FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

  

A pastor friend explained that there are 613 rules in the Old Testament. He made the point that only some obeyed all of them. He suggested that among the non-Jewish people, a lot of people eat pork and shellfish.  

He also suggested that much of the Old Testament was passed on by tradition and was written down later.  

I want to take 2 Timothy 3:16 seriously: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

This friend also suggested that many of us (almost all of us) are “Cafeteria Christians” - we pick and choose what verses we hold onto - and what verses we forget.  

But if we take the viewpoint that much of the Old Testament was passed on by lore and tradition, it might help us understand.

Pork eating. Growing up, trichinosis was a problem. “Trichinosis was once very common in the United States, but infection is now rare. The number of cases has decreased because of legislation prohibiting feeding raw-meat garbage to hogs, commercial and home freezing of pork, and the public awareness of the danger of eating raw or undercooked pork products.”

But, in the desert - after leaving Egypt, the Hebrews couldn’t cook pork enough to kill trichinosis - so Moses prohibited it.  

Likewise, “You may have heard the saying that you should only eat oysters in months that contain the letter “r,” meaning oysters harvested in the warmer summer months of May through August were not safe for consumption. However, oysters are sold and consumed year-round with little to no worries.

One of the early plagues of Moses killed ALL the cattle in the land of Egypt - but in Genesis 12, all the firstborn of cattle died in the Passover of the angel of death. (Hmm - all were dead - but even afterward, more died?) 

So, Moses was trying to establish basic ground rules for a vast group crossing the desert. I’m guessing some of the rules from the Pentetuch were passed down as lore for a while until written.  

I stress “LOVE WINS” - and use particular verses (Love your neighbor as yourself, Love covers a multitude of sin, if you say you love God but hate your brother you are liars, and the “Love Chapter” (1 Corinthians 13).  

Others emphasize “many are called and few are chosen,” or the road is narrow that leads to God.  

I have trouble with some verses:

 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, Love, and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2: 14-15)

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man but to be silent. (1 Timothy 2:10-11)

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for women to speak in church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

I am picking a MERCIFUL GOD over a narrow, judgmental God. I can’t judge others. I can only examine my own conscious. (And I even have trouble with that!!)

God - be merciful to me - a sinner!! Jesus interacted with tax collectors, sinners, and other unsavory characters. Sometimes, it seems like modern Christians are like Jesus’ description of Pharisees - “White Washed Tombs.”

Let me be Salt and Light to the world - not dull and lifeless. Let me love and help all!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, NOVEMBER 10, 2023