I'm reflecting today. Well, I'm continuing my chronological journey through the bible but I had a wonderful day yesterday. I spent the entire day with my husbands cousin who is an absolutely wonderful person. She is extremely knowledgeable about the bible. She has had amazing faith and religious structure since age 9! We had so many fun conversations yesterday I'm not sure where to start.
We discussed so much regarding my journey thus far and my understanding (or lack of understanding) of so many different aspects of the bible.
We discussed idols at length because that has been plaguing my brain for quite a while.
Exodus 20:4 states “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."
Exodus 20:23 "Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold."
In reading these statements I wonder why do we have crosses? Why do we have images of Jesus. Especially if Jesus is the son of God or in an image of God or...well. Can you tell I'm confused?
So these seem like idols to me. Should we not have crosses in the front of churches, should we not have crosses around our necks, hold rosary's with a crucifix on them.
These are symbols yes, but is a symbol an idol?
So according to Dictionary.com an
Idol is
noun
1. an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.
2. Bible .
a. an image of a deity other than god.
b. the deity itself.
Symbol is
noun
1. something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
Well according to this it would seem that these things (crosses, etc) are not ok.
I'm just going to put the rosary with a crucifix that is in my car in a drawer until I continue with my readings in the bible to see what else it says about the subject.
I will be posting more later as I continue my journey through Leviticus and Numbers.
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Completed Job.
Well It's February 1st. Where I live we are having a blizzard! Not the kind served at Dairy Queen either. It iced last night and we've had a lot of snow and a strong north wind all day today.
I have been so fortunate in my journey through the bible. I have really enjoyed it thus far and hope I continue with my resolution to read the bible chronologically this year. One month down and 11 more to go!
Yesterday I worked all day. It was the usual day in the Emergency Room. I did get to see our hospital chaplain. She is a lovely lady. I'm sure I've mentioned her before. She is just one of those people that brings peace and calm when she enters a room. I always appreciate seeing her even though it is often during challenging times. I told her of my journey this year and occasionally I ask her questions about my readings. I have a group of trusty advisors that I ask about different questions as my journey continues. They are all wonderful in their own right. Our chaplain has brought me a few articles about different questions I've had but yesterday she brought me a book. This wasn't just any book. It was a book from when she was in school. It's called "People of the Covenant. An Introduction to the Old Testament." by Flanders, Crapps and Smith. It's great! It has all the wonderful details of a loved book - her name on the inside, highlights, underlined parts and notes. I love it! There is something about books that people reference, write in and live through. Not textbooks but books that they read for pleasure and guidance. I love it.
Anyway, I'm very excited about this book and I've been looking at it already. On the first page it says "The old testament centers upon the action of God in the affairs of men as they react to him and seek to interpret the meaning of his action for life and faith."
I have completed reading Job. It was long, dark and ultimately beautiful. At times I felt as a child would say "why is it so unfair" but only God understands. I read in my Intro to the Old Testament book a line that said "Job is every man, reminding us that a deep and personal faith oftem comes by way of the long and sometimes dark corridor of sincere questions about the relavance of God for human existence. The book ultimately asserts that he who throws himself upon God, even though perplexed about life's evil, shall find him."
In another side reading somewhere it said that God is presented during chaos and troubling times. He does not present during only the sunny days and bliss. This is so true of what I have read thus far. Maybe it is because instead of losing faith and questioning if there is a God when times are hard we should be more like those in the Old Testament and recognize that God has reasons that we are not meant to understand and while there is chaos and sadness He is present with us most during these times.
I have been so fortunate in my journey through the bible. I have really enjoyed it thus far and hope I continue with my resolution to read the bible chronologically this year. One month down and 11 more to go!
Yesterday I worked all day. It was the usual day in the Emergency Room. I did get to see our hospital chaplain. She is a lovely lady. I'm sure I've mentioned her before. She is just one of those people that brings peace and calm when she enters a room. I always appreciate seeing her even though it is often during challenging times. I told her of my journey this year and occasionally I ask her questions about my readings. I have a group of trusty advisors that I ask about different questions as my journey continues. They are all wonderful in their own right. Our chaplain has brought me a few articles about different questions I've had but yesterday she brought me a book. This wasn't just any book. It was a book from when she was in school. It's called "People of the Covenant. An Introduction to the Old Testament." by Flanders, Crapps and Smith. It's great! It has all the wonderful details of a loved book - her name on the inside, highlights, underlined parts and notes. I love it! There is something about books that people reference, write in and live through. Not textbooks but books that they read for pleasure and guidance. I love it.
Anyway, I'm very excited about this book and I've been looking at it already. On the first page it says "The old testament centers upon the action of God in the affairs of men as they react to him and seek to interpret the meaning of his action for life and faith."
I have completed reading Job. It was long, dark and ultimately beautiful. At times I felt as a child would say "why is it so unfair" but only God understands. I read in my Intro to the Old Testament book a line that said "Job is every man, reminding us that a deep and personal faith oftem comes by way of the long and sometimes dark corridor of sincere questions about the relavance of God for human existence. The book ultimately asserts that he who throws himself upon God, even though perplexed about life's evil, shall find him."
In another side reading somewhere it said that God is presented during chaos and troubling times. He does not present during only the sunny days and bliss. This is so true of what I have read thus far. Maybe it is because instead of losing faith and questioning if there is a God when times are hard we should be more like those in the Old Testament and recognize that God has reasons that we are not meant to understand and while there is chaos and sadness He is present with us most during these times.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wrestling with God
Wednesday's reading required more thought and contemplation. My reading was Genesis 32:1-35:27. While this reading interesting with regard to the reuniting of Jacob and Esau. It also spoke of the rape of Jacob's daughter Dinah and the subsequent murder of all the males in the city of Schechem including Hamor and Shechem. Shechem who raped Dinah and Hamor his father. They then return to Jacob where he tells them of his concern that others will attempt to kill him (Jacob) in retaliation. He does not mention the concern that his two sons just killed several other people many of whom were innocent. This makes me question Jacob.
Jacob buries Isaac who dies at 180 years of age. Again, I'm confused because I thought God said he was limiting lives to 120 years.
Is everyone else living to 120 but those he chooses live longer.
hmmm
The really confusing part that required more thought was Genesis 32:22 which discusses Jacob wrestling with God. I was very confused by this passage and needed to seek the advice and reflections of others that are more familiar with the bible. I spoke with a few of my facebook friends as well as the chaplain of my hospital where I'm a nurse. She believes this to me a spiritual battle almost a vision or dreamlike battle testing Jacob's faith. I spoke with a co-worker who views it literally as God can take any form he would like and believes he presented himself literally and wrestled with Jacob.
Interesting either way you view it.
Do you have any thoughts?
Jacob buries Isaac who dies at 180 years of age. Again, I'm confused because I thought God said he was limiting lives to 120 years.
Is everyone else living to 120 but those he chooses live longer.
hmmm
The really confusing part that required more thought was Genesis 32:22 which discusses Jacob wrestling with God. I was very confused by this passage and needed to seek the advice and reflections of others that are more familiar with the bible. I spoke with a few of my facebook friends as well as the chaplain of my hospital where I'm a nurse. She believes this to me a spiritual battle almost a vision or dreamlike battle testing Jacob's faith. I spoke with a co-worker who views it literally as God can take any form he would like and believes he presented himself literally and wrestled with Jacob.
Interesting either way you view it.
Do you have any thoughts?
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