Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: tongue

The Tongue is a Fire! – Speaking of Christians
If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.
James 1:26 CSB

Contents of 3-part series

We began this forum for freely speaking whatever is on your mind with the substance and consequences of speaking out in POLITICS. November in the U.S. is always a contentious time and the approaching year of Presidential politics will offer more intense variations on the themes of hypocrisy and hatred.

As the politically correct and often biased words of media might suggest, RELIGION has no say so in these arguments. The movie scene depicted in the photo for this series suggests a time when all of this correctness fails for all of us, including media.

Next and finally, today we will take a look at what the Bible has to say about such things. Examine your heart further along with me as our tongues speak up (sometimes inappropriately) for Jesus Christ.

Don’t be deceived

Paul preaches to the church in Ephesus:

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Ephesians 5:6

James suggests early in his letter how easily we deceive ourselves.

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God…

He offers a remedy to hypocrisy, of which we will quickly be accused. And James illustrates our self-examination in the mirror.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath!

It’s just not our nature (Christian or not).

Because we speak out so quickly, we show how easily we are deceived. It is the same deception of our own hearts mentioned in Genesis 3:13

And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, H5377 and I did eat.

Disobedience Brings God’s Judgment

This has always been the warning of the LORD’s true prophets to a people who claim religious favor while displaying hypocritical sin.

The Lord will judge and many have warned us throughout the millennia in scripture given by Almighty God.

In order that you may anticipate my outline from the Lord’s word, we will examine four of these chronologically:
1. Jeremiah ~687-520 B.C.
2. John the Baptist ~A.D. 30
3. Jesus Christ
4. James, brother of Jesus, leader of the church at Jerusalem ~A.D. 50
Jeremiah 9:

3 “They bend their tongue like their bow;
Lies and not truth prevail in the land;
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” declares the Lord.

The LORD, through the Prophet Jeremiah, condemns the tongue of the religious leaders of Judah.

5 “Everyone deceives his neighbor
And does not speak the truth,
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves committing iniquity.
6 “Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord.

The Tongue that Answers Hypocrisy

How is this any different than the hypocrisy of some who claim God today?

Though this condemnation is directed toward Jews around 627 Before Christ, the Lord could well convict so-called christians of this 21st century in the year of our Lord.

For what else can I do, because of the daughter of My people?
8 “Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
It speaks deceit;
With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor,
But inwardly he sets an ambush for him.
9 “Shall I not punish them for these things?” declares the Lord.
“On a nation such as this
Shall I not avenge Myself?

The Lord does not condemn the nations for the fire of their accusations against God, but those who claim the Name of the Lord whose tongue deceives their neighbor and speaks deceit.

How are we not like those condemned here, where our tongues of fire shout against the evils of the world, “I’m mad and hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

John the Baptist

In a captive Israel (and Judah) after centuries of silence from the Lord, many recognized John as a Prophet of God. Jesus confirms it.

“And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.
The testimony of Jesus Christ about John the Baptist – Matthew 11:14

REPENT! you religious hypocrites

John never said this in so many words, but repentance of sins and hypocrisy of the tongue by religious leaders held center-stage in his ministry to the crowds in the wilderness.

Matthew 3:

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Although the son of a priest, John followed the Lord’s leading away from the Temple limelight into the wilderness. And his raiment reminded all of the great Prophet Elijah. John’s fiery calls for repentance he directed not to idolatrous followers of other religions, but to the Jews.

Our most enduring impression of John may be his public accusation of the leaders of religion who came to hear him in the wilderness.

What the crowds witnessed

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:7-8 ESV

I could easily say more about John’s tongue of fire as it also applies to Christians, but I’ll save it for a more detailed look at John the Baptist, greatest of the prophets who the Lord sent before the Messiah Jesus.

Proverbs for the Tongue

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 12:18-19 KJV

Christ Jesus

As John and the Spirit testified, Jesus is more than a man who speaks truth. He IS the Perfect truth established before time for all time, the Son of God the Father!

Previously in this series I mentioned Jesus’ caution about the tongue of one saying “raca” or “you fool” being liable to hell. Although this ought to be caution enough for those claiming Christ, here I will add an additional insight from Jesus about hell.

Jews, Messianic Jews and Christians may differ on our views of hell; its punishments, certainly who is condemned and the nature of eternal life after death. Nevertheless, considering not the illustrative nature of the parable, but the truth of what the Messiah Jesus must witness by His very word, take just this one scene to heart.

Luke 16:

Jesus’ parable follows three more familiar parables about the lost followers of the LORD, Shepherd of Israel.

Most hearers compare Jesus’ two main characters, a rich earthly master and his poor servant by identifying Jesus’ parable as The Rich Man and Lazarus. For many this may confuse the issues of resurrection (identified with the name of this other Lazarus) and salvation for the wealthy (which Jesus seems to oppose on many occasions).

Neither wealth nor resurrection are at issue in this parable.

Prior to this parable, Jesus categorically states:

“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.
Luke 16:16 NLT

Jesus on Social Injustice

J.B. Phillips focuses our attention more to the issue of how we act toward others during this mortal life, introducing this parable: Jesus shows the fearful consequence of social injustice.

It’s a tragic tale describing the inequities of this life, followed by a scene of the rich man gazing upon heaven from hell. The rich master and faithful servant have died, their fates having rewarded each justly.

And from among the dead he looked up and saw Abraham a long way away, and Lazarus in his arms.
‘Father Abraham!’ he cried out, ‘please pity me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’
Luke 16 excerpt J.B. PHILLIPS

This follower of the LORD who had every blessing in life pleads to Abraham to intercede for him while he suffers the agony of hell! It would be like asking a saint of old or mother of our Lord to help you. Just cool my tongue from the agony in these flames.

Jesus has already separated the sheep from the goats. This is no intermittent place of punishment where relief through others may take place.

Dear brother or sister in Christ,

Therefore, watch your tongue and actions in this mortal life. For we must now be perfect in Him before a world hearing us as Christ, named ‘Christians.’

James

Earlier this year I addressed the turmoil of religion and politics which preceded the appearance of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. If you would like to read more follow this link to James and Jerusalem’s Controversy.

The applications of James to Christian contemporary thought may be helpful to each of us personally, particularly what I taught previously on this in James – Preaching to a Worldly Church.

Even though I recently covered the entire book of James, his application to Christians is worth repeating as a brief conclusion to this 3-part series: The Tongue is a Fire!

FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY:

DISCLAIMER: IF you do not believe in God, no need to read further. As Jeremiah aimed his tongue of rebuke to the Jews and as John the Baptist also called God’s chosen to repentance, this is not for those who refuse the Lord’s grace.

And so, you who claim Christ consider this:

Your contemporary issue of how God can use your tongue of fire to save the world may not agree with scripture.
Roger Harned – TalkofJesus.com

Which issue excites your tongue to cry out, “you brood of vipers?” Abortion? Equal rights for women? Helping poor migrants trying to come to America? Healthcare, food and shelter for the poor? Fair elections? Tolerance for other religions?

All of these causes may excite your witness to others, but the leaders of the church will warn you and me to watch our tongue and act like Jesus.

You cannot go wrong by keeping the love of Jesus on your lips and the fruit of love in the harvest of your relationships with others. But look more closely at nearly every New Testament writer and the sayings of Jesus:

Our words of refinement and love are for each other – brothers and sisters in Christ. If our actions match the love of Jesus, only then will the world take note of our words.

James 3:

2 For in many things we offend all. – KJV

Christians excel in this, but the world should not be offended by you. Rather, the world is offended by Christ Jesus and will not accept the grace of His love.

2-6 [PHILLIPS] We all make mistakes in all kinds of ways, but the man who can claim that he never says the wrong thing can consider himself perfect, for if he can control his tongue he can control every other part of his personality!

Think of it. If you control your tongue, you can be perfect; that is, Christ-like. Your actions will finally become perfect, because you mirror our Lord.

5b [NASB] See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

The Not So Good NEWS of Today

Can you think of some in the public eye whose tongues easily set social media on fire?

Sadly, Christians participate in the hot debates of those worldly things which have little or nothing to do with Christ. I admit it. My speech before others sparks debate. Yet is it for Christ?

Are you a disciple of your political party? Of your particular issue? Do you show religion as condemnation and faith as opposition to the value of others?

8 [NASB] But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.

Again, the hypocrisy of ‘christians’

As we pointed a finger toward ourselves in an earlier post in this series, this is hypocrisy. James tells us that it must not be. He asks the church to direct our teaching first to ourselves.

[PHILLIPS] … your lives will be an example of the humility that is born of true wisdom… —don’t deny the truth that you must recognise in your inmost heart… For wherever you find jealousy and rivalry you also find disharmony and all other kinds of evil.

TRUE. True in the world and true in the church. Jealousy and rivalry lead to disharmony and many kinds of evil. Don’t get caught up in it all.

Listen to this: James’ instruction to Christians in how to be perfect can be found in two verses of his letter. Consider them before your tongue turns your life off course in the next storm of public opinion.

Wisdom from Above

17-18 [PHILLIPS] The wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions, with no breath of favouritism or hint of hypocrisy. And the wise are peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness—in other people and in themselves.

Would a list help?

From the KJV, But the wisdom that is from above is:
- pure,
- peaceable,
- gentle,
- easy to be intreated,
- full of mercy
- good fruits,
- without partiality,
- without hypocrisy.
We cannot be pure while leavened by the hatred of the world. And the world’s peace looks much different than the peace of Jesus.

Can you imagine any more gentle example than our Lord Jesus Christ?

Easy to be intreated would be advice from more obedient times meaning compliant or easily obeying. Modern translations sweeten it a bit calling this trait, ‘reasonable.’ Are you reasonable or compliant in your conversation with others?

Full of mercy: there’s a trait we wish to encounter. Compassion, true compassion for others; not claims of a nice ‘christian’ to treat others with mercy, but Christ-like compassion for another.

Jesus said:

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
the words of Jesus to religious leaders – Matthew 9:13

Are you a Pharisee of this 21st century in the eyes of those you encounter? You with ears to hear, hold your tongue until your heart finds mercy.

We know many parables of Jesus about the fruit of righteousness. Do you show others how you, a sinner, have changed? Like John the Baptist scorned the Pharisees and Scribes coming for baptism:

“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:8 NASB

Has Jesus changed you? Did your tongue receive Christ’s bridle of restraint of your words of witness to the world?

Is your witness for a cause OR for Christ Jesus? What do your words say?

Show no partiality or favoritism in your faith. Be unwavering for Jesus rather than swayed to the right or to the left by the crowds.

NO Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is the mask of appearances, the make-up of our image. It is the false face of the world and their accusation of masked ‘christians.’

The fire of our tongue will betray our motives. And our fruit of hypocrisy is witness against Jesus.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. – Romans 12:9 NASB

It is the genuine love of Jesus Christ, sincere faith in our Lord. The world must see Jesus in your actions, but first the world will hear your words.

Are the words of your mouth witness that Jesus IS your LORD?

OR

Do you just have something more to say back to the world from your fiery tongue?

Remember the love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear saint and fellow sinner. For you would not want to hear the Lord say,

“I never knew you.”
```
May the grace, mercy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ help you to hold your tongue from evil and witness His love through the Holy Spirit.
```
November 14, 2019
The Tongue is a Fire! – Religion
The Fire of the Tongue, the Rhetoric of Politics and Religion

In our previous look at public controversy in the media we began with the clash of politics, mentioning the trial of Socrates in 399 B.C. Today we begin coverage of the clashes of religion and the church with everyday culture.

For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
First Letter of Peter to the Church 3:10 NASB

Without digging a hole into some serious divisions of the church in our brief look at this opening quote of the Apostle Peter to the church, let me just remind us:

Political parties and the church are all gatherings of disagreeable people more or less united in one thing.
Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com

Can you think of an application for followers of Christ in current election rhetoric for the (U.S.) election year to come?

The church (saints or people) of this day and the past are all like you, like me and just like every candidate of every party in every country on earth. We are ALL SINNERS.

Therefore, regardless of our politics of the moment or religion of the past, we all speak and do evil.

The Tongue of the ‘Christian’

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Caution of Christ – Matthew 5:22 NASB

Jesus Christ asks the crowds to examine our own hearts. So before we get to the controversy of Christ, let’s work back from Peter’s last point in this one verse [1 Peter 3:10] instructing “Christians.”

Peter asks or suggests to followers of Jesus:
1. If you desire LIFE, what is life?
2. Do you desire LOVE, what kind of love?
3. So you want to SEE GOOD DAYS, what path do you seek?
4. Do you KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL?
5. Would others find you guilty of SPEAKING DECEIT because you have fooled yourself?
Do you speak foolishness in angry answers to others – your loved ones, those you work or worship with, a politician inciting opposition?

How can you judge their speech when you do not even judge your own?

The root meaning of deceit here is to decoy. In other words, deceive another by your words. Of course no politician would do that!

But Jesus speaks to those who want to speak truth. When we do not, like the politicians and leaders of cultural religion we also become hypocrites, as are our accusers.

Hypocrites
```
Their audience is US.
```
ὑποκριτής, ὑποκριτου, ὁ (ὑποκρίνομαι, which see);
1. one who answers, an interpreter (Plato, Lucian).
2. an actor, stage-player (Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Aelian, Herodian).
3. in Biblical Greek, a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite:
Followers of Christ must look in the mirror first.

If you catch yourself speaking deceit you had best shut your mouth and seal your lips. (Nevermind the hypocrisy of your opponent, just find the beam in your own eye and fire of your own tongue.)

The tongue of Evil

The tongue of evil could be our own!

Paul writes to church of the Romans:

as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Romans 3:13

He continues in speaking of Jews and Hellenistic culturists (Greeks):

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.

“THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;

“WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”…

“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

Could this be a political treatise against Christians, Jews, Muslims, and ANY claiming God without love on their lips even in this day?

Like Peter, Paul also shows why politics and religion mix in a murky cloud of hypocrisy.

How do you seek GOOD DAYS?

What is the platform of your faith? Your religion? Traditions? Good deeds?

Your works of goodness certainly can not sway the politics of a fallen world or misled nation.

Do you seek an honest path to righteousness? It would be a religion of works and false morality, a religion of philanthropic leading in your own ideals.

… and I’m NOT going to take it anymore!

Do any recall our ‘must elect my candidate’ arguments of religion for the 2016 election?

How will you, being evil, do good for anyone?

My fellow Christians, is your witness for the Gospel of Christ?

Or is your shout to the crowds that you’re mad as hell as if Christ would be swayed by the fire of your tongue?

Perhaps your opponents think that you feign madness before the media.

What good is your shouting into the whirlwind? For the fire of your words fails to witness the compassion of our Lord Christ Jesus.

Mere religion and righteousness never equate.

Love of words or love of the Word?

Here’s a question for so-called ‘christians’ embroiled in the politics of the day: Do you have a love of words or love of the Word?

Surely the politician loves the stage of the world. Certainly the media twists words meant to incite supporters into indictments of political opponents.

Satan works no differently than the internet in spreading false accusation of the believer; for Christ is the only Word of love who can save the sinner.

The Apostle John instructs the church:

Do not love G25 the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves G25 the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15 NASB – Strong’s G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō

Life – ζωή – zōē

Life’s meaning described by Peter is:
1. life
  1. the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
  2. every living soul
2. life
  1. of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic “logos” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature
  2. life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
Peter points not only forward to Christ, but by scripture back to David, a man after God’s own heart.

Religion questions God.

May I add that the politics of the world deny God’s saving grace. By our knowledge of good and evil we lost the fruit of the tree of life in Eden. Mankind spoiled God’s paradise by disobedient sin.

Psalm 34: A Psalm of David

when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

David looks back at these dark days and praises the LORD.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1

9 O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.

13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

From advice for the saints of the Lord, David proceeds to the justice and redemption of the faithful.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

The Fire of the Tongue, the Politics of Jesus

Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
John 18:14 NKJV

Jesus against religion

John 2:

14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

John 8:

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him.

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

a Word of witness to followers of false religion

Jesus answered him,
“I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.
John 18:20 NASB

Jesus continues:

“Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”

Truth has witnesses; yet how do unrighteous leaders of religion react?

When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Political reaction to Righteousness

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
John 18:38; 19:15b NASB

Righteous reaction to the Political

Mark 12:

Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?”

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them,

“Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

¹⁷And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Is Politics your Religion OR Religion your Politics?

Psalm 2:

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

Christ Jesus, the Messiah of the Lord God, warned of our anger against God.

⁷אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃

⁸שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
```
To be continued...
```
November 9, 2019
The Tongue is a Fire! – Politics
In politics bitter tongues spew hatred from each side over the airwaves and into our devices. Broadcasters claim a ‘balanced,’ supposedly unbiased approach, while we ask: ‘What now? Will this never end?’

Oh, the hateful words of a tongue on fire! Media broadcasts them every day, sometimes even minute by minute.

BREAKING NEWS! (Politics, again)

Media and now #socialmedia broadcast fiery furious tongue-lashings available on demand from any public figure. Winning politicians hope to burn their opponent with their own words and rally opposition. Who might join their cause of shouted hatred?

Our present political battlefield seems hopeless to those beaten by the constant plummeting of hellacious accusation and diffident denial. The politics of the day of course is nothing new under the sun, as a once-great leader long ago lamented.

“Never discuss religion or politics

In fact history of the ages will confirm assassinations to ascension, misleading public proclamations and attempts of cleansing lands of religious and political opponents.

We can make light of it all (and sometimes should), but government always gets out of control.

Presidents, senators, representatives, prime ministers, premiers, governors, kings, queens, princes, dictators and despots – ALL will always have critics (and often they should). But careful what your tongue speaks against those in power and watch each touch of your inciting visual indictment pointing a finger directly into the eyes of the victimized masses.

Many have given up hope for any sane solution to this country’s current problems. Our current lack of civility in the media marketplace stems not from disagreement, but from frustration.

Yet I ask, which country do I speak of and which troublesome time now or in our past?

Aesop – 5th c. B.C. Classic quote about politics

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
Plato – Greece 4th c. B.C.

In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.
George Orwell – U.S.A. A.D. 1946

Preparation for HATE WEEK

The Ministry of Truth — Minitrue, in Newspeak — was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. – 1984 ch. 1 – George Orwell

& let’s not ignore the politics of religion

Has the tongue been condemned for truth or held mute for silence?

Yes, of course; again and again. Controversy is no stranger to politics of power or conflicts of religious belief.

Occasionally a man or woman of principle will prevail; but more often than not, the sharp tongues of adamant belief will ignite shouts of suspicion from crowds bent on justice.

Ignorance ignores mercy and truth in deference to hell-bent justice shouted from the masses.

Greece: 4th c. B.C.

Socrates – Philosopher opposed to our gods

399 B.C. Socrates sentenced to death

399 B.C.

Socrates’ accusers cited two ‘impious’ acts: ‘failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges’ and ‘introducing new deities.’

A majority of the 501 dikasts (Athenian citizens chosen by lot to serve as jurors) voted to convict him. Consistent with common practice, the dikasts determined Socrates’ punishment with another vote. Socrates was ultimately sentenced to death by drinking a hemlock-based liquid.

It’s the very kind of accusation which takes place to this day.

Authoritative secular leaders or tyrannical religious leaders decide justice for those who oppose their iron-fisted rule. So one man or a few in power determine justice and death of men of popular opposition.

Classic Greek Democracy & Culture of Religion

Life in Athens’ 4th c. B.C “Golden Age.”
- Greek influence northern rim of the Mediterranean Asia Minor to the Italian peninsula
- only men could be citizens
- only upper-class males (aristocracy) enjoyed a formal education
- 25% population made up of slaves, usually prisoners captured during the many clashes that extended Greek influence overseas.
- Slaves provided much of the manpower of a burgeoning economy
- 12 Olympian gods & goddesses + a whole society of lesser gods, demigods, mythic creatures, immortals, plus godly entities that existed before the Olympians such as the Titans.
Politics behind the scenes of Socrates’ trial.

Another commentator investigating the motives behind Socrates’ “suicide” (which was far from voluntary) states:
- Socrates was 70 years old and familiar to most Athenians.
- His anti-democratic views had turned many in the city against him. [politics]
- accused of “refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state” [religion] and of “corrupting the youth.” [politics]
- Two of his students had twice briefly overthrown the democratic government of the city,
  - instituting a reign of terror in which thousands of citizens [aristocracy] were deprived of their property
  - and either banished from the city or executed.
- Socrates was found guilty by a vote of 280 to 220.
It’s a house divided — or a city-state, if you prefer, divided by politics with religion and corruption of culture as an excuse.

Socrates: GUILTY by a poll of the leading citizens

56% voting Guilty & 44% (4 of every 10 men) voting Not Guilty.

Justice by majority meant death to the philosopher so the accusers could blame Socrates for their problems. Who shall we blame for our?

Jerusalem, A.D. 1st. century Politics

If we took time to dig into the archeology of the time between Socrates in ancient Athens and Jesus in first century Jerusalem we would discover politics, not justice. Many similarities between the complex politics of their times four centuries apart point to true injustice of the ambitions of man.

You would discover more than just rebellion, but war between east and west. Babylon and Persia to the east, Egypt to the south and Rome to the west all had roles in the philosophies, culture and religions imported into the place still known for controversy. The city and state strategically buffering these powers in the centuries before Jesus: Jerusalem in Judea of Palestine (named variously by capturing powers.

How often we overlook context of the past while judging the present. Think back four centuries from this present trouble to the 1600’s and world power and politics would look very different, having undergone many violent political upheavals.

Is 1st c. Jerusalem so different?

Hate Week in Jerusalem is about to become a week of hypocritical religion meeting with the brokers of political power to preserve a captive land. Israel is no more; but captive spoil, vassal states under the rule of their Roman rulers. Their local political king must negotiate with political religious parties to maintain a delicate peace of Rome in a city ripe for rebellion of crowds in the name of God.

The holiest time of pilgrimage brings thousands into a Jerusalem guarded by Roman troops. The only political card Jews held what that of helping Rome keep the peace for the sake of their considerable trade and commerce. Money flowed into the city each year at Passover and on into Roman coffers which paid their oppressing legions and built the ports and roads of Roman ambition.

Into this very visible public square of the Temple courtyard and markets, enters Jesus.

Mars – Roman god of war

Greece had idols and gods for everything. A Roman peace offered to its captives promoted the ancient greek culture. And like the greeks, Rome worshiped many gods, idols of culture.
- 67 different gods and goddesses in the Roman pantheon, and plenty more demigods, each ruling over a particular dominion and watching over particular professions and classes of people.
Like Plato four centuries earlier, Jesus’ reputation precedes Him.

Unlike Plato, Jesus is only thirty years old. Yet He acts more like a king than a boisterous rebel. This Jesus, with both reputation and crowds following Him to the gate of Jerusalem is a man to be watched.

a Lamb of Sacrifice for Justice

The Gospel (Good News) of John, chapter 11:

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them,

“You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
John 11:49b-50 NKJV

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
```
To be continued...
```
November 4, 2019