-cent of our liquid assets (money in savings accounts and/or annuities). It has happened in European countries that had much less debt. ATM machines would be shut off for weeks at a time and with no way to access their money, citizens would take their panic to the streets. Think I'm dreaming? Think again. Do your homework. What can we do about this? Squirrel away as much cash as possible in places that banks cannot go. Safe deposit boxes belong to the banks and they can dip into those secure places if they wish to. Don't think they won't. Precious metals are risky. Gold is pretty solid,. Silver is cheaper, but doesn't rise and fall in value as much as the yellow metal. Jewelry is a lot cheaper than you think. Don't count on it for an emergency. As always God is our protector - IF and only IF we have removed SIN from our lives and hearts. Churches today don't think much of the message of repentance and its effect upon divine protection for us. They focus on donation$ that aren't as amenable to serious admonitions to confession. When was the last time you heard a sermon series on repentance and confession? Such words are sorely needed, but rarely preached. Our help and fortress is God, but ONLY IF we are living clean lives before God. Do a Bible study on the subject and put aside false rabbit trails that lead outside God's requirements for living - God's LAW. Think I'm a little cracked? Think again. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

The title of this thread is really inane. I wonder if the one that wrote it really understands the words. Consider: If the Holy Spirit "does not contradict ... the LAW" and if "the LAW is not for Christians", then the logic of the statement implies the SPIRIT isn't for Christians because the LAW isn't for them either. How can they (Christians) be saved? Apart from LAW & SPIRIT one is just playing at religion - and playing the game badly as the title of this thread reveals. In truth one cannot be saved apart from the LAW. Most Christians who object to any reference to the LAW don't realize the writers of the New Testament, including those who quoted Jesus Christ, were debating TWO laws. One is Torah and the other is Talmud. Big Difference. According to current definitions of Jewish tradition, Jesus (and the apostles) would be termed Karaite (or Qaraite) Jews. Google the term. The New Testament does NOT teach Talmudic law. It DOES teach Torah (and the prophets of the Tanakh). Google Tanakh. Torah teaches salvation according to the gift of God. Some call this grace, but it is elaborated to great detail in the first five books of the Bible (Torah or Pentateuch as Christians call it). Grace is an act of God, solely dependent upon God's initiation and action and continuation. In this sense the LAW of Torah IS GRACE revealed in detail. Talmud teaches that God owes something to those who act out in life those precepts it demands. In other words - works. Torah says God owes man nothing. He gives freely or He gives not at all. Humans are called upon to surrender to His will (LAW) or die. Does this sound familiar? Torah says its ok to eat deer meat (giraffe too, but who would want to?) because deer split the hoof and chew the cud. Talmud says deer meat isn't kosher because it's usually killed in the wild and not according to Talmudic specifications (in a slaughterhouse with rabbinic oversight). This is the sort of religious mumbo jumbo Jesus and the apostles argued against constantly. They NEVER said the LAW was abolished. Matthew 5:17 The LAW still stands. One will either live by the LAW (with God's help encouragement and assistance) or one will die by the LAW. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LICENSE TO SIN. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

During my employment with a local college I often frequented the cafe/coffee shop. On one occasion I spotted four, count 'em four, Muslim students sitting at a table together. I approached them and asked them the meaning of a passage I'd read in the Qur'an. Paraphrasing the passage it went something like; "if the apostle of Allah speaks, then you should do what he says." My question to the Muslim students was, "who is the apostle of Allah?" Was this person like the apostle Paul, Peter or some other? Or is the Qur'an addressing the Prophet [pbuh] himself? They did not know. One of the Muslim men asked where I'd read the passage. I told him the Qur'an. They told me I shouldn't read the Qur'an because its too confusing. True story. that's me, hollering from the choir loft... PS I knew the identity of Allah's apostle when I asked the question. I just wanted to know if they knew. btw, it's Muhammad [pbuh]. The Prophet wore many hats, so to speak.

Make a bet and win big. Suppose this happens. Go to your pastor and explain what happened and how much money you made. If you offer him 10% or 25% of your winnings I'll bet you'll be forgiven on the spot. Is this a fair and accurate measure of Christian conscience? Probably not, but that's the way it is. Nobody seeks Godly ways else this entire discussion wouldn't have started in the first place. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

St. Paul says we ought to question the spirit. It goes without saying that we ought also question both the message and the motivations of those who claim to be speaking on behalf of the spirit. It's been my experience that a LOT of bare faced lying is going on out there....lies perpetrated by people who claim to have a unique ability to discern the will of God when they haven't even read His book from cover to cover. And when the lies are exposed for the deception they really are what happens? These people simply make up MORE LIES and continue their self-aggrandizing announcements. Gullible Christians follow them as it nothing at all untoward had happened. The perception of the gospel has become tinsel thin and ridiculous in the eyes of the world because of this sort of thing. Having faith in the Holy Spirit is a very simplistic approach to spirituality especially since we are commanded to examine the spirit as well as what we are bing told. We are not to be simply simple about it at all. Unfortunately such questioning requires work and most people are unwilling to expend the effort. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Singing? Can't carry a tune in a bucket. No singing. The choir walked off the job because of union problems. On a more serious note, I use the signature because early in my life I was forbidden to speak from a pulpit in the Episcopal church. Seems they had a problem with my position that a man must make peace with God and surrender his life to Jesus Christ. The Second Birth is NOT part of their lexicon for salvation. I was informed that unless I recanted this ridiculous notion (according to their interpretation of the Bible), I would not be allowed to assume the office of ordination as priest. The laity of the Episcopal Church is generally unaware of this doctrinal position on the part of their leaders. It is more important to be a member in good standing with ones donations than to be saved in Jesus' name. That's their position and not my own. Thanks for getting my blood pressure up on that one. that's me hollering from the choir loft..

The scripture quotes in the lead post refer to One called ha-mashiach in Hebrew. Anointed is the meaning of the Hebrew word. Only three types of persons were anointed in the Bible; prophets, priests and kings. The Bible seems to predict that God will send an anointed person to earth who will fulfill all three offices. His Hebrew name is Y'shuah, but in Latinized form the Son of God is called Jesus the Christ (Christ also means anointed). But WHAT exactly is Jesus anointed to do? What office does He fill and how many times does the Bible tell us He will visit the earth? He will come to Earth to satisfy the duties of each office. Two thousand years ago, Y'shuah came to earth as anointed prophet. He also suffered the sacrifice for SIN as anointed priest. Today He dwells with the Father and acts on behalf of estranged mankind - as priest before God. We are told in scripture that Jesus will return as judge, also a priestly function. Finally the prophecy says He will return as King. All three are anointed offices by God. So...... Will the Son of God visit the earth twice or three separate times on three separate occasions separated by thousands of years each time? Some say three, in accord with His three separate offices. Some say two, but rely upon tradition to arrive at that determination as did Jewish priests who rejected Him the first time around. Which is it? that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

A soul, as traditionally defined by Greek philosophy, is the entire being - body, mind and the ethereal portion some call spirit. It's the whole enchilada. The Bible doesn't seem to come down with a sharp image or definition of human spirit probably because there is so little of it. It's described by some to be a very finite tiny infinitesimal thing. It's attached to the physical body for the duration of physical life and dies/expires, either slowly or suddenly, upon the death of the physical body. In short, the Bible says the human spirit does NOT survive physical death. When a man dies, he dies like a dog or a tree or any other thing that lives upon the earth. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; - Genesis 6:3a Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 3:19 According to the Bible, the human spirit is NOT immortal. Only God is immortal. "who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light" - 1 Tim 6:16 The idea that the human spirit will continue forever either in a condition of blessedness or torture is of ancient Egyptian origin, adopted by the fathers of the Roman Catholic Church. There is no such thing as Hell. Upon physical death, the human spirit dies. When they are destroyed their destruction will be total - 2 Peter 2:12b All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. - Romans 2:12 To perish is to die, to cease living. When the Bible says a man dies then he is deleted from existence totally. No part of him remains. EXCEPT The matter of the Second Birth, as described in the New Testament, is the gift of immortality to man by means of a commingling of God's spirit with man's spirit. This second spiritual birth creates a new spiritual creature as described in Paul's letters to Corinth. The spirit of man is not autonomous. It cannot survive in and of itself. It depends upon either a physical body, limited in duration in time and space, or the spirit of God. In Genesis 2 & 3 we read that the spirit of man was created by God and given a portion of God's spirit. Unfortunately man fell due to SIN and God withdrew that immortality. It resulted in death both physical and spiritual for the race of man. Only the second birth can guarantee immortal life to a human spirit. Jesus doesn't manage a torture chamber in the bowels of the earth. When a man's life ends he either dies completely or is given a new spiritual body to accommodate the mingling of divine spirit and human spirit created by the second birth. that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

I agree, especially with your phrasing of 'prophets to the nation'. There aren't any real ones to be found. I suspect if there were such a person he or she would be in prison by now. Such declarations would not be popular with anyone, including the debauched church. For personal purposes, I generally employ one of the Old Testament definitions of a prophet. I understand there are several, including one who predicts the future, but the one I adhere to is simply preaching the Word of God from a pulpit or other public place. Is not encouragement of believers more important than self-aggrandizement? Your assessment of the dilution of the words of a modern prophet among separate denominations is interesting. Oddly, I think such a person would be more likely to be embraced by secular society than the religious communities these days. Have we seen any false prophets accepted by secular and religious communities in America recently? hmmm that's me, hollering from the choir loft...