Question for Diana: We studied your February 12 essay in our Scripture Encore Sunday School class. We were truly blessed, but there was a question I felt truly inadequate to answer. Your comment about your experiencing/witnessing anti-Semitic sermons on this text. I responded that I myself have heard it taught repeatedly that the primary purpose of the law was to expose our sinful nature--and perhaps that’s what Diana meant? As a spring-board to increasingly aggressive anti-Semitic assertions?
Or, maybe, we poor wretched souls need a primer in what ant-semitism sounds like?
I am writing your thoughts and clarifications in the notes of my bible as a legacy of an understanding that will hopefully help my family see that 'God's way means choosing a path that begins with in our hearts' vs. the dreadful, guilt-inducing, us v. them interpretations that push people out the doors of Christianity and church.
This passage is about to be tackled in a group study this week. I take issue with this passage as the focus of Christian character development. Jesus came, first of all to offer himself as Israel's messiah so this passage is to Israel and describes life possible in the Jewish Kingdom with Him as the leader. Yet the guide for our study has references to Revelation 3 which is directed to the Church. Romans 7 which is St. Paul's narrative of his progress from a life captive to sin to the Lord Jesus, his redeemer. And to Romans 9 that points out the futility of attempting for millennia to earn righteousness (dependent upon Jesus vicarious death on his behalf and that of the world, and also to Eph. 2:11-22 where the path to unity is described as resting on the (future) sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. None of these things could be experience or even believed at this point of Jesus' ministry. Christian character development is best addressed by studying the sanctification passages and the Spirit gifts as laid out by St. Paul.
Thank you so much for this today. I reread my sermon before preaching to make sure there was no hint of supersessionism. This was a timely and important reminder.
After Jesus death and resurrection Salvation through Grace by Faith is revealed. The Law shows the impossibility of keeping’s its demands. Grace teaches that Jesus fulfilled all the demands of the Law for us. As we “Turn our eyes upon Jesus looking full in His wonderful face, the things of the earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” It has taken me a lifetime to learn to focus on Him and not worry about the Laws demands.
It would be useful to explore how the issue of choice shapes people’s engagement with the created order. How Jesus used birds, flowers and donkeys in the way of love. Was there a reference to this aspect of the natural world in his understanding of the law revealed in the beatitudes?
“If we start with our hearts, where we hear the deepest compassion that God has for each of us even in these secret places, life and blessing await.” 😕 But, learning to turn off years of external negative commentary and social judgement, much of which has etched cracks in my tender heart, is hard to do. Your insight, and the compassionate spirit shared HERE truly helps. ❤️🩹 Reimagining this sermon as you’ve done, it’s true, “We choose better when we know that love and forgiveness envelop us.” That’s why I’m here. Thank you - ALL of you - but especially you, Diana!
Oh, Diana, what a way you have with words & in weaving in … the words of others too. Including today’s herseys kisses in bed from Anne Lamont! Thank you for being you!!
A few years ago, I was guided to participate in a spiritual exercise that has now become deeply embedded in my being. It was an invitation to take the words in Hebrews concerning having the law written upon our hearts seriously and actually do it. So I pondered, what would the Ten Commandments look like as a heart felt personal prayer of realization. After honest evaluation, I wrote these words, and through daily invocation this prayer has become a vital ingredient for personal transformation. We have the ability to become that which we are intended to be with some sincere co-operation with the Divine guidance that we have been given.
Thank you, Diana. You clear up so much for so many. Yes, certainly for those who’ve never contemplated these scriptures, but by pointedly showing us that there is and always will be the need for conscience-driven decisions. And what’s more, you show us that there is hope as well as consequence in the wake of choices motivated by darkness and death. Hope, in that it is the unfailing commitment of God toward his creation that moved Him to give us choice in the first place. But also to provide redemption even when, like the prodigal son, we come to our right selves in the middle of the muck.
As a wise steward you have brought things out of your treasure “both old and new.”
Question for Diana: We studied your February 12 essay in our Scripture Encore Sunday School class. We were truly blessed, but there was a question I felt truly inadequate to answer. Your comment about your experiencing/witnessing anti-Semitic sermons on this text. I responded that I myself have heard it taught repeatedly that the primary purpose of the law was to expose our sinful nature--and perhaps that’s what Diana meant? As a spring-board to increasingly aggressive anti-Semitic assertions?
Or, maybe, we poor wretched souls need a primer in what ant-semitism sounds like?
I have just started reading Michelle Obama's "The Light We Carry." I think she is a remarkable woman.
- Doug Carpenter, Birmingham
I am writing your thoughts and clarifications in the notes of my bible as a legacy of an understanding that will hopefully help my family see that 'God's way means choosing a path that begins with in our hearts' vs. the dreadful, guilt-inducing, us v. them interpretations that push people out the doors of Christianity and church.
This passage is about to be tackled in a group study this week. I take issue with this passage as the focus of Christian character development. Jesus came, first of all to offer himself as Israel's messiah so this passage is to Israel and describes life possible in the Jewish Kingdom with Him as the leader. Yet the guide for our study has references to Revelation 3 which is directed to the Church. Romans 7 which is St. Paul's narrative of his progress from a life captive to sin to the Lord Jesus, his redeemer. And to Romans 9 that points out the futility of attempting for millennia to earn righteousness (dependent upon Jesus vicarious death on his behalf and that of the world, and also to Eph. 2:11-22 where the path to unity is described as resting on the (future) sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. None of these things could be experience or even believed at this point of Jesus' ministry. Christian character development is best addressed by studying the sanctification passages and the Spirit gifts as laid out by St. Paul.
Thank you so much for this today. I reread my sermon before preaching to make sure there was no hint of supersessionism. This was a timely and important reminder.
After Jesus death and resurrection Salvation through Grace by Faith is revealed. The Law shows the impossibility of keeping’s its demands. Grace teaches that Jesus fulfilled all the demands of the Law for us. As we “Turn our eyes upon Jesus looking full in His wonderful face, the things of the earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” It has taken me a lifetime to learn to focus on Him and not worry about the Laws demands.
I love the invitation to live more deeply into law/ the relationship with God described in Torah.
It would be useful to explore how the issue of choice shapes people’s engagement with the created order. How Jesus used birds, flowers and donkeys in the way of love. Was there a reference to this aspect of the natural world in his understanding of the law revealed in the beatitudes?
“If we start with our hearts, where we hear the deepest compassion that God has for each of us even in these secret places, life and blessing await.” 😕 But, learning to turn off years of external negative commentary and social judgement, much of which has etched cracks in my tender heart, is hard to do. Your insight, and the compassionate spirit shared HERE truly helps. ❤️🩹 Reimagining this sermon as you’ve done, it’s true, “We choose better when we know that love and forgiveness envelop us.” That’s why I’m here. Thank you - ALL of you - but especially you, Diana!
Choice.
Choice, though made from a pure heart and mind, may sometimes be seen by others as being impure.
That's tough to take, from others.
Can feel/look like prejudice, pre-judging.
Perhaps all peoples' inner hearts differ in ways? How could they not?
Jesus, I pray you, do any issues or topics exist that are 100% non-controversial?
Thank you for sharing the 11th and 12th Commandments. It truly spoke to me this morning.
Beautiful, DBB. Thank you.
Oh, Diana, what a way you have with words & in weaving in … the words of others too. Including today’s herseys kisses in bed from Anne Lamont! Thank you for being you!!
Yes! The Anne Lamont piece was so spot on!
A few years ago, I was guided to participate in a spiritual exercise that has now become deeply embedded in my being. It was an invitation to take the words in Hebrews concerning having the law written upon our hearts seriously and actually do it. So I pondered, what would the Ten Commandments look like as a heart felt personal prayer of realization. After honest evaluation, I wrote these words, and through daily invocation this prayer has become a vital ingredient for personal transformation. We have the ability to become that which we are intended to be with some sincere co-operation with the Divine guidance that we have been given.
Beautiful!
You are such an insightful and creative exegete!
Thank you!
Thank you, Diana. You clear up so much for so many. Yes, certainly for those who’ve never contemplated these scriptures, but by pointedly showing us that there is and always will be the need for conscience-driven decisions. And what’s more, you show us that there is hope as well as consequence in the wake of choices motivated by darkness and death. Hope, in that it is the unfailing commitment of God toward his creation that moved Him to give us choice in the first place. But also to provide redemption even when, like the prodigal son, we come to our right selves in the middle of the muck.
As a wise steward you have brought things out of your treasure “both old and new.”
Ken Shelton