Random Thoughts...

I'm going to be out of commission over the next few weeks and probably won't blog.  I may throw a few thoughts up here and there.  I will be in the process of moving my family another 1000 miles back to Ohio, taking a long needed vacation, and starting some new adventures. 

Until then, I want to toss around a few ideas that I've been writing about that will show up in future blogs.  Maybe you would like to comment or share some ideas on topics that I want to blog about.  I know some topics maybe be taboo, some ideas shouldn't be questioned, and some things just need to be exposed.  Hopefully you will join me on this journey.

1.) American Christianity is CAPITALISM
2.) Elohim--is God a polytheist?
3.) Does Christianity Own God?  Monopoly?
4.) So, if I don't believe like you, am I "out"?
5.) Is Christ bigger than our doctrine?
6.) Gay, Lesbian, Straight...is this really the issue?
7.) Knowledge of Good and Evil is necessary (Genesis 3).  Fall or Elevation? 

Just a few thoughts I have bouncing around in my head as I drive through the country side. 

The Object of Action and Expression

"ME" is the object of an action (a verb) and an expression (preposition).  If our actions and expressions define us as the object, then we are self-defined and originate inwardly.  Scientifically, this wouldn't make sense, because we would be our own creator.  Yes, to a degree we create our situations, our destiny, and our character, but when there is little to no action or expression at the beginning then we need some kind of action or expression to define who we are.  Even the "Big Bang" has both action and expression in it.

I would like to share something that I find quite remarkable that opposes the notion that human beings are fallen, sinful creatures that are destined to some mythological hell.  In Genesis 1:27, "God created the human being in His own image, male and female He created them."  The word, "human being", "mankind",  or "man"--depending on what translation you use, is the word "adam" in Hebrew.  THIS IS NOT SOME DUDE'S FIRST NAME, but the general word for "humans."  The reason it is not masculine only is because of the next sentence--"male and female he created them."  If I can, I want to break this down mechanically and hopefully it will be something pretty cool and life-giving.  


Hebrew is such an awesome language and I've grown to love it over the years...especially when it comes to this verse.  "Human" in Hebrew is the word "adam."  Adam has three Hebrew letters, the aleph, the dalet, and the mem.  Many times in the ancient Hebrew text, aleph was a symbol they used for God.  Even Jesus described himself as the "aleph" (or in Greek the alpha)--or the beginning.  The dalet and mem make up the word "dam" which means, "blood."  This compound word could be broken down as "God's blood."  God created the human (God's blood) in his own image. 

Here is where it gets really cool!!  Each Hebrew letter has a definition that in essence, "tells a story" by the way it is shaped or by the way it was formed.  At this point it is so hard not to be pedantic and give tons of details that you may not find interesting, at the same time I'm afraid I will leave something out of great importance...SOOOOO, here goes nothing!  Rabbis describe the aleph as the paradox between God and man.  It is made up of a few other Hebrew letters, two yuds and one vav, describing pictorially creation.  In the beginning, the Hebrew Bible speaks metaphorically of the waters above and the waters below, the upper atmosphere, and the lower atmosphere.  The vav that separates the two yuds describes the separation between the two like a mirror.  They are identical, just flipped around.  The "yud" is the little mark above the big diagonal line.  You will notice that there is another one upside down on the opposite side of the line.  This little "yud" is the first letter of God's name, "Y-H-W-H."   This is the first letter that defines the human being.  The aleph begins to describe who we are and how we are a snapshot of God, but through a mirror.  We are not "fallen" creatures destined for doom, but images bearers of God.  This tripped me out when I first saw it because even Paul talks about this idea in his letter to the church at Corinth: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known"(1 Corinthians 13:12).  The beginning of maturity is seeing yourself for who you really are--the image of God...just in a mirror.

The second letter is the dalet which rabbis describe for us as "the door."  The door is that which leads into the house, commonly referred to in Hebrew as the "beit."  The beit is the second letter of the aleph-bet...coincidence?  I don't think so!!  Scholars have much to say in regards to this letter and its early Semitic pictograph roots.  One of the definitions that goes along with "a door" is the action of the door--"back and forth movement" as one goes back and forth through the tent.  The dalet symbolizes back and forth movement into God's dwelling place.  

The last letter, MEM,  is described as "water" (mayim) or the fountain of God's Divine Wisdom.  Rabbi Ginsburg described "mem" like springs flowing from unknown subterranean sources.  The springs/water flowing is symbolic of God's wisdom flowing through creation and through his Word.  Early Semitic writings have the mem as horizontal squiggly lines that look like water.  The mem is the flow of God's wisdom.  

CHECK THIS OUT: by breaking down the Hebrew word (adam) to it's core we see that the human being is the door(movement/action) to God's Wisdom(expression)--just flipped in a mirror.  We--you and I, are God's object of action and expression.  Question: Is God's action and expression doomed?  I would argue, "of course not."  Can it be misinterpreted...SURE!!  Can it be misunderstood...yes!  But, what if we began to understand each other in this light.  Not just each other, but what if we began to understand our self (ME) as God's object of action and expression.  We are just "mini-me's." Just a few thoughts...LECH LECHA!!

 

 

It's All Good

Last night and this morning I was looking over old notes when I came across a Bible that I had used for about 7 years.  The cover was hanging on by a few threads, the maps were falling out, and the pages had notes scribbled all over them.  On first page, Genesis 1, there was a little note in the upper left hand corner that said, "God didn't make creation perfect, but 'good.'"  Everything God created he said, "It is good (tov)."  It's all good.  Nothing in creation...NOTHING, was bad.  This is key!

Many people that study the Bible, even just a little, know the Hebrew word for "good" is "tov."  Even before I started learning Hebrew and went over to Israel to study, I knew this word...a little.  The definition of "good" in English rendered by the New Oxford Dictionary states: "to be desired or approved of, pleasing and welcome, strictly adhering to or fulfilling all the principles of a particular cause, religion, or party."  "Good" is based on what think...something can be good to me, but not so good to you, therefore, changing what the thing is based on perspective.  Does that make sense?  When I pastored some people would come up to me and say, "That was a good sermon."  I also had people come up to me the same day and say, "That was lousy sermon."  The sermon was either good or lousy based upon perspective. 

Tov, in Hebrew does not mean "good" in the way of how God (or anybody else for that matter) sees or it or feels about it.  Even though he is the ultimate authority and his perspective trumps all others, it is nevertheless a perspective.  Since I'm not God, my perspective may differ.  I can't see the "good" in most bugs--especially mosquitoes.  Jeff Benner of the Ancient Hebrew Research Center defines "tov" beautifully:

What does "good" mean? The first use of this word is in Genesis chapter one where calls his handiwork "good". It should always be remembered that the Hebrews often relate descriptions to functionality. The word tov would best be translated with the word "functional". When looked at his handiwork he did not see that it was "good", he saw that it was functional, kind of like a well oiled and tuned machine. In contrast to this word is the Hebrew word "ra". These two words, tov and ra are used for the tree of the knowledge of "good" and "evil". While "ra" is often translated as evil it is best translated as "dysfunctional". 

This changes the context of creation tremendously.  Everything was created with a specific purpose and design.  In chapter 3 of Genesis, it says, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD GOD HAD MADE."  If God "made" him, then he (the serpent), was a part of what God called "tov."  Therefore, even the serpent had a specific purpose and design.  I know that is hard to swallow for many American Christians because they want to make the serpent this fallen angel that was the chief musician in heaven, etc., etc., etc.,  But the fact is, God made him and there wasn't anything God made that was without a purpose.  

There was also a tree that God planted in the middle of the garden called "The tree of knowledge of good and evil."  If you plug in the mechanical definition of "good" (tov) and "evil" (ra) in there, suddenly this tree has a "new perspective."  Rather than give my own commentary on this, I would like to hear what you have to say and ask a few questions.  

-Is evil (dysfunction) just "good" out of balance or against its designed purpose?

-Is the "serpent" just a metaphorical term for dysfunction?  

-Was the act of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil necessary and therefore an "elevation" rather than a "fall?"  

-Can a person understand functionality without dysfunction?

-Is religion today functional?  Who created it? Is "yes", explain.  

Journey with me...LECH LECHA!!!