[TruthTalk] Hyperbole

[Judy Taylor]

From: "Slade Henson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Kay was not offended by your post, Judy, so it's ok. I am not offended by your post either. I would like to demonstrate to you where the problem lies. Example One: The US court system made it legal to perform abortions. In recent months, it is legal for doctors to perform abortion on teenage girls and to prescribe abortifascient pills and condoms to teenagers without parental consent. This means US citizens support abortion. While you will be quick to clarify that not ALL citizens of the US support abortion, I would be just as quick to defend the Jewish people in that they HAVE historically kept the Law of Moses...   jt: I'm glad that we can discuss this issue and walk in love toward one another Slade & Kay even though we may not agree (BTW are you Jewish yourselves or Gentiles who are sympathetic to the plight of the Jews?). I appreciate the fact that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God and they have taken that responsibility seriously; I also agree with you that we can not paint everyone with the same brush. I do not judge the Jews personally but look at the sermons of both Peter and Stephen in the book of acts and Stephen a man full of the Holy Spirit, faith and power states that they did not keep God's law (see Acts 7:53).   That's what KEPT THEM ALIVE these millennia when Christianity has attempted to exterminate them... repeatedly! To this day the Words are true: they kept the oracles of God (Romans 3). To claim that Jewish people have not [historically] kept the Law of Moses is just as false as to say that the Jewish people keep the Law for salvation reasons. Let me ask you a question: WHY would a group of people "chosen by God" keep the Law in order to be saved? They're the chosen people... they are ALREADY saved! They place their FAITH on the fact!!! They LOVE GOD and that motivates [most of] them to keep the Torah (some keep it to be culturally correct).   jt: Abraham believed God, it was counted to him for righteousness; and he is known as the father of faith. during Jesus' earthly ministry the Jews thought they would be accepted by God in spite of their unbelief because they were the biological children of Abraham.  I'm sure you know what Jesus told them.   Example Two: With the release of "The Passion," the question rises once again... "Did the Jews Kill Jesus?" Surprisingly, the overwhelming response to that question is "Yes." To those who answered "Yes," I ask, "Are you sinless as to not have participated in Jesus's need to die?"   jt: I don't point a finger of blame or shame at the Jews (and I did not appreciate Mel Gibson's movie) but facts are facts and the Jews did tell Pilate to "let his blood be upon us and our children" (Matt 27:25)  Surely you would not deny this Slade?   Please pardon the "hyperbole," but what kind of question is "do you believe the Holy Spirit is also Jewish?" Do you believe Jesus is and the Spirit is not? Do you believe neither are? What about "The Father?"   jt: Jesus took a Jewish body upon Himself for the suffering of death but He was there in the beginning with the Father as the Word of God and No, I don't believe the Godhead is in favor of any cultural bias. God is on the side of righteousness and holiness no matter what the nationality.   I have another question: Do you believe the Jewish People need this special "breath from Jesus" in order to understand the Scriptures? Do Gentiles need that same breath, or are the Jewish people "so thick" that ONLY THEY need this extra help from Jesus?   jt: Neither do I have cultural bias Slade - everyone needs the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to them. How do you suppose Jesus at age 12 astounded the Jewish teachers of the law with His understanding?  How could Jesus tell the Jewish leaders they were not of God and call them sons of the devil because they could not hear His Word?   You claimed the the Jewish People rejected their own Messiah? I'm sure you realize Jewish men wrote the "New" Testament and current leaders within the Messianic Jewish movement believe up to 40% of Jewish people during the Second Commonwealth believed Yeshua was the Promised Messiah. This helps explain why there was such a fervor against them by the leadership of the 60%. Can you say 40% of Gentiles accept Jesus as their Messiah and are TRUE believers? If you can't make that claim, then the Gentiles have rejected Jesus FAR MORE than the Jewish people.   jt: Slade, I say that it is a strait gate and a narrow way and that only a few (Jews, and Gentiles, as well as the Church of God) are going to find it.   We need to be careful not to box people into groups that are too broad. This can hurt people feelings and your goal (the proliferation of the Good News) will suffer from it. My goal is to see ALL of Israel saved, but that's not going to happen if we box the Jewish people in too tight. Give them the room to be individuals ('cuz they are) and allow the reality that MANY keep the Law of Moses and the love God with all their heart... just like the Gentiles are individualistic and not all Gentiles support and perform abortions on their teenage girls.   jt: Basically I agree with you Slade and my intent here was never to comment on the culture of the Jews vs the culture of anyone else. I didn't see what I wrote as anti-semitic since that is not my heart...   Grace and Peace, judyt