tabernacleheart

[tabernacleheart]

There are numerous historical and sociopolitical reasons why anti-Semitism has the dark power to unite political, cultural, and religious rivals, but perhaps the deepest explanation is theological: it was the Jews who first shattered the world’s multifaceted idols, announcing the revelation that there is one living God who created and continues to sustain all existence, including human existence. This is the theological, metaphysical, and moral core of the shema, which comes from the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy and Numbers, though its core is in Deuteronomy 6:4-6: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your might." This is the great idol-smashing declaration of the Hebrew Scriptures. And it indelibly changed history. Inter-tribal enmity has been with us since the fall, but the terms of warfare, prior to the arrival of the Jews, were stable: you get to have your gods, and we get to have ours; we may, and likely will, do everything in our power to destroy you and your gods, but we will not deny that there are multiplegods. Despite lethal disagreement over whose gods were superior, in other words, a quiet polytheistic understanding held the whole melee together, forming the battlefield upon which all tribes advanced their respective deities. But then came the Jews, announcing that there was— there is— one God, and that that God, while active in the world, is not to be found anywhere in the world. The Jews also affirmed that the whole purpose of human life was— is— to love the one God with all your being. There could be no substitutes.  This was the greatest buzzkill in history; and for that act, the act of demasking and de-divinizing every past and future idol, the twisted hearts of fallen men would never forgive the Jewish people. A devilish pact was thus made: Whatever wars we wage on each other, we will never lose sight of the common enemy: those who, by their very existence, disturb our labors to fashion and worship our own idols. We will hate each other, but we will always hate them more— and it is that hate that will unite us all.  This is the idolatry of anti-Semitism.  Modern and postmodern minds may scoff at this explanation. “We don’t believe in gods,” they may say, “and so don’t believe in idols.” But that’s just the deities’ toxic nectar talking. Of course you worship idols; you just call them “the climate,” and “social justice,” and “the nation,” and “equity,” and “autonomy,” and “getting high,” and “trans rights,” and “the market” and “safety,” and “diversity” and “inclusion,” and “war,” and “Republicans” and “Democrats,” and, above all, “ME, ME, ME.”    The Jews were the first to put a pox on all these houses, generating the initial crack in the self-induced spell that dupes us into believing, like Adam and Eve, that we have the power to fabricate our own made-to-order divinities. Same as it always was, anti-Semites of both left and right are thus not seeking freedom, liberation, or justice for themselves or anyone else. They are seeking revenge on the original truth tellers, desperately and delusionally hoping that erasing the messengers will somehow erase the message.   

Dr. Matthew Petrusek; One Hate to Unite Them All: The Idolatry of Anti-Semitism

#Dr. Matthew Petrusek #antisemitism #Idolatry

[tabernacleheart]

The law that responsibility is the other side of privilege is written into life... The more knowledge a man has, the more he is to be condemned if he does not recognize the good when he sees it. [And so] whenever a man is confronted with Jesus, [the highest Good of life,] that man at once passes a judgment on himself. If he sees in Jesus nothing to desire, nothing to admire, nothing to love, then he has condemned himself. If he sees in Jesus something to wonder at, something to respond to, something to reach out to, then he is on the way to God. The man who is conscious of his own blindness, and who longs to see better and to know more, is the man whose eyes can be opened and who can be led more and more deeply into the truth. The man who thinks he knows it all, the man who does not realize that he cannot see, is the man who is truly blind and beyond hope and help. Only the man who realizes his own weakness can become strong. Only the man who realizes his own blindness can learn to see. Only the man who realizes his own sin can be forgiven.

William Barclay

#a vital warning #jesus christ #humility #Pride #Divine Paradox #this hits hard #remember this #Knowledge #Judgment #Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future #Truth #William Barclay

[tabernacleheart]

...Man's suffering shows what God can do. Affliction, sorrow, pain, disappointment, loss always are opportunities for displaying God's grace. First, it enables the sufferer to show God in action. When trouble and disaster fall upon a man who does not know God, that man may well collapse; but when they fall on a man who walks with God, they bring out the strength and the beauty, and the endurance and the nobility, which are within a man's heart when God is there. It is told that when an old saint was dying in an agony of pain, he sent for his family, saying: "Come and see how a Christian can die." It is when life hits us a terrible blow that we can show the world how a Christian can live, and, if need be, die. Any kind of suffering is an opportunity to demonstrate the glory of God in our own lives. 

William Barclay

#i love this so much #This is why I love being Catholic #William Barclay #Holy death #Final perseverance #christian living #reflect on this #Virtue #suffering #trials #Stand strong in the faith #God is with us even now #witness #All glory to God #this means so much to me

[tabernacleheart]

"...On the morning of Aug. 15, the Feast of the Assumption, wave upon wave of Soviet soldiers continued to attack Warsaw. Yet that morning, from within the city, Polish forces managed somehow to stem their advance. And then, against all odds, they began to retake ground that the Red Army had won. The Soviets started to wonder how the Polish army, which they had seen defeated for many weeks, had begun to fight back with fresh heart against a superior foe. A Soviet counterattack ensued, but it was futile. The Red Army was unable to vanquish the defending Poles. In fact, as the day of Aug. 15 progressed, Polish soldiers seemed to become bolder in counterattack. Strange rumors began to circulate in Warsaw. Some claimed that in the sky above the Polish lines had appeared the Black Madonna of Czestochowa..."

#Our lady of Czestochowa #Polish catholics #Miracle of vistula

[tabernacleheart]

[In the Gospel of] John, the miracles [of Christ] are always a sign of the glory and the power of God. The writers of the other gospels had a different point of view; and regarded them as a demonstration of the compassion of Jesus. When Jesus looked on the hungry crowd He had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd (Mark 6:34). When the leper came with his desperate request for cleansing, Jesus was moved with compassion (Mark 1:41). It is often urged that, in this, the Fourth Gospel is quite different from the others. Surely there is no real contradiction here. It is simply two ways of looking at the same thing. At its heart is the supreme truth that the glory of God lies in His compassion, and that He never so fully reveals His glory as when He reveals His pity.

William Barclay

#jesus christ #reflect on this #the glory of god #the love of god #Miracles #Mark #John #compassion #The character of Christ #William Barclay

[tabernacleheart]

In Scripture, we shall always find the Lord of all using gentleness most worthy of love; for He does not repay with equal wrath those who blaspheme Him, although He knows that they deserve such bitter punishment. Rather, imitating the most gentle of physicians, He heeds not the insults of his patients who are mad, but patiently applies to them the fitting remedies, curing what gives them pain. Although railed against at times, the good physician truthfully explains what is for the improvement of their health, persuades them to be diligent in what is for their good, and makes known the cause of their sickness. Yes, in this very manner the Lord Jesus Christ both bears with those who blaspheme Him and does good to those who revile Him. He binds up the wounds of them who insult Him, and most clearly reveals to them the cause of their sickness– their unbelief in Him. Christ is fighting against that disease, but never against the patient, never against the sinner, whom He fervently wishes to restore to health of body and mind.

Saint Cyril of Alexandria; Commentary on John 8:15 (paraphrased)

#Saint cyril of alexandria #Jesus Christ #Divine mercy #Christ the Divine physician #Unbelief #Sin is a sickness #Sin #Spiritual healing #the love of god #remember this #biblical commentary #John 8:15 #Patience

[tabernacleheart]

...Quite often we have [this] kind of a thought of a direct retribution from God when calamity comes to us... [it is the same] attitude that was expressed by the men who came to comfort Job in his affliction. "You must have done something horrible, man. Just confess to God and get it over with. Why are you going on in your misery? Don't try and tell us you're innocent. No one would suffer like this unless he were an evil person." And yet, the whole story of Job, seeing the whole picture as we have that opportunity in the Bible, we understand that it was not God's judgment upon Job for some sin that he had done. Satan was afflicting him in order to prove to God that Job would fail. [Well, the devil lost that bet! Yet we still side with the hecklers.] "God is punishing me for something that I have done," or something that I did. And thus, "this hardship, or this difficulty, or this painful experience, is coming to me as God's judgment upon me because of some wrongdoing." If that were so, I wouldn't be here tonight. You see, if God brought that kind of a direct cause/effect judgment upon people, then God would have to be fair in His justice system. And thus, every person who did the same kind of a deed would have to receive the same kind of a judgment for it. There is not that cause and effect type of judgment at the present time– there will be [at the end of time,] and God will be just when He judges, because it will be completely equal judgment– but right now, God is seeking to draw men to Himself. [Right now we have the amazingly patient mercy of God towards us sinners. Why? Because] Jesus said, "I didn't come to condemn the world, but that the world through Me might be saved" ( John 3:17 ).

Chuck Smith

#jesus christ #reflect on this #Divine mercy #Suffering #The book of job #Chuck Smith #divine justice #I am tragically guilty of this #Condemnation

[tabernacleheart]

[In John 9:35,] we see this interesting case of a man who was put out by organized religion. They put him outside the fold. They cast him out, but Jesus found him and took him in.

Chuck Smith

#Chuck smith #jesus christ #the love of god #God loves you #John 9 #Religion #ex religious

[tabernacleheart]

Sometimes people need to hear the simple truth even if it scares them. Yes, God is love and blessings to those who are on the straight and narrow path, but for those who are straying, the severity of God must be reminded them. Don’t be afraid to speak the simple truth of God’s word [just because] it might prick the heart of the lost or straying. Yes, it can be uncomfortable for you or for them, possibly even painful, but if it gets them on track and saves them from eternal damnation, is it not worth it? For the pricking is meant to cause us to believe and to heed the truth of the Word of God; a little humbling discomfort now is better then eternal torment in hell’s fires later. True love would believe, true love would warn, true love would goad if need be, and true love would fear for those who are not walking in the truth.

Marandia Wright

#Truth #God is truth #Holy fear #A vital warning #This is so important #Evangelization #Speak the truth #The word of God #spiritual works of mercy #Mirandia wright

[tabernacleheart]

It [is] utterly pointless to search for truth anywhere else [but] from God and His written Word... receiving truth from God will refresh your soul [as you] believe, reverence, trust, and obey God and His every Word. That includes the uncomfortable words also: not just the loving and encouraging ones, but also the hard words of correction and direction that prick our hearts. [Yet these sharp words can save a soul– their convictions are meant to] make it move forward when it doesn’t want to, or to keep it on a straight and narrow path when it wants to veer off. [This saving purpose even in such hard words illustrates] that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Marandia Wright

#Truth #the bible #the word of god #God is truth #Faith #Religion is all or nothing #Wisdom #Holy fear #Correction

[tabernacleheart]

We spend a lot of time explaining the Bible, but very little time believing it. One day someone is going to pick up a Bible and simply believe it, and that person will change the world.

Leonard Ravenhill

#leonard ravenhill #Faith #Believe in the gospel #the bible

[tabernacleheart]

The two most powerful tools in helping others heal are empathy and love. No one modeled this better than Jesus. His ability to see beyond the exterior and help others was driven by His love and shown by His empathy. To be driven by love is to see beyond one’s behavior, which is the essence of the Gospel: While we were still sinners, God loved us.

Will Hutcherson & Chinwé Williams

#jesus christ #the love of god #empathy #love your enemies #the gospel #Chinwé Williams #Will Hutcherson

[tabernacleheart]

[Note] Christ’s method with the sinner: To save her soul was evidently our Lord’s one thought. And He proceeded to do it in His own strange, loving way, as only He can do it. What that sin of hers was to Him, the Infinitely Pure, accustomed to the chastenesses of heaven, only the purest among us, can, in the smallest measure, see! [And yet,] mark how [that] sin affected Him. It did not alienate Him for a moment. It did not separate Him. She was never despised. She was not degraded. She was not even reproached. [Rather,] He would bring her to penitence, that He may bring her to peace. And how will He do it? By love; all love. The past is not mentioned. He raises her. He expels sin by virtue; an old feeling by a new affection. He makes Himself attractive and lovely to a heart lonely, as only sin can make us lonely. ‘Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?’ Observe in her answer a confidingness; a ray of good; an awe. She said, ‘No man. Lord.’ And then, so instant, so free, so generous, so good, so like Himself— ‘Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.’ See what Jesus would be, at that moment, to that woman! How she would love Him! How she would be always trying to please Him! How she would draw close to Him! [See, too, how] where sin is the greatest, [Christ is ever more the] gentlest! And [He will] treat everybody hopefully.

Rev. James Vaughan; Commentary on John 8:1-11

#jesus christ #the nature of god #god is love #biblical commentary #this is deeply moving #The adulterous woman #John 8 #divine mercy #forgiveness #this means so much to me #do not despair #every saint has a past and every sinner has a future

[tabernacleheart]

Sinners are more severe to sinners than good men are; when a man’s own conscience is lashing him, he will assume a sterner aspect towards the same, or any other sin, in another person. The holier a person grows, the more tender and the more sympathetic he is with [sinners. Like] Christ, [his] desire all along [is] to bring [the sinner] into a state of salvation. [For] as a necessary step to salvation, [Christ] desired to convince [us] all of sin, [but] to save [each man's] soul was evidently our Lord's one thought.

Rev. James Vaughan

#Rev. James Vaughan #Mercy #Sin #forgiveness #Imitate Christ #humility #holiness #Gentleness #Hope #every saint has a past and every sinner has a future #do unto others as you would have then do unto you #love your enemies

[tabernacleheart]

Our Lord has said, “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death”; and this does not relate to the few who will remain at His second advent, but to the entire company of those who have kept His saying, even though they pass into the grave. What does this promise mean? It means this, in the first place: our face is turned away from death. Here am I, a poor sinner, convinced of sin, and aroused to a fear of wrath. What is there before my face? What am I compelled to gaze upon? The Greek is not fully interpreted by the word “see”: it is an intenser word... the sight here mentioned is that of “a long, steady, exhaustive vision, whereby we become slowly acquainted with the nature of the object to which it is directed.” The awakened sinner is made to look at eternal death, which is the threatened punishment of sin. He stands gazing upon the result of sin with terror and dismay. Oh, the wrath to come! The death that never dies! While unforgiven, I cannot help gazing upon it, and foreseeing it as my doom. When the gospel of the Lord Jesus comes to my soul, and I keep His saying by faith, I am turned completely round. My back is upon death, and my face is towards life eternal. Death is removed; life is received; and more life is promised. What do I see within, around, and before me? Why, life, and only life— life in Christ Jesus. 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

#charles haddon spurgeon #Hope #Death #Life #do not despair #the joy of the gospel #i can attest to this #every saint has a past and every sinner has a future #the wages of sin is death #Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners

[tabernacleheart]

Slavery to sin is the worst kind of slavery, because there is no escape from our self. 

David Guzik

#the terror of sin #Sin #the wages of sin is death #David Guzik #a vital warning

[tabernacleheart]

All true following of Christ begins with faith, or we might almost say that following is faith, for we find our Lord substituting the former expression for the latter... ‘I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not walk in darkness.’ The two ideas are not equivalent, but faith is the condition of following; and following is the outcome and test, because it is the operation, of faith. None but they who trust Him will follow Him. He who does not follow, does not trust. To follow Christ, means to long and strive after His companionship... It means the submission of the will, the effort of the whole nature, the daily conflict to reproduce His example, the resolute adoption of His command as my law, His providence as my will, His fellowship as my joy. And the root and beginning of all such following is in coming to Him, conscious of mine own darkness, and trustful in His great light. We must rely on a Guide before we accept His directions; and it is absurd to pretend that we trust Him, if we do not go as He bids us. So ‘Follow thou Me’ is, in a very real sense, the sum of all Christian duty.

Alexander MacLaren

#follow jesus #jesus christ #reflect on this #christian living #Alexander MacLaren #trust in jesus #humility #Faith #Trust