Definitely only once at AD70. Jesus was explicit that it was all to be fulfilled against that generation, and was never a condemnation of Judaism itself. Other persecutions of Jews throughout history since then have more to do with the problems and corruptions of the persecuters themselves
My own personal view is that the roles have now reversed and the modern Christian church is now the next in line for this severe humbling. as they have become this very principle of not being true to what they say. The modern church is (quite ironically) now the institution of Pharisees
Absolutely. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I believe revival is needed and living your faith. Yet we are also taught about grace, forgiveness and once sin is repented of it is cast in a sea of forgetting. Having that said, if you are listening to the still small voice of the holy spirit then we know as Christians, or at least I'm starting to that sanctification is hard. Very hard and it's why we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and worry about the stick in our own eye lest we are judged as harshly as we judge. Since I know this and that HE must increase while I decrease then I can't condemn the modern church. We are told to pray for our leaders and such. Have you ever read This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness? I think that fictional take is actually a bit more closer to what's going on than the author could have ever imagined. I know when I read them in my youth I never thought I'd see the evidence of his ideas come to life in such ways through observing behavior.
That is so funny you mention those books, my family grew up with them and they were often on the coffee table, great books! Very powerful motifs and archetypes that seem to be coming to pass…
And regarding the fear and trembling point, that is a great point of wisdom in the Bible and precisely what has been forgotten, thank you!
I hope your own personal view -- and the view you're sharing in The Vital Villain -- one day becomes an official part of the Christian canon. Until then, I'm afraid that "synagogue of Satan" will be continue to carry all the wrong meanings.
Also: When I read your account of Ananias and Sapphira, I thought: "Not perfect people, but certainly human." Which brngs up a question that has long puzzled me: If "G*d is good," then why is Jesus supposed to be perfect? Why is perfection the goal instead of goodness? ... In my tradition, there are various levels of charity. The highest level is giving anonymously: you share food or clothes or money with the less fortunate, and you do it through a third party so that you call no attention to yourself AND your preserve the dignity of the person who receives the charity. Also, the charity comes from the community, not an individual. The second level of charity (I think) is you give, but you want someone to see you giving, you want some acknowledgement. The third level is probably you give and demand that someone name a public square after you. :-) --> My point is that the rabbis understood the people should strive to be as good as they can be, but less-than-perfect is better than nothing. So when Ananias holds back some of his money, it's not ideal, maybe, but at least he's trying. ...
The god of the Bible we call G*d, not Perfecto. He's obviously didn't get everything right. As George Burns once said in his role as G*d himself: "I missed the mark on a few things. Like the avocado. I made the pit too big." :-)
Well said! What you mention about charity is so spot on and such a great point. Ironically--much more than the Christian churches actually practise--that way of looking at charity is actually more in line with what Jesus taught when he said that when you give, "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (ie: through a third party as you mention). That is indeed the highest way to give and makes for a much healthier culture when it is regularly practised (don't get me started on how modern churches constantly defy this teaching).
Regarding Ananias and Sapphira, yes definitely very human. It's the context though that determines the results.
And don't get me started on the issue of "perfection", lol.
Good word. 👏
Did the humbling happen once, 2,000 years ago with the destruction of the temple? Or does the "synagogue of Satan" supposed to be humbled repeatedly?
Definitely only once at AD70. Jesus was explicit that it was all to be fulfilled against that generation, and was never a condemnation of Judaism itself. Other persecutions of Jews throughout history since then have more to do with the problems and corruptions of the persecuters themselves
My own personal view is that the roles have now reversed and the modern Christian church is now the next in line for this severe humbling. as they have become this very principle of not being true to what they say. The modern church is (quite ironically) now the institution of Pharisees
Absolutely. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I believe revival is needed and living your faith. Yet we are also taught about grace, forgiveness and once sin is repented of it is cast in a sea of forgetting. Having that said, if you are listening to the still small voice of the holy spirit then we know as Christians, or at least I'm starting to that sanctification is hard. Very hard and it's why we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and worry about the stick in our own eye lest we are judged as harshly as we judge. Since I know this and that HE must increase while I decrease then I can't condemn the modern church. We are told to pray for our leaders and such. Have you ever read This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness? I think that fictional take is actually a bit more closer to what's going on than the author could have ever imagined. I know when I read them in my youth I never thought I'd see the evidence of his ideas come to life in such ways through observing behavior.
That is so funny you mention those books, my family grew up with them and they were often on the coffee table, great books! Very powerful motifs and archetypes that seem to be coming to pass…
And regarding the fear and trembling point, that is a great point of wisdom in the Bible and precisely what has been forgotten, thank you!
I hope your own personal view -- and the view you're sharing in The Vital Villain -- one day becomes an official part of the Christian canon. Until then, I'm afraid that "synagogue of Satan" will be continue to carry all the wrong meanings.
Also: When I read your account of Ananias and Sapphira, I thought: "Not perfect people, but certainly human." Which brngs up a question that has long puzzled me: If "G*d is good," then why is Jesus supposed to be perfect? Why is perfection the goal instead of goodness? ... In my tradition, there are various levels of charity. The highest level is giving anonymously: you share food or clothes or money with the less fortunate, and you do it through a third party so that you call no attention to yourself AND your preserve the dignity of the person who receives the charity. Also, the charity comes from the community, not an individual. The second level of charity (I think) is you give, but you want someone to see you giving, you want some acknowledgement. The third level is probably you give and demand that someone name a public square after you. :-) --> My point is that the rabbis understood the people should strive to be as good as they can be, but less-than-perfect is better than nothing. So when Ananias holds back some of his money, it's not ideal, maybe, but at least he's trying. ...
The god of the Bible we call G*d, not Perfecto. He's obviously didn't get everything right. As George Burns once said in his role as G*d himself: "I missed the mark on a few things. Like the avocado. I made the pit too big." :-)
Well said! What you mention about charity is so spot on and such a great point. Ironically--much more than the Christian churches actually practise--that way of looking at charity is actually more in line with what Jesus taught when he said that when you give, "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (ie: through a third party as you mention). That is indeed the highest way to give and makes for a much healthier culture when it is regularly practised (don't get me started on how modern churches constantly defy this teaching).
Regarding Ananias and Sapphira, yes definitely very human. It's the context though that determines the results.
And don't get me started on the issue of "perfection", lol.
Such great points, thank you very much :D
Thank *you* for this series. It's fascinating.