I'm reading my monthly publication of "The Voice of the Martyrs" and am just amazed and stunned by the power an impact of the Holy Bible.
I'm reading a story of how someone named Mozafar, who was a devout Muslim, had been commanded by his mullah (Islamic leader) to read the Bible so that he could write an argument against it to defeat the Christians. Upon reading the book of Matthew, he was stunned by the mercy and grace of Jesus. He went to a hotel room to read more without interruption. He became a Christian.
The message of the Gospel is spreading throughout China in the underground churches. Often there is one Bible for several hundred people. My friend helps to smuggle more in, but it's impossible to meet the need as Christianity is growing so rapidly.
It's an absolutely powerful book. Thank you, Lord, for your Word, your Truth, your Guide. It's the only book that, upon opening, the author appears.
"If you want to see just how amazing it is, read the sacred writings of almost any other religion or even the Book of Mormon."
At Country Girl's request, I won't inject my personal feelings about any one else's inspired texts. I will say that I believe in many paths to the Lord's Truth -- and, I respect many religions and denominations.
That said, our Bible Study read the following chapter this week and I find it relevant here:
Ezekiel 34:1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them." 7 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 "as I live," says the Lord God, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock"-- 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! 10 Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them." 11 'For thus says the Lord God: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord God. 16 I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment." 17 'And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 18 Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture--and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet." 20 'Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: "Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them--My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken. 25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27 Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people," says the Lord God.' " 31 You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God," says the Lord God.
It was brought up that the the divisions in families, communities, country and the world are because the 'flock' has been scattered. Our own party's primary shows this clearly -- only one is talking about faith and he is being derided at every turn
I don't have respect for people -- religious or otherwise -- that try to divide by whatever means to obtain power and control... making themselves into cult figures who are to be worshiped (remember how King Saul ended?). Too many present their 'opinions' as absolute truth when it is indeed falsity. These false idols fall and the flock scatters.
Who is gathering folks together in love and mercy? Where is the Love that Jesus taught us in the Gospels? Where is the respect for another's beliefs and rational mind? With that, comes spiritual freedom.
There are many in this world willing to DIE for their religious beliefs. The line is drawn when you kill others for not believing the same. And as Jesus said Matthew 5 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
At Country Girl's request, I won't inject my personal feelings about any one else's inspired texts. I will say that I believe in many paths to the Lord's Truth -- and, I respect many religions and denominations.
Remember what Paul said? He said that if someone preaches another (heteros) gospel that is not an other (allos) gospel, let him be anathema.
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (heteros) gospel: Which is not another (allos); but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
--Galatians 1
These are the words Paul used to make the distinction: allos, meaning another of the same kind, like two loaves of whole wheat bread. Heteros, meaning another of a different kind, that is, another that doesn't share the same inherent characteristics, like the difference between a loaf of whole wheat bread and something that looks like a loaf of whole wheat bread but is actually a stage prop made of expertly painted styrofoam.
This is where the word "heterodoxy" comes from to refer to a teaching that is, beyond superficial characteristics, inherently something else. The Book of Mormon Jesus and the New Testament Jesus are examples of this. They share superficial characteristics but inherently, according to the teachings of the respective groups, are entirely different beings in the same way that the Jesus of the Watchtower is an entirely different being than the Jesus of the New Testament.
