George Offerman
“I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will have no pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord”. Ezekiel 24:14
The Bible is unequivocal concerning the state of man, the nature of sin, and the unchanging nature of God. This posting will quote several scriptural verses to demonstrate the full cup principle from both the Old and New Testaments, which will fulfill the requirement that it not be taken out of context, and to demonstrate this principle continues to be in effect especially in the (near) future. God is unchanging and knows the beginning from the end. Our modern theology likes to paint God as somewhat distant and unconcerned with day to day activities and neglects to discuss the Judgment factors God will mete out in the future. The Church loves to talk about the Divine Mercy of God, but rarely, if ever, talks about the Divine Judgment of God.
“When the Lamb opened the fourth seal… I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by the sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth” Revelation 6:7-8
In our modern times, all manner of sin is taking place and is seemingly ignored by God due to what appears to be His silence. This has lead to much complacency in our Churches, as the word sin is rarely ever used, and the average Christians sees themselves as going to heaven regardless of what they do, because they are ‘saved”. For the churches, this only proves their dereliction of duty, and false teachings. Many people are ready to fall into a trap, and the Churches are encouraging them on this road. The idea that one has a ‘cup to fill’ goes against the ‘anything goes’ philosophy and theology of our modern times, and most scoff at the idea that God is anything but ‘love’ (read: tolerance of sin). What does the Bible have to say about this?
“Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God WILL BRING EVERY DEED into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
“I have brought upon Jerusalem – every disaster I have brought upon it. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I HAVE DONE NOTHING IN IT WITHOUT CAUSE, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 14:21-23.
“Then the Lord said to him (Abraham) Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will PUNISH THE NATION they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, FOR THE SINS OF THE AMORITES HAS NOT YET REACHED ITS FULL MEASURE”. Genesis 15:13-16
“No, it is on the account of the WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; BUT ON THE ACCOUNT OF THE WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS...” Deuteronomy 9:4-5.
New Testament examples
“…you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. But for those who are self seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil there will be WRATH AND ANGER.” Romans 2:5,6,8
“For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” 2 Corinthians 5:10
Finally, the words of Jesus
“FILL UP, THEN, THE MEASURE OF THE SIN of your forefathers! You Snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” Matthew 23:32-33
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. LOOK, YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE.” Matthew 23:37-38
Finally, for future references and continuity
“Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which WOULD BRING GOD’S WRATH TO COMPLETION” Revelation 15:1
There are numerous verses that demonstrate this principle and I leave it up to the reader to do his own research on this matter. But the above verses should clearly demonstrate God does have a limit in his patience and tolerance of sin. This is called Divine Justice. Divine Justice counterbalances Divine Mercy, and both must be present in order for perfect love to exist. God cannot turn a blind eye to the evils perpetuated against the innocent, and be considered a loving God if all are treated in the same manner. Love requires protection of the innocent and vulnerable, and if these evil people and beings had access to heaven, heaven would soon become hell, and God will not stand for that. That is why Satan has been banned from heaven, as all who choose to follow evil will be at the end of time.
The epitome of the full cup principle is that God is longsuffering, and desires all to be saved. However, there does come a time in which continued existence of those choosing to practice evil will only be destructive for the righteous, and it is at that point God breaks into history and Judges. The full cup principle covers not only the world (as will be seen in Revelation times), but nations, regions, communities and even individuals. One’s cup is full when continued existence bears no positive fruits, promptings by the Holy Spirit are rebuffed, and the heart is totally cold. Judgment is forestalled (Nineveh) if one repents prior to filling his cup, but once the cup is filled and that ‘unpardonable sin’ is committed, judgment proceeds.
The full cup principle exists for the safety of the righteous. If good and evil are on the same plane, God truly would be a cosmic liar and bully, as Satan has painted him out to be. God’s way is the superior way, and the only way, for that matter. Only the righteous will gain heaven and they attain this by living out the Biblical principles given to us by Jesus and the prophets. This also includes those who have yet to be born, and the shedding of innocent blood is the NUMBER ONE SIN in the Bible. The shedding of blood will bring about the harshest of judgments, and judgment will occur without atonement. Atonement can be accomplished only through repentance and changing the lawless ways. Do we see this happening in this country at this time? As a country, we do have a cup, and we fill it more every day as we allow the shedding of innocent blood to occur. There is an end point; that we can count on.
Why our churches shy away from teaching this principle is beyond my understanding. The more Christianity is liberalized, the worse our society gets, and there seems to be more fear and insecurity than ever before. The time we need to have the clearest and strongest teachings, which is now, seems to be the time of the greatest fall of the Church in their duty to be the ‘light of the world’. What would Jesus say, if He were to make an appearance in Washington, D.C? Would it sound something like this? (for your discernment)
“O AMERICA, AMERICA, you who kill the prophets and abort those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. LOOK, YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE.”
Showing posts with label Matthew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
THAT PESKY LITTLE MATTER CALLED BLOOD GUILT
George Offerman
While the debates rage on about how to deal with the present situations in the pro life movement, very little attention seems to be paid to the theology behind the thought processes and philosophy of the pro life movement. This is most evident in the idea of glossing over the debate about blood guilt, and the fact that God has given very clear laws pertaining to the slaughtering of the innocent, and the idea that shed innocent blood does cry from the ground, and needs to be avenged.
This theology is at best, minimized, and at worst, denied. The idea of blood guilt and the justice of God goes very contrary to what is being taught by most mainstream Christian Churches, and essentially leaves many very uncomfortable if challenged in their lukewarm ideologies, and comfortable lifestyles. If we take a simple and honest look at scripture, we will begin to see a pattern in which God is the originator of law, and the ultimate judge of the law. Throughout scripture, God has intervened in history to stop the spread of sin, when the church, his representative on earth, fails to do its job.
One often hears how God would not judge us, and the Old Testament times are ancient history. This is a great mischaracterization of God’s nature, as He is unchanging, and knows the beginning from the end, unlike us. It is taught from the pulpits and embraced by our comfort and convenience oriented culture, and is quite woven into its fabric. It is too inconvenient to think about God’s Judgment, and most would rather believe that in the end, we all make it into heaven, and essentially, can pretty much do what we want until then.
This is a grave error. Yes, God is merciful, as has been demonstrated by our 37 year track record of failure and compromise, but this is not a permanent condition. God also balances mercy with judgment, which is essential if God is truly pure love. Love dictates the defense of the weak and infirmed, and the innocent. This love can and does include the destruction of the guilty, as is demonstrated in the Old Testament, and in Revelation in the New Testament.
Scripture is very clear that when God’s patience wears out with mankind, He breaks into history and judges. Judgment can take many different forms, but usually, death is involved, and it is targeted at the perpetrators. The problem is that we no longer see ourselves as perpetrators, but rather as sophisticated, caring, non judgmental people, and believe that a loving God will not do anything against us. Again, this is a mischaracterization of God’s nature, and one that very well may be experienced very soon. It is shameful that the church no longer teaches these truths, and would rather allow the majority of Christians to live a life of ignorance and mediocrity than to be loving, and teach the truth.
Those who want to hold to the ‘fact’ that Jesus abolished the law upon his death and resurrection are gravely mistaken. Jesus himself stated “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Matt 5:17-18. As we can see, there is still an earth, and the end has not yet come, so all is not fulfilled. This is apparent in the many warnings in Revelation pertaining to Babylon and the mark, and culminates in Jesus slaughter (capital punishment) of all the evil people at the time of the second coming. So for people to make the statement that Jesus is all love, and without a sense of justice, and would and does not judge is in great error.
Blood guilt is a difficult and sobering topic, and too often gets in the way of convenience and comfort, and is dismissed too quickly by the mainstream Christian churches and pro life movement. It is very evident in the fact that incrementalism reigns supreme, and the majority see it as acceptable that the Church and pro life movement does not go for the total defeat of legalized child killing in one fell swoop. This is a lack of faith, but more importantly, it demonstrates the poverty of thought in these organizations, and when the consequences of these actions occur, neither will be ready for them.
Blood Guilt requires expiation, and although it is true that one can be forgiven for sinful behavior, that individual or group must still deal with the consequences of the sin. The consequences and debt of 52 million deaths is still outstanding, and like it or not, we will have to pay this price. By refusing to change the laws and end legalized child killing, we make ourselves co conspirators with the killers, and will be held accountable for the lack of actions on our part. Every day that we do little, we heap more coals on our heads, and increase the price of the consequences. This is theology that is not taught in the mainstream churches, and it may be a very common topic of conversation very soon if we don’t repent and change our ways.
While the debates rage on about how to deal with the present situations in the pro life movement, very little attention seems to be paid to the theology behind the thought processes and philosophy of the pro life movement. This is most evident in the idea of glossing over the debate about blood guilt, and the fact that God has given very clear laws pertaining to the slaughtering of the innocent, and the idea that shed innocent blood does cry from the ground, and needs to be avenged.
This theology is at best, minimized, and at worst, denied. The idea of blood guilt and the justice of God goes very contrary to what is being taught by most mainstream Christian Churches, and essentially leaves many very uncomfortable if challenged in their lukewarm ideologies, and comfortable lifestyles. If we take a simple and honest look at scripture, we will begin to see a pattern in which God is the originator of law, and the ultimate judge of the law. Throughout scripture, God has intervened in history to stop the spread of sin, when the church, his representative on earth, fails to do its job.
One often hears how God would not judge us, and the Old Testament times are ancient history. This is a great mischaracterization of God’s nature, as He is unchanging, and knows the beginning from the end, unlike us. It is taught from the pulpits and embraced by our comfort and convenience oriented culture, and is quite woven into its fabric. It is too inconvenient to think about God’s Judgment, and most would rather believe that in the end, we all make it into heaven, and essentially, can pretty much do what we want until then.
This is a grave error. Yes, God is merciful, as has been demonstrated by our 37 year track record of failure and compromise, but this is not a permanent condition. God also balances mercy with judgment, which is essential if God is truly pure love. Love dictates the defense of the weak and infirmed, and the innocent. This love can and does include the destruction of the guilty, as is demonstrated in the Old Testament, and in Revelation in the New Testament.
Scripture is very clear that when God’s patience wears out with mankind, He breaks into history and judges. Judgment can take many different forms, but usually, death is involved, and it is targeted at the perpetrators. The problem is that we no longer see ourselves as perpetrators, but rather as sophisticated, caring, non judgmental people, and believe that a loving God will not do anything against us. Again, this is a mischaracterization of God’s nature, and one that very well may be experienced very soon. It is shameful that the church no longer teaches these truths, and would rather allow the majority of Christians to live a life of ignorance and mediocrity than to be loving, and teach the truth.
Those who want to hold to the ‘fact’ that Jesus abolished the law upon his death and resurrection are gravely mistaken. Jesus himself stated “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. Matt 5:17-18. As we can see, there is still an earth, and the end has not yet come, so all is not fulfilled. This is apparent in the many warnings in Revelation pertaining to Babylon and the mark, and culminates in Jesus slaughter (capital punishment) of all the evil people at the time of the second coming. So for people to make the statement that Jesus is all love, and without a sense of justice, and would and does not judge is in great error.
Blood guilt is a difficult and sobering topic, and too often gets in the way of convenience and comfort, and is dismissed too quickly by the mainstream Christian churches and pro life movement. It is very evident in the fact that incrementalism reigns supreme, and the majority see it as acceptable that the Church and pro life movement does not go for the total defeat of legalized child killing in one fell swoop. This is a lack of faith, but more importantly, it demonstrates the poverty of thought in these organizations, and when the consequences of these actions occur, neither will be ready for them.
Blood Guilt requires expiation, and although it is true that one can be forgiven for sinful behavior, that individual or group must still deal with the consequences of the sin. The consequences and debt of 52 million deaths is still outstanding, and like it or not, we will have to pay this price. By refusing to change the laws and end legalized child killing, we make ourselves co conspirators with the killers, and will be held accountable for the lack of actions on our part. Every day that we do little, we heap more coals on our heads, and increase the price of the consequences. This is theology that is not taught in the mainstream churches, and it may be a very common topic of conversation very soon if we don’t repent and change our ways.
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