Allen的邊境探索

"While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

This morning, my attention is attracted by a sentence "Blind Leads Blind" of television preaching. My memory went back to a scene that a Taiwanese entertainer argued with that how God knows his mind and how pure his motivation is. That is about a news event of a controversial activity for public welfare in Taiwan recently. Althought there are also many different opinions and disputation in this event. The part gaining my attention is that the major role in this event is a Christian who said he doesn't think he have to explain anything to anyone because what he's done is right.

When a person getting religion as his life guidance, it usually means that he believes its core value and wants to be faithful of it. Thus it will be very ridiculous that a believer intentionally avoids talking about the core value of the religion he chose and eludes the conflicts of personal/cultural/secular values (whatever you named it). So what the core value of the religion is. Some people said it is "TRUTH". Actually I like another more distinct term "MORAL LAW". However, why does the moral law have to be the core value of the religion? Let's review its definition first.
Definition: Moral law, the law of duty as regards what is right and wrong in the sight of God.
According to above, we can realize that God is a moral giver, and normally an intention justified by moral law won't be reluctant to accept public inspection. And then each believer must admit that "Moral Law is Absolute". You might tell me that "It's insane! There is not any thing that is absolute in this world". Yeah, I know there are many disputation here. But I think most of time, people just get confusion of "The Vision of Moral Law" and "Immoral Behavior". For example, a sentence like that "Thou Shalt not Steal". There is no way or no condition that is able to overrule or against the idea of it. A man who stands for moral relativism might tell you "A premise sometimes can make stealing justice". Have you noticed any thing wrong here? Let's review a scripture of Romans 7:7 for now.
What then is to be said? is the law sin? in no way. But I would not have had knowledge of sin but for the law: for I would not have been conscious of desire if the law had not said, You may not have a desire for what is another's.

And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes: peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake. And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Intercession is a prayer to God on behalf of another person. It's not just only to enhance the power of prayer, but also encourage people to learn to share each other's burden, no matter in physical or spiritual. In Genesis 18:20-33, there is an interesting story revealing something about intercessory prayer. Abraham, a well known father of the people of Israel, keep the ways of the Lord, and do what is right and justice. As we know, the Sodom city is still destroyed by God in the next chapter 19 of Genesis. Some people might think that God didn't bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him. It's not true actually! Please review Abraham's prayer again, we can find the key is that there is no ten righteousness in Sodom.

There have been 40 episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist since last year. In summary, the whole story started from a Devil used "IMMORTALITY" as an excuse to attract greedy humans committing sins and even selling their souls to evil spirit. How familiar...huh? How come a story can be laid out so neatly in a cartoon drama. Although there are two series with different scripts broadcasted during 2003-2004 and 2009(still in broadcasting) separately, both of them have their own distinct characteristics. By the way, the later series is actually conformed to the original story of comic version. It's so sad that the drama is getting closer and closer to the end. However, the Fullmetal Alchemist is really a surprising animation with the serious topic "CARDINAL SINS" ~ Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Highly recommended.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

即使是在信仰上獻出大筆的金錢，虛偽與不誠實的心態，仍然導致奉獻者遭到聖靈當場的擊殺。這是使徒行傳五章Ananias故事給予信徒的警訊。在經學的閱讀與解釋上，同樣必須保持誠實心去面對。總是有這樣的信徒，喜歡從文字表面上去解釋彼得前書四章八節的意思。縱容自己叛神的言行，甚至將縱容的心態合理化、神聖化。

Do
not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness,
but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from
death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments
of righteousness.

"I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.

Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away),  then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose.  Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.

〔法規名稱〕會議規範
〔施行日期〕中華民國四十三年五月十九日內民字第五0四四0號公布試行
　　　　　　中華民國五十四年七月二十日內民字第一七八六二八號公布施行
第五十五條　（表決之方式）
　表決之方式　表決應由主席就左列方式之一行之，但出席人有異議時，應徵求議場多數之意見決定之：

"The statistics for divorce, materialism, sexual promiscuity, racism, physical abuse in marriage, and neglect of a biblical worldview are devastating. Not only is the divorce rate about the same for born-again Christians and the general population, but 90 percent of all divorced born-again folk divorced after they accepted Christ."

The above abstraction is came from the book "The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience By Ron Sider". Some people might argue, and refuse to accept the conclusion of this book. No matter how, this book would be a warning to Christian community if the author has no bias in explaining these statistical data. Since the hypocrisy is so popular in the modern Evangelical Christianity, how to recognize both the cheap grace and the Gospel constructed as self-fulfillment has became a critical topic to people who want every corner of their life to be submitted to biblical truth. How come there is no big difference between disciples and their secular neighbors. If all faithful life is only connected to happiness in God's love, please answer the following two questions?

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

It's a very famous passage noted for a crucial key "Don't retaliate". However, many people used this passage to invent a sub-standard and quasi-biblical system of religion which is based on human devised achievement. It's very difficult to figure out a way to describe this "Sanctimonious doormats" since most of time we all get used to the idea made up by human wisdom but not divine truth. Before the further discussion, we have to admit one thing first. Human relationships and law courts are two distinct categories. For example, if a person commits a crime, we will never expect to hear the judge say, "I'm so sorry that you did this, and I want to be merciful. Therefore, you're forgiven. If you do it again, I'll forgive you again, seventy times seven, again and again." Sometimes, people carry a meaning too far to keep the original the simplest one "Don't start a vengeance thing". The sentence "Don't resist an evil person" doesn't mean to allow evils walk all over us, abuse us, and steal all our own. On the contrary, it reminds people to take divine reactions. In John 18:22-23, we can see how Jesus approaches it.

This is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High,
which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from
among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You
shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the
dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

To rebuke someone who persists in sin publicly would be very offensive for most people. However, it would be the most appropriate and efficacious way to disclosure ugly actions of people when happening right away, especially the background is that most people here claim they are spiritual. Sometimes people give up keeping their stand of righteousness owning to fear others. Thus, who should be that someone laboring in preaching and teaching? In a spiritual group or place, it is a matter of course that there should be a trend to lead people away from the sins. For example, if someone don't care to commit a sin within the sight of our vision. Shall we not ask ourselves, what's our role, what's wrong with us, why people did think that we won't do anything to interfere their affairs?  Believers should always accept justice naturally. Embellishing and covering others maybe bring more "clients" into this "hypocritical business". But doing things like that is simply to plot scandals and find excuses for those who take actions filthily but say polishing words otherwise. Where and who are those people who should labor in preaching and teaching? Don't forget we all might have to take part in the sins of others, especially we have been used to be hypocritical and fear to tell the truth all the time.