Posted on 01/09/2018 4:28:29 AM PST by Kaslin
I won't make any assumptions about how many readers noticed I took a three-month break from column writing.
Nevertheless, I want to explain why.
I needed the time to finish the first volume of the biggest project of my life as a writer, a commentary on the first five books of the Bible, or what are called the Torah in Hebrew.
The commentary is addressed to people of every faith and, especially, to people of no faith.
I have believed all my life that the primary crisis in America and the West is the abandonment of Judeo-Christian values, or, one might say, the dismissal of the Bible. Virtually everyone on the left thinks America would be better off as a secular nation. And virtually all conservative intellectuals don't think it matters. How many intellectuals study the Bible and teach it to their children?
And yet, from the time long before the United States became a country until well into the 1950s, the Bible was not only the most widely read book in America; it was the primary vehicle by which each generation passed on morality and wisdom to the next generation.
Since that time, we have gone from a Bible-based society to a Bible-ignorant one; from the Bible being the Greatest Book to the Bible being an irrelevant book. Ask your college-age child, niece, nephew or grandchild to identify Cain and Abel, the Tower of Babel or the ten plagues. Get ready for some blank stares. I recently asked some college graduates (none of whom were Jewish) to name the four Gospels. None could.
But what we have today is worse than ignorance of the Bible. It is contempt for it. Just about anyone who quotes the Bible, let alone says it is the source of his or her values, is essentially regarded as a simpleton who is anti-science, anti-intellectual and sexist.
Our society, one of whose mottos is "In God We Trust," is becoming as godless as Western Europe -- and, consequently, as morally confused and unwise as Europe. Just as most professors regard most Bible believers as foolish, I have more or less the same view of most college professors in the liberal arts. When I hear that someone has a Ph.D. in sociology, anthropology, political science or English, let alone women's studies or gender studies, I assume that he or she is morally confused and bereft of wisdom. Some are not, of course. But they constitute a small minority.
Whenever teenagers call my radio show or I meet one in person, I can usually identify -- almost immediately -- the ones who are receiving a religion-based education. They are far more likely to act mature and have more wisdom than their Bible-free peers.
One of our two greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, rarely attended church, but he read the Bible daily. As he said while president, "In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man."
Were he able to observe America today, Lincoln would be shocked by many things. But none would shock him as much as the widespread ignorance of and contempt for the Bible.
I have taught the Torah, from the Hebrew original, for 40 years. Of the many things I have been blessed to be able to do -- from hosting a national radio show to conducting orchestras -- teaching Torah is my favorite.
When asked how it has affected my life, I often note that in my early 20s, when I was working through issues I had with my parents, there was nevertheless not a week during which I did not call them. And there was one reason for this: I believe that God commanded us to "Honor your father and your mother."
In my commentary, I point out that while the Torah commands us to love our neighbor, love God and love strangers, it never commands us to love our parents. It was sophisticated enough to recognize that love of parents may be impossible but showing honor to a parent is a behavioral choice.
In America, there is an epidemic of children who no longer talk one or both of their parents. In a few cases, this is warranted. But in most cases, adult children are inflicting terrible, unfair pain upon their parent. This is one of a myriad of examples where believing in a God-based text is transformative. Secular callers tell me that they hardly need the Ten Commandments to desist from murdering anyone. That may well be true. But apparently, a lot of people could use the Ten Commandments to avoid inflicting terrible pain on (admittedly, flawed) parents.
The title of my work is "The Rational Bible" because my vehicle to God and the Bible is reason. If you have ever wondered why all of America's founders revered the Bible, let alone why anyone today might do so, this book should provide an explanation. My ultimate aim is to help make the Bible America's book once again.
So pray for him and appreciate what he does get. Geez, sometimes the negativity of Christians makes me understand why folks have a hard time with Christianity.
They CHOOSE to live without God. That doesn’t change when they die. Hell is the absence of God.
Is it better to believe that I was created in sin as the Bible claims (a wretch and in need of redemption) because of the sin of Adam or that I was created perfect as were the rest of creation and free to worship and be thankful to a perfect Being? I find it more peaceful my way because I condemn no one and I don’t feel superior to anyone.
Don’t take the Mark.
Well, it’d be better for eternal purposes. Do you really think any human being on this earth is perfect? Really? We are selfish creatures but sometimes it takes revelation from Christ to see that...Blessings.
Unfortunately, Dennis Prager doesn’t believe the Torah is from Heaven and rejects some commandments because they offend modern sensibilities.
I’m not sure your religion from your post, but the Bible does state in Ecclesiastes 12:13? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Yes, God loves us and he is more than fair. But he is is also to be feared as he is fiercely just. I tremble at what his wrath could do, and thank Him for instilling in me faith and providing a path to salvation.
Whenever teenagers call my radio show or I meet one in person, I can usually identify — almost immediately — the ones who are receiving a religion-based education. They are far more likely to act mature and have more wisdom than their Bible-free peers.
...
Such people hinder the careers of crooked politicians.
You are full of it.
I think so too, and I am Catholic
Very well said.
It is not I that condemns you. It is the word of God that points out condemnation.
He that believeth on him (Jesus) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:18,19)
I am not superior, just saved. It is God's desire that no man perish, that all come to the knowledge of the truth. If I were "superior", I would keep this privileged position only for myself and leave the unsaved to perish. But that would be contrary to what God wants.
Jesus said, "...He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).
Believe and live.
I appreciate having Prager as a political ally. But I draw the line at spiritual matters which he often speaks on. Distinctions must be made.
Jesus preached more on hell than heaven and described the eternal torment that awaits the unbeliever. He was also very "negative" when it to the Jewish leaders of his day who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness.
Christians have "good news", that men do not have to die in their trespasses and sins. God stands ready forgiven and give them eternal life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
Good news indeed.
They knew God as he manifested himself. Abraham knew him as God almighty. Moses knew him as Jehovah. They believed and their faith was counted for righteousness.
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
Today God has manifested himself in Jesus Christ. To reject Jesus is to reject God the Father.
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:23)
Depends on who’s truth you are talking about. There are many, many sacred texts that outdate the Bible and some recent ones. Are they wrong? How do you know that? Don’t they think their holy book is right just as you? Why are you right and they wrong? You can’t honestly answer that without using the words that you read in YOUR holy book.
Seriously, why would the Creator of this universe not embrace an Arab or Jew or Buddhist who may have never heard of a Jesus? He created them and put them where they are. According to the OT He created the ruler of Egypt yet hardened his heart so he would never become a “saved” person. So much for (Pharaoh’s) free will!
“Jesus preached more on hell than heaven and described the eternal torment that awaits the unbeliever. He was also very “negative” when it to the Jewish leaders of his day who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness.”
He was also very negative when it came to the Jewish RELIGIOUS leaders of his day.
The article discusses his belief that the decline of American society is due to the growing absence of the Word of God...and yet you choose to criticize his lack of belief? Ungh...
I love the word of God! It has the power to save. Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me." That's an exclusive claim which invalidates all others.
I believe the resurrected one, Jesus Christ.
Seriously, why would the Creator of this universe not embrace an Arab or Jew or Buddhist who may have never heard of a Jesus? He created them and put them where they are. According to the OT He created the ruler of Egypt yet hardened his heart so he would never become a “saved” person. So much for (Pharaoh’s) free will!
God's word has gone out into all the world many times over. What's more critical is that you have now heard the truth, yet you do not embrace it. If you die in your tresspasses and sins, your opportunity will have passed.
If you had read Exodus you would know that Pharaoh initially hardened his own heart. After his repeated self-hardenings, God kept it hardened so that he could work his will -- the passover and the freeing of the children of Israel.
A truly hard-hearted God would simply send all sinners to hell. Toss 'em the lake. Yet, he is long-suffering and made provision for the covering of their sin. Even before the foundation of the world the lamb was slain.
Men reject the gospel because they want to earn salvation on their own terms. They say, "I wouldn't do it that way" and find fault with God.
I don't think for a moment that Prager teaches from the New Covenant or even is willing to acknowledge WHO the Word of God is -- Jesus Christ.
This is a great ecumenical thrust trying to yoke Jews and Christians. Christians are NOT to be unequally yoked, especially with a group who rejects Jesus Christ. Those who profess to be Jews say they are looking for "the messiah", but they reject the only Messiah there is.
The Bible calls such people "liars":
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ (aka Messiah). He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:22,23)
It is not a small matter.
So the point of your post on the thread is to what? Warn us not to read it? Warn us not to take anything a jewish person says to heart? Let us know what a good Christian you are? Tell us all how we’re supposed to think as Christians? Beware your motives - your post has little to nothing do with anything he says in the article.
He is superb. Agree.
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