The English punctuation of the address in Isaiah 36 is some of the most interesting ... and intricate ... in the Bible. Sennacherib's Rabshakeh speaks a message from him to Hezekiah through the latter's officials.
And it struck one reader as unusual that a blasphemer could know the divine name. But then, how else to blaspheme?
Still, when she remarked on it, I wondered whether she had a background with the Jehovah Witnesses. Ya can take the girl out of the church but ya can't take the church out of the ...
Can anything good come from Brooklyn?This cartoon has it wrong.
The issue that they gave me1 had this piece as the lead article. Americans weary of the Iraq War might be more than ready to embrace their pacifism. This isn't a new posture for them but might now have a new audience.
The only other article I read appeared towards the back, called "The Eucharist: the Facts Behind the Ritual." Here's the MP3?
There's the frank admission that "in some form this ritual has remained of fundamental importance throughout Christendom." However, Jesus' command at the Last Supper to drink of the cup of his blood (Matthew 26:27-28) is interpreted in light of the apostolic teaching to "abstain from blood" (Acts 15:20, 29). Offhand, I think that's where the "fish on Friday" came from.
Today, the doctrine in Acts 15:20, 29 to avoid sexual immorality has endured, because it can be linked to the decalogue, but the dietary guidelines have been largely discarded. Even so, would a prohibition to abstain from animal blood extend to human blood among non-Darwinians?
Human blood is so beyond the pale of Acts 15:20, 29.
1 The Watchtower (Public) - April 2008.
8 comments:
You have confused me greatly. It seems like there are several independent paragraphs going on. Did you have a conversation with someone or read a JW pamphlet?
Thanks for your comment, Matt.
Did I have a conversation with someone? Hardly.
The first experience the post describes is on reading people: the innocent inquiry put out to a community Bible study, "How can the Assyrian blasphemer of Isaiah 36 know the divine name," the assumption being that only true believers know the divine name. But, then, blasphemy is impossible without knowing the divine name. So, their peculiar belief, that might sound reasonable at first, isn't upon further consideration. Christians call God "God," not because we've forgotten the divine name but because there's no other god to distinguish him from. Still, a study of the Hebrew titles for God in the Bible can be very edifying.
I put that cartoon up because I don't like it. I don't think it's true or accurate. I have considerable respect for their organization and their efforts, 'though I think none of it divinely ordained or inspired. Theirs is the best human enterprise around.
Neither of the two articles that I read were offensive to me. The second one doesn't make its case because, curious verse that it is, Acts 15:20, 29 can't possibly have human blood in view.
I've been following the debate between Ehrman and Wright over at beliefnet, since I'm reading Dr. Ehrman's book, God's Problem and, he suspects that Bishop Wright is "reading the Gospels through the lens of Paul."
It's widely recognized that Evangelicals tend to do this. And here, the Jehovah Witnesses are trumping Jesus' words in the Gospels with Luke's record in Acts.
If you are still confused, please know that I only want to identify for believers a couple of obscure mistakes and a subtle pitfall in their teaching.
In addition, I left a big chunk out because it's personal: I sense that my (feeble) belief in the eucharist is presently under siege ... for the likely reason that my son makes his first communion tomorrow. (1 Peter 5:8) At the same time, I read verses like Genesis 27:28 that just reassure me.
I'm not the sort to get hung up on "spiritual warfare" mumbo-jumbo, but I am dimly aware of conflicting thoughts since Holy Week, when I made a sacramental confession and returned to The Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar for the first time in a year ... maybe longer.
On a lighter note, those last four chapters of proto-Isaiah are a pip!
Blessed Ascension! Day late! ...
I'm glad you returned to the Eucharist. I didn't know you were away from it.
The Eucharist is not really explainable and oftentimes from reading and listening to people I find that those who lose faith in the Real Presence are quite hung up on trying to understand it. I myself have had moments where the Eucharist seems like wishful thinking. But you know then I am reminded that we cannot enter heaven unless we have the faith of a little child.
I have a fantastic image in my head of this occurring. Its not a vision or anything spectacular but when I meditate on this subject I picture myself as a little kid and I look up at the Blessed Virgin and take her hand has she leads me into Heaven to see her son.
As I ponder how we are to be faithful it occurs to me how black and white somethings are to us as kids. We believe our parents because we trust them. We want to know why all the time but sometimes we can't because we mentally just aren't there yet. Now compare our knowledge to that of God's and you will see where I am going with that.
Trying to understand the why of everything creates us kink in our faith if we take it too far. And while we don't want to slip into fundamentalism sometimes the answer "Because the Church says so" is the right answer.
God Bless
I just looked up the passage from 1 Peter and realized, "Hey I pray that every night at compline!"
Frates, Sobrii estote, et vigilate. quia adversarius vester diabolus tamquam leo rugiens. quarens quem devoret. cui resisite fortes in fide.
And then added is:
tu autem Domine, miserere nobis.
(But thou O Lord, Have Mercy on Us.)
So, tell me, Matt, is my post too foggy for submission to the Catholic Carnival?
those who lose faith in the Real Presence are quite hung up on trying to understand it.
Yes, that's it, from other Christians:
To the Orthodox, transubstantiation nails down the mysterious agency of the Holy Spirit.
To an Evangelical, Catholic precision overwhelms: "I have just read a thirteen-page treatise on grace in the New Catholic Encyclopedia, which has cured me of any desire to dissect grace and display its innards. I do not want the thing to die." - Philip Yancey
2 Cor. 3:5-7: but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
If "new covenant" is understood specifically as holy communion (1 Cor. 11:25), then I need to cultivate my relationship with the Spirit. And, you know, we sang one verse of Veni Creator Spiritus yesterday (in English) ... only one verse ... I would have sang more. I told my son it was a very important hymn for him to learn.
Yes, I can see 1 Peter 5:8 being a part of compline; that makes lots of sense. I'm happy you made that connection.
I'm not sure if your post is too foggy. I think if you gave it a little more context it would be fine. I've never been in the Catholic Carnival and I don't even know how to enter it...
As for what the Orthodox think well its fine up to a point. I personally believe that while they benefit from the sacraments they in fact suffer because of a loss of union with us. However in your case their perspective may be helpful: "We know it happens, we just aren't sure how." Where as St. Thomas tries his darndest to explain it logically.
As for the Evangelicals... Well I was listening to Fr. Z today on his Podcast and he quoted Tertullian on Heretics using scriptures:
"They put forward the Scriptures, and by this insolence of theirs they at once influence some. In the encounter itself, however, they weary the strong, they catch the weak, and dismiss waverers with a doubt. Accordingly, we oppose to them this step above all others, of not admitting them to any discussion of the Scriptures.
If in these lie their resources, before they can use them, it ought to be clearly seen to whom belongs the possession of the Scriptures, that none may be admitted to the use thereof who has no title at all to the privilege."
-"The Prescription against Heretics"
Ironically, Tertullian went heretic himself. I think that is again a good reason to remember 1 Peter 5:8.
However, Tertullian has some great insights on seeking answers in Chapter 10... "For where shall be the end of seeking?"
Another unexpressed thought behind my original post would be the opinion that the groups in question adhere to the Bible, uh, pretty closely. Mainstream Christians rarely acknowledge that because it undermines their claims.
The leader of the study I'm in alludes often to Tertullian's caution on using Scripture to refute heresy because, as Jim puts it so candidly, "You might not win."
Tertullian's heresy didn't affect his christology or his trinitarianism, but has been likened, in some respects, to modern-day Pentecostalism. So, on those matters not impacted by his heresy, he may be read. Jim had us read Against Praxeas a couple of months ago.
If you want to participate in the Catholic Carnival, then send email to jay [at] living catholicism [dot] com. Here's his web site: http://www.livingcatholicism.com/ Just about everyone who contributes to the carnival is more traditional and orthodox than I. I'm actually wondering when they'll start refusing my contributions! :-)
I appreciate your comments and encouragement. Christ's peace to you.
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