Questions and Answers
We will continue to look at further false assumptions as we have done in the first two in this series of Q&A’s. FALSE ASSUMPTION No. 6 Apart from Christmas, the other major time for Christians is Easter, which again we will see that it is not quite what it may seem to be. Many believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday afternoon and resurrected on Sunday morning. But this cannot be true. If we look at the Bible rather than man’s approach of “I think this, that or the other,” we get the correct answer. We read in Matthew 12:39-40: “But He (Jesus) answered and said to them [some of the Scribes and the Pharisees], ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’” (Matthew 12:39-40). It is as clear as day for those with eyes to see when we read that just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish or… In the first Q&A in this series, we looked at the malevolent nature and influence of Satan the devil and started to look at false assumptions that many may make about different situations and teachings in the Bible. We know that Satan’s influence is everywhere and in every sphere, and is recognised by those faithful believers in the one true God. Let us continue with further false biblical assumptions. FALSE ASSUMPTION No. 3 Many think that Jesus didn’t own a home and that He was a vagabond – a person who had no home, without a job and who travelled from place to place. In Matthew 8:20, we read: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’” We read the following on page 49 in our booklet, “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?” “While Matthew 8:20 is not as specific as to the timing, the parallel passage in Luke 9:58 is given in the context of when He was on a journey with His disciples and the Samaritans refused to grant them shelter (compare Luke 9:51–56; note verse 57: ‘NOW it happened as they journeyed on the road…’). There were… It can be relatively easy to read, misread, misunderstand or take a different view of almost anything where an individual may feel that his or her opinion is the right one. However, when we talk about the Bible, there is a clear statement in Deuteronomy 4:2 where we read: “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” What must also be uppermost in our minds is that Satan will try his best to confuse and redirect the people of God away from the Truth. His influence is everywhere to be seen. He is described in the Bible in Ephesians 2:1-2 as follows: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” We also read in 2 Corinthians 4:4: “… whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Satan is currently… Some may wonder why we hold a conference for the ministry. What is the purpose of meeting together? Before we answer this question, some background history might be helpful. In July of this year, it will mark the 25th year of existence for the Church of the Eternal God (CEG). While this is a good and impressive milestone, what is most important is that we continue doing the Work of God with fervency and zeal. Many people at the time when CEG was started stated that this organization would not last more than a few months. Yet, by the grace of God, we continue to operate and God continues to help open doors for us to preach the Gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19-20; 16:17-18). One of the core tenets of CEG found in our Statement of Beliefs is the following: “The Church’s Commission: “We believe that it is the Church’s commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness, to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe) of impending danger, and to feed the flock of Christ –… Abram was tested when God told him, as related in Genesis 12:1, “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house To a land that I will show you.” And Abram obeyed. Genesis 12:4 states: “So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” Although this is not stated as a test, Hebrews 11:8 informs us that, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” This would certainly have been a test to Abram, but God tested him more severely when He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Genesis 22:1-2 reads: “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains… We live in a world of constant surveillance, where governments and companies constantly monitor our communications. They use this information in many ways; for example, knowing what we purchase can help with tailored advertising. Other information can help governments know who we will vote for (even though we in God’s Church should not vote in governmental elections). This is usually with the aim of knowing our future actions and possibly influencing them for some purpose, whether political or commercial. As an example, this information can be used in “Nudge Technology”, a system where people are nudged to vote a certain way or purchase a certain product, or even partake of a medical procedure like a vaccine, and believe that they are making a free will choice, because there may be no mandate or coercion, but the desired aim of the government or company is still achieved. But does God “figure out” what we will do by knowing what we have done in the past and assuming we will continue doing likewise in the future? Or is there much more involved? For a start, what does God know? He reveals much about Himself in His Word, the Bible. But He does not reveal everything He knows to… My staff at work have come to expect my request to hear the end of a story before they launch into a long explanation for something that may or may not be significant. I make clear that I will listen to the story if they first succinctly share what happened. This has become a standard that even my board members expect of us. It makes us more effective in getting to the point and not drifting. Everything in the Bible is significant and mustn’t be abbreviated; however, it is beneficial never to lose sight of Scriptures that God wants us to live by. For example, John 3:16 is a foundational Scripture for all true Christians, and it sets the context for all that follows in the life of Jesus. Sadly, this Scripture has been widely messaged in greeting cards and billboards by mainstream “Christianity,” thus trivializing this amazing gift from God. So many in the world also consider the end of Jesus Christ’s human life as He died on the cross at the end of the story. This brings me to the point of this Q&A: how should true Christians discern the meaning of John 19:30? This Scripture captures a moment… Many young people today, when asked what they would like to be when they grow up, say that they would like to be famous. Being a celebrity has attractions that many would seem to covet. However, an immediate transformation from being a nobody to a somebody is a work-free promotion that many would not be able to cope with, nor would it be good for them. Having the adulation of many seems to be exciting, but dangers can lie ahead for those who suddenly become, for whatever reason, an icon, a famous figure and someone to follow. The cult of celebrity is alive and kicking and coveted by those who feel that it is for them. One writer opined that “Having rejected the morality of the Judeo-Christian basis for western society, we have turned to the lifestyle of celebrities to inform us as to right and wrong.” There are many examples of this by Hollywood actors and producers living and celebrating wrong life-styles which influence so many who look up to these “idols” and other “celebrities” who think that they know better than their Creator! Do you remember the 15 minutes of fame phrase from recent history? Wikipedia observes that this “is short-lived media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The… We read: “‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey”’” (1 Samuel 15:2-3). Note that God says, “I will punish Amalek…” Following their crossing of the Red Sea, the children of Israel encamped at Rephidim (Exodus 17). There, the Amalekites fought with Israel. The Amalekites, a tribal people living in the Negev and in the Sinai Peninsula, are first mentioned in Abraham’s time (Genesis 14:7). Amalek was one of Edom’s grandsons; Edom being Turkey today. Amalek’s descendants would include certain violent groups such as the PLO. In this battle, God helped Israel be victorious, but it was done through Moses holding up the Staff of God as Joshua and the Israelites fought with Amalek: “So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ And Moses built… More specifically, can you use a sourdough starter, or allow it to live in your fridge through the spring Holy Days? There are a few bakers in the Church who have received sourdough starters and have started to make sourdough bread. A sourdough starter is essentially flour, water and salt. Once these ingredients are added together it begins to ferment. There is natural wild yeast that is on ground flour that begins the process of fermentation when it is combined with the water and salt. The longer a starter is allowed to grow and be used, it gains flavor characteristics, and older starters are prized as having a fuller flavor and stronger binding properties. Some of the oldest actively used sourdough starters are over a century old, with notable examples including a 120-year-old Yukon Gold Rush starter and San Francisco starters dating back to the mid-19th century. Many family-kept starters are 50–100 years old. Recently, there was even an experimental, 4,500-year-old yeast from Egyptian pottery that has been revived and used to bake bread. When we look at the properties of sourdough starter, while no commercial yeast is added, the key point is that the starter is fermenting and growing, which gets to the heart…How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 3)
How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 2)
How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 1)
Why do we have a ministerial conference?
Does God know what we will do in the future? (Part 2)
Does God know what we will do in the future? (Part 1)
Was Christ’s death just the beginning?
Is the cult of celebrity the opposite of true Christianity?
Why did God command Saul to utterly destroy Amalek rather than doing so Himself?
Is sourdough bread allowed during the Days of Unleavened Bread?