Jesus rather than Christ, ova legislation, and semitism, February 2024

Feb 4, 2024 It’s a mystery: Each week, Ken Tipton chooses scripture that thrills me. With Nomads’ amazing scholarship and consideration, Exodus 3 became vital for understanding: Elijah unintentionally broke the chain of kingly and priestly hereditary-leadership. My comments are attached and posted on my blog understandtheknowledge.blogspot.com. Topics in the sharing below include: the year 2024’s unfathomable threats, John 9’s sight metaphor, Jesus versus Christ, Jesus’ civic influence, Paul vs James turned to Paul vs Jesus pointing to Semitism vs anti-Semitism, U.S. states’ rights to prevent illegal entry informed me about Acts 15:19-20, Nomads’ exciting opportunities, and taming the abortion issue. UBC worship service was especially meaningful, because Pastor Eric Fulcher, under sermon title “Things You Can’t Unsee”, expressed a flip side of epiphany: once you perceive actual reality, you cannot go back to false senses. Eric shared a nature metaphor to help us consider church. Topics in the writing below include: the year 2024’s unfathomable threats, John 9’s sight metaphor, Jesus versus Christ, Jesus’ civic influence, Paul vs James turned to Paul vs Jesus pointing to Semitism vs anti-Semitism, U.S. states’ rights to prevent illegal entry, and Nomads’ exciting opportunities. Eric listed some of the “million” threats we share in 2024, then spoke of tradition that needs to be relinquished, change we’d rather not make, and better future we’d like to pursue, if not achieve. I relate to Eric’s concerns. A key verse in the sight metaphor is John 9:22, complete Jewish Bible, “. . . they were afraid of the Judeans, for the Judeans had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged Yeshua as the Messiah would be banned from the synagogue. “ Jesus’ civic influence is obscured first by the Judeo-Christian debate: Messiah or Christ? I have no stake in that debate. My world changed when, at age 6, Mom and Dad bought my first pair of glasses. Somehow, they perceived I did not see what they saw and did something about it. So I related to Eric’s video with hearty man who received color-blind-corrective glasses from 30 friends. Similarly, I acquired precious doubt when I read the threats in Revelations 22:18-19. TheGod does not feel so weak as to question my humility to the entity, whatever it is. I am committed to Jesus’ civic influence, which can be seen in the faces of people who image him, whether aware or not. Some of you know the recent story of Rev. Keith Holmes awakening me to the fact that my Dad taught me Jesus, and therefore, I never shared Christ with anyone. I shared with Keith my epiphany then that teaching Christ unfortunately lessens Jesus’ civic influence. Mary VanRheenen, Keith’s wife, suggested that people are different and Christ appeals to some. How does Jesus respond to that idea? Billy King said he could understand my preference for Jesus yet considers Christ and Jesus the same. That’s OK to me for Billy and others who choose equivocation, but I could not, would not, witness to that acceptance before Jesus. Jesus is ever present to the good in my life, and that epiphany brought me back to UBC after 27 years withdrawn to private study. I think the salt of the earth pervades UBC. Nomads class educated me to James’ advocacy to Jesus 15 years after Jesus died versus Paul’s advocacy to the Gentile church, starting 30 years later. Last week, in studying Rob Natelson’s opinion about states’ right to stop illegal entry, I discovered Acts 15:12-17, which suggests that James was a Semite and Paul an anti-Semite. I Googled “Bible: Paul’s salvation versus James’ salvation” and skimming lots of apologetics, I eventually discovered “Jesus v Paul” at https://doctrine.org/jesus-vs-paul. It asserts that Paul opposed Jesus but under the Lord God’s control. The author seems to use “Jesus” and “Christ” indiscriminately yet argues that Jesus was for the Jews and Christ is for receivers of grace, then concludes that Jesus Christ is the Lord God’s intention: “The Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, Israel and Church. God is sovereign over both His earthly people, Israel, and over His heavenly people, the Church, the body of Christ.” A more balanced review that nonetheless suggests Christianity is anti-Semitic is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_and_the_New_Testament. Online literature is available to everyone. My epiphany may reflect my gullibility. That is to say, I may be stupid to think people haven’t considered the issue, chosen Jesus rather than Christ, and decided to not reform the church. That’s what’s been happening throughout history: people are reluctant to practice Jesus’ process for forgiveness (Matthew 18:15-17), which is a process for reliable responsibility. I think the tradition of not reforming the church is the cause of chaos so evident in the year 2024. UBC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the U.S., and the earth need Jesus’ civic influence. I think Nomads class inspires necessary reform. I wrote my sixth letter to Speaker Mike Johnson since Thanksgiving. In the 6th I suggested lessening the abortion debate by legislating protection to ova – to encourage and facilitate physical and psychological wellness to women and commit to protect ova to men. The authentic person is dedicated to ova for their brief opportunity and to fetuses, newborns, and children for life. Some people think I should not try to aid Johnson. I think the civic Jesus influences me to aid any political leader who might listen. I hope to see you next Sunday, Feb 11, 2024 Hello, Nomads, Happy Mardi Gras. Today's sermon on applying the light was good. Sam will receive medical attention next week. In David's class, we pondered Jesus's unimaginable experiences at the cross -- at once divinely forgiving and humanly suffering, then asking, why am I forsaken? David shared Aaron and Kim's remarkable understanding that Mother Teresa, struggling with the mystery of theGod (a singularity I hope humbly expressing whatever constrains the consequences of human choice), found comfort in Jesus. I want to understand, because that is how I feel about my life, except that I express it as Jesus' civic influence, which I see in your faces and hear in your voices.. I finished my study of Semitism and think Paul was an antagonist. The study is attached (semitim vs anti-semitism) and posted on my oldest, best blog, https://promotethepreamble.blogspot.com/. I hope you'll comment. i hope to see you next Sunday, Phil

the civic Jesus and Courage Class April 2023

 Sunday Morning Greetings 3/29/23

 

 

Good evening, Nomads,

     I forgot today was Missions Sunday, could not risk the cold-wind, so returned home.

     My pursuit of the-civic-Jesus, springing from Genesis 1:26-28 NIV, continues to unfold with wonderful input from fellow-citizens. Kenneth's weekly choices seem to dovetail with other developments to me.

     John 9, today, prompted my thought of the authentic Jesus recovering from Christ. My concern about Christ-bemusement occurred during Keith Holmes recent visit and increased.
     During the last couple weeks, Barry Baker, of Courage Class, informed of 1998 Frontline scholarship, "From Jesus to Christ". The counterpoint is "from anointed one to Christ", which makes Jesus-slight more obvious.

     It follows that for me, 2023 is the year the-civic-Jesus has risen from Judeo-Christian debate. Of course, this is a shocking thought. However, psychological movement that increases humility to Jesus seems good to me. I look forward to your consideration and comments.

      My consideration of John 9 is attached, including URLs to the Frontline scholarship. It's also on my blog.

Have a good week,

 

Phil