Henaynei
15th April 2004, 08:16 PM
The below was originally written just after 9/11/01 - but remain no less cogent today than then......
What I [think out loud] below will possibly make some of you scared, others angry, still others prayerful - however, they are just my musings as I pray and consider the current happenings........ sobering thoughts and the grist for much prayer.
There IS a state religion in America. It is protected by law, funded by our taxes and given preferential treatment in all areas of civil and social life. It is Pantheism [Merriam-Webster: the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently; also : toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire] Essentially creating a god after their own image, they imagine in their hardened hearts that all gods, any gods, are really just the same god........
Is it possible this time that we (Believers and Servants of HaShem [G-d], the Unique and Holy) are entering is similar to the time that the Messianic Jews experienced around 70 AD?
They wanted desperately to fight along side their Jewish brethren/countrymen to rid Israel of the Roman oppression and terror - but could not because the 'banner' of the leader of the Israeli forces was his claim to being THE Messiah, and the Rabbis so proclaimed him. [To the Rabbis it seemed politically expedient to create a point around which the most Jews could rally and secure their common will - sound familiar?] The Messianic Jews could not follow a false messiah, no matter what the earthly cost. What a difficult and gut wrenching choice that must have been. The price for the Messianic Jewish community [how many capitulated, rejected Yeshua and embraced Bar Kokhba??] was eventual, and almost total, annihilation, and for the entire house of Israel [Messianic and non-Messianic, alike] defeat and the Diaspora.......
Fast forward to today ---------------------->
Our nation is under attack... we have reeled with the images, thoughts, implications.... now our nation is going to war.
However, the banner of this war is "As we pray to G-d let us remember that 'all gods are the Same god.'" In other words - Buddha is god, Allah is god, Krishna is god, Yeshua is G-d...... etc. This was seen very clearly in the addresses given at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, where the invocation stated they were praying in the name of "the G-d of the Christians, the Jews and the Muslims." They used the singular, "G-d," not the plural, "gods." Plural 'gods' would have been blasphemy enough. But to attribute to the One, True and Holy G-d, that his name is also Allah - is clear and supreme blasphemy. Similar statements [including Allah and other gods (sihks, hindus, buddists, shinto, etc.... as the same as G-d] have also been heard at gatherings of prayer and rememberence around the country.
G-d says:
Isaiah 42:8 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=isa+42:8&version=str&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) I am the L-RD: that is My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images [idols/other gods].
Isaiah 48:11 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=isa+48:11&version=str&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My Name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another [god].
We all see marquees, banners and signs declaring: "G-d Bless America!" But almost no where do you see or even hear: "America, Repent so G-d CAN bless you!"
I fully recognize, and agree, that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell were ill-advised, and even wrong, in their address to the nation. But I agree with the scriptural premise on which they based it. The problem was more the WAY they said what they said, not with WHAT they said.
They seem to see the problem of disobedience to G-d and sin in this country as a "you" problem and not a "we" problem. All the Kings, Prophets and Priests in G-d's word that ever called the people of G-d to repentance started their warning with WE - they got down on their faces and begged forgiveness from G-d for their own callus disobedience before they pointed their fingers at the nation.
However, as difficult to hear as it might be, it remains true that G-d says:
Deut. 29:17 You have seen their [other nation's] detestable things, the filthy idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, that were among them. 29:18 It may be that there is among you a man or woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart is already turning away from the L-rd our G-d to serve the gods of those nations. It may be that there is among you a root sprouting poisonous and bitter growth. 29:19 All who hear the words of this oath and bless themselves, thinking in their hearts, "We are safe even though we go our own stubborn ways" [saying: "My god is a good G-d and would never do these things, no matter what I/we do"]— 29:20 the L-rd will be unwilling to pardon them, for the L-rd's anger and passion will smoke against them. All the curses written in this book will descend on them, and the L-rd will blot out their names from under heaven. 29:22 The next generation, your children who rise up after you, as well as the foreigner who comes from a distant country, will see the devastation of that land and the afflictions with which the Lord has afflicted it— [b]The Body of Messiah in this country claims as their birthright, the blessings of Deut 28, which were clearly given to Israel. *IF* they claim the blessings inherited from obedience they must also be willing to accept the responsibility to the outcomes of disobedience - you *can't* have your cake and eat it too! G-d has set the rules, whether we like it or not.
29:23 all its soil burned out by sulfur and salt, nothing planted, nothing sprouting, unable to support any vegetation, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the L-rd destroyed in his fierce anger— 29:24 they and indeed all the nations will wonder, "Why has the L-rd done thus to this land? What caused this great display of anger?" 29:25 They will conclude, "It is because they abandoned the covenant of the L-rd, the G-d of their ancestors, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 29:26 They turned and served other gods, worshiping them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them; 29:27 so the anger of the L-rd was kindled against that land, bringing on it every curse written in this book. 29:28 The L-rd uprooted them from their land in anger, fury, and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as is now the case." 29:29 The secret things belong to the L-rd our G-d, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law. There is SO much of which we ALL need to repent - so much for which we need to be on our faces day and night pleading with G-d to forgive us......................
Where is the national call to repentance, will any one sound the Shofar (alarm blast), will anyone listen? If not, what is our decision as Servants of the only True G-d? Are you contemplating your choice? What would it be?
Should we be fasting and praying for the repentance of our country between now and Yom Kippur, and further if necessary??? What happened to Israel when they went out to battle in rebellion to G-d's Word?
I tremble, I weep.......................... I beg a Righteous and Just G-d for mercy....... and steel myself for making choices.............
Isaiah 50:7 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=isa+50:7&version=nrs&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) The L-rd G-d helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
What I [think out loud] below will possibly make some of you scared, others angry, still others prayerful - however, they are just my musings as I pray and consider the current happenings........ sobering thoughts and the grist for much prayer.
There IS a state religion in America. It is protected by law, funded by our taxes and given preferential treatment in all areas of civil and social life. It is Pantheism [Merriam-Webster: the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently; also : toleration of worship of all gods (as at certain periods of the Roman empire] Essentially creating a god after their own image, they imagine in their hardened hearts that all gods, any gods, are really just the same god........
Is it possible this time that we (Believers and Servants of HaShem [G-d], the Unique and Holy) are entering is similar to the time that the Messianic Jews experienced around 70 AD?
They wanted desperately to fight along side their Jewish brethren/countrymen to rid Israel of the Roman oppression and terror - but could not because the 'banner' of the leader of the Israeli forces was his claim to being THE Messiah, and the Rabbis so proclaimed him. [To the Rabbis it seemed politically expedient to create a point around which the most Jews could rally and secure their common will - sound familiar?] The Messianic Jews could not follow a false messiah, no matter what the earthly cost. What a difficult and gut wrenching choice that must have been. The price for the Messianic Jewish community [how many capitulated, rejected Yeshua and embraced Bar Kokhba??] was eventual, and almost total, annihilation, and for the entire house of Israel [Messianic and non-Messianic, alike] defeat and the Diaspora.......
Fast forward to today ---------------------->
Our nation is under attack... we have reeled with the images, thoughts, implications.... now our nation is going to war.
However, the banner of this war is "As we pray to G-d let us remember that 'all gods are the Same god.'" In other words - Buddha is god, Allah is god, Krishna is god, Yeshua is G-d...... etc. This was seen very clearly in the addresses given at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, where the invocation stated they were praying in the name of "the G-d of the Christians, the Jews and the Muslims." They used the singular, "G-d," not the plural, "gods." Plural 'gods' would have been blasphemy enough. But to attribute to the One, True and Holy G-d, that his name is also Allah - is clear and supreme blasphemy. Similar statements [including Allah and other gods (sihks, hindus, buddists, shinto, etc.... as the same as G-d] have also been heard at gatherings of prayer and rememberence around the country.
G-d says:
Isaiah 42:8 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=isa+42:8&version=str&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) I am the L-RD: that is My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images [idols/other gods].
Isaiah 48:11 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=isa+48:11&version=str&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My Name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another [god].
We all see marquees, banners and signs declaring: "G-d Bless America!" But almost no where do you see or even hear: "America, Repent so G-d CAN bless you!"
I fully recognize, and agree, that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell were ill-advised, and even wrong, in their address to the nation. But I agree with the scriptural premise on which they based it. The problem was more the WAY they said what they said, not with WHAT they said.
They seem to see the problem of disobedience to G-d and sin in this country as a "you" problem and not a "we" problem. All the Kings, Prophets and Priests in G-d's word that ever called the people of G-d to repentance started their warning with WE - they got down on their faces and begged forgiveness from G-d for their own callus disobedience before they pointed their fingers at the nation.
However, as difficult to hear as it might be, it remains true that G-d says:
Deut. 29:17 You have seen their [other nation's] detestable things, the filthy idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, that were among them. 29:18 It may be that there is among you a man or woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart is already turning away from the L-rd our G-d to serve the gods of those nations. It may be that there is among you a root sprouting poisonous and bitter growth. 29:19 All who hear the words of this oath and bless themselves, thinking in their hearts, "We are safe even though we go our own stubborn ways" [saying: "My god is a good G-d and would never do these things, no matter what I/we do"]— 29:20 the L-rd will be unwilling to pardon them, for the L-rd's anger and passion will smoke against them. All the curses written in this book will descend on them, and the L-rd will blot out their names from under heaven. 29:22 The next generation, your children who rise up after you, as well as the foreigner who comes from a distant country, will see the devastation of that land and the afflictions with which the Lord has afflicted it— [b]The Body of Messiah in this country claims as their birthright, the blessings of Deut 28, which were clearly given to Israel. *IF* they claim the blessings inherited from obedience they must also be willing to accept the responsibility to the outcomes of disobedience - you *can't* have your cake and eat it too! G-d has set the rules, whether we like it or not.
29:23 all its soil burned out by sulfur and salt, nothing planted, nothing sprouting, unable to support any vegetation, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the L-rd destroyed in his fierce anger— 29:24 they and indeed all the nations will wonder, "Why has the L-rd done thus to this land? What caused this great display of anger?" 29:25 They will conclude, "It is because they abandoned the covenant of the L-rd, the G-d of their ancestors, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 29:26 They turned and served other gods, worshiping them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them; 29:27 so the anger of the L-rd was kindled against that land, bringing on it every curse written in this book. 29:28 The L-rd uprooted them from their land in anger, fury, and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as is now the case." 29:29 The secret things belong to the L-rd our G-d, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law. There is SO much of which we ALL need to repent - so much for which we need to be on our faces day and night pleading with G-d to forgive us......................
Where is the national call to repentance, will any one sound the Shofar (alarm blast), will anyone listen? If not, what is our decision as Servants of the only True G-d? Are you contemplating your choice? What would it be?
Should we be fasting and praying for the repentance of our country between now and Yom Kippur, and further if necessary??? What happened to Israel when they went out to battle in rebellion to G-d's Word?
I tremble, I weep.......................... I beg a Righteous and Just G-d for mercy....... and steel myself for making choices.............
Isaiah 50:7 (http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=isa+50:7&version=nrs&st=1&sd=1&new=1&showtools=1) The L-rd G-d helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;