ISRAEL UPDATEDecember 19, 2004 - It must be the Christmas season, because we are seeing almost all Christmas personalities presented out of character.
For example, Joseph and Mary are shown to be homeless, rather than people coming into a city that had all its available rooms booked due to demand.
Mary of course, rather than being touted as a righteous woman that G-d had chosen for such an awesome responsibility - is instead propped up as a super form of deity… a “redeemer” equal with G-d.
One Christian television station went as far as putting the image of Caesar Augustus on a coin commemorating his “contribution” to bringing Christ to Bethlehem. As if that was his doing…
It is one thing when unbelievers, cynics, and pessimists try to redo the Christmas scenario – trying to redistribute deity, altering G-d's plan. In a nutshell, they are making a mockery of this special day.
However, when the marketing strategy of an entertainment group brings the Broadway rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” to town for the season, we see that things have not changed much in the more than three decades since its release.
Mary and Joseph wrongly portrayed… Caesar Augustus given undue credit… the deity of Jesus, his moral character, and the relevance of His early ministry called into question… we can certainly understand why Jesus asked his disciples the question, “Whom do men say that I am?” (Mark 8:27b) Still now, as back in His time, the Christmas personalities are twisted and distorted to serve man’s purposes….
December 19, 2004 - Are the few “spiritual elite” determining the fate of entire denominations, as they sit behind closed doors creating church policy?
The answer is a resounding yes, as we look at recent history within religious circles, noticing that this pattern is continuing to repeat itself.
Do the recent decisions of the Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches to divert money from investments in Israel indicate the belief of the entire denomination, or just of a few leaders and attendees of national conferences?
Can the endorsement of ordaining homosexuals into the ministry speak for the masses, or again, just a few and proud with the power?
What we are seeing is a very divisive tool coming into play, as a few speak for the many. This, in all too many cases, causes division among the lay people.
While it is impossible to please all the people all of the time, it is also incorrect to think that a small group of powerbrokers have their fingers on the pulse of the laity.
If these religious powerbrokers are to fulfill their true calling as leaders, then they must first assess critical issues according to the Scriptures. They would then make church policy that pleases G-d and follows His commandments.
If division must come, let it come from G-d's word. . . dividing men on issues. Let us not have just the few speaking for the many, whether they like to learn not!
To be continued . . .