[TruthTalk] Hyperbole (Slade)

[Judy Taylor]

Good Morning Kay and Slade - and thanks for your response to my question yesterday Kay   From: "Slade Henson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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?).    Slade says: My maternal grandparents are Jewish from [what eventually became] East Germany. My mother's maiden name is the Ashkenaz word for "wisdom." Perhaps one day I'll live up to that name. But yes, I am sympathetic to the plight of the Jewish people as well.   jt: Me too although so far as I know our family does not have semitic blood, we are culturally descended from the anglo saxons.   jt: 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 have a 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).    Slade says: Who was Stephen speaking with? Murderers. They eventually had him killed. I think he was correct.   jt: Stephen addressed them as Men, brethren, and fathers and he told the history of the Jewish nation beginning with father Abraham.  Yes, they could not receive the truth, they got angry and gnashed their teeth but the apostle Paul was present and held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. Later he took responsibility for his part and confessed to being a murderer saying he did it in ignorance and unbelief.    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.    Slade says: Show me a Jewish person who keeps Torah and does not have faith in God. Are you suggesting that the branches from Abraham are going to be given [or have already been given] the axe?    jt: I'm not suggesting it but the apostle Paul did say in Romans 11:17 that some of the branches were broken off; and while they were under the Law God through the prophets complained continually about them breaking his Covenant with them which was through the Law of Moses.   Matthew 3 gives us one version where Yeshua says, "produce the fruit that proves you have turned from your sin" (Matt 3.8). In the Luke account, the crowd is distraught. They ask him, "What are we to do?" He then tells them to perform mitzvot... GOOD DEEDS.   jt: Yes, I believe it is "fruits meet for repentance" or fruit that shows there has been repentance which is further expounded upon in 2 Cor 7:11. In Vs.10 we learn that "godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world works death and I don't believe this death is 'metaphorical' - do you?   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 (Jesus) blood be upon us and our children" (Matt 27:25)  Surely you would not deny this Slade?    Slade says: When will you and others end the blood libel? A mob cannot be expected to speak for a whole people. Nor in light of Ezekiel 18 can anyone invoke a curse on unborn generations. Moreover, if a curse had been invoked, Yeshua said, "Forgive them, father, for they know not what they do."    jt: "Blood libel?" I am not holding the Israel of today responsible for Matt 27:25 but you can not deny that this happened and that this is why Pilate at the end did not pardon Jesus, he wanted to but  Barabbas was the one they called for and that thief is the one they received back into their community in Jerusalem (where all of this took place).  Jesus asked God to forgive them (as the son of man for an example to us), also so that He would continue to be a sinless sacrifice when he went to the cross. The resurrection may not have happened had he gone to the cross holding them to their sin in judgment which was not what He came to do. He turned all judgment over to the one who judges righteously (see 1 Peter 2:23) which is also an example we are to follow.  Jesus did not bind these people to their sin by his own unforgiveness and we should not do that to others either.  However, this does not relieve them of responsibility because the righteous judgment of God says that every man will be judged according to what he has done; and this is what is further explained in Ezekiel 18.    If you are referring to the generational aspect of sin here.  Ezekiel 18 does not negate what God had already said when He gave the Law in Exodus, such as, the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children generationally.  This, in fact is still valid - what Ezekiel does point out is that nobody has to be a victim; the children do not have to repeat the error of their fathers, they don't have to follow instinct like dumb beasts. In spite of what Calvin taught they can choose righteousness and God will reward them accordingly for what they (not their fathers) do (Ezekiel 18:30,31).   Grace and Peace - judyt