3-13-23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A friend recently asked about Messianic Jews and Christians who choose to observe the traditions of the ancient Hebrews. Festivals, dietary laws, customs of holy days. Should Christians, and \u201cfulfilled\u201d People of the Book, feel obligated or be encouraged to observe practices from centuries prior to Christ\u2019s incarnation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those ancient traditions pointed toward the Messiah\u2019s coming. Discernment was required with all prophesies, customs, ceremonies, and the most minute elements of observances. Things that inspired people of Old Testament times can provide reminders to Christians of our time: God\u2019s sovereign and eternal plan; the unity of the full Gospel; the confirmation of His miracle workings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the extent that awareness of ancient observances can turn into obsessions into substitutions into replacements, we should discourage these things. Anything that takes our eyes from Christ Himself must be resisted. Christ and Him crucified, Christ risen and reigning \u2013 all else pales. Customs and prophecies become academic; signs and wonders are confirmations. Luke 12:30 warns us that \u201cthese things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world.\u201d Turn your eyes upon Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking these thoughts further, I remembered one of the most powerful books of warnings, so to speak, in the Bible, and one of its most powerful chapters. Amos the Prophet speaks to us today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The customs and observances of the Old Testament were for the times in which they were given by God. As I said, they are for our edification still today; all of Scripture is inspired. Laws and commandments are likewise of God, and yet we should remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. However, the books of the Prophets are slightly different, in my view. Many of the prophecies, especially the Jeremiahs, were for people of the day \u2013 warnings to repent and return to God. And many of those warnings, as we know, were rejected\u2026 resulting in punishment, wrath, and exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet many prophecies were spoken and written to us<\/em>, too. For<\/em> us. About<\/em> us. Not only in human-nature categories of advice, but specifically to our circumstances \u2013 our places is historical dispensation; our situations. The sixth chapter of Amos reads that way, as if Amos looked almost 3000 years into future and knew our society, reading our headlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what he saw is not pretty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know things are not pretty today. And the more serious our crises are, contemporary life dresses things up to look pretty\u2026 taste sweet\u2026 and appear harmless. But don\u2019t we know that these are perilous times? Problems barely beneath the surface? Amos did. God does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Woe to you <\/em>who are a<\/em>t ease\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near; Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; The LORD God of hosts says: \u201cI abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city And all that is in it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You have turned justice into poison,<\/strong><\/em> And the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBehold, I will raise up a nation against you\u2026\u201d says the Lord God of hosts; \u201cAnd they will afflict you…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWoe to the complacent\u201d is the thrust of this prophecy. It is a stark reality \u2013 a tragic truth \u2013 that America and the \u201cChristian\u201d West have arrived at a point where we are not only diverted by, but we put our trust in, bread and circuses. We look to wealth and armaments for protection. We believe we are privileged and secure. We think that because the world loves our rock \u2018n\u2019 roll and blue jeans, others are not jealous and lustful after our resources and blessings. We call good evil and evil good, fooling ourselves that it makes no difference. We have manufactured our own morality \u2013 believing that sin has no consequences; that we can exploit and abuse each other; that marriages, babies, and the \u201cinconvenient\u201d among us are expendable. Crimes are not crimes anymore; and substance abuse is assuaged by more and more substance abuse. We have become insensitive to beauty and truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have come, on this mad journey of democratic license and self-indulgent capitalism, to a point of elevating Self \u2013 the deity of contemporary life. Human nature reigns supreme, the ultimate force to be trusted, a secular god that believes nothing, forgives everything, and demands our worship and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this instead of trusting in the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How is this working out? How has it ever worked out, three thousand years ago or in any civilization, past or present?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have turned the fruits of righteousness \u2013 to which we delude ourselves into thinking we are dedicated \u2013 into bitterness. And justice in contemporary life \u2013 whether regarding neighborhood crime, or respect for the sanctity of life, or international relations \u2013 we are turning into poison. And poison kills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus spake the Prophet. The words are true, even if we ignore them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n