(07/18/2013) Destroying Justice?

An account from Scripture regarding divine wrath against children is the topic, today, along with more on labeling others as “stupid”.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “biggalloot2003“ (Level 5 with 9,162 points, a member since July 9, 2006) posted the following:

A question about justice…?

In 2 Kings 2:23-24 there is the story of the prophet Elisha who was angered because a group of children mocked him for being bald.

Elisha cursed them in the name of the lord and two she bears came out of the woods and slaughtered the 42 children.

Which do you think best describes this story;

A. This was another example of gods love. It was for their own good that god murdered them and sent them to hell.

B. This is another example of a just and merciful god. It was for their own good that god murdered them and sent them to hell.

C. God gave them free will, the children chose to die.

D. This was god’s day off and satan was filling in for him.

E. The little bastards had it coming! Hell is too good for them!

THE BATTLE AXE:  The Bible and Stupid People? (07/17/2013)—While the Bible uses the word “bastard” to describe those born out of wedlock, who therefore have no legitimate status as heirs, or lawful portion in Israel through the allotments from GOD established under Joshua, cheap talk, obscene language, profanity, slang and vulgarity do not appear in the holy writings.  Where the Scriptures uses such words to describe and label others as defiled, unclean, unwise or wicked, the usual intent is to alert and caution believers against accepting ungodly standards, copying poor examples, and becoming complacent with sin.  Racist slurs (e.g., dego for Puerto Ricans, kyke for Jews, Mick for Irish, nigger for African Americans, wop for Italians) and such common name-calling terms as “dork”, “dweeb”, “faggot”, “fatso”, “knucklehead”, “loser”, “punk”, “queer”, “retard”, “shorty”, “sissy” and “spaz” also do not appear in the holy writings.  Yet, Jesus is on record specifically teaching against the use of insulting, proud, and unkind language to belittle, mock, and scorn others.  Use of raca and “thou fool” are identified as expressing unacceptable and unreasoned anger against ones brother in covenant, and therefore makes one subject to public condemnation, and divine punishment (see Matthew 5:  21-22, KJV).  As children, many suppose that it is acceptable to use name-calling with good intentions to motivate change, improvement, and self-correction.  Children attack, challenge, joke with, and tease each other through the use of harsh labels.  Victims include their own siblings, playmates, friends and teammates.  Christian parents, coaches, teachers and those who work with children are cautioned to council their charges that such behavior usually misfires, is destructive of healthy relationship, and is hateful to the spirit of others.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.  And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.  And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.  And he said, Behold, I make a covenant:  before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD:  for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.  Observe thou that which I command thee this day:  behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.  Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:  But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:  (Exodus 34:  4-14, KJV)

DOUBLE DAGGER:  Theoretical Forgiveness? (07/03/2013); The Return in Glory? (07/04/2013); A GOD of Love? (05/07/2013); Commanding the Storm? (05/08/2013); Why So Much Murder? (01/12/2013); Confusion 2013 (01/13/2013); Justice Comes by Love? (10/01/2012); A Daily Revelation? (10/02/2012)

“biggalloot2003”, here are some points that strengthen faith for many Christian believers, and help them to avoid spiritual confusion:

(1)  The Bible includes many reports of divine wrath against sin, and thereby becomes a special tool to assist created beings and living creatures, who otherwise are unable to detect and resist sin as an obstacle to their own continued being.  Sin is not a carnal, material, physical or spirit substance from GOD; yet, sin may dominate self-will (we say, willingness and will power) in the living.

(2)  Sin is invisible, subtle, and difficult to identify as a foreign or outside influence.  Like many adults today (and some writing here on the Internet), the children described in the Scripture you cite blasphemed and challenged GOD by saying “go up thou bald head.”  They could not see the full consequence and effect of their behavior and conduct from the divine perspective, because they did not properly contain the spirit substance from GOD that allows fellowship with the Holy, obedience, and respectful submission to those sent from GOD.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, in Scripture, children, covenant, dynasty, inheritance, kingdoms, and promise are examples of mechanisms whereby finite beings continue in presence and relationship with immortal, unchanging GOD.  However, sin opposes the existence of divine law, sacred person, eternal purpose, and all that has been created of GOD.  Divine justice, therefore, goes far beyond the peculiar considerations of one feelings and emotions toward children.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/17/2013) The Bible and Stupid People

Whether the Bible allows believers to use the label “stupid” to speak of other people seems to be the issue, today.  Also, there is more on circumcision.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Clarance” (Level 1 with 57 points, a member since July 3, 2013) posted the following:

The bible and stupid people question?

Does the bible say there is something like a stupid person?

THE BATTLE AXE:  Circumcision and Promise? (07/16/2013)—Blood is a material mechanism (we say, flesh) whereby divine spirit (we say, divinity, existence or life) is dispersed and spread within created beings and living creatures.  As with the blood of the cross, the blood of circumcision signifies atoning sacrifice, purging through fire and judgment, and expiatory suffering.  For Abraham and those of his household, removing the foreskin from the penis was to be an act of faith and an act of joining as well as an act to display high esteem and obedience.  By accepting circumcision, the social consensus already in place would be transformed.  The family members and servants of Abraham numbered in the thousands, and maintained lawful order as a community of nomads living together, and relocating regularly.  Abraham may be called a “second Adam,” and Moses may be called a “second Abraham.”  Through Abraham as patriarch, priest and prophet, a single household would become a covenant people and worship congregation proclaiming the presence of GOD in the earth, and spreading the divine law throughout the regions of their travels.  See Acts 7:  2-9, Romans 4:  1-18, Romans 2:  13-29, Romans 15:  7-9, Philippians 3:  3, Galatians 5:  5-6 and Galatians 6:  14-18, KJV.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:  And call upon me in the day of trouble:  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.  When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.  Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.  These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself:  but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.  Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me:  and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
(Psalms 50:  14-23, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Relationship not Just Knowledge (06/25/2013); Lost Without GOD (06/26/2013); Those Who Never Heard? (06/07/2013); If You Are Sent…? (06/08/2013); A Guide to Salvation? (04/10/2013); Faith, Language and “Mystery” (04/11/2013); Life Given By Knowledge? (04/03/2013); GOD Does Exist (03/20/2012)

“Clarance,” the Bible speaks of those who lack a full and correct relationship with GOD in many ways.  Among the different terms used are “deceived”, “fools”, “simple” (i.e., immature, naïve, plain, underdeveloped), “reprobate”, “unlearned” (we say, not knowing letters, uneducated or unschooled), “unregenerate”, and “vain” (empty; lacking divine substance; void of divinity).

Christian believers generally agree that every man begins having no academic or intellectual knowledge of GOD, and must acquire sacred knowledge by applying and using the spirit substance they contain as created beings and living creatures.  Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, believers receive a fresh endowment of spirit matter whereby GOD gradually becomes revealed and understandable.  The spirit of Christ bestowed upon believers at baptism is divine substance (we say, DNA), and includes faith, holiness, hope, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Born again, the believer must “grow up again,” endure life challenges and disappointments (we say, growing pains) again, and come into spiritual maturity.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, a person’s salvation does not depend on how often they read the Bible, their ability to quote scripture, or their knowledge of institutional religion.  Yet, the Bible should be received as spirit matter (we say, the word of GOD) that will further build up and nourish spirit being.  As new creatures through baptism, believers must acquire new ways of thinking and understanding everyday language—we go through “mama and dada” so to speak—and sacred learning from the Bible is very difficult using ones former habits and social understandings.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC