It's Not The End

A reflection on the "terrifying", all round love and perpetual mercy of God.

 

Hate moday? Hate life? Hate that gossiper? We have so many reasons and we'll never run out of objects to lash our frustrations on and judging from personal experience, this is no exclusion to the people of faith.

I admire the fact that the Hebrew word, קורבן "qorban" (which amazingly has very proximate prononciation and meaning with the word "korban" in Bahasa)  has much deeper and wonderful meaning than simply mean rituals of slaying animals, but way deeper. I hope this reflection would inspire and provoke us to rethink and to revise our definitions and pursuits of what matters in life.

But before we continue, just so there won't be accusation that I'm forcing the "shoresh" שׁוֹרֵשׁ (root word) קרב (qof resh bet) for a wild spin 😂, I've also shown parallel view of KJV & HRNT of Ephesians 2:13-17 (above pic). I've also included a search for variants that stem from קרב here.

My ancestral belief systems are popularly known for circling around the "jinxing" attempt or to avoid misfortunes (fengshui, zodiac, etc),  afterall, being intoduced as a knowledge of universal balance, we're known for adopting and applying things because they are dealing with areas of our interests and concerns (Matt 6:21). Judaism, on the other hand, has it in their traditions and writings all along (most striking in Isaiah 53). They say that המשיח The Messiah is a king yet also a suffering servant. This is clearly seen when you consider a קורבן "qorban" as a victim. And minding who and what Jesus Christ has been, isn't he a "qorban"? A קורבן "qorban" hit by the worst disaster & misfortune anyone could ever have, God incarnated, living humby, died miserably, a kind of victory so subversive it isn't easily digested. But in this "qorban" we find a way to be קרוב "qarov" (close, "karib" in Bahasa), even become God's adopted and family/relatives with one another. 

Judging happenings (others' and ours) as "luck" or "misfortunes" are simply an egoistic  and divinely disconnected way of relating and making sense of life and of projecting that ignorant mislead expectation to God Who's in fact consistently "khesed" חֶסֶד, abundant in selfless and faithful love, mercy, and compassion.

He's a father who runs to meet and hug the lost prodigal son, even when that son is still meditating what was actually a defective, sad kind of remorse and "repentence" mostly because he's starving (Luke 15:11-24). He decided to teach a prophet from his chosen people a lesson just because the proud fellow won't go preach to a savage powerful "enemy" whom so he taught was also God's enemy.. so he taught (Jonah 4:9-11). God always initiate the search no matter how lost we are.

Celebration and reflection to such liberating truth is what our new lives are all about, in Christ, what we once avoid (sacrifice, prioritizing peace, service to others) are what's now our source of joy and  sustenance, just as Jesus, our food is now doing God's will. This new celebrative and continuous thanksgiving is what's know (theologically and etimologically) as Eucharistic.

He is coming בקרוב "beqarov" soon, The One who has given all to be "qarov" close to us is drawing nearer everyday, and on that day, we'll be inseparable! ❤️❤️❤️

PS:

*Don't bother, jinxing isn't Chinese, it's from the root "jinx" 😅

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VaYoter Nakhon (And Moreover The Truer)

An insight of living a consistent faithful interpretation of God's providence and promises through an Eucharistic lens (celebration of Christ's empowering sacrifice towards our own sacrificial journey of worship and sanctification).

I was once more blessed through the Instagram chatter with my dear pastor friend, Rev. Decky Pendowo. He was pastoring the GBI Khayyalim, a name which sounds foreign to many but not to my halfly hebrew trained senses. So I was confirming whether the name was taken from the word "Chayyelim" חיילים meaning "soldiers, troops, or armies", not to mention my assumption on general Christian notion, identifying ourselves as "Christ's Armies" against spiritual (dark) forces. Ptr. Decky later confirmed, "זה נכון אחי" or "zeh nakhon akhi" (that's right, brother), a pleasant and heartwarming answer in the midst of my rather solitaire linguistic journey. I replied, "שמחה! תודה רבה אחי" (oh how joyful! Many thanks, brother).

I believe that was divine appointment because I couldn't seem to shake off the thought of this familiar word " נָכוֹן nakhon" (true/right). Although the word isn't exactly related to the expression "כֵּן kèn" (yes), I was feeling led to couple them with these following verses. May this reading of The Word blesses our souls with both deeper thirst and satisfaction in His presence. ❤️🙏📖💬

כִּי כָּל הַבְטָחוֹת אֱלֹהִים "כֵּן" הֵן בּוֹ. לָכֵן הָ"אָמֵן" שֶׁאָנוּ נוֹתְנִים בּוֹ כָּבוֹד לֵאלֹהִים גַּם הוּא בְּאֶמְצָעוּתוֹ.

השניה אל הקורינתים 1:20 HRNT

Ki kal havtakhoth elohim "ken" hen bo. Lakhen ha"amen" shanu nothnim bo kavod l'elohim gam hu bamtsautho.

For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” ("Ken" כֵּן ) So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20 AMP)

עַל כָּךְ הֵגִיב בְּאָמְרוֹ: "וְיוֹתֵר נָכוֹן, אַשְׁרֵי הַשּׁוֹמְעִים אֶת דְּבַר אֱלֹהִים וְשׁוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ."

לוקס 1:28 HRNT 

Al kakh hegiv bamro: vayoter nakhon, ashrei hashom'im eth dvar elohim vashomrim oto.

But he said, “Blessed ("ashrei" אַשְׁרֵי ) rather ("vayoter nakhon" וְיוֹתֵר נָכוֹן ) are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28 ESV)

What a wonderful concept of "vayoter nakhon" (truer). Rather than simply negating the previous premise (v.27; blessedness & joy that come from being in the physical premises & vicinity with Jesus), ישוע our True Vine, identified Himself with God's Word, and "rather" than the former, it is "truer" that the amazing joy and blessings can flow to all people who align their lives with godly things/things of God (דְּבַר אֱלֹהִים).

Knowing that nothing is coincidence, we remember how Matthew 11:28 also taught us to find rest and peace in coming to Christ (worship & The Word) in obedience & eagerness to learn (to apply & to serve) from Him. Learning not to worry about our living is, I believe, synonymous with putting our confidence in Him who relates with all of us, even the least of us. A life that's broken and given is a life that proves its connection to the Everlasting Father, a life that's privileged to be showered by God's "yesses", a life that gives life.

Blessings.

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Were You Expecting an Ox?

How the tensions and application issues of scriptural texts underline the importance of inclusive, ecumenical communal efforts to approach sanctifying interpretations.

The rereading of some lesson materials revealed new colors post discussion of several books (especially the one wondering, "Why Jephthah had to make such vow? Could there be anything else coming out his house? Was he expecting an ox? 😅📖), and this previously had caused pained chuckle and mild migraine for me, having read previously that he vowed after "The Spirit of the LORD was upon (him)" (Judges 11:29).🤫

It's amazing how Christians today skip the digesting & critisizing of ancient tribal narratives, written far after the actual event (most likely a flashback made in "godly" period of Israel's monarchy) to serve a purpose of making certain (theological) points 🕎. Nowadays, with half eyes opened, we often embrace the reading as is, as a "manual book" on how they understand the works of The Spirit, how they should approach God & people.💬

"And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom WE gave no such commandment: ...

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, AND TO US, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.."

Acts 15:23-24, 28 (KJV)

While I won't make this time a widened discussion on historical apostolic authority, my point is:

It's better to have the Spirit-inspired take on current burning issues rather than maintaining interpretations that's seemingly spiritual but hold little regards for mercy, grace, justice, life, and salvation. It's better to humbly repentant later for being too emotional, inclusive, or progressive, than to approach the texts with the same rigidity ⛔ which disabled the scribes & priests to acknowledge the Messiah when they actually had the privilege to see Him face to face.

These are times when people including the Church is tempted toward polarization, the "progressive" are mocked, as well as the "universalists" and the "conservatives", everywhere you turn theological "stray bullets" are to be expected and cautioned. Many have forgotten that our privilege being citizen of the Kingdom is purposed for "good" works prepared by God Himself. Are we zealously attacking opposing camps without considering that wisdom belongs to God? 

To be Spirit-filled believers in ישוע Jesus is to be faithful disciples of the Word📖🕊️✝️ (orthodoxy) who are open for "progressiveness" (ortho-patos) so that the dicotomy of spiritual & secular living is dedicated toward elimination (ortho-praxis). Sooner or later one would come to the realization than any other motives for exegesis fall secondary to the sincere drive for christlikeness and sanctification.

I therefore won't deny the drive in this typical season of my life to challenge the interpretive lens that are hegemonic, discriminative, and oppresive. The lens once stuck with a hot glue to my eyelids. So let's continue the reality checks.

Whenever we're faced with endless claims and searches of that "one true church" in the criticism of all others we should remember the lessons of biblical figures. Gideon, later known as Jarubaal, won miraculously but later strayed and succumbed to narcism, his descendants were involved in bitter deadly quarrels. Samson was showing God's presence in military victories, later was overthrown by his own lusts. The best of the major judges was (I believe) Barack, decided wisely by letting a woman of God, the prophetess and judge דבורה Deborah to take charge (and literally charging the oppresive darkness), if you observe, so many female godly characters ended up in better manner than their male colleges. (another consideration to rethink ministerial equality?😉) 

And should we revisit Solomon? A great name many scholars believed to most likely be mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 6:29 due to his older years' repentance after a lifelong of compromising and apostasy. Solomon was probably the greatest human figure viewed by religious eyes, but the spiritual eyes would respond with a resounding "amen" to Jesus who says that the eccentric "nobody" whose life ended "tragically" too soon, John the Baptist is in fact the greatest person ever being born.

None of us can claim "spiritual security" from joining any congregation, having Pastor so and so as a mentor, having certain theological liniency, etc, the list can go on forever. At the end of the day, in Revelation 4, the twenty-four elders will be throwing their crowns and worship before the throne of the only One who saves, ישועתה ליהוה "Salvation belongs to the LORD" (Jonah 2:9). We then find comfort and refuge in Christ alone and in that perpetual note, share the joy of salvation and the journey, the sanctifying interpretations (and applications) as co-heirs, siblings in The Kingdom, sons and daughters of The Most High.