Words of Eternal Life

I viewed the June 2013 Gallop Poll (regarding confidence in our 16 national institutions) with interest because confidence in the church or organized religion has increase 4 percentage points over 2012 to 48%. Almost half of the population expresses that they have a great deal or quiet a lot of confidence in religious institutions. We may think that half is not good enough until we notice, for example, that confidence in the medical system has dropped 6 percentage points to 35% with HMOs ranked just above Congress at 19%. Religion is ranked 4th out of the 16 institutions. Of course, our true national religion (our Military) is ranked number one at a 76% confidence level. I suspect we’ve already heard about the worst confidence rating, or Congress, with a 10% confidence rating.

We all know that religious practices vary a great deal and I would first like to express that what some would consider weird practices of religion might not correlate well with the number of people practicing a religion. In other words, what we may consider weird doesn’t necessarily correlate with a lot of people rejecting the practices like we may think it should. Let me give two examples. Some Latter Day Saint’s groups have rituals in their temple related to sacred underclothing worn by adults as they take part in a ritual ceremony known as washing and anointing. Like me, you’ve probably never experienced washing your sacred underwear in a religious ritual.

ku-POR-us  (Kaparot) is a traditional Jewish religious ritual that normally takes place on the eve of Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement. ku-POR-us is performed by grasping a live chicken by the shoulder blades and moving around one’s head three times, symbolically transferring one’s sins to the chicken. On the eve of Yom Kippur 2005, more than 200 caged chickens were abandoned in rainy weather as part of a ku-POR-us operation in Brooklyn, NY; some of these starving and dehydrated chickens were subsequently rescued by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Jacob Kalish, an Orthodox Jew from Williamsburg, was charged with animal cruelty for the drowning deaths of 35 of these chickens. In response to such reports of the mistreatment of chickens, animal rights organizations have begun to picket public observances of ku-POR-us, particularly in Israel. (Source of these two practices: Jamie Frater August 13, 2007)

In my opinion, religious people can observe just about any ritual, and those growing up in a particular religion appear to be sincere in their practice of religion.

And so, baptism is considered an ignorant religious ritual by some but what is baptism in the scriptures? 1st Peter 3:21 says, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

 Baptism, according to Peter, is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
 
I find something interesting about the conscience when it comes to the study of science. Currently, there is a hypothesis called The God gene. The God gene hypothesis proposes that a specific gene (VMAT2) predispose humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences. I guess it is possible that God has put religion into our genes. Of course, it is only a current hypothesis by some genetic scientist. As we view the expanded knowledge of mankind we may think of what God asked Job in Job 38, verse 4: “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.”

In this so-called modern era of time I feel the words of Paul to Timothy, in 2nd Timothy 3, are just as true now as when expressed by Paul. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

In my opinion, we may live in a world of our own making or a world of make-believe. Our opinions are just that. When we get to University level history the professor begins undoing the history we learned in grades one through twelve. We often find that widely held erroneous ideas and beliefs are expressed by those in power. So-called authorities paint a vision of how they want others to view the world. And so, we begin to understand that this common belief or that common belief may be false. For example, Christopher Columbus's efforts to obtain support for his voyages were not hampered by a European belief in a flat Earth. Sailors and navigators of the time knew that the Earth was roughly spherical, but (correctly) disagreed with Columbus's estimate of the distance to India. We often repeat beliefs over and over that have been proven to be false. Yet, people still use these false arguments again and again. Research is often very shallow. In my opinion, approaching God in humility is the recognition of how little we actually know to be true. Of course, religion is based on faith but it is not alone.   

Paul expresses a truth to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

We must have faith that our religion is the inspired word of God and that God has had a hand in every page of scripture. Otherwise, what basis do we really have for our religion?

People often show their lack of faith in their religion by not believing their religion is profitable and should be followed. Some can express various truths but when it comes to living it out and practicing it they just don’t quite believe it. As we have pointed out, others can practice things that appear weird to us in all good faith and conscience because they believe it.
 
Our bible says this about our spiritual forefathers in 1st Corinthians chapter 10: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

Without studying our bible we can be classified as spiritually ignorant. We find in 1st Corinthians 10 this reference to the spiritual meat and spiritual drink or the communion service. How do I know this is true? It is the beginning of a discussion on how the Corinthians were to conduct their worship service or fellowship. The Greek word Koinonia (communion) means fellowship and is used in verse 16 of this chapter. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (fellowship) of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

Historically speaking, it is not difficult to determine how the communion or fellowship was given. Christ instituted it at the Passover Supper before he went to the cross and Paul corrected the practices of the Corinthian church in chapter 11. Of course, Passover was given long ago when the children were leaving Egypt.

These brethren were spiritually ignorant and Paul was correcting their ignorance. Paul says this beginning at verse 17 of 1st Corinthians chapter 11, “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” Verse 23, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

Why do we drink and eat of this spiritual rock or Jesus Christ? For the same reason that the people in the wilderness had to partake in order to sustain their life. We transition from the physical to the spiritual.

We see Christ in John chapter six at the time of the Passover eating with his disciples. Verse 11: “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” At this time Christ performed a miracle. Verse 13, “Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.”

Why did Christ perform this particular miracle? Because he wanted his disciples to understand that he provided life and he could provide life in abundance. That’s why Christ said this at verse 26: “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

In verse 31 Christ begins to explain what Paul explained to the Corinthians in 1st Corinthians chapter 10. He says, “Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.” Verse 35, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Verse 41, “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Verse 48, “I am that bread of life.”

What is Jesus Christ? He is the spiritual rock that we eat and drink of in the wilderness of life. Without Jesus we cannot come to the Father. Verse 49, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

What did Christ say when he instituted the Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26 verse 26: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” Did Christ say, Take and eat my body? No. Jesus took bread. Jesus had fellowship or communion with his disciples.

Back in John chapter six at verse 53 Christ says this, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.”

Did these people get confused when Christ expressed this in the synagogue at Capernaum? Of course they did. Verse 60: “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?”

We can ask that same question about our communion service today. Does this offend you? Christ had just expressed this about the communion service in verse 53, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” If we want to have life everlasting we will listen to the words of Christ.

Verse 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

What Peter expressed is our choice in life. We can accept the words of eternal life or we can reject his words. We can refrain from eating the bread of life and also go away. That’s the choice that many have made when it comes to their communion or fellowship with Jesus Christ.

We can do something weird, like the Jewish tradition ku-POR-us, or we can partake of the communion service and live. It’s our choice.