Part 6 of our Bible 101 series. This 7 minute episode discusses how understanding the historical and cultural context of the Bible, instead of reading our modern ideas into it, helps us get at the real meaning.
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- To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
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Churchianity: Rules For Thee, Not Me
Bible Rebel continues keeping a watchdog’s eye on religious news and events, here’s the latest from the Vatican.
On Tuesday, Pope Francis sent a letter to U.S. bishops addressing the Trump administration’s immigration policies and criticizing Vice President J.D. Vance’s interpretation of the hierarchy of love starting with one’s family and extending outward.
Pope Francis’ own interpretation is that Christian love should be inclusive and compassionate towards all people, regardless of their nationality or legal status and that we should all be meditating on the parable of the Good Samaritan and promoting a fraternity that is open to all.
He argued that measures based on force rather than the inherent dignity of every human being are destined to fail.
Hold on just durn minute there, Mr. Pope – what about this from the Catholic New Agency on 1/15/2025?
“Vatican cracks down on illegal entry into its territory
The document also stipulates that unauthorized overflight of Vatican airspace, including through the use of drones, may be punished with prison sentences from six months to three years in addition to a fine that could reach 25,000 euros (about $26,000).
Anyone convicted of illegal entry will be banned from entering Vatican territory for a period of up to 15 years. If this sanction is breached, the offender may be punished with a prison sentence of one to five years.
In addition, the Vatican’s promoter of justice may summon any person who has committed an offense to appear before the court the day after receiving the complaint or immediately after questioning him.”
Hmmm, reminds me a bit of what Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-9.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men…
Whatever your interpretation of ordo amoris, (Latin for “order of love”) shouldn’t it at least be consistent? Maybe the Pope needs to take a look in the mirror so he can better see how to remove that big ol’ beam lodged in there.
All of this is just another example of why people are fleeing churchianity – of all brands.
By the way, here is a one minute mini message on my own view of what “love thy neighbor” means.
What Does It Mean To Love Your Neighbor?
Watchdog Alert: Riviera of the Middle East?
Bible Rebel is keeping a watchdog’s eye on events around the world. Here’s some of the latest from the Middle East.
Trump’s ‘out of the box’ Middle East policy is being well-received, says Israeli ambassador
Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter was on ‘Fox News Live’ Sunday to discuss President Donald Trump’s proposing nuclear talks with Iran, his plan for rebuilding Gaza, and the condition of released hostages which sparked outrage in Israel.
Trump’s suggestion to turn Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East” has also sparked a lot of controversy.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368564940112
Gaza Ceasefire Deal and Prisoner Swap
Israel and Hamas have conducted a fifth prisoner swap under the Gaza ceasefire deal, exchanging three Israelis for 183 Palestinians.
Israel and Hamas conducted a fifth exchange of prisoners and hostages Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement that has paused 16 months of war in Gaza.
Hamas released three civilian Israelis and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners. It was the fifth swap of hostages for prisoners since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19. Twenty-one hostages and more than 730 Palestinian prisoners have now been freed. – AP News
Iran Ready to Negotiate with the U.S.
Iran’s Foreign Minister has stated that Iran is ready to negotiate with the U.S., but not under the “maximum pressure” policy, which Iran views as surrender.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on Saturday that “the lifting of sanctions requires negotiations, but not within the framework of a ‘maximum pressure’ policy, because it would not be a negotiation but a form of surrender”. Al Jazeera
Sudan Army Claims Major Advances in Greater Khartoum
The Sudanese army has made significant advances in Greater Khartoum, marking one of the most substantial progressions since the conflict began between army chief al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The army, at war with the RSF since April 2023, has in recent weeks won back large swaths of the capital and its surrounding areas from the paramilitaries. – Al Jazeera
Bible 101 Part 5: The New Covenant
Part 5 of our Bible 101 series.
Biblical Archaeology Recent Discoveries
Bible Rebel is keeping a watchdog’s eye on the recent archaeological discoveries confirming the biblical record of history.
Abram, Father of Monotheism
“The Mari Letters (18th century BCE) indicate that the Amorites (one of the seven Canaanite nations) were nomadic pastoralists who moved across the Fertile Crescent quite frequently. Burial sites from this period (e.x.; tumuli or cairns) in parts of the Levant and Mesopotamia are associated with mobile pastoralist groups. Abraham’s movement is thus consistent with the broader socio-political and environmental conditions that existed at the time.” – Times of Israel
Ancient Roman Tablets Found in Israel
Archaeologists at Abel Beth Maacah in northern Israel discovered ancient Roman tablets that mention previously unknown towns named Tirthas and Golgol. The tablets are a Tetrarchic boundary stone from Emperor Diocletian’s reign. – Greek Reporter
Early Spread of Christianity Confirmed
“An 1800-year-old silver amulet with a Latin inscription invoking the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is being hailed as evidence of the early spread of Christianity. The amulet was discovered near Frankfurt, Germany under the chin of a man buried in a tomb dating to AD 230–270.” – Bible Archaeology Report
Death Row Letters: Dear Atheists Part 2
In my previous letter addressed to my atheist friends I promised we’d start looking at some of what the Bible says about the problem of suffering, which is a top argument against the existence of God.
Although, I’ll say here that folks arguing against the existence of God is akin to fish arguing against the existence of water.
Nevertheless, questions need to be answered so here’s some of the biblical answer to the problem of evil and suffering in the world today.
Romans 8:18 – For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Well, I reckon I agree with the Apostle Paul here.
If eternity is represented by the size and scope of the entire known universe, which contains billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, and according to best estimates, is 93 light years across, then our short lives in this age by comparison would be the size of a grain of sand. Even smaller.
Actually there is no comparison that we can wrap our heads around to understand the eternal life God has promised us in relation to the short years of our mortal lives in this age.
And not only has our heavenly Father guaranteed us everlasting life, but everlasting life in resurrected, glorious, immortal bodies to live forever with Him, free of death, pain, and suffering.
So, while suffering and pain is hard to understand and bear while going through it, no matter how awful or how long one has to endure it, it is infinitesimally brief compared to what God has in store for those that love Him.
2 Corinthians 4:17 – For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…
So, going back to what I said in my last letter – God is entirely just, and He has committed Himself, for now, to abiding by the conditions which allow for suffering and pain in our physical world and in our current time – but it all is as nothing in the face of the coming eternal glory.
Oh, look at where the time has gone. I’ll have to wrap it up for now, but next time I’ll get into a little more about what the Bible says about the two kinds of evil – human evil, and natural evil.
Sincerely yours,
Your fellow death row inmate
Religious Wolves In Clerical Robes
The Episcopal Church has become little more than a platform for far left cultural and political ideologues to ‘preach’ their ‘woke’, anti-scriptural nonsense to a rapidly diminishing congregation.
Yes, that’s Washington Bishop Mariann Budde on the right in the picture below from the Episcopal News Service. She was the subject of much attention, and an opinion I wrote here last month, stemming from the the political lecture, disguised as a sermon, that she aimed at President Trump, Vice President Vance, and both of their families during the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after Trump’s inauguration.
Read the article below outlining Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s (center in the picture) recent sermon, and I think you may end up with a few of the same conclusions and questions I did.
- How can you speak “out against contemporary political divisions as ‘not of God’…” while at the same time in the same sermon introduce rhetoric that includes divisive political language, specifically against President Trump and his agenda?
- Exactly where in the Bible does it say that “immigrants, transgender people, the poor and other marginalized communities” are “central to the kingdom Jesus envisioned…”? The King himself and God Almighty are at the center of the coming mediatorial and everlasting Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible says explicitly in Matthew 7:13-14 to, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” All are welcome. Jesus Christ is the gate.
- Furthermore, Bishop Rowe said, “Those who have been considered at the margins are at the center. They are the bearers of the salvation of the world. Their struggles reveal to us the kingdom of God.” Who is the bearer of the salvation of the world??? This isn’t just nonsense, it’s completely antithetical to everything the Bible explicitly teaches.
As I pointed out earlier, the Episcopal Church is bleeding membership and losing all spiritual credibility and standing.
The Episcopal Church has been experiencing a decline in membership over the past few years. According to the latest reports, the church saw a significant drop in membership, losing about 40,000 members in 2023 alone. This brings the total membership to approximately 1.547 million people.
Despite this decline, there has been a slight increase in average Sunday worship attendance, which reached nearly 411,000 in 2023, up from 373,000 in 2022. This increase is seen as a gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, when worship attendance had significantly dropped due to lockdowns and public health concerns.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/episcopal-church-loses-40k-members-but-worship-attendance-grows.html
The decline in membership and attendance has been attributed to various factors, including the church’s increasingly progressive theological direction and the challenges of maintaining older buildings and utility costs.
https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/09/21/episcopal-churchs-latest-parochial-reports-highlight-denominational-decline-hope-for-future/
Cold Day In Montana
Today’s One Minute Mini Message