of Locusts and Carob Pods
"Where is your faith, at least it has been suggested that John the Baptist ate carob pods and not locusts."
Why is my faith questioned. Why because if I choose not believe something really odd with no evidence whatsoever my faith is questioned. "Can't you just have a little faith," is asked of me. Everyone seems to jump to Heb. 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I agree with this but there is something I wonder of this passage
People want Heb 11:1 to mean blind faith of all the wacky things that are out there. If one considers the context of Heb 11:1 and remove the fake chapter divisions and the fake verse divisions we come with a new context. We see that the passage prior to the Heb 11 refers to persecution and that King Messiah is coming back for those who are faithful. Consider 10:35-39 the paragraph just before 11:1:
Now for my running commentary
So do not throw away [cast aside]your confidence [of faith in King Messiah just because times are getting rough]; it [your confidence of faith in Messiah] will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere [till the end] so that when you have done the will of G-d [preserving faith under persecution], you will receive what He has promised [in the world to come]. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay [King Messiah comes for his own]. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved [those who have kept the faith are given a place in the world to come].
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. [the rest of chapter 1 is what? Commentary on this verse and examples of 10:35-39.]
Okay so what is faith. Faith is belief to the end. We are all given reasons for faith. Meaning there are good reasons to believe. The Holy One, blessed be He, has not given us philosophical certainty for faith. If we had a philosophical certainty [or even a reasonable person's understanding of 100% that there is a G-d and His Messiah the 100% proof to back it up] then we would not need faith because there would be nothing to believe it would be as natural as accepting gravity. We could test and empirical prove that G-d is who He said He was. Then we would be expected to worship and be no better the angels, whom we shall judge. Instead, we are given an area in which we can believe or not believe.
Think about this for a moment. We are given the opportunity to believe. This belief is often described as a blind faith. nothing could be further from the truth. I do not have the time or space to list everything, I am going to assume that you are smart enough to read books and so I suggest:
I have faith that King Messiah will return one day. Why do I believe this, because everything else he has asked to be accept and believe, I do. I believe, based on the evidence, that he came and was born of young girl who had no prior relationships. Based on the evidence I believe that the BIble we have today is what was said way back when. I believe, because of the evidence that, He died on a stake, was buried, and rose again on the third day. As the words from one of my favorite traditional songs Ani ma'amin says:
Translation:
So again, tell me why do I not have faith if I do not want to believe, against all evidence, that John the Baptist ate carob pods and not locusts.
Tags: Faith, Yeshua, Why Bother, Philosopy, veggies, Odd
Why is my faith questioned. Why because if I choose not believe something really odd with no evidence whatsoever my faith is questioned. "Can't you just have a little faith," is asked of me. Everyone seems to jump to Heb. 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I agree with this but there is something I wonder of this passage
People want Heb 11:1 to mean blind faith of all the wacky things that are out there. If one considers the context of Heb 11:1 and remove the fake chapter divisions and the fake verse divisions we come with a new context. We see that the passage prior to the Heb 11 refers to persecution and that King Messiah is coming back for those who are faithful. Consider 10:35-39 the paragraph just before 11:1:
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Now for my running commentary
So do not throw away [cast aside]your confidence [of faith in King Messiah just because times are getting rough]; it [your confidence of faith in Messiah] will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere [till the end] so that when you have done the will of G-d [preserving faith under persecution], you will receive what He has promised [in the world to come]. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay [King Messiah comes for his own]. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved [those who have kept the faith are given a place in the world to come].
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. [the rest of chapter 1 is what? Commentary on this verse and examples of 10:35-39.]
Okay so what is faith. Faith is belief to the end. We are all given reasons for faith. Meaning there are good reasons to believe. The Holy One, blessed be He, has not given us philosophical certainty for faith. If we had a philosophical certainty [or even a reasonable person's understanding of 100% that there is a G-d and His Messiah the 100% proof to back it up] then we would not need faith because there would be nothing to believe it would be as natural as accepting gravity. We could test and empirical prove that G-d is who He said He was. Then we would be expected to worship and be no better the angels, whom we shall judge. Instead, we are given an area in which we can believe or not believe.
Think about this for a moment. We are given the opportunity to believe. This belief is often described as a blind faith. nothing could be further from the truth. I do not have the time or space to list everything, I am going to assume that you are smart enough to read books and so I suggest:
Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Love G-d With All Your Mind
A Reasonable Faith
A Reasonable Faith (another)
Mere Christianity
I have faith that King Messiah will return one day. Why do I believe this, because everything else he has asked to be accept and believe, I do. I believe, based on the evidence, that he came and was born of young girl who had no prior relationships. Based on the evidence I believe that the BIble we have today is what was said way back when. I believe, because of the evidence that, He died on a stake, was buried, and rose again on the third day. As the words from one of my favorite traditional songs Ani ma'amin says:
Ani ma'amin,
Be'emuna shelema
Beviat hamashiach ani ma'amin
Beviat hamashiach, ma'amin
Beviat hamashiach ani ma'amin
Beviat hamashiach, ma'amin
Veaf al pi sheyitmahmeha
Im kol zeh, achake loh
Veaf al pi sheyitmahmeha
Im kol zeh, achake loh
Im kol zeh, im kol zeh, achake loh
Achake bechol yom sheyavoh
Im kol zeh, im kol zeh, achake loh
Achake bechol yom sheyavoh
Translation:
I believe with complete faith
In the coming of the Messiah, I believe
Believe in the coming of the Messiah
In the coming of the Messiah, I believe
Believe in the coming of the Messiah
And even though he may tarry
Nonetheless I will wait for him
And even though he may tarry
Nonetheless I will wait for him
Nonetheless, I will wait for him
I will wait every day for him to come
Nonetheless, I will wait for him
I will wait every day for him to come
So again, tell me why do I not have faith if I do not want to believe, against all evidence, that John the Baptist ate carob pods and not locusts.
Tags: Faith, Yeshua, Why Bother, Philosopy, veggies, Odd
posted by MacIke @ 10:42 AM
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