We're studying the Crusades in my Church History class right now, a couple weeks ago I wrote an 8 page paper on the Papacy (ohh yeah, I got 137 our of 140 points… BOOM!) and what led to it's power over all Christendom. I keep thinking over, and over again how incredibly blessed I am to have not been raised Catholic. My mom was raised Catholic, her mom, her parents, and so on. BEing in Tennessee I don't think people here understand how prevalent Catholicism was in the 80' and 90's and still is in the Northeast, though according to the American Religious Identification Survey done in 2008, it has declined in numbers since 1990. My sweet and tough Memere (mom's mom) is who I credit for encouraging my pursuance of not merely Christianity, but of knowing God. She had her share of episodes of straying from the path (all prior to my birth) after leaving the Catholic church. In a recent conversation with my mom I learned of some of the wacky things my grandmother had spoken about God, but in the end she found Him and knew Him. She had her share of trials throughout her life and yet when I would spend time with her she exuded a peace and an assurance of all things because of her knowledge and relationship with Him. I'm sure I don't know all the pieces of her life, and it's probably better that way, but for me she was a shining example of Christ inhabitance in a broken life. I pray that I can be that shining example to someone someday. And dang! I miss her (FYI- I know I talk about her like she has passed on, she, unfortunately has dementia and alzheimer's disease). Anyway, the point of this blog, which i haven't really gotten to yet, was to say how incredibly grateful I am to have the Bible at my fingertips. I like to think that if the people of the days of the Crusades had the Word of God at their own fingertips, not twisted and mangled by a power-thirsty pope, that the outcome would have been different. The promise of indulgences upon participation in the Crusades would have been a joke! I'm so grateful that I never had to wonder if a man could forgive my sins, I'm glad I was never taught that, I would have been so confused and I'm certain I would have always been wondering "am I REALLY forgiven? Did I do my hail Mary's or Our Father's correctly?" My mom wasn't the perfect mom, seriously, our family had and has issues, but I can't portray my gratitude enough that this was not something we had to struggle with. Having the Bible to refer to for everything is such an amazing gift! I just listened to an amazing sermon from Eric Ludy called "The Koine Jesus." IT was borne from a question he was asked by a disgruntled man, "If Jesus was a Jew why is He referred to as Jesus, rather than His Jewish name Yeshua?" It seemed like a good question, but Ludy answered it in such a way that my heart rejoiced once again at the miraculous gift of the Bible, especially the New Testament in this specific case. His answer was another question; "Well, do you believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, God-breathed, given to the human writers to pen for the generations to come?" the dude answered yes. And Ludy went on to say that the New Testament was written in Koine Greek, not Hebrew. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit HIMSELF to be revealed in the common language of the time; Koine Greek. "This was the design by the Spirit - which is why Jesus was called Jesus (greek) and not Yeshua (Hebrew)". It's another key to understanding the message of Christ was for all men, all nations, and not just the Jews. Back in Christ's time only Jews could read Hebrew, unless you converted to Judaism then you were taught how to read it, but it wasn't an easy conversion (ouch)… "It [Hebrew] was a chosen language. A language that only the people of Israel knew And therefore, the Word of God was kept from the nations of the Earth who lived ignorantly of its mystery, its profundity, and its awesome promises, truths, and revelations." The penning of the NT in the common language of Koine Greek was scandalous and amazing! During the first wave of the apostolic missions trips the Gentiles were becoming Christians by the hordes, it only follows that Christ would ordain the Holy books be penned in the common language for the generations after. Furthermore it follows Christ's pattern of "the second"… "The first one (Old Testament, Cain, Ishmael, Esau, Manasseh, Saul, Mount Sinai, Old Covenant, Flesh, Adam) cannot please God, it doesn't mean its words are wrong, it is the perfect revelation of God's righteousness. However, it can't save you. It is words that lead you to a Savior. Its the second one that offers life!"
It's such an amazing gift and I seriously cannot imagine life without it, which probably means I should get busy "writing Your word on my heart"(Psalm 119:11 paraphrased)
During this time of thanksgiving and celebrating the birth of our amazing Savior remember to celebrate the giving of His birth record and ministry to us in words we can read!!
Blessings,
~Jennanana
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