The Naked Truth

 

Colonialism Related to Modern Evaluation of Ancient Writings

 I know, that is a not-very-inviting headline!  I personally would probably skip reading a blog with that title, but since you are here I will reward you with the best read today.

It is from the silly translation (The Message) of Daniel chapter 9.  "Your compassion is our hope."

Powerful and true words.  Daniel's entire prayer in chapter 9 is so in alignment with the heart of God for His chosen people and chosen land that Gabriel is dispatched to speak with Daniel face to face.  The only other times Gabriel is dispatched it is to announce to key players the arrival of the Messiah, so Mary (Miriam, the name means bitter) and Zechariah, (the name means remember) are given the Great News that Messiah, long awaited, is about to burst on the scene.

Okay so what do we mean by "colonialism"?  The Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast guys interviewed a Jewish Rabbi, Joshua Berman and he used this term related to the "critical scholars" who approach scripture with the idea that, "Everyone through out all time should write and record their history the way that we do now. Our way is the only right way."  Literary conventions have changed over time, we know this is the case and all sorts of things change in cultures over time.  That does not make our time better than other times. I would say Rock n Roll music was way better in the 70's but other people may disagree.  It would be "colonialism" related to Rock n Roll music if I were to say, no other Rock n Roll is any good, only 70's rock, but since I kind of like listening to Olivia Rodrigo, I would never say that.

Quoting from an article on colonialism, "According to Gandhi, it is through the practice of non-cooperation with oppression that the force of truth is animated." (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/colonialism/)  Using this example the "non-violent" approach to fighting against colonialism in the modern evaluation of ancient writings would be simply to point out, that what is normal and expected in our telling of our story or of our telling of history is not the be-all-end-all, only way, that the story can be told.  When ancient writers want to go back and tell a story from a different angle that is okay and if we would dig a little further, instead of just yelling, "contradiction, contradiction" we would benefit greatly.  It is always good to stay in a place of humility and turn aside to see the burning bush, because if you don't stand there long enough looking at it, you would not know that it is burning, but not consuming the bush!

Slow down and enjoy the differences presented in the creation story and the Noah story and etc. Be a humble student, not a pride-filled professor.  Maybe that is what Yeshua meant in Matthew 23 when He exhorts His followers to have only ONE Leader, Father, Rabbi!

The Cursing of the Fig Tree

 Let's look at these verses and see what was going on, as this one time event. 

Yeshua curses the fig tree.

We need to look at this burning bush and come close to consider this. 

Matt. 21:18-22

Mark 11:12-25

 https://www.gotquestions.org/curse-fig-tree.html

Scarcity vs. Abundance

 James 4:1 "1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."

 

The idea that we don't have enough within our boundary drives man to go off to war to get someone else's boundary. Lives are lost, Minds are destroyed, hope is taken away, PTSD runs rampant, suicides go way up.  

Scarcity that mindset that stuff is limited and God is not going to/or currently giving us enough leads us to go off and fight with other human beings.

But where Jesus is there was always abundance, even when they were down to 4 loaves and 2 fish.

He is enough.

The Tower of Babel, What's the Big Deal?

 A place of safety above the judgment of God in a flood, man made.

 The book of Jubilee's say it was about one mile high.

The goal to make a name for themselves.  To be high above the judgment of God.

It was rebellion and earned them the unfortunate prize of false gods ruling over them.

It also earned them the prize of being divided, division is a judgment a punishment.

 

AI, Yeshua and Cussing

 Part of a very well worded response from BING AI on cussing.

 "However, it is important to note that the appropriateness of swearing can vary depending on the context and social norms. In some situations, swearing can be used to express strong emotions, humor, or camaraderie. It is up to individuals to decide when and where to use profanity, but it is always advisable to be mindful of the audience and the situation."

The Rolling Stone magazine in a review of Guts by Olivia Rodrigo had a very interesting line.

"She uses cussing when it is needed." or something like that and I agree.

Queen of Denmark when sung live by Sinead O' Connor is powerful and cathartic.

as is Last Day of Our Acquaintance.

And it should be pointed out that Yeshua called people "sons of the satan" pretty sure that would have been considered offensive and inappropriate by some.

Yeshua Wanted John the Baptist to Focus on the Resurrection THE SAME AS HE DOES US!

 "the blind see and the lame walk, those with tzara’at are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised and the poor have good news proclaimed to them."  Matthew 11:5

Luke 7:22 "And answering, He said to them, “Go report to John what you saw and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, those with tzara’at are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them."

If you look at the account of that day, no one was raised from the dead.  In the series, "The Chosen" Yeshua states specifically to the disciples of John, "Oh and tell him the dead are raised also." IMO this is a coded and very merciful, message to John -- "There is no lasting hope in this evil age, but all your hope and my message in this coming is, The Kingdom is Coming and Resurrection after death in this evil age is the path to that Kingdom."  "John, my beloved cousin, you don't have to "look for another" but you do have to take all your hope out of this evil age and transfer it to the Kingdom to come"

"I will rule from Jerusalem, I will be in control of the Kingdom on this earth, but there are two comings, one now, and one at the Day of the Lord."