hey guys,
This email was actually written quite some time ago but was never used. For some reason, this has been a convicting week as I was constantly reminded of past lessons that i've forgotten over time w/ disuse. This email served as a great reminder for me and I hope it'd be an encouragement to the rest of u as well =)
I was recenty reminded of the jefferson bible, which was thomas jefferson's efforts to make hte bible believable and inoffensive. Officially titled "Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth," Jefferson sought to cut out any supernatural events, any references to jesus' divinity, as well as any bits that he considered misinterpretations by the four gospel writers. Using a razor, jefferson cut literal holes in his bible, selected bits and pieces that didn't offend him from the four gospels, and rearranged them in rough chronological order to create a single narrative. The jefferson bible ended with the burial of christ - no resurrection, no pentacost, no redeemed Peter/Paul - Jesus died, period. The End.
while most of us wouldn't be so arrogant as to physically remove/edit bits of the bible, isn't this in effect what we do every time we deliberately ignore or conveniently forget laws of God? The bits that we find uncomfortable or offensive are the exact bits we tend to defocus on. Instead we hone in on the bits that talks about forgiveness and grace, all the highlighted portions of our bibles that give us warm, fuzzy feelings. We crave inner healing and affirmation but avoid conviction. i often find myself de-emphasizing parts of scripture that talks about hating worldly desires, practicing holiness, dying to myself, and taking up my daily cross. Namely, the parts that demand effort out of me. Encouragement for the week, let us not treat God's word with contempt in our selective understanding of holy scripture, and pursue with wholehearted honesty the holiness He has mapped out for us.
Happy Wednesday!
edward
"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. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teachers others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:18-20
hedgehog curls into ball
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