Dear Friends;
A judgment is an opinion we form when we compare something against its similarity. As I am trying to understand what it means to be judgmental, I arrived to this conclusion. Guiness World Book of Records is a good example of being judgmental. That simple perspective can help us think about how we are relating to others. If we think our church group is better Christian than other group, we are being judgmental. If we think lowly of anyone, we too are being judgmental. If we feel insufficient or inadequate in presence of others—we again are being judgmental. While judgment as presented in Guiness World Records isn't serious—it is fun to read and know how much man can do—but being judgmental in realm of relationship with others as well as how we think of ourselves is serious. Apostle Paul say it this way that comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise.
I find myself hankering to re-read that book, Love Without End: Jesus Speaks. I know I read it twice, but now I finally understand what being judgmental means, I want to read it again. You see, in that book, Jesus told Glenda (the author of that book) in her vision that judgment is the original sin. I have hard time understanding what that means. I did some study on what sin is and wrote about it in my book, but now judgment is a different perspective? I only saw envy in Lucifer's desire to be equal with God as in Isaiah 14:12-15. I only saw covetousness in Eve when the serpent tempt her to take the forbidden fruit.
Now I understood. If Lucifer would not compare his doings with God's doings, he wouldn't have fallen. If the serpent wouldn't question God's sufficiency by avoiding that fruit, Eve wouldn't have took it. I now realize how being judgmental can infiltrate into our perspective toward life in general.
Just think about it. If Jesus would have walked on earth today, would we recognize Him as He is? Or would we be like Jewish leaders who disbelieve Him? Have we ever think about "what would Jesus do" and decided it isn't something He would have done? What if He would have done it?! What if in this modern culture we are in, Jesus didn't wash feet with others? We may condemn Him by neglecting His own example to the disciples. Horse-and-buggy believers may think Jesus wouldn't have driven a car, but automobile-owning believers may think so. Just something to think about and not to hotly debate over. I am only saying, because I notice that it is those well versed with the Law that has more problem with Jesus than those who are considered sinners. Isn't the same pattern repeated between Catholics and Anabaptists during Spanish Inquisition? Don't we want to be aware whether we are repeating the same pattern on others or not? Of course, we mustn't forget that Jesus will never broke the Ten Commandment, because God wrote those laws, not Moses.
I know I talk about this before, but I cannot help loving this thought. I had to read it three times until I finally could write it down. If perfect love cast out fear, then maybe it would help us to think about fear. What is our deepest fear? I recently read, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Our playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wouldn't feel insecure around us. We were all meant to shine; it's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." I like to think that, if we wholeheartedly practice love toward life in general and follow the living, we will liberates ourselves from fear. If we believe in Jesus and have Him in us, we do well to recognized that He is powerful. Then why do we continue to fail to believe wholeheartedly?
Today is September 20; my Grandmother Evelyn Martin is enjoying her 91st birthday. It is very beautiful day; the skies are so blue, no clouds in sight. It is crisp cool too, a very reminder that it is fall. Now we have 85 quarts of applesauce behind us as well as 78 quarts of canned pears and 110 quarts of peaches, I am glad it is all over.
Yesterday is Sharpsburg Festival. I enjoy browsing through my hometown, and found one booth focusing on the history of Sharpsburg. Ah, a town with rare qualities! It is one of very few towns that start out with a town plan. And fewer yet is there a town that still have its original town plan with names of residents or owners on each lot. Sharpsburg has rich history; it has had its famous visitors. It is internationally recognized town, despite its size. Sandwiched between national historical park of C&O canal and Antietam National Battlefield, it is no wonder that it is historically inclined tourist's paradise. I love this town. To me, it seems to be stuck in days gone, yet it has modern conveniences. There isn't many town with a small town feel, especially with restaurants, churches, library, bank, post office, and grocery store all in walking distance. Almost everything you need can be found right in the town, but certainly everything that you would need for "emergencies". We even have fire hall and pharmacy too. We still have many original houses. The only thing we don't have is hospital and a real general or grocery store. You know, a place where you can shop and find everything you need. We still go to Wal-mart north of Hagerstown for our weekly shopping. But back in the heyday, Sharpsburg used to be that kind of town where you don't need to get out for anything, except for occasional trip to Harpers Ferry.
I am enjoying Bible study with the ministry. So far, I have not found anything we disagree on. I knew that the ministry have to study their Bible in order to know what to preach about on Sundays, so that is nothing new. Just that there are some things that I do question, but it is mostly in practice, nothing doctrinal.
Like for example, baptism. We studied baptism and the book we use for Bible study aid mentioned few verses pertaining to baptism. I didn't say anything, and David Halteman mentions it. Because he is in ministry, naturally other ministers will be agreeable with him than they would to me. I was glad that he make the observation that immersion may be the recommended mode of baptism, thus contradicting what the booklet is saying. He didn't say it is recommended; he only say that was the picture. See Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians 2:12. I didn't say anything, because I don't want the ministry think I am gloating over the fact that I already knew that, and that they are agreeing with me on that without any peep from me!
Last Tuesday evening we study about feet washing. When I was reading that chapter in book, I was struck at how few reference to the Bible concerning feet washing as God's commandment to us. And my impression was that writer is trying to force himself to believe that feet-washing is necessary. The way he say it is enough to "turn me off". Why can't he just let the Bible say what it says?
But I came up something very interesting. I finally muster up enough courage to ask the ministry, "If Jesus gave us an example that we are to follow by washing His disciples' feet, then how is it that He share bread and wine as well as wash feet with Judas, especially if Jesus know everything? I mean, how is that an example of closed communion, if we say that the reason of practicing closed communion is not to fellowship with sinners?" Of course, the ministry was silent for a long moment. Since I don't want to give an impression of spiritual pride or anything like that, I dismissed it by saying that it was just a thought I had, and they probably never thought of it that way before. Richard Lehman then said that Judas didn't do that sin yet. I got thinking, So you are saying that Jesus emptied Himself that He didn't know what Judas is planning or thinking? Maybe. If this theory is correct, then that confirms my conviction that God is all about now. However, I left the Bible study that evening feeling convinced that my position on feet washing was correct.
I find Rod and Staff Sunday School books very fascinating. We are studying from the book of Revelation. It is like a message of hope to me, because everyone would finally reap what they sow. To think that God will judge the judgmental people. To think that new earth and new heaven is coming and what day it will be! In that day, no one will have favorites. There will be no churches competing against each other. There will be no church splits. Everyone will be holy. Everyone will see God as He is. There will be no one who wish to keep conservative. Everyone will respect each other's free will—and each other's freedom just to be. Everything will be just perfect beyond imagination.
My friend ask me if I am thinking of being a reformer. Me, a reformer? A dictionary defines reformer as one who urge change. That is not my intention. There is no change necessary that I know of. I am only asking people to love more and stop judging! There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep traditions like having horse and buggy. It only becomes wrong if it don't help you feel pure adoration for your Father in heaven. There is nothing wrong with being conservative—only if it help you to fall in love with God and adore Him for what He is. If it don't make you feel—or more importantly lead you to feel—passionate about life in general and wanting to do good works, then why do it? If it don't help you to have that kind of relationship with Divine Trinity like Song of Solomon talks about, then why do it?
Of course, I am fully aware that when everyone would start thinking this way, reform will happen. I am not asking for a surface matter. I am asking for a heart matter.
Some time ago, I read something about holy and whole are derived from same English word. I decided to look up to see if that is true. Yes it is true...so I decided to check out the original meaning in Biblical terms. It seems like pure and blameless is almost same as being whole. I looked up holy in Old Testament and it seems like it means something consecrated or sacred. I looked up holy in New Testament and it seems like it is more like pure, blameless, and whole. In fact, I found that the original word in Greek that most English translation is holy also translated into saint few times. There is 213 "hagios" in New Testament, but only 173 "holy", the English translation. You do the math. I didn't take time to find more details, so I don't know if "holy" and "saint" are only two words translated from "hagios".
But it convince me that the deeper meaning of holy is really all about being whole. We know that we as humans are finite and limited, so it will take work for us to try viewing everything objectively and innocently in order to be whole. Let our light shine more and more unto that perfect day.
Observe the hidden meaning in the Star of David. Adamantine Particles is the smallest particles, much smaller than atom. When connected in some way, it becomes dimensional. Everything you see, touch, taste, hear, or smell is a structure of adamantine particles connected to each other.
Notice that this Star consists of two triangles. Love resonates with the Spirit and commands the adamantine particles. Life with purpose bring something into existence. Then notice all points between other points. Life with love creates purpose. Love with Spirit is life. Life with Spirit brings things into existence. Purpose with adamantine particles brings into existence. Spirit with adamantine particles brings everything into existence. In the center of everything is the Divine Heart. You can say that is God. To include everything into one picture is being whole or holy. Note how Love is the driving force in everything. Note that Existence is a structure of everything, the end product, and is subject to change, because of love as the driving force.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40, italics added for emphasis)
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3, italics added for emphasis) You may suspect that adamantine particles is God Himself.
Want to know what kind of love you are? Love your enemies! (Read Luke 6:27-36)
Today is September 21 and I just read yesterday afternoon a interesting quote. Maybe it isn't a quote, but it was written this way: "it's not the power of the curse; it's the power you give the curse." How true! We easily feel that sin has the power over us. We easily forget that Jesus already conquered sin and death. We are only ruled by how much right we gave to the curse. When we disbelieve the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God, we tend to take on life in our limited way. That is why we make any form of structure into our master, rather than our servant. Church or workplace guidelines are good—only as long as it is a servant, not our master. When we see others doing things that we don't or won't do, we tend to think that person is wrong. We are comparing that person against our standard of conduct or dress, especially in the area where the Bible have no specific say in the matter.
I think I would have to ask the ministry tonight what is the difference between judging (Matthew 7:1-5) or fruit inspecting (Matthew 7:15-20).
This afternoon my father and I went to get firewood. Now our firewood room is filled, and I hope it should last all winter. This morning I play a quick game of Hearts and won with 0 points. Of course, I got all hearts and queen spade twice, so that give my opponents 26 penalty points twice. I thought it was interesting for many months whenever I have some time I want to waste by getting my mind off something, I would play a game of Hearts. Many times I tried and failed to get to single digits and even to zero points. Now I did twice in last two weeks. Then I had a nice nap, knowing that I would need to be fully awake for tonight Bible study with the ministry.
Roy Petre, a "former" deacon at Meadow View, is home on furlough from Ethiopia. I talked with him Sunday evening and was fascinated with Aramaic language. According to various sources, that was the language Jesus may have spoke in His day. Right now, I am reading a book about the outcome of 12 apostles and where they may be buried. It said that Matthew may be fluent with Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. That would make sense because he was a tax collector. And that would make him a good candidate to write a gospel. I mention that Jesus may speak Aramaic to Roy Petre, and he quickly disagreed.
That make me think few things this morning as I meditate. My conclusion is that, if you want to be sure, better not be. If you think you have it right, check again as if you aren't sure. If I think I am teachable, what if I am not? If I think I have it right, what if I am not? If I think that person isn't teachable, maybe I am the same way?
I did ask the ministry what is the difference between judging and fruit inspecting. They believe that to judge is to condemn or to put down. I return home and look up the Greek word for Matthew 7:1 "judge" and found it to mean exactly what English dictionary would define "judge". For or against? That's a thought.
I want to apologize to you, my dear friends, that I judged you and many Christians according to my standards. Please forgive me.
--
Omar Burkholder
"Burky"
