Many preachers fail to realize that the sermons they preach are supposed to be the messages from God, not exciting stories and advertisements from themselves.[@more@]
Oh Lord, may You be the one to shape my path, my future and not I.
You are the Potter, I am the Clay. (from Isaiah 64:8)
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Mary's virginity does not prove her holiness, but that our Lord did not come of man's plan; yet having the identity of a man.[@more@]
It is interesting that those Christians that hold an anthropocentric view towards the Word of God couldn't care less about the the devils and Satan. Unlike what's mentioned in Ephesians 6:11-12.
Their final goal: world peace. Yet they have missed the point of God's Sovereignty. "Imagine there's no heaven, imagine there's no religion, imagine all the people living life in peace"
Well, let's imagine two worlds of peace. One's John Lennon's version, one's God's version (Jesus says: I am The Way, The Truth and The Life). Which one would you want? or do you claim them to be the same?
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There's an old saying: Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.
It is tempting sometimes, to abuse humanity with this.
I find myself challenged by this from time to time.
Perhaps the trick is in the flaw of its expression or choice of words.
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I seem to have a habit of keeping things that are nonetheless unnecessary. Consequently, they eat up the space in my room.
Living simple has always been my goal. Thus, it is something of an education for me, to learn what to throw away.
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In Genesis 4:26, many Jewish doctors were of the opinion that the word " הוחל" (huchal) is translated "began profanely". This of course, would have significant impact in interpreting the line of Seth to be a line called to be Holy, sons of God.
Maimonides has elaborated this issue in his "Treatise on Idolatry".
Although "הוחל" huchal is rooted to "חלל" (chalal) which can mean "profane" as well as begin-as if by an opening-wedge. There are other instances in the Bible where הוחל is used solely for "began" without any negative indication.
However, by means of motive, I would rather assume that it is not improbable that the Jews are of the intention:
1. Sons of God, always to be understood as angels/supernatural beings.
2. Maintaining that should there be any people of God, the Jews(Of Abraham) are the first and only: Enoch and Noah are individuals, not a full race. Thus interpreting Seth's line to be a Godly one would contradict the primal favor of the Jewish line.
Hence I am in disagreement with Rev. David Chen in this argument. Although I can appreciate Rev. Chen's enthusiasm in the Jewish culture, I wouldn't consider the modern Jews having much to say about Biblical edification since many of its tradition and foundational beliefs have been altered significantly after time.
Naturally, when it comes to interpreting "sons of God" in Genesis 6, it would be easier to assign it as "fallen angels" rather than Seth's descendants, had we understood Genesis 4:26 to be corruption of the line of Enos.
It was until Julius Africanus, a Christian writer, during the 3rd century, disagreed on the interpretation of "Nephilim" which also means "fallen one/men" with what earlier church fathers believed to be "fallen angels". Augustine then made it popular in his "City of God" in the idea of "line of Seth".
Even today, this is still widely debated. I personally, do not feel the necessity to denounce one after another. However, for simplicity, I would lean towards the "line of Seth" interpretation. It is also more edifying and keep me Biblically centered. While the other interpretation would bring in a more complex understanding of the whole universe, one that can easily perverse oneself. Not that I would reject this one, but I would hold on to one simpler interpretation while carefully examine the other one.
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They preach because at some subconscious level, they think they are the saviors.
They open their mouths, because they love to see the praises of others which they would like to assume were directed toward God.
They beg for attendance because they have forgotten that God doesn't need to beg for HIS Sovereignty.
If they had been ordered to oversee the people of Babel, the Shinarians would have had easily gotten away by placing an artificial cross on top of the tower of Babel.
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The discernment of a rumor is proportional to the ability to read people.[@more@]
Some people struggle to want what they want;
Some struggle to get what they want;
And a few struggle to want what is right.
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